At the conclusion of Invasion of Privacy, there was a hint of a possible romance between Lake Tahoe attorney Nina Reilly and her colleague Collier Hallowell. At the beginning of Obstruction of Justice, Nina finally gets her date with Collier as they take a hike up the Tallac mountain peak. On their trek, they meet some interesting characters. A sudden thunderstorm with lightning has the couple running for cover and their lives. While scrambling for shelter, the two attorneys hear the large boom of a lightning strike above them and see a man fall off a cliff.
The man in question was Ray deBeers of the wealthy Tahoe construction family. What should have been a tragedy is really a mystery that's opened up a whole can of worms. Widow Sarah and 19 year-old twins Jason and Molly aren't exactly in mourning. Ray's father, Quentin, is causing trouble as well with his demands that the body be exhumed for further investigation.
Nina represents Sarah deBeers against Quentin's request. Though Ray did die from a lightning strike, the smart attorney thinks something's not quite right.
At the same time, Collier Hallowell, shoe-in for DA in the next election, is still mourning the loss of his wife three years ago. Anna was stuck and killed by a hit-and-run driver. The police leads have gone cold, so Collier hires private investigator Paul van Wagoner to find his wife's killer. Loyal O'Shaugnessy readers will know the significance of the Paul/Nina/Collier love triangle.
Obstruction of Justice follows the events that occur after Ray deBeers's death. Nina finds that there are many dark family secrets that were raised once the lightning struck. What are Sarah, Molly and Jason hiding?
Paul also discovers new leads regarding the death of Anna Hallowell. Though Paul and Nina are working on separate cases, they will find it's a small world after all.
Obstruction of Justice is the third installment in the popular Nina Reilly series. Sisters Pamela and Mary, writing together under the name Perri, introduced readers to their gutsy character in Motion to Suppress.
This novel has Nina moving out of her brother's house to her own cabin while continuing to establish herself as a reputable Tahoe attorney.
The story is intriguing, especially the deBeers's reaction to Ray's death. Series regulars Sandy and Wish also play a part in the investigation. The plot's pace slows a bit in the middle, but picks back up when the two sides get to court. Rest assured sparks fly with Nina and Collier at opposite ends of the bench.
O'Shaughnessy's series is highly recommended. Nina is an imperfect yet endearing character. She faces some tough opponents but always sticks to her guns. It's recommended that readers start with Motion to Suppress to get the whole scoop on the leading lady and her family. It's best to read the books in order, as well. There are some stunning developments that are best discovered in due time.
If you're in the mood for a legal thriller, keep O'Shaughnessy's work in mind. The stories are interesting and exciting, without the cookie-cutter courtroom grandstanding featured in other popular law-based novels. Obstruction of Justice shouldn't be missed.
