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Pan Macmillan Australia: This edition September 2006
Reviewed by Sunnie Gill
Christina Haynes is from one of Boston’s most privileged families. Her
father is Rudolph Haynes, a senior Senator for the state of Massachusetts,
and her mother is from a blue-blood family. They both have expectations
for their daughter. They expect her to mix with “her own”, attend an Ivy
League college and eventually marry within their social circle. But
Christina has her own ideas. Her best friend is an African-American girl
named Teesha. Things end in tragedy when Christina drowns, defying her
parents by sneaking out to spend the day boating with Teesha and Teesha’s
mother, Rayna.
On the surface it’s a tragic accident, but the Senator is a vengeful man
and he uses his influence to ensure that Rayna is charged with murder. His
plan is aided by the ruthless Assistant District Attorney Roger (“The
Kat”) Katz who will stop at nothing to get to the top.
Enter defense attorney David Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh has a compelling reason
to take this case. The last time he came up against Katz his client
committed suicide after a guilty verdict in a murder trial. Cavanaugh
knows Katz withheld vital evidence which would have proved his client’s
innocence, but he can’t prove it. Now with the forces of Katz and the
Senator lined up against him Cavanaugh has to battle not only the legal
system but opponents who will lie, threaten, blackmail and even kill to
win. He encounters obstacles at every turn in his attempt to build a case
to defend his client. As each day passes it looks bleaker for Rayna who is
facing the rest of her life behind bars.
UNDERTOW is a little like a game of speed chess. There are moves and
counter-moves as each side tries to manoeuvre themselves into a winning
position. If some of the characters are just a little black and white and
if there are a few minor plot points feel like they’re not completely
finished, it doesn’t really matter because UNDERTOW is about non-stop
action from go to whoa. You simply get on board and hang on for the ride.
UNDERTOW is just the thing if you are looking for some light entertainment
that won’t strain your brain. It will, however keep you glued to your seat
and saying to yourself, “just one more page and I’ll put the book down”.
Perfect for holiday or travel reading.
Sep 2006 review originally published on Murder & Mayhem
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