[2] The Magician was published in 1971 and uses a violent incident in a high school to explore the wider issues of the time.

It challenges the view that America is a classless society, and suggests racism was still prevalent in a decade that would see momentous change and decay.

But Urek's dad happens to have a lawyer named Thomassy, who has made it his life's work to defend the low-lifes and the criminals of the area - and to get them off the hook.

Thomassy, stung, left and decided to follow a controversial path defending the most undesirable characters in society.

It seems as though Ed has the advantage, he is talented, with a nice family and girlfriend, horribly attacked and nearly killed by a brute.

But Thomassy manages to play the attack down: he discredits witnesses, intimidates others, and portrays Urek as acting only in self-defense.

His involvement gives the reader an opportunity to see Urek in more depth, as previously he is portrayed as a mindless, violent and inarticulate monster.

The book is written in the third person narrative style, but interspersed at intervals throughout the story are "comments" provided by the key characters.

But perhaps it is Thomassy who is the most compelling character, driven as he is by his need to win seemingly hopeless cases, letting the criminal element continue to disrupt the lives of the white middle class.