The Juror by George Dawes Green

Single mother Annie Laird makes a huge mistake when she joins the jury at the murder trial of mob boss Louie Buffano. Immediately, Annie is contacted by the Teacher, a Buffano lackey, who makes it clear that her life, and that of her son Oliver, depend on her saying two words: Not Guilty. And so begins Green's masterfully manipulative thriller, a gem of deft plotting given added lustre through its rich, if not wholly cohesive, characterizations. The plot, jittering from one brutal, clever twist to the next, will keep readers in a cold sweat. - Publisher's Weekly This novel is less a courtroom drama than a gripping psychological cat and mouse game. It should be in very high demand in public libraries. - Library Journal Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly Single mother and struggling sculptress Annie Laird makes a huge mistake when she joins the jury at the Westchester murder trial of mob boss Louie Buffano. Immediately, Annie is contacted by the Teacher, the sleek, Lao Tse-quoting eminence grise behind Buffano, who makes it clear that life, and that of her son Oliver, depend on her saying two words: Not guilty. And so begins Green's (The Caveman's Valentine) masterfully manipulative thriller, a gem of deft plotting given added lustre through its rich, if not wholly cohesive, characterizations. Annie is an especially fine creation, victimized by her whipsawing emotions as she panics, rebels, crosses her conscience and plots to trap the Teacher. The Teacher is equally complex, an utterly logical madman whose portrait is flawed only by his unlikely romantic obsession with Annie (Buffano alone is a throwaway character, too clearly modeled on John Gotti). The plot, jittering from one brutal, clever twist to the next, will keep readers in a cold sweat. Green pushes buttons without remorse, always keeping his finger poised above the one marked Oliver's death-and as it descends at book's end, the tension is nearly unbearable. 200,000 first printing; major ad/promo; Literary Guild and Doubleday Main Selection; audio rights to Time Warner AudioBooks. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate paperback edition. About the Author William Dufris has been nominated nine times as a finalist for the APA's prestigious Audie Award and has garnered twenty-one Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine, which also named him one of the Best Voices at the End of the Century. He has also acted on stage and television in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. --This text refers to an alternate paperback edition. From Booklist Annie Laird and her adolescent son, Oliver, lead average lives. Annie is struggling financially and artistically, earning money as a data-entry clerk during the day so she can sculpt at night. Oliver enjoys computer games and has a crush on his mother's best friend. Both of them have fantasies of a better life, but not the life they are about to live. Immediately after Annie is accepted as a juror for a famous Mafia case, a mysterious, sexy businessman pays $12,000 for three of her works, with the promise of further purchases. And before the initial thrill of success wears off, Annie discovers that Vincent, aka the Teacher, doesn't need Annie's artwork. What he needs is an acquittal for his Mob-boss friend. And if he doesn't get it, well, he'll kill Oliver. A fair exchange. Watching Annie's every move, the Teacher comes to know what she will do even before she does it. In fact, he dictates through threats and pyschological games exactly what she will do. With her options disappearing before her eyes, Annie tries frantically to protect her son and escape the clutches of a very disturbed individual. But she can't outsmart this guy--she's got to kill him. A thrilling climax in Guatemala wraps everything up satisfactorily. The big publicity campaign will result in demand. Kathy Broderick --This text refers to an alternate paperback edition. From Library Journal Annie Laird is a single mother, a part-time data entry clerk, an aspiring sculptor, and a juror selected for the murder trial of a mob boss. When a suave, handsome art broker buys some of her work and then invites her to dinner, she thinks her luck may be changing. Her supposed admirer, a Wall Street financier and Taoist nicknamed The Teacher, is actually the brains behind the jailed mobster. The Teacher is incredibly charming; he's also a vicious killer. He promises Annie the continued safety of her son and the assurance of a lucrative artistic career in exchange for help in acquitting the mobster. But even if Annie agrees to the plan, she and her son may not be safe because the Teacher soon discovers he's in love with her. This novel by the author of The Caveman's Valentine (LJ 12/93) is less a courtroom drama than a gripping psychological cat-and-mouse game. It should be in very high demand in public libraries. Charles Michaud, Turner Free Lib., Randolph, Mass. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate paperback edition. From AudioFile Annie Laird doesn't know the horror that awaits her when she's picked to serve on the jury of accused murderer and mobster Louie Buffano. The dual readership of Davidovich and Heard functions perfectly. Heard takes on the gritty, tough voices of the mobsters while Davidovitch counter-balances with the innocent, terrified voice of Annie. I.Z. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an alternate paperback edition.