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‘Odell’s Fall’ an Amazon Bestselling Legal Thriller Former HBO President Says It’s a “Page-Turning, Potboiler of a Read”

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‘Odell’s Fall’ an Amazon Bestselling Legal Thriller Former HBO President Says It’s a “Page-Turning, Potboiler of a Read”

November 12
17:54 2019
Odell’s Fall – Love, Jealousy and Deceit Lead to Murder in Legal Thriller with a Shakespearean Twist. A forbidden marriage, jealous colleagues, the struggle for power, and murder. It’s a story as old as time – and as old as Shakespeare.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada – From the best-selling author of “Breakdown”, the story of the rise and sudden fall of prestigious tax law firm Heenan Blaikie comes a heart-pounding, never predictable murder-mystery that mirrors Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Othello.” Former HBO head Robert Cooper calls the debut novel a “page-turning, potboiler of a read.”


“Odell’s Fall” asks what lengths would partners at a leading Manhattan law firm go to in the quest for success and love. Norman Bacal’s fiction debut features the highly successful African-American attorney Odell Moore, along with his Iago-like colleague, Jackson Sherman, and a surrounding cast of scheming characters. Love, jealousy and deceit lead to murder in a penthouse apartment and Odell is the prime suspect. Did he commit the crime or was it a plot launched by Jackson Sherman? The answer is not clear until the last pages of this amazing novel.

“I’ve always loved storytelling,” says the author, who believes the secret of good storytelling lies in connecting with the reader. “The key to fiction is taking your characters and giving them a choice between two impossible options. In “Odell’s Fall,” Jackson has to choose between Odell and the senator and how he’s going to manage the conflict between them.”

Odell’s Fall was recently named an Amazon #1 Bestselling book in 9 categories and a top ten in four more categories including:

#1 Perspectives on Law (*ahead of John Grisham’s book, The Innocent Man)
#1 Biographical Literary Fiction
#1 Classic American Fiction
#1 Law
#1 Crime and Criminals
#1 Politics & Social Sciences
#1 Legal Thrillers
#1 Traditional Detective Mysteries
#1 African American Lit. Fiction
#2 African American Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction
#2 Fiction Classics
#3 Literary Fiction
#7 Thrillers

Four years in the making and featuring endless plot twists and turns, “Odell’s Fall” comes with the perspective of Bacal, one of the most esteemed entertainment tax attorneys in the world, whose own journey is told in the best-selling memoir, “Breakdown.”

“If you look at most lawyers-turned-fiction writers, you are almost always looking at criminal lawyers who write murder mysteries,” says Bacal. “I think I’m one of the few writers who comes to this with both boardroom and management experience. What I can bring to a reader is what a real lawyer might be like if forced to make difficult ethical and professional decisions.”

There are countless such conflicts in “Odell’s Fall,” as members of a fictitious law firm, TGO, in Manhattan, vie for bigger money, more responsibility and promotions. Meanwhile, the novel touches on the topics of race, child abuse and blind ambition, just to name a few, as Jackson’s original scheme comes crashing down.

Bacal says part of his motivation in writing the debut novel lies in making the works of Shakespeare more accessible to readers. “What I want is for somebody to read my novel and then read “Othello” and understand what is happening in the play. They may not understand all the language, but they will understand where the story is going.”

His next book in this series, due out next summer, is based on Shakespeare’s play, “Hamlet.”

Bacal is a much sought after speaker who lectures on a variety of topics including “Building A Firm,” leadership methods and more. He can be contacted at www.NormanBacal.com.

Odell’s Fall – ISBN 9781988025438, $18.00 Paperback, $7.49 ebook, 2019, Norman Bacal, 416 pages, available on Amazon.

View the book trailer, here: http://bit.ly/ODELLSFALLTrailer.

About Norman Bacal

The author of the nonfiction debut bestseller, “Breakdown,” about the meteoric rise and devastating downfall of prestigious Canadian law firm Heenan Blaikie, founded the Toronto office of that firm in 1989. In 1997, the author became the national co-managing partner of the firm and built it into a national and international force. Bacal brings to writing his experience as one of Canada’s leading tax attorneys in the entertainment business. He helped to finance countless Canadian films and television programs and a number of Hollywood studio pictures. Bacal retired as managing partner in 2012. In addition to writing, Bacal is a frequent speaker at law schools and forums. He regularly delivers keynote speeches at corporate retreats in June 2019, and has taken part in several roundtable discussions featuring prominent experts in firm management, growth and development. Some of his topics include, among many others, “Learning to Lead,” “Building a Firm”, “The Importance of Culture and Values,” and “Building a Career.”

To schedule a speech by Norman Bacal, visit his website at www.NormanBacal.com.

Born in Montreal in 1956, Bacal graduated from McGill University’s Faculty of Law in 1980. He currently resides in Toronto, with his wife, Sharon, a portrait artist. The couple have four children.

Media Contact: For a review copy of Odell’s Fall or to arrange an interview with Norman Bacal, contact Book Publicist Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing at [email protected] or by phone at 734-667-2090.

Follow Lorenz on twitter @abookpublicist.

Here’s what people are saying about ‘Odell’s Fall’

“Odell’s Fall is a page-turning, potboiler of a read. For fans of legal thriller icons like Grisham and Turow, the author imbues the genre with a breath of fresh air, creating a fascinatingly complex cast of characters with a myriad of unexpected twists and turns that rivet the reader until the last page. Bacal firmly establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with in the same league as the masters of this genre.” – Robert Cooper, Former President – HBO

“With the insider experience of an experienced corporate lawyer, Bacal has written a powerful debut novel. He’s created a world of lethal and legal intrigue.” – Robert Rotenberg, International bestselling author of ‘Old City Hall’

“This is a lightning-fast-paced look into the hearts of darkness of its characters; an edge-of-your-seat murder mystery packed with countless heroes and victims. Truly memorable.” – John J. Kelly, Detroit Free Press

“A gripping legal novel with superbly crafted twists and turns that rivet attention up to the final page, this is one extraordinary debut novel by an author who gains leverage on the platform of the finest writers of the day. Highly Recommended.” – Grady Harp, Amazon Top 100 Hall of Fame Reviewer

“Norman Bacal spins a tale in a fluid narrative style with well-paced, well-blocked flurries of exciting action laced with disturbing undertones of mystery and doom where every detail has been put into play for a reason.” – Norm Goldman, BookPleasures.com

“I thought this was very good! The characters are relatable and the story memorable.” – Sofie Hern, via Net Galley

“A gripping rollercoaster ride of a legal thriller! Already a bestseller, Odell’s Fall is a murder mystery/thriller, written by a top-notch attorney, that will grab you and not let you go until the last page.” – Pam Gossiaux, Award Winning Journalist, Bestselling Author, 5 Stars

“Norman Bacall’s book Odell’s Fall lives in the same vein as Othello in the sense that sometimes the pursuit of love and success can bring us down dark roads. If you love mystery and love the old tales of Shakespeare, then you are going to love this book as much as I did.” – Kimbery Love, Author, 5 STARS

About Norman Bacal: Acclaimed Author, Lecturer and Tax Attorney

The man behind the best-selling book, “Breakdown,” finds his voice in fiction.

Debut murder-mystery writer Norman Bacal brings to the genre a love of Shakespeare and the unique perspective of one of the world’s top entertainment tax attorneys. He has been in countless boardrooms and knows what makes lawyers tick. He knows what goes on in front of the camera and behind the scenes. He’s a lifelong storyteller and a fascinating, sought-after guest speaker and lecturer. His fiction debut, “Odell’s Fall” is the first in a multi-book series of fiction based on Shakespeare’s plays.

Bacal was born in Montreal in 1956. He attended McGill University and graduated with honors in 1980. His amazing journey, along with the rise and shocking fall of the Canadian law firm, Heenan Blaikie, is documented in the best-selling book, “Breakdown.” Bacal founded the Toronto office of Heenan Blaikie in 1989 and served as a managing partner from 1997 to January 2013. Bacal helped grow a law firm that employed over 600 lawyers and featured two former Canadian prime ministers.

During his tenure, he helped finance countless Canadian films and television series, as well as several Hollywood studio’s films. He also advised studios, including Warner Brothers and MGM. He served on the board of directors of Lionsgate Entertainment for almost a decade. Bacal is currently a director of Elevation Pictures, Canada’s second largest theatrical distribution company.

In addition to writing, Bacal is a frequent speaker at law schools and forums. He delivers keynote speeches at corporate retreats and Bar association events, and has taken part in several roundtable discussions featuring prominent experts in the field of tax law and firm management. Some of his topics include, among many others, “Learning to Lead,” “Building A Firm”, “The Importance of Culture and Values,” and “Career Development.

To schedule a speech by Norman Bacal, visit his website at www.NormanBacal.com.

Bacal says the fun part of writing books based on Shakespeare’s plays is creating the backstories for each character. He says he has a world of experience to choose from. “In coming up with characters, there are just so many of them to draw from in life. But my characters also always have a little part of me in them … the parts of me that I hide very well.”

Bacal says he has several other novels with connections to Shakespeare’s plays in the works with the possibility of more. He will be a speaker at next summer’s Stratford, Ontario, Shakespeare Festival.

Bacal is married to his wife and “personal hero,” Sharon, who is a talented artist. The couple have four children. Among his other interests, Bacal is a third-degree black belt in Shotokan karate, as well as an avid golfer and a proficient bridge player. He currently lives in Toronto.

Media Contact
Company Name: Westwind Communications Book Marketing
Contact Person: Scott Lorenz
Email: Send Email
Phone: 734-667-2090
Country: United States
Website: http://www.book-marketing-expert.com

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