Street Legal: The Betrayal

Lori McLeod is a librarian with the Toronto Public Library.

William Deverell, lawyer and mystery writer, was also the creator of the
successful long-running CBC drama Street Legal. In this novel, he takes
the reader back to the summer of 1980, when the law firm of Robinovitch,
Barr, Barr and Tchobanian is struggling to keep itself afloat.

Carrington (Carrie) Barr is successful in getting charges against her
client dismissed. He is accused of being the Midnight Strangler, a
serial killer who has been terrorizing the women of Toronto. This
victory brings her another high-profile case. She is asked to defend the
charming and handsome André Cristal, who is accused of a murder
relating to a mob drug deal.

Leon Robinovitch decides to take the case of Herbert Orff, an
anti-Semite charged with distributing hate literature. Chuck Tchobanian
accepts a new client, Harry Squire, a bookseller who deals in
pornography. Chuck’s decision to defend Squire creates problems at
home: Chuck’s wife, Lisa, is an active participant in a group called
Women Against Pornography, which is clamoring for Squire’s conviction.

This highly entertaining novel about the legal profession and the
administration of justice features a strong cast of interesting
characters and a well-developed plot. The book’s many twists and turns
will keep the reader in suspense until the last page. Highly
recommended.