By Robert Rotenberg, Sarah Crichton Books/Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, New York, N.Y. 2009, $26.

We have a worthy new addition to the list of important writers of compelling legal mysteries and thought provoking insights into the world of courtroom drama. His name is Robert Rotenberg. Mr. Rotenberg, a denizen of Toronto, Canada, is amongst the most respected members of the Toronto criminal defense bar. He is also a most gifted writer of contemporary fiction who offers a complex plot, compelling characters, a fast-paced read, an interesting city, and an insider’s knowledge of how the criminal justice system really works.