The Legacy

THE LEGACY by D W Buffa

D W Buffa's previous novels; THE DEFENSE, THE PROSECUTION, and THE JUDGMENT; were wordy novels that were redeemed through intricate plots and endearing characters. His latest novel THE LEGACY is not that fortunate. It too is wordy, and the plot doesn't overcome that issue. The reader reader is required to invest too much time with too little payoff.

Once again the lead character is Joseph Antonelli, the central figure in Buffa's other stories. He is a gifted defense attorney who is asked by his cousin to come to San Francisco to talk about a case. The case in question concerns the murder of a United States senator. The person accused of the crime, Jamal Washington, is the son of a friend of Antonelli's cousin's partner. Still with me?

As Antonelli begins preparing Washington's defense, some mysterious facts begin to emerge. It seems there are many in the higher levels of political power who would have benefited from the Senator's death. One of whom might have been the President of the United States. When Antonelli is approached by a Russian defector and told his life is in danger, things really begin to go crazy.

All of this sounds like the makings of a tight, tense thriller - but it is not. All of these occurrences take place over pages and pages and are divided by moments of reflection on Antonelli's life. He ponders who he is and what he is, and questions whether or not he can find peace and love again in his life.

When the trial itself finally takes place it is given short shrift and fades away. This could have been the high point of the book but it isn't. This is where Buffa really fails the reader and takes away any entertainment value the story might have produced.

Buffa knows his way around the law and the workings of the court system. He also has shown in the past that he can create strong, suspenseful storylines that will entice a reader into his fictional world. But in THE LEGACY he stumbles badly and never does anything right. He just rambles and rambles until he wears out his welcome and the reader's patience.

Here's hoping his next try will be more of a success. If he can cut down on the wordiness of his story, or at least make it more interesting, he might have a chance to win back some of the readers he loses with this one.

THE LEGACY is published by Warner Books. It contains 436 pages and sells for $25.95.