Tag: courtroom dramas

Book review: ‘The Trial of Prisoner 043’ by Terry Jastrow

prisoner43Terry Jastrow worked in sports television for years producing and directing telecasts and that work earned him seven Emmy Awards. As an actor, he worked in theatre, film and television and in 2015 he wrote, produced and directed the feature film The Squeeze. His first novel “The Trial of Prisoner 043” is a political and courtroom drama that poses the question: what would happen if George W Bush were prosecuted for war crimes?

“The Trial of Prisoner 043” starts off with Chapter One, The Abduction, set in St Andrew’s, Scotland as former president of the United States George W Bush is playing golf. He is abducted by a team of paramilitary commandoes and transported to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to stand trial for war crimes relating to the Iraq War. The ICC prosecutes individuals for the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and since it has spent a year collecting evidence, it is time for Bush to be indicted as the one person most responsible for the war.

Even though the United States is one of the few western nations that do not participate in this court, the case moves forward, and it is presented to a panel of the judges with no jury. The rest of the book consists of the replaying of all the evidence for and against the Iraq War and the author uses real quotes from some of those involved in the war effort, including the head of the UN Iraq weapons inspection team, Laura Bush, George W Bush and Condoleezza Rice. In the end, he is released into US custody with the understanding that he will stand trial in the United States within twelve months for the same crime.

Even though this is a work of fiction it is based on true events. While the easy abduction of a former president may be hard to believe, it is not the most important part of the story. It is easy to read and understand and readers who are not into political drama should not be afraid to give this one a try. The courtroom drama more than makes up for any misgivings about politics, making it a suspenseful page-turner. One of the most interesting points the author poses is whether ISIS is a direct result of the American invasion of Iraq because the Iraqi Army was disbanded by the United States after the war. No matter which side of the political spectrum, the reader will appreciate the immense research Mr. Jastrow did for this novel. As proof, he cites his sources in the Author’s Notes. The subject is not overwhelming, so this book is recommended for anyone who appreciates a good courtroom drama based on modern day politics.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this article are solely the author’s.

 

Book review: ‘A Harvest of Thorns’ by Corban Addison

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‘A Harvest of Thorns’ is the new novel by Corban Addison.Photo: amazon

Corban Addison is an attorney, activist, world traveler and author who supports numerous humanitarian causes including the abolition of modern slavery, gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS. This latest novel ‘A Harvest of Thorns’ was released in January which was also National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It tells the story of a factory fire in Bangladesh and the picture of one of its young victims that unmasked the abuses and working conditions that factory workers face.

‘A Harvest of Thorns’ begins with the Prologue set in Bangladesh at the Millennium Fashions Factory where a fire breaks out and claims the lives of hundreds of workers, most of them women. Two of those victims are Nasima and her younger sister Sonia. Nasima dies but Sonia survives by jumping out of the building and over her mouth is a mask made from pants belonging to an American retailer, Presto Omnishops Corporation. When Cameron Alexander, one of Presto’s employees, finds out he sets out to investigate but when he takes his findings to his bosses they ignore him. He has no choice but to rely on Joshua Griswold, a disgraced former journalist from the Washington Post who takes the information and uses to launch an investigation of his own. What follows is a historic case against Presto in the courtroom and the media that Joshua sees as his redemption and Cameron hopes will ease his guilty social conscience.

It is both a courtroom drama and an eye-opening account of working conditions, the enslavement of workers and the abuses that women suffer overseas at these manufacturing factories. Even though it is a work of fiction it makes readers aware that conditions such as these still exist and that they should at least stop and consider where their clothes come from. In the author’s note at the end he lists ways in which conscientious consumers can get involved and make a difference. The subject matter is intriguing and the language and pace of the story makes it a quick and easy read. There is enough character development to make them relatable and helps readers empathize with their stories. ‘A Harvest of Thorns’ by Corban Addison is recommended for socially conscious readers who want to widen their knowledge of worker and human rights.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.