Blog Archives
Mystery and Intrigue
While The Jury Waits follows a self-absorbed but magnetic defense attorney who gets tangled in the most personal case of his career, the murder trial of his lover. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup of the story was driven by two things; first, my intense desire to step outside my comfort zone to write a work of fiction, and secondly by my love of crime shows, movies, and John Grisham novels.
What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Believe it or not, the movie, Liar, Liar where Jim Carrey played a charismatic attorney who came across as not having a legal mind at all.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
I consider them different. Balancing the two, albeit difficult to do, is driven by the structure associated with writing a decent work of fiction. Introduce, develop, and create mystery and intrigue through plot twists is my approach.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The sequel to While the Jury Waits. It is going to be a trilogy eventually.
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Choice of Evils
Choice of Evils, by Morley Swingle, is a sharp, twist-filled legal thriller that follows Wyatt Blake, a former district attorney turned defense lawyer, defending a millionaire accused of murdering his best friend during a rock-climbing trip. Set in the snow-draped peaks of Colorado, the story weaves courtroom drama, moral gray areas, and emotional backstories into a compelling tale of justice, loss, and the fine line between right and wrong.
What really pulled me in wasn’t just the whodunit mystery; it was Wyatt himself. He’s a flawed, smart, funny, sad guy who’s trying to stitch his life back together after losing his wife in a freak skiing accident. His inner thoughts are dry and biting, like when he watches a potential client chew his nails and thinks he hasn’t “encountered scissors in months.” That kind of dark humor is sprinkled throughout the book and made me both laugh and wince. I felt his grief when he hides the photo of his daughter before meeting the accused murderer, Ryker Brando. Swingle writes pain without melodrama.
Ryker Brando is a chilling character; detached, calculating, and unnervingly composed. He openly admits to cutting the rope that led to his best friend’s death, yet displays no visible remorse or emotional turmoil. Instead, he presents his actions with stark, matter-of-fact reasoning. This emotional flatness makes him difficult to read, let alone sympathize with, yet it’s precisely this ambiguity that gives his character such power. Swingle resists the urge to paint Ryker as a clear-cut villain; instead, he challenges the reader to grapple with the unsettling logic behind Ryker’s choice. “Two people die, or just one,” Ryker says, and you’re left genuinely unsure of what you might have done in his place. The novel’s treatment of the “choice of evils” defense is not only compelling but also intellectually provocative, presenting legal nuance in a way that’s accessible without ever oversimplifying.
The courtroom scenes are particularly well-executed. Unlike many legal thrillers that get bogged down in tedious procedural detail, Swingle’s narrative moves with precision and energy. His legal expertise is evident, but what stands out even more is his ability to translate that knowledge into sharp, engaging drama. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue crisp, and the legal sparring, especially between Wyatt Blake and his successor, Chad Coburn, is both intense and layered. Coburn, a former NFL linebacker turned district attorney, brings an aggressive, politically charged edge to the proceedings, making their confrontations not just legal battles, but deeply personal and ideological clashes.
The supporting characters are also given room to shine. Nikki, Wyatt’s resourceful and sharp-tongued secretary, adds both levity and depth, underscoring Swingle’s talent for creating memorable, multidimensional personalities. By the final chapters, I found myself fully invested, not just in the outcome of the case, but in the broader questions the book raises. The narrative explores themes of guilt, justice, and moral ambiguity with both intelligence and emotional resonance. Whether or not Ryker is truly guilty almost becomes secondary to the exploration of what guilt really means. Swingle delivers this with wit, emotional insight, and a firm grasp of human complexity.
Choice of Evils will appeal to readers who appreciate legal thrillers that delve into moral ambiguity and psychological depth. With its layered characters, ethically charged dilemmas, and compelling courtroom drama, the novel offers both intellectual engagement and emotional impact. For those who enjoy thoughtful, well-paced narratives grounded in legal realism, this is a standout choice.
Pages: 731 | ASIN : B0F6M1YJHL
One-Man Minority Opinion
In Dissenting Opinion, a federal judge manages to hide his liberal beliefs in order to secure a seat on the Supreme Court. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
In The West Wing episode “The Supremes,” one of the characters remarks that the Court is at its best when justices dissent and passionately argue the law. “Who writes the extraordinary dissent? The one-man minority opinion whose time hasn’t come…” For me, this was a powerful scene, a powerful episode. I imagined a Court where there was one lone justice who disagreed with the majority, and from that Dissenting Opinion was born.
What kind of research was required in order to put this novel together?
I tried to stay away from anything that was too technical about the workings of the Supreme Court; I relied heavily on my memory of government and economics from high school and simple internet searches.
Do you have a favorite scene in this book? One that was especially enjoyable to craft?
As a fan of political and legal fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book, but I think my favorite scene to write was the television interview where I borrowed a quote from The West Wing. Jason is in the television studio and is asked if he thinks he should practice some tolerance toward those who disagree with him and he replies “As long as Justice Reynolds remains intolerant toward women, Black people, gay people, poor people, immigrants and the First and Fourteenth amendments, I will remain intolerant toward him.” Jaws drop, the studio goes silent. I love it.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m working on a psychological thriller, that I hope to have done later this year. It’s about an overworked psychiatrist who begins noticing patterns between his patients, and as he explores these patterns he finds that he is putting himself at risk. As he gets closer to the truth, his own world starts to unravel and he discovers that perception is fragile, reality is shifting and the truth is more terrifying than madness itself.
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Dry Heat
Things are not going so well for Joey Blade. On the night of his birthday, the girl he lost his virginity to, Mallory, tells him she’s pregnant. While at the high school bonfire, there is an explosion. Joey flees with his current girlfriend Wendy and her drug-dealing friend TJ. In their race to escape the explosion, they wind up in a police chase where TJ shoots at the police cars. The ensuing crash leads to Joey being arrested while Wendy goes free and TJ has disappeared. Once getting out of jail, Joey enlists the help of notorious gang leader Chico Torres to find TJ and – ultimately – redemption.
Len Joy’s chaotic novel Dry Heat doesn’t hold back when it comes to colorful terms and edgy commentary. Joy accurately portrays the stereotypical teenager from the late nineties that you find in cult classic films of that period. There is a feeling of nostalgia that readers in their late 30’s and early 40’s will identify with. The early scenes of this action-packed novel offer a foreshadowing of the rest of the book. Excitement and drama fill the pages to come, and readers will have to hold on because it will be a wild ride.
This enthralling novel feels like a cautionary tale for teenagers. A story where every wrong decision imaginable is made. Readers may find it is all too real and relatable, encountering a situation that is too big for their age. At one point, author Len Joy describes Joey’s day as a disastrously mishandled situation, which is the perfect way to describe it. Reading this shocking at times novel will give readers the feeling of watching a car wreck in slow-motion. You are hooked; you know it will happen; you just have to read and see how it all plays out.
Joy took time and care to flesh out the characters and make readers develop an emotional attachment to them. They all have a bit of the classic high school stereotypes in them, something many readers will identify with. There’s Darville, the rich kid; Mallory, the tragically promiscuous girl; Wendy, the snotty prom queen; and of course, the hero Joey, the jock. Yet, throughout the story, they grow, change, and transcend what we have come to expect from their assigned stereotypes. We learn that they’re human, which every good novel should achieve.
Dry Heat is a coming-of-age novel that will attract readers interested in crime thrillers and suspenseful action drama. With edgy dialogue and action, readers will be turning the page of this riveting novel to see if Joey can get himself out of the mess he is in.
Pages: 313 | ASIN : B097TT97SQ
Judge Ed
![Judge Ed by [Ted Rose]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Hw-4EJmjL.jpg)
Judge Ed by Ted Rose is an adventurous modern novella. It, as the name suggests, follows the story and life of Judge Ed who lives in paradise. Judge Ed is a fast paced, gripping tale of mystery, drama, and ambition that is sprinkled with dollops of romance. Small chapters, stunning character arcs and a tale of an almost celebrity like judge at the center is bound to urge readers to keep turning the pages. Once you begin reading, you’re certainly going to be hooked on this exciting adventure with Judge Ed which will eventually lead him and the readers to the exciting yet mysterious paradise land of South Florida.
The character of Judge Ed is charming, intelligent, certain, solid yet unpredictable and complex which provides this novella with strong roots for the story. He is a strong character who is really good at what he does, hence its easy to connect and root for him from the beginning of this riveting novel. You will cheer for his highs and certainly feel sad for the unfortunate things that will come to his path as he is riding the high horse of success. The language and the flow is impeccable and the descriptions are written in such a way that you can easily visualize the scenes. This novella is exciting and dramatic with a really good plot and certainly has all the qualities to turn into a mini television series which people will certainly binge watch.
The best part of the story personally for me was the glimpses of the landmark trials and how quickly the story unfolds in multiple layers, giving you enough to understand what is going on but at the same time keeping you guessing. Judge Ed by Ted Rose is a captivating legal thriller that slowly builds up tension in a story that has a satisfying conclusion.
Pages: 122 | ASIN: B085495ZGT
LITERARY TITAN 