A Naked Singularity

Sergio De La Pava
Xlibris Corporation (2008)
ISBN 9781436341998
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (1/09)

 

The author has created a wonderful, sarcastic, humorous book through the eyes of a public defender of our criminal justice system. Casi, the main character and public defender, first begins his tirade of the criminal justice system when he vocalizes about individuals who have become “bodies” in police and court precincts. He continues to discuss how these individuals got into the system in the first place- did they actually commit a crime? Was it the environment they lived in or was it the need for over-time for the officers? As we read this I know, and you know, we have all questioned this at one time or another.

Public defenders don’t get a choice of whom they will represent- and sometimes their caseload is so high at some point they don’t care. But as we see in Casi, he does care and he does want to help out his fellow man- but he can’t do it in this crazy, mixed-up environment. The author’s vivid descriptions of lawyers, the system and the criminal make you believe you are in court with them. You will shake your head at some of the stupidity we all know happens. At some point, Casi decides that he must make a change and maybe he isn’t cut out for this type of work. He will not take what others force on him- but what happens then?

When one of his clients is killed, Casi is approached by the police asking him what he knew. He knew plenty, but in his usual way he makes it a riddle for the police as he decides they will be coming for him, because a lot of money that was supposed to be on the dead client has disappeared and they think Casi knows where it is, or has it. It is then the race for his life is on.

“A Naked Singularity” by Sergio De La Pava is an extremely long read at six-hundred eighty-nine pages. Some of the dialogue and action became a bit tedious to read, yet at the same time you are caught up in the author’s vivid descriptions of what is going on and for this reason can’t put the book down.

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