This newsletter, I’m doing a book synopsis and legal review of Abiding Conviction by Stephen M. Murphy, the third Dutch Francis legal thriller. Cuz, you know, you gotta have something to do if you stay home all the time, amirite? I give Stephen M. Murphy’s Abiding Conviction 4 out of 5 stars. The pros are a good plot that keeps raising the stakes and a satisfying ending that successfully addresses all the plot points. The cons are the lack of character arcs and the somewhat boring (and ineffective) courtroom scenes to the plot. MidJourney prompt: commercial photograph, flat-lay photograph of a ..read more

Here is a legal (and book summary) review of John Grisham’s A Time To Kill. This book is a classic legal thriller and made my list of top legal thriller novels. Overall, I found this book enjoyable with some implausible jury stuff. But, it is a good example of how an author can raise the stakes in a legal thriller without a lot of weird legal stuff. (Here’s looking at you, Season 2 of Goliath.) I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. MidJourney prompt: commercial photograph, flat-lay ((cell phone mockup))::2 laying on a desk, feminine, on black isolated plain, –no text font letters –ar 9:16 –s 250 ..read more

Here’s my list of the the best legal thriller books ever. I collected 25 of them, so you have plenty of stuff to read over for the holidays! By the way, I have a goal of reading (and making a synopsis) of all these books! The 25 Best Legal Thriller Novels of All Time   1. “Charlotte Watson and The Case of the Missing Bullet” by Maureen Gil (That’s Me!) Okay, so I cheated here since this is my short story. It’s about Charlotte Watson, a criminal defense attorney who can see the ghost of her ex-husband. He only shows up if her client is innocent (or she’s on a date). Even though it’s a sh ..read more

We are preparing to go to Myrtle Beach, SC. The Husband and I would like to go see the plantations and gardens, but I think he harbors a not-so-secret desire to go play golf. Tbh, if the clubs fit in the trunk, he probably would take them. There’s only one problem with vacation, though. Okay, I know that sounded very #FirstWorldProblems right there. But seriously, it’s all the work ya gotta do to go have some fun. MidJourney prompt: a honey pot. honey dipper. 1 bee flying around. high quality blogger photography. in the style of classic winnie the pooh. –ar 4:5 –v 5.2The 20 Items On My To-Do L ..read more

John Lescroart’s latest novel, The Missing Piece, continues the story of defense attorney Dismas Hardy & gang, this time with former DA Wes Farrell defending Doug Rush, a bereaved father, accused of killing Paul Riley, the newest released prisoner thanks to the Exoneration Project. Paul Riley was convicted of raping and killing Doug’s daughter. MidJourney prompt: commercial photograph flat-lay of a cell phone laying on a kitchen table, feminine, salad, utensils, editorial photography, bright neutral colors, –ar 4:5 –s 250 I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I mainly deduct 1.5 stars becau ..read more

Here is my review of Book Review of The Final Case by David Guterson. The book is about an octogenarian named Royal, who must get driving assistance from his son to help with the trial of Betsy Harvey, who, along with her husband Delvin, were accused of the abuse, torture, and murder of their adopted daughter, Abigail (Abebe). I give this book 2 out of 5 stars. This book, although it contains courtroom scenes, is not a legal fiction. Rather, this book is written in a style of memoir, stream-of-consciousness, and meandering. It has about zero drama or information. When I say zero, I can sum up ..read more

Here is a legal (and book summary) review of Suzanne Redfearn’s Moment In Time, coming out in the beginning of March. You can pre-order this book now for instant delivery on your Kindle. Overall, this Moment in Time was excellent with some (very) minor issues. I deducted a star for all the legal stuff she got incorrect as well as the implausibility of the storyline. But since she isn’t a lawyer, and the genre she writes in isn’t legal fiction, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. MidJourney prompt: commercial photograph, flat-lay photograph of a cell phone and plants and a pencil laying on a woo ..read more

Today I am reviewing one of the novels on my best legal thrillers and courtroom drama list: Mistaken Identity by Lisa Scottoline. This book was one of the first legal thrillers that I read, and, unbeknownst to me, I thought that the protagonists of legal dramas were equally split between men and women. Not so. So, when I reread this book for the blawg, it was with a certain amount of happiness that a woman lawyer and author could break into the very male-dominated genre. 5 out of 5 stars. MidJourney prompt: commercial photograph of a flat-lay wooden desk, feminine, on black isolated plain, –ar ..read more