Blood Witness

A Will Harris Novel #1

by Alex Hammond

One man's search for justice and redemption plunges him into the violent world of Melbourne's underbelly.

Defence lawyer Will Harris is reluctantly drawn into a bizarre murder trial. A terminally ill man claims to have witnessed the brutal crime – in a vision.

But the looming trial is more than just a media circus: it's Will's first big case since the tragic death of his fiancée.

With the pressure mounting, Will's loyalties are split when his fiancée's sister is charged with drug trafficking.

The strain of balancing both cases takes its toll and Will finds himself torn between following the law and seeking justice.

Blood Witness is a dark powerful thriller from a talented new voice.

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Fiction

344 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2013

About the author

Alex Hammond was born in South Africa and emigrated to Australia with his family as a child. He currently lives in Melbourne with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Harris is a defense lawyer and has been keeping a low profile since his fiancée, Rachel died in a diving accident two years ago. Trying to comes to terms with her death over the last few years has been extremely difficult for, Will.

So when one of Melbourne’s top defence barristers, Chris Miller asks, Will to join him in a case he's working on, Will thinks this might be just what he needs and agrees to join forces with Chris. He'll be working on defending, Martin Kier for the rape and murder of a fifteen year old girl. Will knows this is not going to be an open and shut case.

It's not long into the investigation when, Will is informed that's Rachel’s sister, Mischa is in trouble and needs help. Mischa has been arrested and charged for drug trafficking. Will knows since Rachel’s death, Mischa hasn't been herself, but he never knew she'd do anything like this in fact, Will is sure she is not guilty, but somehow he must try and prove it.

Will now finds himself under pressure as he now has two cases and neither of them are easy. Having his boss and Chris breathing down his neck is one thing, but dealing with drug gangs is an entirely different story. Has Will taken on more than he can handle or will he see both cases right through to the end?

A very compelling and entertaining read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future. Highly recommended.

[Alex Cantone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will looked around Quayle’s cluttered office. His gaze tracked over the essays waiting to be marked, the book of legal theory, the abstracts from post-graduate students. On a pin board were invitations to faculty dinners and student plays and thank-you cards from graduates. Here the law was safe, almost static, far removed from the reality of relentless deal-making and binding judgements, impacting only the grades of Quayle’s students. In Will’s world the law blighted lives and sent the innocent to prison…

Set in Melbourne, Will Harris is a defence lawyer with a prestigious law firm, but for the past two years he has wrestled with survivor guilt over his fiancée Rachel, who died in a diving accident. That all changes when charismatic barrister Chris Miller, approaches him to work as his assistant in the defence of convicted paedophile Martin Kier, accused of the rape, murder and mutilation of 15-year old Amber Tasic. Kier insists he is innocent, and the prosecution relies heavily on the testimony of Tasic’s friend , Stephanie, who saw Kier arguing with the girl hours before she was killed.

When Will examines this and other witness statements he finds one from a Peter Kovacs, who claims to have seen the murder in a “vision”. Kovacs is a gay man, terminally-ill with cancer but supported by friends, and his testimony has details only known to the police. Will goes back to the University of Melbourne where he studied law, to discuss the issue of a witness not present at the crime with his former mentor, Professor Quayle.

‘The Victorians believed that mediums were legitimate. As I said, the police had been known to use them. In this country however, we do not, although the state police in the backwoods of America are another matter...’

While seeking a precedent in law that will allow Kovas to take the witness stand, Will is caught up defending his late fiancée’s sister, Mishca, arrested on drug charges, pointing to involvement with Melbourne’s underworld.

In his debut novel author Alex Hammond delivers a taut thriller with two engaging main characters: Will, a lawyer torn between allowing a criminal to walk free and an innocent girl go to jail, and Peter Kovacs, seeking meaning in the last few months of his life, I liked the way the stories of the trial and the drugs case interweave and finally cross-over, leading to a climax of a fight to the death with the killer determined to cover his tracks, An extra half star for Toby the cat.

Verdict: highly recommended.

[MaryG2E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became quite engrossed in this story at an early stage, and read the book quite quickly. Although it is not what I’d call brilliant, I found it hard to put down. The portrait of the main character lawyer Will Harris is rather touching. He is desolate and barely functioning since the death of his fiancee Rachel two years earlier in a diving accident. His firm has given him plenty of space in which to grieve, but now it is time for him to re-engage with the cut and thrust of the legal world. A high-profile murder case involving a prominent local millionaire, Martin Kier, calls for Will’s particular kind of personal drive and lateral thinking. In his personal life Will is a loner, living in an inner city apartment with a bedraggled cat, his main outlet being his regular sparring sessions at Doherty’s Gym (Melbourne readers would be familiar with this name, being a famous and long-standing boxing establishment).

The contrast between stodgy, sad Will and the diamond-cut brilliance of ambitious barrister Chris Miller is dramatic. The impeccably groomed Miller has joined forces with Will’s legal firm, Grove, Quietly and Garrison to create a viable defence case for the seemingly indefensible Kier, who has prior convictions for possession of child pornography. A 15yo schoolgirl, Amber Tasic, has been found raped and murdered, her body mutilated then dumped in the rail yards, and she was last seen in the company of Kier. Under the supervision of the firm’s senior partner, Will and Chris must prepare an argument which will put reasonable doubt into the minds of the jurors in the upcoming Supreme Court trial. It is Will’s talent for thinking outside the box which has brought Miller to the firm, and he urges his new-found colleague to go through the evidence looking for an angle.

Indeed Will does find a genuinely out-of-left-field angle…a psychic who claims to have witnessed the murder in a vision. He visits Peter Kovacs, a frail man with terminal cancer, and becomes convinced that this person is the key to the defence case, if only the judge will agree to include his evidence. To that end Will pursues an obscure 19th century legal precedent, which remains valid, in order to get Kovacs’ evidence admitted. It is a bit of a moral minefield - as a defence attorney, Will has a strong commitment to defending his client, but on the other hand, Kier is a genuine sleaze bag, who deserves to be put away.

As the momentum builds for the defence case, Will encounters a major distraction when Mischa Shaw, the sister of his late fiancee, is arrested for drug trafficking. He feels duty-bound to support her and represent her in court. Also grieving for her deceased sister, Mischa has descended into the grimy underbelly of Melbourne society, through her association with drug dealers and the local crime ‘Family’, the Ivanics.

Thus Alex Hammond creates the scenario in which his debut crime novel unfolds. The story alternates between Will’s ‘official’ case, the defence of Martin Kier, and his personal agenda, to provide salvation for his ‘family’ member, Mischa, to honour his late fiancee. Hammond is a lawyer and has worked for several Melbourne law firms throughout his career. His insider knowledge shows in the writing - details relating to the cases are very credible. Also, Hammond’s depiction of inner city Melbourne is absolutely right, which adds an additional quality of authenticity, particularly for Melbourne readers. The incessant rain, the slippery cobblestones of the gloomy city laneways, the Establishment law firm, the court precinct…Hammond writes about them with the passion of someone who knows Melbourne well.

I think it is inevitable that this novel will be compared with the Jack Irish books of Peter Temple and Shane Maloney’s Murray Whelan. His writing shows their influence, I believe, but I must give credit to Hammond for not falling into the trap of imitating those highly regarded crime novels. His unique angle is his in-depth knowledge of the law, which invests the narrative with interesting perspectives and attention more on nuances in case law rather than police procedures. For this, and the affectionate portrait of my birthplace, I greatly enjoyed this novel. I look forward to reading more in the series of Will Harris adventures.
4 ★s

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am impressed with this well crafted crime/legal thriller, a debut fiction novel for South African born Australian, Alex Hammond.

Set in Melbourne, Blood Witness introduces Will Harris, a defence lawyer for a large legal firm. Tasked to instruct barrister Chris Miller in a high profile murder trial, Harris has to think outside the box to prevent their client from being branded a killer. The case demands all of Will's attention but when Mischa, the younger sister of his fiance he lost in a tragic accident two years before, is charged with serious drug related offences, his attempts to secure her release threatens to compromise the trial and derail his career.

Hammond deals with the novel's two major story lines and additional subplots with unexpected skill for a debut novelist. The author is a lawyer so his knowledge of legal process lends authenticity to the detail but he avoids intruding on to the flow of the novel. The story is well paced, the tension well maintained and the dialogue genuine.

The first major plot of Blood Witness involves Will's defense of Martin Keir. Wealthy and arrogant, the accused likes young girls and though he admits to sleeping with the fifteen year old victim, he denies being involved in her brutal murder. Despite the damning evidence, Harris is tasked with developing a case to establish reasonable doubt, something that seems unlikely until Harris interviews Peter Kovacs who is convinced he witnessed the crime in a dream. At first Harris dismisses the statement as unusable, simply the hallucination of a dying man, but as their defence begins to crumble an almost forgotten precedent may give Kovacs his day in court but at the risk of ruining Will's career.

The second major plot thread sees Will struggling personally as he tries to help his fiance's younger sister. Harbouring guilt over his fiance's accidental death, he is determined to do all that he can to help Mischa but his impulsive handling of her case makes him a target of a nosy journalist and places him at odds with a dangerous criminal organisation.

I particularly liked the way in which Hammond balanced the professional with the personal aspects of his protagonist. I felt I got to know Will Harris on both levels, learning what sort of man, and what sort of lawyer, he is. I found Will to be an appealing character, supported by a solid, complementary cast.

I think Blood Witness is an entertaining and interesting thriller and a great start to a new Australian crime series with lots of potential. If you enjoy crime fiction I'm happy to recommend you give this debut author and Blood Witness a try.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I was heading to Melbourne and wanted a book that was set in Melbourne to read while I was there. And I loved the references to the city which I was seeing (or had seen) for myself. I loved that Will, the main character, lived on Spring Street (which I’d walked along) and that his mother lived on Clarendon Street (where I also walked one morning). I didn’t get to see Melbourne’s legal district, so might have to check that area out on my next visit to Melbourne, but Will walked along Spencer Street and jumped on trams, as did I in my time there! Fortunately I didn’t get mixed up with any murders or dead bodies while I was there!

The story was also good and kept me interested. It was set around Melbourne’s drug scene, so was a little bit seedy, but not so much that I was turned off reading it. There were several typos throughout which I thought was unfortunate hadn’t been picked up in the editing process.

I am definitely keen to continue reading this series!

[Christine Bongers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloody good debut crime novel by Melbourne writer Alex Hammond. His ethically-impulsive protagonist, lawyer Will Harris, has all the makings of a franchise. Look forward to the next.

[Bree T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Harris is a defence lawyer working for a prestigious firm in Melbourne’s CBD. Two years ago, Will was an up and coming name, high off a string of creditable wins – he was a person to watch. But then Will lost his fiancée Rachel in a diving accident and he’s been dropping off the radar ever since.

But now top Melbourne defence barrister Chris Miller has requested Will’s help specifically on his latest case, defending Martin Kier for the kidnap, rape and murder of a fifteen year old schoolgirl. Although there’s no doubting their client has some sexual proclivities that do not mesh with society’s views, Miller doubts that he’s a murderer and he and Will need to find a creditable defence in order to get their client acquitted. There’s one witness that might hold a valuable key to their case, but first Will will need to find if he can get it admitted.

Peter Kovacs is a bedridden, suffering from pneumonia that has given him a life sentence, his immune system destroyed by cancer and the drugs he was using to fight it. He claims to have witnessed the murder of schoolgirl Amber Tasic through a vision. He has always had visions, but this is the first time he has ever experienced something like this. He felt compelled to report it right away but was dismissed by the police. In attempting to find any line of defence that he can, Will visits Peter to hear his story and finds it utterly compelling, especially as Peter knows details that haven’t been released to the media and general public and his unique situation obviously clears him as a suspect in the murder itself. Will hits the books, looking for something that will allow him and Chris to call Peter as a witness in the court case.

Will also finds himself pulled in another direction when the sister of his late fiancée is charged with drug trafficking. Mischa is troubled, but she’s not a dealer and Will desperately wants to help her. Mischa doesn’t trust him though and the further Will digs the more he begins to suspect a dangerous connection to one of Melbourne’s gangs, something that could put his life and Mischa’s at risk.

This is an addictive, engrossing story right from the very first page. Alex Hammond has a law degree and has worked for law firms in Melbourne and he captures the essence of the city and the intricacies and dilemmas of working on the side of the courtroom that attempts to free people charged with crimes. It’s a common thing to hear said to a defence lawyer “how do you sleep at night?” and Chris Miller is asked that question in this book. Hammond tackles the moral question in a very interesting and different way – there’s no doubt that Martin Kier, Chris Miller and Will Harris’s client, is a reprehensible human being. He has previously been charged with distributing child pornography (without penetration) and is well known for his fascination with young teenage girls. He’s probably -or definitely- someone that should be in jail, away from vulnerable teenage girls. But that’s wholly different to being charged with murder and even though the evidence seems to suggest that he could be and this could be an easy conviction, Will and Chris have to find something to suggest it was someone else or that it possibly couldn’t have been their client. Peter Kovacs’ vision supports the fact that it was someone else, but visions, psychics and mystics are not usually regarded with any seriousness by the Australian police who have stated officially that they do not accept any help from anyone claiming to be clairvoyant. Will has to look for another way to use the information given, something that could be complicated by Peter’s physical condition. There’s also the fact that if Martin Kier isn’t the killer then there’s someone else out there, a killer who could strike again.

Will’s devotion to the case is somewhat interrupted by the fact that his almost-sister-in-law has been charged with drug trafficking and faces a lengthy jail sentence if she doesn’t come clean about who was keeping the drugs in her apartment. Will feels that he failed Mischa after Rachel died, that he abandoned her when she needed him, in order to work through his own grief. Now he feels that he owes her and keeping her out of jail is just the beginning, although Mischa isn’t being very co-operative. Will feels like this is what he needs to do to let go and move on, although it’s impacting on his work with Miller and his boss isn’t particularly happy with him. It’s a very fine balancing, juggling act and Will is one fumble away from having everything crash down on top of him.

Will is a great character because I think he alters perceptions of defence lawyers. He’s very humanised and the way in which he deals with Mischa and Peter makes him highly likable. He’s dedicated and very intelligent and at times he is almost too good but Hammond just brings him back from the brink of too good to be true. I found his reaction to Kier really interesting, because Will doesn’t really make much of an attempt to hide the fact that he thinks Kier is a disgusting person. But he knows the law and he knows what he can use the law for and that works for the defence team quite well in this book. It did make me think, because Kier made my skin crawl and he probably should be locked up and have them throw away the key but not for something that he didn’t do. The right to a fair trial is always a fun debate and I think I agree that everyone should be able to have their day in court and that it should be up to the prosecution to present a watertight case however there are always going to be loopholes, inconsistencies that can be exploited. It’s the way of trial by jury. Sometimes guilty people will walk, sometimes innocent people won’t. It makes me uneasy but I don’t really have a better solution.

I really enjoyed this book and the end of it had a great set-up for another installment featuring Will and Chris Miller, which has already been snapped up by Penguin. I can’t wait to read it because I think this has a terrific longevity potential.

[Lizzy Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially considering Hammond is a first-time author, the story doesn’t disappoint. The opening prologue, which sets up the protagonist Will’s character and motivation, is as exciting as anything I’ve read in a long time. It says much for Hammond’s story-telling skills and augurs well for his future writing. (Blood Witness is the start of a series.)

Apart from the engaging, anti-hero protagonist and insight into Melbourne’s social and criminal worlds, what particularly interests me about this book is the way Hammond weaves in an obscure legal precedent from Britain. Hammond uses the (fictional?) case of ‘R. v Lam’, which touches on the late nineteenth-century fascination with spiritualism, both to develop intriguing plot points and moments of suspense, and also to shed light on the workings of the Australian legal system. His insights, no doubt, draw on his own background as a lawyer.

Some readers might find parts of this story confronting, particularly Harris’ legal team’s defence of the indefensible, the sexual grooming of adolescents. However the book is not without touches of grim humour to relieve the tension. Some of the humour is generated by the protagonist’s relationship with his cat, Toby, whom he has neglected:

Silence from Toby was indicative of nothing. He could be content or plotting a furniture-oriented revenge.

Elsewhere, Hammond sends up the potential melodrama of his narrative by foregrounding it. This is his description of the dying psychic, Kovacs, whose unlikely testimony becomes pivotal to the defence’s case; Kovacs is being hauled by a pneumatic lift into the back of a van:

The driver turned on the mechanism and Kovacs slowly started to rise and rattle like a bad effect from a horror movie.

While the plot is page-turning and rarely flags, as it progresses it does stretch credulity. Still, Hammond’s ‘scientific’ explanation at the end, which makes sense of some of the wilder aspects of the narrative, should satisfy sceptical readers and justify their suspension of disbelief.

Likely to appeal to fans of Law & Order, Rumpole and Rake alike, Blood Witness is overall a very good read. I’m looking forward to Book 2 in the series.

~

Note: This is a shortened version of the review that appears on my blog.
Review copy kindly supplied by the publisher.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sun was warm, the day beautiful and recently engaged Will Harris with fiancée Rachel were about to do their last dive for the day. Lowering themselves over the side of the boat, they joined the other tourists; Rachel had her camera and was searching for the best photos of the creatures of the deep that she could find.

Two years later, Will began to drag himself up from the depths of deep depression, the grief he still felt over the accident which took Rachel’s life intense. He was a defence lawyer in Melbourne, and when his boss came to him with a proposition for him to join forces with one of Melbourne’s top defence barristers, Chris Miller, over the murder of a young fifteen year old girl, he thought the time was right. His reputation, good in the past, could do with a boost. Millionaire, and known sex-offender, Martin Kier, was on trial for the murder, but Miller didn’t think he had done it. It was up to the team to get him off from the murder charge, even though they knew he deserved to be in jail anyway.

Just as Will began to investigate the Kier case, he received notification that his beloved Rachel’s older sister, Mischa, who had gone completely off the rails when Rachel died, had been arrested on drugs charges. He needed to help her, she was troubled and desperate, but he was sure she wasn’t guilty of the things the police had arrested her for.

Torn between the two cases, ordered by his boss to concentrate on the Kier investigation, Will began to see danger everywhere he looked. The drugs gangs of Melbourne seemed to be closing in, the violence was escalating and the strangeness of his confrontations was creating problems. With the pressure mounting, and sleep a thing of the past, would Will be able to bring the two cases to a satisfying conclusion?

Intensely gripping from the very start, this debut novel is a credit to the author. Combining wonderful descriptions of Melbourne, along with the facts of the law (though never overdoing it) the despicable traits of some humans, and the very likeable traits of Will, (shown in the way he cares for Mischa and wheelchair-bound Peter Kovacs), makes this a novel I have no hesitation in recommending highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

[Simone Sinna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first novel by lawyer Alex Hammond, set in Melbourne (I’m starting to get paranoid that my locations in my yet to be submitted novel are being taken, but he doesn’t go anywhere near Collingwood). It is part legal, part gritty grimy side of crime, set in the legal end of Melbourne and around little known (to locals like me) West Melbourne. Given it’s also got a “Will Harris novel” over the title, we can presume we’ll see more, though towards the end Will’s legal career and life look in doubt of any future at all.
There’s some nice taut tension between Harris, returning to the fold after the death of his fiancée, a successful and slightly greasy barrister (looking I think to return as his partner in later books) and boss who is s senior partner in the law firm who is only prepared to indulge him so much. There’s a love interest, and a well drawn gay couple, one of whom has visions, including of the murder around which this story revolves.
There’s plenty of action, page turning prose and more than enough to keep you interested. I was a bit disappointed that the opening information really didn’t tie into anything else rather than the fiancée’s sister being involved (I’m a diver and I was at least pleased he did acknowledge that she shouldn’t have died; they missed lesson 101 of diving) but I did like the alternate possibility for the vision. I’ll be looking out for the next one.

[Donna-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in two days. Simply couldn't put it down. Compelling reading and exciting storyline. When's the next one coming out?? I need more!

[Miles Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A top notch legal thriller. Stylish, unpredictable, and totally engrossing. Love the Melbourne setting too.

[Bookish Enchantment (Katherine Quirke) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good thriller. Loved how it did not take the cliche' style that so many authors take. Look forward to more work by this author. A good book that will keep you reading.

[Narelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a great read and a real page-turner. It was intriguing, thrilling and enthralling! Given it has “A Will Harris novel” at the top of the front cover; I do so hope that Alex continues Will Harris’ character in future novels he may write!

It was great to read a crime and legal thriller set in the heart of Melbourne. The main character, Will Harris, is a defence lawyer with a vulnerable side. It is easy for the reader to believe in the integrity of this character, and for readers to become supporters of this fictitious hero of the Melbourne legal system.

[Sue Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crime from a lawer's point of view. Will Harris is a criminal defense lawyer, making sure defendents are given a fair go by the judicial system. He's been on the skids a bit since his fiance died, but another firm offers him a chance to get his career back on track with the briefing role in a high profile case. Then he gets a call - his dead fiance's sister is in gaol on a charge of drug dealing. Can he handle both cases without tangling the reins? Can he stay on the right side of the ethics committee?
Pacy enough, but it didn't grab me big time. No intellectual challenge, just follow the story and suspend reality.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The legal thriller is a fairly common sub-genre overseas, but Alex Hammond’s Blood Witness is the first of this sort of book from a local writer for quite a while. Full review at http://newtownreviewofbooks.com/2013/...

[Impishfae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved it.

I found myself cheering and groaning as the novel progressed, each twist drawing me further in.

The characters are multifaceted, real. The rhythm of the dialogue and exposition is beautifully crafted.

And I finished it with a satisfied sigh. Really looking forward to Will Harris's next round of exploits!

[Deb Bodinnar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will definitely be on the look out for more books by this author. Loved Will Harris and Chris Miller think there will be plenty of cases for these two to sink their teeth into.
I really enjoyed the story with it being set in Melbourne, (my capital city) I could easily visualise where the action was taking place. Characters were real and believable. Would higly recommend this debut novel.

[Rjurik Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex is a friend, but in any case, this is a sharp, smart legal thriller, set in my home town of Melbourne. The first in a series, it has everything you would look for in such a book. Murder, a seedy criminal underworld, suggestions of the occult - the story races along from its crushing start to its bloody finish.

[Rob Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid, well paced debut bringing an interesting mix of controversial criminal defence, quick-witted problem solving and unfortunate encounters with the mob. The protagonist is human, fallible and resourceful. If you're after fresh crime novels, this one is well worth a punt.

[Cel Jel · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book club read, and not my usual type of book in this genre, so I realise that it has influenced my rating. Reasonably well crafted, but I think a little too out there in the three interwoven threads and experiences.

[Mary-Lou Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very impressive debut novel. A book that makes you miss it when you reach the end and feel grateful that there's a sequel on the way.

[Philip Taffs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloody clever premise.

Bloody atmospheric Melbourne setting.

Bloody credible hero.

Bloody good first novel.

Very Bloody enjoyable.

[Kristen Peake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, exciting story. Very cool to read a novel set in my own home town :)

[Ms Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished this just in the nick of time for Bookclub tonight. An easy read, loads of plot holes and it could have done with a bit of tightening of the story line.

[Mike Taverner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good Aussie crime novel - Will is a good bloke

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow starting but kept me reading and I liked the characters

[Geoffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me interested all the way