Law & Order (TV Series) Murder Book (2007) User Reviews

I know the difference between vengeance and justice, Arthur. We have a solid case.

[Mrpalli77 · 8/10 · 6 February 2018]

A maintenance man noticed a bag that prevented elevator doors from closing. Some blood stains were left on the wall with broken glasses on the ground: a woman lied on the floor after being repeatedly beaten. She was strangulated. Cassady figured out she was a publisher and recently she promoted a controversial book in which the writer described the way he would have killed his murdered wife. That's why she received several lawsuits. The writer, a former baseball player, lived like he was an inmate inside his aparment, due to paparazzi who followed him 24/7. Anyway, the victim had a dinner the night before with the baseball player, something he forgot to mention to detective; they had a sex relationship and he gave to her the book with "goodbye" signature that ended in the hand of another unsuccessful writer: to reduce his sentence, the guy (a ghostwriter) stated to know something about jurors' bribery in the wife murder.....

A very twisted episode, McCoy was sure to convict the right killer, but he made a mistake; anyway it's very hard to prove what he thought. He had to do his best with several tricks at trial, but defense attorney (Mario Van Peebles) is a tough guy.

Murder by the book

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 14 September 2022]

While it is not unfamiliar territory, the literary world and how less than glamorous it can be has proven many times to lend itself very well, and even brilliantly at best, to mystery/detective/legal drama/procedural shows. As has been said before quite a lot, 'Law and Order' does revisit themes and scenarios at least once, especially in later seasons, but when it is a story that is especially compelling and a topic that is always worth addressing it isn't an issue.

"Murder Book" may not be anything original and one half is better than the other, but it is still a very solidly executed episode with more done right than wrong. It is not one of the best episodes of a generally solid Season 17 (with "Deadlock" being particularly outstanding of the great episodes), but "Murder Book" also is not one of the worst with it being better than half of the episodes that were after it. Season 17 started off very well, despite never solving the recurring issues, but ended disappointingly.

The first quarter is nothing out of the ordinary and is somewhat formulaic and Milena Govich is anaemic.

Jesse L Martin and S Epatha Merkerson are great though, while Sam Waterston and Alana De La Garza (with Rubirosa being the general ADA assistant since Carmichael and that is saying a lot) carry the legal scenes beautifully. But the supporting cast are even better, with Mario Van Peebles enjoying himself as the very juicily written defense attorney and Bobby Cannavale unsettlingly playing a character that one roots for to be sent down.

Photography while very close up doesn't come over as too static or filmed play-like, while the production values are typically solid and have subtle atmosphere while not being drab and keeping things simple. When the music is used it is haunting and has a melancholic edge that is not overdone. The episode is sympathetically yet uncompromisingly directed.

Furthermore, the script is typically tight and intelligent with an uncompromising grit. There is a lot of talk, but it doesn't feel too much. Once the story gets going, it quickly grabs the attention and the legal scenes are riveting.

Overall, very solidly executed. 8/10.

Shades of O.J.

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 1 February 2015]

This particular Law And Order show finds Jesse Martin and Milena Govich investigating the killing of a literary agent. This agent got herself involved with a former baseball star who was tried and acquitted for killing his wife. His golden glove I guess didn't fit. In any event this case has certainly rankled Sam Waterston.

Bobby Canavale plays the former player who I guess will not be making Cooperstown any time soon. What Canavale has done is write a tell all memoir in which he takes full advantage of double jeopardy to shout to the world he beat the rap. But now he's facing a new rap.

The issue here for Waterston is how to get this guy convicted as testimony about the book is ruled inadmissible. The judge and the defense want to make sure Canavale is convicted for the right crime.

Canavale is such an arrogant smarmy creep quite frankly if I were in Jack McCoy's place I'd take it any way it comes.

I think Waterston feels the same way.