Review: Deeply Evocative but Uneven
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 29, 2012
Treacherous Obsession was a very uneven book. Parts of it were lyrical, beautifully written, evocative of a decent man with a deep emotional life - despite his occupation as an attorney. Attorney Kevin Charles is living the life of Everyman, with a lovely wife, a young daughter, a nice home and financial security from practicing law in an ethical manner. An old law school buddy invites him into a big tobacco suit that is a collaboration with well placed politicians in FL. The financial aspect will be huge and  Kevin buys into the deal. Later, he is talking with some of the other lawyers about the deal and admits to having some ethical qualms. The head of the deal starts to worry and decides that Kevin needs to be shut out and totally discredited as an attorney so that he can't come back and sour the big tobacco settlement. The nefarious plot works: the plan costs Kevin his wife, daughter and home. Kevin is later able to exact revenge and get his share of the deal, allowing him total financial independence. He travels, writes but cannot get published, and leads an uncluttered but unsatisfying life until he settles in CA and meets Jean.The story would be good with less philosophizing, better editing and a clear cut, satisfying ending. Is the treacherous obsession really the lead attorney's obsession with ruining Kevin or is it Kevin's constant loop of self recrimination without taking action to resolve his moral and personal dilemmas.