Deadlock: A Novel

By Malcolm C. Macpherson

The high-profile trial of a Chinese immigrant accused of killing the granddaughter of a San Francisco millionaire who also happens to be a U.S. senator turns into a media circus, with the spotlight focused on the bewildered defendant. But for Judge Daniel Barr, the trial becomes chaos when he receives a startling anonymous note warning him that the real killer is sitting on the jury.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684831570
• ISBN13: 9780684831572
• Release Date: February 1998
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 1.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

BETTERS GRISHAM'S LATEST!!!!

A literary rollercoaster ride!!!!! Anyone who is smart enough to grab this book is in for a realllly good read....great characters....very unusual plot and set in my hometown, San Francisco...what more could you ask for....i'd like to have this book about 150 pages longer.....this new author is definitely a keeper.....loved the author's background on this story....and hope he quits his day job and starts churning 'em out FAST!!!!

WOW! WHAT A LITERARY ROLLERCOASTER RIDE!!!!!

Being a native born San Franciscan, this was an added treat....(it's Grant AVENUE not street)...only fault I could find with this page-turner!!!! I LOVED IT!!!!! Couldn't put it down....characters are marvelous...fully fleshed out, plot was quite different than the run of the mill legal thrillers....suspense was good....wish there were about 150 more pages....keep on writing, Malcolm....but FASTER!!!!!! I loved reading the background on this book....fascinating....thanx for such a wonderful read....all of you readers out there....get this book fast....you'll find yourself and total treat and a new author to follow!!!!

A mesmerizing work

In San Francisco, Chinese immigrant Feng Shao-Li, who virtually does not speak any English is accused of murdering Holly Hawkes, the granddaughter of Senator Stanton Hawkes. The presiding judge, Daniel Barr, figures that the indicted woman has little chance of an acquittal, especially since the deceased's family has been pushing for an immediate conviction. However, the trial takes a bizarre twist when Judge Barr receives an anonymous note that claims the real killer sits in the jury box. The police, interested in a fast conviction, think the note is a fake. Barr is not so quick to write off the note. He obtains the help of an old friend and begins to personally investigate the murder of Holly even though there are powerful elements who will commit murder to keep the truth from ever coming out. DEADLOCK will please fans who like the emphasis on LEGAL in their legal thrillers. Judge Barr is an interesting individual, but this reviewer cannot see him do what he did (unless he is related to Commissioner Macmillan) without calling for a mistrial. Despite the demonstration of some incredible writing talent on the part of Malcolm C. MacPherson, the book expects the audience to make quantum leaps of faith that will instead turn off most readers that are not rabid fans of the legal procedural. Harriet Klausner