Audible Book Review: The Heavens May Fall by Allen Eskens

I really like the legal procedural parts of this criminal mystery.

The Heavens May Fall
Written by: Allen Eskens
Narrated by: R. C. Bray , David Colacci , Amy McFadden

Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
Release date 10-04-2016
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Legal Thriller, Mystery, Police Procedure
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Detective Max Rupert's and attorney Boady Sanden's friendship is being pushed to the breaking point. Max is convinced that Jennavieve Pruitt was killed by her husband, Ben. Boady is equally convinced that Ben, his client, is innocent. As the case unfolds, the two are forced to confront their own personal demons.
Max is still struggling with the death of his wife four years earlier, and the Pruitt case stirs up old memories. Boady hasn't taken on a defense case since the death of an innocent client, a man Boady believes he could have saved but didn't. Now he is back in court, with student Lila Nash at his side, and he's determined to redeem himself for having failed in the past.
Vividly told from two opposing perspectives, the truth about the stunning death of Jennavieve Pruitt remains a mystery until the very end.
©2016 Allen Eskens (P)2016 Tantor

Review:
Detective Max Rupert lost his wife, Jenni, to a hit and run car accident four years ago. He has struggled with the fact that they never found the culprit, the case took no priority for the department and was set aside with other “cold” cases. Others in his life, including retired attorney Boady Sanden, have helped pull Max from his annual drunken visits to his wife’s grave.

This year, on the anniversary date, Max is called out to investigate the death of a woman abandoned naked in a parking lot. The woman is Jennavieve Pruitt the wife of prominent attorney criminal defense attorney Ben Pruitt. As details unravel, Max becomes convinced that the husband is guilty even though the evidence is circumstantial. His gathering of facts may be slightly muddled by reason of getting an anonymous note that his wife’s death was not an accident. Did he become too distracted and obsessed by pursuing the new leads on his wife’s case to properly evaluate all the details of the Pruitt death?

Meanwhile, Max’s friend, Boady, agrees to take on the defense of Pruitt who is the attorney who took over Boady’s law practice when he retired due to stress. Boady doesn’t want to see another innocent man go to prison and he doesn’t think Pruitt could have killed his wife. There may have been motive, but others had just as much motive. And Pruitt’s alibi is weak but not unproven. All Boady has to do is establish “reasonable doubt”. The problem is, part of winning the case for Pruitt means shredding Max’s testimony during the trial. But Boady is a believer of the old Latin legal axiom: “Fiat justitia ruat cælum”, meaning "Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”

A surprise during trial testimony makes it clear that the case is more complicated than either side realized. Will the final result be truth or twisted justice?

The story is told from the two perspectives: Max as the police investigator and Boady as the defense lawyer. The reader/listener gets to follow the side-tracking thoughts for each character as they contribute to the current factual situation. I am a civil attorney who does not practice criminal law, nor handle jury trials (only civil bench trials). Still, I find the factual presentation and legal tactical skills fascinating. I did not realize that The Life We Bury was a related, earlier book which I am glad I also have on audio. I recommend The Heavens May Fall to readers who enjoy a solid criminal mystery with legal procedure.

Audio Notes: I have to admit that hearing R. C. Bray’s voice begin the story pulled me right in. David Colacci and Amy McFadden also added to the production making it an easy, quick listen. I will be glad to listen to more from these narrators.

Source: April 2017 Audible Daily Deal $3.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020Audiobook and 2020 Fall Season goals.