Book Review the Professor by Robert Bailey
| Publication year | 2014 |
| Pages | 0250 |
| Citation | Vol. 75 No. 4 Pg. 0250 |
Reviewed by Angie Cameron
Alabama football, rules of evidence and suspense-it may sound like a strange combination but Robert ("Bob") Bailey has written a book that combines all three. Most book reviews in The Alabama Lawyer have been non-fiction, practical books about the practice of law, so I was intrigued by the assignment to read a "legal thriller" written by an Alabamian and fellow attorney. I am glad I took the assignment.
As the story opens, a young trial attorney, Tom McMurtrie, sits down at the Waysider restaurant (a familiar haunt for University of Alabama alums) with Coach ("The Bear") Bryant to discuss his future. Not a bad start to the book for this Alabama graduate! The Bear is persuading his former player to return to Tuscaloosa and teach at the law school. Of course, McMurtrie obliges. As the book moves on, the reader may think this was just a fleeting reference to the main character's football days, but as you will see, the end of the book does an excellent job of bringing it full circle.
Fast forward to the present day as Professor McMurtrie addresses his evidence class at the university. Following his meeting with Coach Bryant, Tom took the job as the evidence professor and has had a long distinguished career as a teacher. One of my favorite parts of the book was the description of the students in Professor McMurtrie's class. It was very similar to my own evidence class with Dean Gamble. Isn't it funny how all law school classes have the same "characters?"
In addition to catching my attention by reminding me of my law school days, Bailey captures the reader's attention in a different way with a horrible car accident. An 18-wheeler that is racing to make the next stop on schedule slams into another car turning into a gas station. The car contains a young family-mom, dad and young child. All involved die in the crash, and there is only one witness, the smalltown gas station owner. The issue of who is at fault for the accident reappears later in the book, and this witness plays an important role.
The reader is brought back to the professor, who has been summoned before the board of trustees of the university. Although Tom has had a successful teaching career at the university, he finds himself in a little hot water because he lost his temper with a student during a trial ad competition. Despite his long tenure and good record, the...
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