Proof Positive by Phillip Margolin

Synopsis

Life is good for Bernie Cashman, a respected forensic scientist at the Oregon State Crime Lab. He inadvertently became a hero with his expert testimony that led to the conviction and execution of an apparent murderer of his 72-year-old mother with a hammer. Bernie has a secret, though. He falsified the evidence to cover his butt. He considered himself clever and had not a moment's remorse. Instead, it brought him acclaim and friends and women. It also accounted for some very frustrated defense attorneys.

It was so easy that he did it again to convict a drug dealing gangster accused of murdering one of his rivals. Bernie was a psychopath who believed himself to be judge, jury and executioner, until one of his colleagues starts to notice some of the evidence is tainted. She confronts him and demands an explanation, whereby she ends up dead - with the evidence covering his involvement, of course.

By using the omniscient point of view to tell the story, the reader is privy to the thoughts and actions of every character, so it is clear who the bad guys are and what they are up to. While this style can become redundant, it works very well in this story.

My Two Cents Worth

Given the popularity of television show CSI, this will be a book that will get a lot of notice, and for the most part, readers will find it very well written and technically accurate. The concept of an examiner gone bad will intrigue and entertain, while the solid research and clever dialogue will engage the reader throughout the story.

The plot begins to pick up momentum at about page 65, and gains speed all the way through to the end. There is very little suspense involved, but the action and characters will keep the reader turning pages.

Over all, I liked Proof Positive. It is well-written and straightforward, without excessive twists and false leads, and it tells a compelling tale of how dramatically a single individual can plausibly corrupt our entire judicial system.

Side Bar

The headlines have been full of prisoners who have been executed during the past 20 years and ended up exonerated by the implementation of DNA testing. Over 100 men have been released from prison after serving 20 years or more in the State of Texas alone.

Paperback
433 pages
just over 4 hours