The Good Lawyer by Thomas Benigno

3.5 Stars

The Good Lawyer begins with the main character, Nick Mannino, winning a case defending a guilty man of rape.  He is looking back and thinking about the victim Dina Rios, his guilt for letting a guilty person go free.  This happens when he is going to see potential client that is charged with molestation of three boys.  Nick has another case, “The Spiderman” that is another rape case and he takes on as a favor. 

Nick works for Legal Aid, has a mobster uncle, a single mother and a rich girlfriend that is the Assistant District Attorney in lower Manhattan.  There are enough twists, action and relationship drama to appeal to most.  The subject is dark dealing with AIDs, child molestation and rape.  Oh, there is a religious element thrown in the mix too, just for fun.

I liked the book and after I read it I thought about it a bit deeper and started to see more to the story than just basic story.  The cases play against each other.  They deal with stereotypes and what is generally accepted as upstanding behavior and what is not.  I’m known to over analyze, but Mr. Benigno has something to say in this book.  I liked the message.