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Books, Crooks and Counselors

How To Write Accurately About Criminal Law and Courtroom Procedure
by Leslie Budewitz
Books, Crooks and Counselors: How To Write Accurately About Criminal Law and Courtroom Procedure. Quill Driver: Linden. 2011. 200p. index. ISBN 9781610350198. pap. $14.95. COMM
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Budewitz, an attorney-at-law who has been published in mystery magazines, wrote this book to help crime writers wade through the time-consuming and often confusing process of legal research. She provides an insider's perspective on often overlooked legal concepts and pinpoints common errors writers make when incorporating criminal and civil law into their fiction. The book covers 160 topics, including proper legal terminology, realistic courtroom behavior and dialog, proper procedure (both at the state and at the federal level), and the legal system as a whole. The frequently asked questions featured in each chapter are also arranged by topic within the table of contents, enabling readers to pick and choose the legal aspects most relevant to their writing. The final chapter offers guidance on conducting legal research, and the "Book Links" section references useful URLs listed throughout.
VERDICT Budewitz's material is straightforward and user-friendly. Her content will help shave off hours of research time and enable writers to focus more energy on craft, plot, and character development. Highly recommended for aspiring writers of crime fiction. [Quill Driver also published Carolyn Kaufman's The Writer's Guide to Psychology.—Ed.]
Reviewed by Karen McCoy, Northern Arizona Univ. Lib., Flagstaff , Dec 01, 2011
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