Review: The Candle Room by Daniel K. Gentile

One of the noblest of professions isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in The Candle Room, a gripping legal thriller by debut author, Daniel K. Gentile.

It doesn’t take long for rookie lawyer, Zachary E. Morgan, Esquire to realize that the gross over-billing practices of his Los Angeles insurance defense firm isn’t something he wants to be a part of – especially after four years of busting his butt in night school to obtain his law degree. So he quits, thinking that going into practice for himself is the better way to go. Convincing his wife, Sasha, isn’t so easy but she eventually relents, giving Zach a six-month deadline to make a go of his own firm.

One of Zach’s first clients is Andrew Pearce, a Texas transient, who is sole heir to his estranged brother’s considerable estate after the brother’s brutal murder in L.A. several months earlier. Andrew needs Zach to assist him in getting through the “legal mumbo jumbo” so he can get his inheritance but due to lack of immediate funds amounting to a retainer, he’s willing to pay Zach a percentage of his multi-million dollar inheritance.

Things ramp up in the brother’s murder investigation when a homeless man known as Scooter is arrested for the murder and Andrew himself shows up in Los Angeles and soon becomes romantically involved with Zach’s deplorable property manager. Zach finds her shot to death a short time later – and his gun missing. Suddenly, things start getting very complicated, very fast…

Writing a novel that deals with a specific profession, like the law, has its challenges. Anyone can spout legal terms, but turning them into narrative and dialogue that is understandable to the general public requires a certain amount of skill. The Candle Room has its fair share of legal jargon but Gentile has handled it so that it comes across as the casual sharing of insider knowledge into the workings of the legal system rather than an inundation of “legalese” that would be off-putting to many readers. The author also handles his transitions between narrative and dialogue smoothly.

Despite some shifting points of view and a few typos, Gentile’s story is well-plotted and equally well-executed. His voice is engaging and even witty at times, lending itself nicely to the character of his main protagonist. Somewhat brash and idealistic, Zach has much to learn about the business of practicing law. Most importantly, though, he’s prone to human frailty which makes him an utterly likable character since we’re able to relate to him as a man, a husband, a father, and as an attorney with certain scruples. Gentile doesn’t try to make Zach out to be more than he is and as a result, he resonates as a flesh and blood person. Sparkly Ginger, Zach’s receptionist, adds some humor to an otherwise serious story.

With a somewhat predictable plot, The Candle Room is nevertheless a page-turner. In part because of its predictability, the book is a comforting read. It doesn’t necessarily break new ground in the legal thriller genre, but it is well-crafted and carefully plotted, and will be highly satisfying to fans of the genre.

All in all, The Candle Room is an impressive debut by an exciting new voice in legal thrillers.