“A Good Killing,” Allison Leotta's new legal thriller, has sex-crimes prosecutor Anna Curtis heading home to defend her sister, who has been arrested in the death of a high-school coach.
Anna's sister, Jody, was last seen with the coach in a bar, and they went away together. Jody has had a crush on him since her high-school days, so would an affair be out of the question? She says they were sleeping together, which explains evidence found in her home. She was the last person to see him alive before he crashed his car.
Jody's innocence grows doubtful as the story unfolds. An uneasy truth that the town wants to ignore doesn't help Anna's case, even if it means injustice.
“A Good Killing” is a mix of “Law and Order: SVU” with a dash of John Grisham and romance. Like the best episodes of “Law and Order,” the main premise is ripped from the headlines, but to mention the specific case would give away too much.
Leotta knows her way around the courtroom in real life and doesn't avoid uncomfortable topics. Following Anna Curtis on the path to the truth is an enjoyable one.
Jeff Ayers is a staff writer for the Associated Press.
