THREE'S A CROWD A novel by James C. Freund During ten eventful days in March 1996, the myriad problems that engulf New York lawyer Ben Fletcher ("Fletch") all seem to come in triads. - He's attempting to mediate a compromise to a bitter dispute among three self-righteous antagonists, none of whom is giving an inch - and with reason to believe that failure to break the deadlock will jeopardize Fletch's future. - He's on the verge of being ousted from his law firm partnership by a trio of senior partners who don't have Fletch's best interests at heart. - He's beset by a triplet of family problems that greatly add to the professional pressure he's experiencing - a mother suffering from dementia, a ne'er-do-well brother pressing him for money, and a daughter on the verge of linking up with a man Fletch deems unworthy of her. What exacerbates his situation is that Fletch can sometimes be his own worst enemy - with an unruly temper, an inability to cope with pressure and handle criticism, and too many moments when he exercises poor judgment. On the plus side, Fletch is fortunate to have a triad of supportive allies - a thoughtful wife he sometimes doesn't deserve, a female law partner who has his back, and a wise buddy who provides useful advice. In this exciting and sophisticated legal thriller, Three's a Crowd guides the reader through this flawed lawyer's gradual awakening to his shortcomings. But will it be in time to resolve the thorny and fascinating mediation dispute, maintain his partnership, and cope with the family difficulties?