
http://www.authortoddjohnson.com/author.php
The CFBA's second tour for this week is the debut novel by Todd M. Johnson titled The Deposit Slip, published by Bethany House. Todd's credentials for this billed "legal thriller" are impressive including 30 years as an attorney specializing as a trial lawyer plus other striking accomplishments.
When a trial lawyer becomes an author, I find it fascinating that he chooses to reinforce the stereotype. We know most stereotypes evolve from a place of truthful witness, but sometimes it's a bit disconcerting to have them reinforced by those individuals who know them best. The Deposit Slip is full of the big law firm stereotypes and the struggling independent ambitious young attorney who withdraws from the grind and barely attainable prestige of the big firm to start his own practice, convinced he can make it on his own.
Jared Neaton escapes the hallowed halls of one such firm and takes his legal secretary with him. "Jessie" is high energy and devoted to Jared, but when one of his big cases flounders and takes a huge chunk out of their finances with it, she's shocked when he takes on a referral from his old mentor that looks impossible to win and even more impossible to finance.
The case involves a deposit slip found in a safe deposit box left to a woman by her father, a receipt from the local bank in her (and Jared's) hometown where she's come to take care of her father's estate which, outside of the old farm where she grew up, doesn't amount to much until she discovers the deposit slip amounting to over 10 million dollars. Everything about the slip appears to be authentic, but she hires an attorney when the bank insists they know nothing about it.
Jared dreads his return to his hometown of Ashley, Minnesota, where this case is based, mostly due to his longtime multiple daddy-issues, including his father's theft from his employer and his consequential imprisonment, served time, and release, amounting to total betrayal to the high school age Jared at the time. Although never divorced from his mom, they've been separated for years. Why his dad moved back to Ashley, where a lot of the townsfolk still hold a grudge against him, Jared can't figure.
Jared's former firm has two of its most cutthroat attorneys representing the Ashley Bank that claims no such deposit was ever made to it by Jared's client's father. It's Jared's job to weed through all the irrelevant material, claims, and physical threats and actions to discover who really might know what took place around the date of the deposit.
Jared himself strikes me as the typical young attorney, a passionate go-getter, but with a tendency toward bitterness and rage holding onto his anger and unforgiving attitude toward his dad. As this case develops, his faults surface and he's forced to evaluate who he's becoming. He's one of those protagonists who's sometimes hard to root for, unlikable at times because of his issues, but he keeps our attention in hopes that he'll win for the client and for real justice.
With planted spies to learn what Jared knows, two diverse private eyes, veterans who knew the deceased, a young college student traveling abroad, a wise librarian, a drunken farmer, and a hired hit man, the risks to solve this case affect both sides of the courtroom.
Okay. Good story. Some well-developed and interesting characters. Not bad writing for a first effort. Here comes the "but", and I emphasize here these are my gripes:
The stereotypes. There were some good descriptions depicting the various attorneys and their elitist gestures and attitudes, but nothing new here - and maybe that's because there's a lot of truth to the stereotypes. Nevertheless, it felt very familiar. Similar in feel to the film The Rainmaker and others of its kind.
***SOME MINOR SPOILERS***
The money. Over and over it's emphasized how behind Jared is with his bills, how he can't finance this case, the strain of the financial situation on Jessie, and yet he takes off for Greece to locate a potential witness, has to pay multiple Euros to get information once he's there ( the current Euro equals approximately $1.24), and still has money to dine out repeatedly. I know he could max out multiple credit cards, but the emphasis is such that some of his activities don't jive with having little to no funds available.
An incident in Greece. Given the background of a particular character, this just wouldn't have happened. Too obvious and careless for this experienced individual.
Another incident near the end with the same individual who was in Greece. Very hard to believe it would've played out this way.
***END OF SPOILERS***
Over-billing it as a legal "thriller". I think legal "suspense" is more accurate.
In conclusion to this rather lengthy review I do agree The Deposit Slip by Todd M. Johnson will satisfy those readers who enjoy Randy Singer and Robert Whitlow novels. The faith elements in the story were miniscule, but a positive message prevailed in the end. Todd definitely has another career ahead of him.
Father, you've given Todd multiple talents. May he always follow your directions and write the stories you have for him to tell. Bless all of his efforts done for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.