CONFLICT OF INTEREST

This is an implausible yet likable mystery about a criminal investigation that takes a sinister turn as we learn more about the suspects. The personal lives of the lawyers and the criminals are much more the focus of the novel than any kind of crime-solving. Laural Merlington has a good understanding of the characters and brings them to life. She is particularly adept at conveying a sense of evil and menace. One wishes for a novel with more substance, but this pseudo-courtroom drama will keep listeners engaged. D.L.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]