cover image Jury Double-P460996/9b

Jury Double-P460996/9b

Edward Stewart. Island, $7.85 (512pp) ISBN 978-0-440-22278-1

In this latest thriller by the author of Mortal Grace and Deadly Rich, a cult leader is on trial for murder, and the government will do anything to ensure a conviction. One twin, seeing the jury's sequestration as a perfect alibi for her felonious activities, persuades her identical sibling to serve in her place. There is subplot upon subplot swirling around this complicated trial involving everything from obscene phone calls, pedophilia, custody battles and kidnapping to blackmail, judicial blundering and even murder. The snappy, sappy, simplistic ending cannot overcome the insubstantial, windy plotlines and poorly developed, fumbling characters. (Jan.)