Title: Beyond Terror: Battered Wife on Trial for the Alleged Murder of Her Husband
Author: Raoul D. Revord, ESQ
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-46204-864-9
Pages: 244
Genre: Fiction / Mystery & Detective

Reviewed by: Joe Kilgore

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The subtitle of Revord’s book Beyond Terror is A Battered Wife on Trail for the Alleged Murder of Her Husband, and that’s exactly what this book is about—the trial. While there is a short sequence prior to the trial itself, as well as repercussions and revelations after the verdict, the bulk of the novel concerns itself with what transpires inside the courtroom. That approach by this author, often emphasizes detail at the expense of drama.

Jean is a battered wife who shoots and kills her husband. David is the defense attorney hired to defend her. The tale is written from David’s perspective as he takes readers on a meticulously detailed journey of all that is involved in defending this woman who has been charged with murder. Since there is no denial or debate that Jean did indeed fire the fatal shot, David must determine the best way to defend her. He considers temporary insanity, but then rejects it and settles on self-defense. Thus begins an examination of all that is involved in providing that defense.

The actual events surrounding the killing are looked at from multiple and conflicting angles. Since there was no actual eyewitness, there is only what Jean says happened, what relatives who were nearby by but not present in the actual room think happened, and what the prosecution believes happened that caused them to bring forward a charge of murder.  Since there is no denial or debate that Jean did indeed fire the fatal shot, David must determine the best way to defend her. He considers temporary insanity, but then rejects it and settles on self-defense. Thus begins an examination of all that is involved in providing that defense.

Revord’s book is a step-by-step procedural on just what is involved in the preparation of the defense, the actual trail itself, and the necessary prerequisites for dealing with a verdict that might go against the defendant. As such, a degree of repetitiveness is to be expected, and is definitely on display as the story unwinds. Chapters sequentially keep readers onboard with headings such as, Opening Statements, The Prosecution’s Case, The Case is With the Defense, Rebuttal Witnesses, etc.

As in all trials, there is a degree of suspense as to what the final verdict is going to be. Plus there is a valuable extended examination of spousal abuse and all the harm it inflicts not merely on the abused, but also on other family members. Revord’s prose is straightforward and specific as you might expect from the longtime trial lawyer that he is. He does however, recognize most novel readers’ unending appetite for twists and turns, so he supplies a surprise ending that you definitely won’t see coming. If you like your courtroom mysteries to be credible as well as compelling, this may be one you’ll want to put on your docket.