Murder By Another Name


Fiction - Mystery - General
504 Pages
Reviewed on 12/21/2010
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Jo Stone is a Colorado native, whose grandparents were all homesteaders on the Eastern Colorado prairie. She has been writing since she could spell, but this is her debut novel. Murder by Another Name was conceived as Jo battled corporate manufacturers of silicone gel breast implants in litigation across the country and in Colorado. That experience was filled with compelling clients, formidable attorneys, fascinating expert witnesses whose specialties were science and medicine , as well as considerable intrigue. She was the plaintiff's attorney in all of the silicone gel breast implant cases which were actually tried in Colorado, prior to the majority of the manufacturers, such as Dow Corning, declaring bankruptcy. Jo practices law in Parker, Colorado, but she and her husband are long time residents of the Columbine area of Jefferson County. She is also a college professor and teaches law, as well as courses in the arts and literature. She and her husband Jim have four children. Both Jim and Jo Stone are graduates of the University of Colorado in Boulder, where Jo received B.A. and M.A. degrees in English literature as a Ford Foundation Fellow. She also holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Law. While at the University of Colorado, Jo and Jim were the editors of the student literary magazine, which they renamed The Colorado Portfolio, during their tenure. Both Jim and Jo are dedicated to service above self as active Rotarians.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Paul Johnson for Readers' Favorite

A product meant to enhance a woman’s quality of life is suddenly found to do the opposite. A breast implant manufacturer’s products are causing the development of cancer in patients. Sherri Barker, a sales person for PolySurgical Specialties, a manufacturer of polyurethane coated breast implants, provides the proof but is killed by a car bomb. Severely injured in the blast is Dr. MacNamara, her lover who happens to be the plastic surgeon who inserted PSS breast implants into Pamela Lawson, a woman slowing dying of liver cancer. Pamela’s attorney, Janet Stephenson, has filed a product's liability suit against PSS and Dr. MacNamara is a key witness for PSS. Afraid of what may come out at trial, PSS and its parent company Conway Chemical, set out to kill Dr. MacNamara along with Janet’s two expert witnesses, bio materials scientists from Canada. The subsequent investigation and intrigue related to the murder of Sherri continue right up to and through the trial, which is coordinated with the criminal investigation and grand jury indictment of the principals at PSS and Conway and their criminal cohorts.

This story has it all, a cast of interesting characters, riveting courtroom drama and an expert plot that keeps the reader fully engaged. Murder By Another Name is a very large book, and I was afraid the courtroom scenes might bog down the plot. That was not the case. Without the use of explicit or strong language and excessive violence, the author has skillfully woven an excellent mystery plot with truly realistic courtroom action. As I read, I found myself eagerly awaiting the next chapter. The book did contain a couple of small formatting errors, but they did nothing to take away from the reader’s enjoyment. All in all, the author takes the reader on a thrilling voyage into the dark side, showing the deadly consequences of products rushed into production without proper testing and evaluation and moreover, the depths of corporate greed, deception, and even murder. Outstanding.