Final Witness: A NovelRandom House Publishing Group, 2002 M12 24 - 304 pages The grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien makes a thrilling debut as a novelist in this suspenseful courtroom drama that will have you guessing to the very end. “Don’t let the author’s last name confuse you, for there are no Hobbits in this debut novel by the grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, only a wonderful story of family, relationships, and suspense. . . . Part English cozy, part family saga, part courtroom drama, this genre-bending work of fiction is touching and enchanting.” —Booklist (starred review) “The book is fast-paced and crisply plotted, with Tolkien elegantly piecing together the different perspectives and introducing unexpected twists.” —Publishers Weekly “Tolkien’s skill as a storyteller is worthy of notice in this taut, well-paced legal thriller. The excellent courtroom drama and well-drawn, believable characters make this a good choice. . . . With an easily recognizable surname, a formidable Oxford education, and a successful career as a London barrister, the grandson of the author of The Lord of the Rings is bound to create a stir with this debut novel.” —Library Journal One summer night, two men break into an isolated manor house and kill Lady Anne Robinson. Her son, Thomas, convinces the police that his father’s beautiful personal assistant sent the killers, but Thomas is known for his overactive imagination, and he has reasons to lie. Thomas’s father, Sir Peter Robinson, the British minister of defense, refuses to believe his son. Instead, he marries his assistant, Greta Grahame, and will be giving evidence for the defense at her trial. He will be the final witness. Author Simon Tolkien successfully combines legal suspense and psychological tension in this sharply etched portrait of four people whose lives are changed by a murder. Alternating between the trial in London’s Central Criminal Court and private moments among the characters, Tolkien expertly describes the art of the trial, the clash between Britain’s social classes, and, most notably, the complexity of family relations. Who is telling the truth—the new wife or the bereaved son? What will Sir Peter tell the court? With tantalizing ambiguity, Tolkien keeps readers guessing about the true motivations of these characters until the final witness. |
Contents
Chapter 4 | |
Chapter 5 | |
Chapter 6 | |
Chapter 7 | |
Chapter 8 | |
Chapter 15 | |
Chapter 16 | |
Chapter 17 | |
Chapter 18 | |
Chapter 19 | |
Chapter 20 | |
Chapter 21 | |
Chapter 22 | |
Chapter 9 | |
Chapter 10 | |
Chapter 11 | |
Chapter 12 | |
Chapter 13 | |
Chapter 14 | |
Chapter 23 | |
Chapter 24 | |
Chapter 25 | |
Chapter 26 | |
Chapter 27 | |
Chapter 28 | |
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Common terms and phrases
answer Aunt Jane Ball barrister bedroom bookcase called can’t certificate couldn’t court courtroom defendant Detective drawing room dress evidence eyes father feel Flyte Four Winds front door fucking gate gone Greta Rose hadn’t hand happened hate he’d He’s head hear heard husband I’ve inside Jane Martin John Sparling Judge Granger jurors jury knew Lady Anne Lady Anne’s Lady Greta Lady Robinson locket London Lonny looked Lord Macbeth Matthew Miles Lambert Miss Hooks mother mother’s murder never night o’clock Old Bailey Peter felt Peter Robinson police pulled questions remember Rosie Sackville scar seemed Sergeant Hearns she’d Sir Peter smiled sorry stairs stood suddenly talking tell There’s things Thomas Robinson Thomas says Thomas’s thought told took turned voice waiting walked wasn’t What’s wife wife’s window witness words You’re you’ve