Defending Billy Ryan

By: George V. Higgins

Narrated by: Adams Morgan

In best-selling author George Higgins' electrifying legal thriller, Jerry Kennedy, the guy his ex-wife calls "the classiest sleazy criminal lawyer", must defend the man that no one else will: Billy Ryan.

An excerpt:
"If they didn't have Billy for selling the apple to the serpent who peddled it to Eve, it was because the serpent refused to testify against him. Professional courtesy and all that."©1992 George V. Higgins (P)1997 by Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Writes with an authenticity that is unmatched." (Washington Post)
"Flawless. Never a false word, phrase, rhythm." (New Republic)

Great story

A very well narrated story featuring great dialogue. Highly recommended.

Lawyer book

This is what takes place in the practice of criminal law. The good and the bad.

Higgins Is a Master of Dialogue.

"Show don't tell," that's what they tell you in writer's class, right? And yet there's always someone who breaks the rules so brilliantly that the rule seems stupid. Higgins is one of those. Elmore Leonard almost does that, but he mixes brilliant dialogue with explosive spurts of action....

Higgins takes the next step and almost entirely 'describes' action... second party action. Everything's reported to the listener through the filter of Higgins whacky characters. Perhaps Higgins is an acquired taste? Dunno, but I done got it.

Look, don't start this series with "Defending Billy Ryan". Nope, start learning about Jerry Kennedy with "Kennedy for the Defense" and enjoy the trip along through Billy Ryan's defense. Higgins is as good as any playwright working. And Adams Morgan, even if he affects more of an English than a Boston accent, brings these ensemble casts to life.

attorney tries to defend guilty politician

typical George V Higgins. lots of dialogue about down and dirty legal work. you must pay attention to the conversations. they are all morally if not technically guilty. the defendant the judge the district attorney are all after and hiding something. as an attorney I find all of Higgins’s work to be fascinating