Genre: Legal Thriller

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The intensity in Phillip Margolin’s novels can keep a reader breathless for hours on end. His ability to paint a picture so vividly with words is a talent that has served him well since his first novel, Heartstone, written in 1978. Forty-one years and Twenty-three books later, The Perfect Alibi will be published in March, proving that Margolin has not lost his touch.

The the case of a young woman accusing a college athlete of rape is a common theme and  Margolin takes it up several notches. There is a DNA match that should clarify everything, but in Margolin’s world it only leads to more questions.

Protagonist Robin Lockwood, a prominent young lawyer, watches as Blaine Hastings is found guilty of the rape of Randi Stark and agrees to represent Randi in a civil suit against her rapist. At the same time she is defending another client on a murder charge that should be self defense. Then there is the case of another attorney who needs Robin’s help with a vengeful prosecutor who is accusing him of killing his partner and best friend.

Nothing is ever as it seems in a Margolin novel, and this is one of his best. The action never slows down, and every page brings a new revelation. His characters are well fleshed out and the descriptions of the surroundings and the court scenes make the story come alive. I was sad to turn the last page and anxiously await his next novel.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Minotaur Books
Date of Publication - ​​​​March 5, 2019

Genre: Legal Thriller

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It is rare to find an author who successfully presents a strong female protagonist, but Paul Batista really surprised me with two very strong leading ladies in this complex courtroom drama, The Warriors. Not only does he introduce us to this dynamic duo, he shows their strength unapologetically and without “girly” things to soften them for the reader.

Senator Angelina Baldesteri is a former First Lady who lived through the assassination of her extremely popular husband. The senator has plans to run for the presidency but there are those who do not want to see that happen. She suddenly finds herself accused of money laundering, perjury, bribery, and obstruction of justice and realizes that she needs a strong attorney to protect her reputation while proving her innocence.

Defense attorney Raquel Rematti (the first time Batista introduced this character was in his novel, The Borzoi Killings) is a personality to be reckoned with, and she agrees to represent the senator. The problem is, they are both strong willed, pig headed and want to be in charge. Raquel quickly realizes that she doesn’t know the whole truth, and there is more to Angelina’s story than meets the eye.

Throw in murder and mayhem, drug lords and a Mexican cartel, and you have Batista at his best. Bringing out the positive and negative strengths in these two characters showcases the talent of an author who draws on his own experience in the courtroom to bring us a novel that is difficult to put down until the last page.

- Beverly


Publisher - Oceanview Publishing
Date of Publication - December 18, 2018

​Genre: Mystery

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In Look for Me Lisa Gardner really started  off with a powerful prologue. It was, in fact, a bit too gut wrenching for me, since I am pretty squeamish when I read books or watch movies. The entire story-line is disturbing, but Gardner is a top-notch author and handles it well.

Roxie Baez is the only one in her family who survives a mass shooting, and then she disappears. Is she a survivor or a suspect? The characters in this D.D. Warren series are strong, and with D.D. on the case we know the truth will come out eventually. Flora Dane, herself a survivor of violence, is after her own form of justice, and as the story progressed,  following both points of view kept me flipping pages.

One can not read this book without being immersed in the highly topical social issues that face society in the twenty-first century. As a former teacher, the bullying aspect rang true to me. The foster system is exposed, and we see how the justice system itself failed Roxie. While the mystery is compelling, I was equally drawn into these social aspects and believe they are lessons to be learned.

There is no doubt that Lisa Gardner is a talented author with a devoted fan base. I have not read many of her previous novels and am looking forward to catching up on D. D. Warren’s backstory. This is not an emotionally easy read, but it is one that is worth your time.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Dutton
Date of Publication - ​​​​February 6, 2018

​Genre:  Historical/Mystery

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When the Past Came Calling by Larry S. Kaplan is one of those books that kept me reading when I should have been doing so many other things. This, his newest novel, features a protagonist that you just want to root for and a plot that is just a little different than most. David Miller is an attorney who gets by but isn’t setting the world on fire, so he was quite happy to take the call from his former debate partner, Michael Eisenberg.

Eisenberg was now the US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The two attorneys get together for lunch every few months, but this wasn’t just a chat among friends. The US Attorney is now working with the FBI on a high stakes case. They are investigating the disappearance of a government scientist whose bio-evolutionary research could turn Darwinism on its ear.

Apparently the main suspect has a connection to David’s past, and Eisenberg asks for his assistance. Somehow the assassination of JFK becomes involved when David seeks the help of another friend from his youth, Benny Friedman. Benny strongly believes that Oswald was part of a conspiracy to kill the 35th President of the United States. He also fears that someone is trying to keep him from revealing the truth.

Author Kaplan does a fantastic job weaving his plot lines together to keep the reader guessing what will come next. The addition of a love interest for David is a bit far fetched, since the author has him pining away for a girl he met for several minutes at a party when they were both in their mid-teens. Of course when they reconnect after all of these years, the spark is still there and the reader can join his fantasy of a happily ever after.

There is plenty of paranoia, deception and adventure to keep thriller fans interested, and I am going to search out Larry Kaplan’s first book.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Amazon Digital Services LLC
Date of Publication - ​​​​June 30, 2014

​Genre: Legal Thriller

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Joseph Finder’s strength is in his story. My favorite authors are the ones who draw me in with their particular specialties. There are those whose characters rise off of the page and make me want to share a meal with them or just hang out with them. There are others whose power of description help me to travel the world without leaving my living room. Finder’s characters are well fleshed out and his descriptions are replete with adjectives, but it is his ability to tell a story that captures me and never lets go.

I expected a great novel when I read about Judgment, and I was not disappointed. His protagonist is a female this time, a rule-following judge who makes one mistake in her personal life and watches as her world starts to crumble. Juliana Brody presided over the Superior Court of Massachusetts and is on track to go much further in her career. Unfortunately, she is currently presiding over a case that has connections that might ultimately destroy her career.

When her lapse in judgment turns into a blackmail opportunity for the defendants in one of the cases that is before her, the Judge soon finds that her life, and the life of those closest to her, is in peril. Not one to give in to blackmailers, Judge Brody goes to any length to find out who is behind this scheme. Finder’s research is evident as we learn about underhanded business practices and Russian connections.

Yes, Joseph Finder is a storyteller, and for those who enjoy a good thriller, I promise that Judgment will make your top ten list for 2019.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Dutton
Date of Publication - ​​​​January 29, 2019

​Genre: Legal Thriller

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​I enjoy stories that take place in different locals and allow me to "live" in those areas for a while.  Scott Pratt's protagonist, Joe Dillard lives and practices law in Tennessee. I read this book last year and quickly caught up with the rest in his series.  The next Joe Dillard book is slated to come out around Thanksgiving, so I decided to get you all started on the first in the series, An Innocent Client.

Joe is tired of being a criminal defense attorney and is ready to quit, but he would love the opportunity to defend one innocent person. He believes he has found this person in Angel Christian. She is an attractive waitress who is accused of murdering a preacher after visiting an infamous strip club.

I enjoy the way Pratt writes.  This book bounces around from first to third person, which helps make it a little different than the typical legal thriller. He also involves the reader in Joe's personal life. Joe's sister is a drug addict who was recently released from prison. His mother is fighting Alzheimer's.  His family is somewhat normal, and he is looking for the same answers many of us search for every day.

Pratt's villains might be a bit too evil, but I think it helps shine the light on Joe's fight for right. I find Pratt's characters a bit easier to relate to than Grisham's, and tend to like them better.
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If you haven't gotten to know Dillard yet then you are in for a treat.  Start with this book and work your way through.  

​-Beverly


Publisher - Onyx
Date of Publication - ​​​​November 4, 2008

​Genre: Legal Thriller

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Scott Pratt was November 14, 2014’s featured author, and A Crime of Passion is the seventh in his series about defense attorney Joe Dillard.  In this book, Dillard is hired to defend Paul Milius, a record company baron accused of strangling Kasey Cartwright, a young country singer. He must travel to Nashville to defend Milius, and he doesn't want to leave his wife who is battling cancer.  The million dollar retainer is hard to pass up though, and Milius promises that his private jet will be at Joe's disposal the entire time.  Dillard ends up taking the case, and along with his son Jack, and Jack's girlfriend Charlie begins the search for what really happened. All is far from what it seems.  The devoted wife is not so devoted, and the house staff knows how to keep secrets.

As in all Joe Dillard books, Joe's relationship with his family steals the show.  Unfortunately, this book is not as strong as his others in that respect, but there was enough to keep me happy. His love for Caroline shines through each book and leads me to believe that Pratt ust have a wonderful relationship with his own wife.  Milius and those surrounding him are not the warmest of people, but once Joe starts believing in his innocence, the team works to find the truth that will free him.  
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I tend to get tired of series after five or six books, but Joe Dillard is still capturing my interest, and I anxiously await Book # 8.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Phoenix Flying, Inc.
Date of Publication - ​​​​December 4, 2014

​Genre: Legal Thriller

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Those of you who subscribe to madderlyreview.com know that Scott Pratt was our first  featured author in November of 2014.  We featured Scott because his protagonist, Joe Dillard came to life for me from book one.  Many authors write about disgruntled attorneys, but I have noticed a great deal of growth in Joe as the series continues.  His character is multi-dimensional, and I find myself worrying about his wife Caroline's cancer as though she was a friend.  Joe's reaction to this horror in his life is frighteningly realistic, and I imagine there are those who relate to these reactions.

This book goes down a darker road than Pratt's previous books, but the familiar characters make it easy to continue this trip with Joe.  I love the relationship he has with Sheriff Leon Bates and look forward to his appearances in each of Pratt's books. In Judgment Cometh: And That Right Soon we learn pretty quickly that Joe's client is innocent of the crime he is being accused of committing. Even though he is caught with the chopped up remains of a state Supreme Court justice in the back of his truck, there is more to it than meets the eye.

This is the fourth kidnapped judge, and Joe realizes that he needs to find the real killer in order to free his client. Unfortunately, this client is too intimidated to help Joe, and we watch Leon and Joe go down some very scary trails in their search for truth.   Joe brings his son Jack and Jack's girlfriend Charlie Story back, and this adds to the plot in several ways.

This is definitely darker than Scott Pratt's previous books, but if a character is to remain fresh through a continuing series, the author has to show all aspects of his life. Unfortunately, we all go through dark times and the strong find their way through to the light.  Hopefully, Pratt will continue to give us glimpses into the best of Joe Dillard for many books to come.

- Beverly


Publisher - Phoenix Flying, Inc.
Date of Publication - ​​​​July 21, 2016

​Genre: Thriller

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I am a Harlan Coben fan and have loved all of his books, so I was happy to find one that I had missed along the way. The Woods, like most of Coben’s thrillers, introduces us to a protagonist with a hidden past that is soon to be revealed. Paul Copeland is a New Jersey county prosecutor who is seeking justice for a sixteen year old rape victim. The victim is a stripper/prostitute and the accused are two wealthy fraternity boys, so Copeland is not having an easy time of it. When the prosecutor refuses to take a bribe from the father of one of the alleged rapists, the father threatens to spend his money digging up the skeletons in Paul Copeland’s life.

Copeland is also dealing with memories of the night, decades earlier, when a nighttime camp adventure ended in the disappearance of several campers, including his sister. Two bodies were found and attributed to the “Summer Slasher,” and two others ( including his sister) were never found but assumed murdered. A recent corpse causes Copeland to rethink all that he remembers, and he begins searching for a truth that seems to elude him.

The supporting characters in this well written novel, a long lost summer love, an ace investigator and an eccentric witness, help to enrich the story and the courtroom scenes definitely kept me involved. I did find the story a bit more predictable than his other thrillers. Coben’s twist endings are often the high point of his books, and this book lacked that wow factor. Of course it was written over a decade ago, and most writers improve as they continue in their career.

I will say that Harlan Coben in less-than-top form is still better than most thriller writers on their best days, so I can easily recommend this book as an addition to your library.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Dutton/Penguin
Date of Publication - ​​​​2007

Genre: Children's Book

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One of the biggest mysteries of childhood is what our parents get to do after we are put to bed. My own children pictured us dancing, laughing, partying and never going to sleep. Jeff Mack does a wonderful job of bringing children’s fantasies to life in Duck on a Disco Ball (A Duck in the Fridge Book).

Mack’s small hero fights going to sleep because he fears that he is missing something. Then one morning he finds a disco ball in his kitchen with his toy duck draped over it. His imagination goes for a wild jaunt and takes us along for the ride. He narrates his story as he shows us his parents doing all of the wild things that he would love to do. The illustrations are bright and each page is packed with points of interest that will keep children fascinated as they turn the pages.

Although it is primarily a children’s book, the puns and double entendres make it a joy for grown ups as well. With the holiday season around the corner, this is a perfect gift for the young ones in your house.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Two Lions
Date of Publication - ​​​​November 1, 2018