The fact is, Jack is framing himself because he fears his wife's murder was his daughter's crime of passion. Sixteen-year-old Paige Newlin is a successful model whose relationship with her manager-mother had been famously rocky. To make sure that he's convicted, Jack hires rookie lawyer Mary DiNunzio to defend him. But Mary doesn't buy Jack's story, and neither does the senior detective on the case. In a fascinating turn on the usual courtroom tale, then, Jack struggles to maintain his false story of guilt while his lawyer and the police struggle to prove him innocent. Meanwhile, Mary wrestles with both her uncertainty as a lawyer and with her attraction for her client.

Lisa Scottoline, often identified as the "female John Grisham," has led the pack of female authors in the legal thriller genre, winning an Edgar for her second novel, Final Appeal. Moment of Truth does have moments that don't, in fact, ring true. Why is Jack Newlin so quick to forgive his daughter when he thinks she's killed her own mother? And if he's so concerned with her welfare, why did he absent himself from her upbringing? But it's nonetheless interesting for its innovative plot conceit and its examination of high-profile murder trials. If one is able to overlook the problems with Newlin's motivation, the story Scottoline weaves is a compelling one, and her heroine, Mary, is an enjoyable, self-doubting twist on the super-lawyer at the center of most legal thrillers. --Patrick O'Kelley

Product Description

Attorney Jack Newlin comes home one evening to find his wife, Honor, dead on the floor of their elegant dining room. Convinced that he knows who killed her- and determined to hide the truth- Jack decides to make it look as though he did it. He stages the crime scene so that the evidence incriminates him, then calls the police. And to hammer the final nail in his own coffin, he hires the most inexperienced lawyer he can find, a reluctant rookie by the name of Mary DiNunzio, employed at the hot Philadelphia firm of Rosato & Associates.

But Hiring Mary may turn out to be Jack's only mistake.

Though inexperienced, Mary doubts Jack's confession and begins to investigate the crime. Her ethics and instincts tell her she can't defend a man who wants only one thing-to convict himself. Smarter, gutsier, and more determined than she has any right to be, she sets out to prove what really happened- because as any lawyer knows, a case is never as simple as it seems.

And nothing is ever certain until the final moment of truth.

The only problem with the official scenario is that Jack is innocent of murder. He tampered with the crime scene to turn the evidence towards him instead of his daughter Paige. He thinks Paige killed her mother after suffering years of emotional abuse from the woman. Feeling guilty for not stepping in over the years, Jack feels he deserves to spend life behind bars as a form of penitence. However, Jack had not realized how competent his attorney is and how much she believes she represents an innocent person.

Fans of legal procedurals know how good a Lisa Scottoline novel always is. The exalted author's latest tale MOMENT OF TRUTH stars a cast of characters who touch the heart of the reader. Especially endearing is Jack's lawyer Mary DiNunzio, a naive, pious, warm-hearted person whose empathy for the pain of other seems genuine. The story line is interesting, as the reader knows the truth from the onset yet somehow the thrilling plot retains a high degree of excitement as one wonders how the tale will play out. Ms. Scottoline provides a special book that deservedly will gain her even greater acclaim.

Harriet Klausner


Another great thriller!   February 26, 2000
 14 out of 15 found this review helpful

Once again Lisa Scottoline has taken us through unexpected twists and turns in her latest legal thriller! Judy DiNunzio, an associate in Bennie Rosato's law firm, is the heroine! Her client, Jack Newlin, has falsely proclaimed his guilt in his own wife's murder. Who is he protecting?

It's a "must" read -- a true Scottoline thriller! You won't be disappointed!


A PAGE-TURNING LEGAL THRILLER   April 19, 2000
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

Jack Newlin is a lawyer in a prestigious Philadelphia firm, he has also confessed to murdering his wife...To ensure his conviction he hires inexperienced lawyer Mary DiNunzio. Mary knows her client is lying but WHY??? Mary sets out to prove her client is innocent and bring the the real killer to justice. Lisa Scottoline has written a fast paced legal thriller with enough plot twists and surprise ending to have you finish the book in one sitting. Scottoline has been called "The Female John Grisham", I have to say she is MUCH better!! If you have not read any of her books start with this one and then go back and read her earlier novels.


Very dissapointing effort   March 23, 2000
 11 out of 14 found this review helpful

Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of Scottoline, and have enjoyed her previous works a lot. Her books are normally fast, funny, and suspenseful, with lots of interesting twists. Unfortunately, this one seems to be stretched too thin, and is flat right from the start. It is obvious who the killer is right away, and the way it is tied together at the end is really contrived and unbelievable. None of the characters are particularaly interesting either; even Mary who was a good character in previous books. And then there is the daughter who is pregnant and worried about the baby, yet has no qualms about doing drugs. The only reason for the three stars is to give Scottoline the benefit of the doubt, because as I said, I have always enjoyed her books in the past. Hopefully she will return to form next time.


WOW! Read this book!   August 16, 2000
 11 out of 12 found this review helpful

Lisa Scottoline is often referred to as 'the female John Grisham'. I think she is better. Fresh off the success of her last novel, Mistaken Identity, Scottoline serves up a heck of a legal thriller. The book starts out with a bang. Attorney Jack Newlin arrives home to find his wife, Honor, dead on the floor. Stabbed. He then decides to make it looks like he has committed the crime, because he is convinced he knows who really did it and is committed to protecting that person. After staging the crime scene to implicate himself, Jack then calls the police--and also proceeds to hire an inexperienced lawyer, Mary DiNunzio, of the Philadelphia firm of Rosato & Associates. This turns out to be a huge mistake for Jack, because although Mary is inexperienced in murder trials, she has passion and heart. She doubts Jack's confession from the beginning and begins to investigate the crime. What she discovers about the crime will keep you turning pages all night long!