"There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of law and in the name of justice."
~Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu in 1742
This is the perfect opening quote for the suspenseful book Primal Fear. William Diehl's narrative is fast paced and engrossing- a courtroom drama, psychological thriller, and frankly a bit of a horror novel as well. Young Aaron Stampler is found holding a bloodied knife, very near the church where a beloved archbishop was brutally murdered. Enter hotshot Chicago defense attorney Martin Vail, pushed into representing Stampler pro bono. But what looks like an open and shut case takes a surprising turn when a sordid video tape involving the archbishop is found; and an investigation of Aaron's childhood in Kentucky reveals a history of abuse. I love that just when everything seems to be explained at the end, Diehl manages a final eerie twist!
Several reviews written when the book was originally published in 1993 talk about how Primal Fear would make an excellent movie. Well, they were right! The film came out in 1996 and features Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Frances McDormand, and a then unknown Edward Norton as Aaron- a stunning film debut.
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