title: Under Oath
author:  Shelby Yastrow 
description: Although not "explosive" as the book's jacket promises, Yastrow's ( Undue Influence ) latest novel has much to offer the patient reader. Here he delicately unravels the threads of a medical malpractice suit brought by an anguished young mother, Tracey Walton, her powerful father and reluctant ex-husband against her obstetrician, Steven Sinclair. Through snappy dialogue and colorful descriptions, Yastrow creates such believable, in some cases memorable, characters as plaintiff's attorney Charlie Mayfield, " . . . with eyes that other trial lawyers would have killed for . . . . Honest eyes. 'Trust me,' those eyes said." The ominous role of Dr. Sinclair's insurance company and its sleazy agent, Duane DeLuca, adds a particularly unseemly element to traditional courtroom decorum, muddling the sense of justice with a rank display of greed. Yastrow spares no details and requires the reader to stick with him through a lesson in genetics and, later, Midwestern geography as surprising evidence begins to surface. Things in the courtroom are not what they seem. Lies, intrigue and political favors all come together at the end to create a most satisfactory, and unexpected, conclusion. <br />Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  She rubbed her forehead into the floor as she begged, “Please, show mercy!”
  several times.
  
  
  Just as it seemed like the floor was about to start smoking from the friction,
  Alka finally began to speak. “Howdy. Long time no see, Marie. It’s your
  master, Alka! Remember me?!”
  
  
  “Eep.”
  
  
  Whatever “traditions yada yada yada” monologue she’d made sound so imposing
  had gone straight out the window.
  
  
  “I reckon it’s a bit much to ask ya for a favor after all these years, but my
  precious, _precious_ young’un, Lloyd, has said he wants to be a soldier… I’m
  sure he’ll get in, but take care of him until then, ya hear?”
  
  
  “Eep… I-if I may be so bold,” the witch said, head still firmly planted on the
  ground. Her boobs smothered the floor. “I do have a few questions…”
  
  
  “Oh, I almost forgot. This message is just a recordin’ so I can’t answer any
  questions! Sorry!”
  
  
  To that, the witch instantly yelled, “You really had me going th