Here is the perfect example of the innocent that prevails against the corrupt. It takes place in a part of the country that has been known to write its own rules. A women who seeks revenge in a uniquely individual way. And a young man strong enough to give a voice to justice. Happy reading

Blood on the Table by Gerry Spence

Compelling critical look at situations that were often difficult to unsee. The law is supposed to be blind and see innocence rather than prejudge or indict without facts. It is supposed to be honest and just but that is not always true. This story made me think and care and wonder and wish…and in the end it left me with a bit of hope.

What I liked:
* Ringo: honest, loving, kind, artistic, giving, good son, admirable, stalwart, a good man, someone I would like as a friend/on my side.
* Ben: father, husband, shepherd, father, honest, a good man, taciturn, quiet, bottled up emotionally, falsely accused, intriguing in the way still waters sometimes run deep.
* Sarah: mother, wife, secret keeper, lonely, would do anything for her family, hard worker, conflicted, dreamer, enjoys beauty, dreamer, made me think about what I would have done in her situation
* Hampton: lawyer, husband, truth seeker, honest, intelligent, interesting in the courtroom
* Meg/Isabelle: college student, artist, pragmatic, traveled, deeper than expected
* Ham & Jamey: two boys that deserved so much better
* The way all the pieces came together eventually…though I wondered at times if they would.
* Kind of liked the ultimate outcome and decision of the jury…though had hoped for something else
* That the story made me think and care
* The 1940’s era
* The location in Wyoming
* Mrs. Foley – the foster mother
* That though I thought about giving up in the beginning as it seemed slow…I was once again drawn in and could not put the book down.

What I didn’t like:
* Those I was meant not to like…and they were many. It was easy to hate them and hard to see the shenanigans they got up to.
* The way some were willing to use their power negatively and too often got away with it
* The damage done to so many

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLOOD ON THE TABLE (Legal Thriller-Ringo-Wyoming-Contemp) Poor
Spence, Gerry
Forge Books, Mar 2021, 304 pp.

First Sentence: Ringo felt something hard poking him in the ribs.

Famed trial attorney Gerry Spence takes readers to small-town Wyoming, where 11-year-old Ringo is up against corruption, prejudice, and hatred in order to protect his family.

Time skips are bad enough, but time skips between 1947, to 1940, to 1945, back to 1940, to 1947, to 1926, ...you get the idea, are too much. But what happened to telling a story in a linear format?

The dislikable characters, which is nearly every character, are so much so, they read as stereotypes. Perhaps it is because stereotypes are based on reality that the book is so unsettling.

Unfortunately, there is nothing one can really get hold of. It's disappointing as underneath it all, Spence is an excellent writer. You can feel it, you know it, but the format and darkness of the story became overwhelming. And then you get to the end. No one knows better than a lawyer that justice is blind and not always served well. But oh, how one always hopes.

"Blood on the Table" is dark and violent and might work for those who love noir. Spence, however, is an amazing writer. Here's hoping is next book is more reminiscent of "Court of Lies."