I will start this review by disclosing that, in my opinion, Dominic Dunne could do no wrong. Every month, when I open my new Vanity Fair, I still regret that there is no longer a Dominic Dunne column to savour.
Dunne's recurring character (alter-ego?), Gus Bailey is sitting in a Los Angeles courtroom covering the trial of O.J.Simpson by day. By night he is being wined and dined by L.A.'s power players eager to hear every detail of the trial. Although this book is fictionalized, real names and occurrences are used. Based on the views in Dunne's columns I would have to say that this book is only veiled with the most transparent covering of 'fiction'.
During the trial I was astounded that people actually could make themselves believe that this horrible murderer was innocent. I could hardly believe that Johnnie Cochrane was able to pull off such a side-show looking at the case through the lens of race rather than as a terrible murder of two innocent people. Like almost everyone in North America, the Simpson murder trial was part of my daily life. When it became clear that Simpson would most likely be acquitted I felt disgust that I thought was generally shared by all. WRONG. I had been at my job for a number of years working well with my colleagues and enjoying their company in my home as well as enjoying pleasant evenings in theirs. When the verdict came in, one of my friends shook her fist in my face and yelled 'That will teach you!". ...okay...
Anyway - the book offers a fascinating glimpse into the courtroom of 'The Trial of the Decade'. Dunne paints comprehensive portraits of all the major players - as only someone who has spent every minute in the courtroom can do. Because the book is fiction, he was able to paint emotion and feelings on to the characters who became so familiar to us all. If you haven't had enough of 'OJ', read this book. If you have convinced yourself of his innocence, give it a miss.
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