Serviceable Option For "Free"

William P. Wood offers a well-conceived jurisprudence scenario where a killer tries to establish his innocence by reason of insanity while a driven District Attorney battles for a conviction. The crime investigation and courtroom strategies are intuitive and sound strikingly authentic (Wood - a practicing DA IRL when he wrote this book - clearly knows the system) - but the author gets bogged down in legal minutiae at times. Besides that deficiency, Wood is also preoccupied with Work-Life Balance considerations among the characters - as any hardworking lawyer would be - and becomes too-focussed on pathos (somewhat clumsily trying to *make* his readers feel something, rather than just telling the story and letting it happen organically). The book struck me as overwritten.

As to presentation: Reader John McLain turns in a "satisfactory" narration. His diction, cadence, and tone are creditable, but his baritone timbre and John Wayne-like voice-acting interpretations are ill-suited to the subject matter. Audible Studios Inc. did well in producing a quality recording.. but could have cast it better.

In toto, I give 'Rampage' 6.5 stars out of 10. It was an entertaining way to spend a couple of quiet afternoons.. but spend your Credit on something less emotionally manipulative should it leave the 'Plus' catalog.

[NOTE: There is no mention of the McNaughton Rule - the recognized standard for legal definitions of insanity - in this book. It's a glaringly odd omission]

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