Keep and Bear Arms

Professional Reviews | Reader Reviews

"In college, Bob Auler was my station manager at the campus radio station, but fired me, saying I would be better off in print. Then I was his editor at The Daily Illini, and fired him, saying he would be better off in fiction. Turns out we were both right, although he only stayed fired for a week, and later turned to the law, a more lucrative branch of fiction, where he became the Goliath-slayer of downstate Illinois."

Roger Ebert, Pulitzer Prize winning author and film critic

“...a book that every lawyer or law student will enjoy...overtones of middle eastern terrorism...a "country lawyer" who is a soft bitten cynic with doubts about the system but a belief in the constitution, Hardman defends his client with skill and passion, and passes on lessons about how criminal law is actually practiced in the court room that would take someone forty years of experience to otherwise acquire. Like “Anatomy of A Murder,” this book is a murder mystery with many surprises. It keeps the reader guessing about the outcome."

Dean John Corkery, John Marshall Law School, Chicago

"’Keep and Bear Arms’ never lets up! Auler captures the small town, but this could easily have taken place in any major city.
Auler blends his expertise and knowledge of the law with the excitement people love. Auler is right on the mark! My dad loves legal fiction and thought it was fantastic! Read it all night!"

Dr. Paul Lisnek, legal analyst; anchor of CNN Newsmakers; seen on MSNBC, CNBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, CNN, WGN, MTV, HG-TV
and Court TV, The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and Anderson Cooper 360

"Keep and Bear Arms has a fiery start in a time of terrorism…flawed heroes…courthouse characters…lead us down the wrong alley. It is the reader who will be stereotyping, not the book. Auler’s attorney-eye for federal and state conflicts is a great addition to a story of an incredible crime. I enjoyed it. A good read."

Paul Davis, Retired news director, WGN-TV Chicago, Senior Vice President of the Foundation for American Communications,
Pasadena, California, and long-time Central Illinois TV anchor

“Bob Auler’s writing brings the best of both worlds to the modern reader: attention-grabbing storytelling combined with real-life courtroom drama. You have no choice but to be moved by his work.”

Dan Krier, Hollywood Screenwriter, author of “Russ Bailey Poker”

"From the moment a bomb explodes in midwestern courthouse, all eyes turn to the suspect. It is left to a small-town lawyer to dig deep to defend an unlikeable guy with some peculiar habits. Written by long-time attorney Robert Isham Auler, it breathes fire and ice, and will even make you laugh on occasion. A first-time novelist with a lot to say and a great way of saying it."

Amazon.com

"You don't know this, but I'm a "no BS" kind of gal, so you can take this as a genuine compliment. This book is hot stuff! I've finished the first 100 pages and have to get some sleep 'cause I have an early meeting tomorrow. I read until 1:30 am last night and tonight even thru the President's address. Please don't tell on me. "

C.R., Indiana

"I would have been sound asleep, but I just had to read your story. I am again correct with my intuition which is 99.9% correct; you really are a genius! I thoroughly enjoyed your story. Your sense of wit is incredible. Your writing brings the reader to the location. I loved the semantics that brought my five senses to life. There were so many aspects of the story that I truly relished and that is why I am sending you an email at this hour. I really have to get up at 5:30AM to go to my doctor, but this took precedence."

D.S., Chicago

"I think it would make your career. An amazing story. Did this all take place in Champaign? Did the Dani character actually become your wife? My friend . . . you definitely have had some experiences and lived life to the very brink!"

E.M., Illinois

"I'm hooked so I can't stop turning the pages. I almost want to read ahead to see whats going to happen."

M..T., Chicago Suburbs

"Hurray! When I buy my copy, you will of course autograph it?"

C.L., North Shore

"I have now read chapter one of the book...and I had to stop and write. I had visions of the unibomber in the first paragraph...lovely. The flow of the story is so easy to read and I can actually see these people...smell the smoke...nice. I don't even know you and I've only read one chapter (it's starting to thaw outside and I'll have to go out for provisions soon) but I just had to write and say, "I'm proud of you!" This starts out really great...and I'm anxious to read on. Oh, and by the way, Purvis ~ perfect ...the name brings up the exact picture... (more later)"

D.S., Naperville

"As a teacher and one who enjoys observing "the process" in creative expression -- I read and re-read as Bob wrote this book. It was exciting, and the end result is a 100% diamond in the age of faux. This book is a gem. Bob Auler is an artist in his descriptive ability. He makes the reader truly "see" the story as it is read. It is an exciting story with twists at every turn which makes the reader not wanting to put the book down. It is a wonderful first novel."

C.M., Florida

"...Without putting (the XXXX character) through my "1-hour" dissection process and ignoring the DSM list of personality disorders, I would say (XXXX) represents the duality of all the characters...or fear itself which ultimately takes us all down...am I close?"

F.G., NW Burbs

"I was one of the lucky ones who got to read "Keep and Bear Arms" before anyone could tell me I should. I loved it. I was totally drawn in, I could 'see' and 'hear' the characters, I'd recognize that town without having been there. And the ending was completely right without ever being predictable. Now I get to tell people they should read this book and I will."

H.W. Beverly Hills, CA