The Patent Lie
by Paul Goldstein
Published by Anchor Books, a Division of Random House, Inc.
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Reviewed by Barbara L. Fielder
Ready for a legal thriller to consume your summer at the shore? If your answer is yes, then author Paul Goldstein has written a book that begs you to turn the pages.
Attorney Mike Seeley, practices law in Buffalo, New York. Why there? He and his brother Leonard grew up under a father who took his drunken rage out on his wife and boys. Mike found some profound comfort in living and practicing his craft on familiar turf, especially after being forced to leave his high-powered Manhattan law firm. His younger brother, Leonard, moved to San Francisco and began his life with his wife Renata, a noted surgeon.
Leonard returns to Buffalo to ask Mike to fly to San Francisco to take over a legal battle for the validity of a patent in the District Court for his biotech firm employer. It seems that Mike is not all that enamored with satisfying his brother’s urgent request as they really are not that close. Mike has no reason, as Leonard’s brother, to pick up and travel to San Francisco, however there is an ego lurking in Mike that needs to be satisfied.
Taking on a legal battle against a foreign giant pharmaceutical company to establish a new AIDS vaccine patent’s validity for a small biotech company was a David and Goliath history-making trial. He was intrigued and involved.
There are more than enough behind-the-scenes alliances, court room, and personal drama to keep you engaged. What you’ll discover is that Mike has jumped into a quagmire that may ultimately become life threatening, or at the least, bring his ethics and morals into question. Surrounded by a competent legal team, Mike can’t seem to shake the feeling that not all the pieces are in place for David to slay Goliath.
The author dives deeply into the characters and creates a rich tapestry of backstories that influence the outcome of this well-written story. Read this summer legal thriller now–you don’t need to wait for another John Grisham book to take you into a courtroom battle or its intrigue.
Armchair Interviews says: Excellent legal thriller that has a most interest premise.