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This is a discussion forum topic for the November 2023 Book of the Month, The Impossible Mock Orange Trial by Thad G. Long.


Did you feel you could identify with the characters, and were they authentic in your opinion?

Yes, in my opinion I think the characters were authentic and I feel I can identify them.

For some reason I could really relate to the characters, maybe it's because I come from a family that deals with law cases. I guess maybe that is it. I also feel the characters were authentic, well developed and well written.

Yeah I could really relate to the characters in this book, most of them felt they had been unfairly dealt and sought redress in a court of law.

Identifying with the young lawyer, John Doe, was easy—he felt authentic. It's natural for a less experienced professional to face underestimation, and his impressive opening statement at the courthouse proved them wrong. However, this success seemed influenced by his upbringing.

On the other hand, Jack Ripps and Fred Bates struck me as less authentic characters. They didn't fulfill the expected lawyer role and relied on superstitions, assuming the ruling would favor them based on past outcomes, rather than conducting thorough research.

Francis Kapola wrote: ↑10 Nov 2023, 07:59 Identifying with the young lawyer, John Doe, was easy—he felt authentic. It's natural for a less experienced professional to face underestimation, and his impressive opening statement at the courthouse proved them wrong. However, this success seemed influenced by his upbringing.

On the other hand, Jack Ripps and Fred Bates struck me as less authentic characters. They didn't fulfill the expected lawyer role and relied on superstitions, assuming the ruling would favor them based on past outcomes, rather than conducting thorough research.

I thought the same. The characters seemed believable for me except for Jack Ripps and Fred Bates. They seemed too much like stereotypical bad guys and I didn't feel like the way they behaved was justified enough by a consistent underlying personality.

I would have liked to see more development of some of the characters through the book. I felt like Dave Thompson and Ted Born had some consistent development through the book but other characters either didn't progress or progressed all at once when the trial was over.

Rob Carr wrote: ↑11 Nov 2023, 16:07

Francis Kapola wrote: ↑10 Nov 2023, 07:59 Identifying with the young lawyer, John Doe, was easy—he felt authentic. It's natural for a less experienced professional to face underestimation, and his impressive opening statement at the courthouse proved them wrong. However, this success seemed influenced by his upbringing.

On the other hand, Jack Ripps and Fred Bates struck me as less authentic characters. They didn't fulfill the expected lawyer role and relied on superstitions, assuming the ruling would favor them based on past outcomes, rather than conducting thorough research.

I thought the same. The characters seemed believable for me except for Jack Ripps and Fred Bates. They seemed too much like stereotypical bad guys and I didn't feel like the way they behaved was justified enough by a consistent underlying personality.

I would have liked to see more development of some of the characters through the book. I felt like Dave Thompson and Ted Born had some consistent development through the book but other characters either didn't progress or progressed all at once when the trial was over.

It's reassuring to know that I'm not alone in having these feelings toward the characters.

The main character is David Walker, a young and ambitious lawyer who takes on the case of Mock Orange, a tire manufacturer accused of causing a fatal car crash that killed and injured several African American children. David is confident and determined to win the case, but he also faces pressure and doubts from his boss, his colleagues, and his family. He also develops a romantic interest in Lila Jones, a journalist who is covering the trial and who has a personal connection to the victims. The book also introduces the characters of Judge Samuel Lee, who presides over the trial and who has a reputation for being fair and impartial; Dr. Roberta Lee, a forensic expert who testifies for the defense and who is the judge’s estranged wife; Marcus Johnson, a civil rights activist who leads the protests against Mock Orange and who is Lila’s brother; Frank Carter, the CEO of Mock Orange who is arrogant and ruthless; and Raymond Lewis, the prosecutor who is determined to prove Mock Orange’s guilt and who has a personal vendetta against David. The book portrays the characters as realistic and flawed, with their own motivations, emotions, and secrets. The book also explores the themes of justice, race, and corporate responsibility, and how they affect the characters and their decisions. The book has received positive reviews from readers who praised the author’s realistic and suspenseful writing style, and who said they could identify with the characters and their struggles.

I could relate to the adversities some of the character int he book faced. David had a huge task which he tried his best to accomplish.

It was quite easy to identify with the characters and they came across as very authentic.

All the characters were well-developed, authentic, and realistic. I can relate well to the main character, David, who has to prove himself. His struggle and the pressure he faces are authentic.

Maybe since I came from a legal background, I could relate to the characters on a deeper level for some reason. Maybe that's it, I suppose. Additionally, I thought the characters were well-written, realistic, and well-developed.

I haven’t read a lot of books that made me feel the characters were authentic but this book was something else and I must give the author his accolades

Maybe since I came from a legal background, I could relate to the characters on a deeper level for some reason. Maybe that's it, I suppose. Additionally, I thought the characters were well-written, realistic, and well-developed.