FOR....Lawyrs.....Mortrgage Lenders.... RealtorsR]....Home Owners...Home Buyers...

      


a Book for all of us:

Michael Connelly's  "The Fifth Witness"---[ layers will understand this term immediately] [[for the rest...it comes clear near the end of this Novel.

This is the book that kept me company from 2:15 am until 7:00am today;
We had the prediction of rain--snow--or a combination of both for today:
Barometer changes cause havoc with past surgeries on both feet;
Last night did not disappoint in this trend [of years in length]

I expected to see the 3-4" on the ground this morning by days light--but then all we had was the 'rain-snow' of steady light wet, small snow flakes that resembled rain---White rain.

It didn't come until later this morn & then it stayed only on the grassy areas--almost as if Nature took pity on us
and "shoveled the sidewalks & street".   Nice Mother Nature !

This Book [which is the purpose of this post is one great, fast moving read:

The main character is a L.A. Lawyer practicing in Criminal Defense;
Due to the economic down-turn,   he is seeing the Criminal Defense Opportunities dry up;
Mickey Haller is the Lawyer;
He decides to switch his direction to representing Homeowners in the throes of Foreclosure;

...thus the fun and mystery begins:
...two foreclosure clients are spoken of, but one takes a twist into a murder investigation;
...through this client [who now is the subject of the book], Mr Connelly  takes the reader down the long road
   that twists & turns through the avenues and dark alleys of the mortgage / Lender, 'Mills"-companies who are paid
   by said mortgage lenders to take over all the duties of actually performing the foreclosure;

Simple, right---not even close;
Connelly's main character - Haller, is  a lawyer of a client who is charged with murder- of the Mortgage Lender
individual who is named --"the big, bad, banker-person in this plot"

 Haller-- lawyer suddenly finds himself-along with his team in the middle of violence, aggressive Prosecuting Attorney, personal attacks on him & so many other items.

We are taken into the area and legality, or lack thereof, within the whole area of 'dirty-dealings' within the mess of mortgage-lending-resulting in foreclosure.  Just as you are certain that the "poor homeowners" are always being taken advantage of by said mortgage lenders; another facet of the situation reflects the seamier-side of people.

We see & find ourselves pulled into the darker venues of homeowners as schemers, homeowners who 'can't pay the monthly note, but can manage a hefty 4 figure retainer fee. 

It is a ride, and an eye-opener for anyone dealing in any manner with this entire Housing melt-down:
...whether as the Realtor[R] who is dealing with the new Buyer client;
...listing Realtor[R] of an underwater owner who has been served the papers;
...a lawyer who is representing the homeowner who is being foreclosed upon;
...a mortgage lender who is involved in the legality of this foreclosure OR who pays the "Mill" company
     to handle the  total process.

As Mickey Haller says to his very young [8 mo. out of passing the bar] on separate occasions
"It isn't about what I believe or don't believe"  and
'Don't grow a conscience...this is about the client and the law.'`

 Straight forward statements, but reasons why some should not become lawyers-[that would be me]

Enjoy this book; on the next 'bad weather' day or night---OR whenever-You will not be disappointed..