Book Review: "Rock Bottom" by Erin Brockovich and CJ Lyons

Title: Rock Bottom
Author: Erin Brockovich and CJ Lyons
Publisher: Vanguard Press
ISBN, PUB Date: 9781593156251; March 1, 2011
Reviewed by: Jennifer Shaw for Author Exposure

Ten years ago, Erin Brockovich’s story hit the silver screen, touching hearts and bringing awareness of environmental issues to the general public. Erin’s strength and passion for doing the right thing only added to my need to read this amazing debut thriller. My main concern was, “Will this book be as powerful as her life story was in theaters?” The answer is, YES!

Angela Joy (A.J.) Palladino, environmental activist, comes home to Scotia, West Virginia, with her tail between her legs, hoping for a fresh start and a good life for her beloved son, David. What awaits her is an environmental catastrophe that is closer to home than any case she’s handled before. With a job lined up, A.J. (a.k.a. “The People’s Champion”) is ready to dive back into the legal world with the town’s local attorney. Before she knows it, her boss is dead. David’s dad is still in Scotia, and trouble is brewing on the mountaintops. Will “The People’s Champion” settle the score in Scotia or will Scotia send her packing?

Brockovich’s debut novel was absolutely astonishing. It was more than I could have ever imagined possible. The characters and plot were larger than life and insanely realistic. The level of detail and care put into not only the characters but the environmental issues made Rock Bottom a thrilling read. Erin Brockovich emanates from the main character as if they are one person – making A.J. more realistic and easier to connect with.

Overall, this is a powerful story that blends together family life with the environmental and legal worlds. In the beginning, I was sure I knew who the guilty party was, but I was dead wrong. The pace of the novel was great, keeping me engaged in the plot and characters to the very last page. I highly recommend this amazingly passionate debut novel to all readers.