Best of
Legal-Thriller

2019

The Hallows


Victor Methos - 2019
    Disillusioned, he heads to his small Utah hometown for a simpler life…but that’s not what he finds.Soon after he arrives, Tatum’s childhood crush offers him a job at the county attorney’s office and assigns him a murder case. The victim is a teenage girl not unlike the victim in the last case he tried. Now a prosecutor, Tatum sees a chance for redemption, but politics, corruption, and a killer defense threaten to thwart justice.To complicate matters, Tatum’s estranged father has terminal cancer, and the time to reconcile is running out. Tatum moved to Utah to find clarity, but his thoughts swirl with old feelings and present dangers. As the case heats up, so does the risk, threatening to adjourn Tatum’s new life before it begins.

Without Precedent


J.D. Trafford - 2019
    As the first defense attorney on call to get pharmaceutical companies out of trouble, Matt is rising in the judicial system exactly as he planned. Until his sister dies of a heroin overdose.Now, torn between conscience and career, the newly minted law partner faces a critical choice: defend the very companies that manufactured the addictive drugs, or give up his fiancée and his hard-won dream job to fight for justice in his sister’s name.Returning to his blue-collar hometown with a ragtag band of law-school misfits by his side, Matt squares off against a team of New York corporate attorneys in a high-stakes courtroom battle. If he wins, the case could have national implications, bringing down the multibillion-dollar Big Pharma industry. If he loses, he’ll become collateral damage in the greatest fall of his career and his life.

Conclusive Evidence


Al Macy - 2019
    But a pair of tragic events threw him into a bottomless depression, and he retreated into the practice of family law. Now, he tries to settle cases in ways that make everyone happy. He’s a nicer person, but has he lost his edge?His kinder, gentler life is disrupted when the police arrest his estranged twin sister, Carly. She’s accused of shoving her husband off a cliff into the storm-tossed Pacific Ocean. Worse, the vicious detective on the case has a grudge against her and has vowed to send her to prison even if he has to cheat to do it.Carly, deaf since birth, refuses to be defended by anyone other than her twin brother. But the intense connection that binds the siblings tells Garrett that she may not be revealing everything she knows. If Garrett can’t keep this new stress from pushing him back into depression, the defense will fail, condemning his sister to an isolated life in prison, cut off from the deaf community she needs.

The Last Chance Lawyer


William Bernhardt - 2019
     Daniel Pike would rather fight for justice than follow the rules. His unique ability to "connect the dots," to observe what others do not, has made him the most notorious criminal lawyer in St. Petersburg. But when his courtroom career goes up in smoke, he fears his lifelong purpose is a lost cause. A mysterious job offer from a secretive boss gives him a second chance but lands him an impossible case with multiple lives at stake… To protect a young orphan from a horrifying fate, Pike must save the girl's guardian from a charge of first-degree murder. Dan uses every trick he knows in a high-stakes trial filled with unexpected revelations and breathtaking surprises as he uncovers a trail of deceit from Florida to El Salvador. When blood-soaked threats arrive, Dan realizes that winning the case might be a death sentence for him—and everyone he hoped to protect. Can Pike protect the girl and get the charges dropped before his race for the truth proves fatal? The Last Chance Lawyer is a gripping legal thriller. If you like courtroom suspense, page-turning plot twists, and rebel attorneys, then you’ll love William Bernhardt’s riveting drama.

The Guardians


John Grisham - 2019
    The killer left no clues behind. There were no witnesses, no real suspects, no one with a motive. The police soon settled on Quincy Miller, a young black man who was once a client of Russo’s.Quincy was framed, convicted, and sent to prison for life. For twenty-two years he languished in prison with no lawyer, no advocate on the outside. Then he wrote a letter to Guardian Ministries, a small innocence group founded by a lawyer/minister named Cullen Post.Guardian handles only a few innocence cases at a time, and Post is its only investigator. He travels the South fighting wrongful convictions and taking cases no one else will touch. With Quincy Miller, though, he gets far more than he bargained for. Powerful, ruthless people murdered Keith Russo, and they do not want Quincy exonerated.They killed one lawyer twenty-two years ago, and they will kill another one without a second thought.

An Equal Justice


Chad Zunker - 2019
    It’s a personal victory for the rising superstar—a satisfying reversal from his impoverished and despairing childhood. Now he has the life he’s always wanted: an extravagant salary, a high-rise condo, a luxury SUV, and no limit to how far he can go in the eyes of the top partners.But after the shocking suicide of a fellow associate—one who, in his final hours, offered David an ominous warning—he feels the pull of powerful forces behind the corporation’s enviable trappings. The suicide leads unexpectedly to David’s discovery of a secret enclave of the city’s homeless, where he can’t help but feel an affinity to these outcast souls. Nor can he ignore the feeling that they hold the key to the truth behind a dark conspiracy.When one of his new street friends is murdered, David’s clear doubts about his employer start shifting into a dark reality. Now torn between two worlds, David must surrender all that he’s achieved to fight for a larger cause of justice—and become his firm’s most dangerous acquisition.

Failure to Protect (Dre Thomas & Angela Evans, #4)


Pamela Samuels Young - 2019
    What Really Goes on Behind School Doors? When the classroom is no longer a safe space for her child, a grieving mother is determined to seek justice for her bullied daughter. Enter hard-charging attorneys Angela Evans and Jenny Ungerman. From the very start, the two lawyers face more than an uphill battle. An ambitious school principal is far more concerned about protecting her career than getting to the truth. She flat out denies any knowledge of the bullying and prefers to sweep everything under the rug. But just how low will she go? As the battle enters the courtroom, the attorneys fight hard to expose the truth. But will a massive coverup hinder their quest for justice?

Degrees of Guilt


H.S. Chandler - 2019
    When you read this book, you will think you know every twist in the tale.Maria is on trial for attempted murder.She has confessed to the crime and wanted her husband dead.Lottie is on the jury, trying to decide her fate.She embarks on an illicit affair with a stranger, and her husband can never find out.You will think you know who is guilty and who is innocent.You will be wrong.

Power and Justice


Peter O'Mahoney - 2019
    His enemies want blood.And criminal defense attorney Tex Hunter is the only hope he has left.Robert Sulzberger appeared to have a perfect life—a respected position in the City Council, a lovely family, a house with all the trimmings—but behind the façade, his life was crumbling. Drawn into a world of crime and corruption, Sulzberger couldn’t find a way out. He couldn’t escape. And when he tried to walk away, he found himself behind bars.The trial captures the media’s attention and the dark forces of politics are thrown into the limelight. As the son of a convicted serial killer, Tex Hunter knows just how dangerous those forces can be.In the first instalment of the Tex Hunter novel series, Hunter battles against deception, fraud, and cover-ups; risking everything in the most difficult case of his career.Can justice triumph against corruption?Or will the dark side of politics bury the truth forever?This thrilling story will take you for a ride through the courtroom, and end with a twist that you didn’t see coming.

Mob Rules: A Jeff Trask Crime Drama


Marc Rainer - 2019
    In this case, Trask is fighting a rival whose criminal genius rivals Trask’s own intellect, and—while Trask is bound by the legal code and his own set of morals—the mob boss on the other side of this battle is unencumbered by such restrictions. The investigation forces Trask to choose whether to operate within the legal system ot to venture outside it in order to bring down the murderous kingpin.

The Atcho Conspiracy (Atcho Series Book 1)


Lee Jackson - 2019
    Another man moves in front of the target.Atcho remains steady while in his mind’s eye he re-lives the events that had brought him to this point. Graduation with honors on a military parade field. Abandoned in battle. Seventeen years in the world’s worst dungeons. Separated from his motherless child. Coerced into espionage against the adopted country he loves.He has no way out.He creates one.The target clears. He sights on the birthmark once more. A persistent thought invades his concentration. How fast does World War III start after I take the shot? As he applies pressure to the cold, curved steel against his finger, another thought intrudes. What happens to my daughter if I don’t?Discover the suspense in this thriller that pits an unwilling spy against hidden masters who manipulate his sense of honor against his love of family and country. If you love spy thrillers, don't miss this one because, like Jason Bourne, Atcho stumbles when tripped. He bleeds when cut, but he never compromises or breaks. Get it now.

Acts of Omission


James S. Bostwick - 2019
     Down on his luck after a string of lost cases and a recent divorce, personal injury lawyer Matt Taylor hopes his next trial will be an easy win. But when he meets a devastatingly injured young man desperate for help, Matt finds himself embroiled in an impossible lawsuit against Salvatore Conte, a powerful lawyer with sinister connections. Despite all warnings, Matt courageously pulls out all the stops to uncover the truth and right a horrific legal wrong. What follows is an epic multi-million-dollar battle of wills, intrigue, and outright violence that could cost Matt everything he cares about—his career, his family, his heart….and his life. “This is more than a good read; it is a masterpiece of courtroom drama, life of a trial lawyer, intrigue, intricate relationships, love, and one man’s perseverance for justice. Bostwick nailed it!” —William Whitehurst, Past President of The International Academy of Trial Lawyers, The Texas Trial Lawyers and the Texas Bar Association

UNTITLED MITCH RAPP 2


Vince Flynn - 2019
    The head of ISIS, Sayid Halabi, survived Mitch Rapp’s attack on him, but while he convalesced, he plotted. Once healed, Halabi kidnaps a brilliant Yemeni microbiologist and forces him to produce anthrax. ISIS releases videos of his progress and uses them to stir up hysteria in the States in the midst of an extremely divisive presidential election. ISIS contracts with a Mexican drug cartel to smuggle the anthrax into the US, but the anthrax is really just a feint. Unknown to anyone but Halabi’s team, he also kidnapped people infected with the virus with the plan to use the drug cartels’ human trafficking capability to smuggle these infected people into the US. If he succeeds, it would trigger a pandemic that would kill untold millions. Mitch and Irene Kennedy are, of course, on the case. But their ability to act is weakened by the fact that the man who is likely to be the next president despises them. When the DEA stumbles upon a shipment of anthrax coming into California, though, the current president has no choice but to give Mitch carte blanche to go after both the smugglers and ISIS. Mitch must infiltrate the drug cartel that has partnered with Halabi in a black ops mission compromised by political maneuvers and threatened by an unprecedented bioterrorism attack.*Praise for RED WAR* 'Outstanding . . . Mills is writing at the top of his game in this nail-biter' Publishers Weekly (starred review) 'Kyle Mills continues his impressive run of must-read thrillers with RED WAR, a timely, explosive novel that shows yet again why Mitch Rapp is the best hero the thriller genre has to offer. . . and why Mills is the only writer capable of filling the enormous void left by Vince Flynn' The Real Book Spy 'Events lead to a dramatic, you-got-your-money's-worth conclusion. Good, escapist fun' Kirkus Reviews 'All action from start to finish . . . a page-turner all the way up to the climatic finale that you just can’t put down' Red Carpet Crash

Beyond Reasonable Doubt


Gary Bell - 2019
    Or so everyone believes. In fact, he is an ex-petty criminal with a past that he has spent decades keeping secret. Until now... An unidentified young woman of Middle Eastern origin has been found murdered on the outskirts of Rook's home town. Billy Barber - a violent football hooligan and white-supremacist - is accused of her murder. Barber insists that Rook must defend him. If Rook refuses, Barber will expose him, bringing crashing to the ground the life and career that Rook has spent his life building. The truth is there for the finding. But at what cost?

Notes on the Mueller Report: A Reading Diary


Benjamin Wittes - 2019
    Originally published on www.lawfareblog.com, Brookings Senior Fellow and legal analyst Benjamin Wittes, read the 448-page Mueller report carefully, and wrote his thoughts as he progressed.

Corridor Man Volumes 6, 7, 8, 9


Mike Faricy - 2019
    . . and always charming. Disbarred and out of jail, Bobby takes a unique path. But as the bodies begin to pile up you have to wonder if there isn't something about him that's just not . . . right. Chilling and action packed, the Corridor Man series exposes a dark and violent undercurrent just beneath the surface of "perfectly legal and above board." Grab your copy NOW! "The author has nailed it. The all too dark side of our legal industry, and the type of character we're all too afraid to admit exists" The Dirty Lowdown "A combination of Breaking Bad and House of Cards. A collection of sinister, disturbing thrillers that are bound to keep you awake at night." Above the Law "It just goes on and on, I can't put them down. A fantastic series." Crime Scene What readers say . . . ★★★★★ "Best page turning book about an immoral guy you'll ever want to read." ★★★★★ "Bobby Custer has no redeeming qualities, but for some reason I can't put the books down." ★★★★★ "My favorite psycho - - Bobby Custer." Fans of Tom Clancy, Lee Child, Vince Flynn and Robert Ludlum will enjoy taking a walk on the dark side with the Corridor Man series. The Corridor Man series is written by Mike Faricy and was originally introduced under the pen name Nick James. The series should be read in order.

Cold Blooded: A chilling, true tale of terror, rape, and murder in the Arkansas River bottoms


Anita Paddock - 2019
    On a cold January morning in 1981, a knock on an apartment door began what would become one of the bloodiest crime sprees in Arkansas history. In the coming days the bodies of newlyweds Larry and Jawana Price, businessman Holly Gentry, and Police Detective Ray Tate were discovered. They had been executed in cold blood and discarded like so much trash. What kind of person murders four people in cold blood? Did the right one go to prison?Praise for Anita Paddock, author of Blind Rage and Closing Time!“Paddock is a gifted storyteller, and Blind Rage is a riveting read.”– Sonny Brewer, author of The Poet of Tolstoy Park “The newest and strongest voice in true crime writing . . . makes you feel as if you are there, seeing what happened, and feeling the terror and sorrow of those felled by these brutal crimes.” – Marla Cantrell, author and Arkansas Art Council Fellow “Somehow [the author] is able to create tension and suspense even when the outcome is already known. She has a way of making each character as familiar as the guy next door, be they ordinary people or despicable creeps! Truman Capote, even though you can't roll over, maybe you should step aside because a new ‘true crime’ star is here!”– John McFerran

120 Days


Ronald L. Ruiz - 2019
    Alejandro Soto, an inmate already serving two life sentences for the brutal murder of a drug dealer and the man’s mother, is on trial for a third murder, one he did not commit but that could well result in the Death Penalty. When Blake and Soto meet in the San Cristobal, California courtroom, they begin a 120-day journey that will invariably alter both of their lives. Together, they spiral ever more deeply into the dark heart of a quintessentially American story of sex and love, truth and lies, justice and prejudice, crime and punishment, and, ultimately, life and death.Asher Syed, Readers’ Favorite: “Ruiz definitely knows how to write a legal thriller. Blake and Soto are phenomenal characters who, through subtle action on her part and gritty interaction on his, come alive within the first two chapters. This book is impossible to put down. This truly is a character-driven story with the added bonus of a plot that could, without question, stand on its own two legs. The aspects of prison life and courtroom drama feel authentic and exciting, but the personal relationship that develops takes this novel to a five-star level. There is a human element here that is only found in top-tiered crime fiction, and this book is filled with it. I adore all of the major bestselling authors of this genre and have finally found a new favorite that, in my opinion, belongs in the same league. A truly brilliant novel. An exceptional writer. Highly recommended.” Maria Beltran, Readers’ Favorite: “Controversial crime fiction novel that is very difficult to put down.… Unique love story that ultimately spirals into a matter of life and death.… Ruiz is a great storyteller and he has a unique eye for details. His 120 Days is a social commentary on the American justice system and society as a whole, told from a vantage point with a generous dose of empathy so it becomes easy to feel for Barbara Blake and Alejandro Soto, a modern-day Romeo and Juliet.”K.C. Finn, Readers’ Favorite: “The tangled lives of Barbara Blake and Alejandro Soto will keep you enthralled from the very first page through to the bitter end of their intriguing and deeply dramatic journey.… The details of the courtroom come to life in what is clearly a well-researched and critical adaptation from real-life procedures. Something that really grabbed me was the depth of character development in Alejandro, a flawed soul whom we might feel predisposed to dislike, and it’s these unique moments of turning prejudice on its head that make 120 Days such a special read.” Divine Zape, Readers’ Favorite: “Ruiz…combines courtroom drama with the art of storytelling to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The narrative begins in the courtroom and the drama is intense with intelligently crafted interrogations that introduce readers to the key characters and the conflict. While Alejandro is a criminal, the reader can’t help developing compassion for him, thanks to the author’s gift of infusing the characters with humanity. The relationship between Barbara Blake and her client takes the story beyond the contractual level, probing the hearts of the characters and exploring those feelings and sentiments that are intimately linked to our humanity. Ruiz…captures details in a brilliant way without losing focus on the critical elements of the story. The social commentaries combine with the sophistication of the setting—social and judicial—and the complexity of the conflict to offer a reading experience that is gripping and utterly enjoyable.

Killer Soul Mate: A Jane Larson Mystery


Anne Rothman-Hicks - 2019
    At the same time, Jane’s landlord is working to evict her from the storefront law office where her mother had practiced for many years, and Jane is forced to fight to save her mother’s legacy. However, it seems there is no way she can win. All too soon, the bodies begin to pile up and Jane has to figure out who is responsible before she becomes one of the victims. Meanwhile, a guy named Gary is trying to worm his way into her life, and, even though she thinks he is much too young for he, she starts to fall for him. The problem is that he has a habit of showing up where the murders occur. Can she trust him?