Books, Crooks and Counselors: How to Write Accurately about Criminal Law and Courtroom Procedure

by Leslie Budewitz

Overview

Addressing the misunderstood and misrepresented aspects of the law in today's writing, this reliable guidebook demonstrates how to use legal concepts, terminology, and procedure to create fiction that is true to life and crackling with real-world tension. Examples from actual cases are provided along with excerpts of authentic courtroom dialogue. Topics covered include criminal and civil law; differences between federal, state, and Native American jurisdiction; police and private investigation; wills and inheritances; and the written and unwritten codes that govern the public and private conduct of lawyers and judges. Providing a quick and simple legal reference, this handbook is the key to creating innovative plots, strong conflicts, authentic characters, and gritty realism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781610350198
Publisher:	Linden Publishing
Publication date:	10/01/2011
Pages:	205
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Leslie Budewitz is a practicing lawyer with more than 25 years of civil and criminal experience. Her short fiction has been featured in "Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine," "Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine," "Fish Tales: The Guppy Anthology," "Thug Lit," and the "Whitefish Review," and her nonfiction has appeared in the anthologies "Comfort for Cat Lovers" and "Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers, Vol. II." She lives in Bigfork, Montana.

Editorial Reviews

"Thorough, well-organized, and authoritative, this excellent reference also has touches of humor." —""Mystery Scene"" (June 2012)

From the Publisher

Budewitz, an attorney-at-law who has been published in mystery magazines, wrote this book to help crime writers wade through the time-consuming and often confusing process of legal research. She provides an insider's perspective on often overlooked legal concepts and pinpoints common errors writers make when incorporating criminal and civil law into their fiction. The book covers 160 topics, including proper legal terminology, realistic courtroom behavior and dialog, proper procedure (both at the state and at the federal level), and the legal system as a whole. The frequently asked questions featured in each chapter are also arranged by topic within the table of contents, enabling readers to pick and choose the legal aspects most relevant to their writing. The final chapter offers guidance on conducting legal research, and the "Book Links" section references useful URLs listed throughout. VERDICT Budewitz's material is straightforward and user-friendly. Her content will help shave off hours of research time and enable writers to focus more energy on craft, plot, and character development. Highly recommended for aspiring writers of crime fiction. [Quill Driver also published Carolyn Kaufman's The Writer's Guide to Psychology.—Ed.]—Karen McCoy, Northern Arizona Univ. Lib., Flagstaff

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