Old City Hall

A talk-show host confesses to the brutal murder of his young wife. The evidence is cast iron. But when a determined detective, an ambitious rookie prosecutor and a defence lawyer keen to make her mark piece together the details of the case, nothing fits. An intricately plotted web of lies, half-truths and hidden motives emerges along with a secret no one could have suspected.

“'Written by a real-life Canadian defence lawyer, this sweeping debut, with a vast, colourful cast, focuses on the apparent murder of his wife by talkshow host Kevin Brace.”

'Breathtaking . . . and all the more so because this is the author's first novel. A tightly woven spiderweb of plot and a rich cast of characters make this a truly gripping read. And of particular interest is the setting: Robert Rotenberg does for Toronto what Ian Rankin does for Edinburgh' - Jeffery Deaver

An amazing debut novel. Robert Rotenberg s Old City Hall has everything a legal thriller should have, and more: absolutely engaging characters, a tight, taut, and believable plot, a heart-quickening pace, and, best of all, some of the finest writing I ve read in years. This one has winner written all over it. - Nelson DeMille

Robert Rotenberg's Old City Hall is one of the best books I've read in ten years. I devoured it in two sittings. Rotenberg is a criminal defense attorney, defending lowlifes and celebrities alike in Toronto, and he really knows his clients. His characters are stunningly good. They're real people. His Toronto settings make this most multicultural city in North America come alive. He writes with assurance and panache. He has a series of characters who may well become a classic. He even has a sense of humor. This is one of those novels where you only need to read the first chapter to be swept away. If Old City Hall doesn't win an Edgar, I'll trade in my pen for a fishing rod... - Douglas Preston

The atmospherics, and especially Rotenberg s affection for the city of Toronto and involutions of law, make this a fast-paced, appealing addition to genre - Kirkus Reviews

'Clever, complex and filled with an engaging cast of characters...' - Kathy Reichs

'Apart from evoking the seasonal rhythms of life in the city, the novel offers a convincing portrayal of backstage operations in the justice system ... Old City Hall is an enjoyable addition to the literature of urban crime' - H.J. Jackson, Times Literary Supplement

Then suddenly, he stops talking ...' - Henry Sutton, Daily Mirror

Old City Hall is proof that Robert Rotenberg is one of the most striking writers on the current crime scene - Crime Time

Having worked in magazines, film and radio, Robert Rotenberg established his own criminal law practice seventeen years ago. He lives in Toronto with his wife, a television producer at C.B.C. News, their three children and their dog. Old City Hall is his first novel.

A talk-show host confesses to the brutal murder of his young wife. The evidence is cast iron. But when a determined detective, an ambitious rookie prosecutor and a defence lawyer keen to make her mark piece together the details of the case, nothing fits. An intricately plotted web of lies, half-truths and hidden motives emerges along with a secret no one could have suspected.

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