I read this as part of the One Book One County in Orangeville and we're covering this book in our book club 'Book Club Divas'. I did not read the first book, but did enjoy this read. I found it was a 'Law and Order' type of story. The characters were a bit hard to follow in the beginning but once I got them down it was a good read.

Following on the success of his debut Old City Hall, Toronto criminal lawyer and novelist Robert Rotenberg uses his inside knowledge to bring us a Toronto legal scene as exciting as anything on Law and Order. On the eve of his tabloid-fodder divorce trial, grocery heir Terry Wyler is found brutally murdered in his kitchen -- his estranged wife Samantha is found in possession of the murder weapon and makes no attempt to provide an alibi. But if it’s an open-and-shut case, why is she still hiding something? Is she really guilty, or protecting someone else? Detective Ari Greene tries to untangle the complex secrets of the Wyler clan, while treading carefully through the backroom deals and plea bargaining tactics of high-powered Toronto lawyers, whose personal relationships might just make all the difference to whether a case is won or lost.

Not as good as the first one but ok

Great read! This second offering of Rotenberg shows the development of this new craft of his - he is a practicing Toronto lawyer, who writes about a murder case in Toronto - his knowledge gives this fiction depth because he clearly lives what he puts in his writing. If you did not read his first book, OLD CITY HALL I would suggest that you do before reading this one. He uses the same key characters in the second and you appreciate the character development and their nuances if you have that background knowledge. He seems to take an inordinately long time to write his books but I am already waiting for his third piece. A good new author to add to your list if you like courtroom drama.

A great read. I really enjoyed this second book. Can't wait for the next one.

Next Chapter pick for mysteries of the summer. "Toronto criminal lawyer Robert Rotenberg hit a home run with Old City Hall, his first legal mystery set in his home town. Now, Rotenberg’s characters, Detective Ari Greene, Officer Daniel Kennicott, and prosecutor Jennifer Raglan return, along with ace defence lawyer Ted DiPaulo, in a smart and well-executed sequel." Margaret Cannon Globe and Mail May 6 2011

Robert Rotenberg's debut novel, Old City Hall stirred delighted buzz and garnered warmly welcoming reviews from Canadian crime fiction circles and fans in early 2009. When the first foray is that good, establishing a pace, personality, setting and cast of characters that readers quickly become keen to revisit, two years feels like a long time to wait for the next installment. The wait is over, and those waiting will feel well rewarded. Rotenberg has delivered another solidly crafted, engaging narrative with the right balance of primary and secondary (new and previously introduced) players, and diverting but not excessive or distracting subplots (that leave the possibility of being further explored in future books). The plot of The Guilty Plea focuses on the case of Terrance Wyler, youngest son of a family in the high-end grocery business. He's found stabbed to death in his luxurious home the morning of what was to have been the start of his and wife Samantha's divorce trial, made sensational by the fact that he has taken up with a notorious Hollywood actress. That morning, Samantha arrives at her lawyer's office with a kitchen knife that is undeniably the murder weapon. In what is perhaps becoming a signature modus operandi, Rotenberg presents a much too obvious resolution and then proceeds to take it apart and take the reader along for an engrossing, often surprising reassembling of the real story. The Guilty Plea is seasoned with artful passing references to Old City Hall, and reconnects again with Detective Ari Greene, police officer Daniel Kennicott, Crown attorney Jennifer Raglan and other previous characters. However, The Guilty Plea can likely be enjoyed with no familiarity with its predecessor. This second novel is almost as crisply paced as the first, although it grows ever-so-slightly sluggish a little over halfway through, and then gets firmly back on track. Once again, while The Guilty Plea offers up an intriguing and consistently sympathetic cast that interacts in interesting and compelling ways, the most vibrant cast member is still the city of Toronto. Seen in sensorily evocative moments across all seasons (the opening scene in the doldrums of sultry August is especially memorable), and in everywhere from coffeeshops and restaurants to landmark buildings and cemeteries, Rotenberg proves a mastery of establishing a sense of place even more impressive than his skills with plot and character. The fact that Rotenberg heads out into the city to write, rather than exclusively cloistering himself in an office or cottage retreat to write, has paid off in terms of his stories' atmospheric authenticity.(1) Ultimately, The Guilty Plea culminates in an untidy but not implausible resolution. It's therefore pretty lifelike. It's also therefore infinitely book-club-debate-worthy or just individually ponderable - all not bad things at all, especially to pass the time during the wait for the next thoughtfully forged installment in Rotenberg's increasingly formidable franchise. 1. Robert Rotenberg: In search of a public place to write http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/05/23/robert-rotenberg-in-search-of-a-public-place-to-write/