​Genre: Legal Thriller

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Most legal thrillers are written from the prospective of the attorney, and it is refreshing to read J. D. Trafford’s novel through the eyes of the judge. Good Intentions introduces us to Judge Jim Thompson just as his world seems to be coming apart. He has been following in the footsteps of his mentor, Judge Meyer, and is working with children and their families, trying to fairly determine if foster care is the correct solution for the children who come before him. A recent decision that turns tragic jeopardizes his job at the same time that he finds Meyer’s murdered body.

I must say, I have read a great deal of legal thrillers and find it odd that so many lawyers  (and now a judge) spend most of their time trying to solve crime rather than defend or adjudicate. In Good Intention, Judge Thompson is determined to find out who killed his mentor. While digging through Meyer’s belongings, he comes across several pictures that seem out of place and a bank account earmarked for Thompson that contains millions of dollars. Trying to save Judge Meyer’s reputation while in the midst of trying to salvage his own gets complicated, and Thompson is no longer sure who he can trust.

Trafford is a compelling writer, and his stories always keep the reader interested. He is a lawyer by trade, and I feel he does a stronger job representing lawyers as displayed in his last book, Little Boy Lost. In that novel, attorney Justin Glass felt three dimensional throughout, where as in this latest novel there are times when Judge Thompson falls a little flat. The story is a good one though, and he does a good job showing the various sides of foster children cases.

This is a good choice for Trafford fans as well as legal thriller thriller enthusiasts looking for a slightly different point of view.

- Beverly


​Publisher - Thomas & Mercer
Date of Publication - ​​​June 19, 2018

​Genre: Legal Thriller

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John Dobbyn’s passion for his topics always draw me in, and this book is no exception. The illicit trade of exotic and endangered species of wild animals has always bothered me, and Dobbyn makes it clear that it is a hot button topic for him as well. Hopefully, these facts embroiled in fiction will alert his readers to this despicable practice and lead toward changes in the near future.

The relationship between defense attorneys Michael Knight and Lex Devlin is one that I have enjoyed through this series. Devlin has proven himself a strong mentor for the younger Knight who is a better attorney because of their relationship. Things become personal in Fatal Odds for Knight when Roberto, a jockey and a relative of his, dies in a fixed horse race. As if that isn’t bad enough, Roberto’s brother, Victor, is being accused of murder, and Knight is determined to defend him.

Suddenly, the lawyer is in way over his head, dealing with Puerto Rican crime gangs and threats against his life. He follows Victor to Puerto Rico and the story really picks up pace there. The reader is taken into the rainforest and is given a lesson on animal smuggling that will definitely make one think. When an author can teach me new facts along with entertaining me, I consider his/her book a success.

There are quite a few secondary characters in this book, and I had to focus as I turned each page or I would have lost my way. I don’t want to say too much and give away the plot, but I will say that with help from his friends Knight comes up with quite a scheme to outwit the mafia, gang members, and anyone else who gets in his way. Dobbyn is foremost a storyteller, and this is one story that you won’t want to miss.

- Beverly

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​Publisher - Oceanview Publishing
Date of Publication - ​August 2,2016

​Genre: Mystery

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The allure of small town life always captured me, but from the beginning days of television’s Jessica Fletcher, something mysterious always seems to be brewing there. There's Something About Marty by Wendy Delaney keeps the mystery of small town life alive, even as Prosecutor’s Assistant Charmaine “Char” Digby does her best to solve this one. When wealthy businessman Marty McCutcheon dies at his own birthday celebration, there is no lack of suspects, and Char believes that this was far from a natural death.

His widow has already buried two husbands, his children’s greed is evident, and of course the jilted ex-girlfriend was not a fan. The County Prosecutor is not anxious to take on this case, and we get to see Char in action as she determinedly searches for the killer. My biggest issue with the book was the number of characters that I had to keep track of, but that might have just been my mood at the time.

Her personal life adds a bit of fun to the tale, and her secret relationship with gorgeous Detective Steve Sixkiller is a great distraction from murder and mayhem.  Of course there are as many complications in her love life as there are in her hunt for the murderer, but Char doesn’t give up in either case, and There's Something About Marty did a good job in holding my interest.

- Beverly


Publisher - Sugarbaker Press
Date of Publication - ​​January 28, 2016

​Genre: Legal Thriller 

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Some authors are captivating and some are comfortable, but Adam Mitzner is the perfect blend of both. Every one of his books have me sitting on the edge of my seat as his protagonists go through hoop after hoop before bringing us to a satisfying ending. Somehow he also manages to make sure that the reader is totally invested in his characters as we become more and more involved in their lives. Never Goodbye is a sequel, of sorts, to his last book, Dead Certain. I read, loved and reviewed Dead Certain here last May and was thrilled to find protagonist Ella Broden back in Never Goodbye.

Never Goodbye finds Ella trying to get over events that occurred in Dead Certain after giving up her job as a prosecutor and concentrating more on her dream of being a singer. When another personal tragedy befalls her (it was difficult to imagine so much violent death surrounding one person) she is forced into working with her boyfriend Gabriel (the gorgeous police detective from the previous book) into making sure the guilty party pays.

Mitzner added a second protagonist to this book, Deputy Chief of the Special Victims’ Bureau, Dana Goodwin. Dana, who took over Ella’s previous job, is driven in her career at the expense of her family life and gives us a chance to delve into the life of a new character while experiencing the comfort of revisiting a familiar one.

As always Mitzner’s storyline is both complicated and captivating, inviting his readers to solve a murder while involving us in the lives and loves of these two dynamic women. His ability to build characters gets stronger in each of his novels and leaves the reader wanting to spend a little more time with them when the last page is reached.

Although this book can certainly stand on its own, I recommend grabbing a copy of Dead Certain and reading it first. Events in that book will explain Ella more clearly, and give you insight into some of her current relationships.

- Beverly

Publisher - Thomas & Mercer
Date of Publication - ​April 24, 2018

​Genre: Legal Mystery

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Rosenfelt’s plots are generally comfortably basic as far as legal thrillers go, but his talent with characterization has me anxiously awaiting each addition to his Andy Carpenter series. Although I have never met the author personally, I have to believe that he sees himself in Andy. Outwardly pushy and inwardly humble, Andy uses his sarcastic wit to get him out of (and generally in to) some very difficult situations.

Andy's friends and associates have all been fleshed out throughout the series and continue to make me laugh through the murder and mayhem that each novel presents. His brave and patient wife, Laurie, his pessimistic partner Hike, and Marcus, the huge and basically non-verbal muscle of the group, band together to aid and protect Andy as he tries to save the world. Even Edna, his “office manager,” adds a bit of humor to Andy’s days when he decides to take on a new client.

In Rescued: An Andy Carpenter Mystery, defense attorney Andy is called to the scene of a murder on a truck that is housing over seventy dogs on their way to shelters in various states. Since his affinity for dogs is well known (his conversations with his own golden retriever, Tara, are some of the best one way exchanges in his series) it isn’t a stretch that he becomes involved. The dogs are transported to a shelter that he co-owns with his former client and pal, Willie, and he goes home to find Laurie speaking with his soon to become newest client.

Dave Kramer is in trouble, and he is also Laurie’s ex-fiancé. This tall, good looking ex-marine admits to shooting the driver of the truck Andy just viewed. He claims it was self defense, and Andy isn’t sure he is buying it. Preferring to be retired, and feeling immediate jealousy when he looks at Kramer, his first instinct is to turn down the case, but Laurie’s expression tells him otherwise.

As always, Rosenfelt’s book is filled with excitement, surprises and humor, as we follow Andy and his crew through one adventure after another in this fun-to-read “who done it.”  

-Beverly
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Publisher - MacMillan
Date of Publication - ​July 17, 2018

​Genre: Thriller

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The author of The Back Door Man published this book almost seven years ago, and I believe current events make it even more frightening today. Hackers have gotten into almost every area of our life today, so much so in fact that the storyline made me slightly nauseous. We are so very dependent on computers today, from managing our finances to ordering our food, clothing and pharmaceuticals on line, that it is difficult to imagine losing all access and still managing our lives.

James Kolinsky works in information security, and suddenly his world begins to fall apart. Millions of people lose connectivity, and a very smart group of criminals plans on diverting money while making James into their fall guy. They're expecting to become “sixty billion dollar men.” Their plan involves murder, suicide and theft, and it is up to mild mannered James to save the day.

This is definitely an exciting premise with good follow through. It starts with a short prologue and quickly introduces chapter one. We get a good idea of James' personality as we watch him sneak into his company to retrieve some money he left there and is suddenly faced with danger in the form of a gun. The story generally keeps a good pace, slowing down only when it gets a bit too computer technical in parts. Since I am not overly computer knowledgeable, I can’t vouch for the author's descriptions, but I did find myself skipping a paragraph here and there.

The bad guys are truly bad, and our hero gets into some tricky situations. The reader must definitely suspend reality as he/she tries to believe James can accomplish all that he accomplishes, but I never have too much of a problem doing that when the book intrigues me. I do believe his research in several minor areas seemed a bit weak, but it never really hampered the storyline, so I went with it.

All in all The Back Door Man is a fun read that might make you just a wee bit nervous as to how safe your money really is and how important the Internet has become in your life.

- Beverly
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Publisher - Dave Buschi (Amazon Digital Services LLD)
Date of Publication - ​September 28, 201

Genre: Legal Thriller 

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Author Robert Bailey lives in Huntsville Alabama and is obviously quite familiar with life in the Deep South. His descriptions of Tuscaloosa and its environs were so vivid that I feel as though I had actually been on a city tour. Even the restaurants and food came alive as I got deeper into this “who done it” legal thriller.

This is the third book in Bailey’s series featuring Tom McMurtrie and Rick Drake. Since Bailey’s character development is as strong as his scenic descriptions, by this time I was as familiar with McMurtrie’s aches and pains as I am with my own. While there are definitely references throughout the book of the previous two plot-lines, The Last Trial can easily stand on its own.

Jack Willistone, recently released from prison, is found dead on the banks of the Black Warrior River. When every bit of evidence points to Wilma Newton, a local woman whose life was ruined because of Willistone, district attorney Powell Conrad loses no time in bringing her in for questioning. He tries to contact his mentor, McMurtrie for advise, only to find McMurtrie has decided to represent Wilma in what seems like an open and shut case.

Taking on the case was not an easy call for McMurtrie, but he thinks he owes her something because of a previous case, and he also believes she is innocent. Since his partner, Drake, is tied up with personal business, he turns to his friend Bocephus Haynes for help. Bo is an attorney who has been temporarily suspended (another story from a previous novel) and agrees to act as McMurtrie’s investigator. Bailey does a good job high-lighting the troubles facing a black man in the Deep South in his descriptions of Bo’s experiences in this book as well as the previous two books.

As the story progresses McMurtrie finds other possible suspects as he interviews a monster he helped to incarcerate as well as witnesses who suddenly disappear. I was lucky to happen upon Bailey’s first book several years ago, and he quickly became one of my go to authors. This book certainly keeps him on that list.

- Beverly

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Publisher - Thomas & Mercer
Date of Publication - May 6, 2018

​Genre: Thriller

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Rick Mofina has had the ability to capture my attention on the first page and keep it throughout most of the novels that he has written. While some authors tend to get complacent as their list of published titles grow, Mofina only gets stronger. His descriptions are so vivid that I often have to remind myself that I am reading a work of fiction.

In Last Seen, Cal and Faith Holden take their son, Cage, to a neighborhood carnival so he can prove his bravery to himself and his friends. The haunted house, known as the Chamber of Horrors, is filled with blood and gore, mock killers and ghosts, and a sense of foreboding that is palpable even to the reader. The chapter where Mofina walks this family through the Chamber is as intense as any I have ever read, and it honestly kept me on the edge of my seat until Cal and Faith exited....and then I waited.

My anxiety grew along with the Holdens’ when Cage never came out of the Chamber of Horrors. As the story progresses the carnival closes down the ride, the police and eventually the FBI are called in, and it becomes obvious that Cage has been kidnapped. Everyone becomes a suspect, even the parents, who have been experiencing marital problems are not exempt from suspicion. Cal is a journalist who attempts to use his connections to aid in the hunt for his son, and the reader feels his panic as he hits dead end after dead end.

Mofina, a journalist himself, brings a sense of reality to his narrative and uses his knowledge of his trade to keep the plot moving along. Last Seen is mostly a police procedural, and that is something that Mofina shines at, so this book is one that I can comfortably recommend.

- Beverly


Publisher - MIRA
Date of Publication - ​March 1, 2018

​Genre: Legal Thriller

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Ben Kincaid is another fictional attorney whom I have followed through the years. Bernhardt  has done a good job maturing Kincaid through his journey, both in his personal life and his career. He is now a married man with twins whom he adores and worries about incessantly. His sister, who occasionally shows up in his life is back, and her former boyfriend, Oscar Kirby (Oz) is in trouble.

Oz is a former Iraq war veteran with Islamic leanings. He was apprehended and tortured by a former Iraqi “interrogator”(Nazir) who now works for the CIA. When Oz, who has now become Omar al-Jabbar, visits Kincaid, he explains that the CIA now sees him as a terrorist. While he admits that he works for a non-profit organization that protests the Patriots Act, and, in fact, dates the founder’s sister, Mina, he swears he is not a terrorist. He wants Ben to help him sue the people who wrongfully imprisoned him.

Things become more complicated when Nazir is murdered and Oz is found at the scene with a weapon. Kincaid is now embroiled in the toughest case of his career and needs the help of all of his friends and colleagues to save his client and himself. As always, Bernhardt sets his story in Oklahoma City, and I find his descriptions and references an enhancement to the story.

When one reads a series, an investment in the characters' lives becomes inevitable, and Bernhardt’s books are no exception. Kincaid’s relationships with his wife, sister and colleagues make us root for this nice guy who really wants to believe that his client is innocent. While I feel that the author might be using the novel as a forum for his political beliefs every now and again, it is his book to do with as he pleases. The story is definitely relevant politically, and I am looking forward to Bernhardt’s next book.

- Beverly
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Publisher - Babylon Books
Date of Publication - ​October 21, 2017

​Genre: Thriller

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I have often joked that I don’t want to meet Phillip Margolin in a dark alley, and The Third Victim does nothing to change my mind. His ability to get into the mind of a sadistic killer is both brilliant and horrifying. His descriptions of torture, like bad accidents, render the reader unable to look away. As an attorney, his access to the criminal mind serves him well.

When Meredith Fenner stumbles onto a road, bleeding and obviously tortured, the police quickly connect her case to two other similar ones. A suspect, attorney Alex Mason, is quickly apprehended, and the case seems airtight. Between DNA evidence and his wife’s statements of his sexual sadism, even the reader is convinced he needs to be put away for good.

When Mason hires legendary criminal defense attorney Regina Barrister, we realize that the fight is far from over, but something seems slightly off about Barrister. She is experiencing periods of confusion and finds herself forgetting some of the most basic things. Her young associate, Robin Lockwood becomes alarmed as she occupies second chair on the Alex Mason case. Things about the case just don’t seem right, and the young attorney fears that her mentor is becoming a liability as the case unfolds.

Margolin shows us the evil side of many of his characters and makes us wonder who we can trust. Pimps, hookers, even a brutal policeman populates a novel that hits the reader in the gut and keeps on punching. On the other hand, Robin Lockwood shows us that the young and idealistic can often overcome overwhelming odds when put in an untenable situation.

Margolin will definitely grip you from the first chapter and hold on until the exhausting ending of a well written addition to his collection.

- Beverly


Publisher - Minotaur Books
Date of Publication - ​March 6, 2018