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Sidelines Books for pleasure
One more legal fiction review, with a special offer to readers
Holiday reading
Daisy Chain (Gary Moffat)
Gary Moffat is a partner with Burness
and this is his first novel.
Logan Finch is a lawyer, who
almost has it all, but his former
girlfriend Penny Grant is murdered,
her 11 year old daughter Ellie is
missing, and newly promoted DC
Irvine investigates. Cahill, Finch’s best
client and friend, runs a security
business.
The prologue, graphic and
uncompromising, introduces the
main characters in this tense novel
that maintains a fast pace throughout.
The action takes place over three days.
The main characters are all driven to
achieve their individual goals within
Hearsay
Lion into Scullions’ den
Old soccer legends never die, it seems,
but they occasionally turn up at the
opening of lawyers’ offices.
So ex-Celtic captain and Lisbon
Lion Billy McNeill discovered when
invited to do the honours at
Hamilton firm Scullions’ new
premises. The firm does not lack
ambition, if photos of the former
bank premises in Cadzow Street
during the renovation work are
Star struck
Tods Murray are claiming a mention in credits for
“Scotland’s first animated feature film created
by husband and wife creative team Tessa and
Sascha Hartmann”, due out next year. Sir
Billi, Last Remaining Guardian of the
Highlands reunites Sir Sean Connery and
Dame Shirley Bassey (left) for the first time
since their Bond days, both providing
vocals, and features (strictly off screen) Tods
partner Richard Findlay for signing up a
strong cast, the music deals and generally
keeping the project this side of the border.
62 / theJournal December 09
a limited time frame. The villains are
more background characters, being
seen as “foot soldiers”.
As the story unfolds, so too the
strengths and weaknesses of the main
players appear. Ellie is determined not
to give in without resistance and her
retention of her father’s photograph
maintains her faith in that
relationship. She has no bargaining
skills and so must seek other ways of
avoiding harm. Her determination is
mirrored in DC Irvine, who also has
limited scope within which she has to
function, though as an adult she has
other experience to call on.
The author’s attention to detail as
in police procedure is commendable.
anything to go by – not to mention
the attendance of around 200 guests
at the four partner family firm’s
celebration.
The Journal has previously featured
Scullions’ investment in modern
systems (October 2007, 30), and is
pleased to see how it is paying off.
But to finish the way we started,
you’ve probably heard that old
lawyers never die, they just… wait
for it… lose their appeal.
The whoops!
corner
The author’s
attention to
detail as in
police
procedure is
commendable
The ending is swift and leaves open
the possibilities of Finch, Cahill and
Irvine coming together in some future
plot. The title of the book is symbolic
of the tie-up between Finch and Ellie
as something that is made simply, is
easily damaged but can be repaired or
even replaced.
This novel is an excellent example
of its genre and is a very worthwhile
read. It is recommended.
George Kennedy
To order Daisychain at an exclusive price of
£8.99 (including free p&p), simply call 01235
827702, or email mailorder@bookpoint.co.uk,
and quote reference “LAW SOCIETY”
US attorney Orly Taitz has been fined $20,000
by a Georgia district court for misconduct by
“abusing her privilege to practise law”, and
pursuing a political agenda, through repeated
attempts to compel discovery of President
Obama’s birth certificate in order to show that
he was born outside the USA, and therefore
not eligible to hold office and not the
legitimate Commander-in-Chief – all in the
attempt to prevent army reservist clients being
deployed to Afghanistan, even pursuing one
case after the client’s notice was revoked.
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