::READERS REVIEWS::

Lust and Greed in the Upper Peninsula - This 1958 novel became a best-seller and a successful movie. It pushed the envelope in its subject matter, something not explicitly mentioned in the press. Robert Traver was a lawyer, District Attorney, and judge in Michigan (like Paul Biegler). He turned to writing after his political defeat, he wanted to write a courtroom novel that was real and not dramatic. [If people wanted to read a real courtroom story there would be a market for trial transcripts. Most true crime books edit the courtroom scenes.] Hitchcock defined drama as real life without the dull parts. After the success of this novel his earlier writings became salable (`Introduction'). The `Prologue' tells about the rocky land of swamps and hills that is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, whose climate is like Canada.

Part One is `Before the Trial'. Biegler hears that Barney Quill was shot and killed in his bar by a soldier. Laura Manion, the wife of Lt. Frederic Manion, wants him to defend her husband. The first chapters tell about the life and character of Biegler. The comments tell about America in the 1950s and the author's views. [Some of these will be obscure after fifty years.] There is no "unwritten law". A husband can kill a man to prevent the rape of his wife, or if he has caught him at it, or to prevent his escape. Killing threatens the survival of humans and is taboo. The law prevents tribal feuds. Laura tells of Frederic's jealousy. Her injuries are photographed for the trial. Laura will be examined by another doctor. Biegler asks his friend Parnell to help. Biegler visits the Thunder Bay bar to learn the facts. Barney had been an expert marksman. He was described as a "ravening wolf". Barney was thoroughly disliked in town, he could outshoot, outfight, and outlove any man in town; a bully and a braggart. Parnell learned about that night when Mary Pilant was out late. The question of the will adds financial incentives to this murder case. Can a private person make an arrest without a warrant for a felony committed out of his presence?

Part Two is the `Trial'. The Army psychiatrist said "irresistible impulse", but most courts rejected that defense. Michigan was one of the few that allowed it. The judge overruled an objection so the evidence of the spermatogenesis was let in. This helped the defense. Another witness told of Laura's screams by the gate to the trailer park. Cross-examining the Police Detective brought out the fact that Laura was beaten and raped. The result of a lie-detector test is not admissible in court (unreliability) but Biegler got testimony of its use in this case. Biegler told Mary Pilant how the suit by Quill's former wife was stopped. The last will left the estate to Pilant so there no reason for not testifying about Quill's personality. Laura and Frederic testify. The defense's psychiatrist was contradicted by the prosecution's psychiatrist, but Biegler cross-examined and neutralized his testimony. Biegler made his closing statement (Chapter 27), which summed up the case. The prosecutor spoke (Chapter 28), the judge instructed the jury (Chapter 29). [The judged summed up for the defense.] Chapter 30 has the jury verdict. The judge congratulated Biegler. There is a surprise when Biegler goes to collect his fee! [No mention of the future life of the Manions.]

This long novel would be faster read if reduced by 30%, but would lose some of its value as a snapshot of life in the 1950s. The book implicitly criticizes the policy of putting an army base in a small-town rural area. It brings in dollars but disturbs the local society [unmentioned in this novel]. Was the film as good?

Great book really tells a complete real life murder experience in a legal sense - This book really takes you through a realistic murder from start to end. It is amazing how similar real life is to this, and yet it still maintains an enjoyable read. Warning book starts very slow for first about 70 pages.

Anatomy of a Murder - John D. Voelker was a Michigan Supreme Court Justice. He wrote Anatomy of a Murder based on a 1952 murder case under his pen name of Robert Traver. In this novel, Paul Biegler is a lawyer who was formerly the prosecuting attorny in his town. He take the case of an army lieutenant named Frederic Manion. He has been charged with shooting a bartender in front of a group of witnesses. His reasonging his wife told him the bartender raped her. After killing him, Manion goes back to his trailor park, turns the gun over to the park attendant and waits for the police. The problem is how do you defend a man who commits a murder and admits it to the police? I had put off reading this book because I didn't think I would enjoy it since it was written the year I was born. I was definately wrong. I did enjoy it. My mother informed me that there was a movie out and I want to check it out to compare it to the book. I would definately recommend this book to the younger generation. I felt the plot was well defined and the characters were well developed. I felt like I was sitting in that courtroom.

Anatomy of a Murder - Price and delivery time were very good. However the binding was not very god and sections of the book separated from the backing.

Saw the film...Had to get the Book! - I recently watched the movie and it was exceptional (particularly the court room scenes). I wanted to have the dialogue between attorney and witness in print, so I ordered the book primarily for this reason.

If you haven't seen the movie, definitely check it out.