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When Nobody’s Watching
Class Action: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You follows a third-year law student who is unexpectedly drawn into a cheating scheme, where it threatens to derail her entire academic career while trying to balance her personal life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve always been intrigued by the idea that true character is exhibited when you take the high road even when there’s nobody watching. Behaving in an ethical manner and doing the right thing isn’t always convenient or expedient, but Lennon’s moral compass is unwavering. I love that about her.
What do you think were some of the defining moments in Lennon’s development?
When I first introduced 18-year-old Lennon Gallagher to readers in the 3rd book in the Miranda Quinn Legal Twist series: Miranda Fights, she was a lonely young woman with trust issues. She had been in and out of foster homes and it wasn’t until she met Attorney Miranda Quinn that she developed the confidence to pursue an education and live a life of purpose. Other defining moments were turning down an opportunity for an ‘easy A’, discovering the truth about her father and meeting restaurant mogul Nick Russo.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
I like to present obstacles and challenges to my characters, i.e. plot twists, to show how they respond, grow and develop over the course of the story. For Lennon, character wins out over convenience every time.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
Great question! The sequel to CLASS ACTION: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You is CLASS REUNION: Keep Your Friends CLOSER. Watch for it 10/1/26. Here’s a hint; Lennon’s up for partner at a top law firm and is planning her wedding. Everything is going great… until it’s not!
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Third year law student Lennon Gallagher’s life turns from complicated to overwhelming when she receives a message meant for someone else. The text offers an advance copy of a final exam—a guaranteed “A”—but accepting it will violate the honors code she refuses to break. When Lennon declines, the collaborators behind the cheating scheme demand her silence or they will ensure she takes the fall if necessary.
Fighting for her future while balancing an internship, exams, studying for the bar, a boyfriend who no longer seems to understand her, and a mother who needs help rebuilding her life after prison, Lennon tries to handle everything alone. But when she discovers the lead plaintiff in her firm’s class action lawsuit might be the father she’s never known, it’s the final straw. She needs help.
Class Action: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You
In Class Action by Gail Ward, we meet Lennon Gallagher, a third-year law student and non-legacy, who is unexpectedly drawn into a cheating scheme that threatens to derail her entire academic career. Readers of Olmsted’s Miranda Quin Legal Twist series may recognize Lennon from an earlier story. For newcomers, both Lennon and Miranda will feel fresh, making this book an ideal entry point for new readers while still providing familiar faces for longtime fans.
Unlike legacy students who benefit from family connections and inherited expectations, Lennon’s path through law school is defined by her outsider status and determination to succeed on her own terms. When she becomes entangled in a cheating scheme, she is forced to grapple with difficult moral and ethical dilemmas, as well as the relentless pressures of academic competition and the challenges faced by those without institutional privilege or support. Through Lennon’s story, Olmsted examines the complexities of integrity, ambition, and the demanding realities of legal education. With the added strain of personal relationships, Lennon must decide not only what she truly wants for herself but also who she can trust.
Olmsted’s narrative deftly balances the tension between personal ambition and collective responsibility, illustrating how Lennon’s decisions reverberate not only through her own life but also impact her peers and the broader academic community. The depiction of law school culture, marked by late nights, fierce competition, and the ever-present temptation to cut corners, feels authentic and immediate. Readers will find themselves empathizing with Lennon’s struggle to maintain her principles while navigating a system that often rewards those willing to bend the rules.
Those who are interested in legal thrillers with some added romance and tension, look no further than Class Action by Gail Olmsted. The strong characters, the incredible intricacies, and the excellent storytelling are all ripe for the reading.
Pages: 255 | ASIN : B0FHZVT6JX
Someone Had to Lie
Jack Luellen’s Someone Had to Lie is a sharply-paced legal-political thriller that follows James Butler, an attorney drawn back into the deadly world of drug cartels and covert operations after the mysterious murder of his close friend, retired DEA agent Joe Aguilar. When Aguilar leaves behind a cryptic file hinting at something “bigger” than they had ever imagined, possibly tied to the fentanyl crisis, the CIA, and unspeakable corruption, James and his wife, Erica, set off on a relentless, twisty journey for truth. What they uncover challenges their assumptions, endangers their lives, and demands justice in a world where institutions may not be what they seem.
I got hooked fast. The writing moves like a freight train: short chapters, lots of movement, and cliffhangers that kept me saying, “Just one more.” Luellen knows his legal lingo and law enforcement dynamics, but he doesn’t get bogged down in it. What I liked was how natural the dialogue felt. It had snap and humor, especially between James and Erica, which gave some breathing room between the darker turns of the plot. That balance made it feel real. The emotional weight of losing a friend, the slow burn of uncovering buried secrets, and the creeping dread of being watched all rang true. Sometimes the exposition leaned a little heavy, especially when laying out CIA history or drug policy, but even that fed the tension and gave backbone to the conspiracy.
But what really kept me invested were the questions Luellen pushed forward. What happens when people who are supposed to protect us start playing by their own rules? What if the truth never fits in a soundbite or a press release? The book doesn’t serve easy answers, and I liked that. It leaves room for moral messiness. Erica, especially, stood out. She’s not a sidekick. She’s sharp, she’s bold, and she holds her own without being written as a cliché. And James, for all his competence, feels human. Tired, grieving, angry. The fact that this story had roots in real history (Iran-Contra, CIA allegations, the fentanyl epidemic) made it hit even harder. It’s a fiction book that feels almost too believable for comfort.
Someone Had to Lie is gripping, gutsy, and unapologetically current. It’s a solid choice for readers who love political thrillers, legal intrigue, or true crime vibes with just enough fiction to keep the pages flying. If you liked The Pelican Brief or Narcos, this’ll be right up your alley. It’s a thriller that makes you think about who’s pulling strings in the shadows.
Pages: 312 | ASIN : B0DK7NWSZL
The Last Word
D.B. Easton’s The Last Word is a sharp, high-stakes legal thriller that weaves courtroom drama, political intrigue, and personal redemption into a gritty story of justice and consequences. Set in Buffalo, New York, it follows Jack Hamilton, a once-promising prosecutor now scraping by as a private defense attorney, who’s drawn back into a web of powerful enemies when a U.S. senator is murdered. The accused is Jack’s long-lost love, Rebecca Monroe, and defending her forces him to reckon with old betrayals, legal corruption, and his own haunted past. Alongside him is Elijah Ramirez, a fresh law graduate trying to find his place. As the courtroom battles heat up, so do the stakes outside it, revealing secrets, power plays, and a justice system with cracks wide enough to fall through.
What struck me immediately was Easton’s ability to balance realism with drama. The writing is brisk, tight, and at times brutal, just like the legal world it portrays. Dialogue is punchy and often humorous, especially in Jack’s dry, sardonic voice, which I couldn’t help but admire. Easton captures the grind of legal work in an authentic way, showing both the backroom politics and the daily pressures of defending the accused. But beyond the law, the emotional weight of the story runs deep. Jack’s grief over his son’s overdose, his fraught marriage, and his complex history with Rebecca all made him feel heartbreakingly real.
That said, parts of the story left me uneasy in a good way. The cynicism around the justice system felt earned, but also pretty bleak. Everyone’s chasing something, power, revenge, validation, and few come away clean. I found myself constantly questioning people’s motives, including Jack’s. It added suspense, but it also stirred something deeper. I felt angry at the corruption, frustrated by the bureaucracy, and genuinely moved by the quiet moments between Jack and Elijah or Jack and his wife. There’s a bitterness to this book, but also a pulse of humanity that kept me hooked. And while I occasionally wished some of the supporting characters, especially the cops and prosecutors, had a bit more depth, the ones that mattered were sketched with enough grit and soul to stay with me.
If you’re into legal thrillers that don’t hold back, that feel grounded in real-life struggle but still offer plenty of twists and courtroom fireworks, The Last Word is absolutely worth your time. Fans of Scott Turow or early Grisham will feel at home here. Lawyers and law students might nod along (or wince), and readers who like stories about redemption, justice, and how complicated people can be when the stakes are high will get a lot out of this one. I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever Easton writes next.
Pages: 313 | ASIN: B0FCMYHVHK
While The Jury Waits
While The Jury Waits is a legal thriller with a pulsing heart and a flair for drama. It follows the story of Gio Rossi, a self-absorbed but magnetic defense attorney who gets tangled in the most personal case of his career, the murder trial of his lover, Nicoletta Bianchi. What starts as courtroom theatrics soon spirals into a deep web of secrets, manipulation, and unexpected twists that push Gio to the edge of both love and justice. Part courtroom drama, part psychological thriller, the story delves into the performance of law and the cost of wearing too many masks for too long.
What grabbed me right away was the voice of Gio Rossi. He’s unapologetically cocky, a peacock in a suit, strutting through the courtroom like it’s a runway. Chapter 1 sets the stage with cinematic flair, with his luxury car, his ego, the scent of his cologne filling up the office like he’s spraying his own myth into the air. It’s ridiculous, but it works. The writing here shines by leaning into Gio’s vanity without flinching. The books on his shelf? “Decorations.” The cases he handles? Mere “performances.” I was torn between wanting to punch him and cheer for him, which, to me, is the mark of a well-drawn character.
But it’s when his lover Nicky is arrested for murder that the tone shifts hard. Suddenly, the peacock becomes a hawk. Gio gets stripped down emotionally, and the writing reflects that. His overconfidence gives way to anxiety, even desperation. I appreciated this change because it gave depth to a character who could’ve stayed a caricature. Watching him unravel, especially in scenes where he second-guesses his own instincts or sits slumped in his office drinking whiskey, made him feel human. Messy, but human.
And then there’s the trial. The back-and-forth between Gio and the prosecution is absolutely electric. The courtroom scenes are paced fast and tight, with just enough flair to stay entertaining without losing the stakes. The moment when Gio brings in Agnes McAllister as a surprise witness is pure drama. I literally exhaled when she said, “I’ll testify, Mr. Rossi, but I have one condition.” I was leaning in. The gamble pays off, and the jury’s verdict feels earned. But even then, the book doesn’t let you relax. There’s a shadow of something darker still to come. The vibe shifts into an almost noir detective territory, complete with ominous symbols, late-night investigations, and masked stalkers.
Sometimes the writing leans a little heavy on the melodrama. People don’t just feel things, they feel them ferociously. There are a lot of poetic metaphors and long monologues that feel like stage lines more than thoughts. But I didn’t mind because it added to the theatrical energy that Gio thrives in. Readers seeking strict realism may find aspects of the narrative exaggerated, but those who approach it as a high-stakes legal drama infused with strong emotional depth will find it thoroughly compelling.
While The Jury Waits is for readers who love character-driven drama, courtroom mind games, and stories where love, ambition, and justice crash into each other like runaway trains. If you’re into shows like The Good Wife, Suits, or even How to Get Away with Murder, this is your book. It’s bold, messy, stylish, and absolutely impossible to put down.
Pages: 213 | ASIN : B0F4RRXKBN
Dissenting Opinion
Stephen Byrd’s Dissenting Opinion is a sharp, clever, and wildly timely political-legal thriller that dives headfirst into the shadowy intersections of law, power, and identity. The novel follows Judge Jason Simpson, a respected federal judge tapped to fill a vacant seat on the Supreme Court by a conservative President who assumes Jason is one of their own. But Jason harbors a secret—his true beliefs align more with the liberal camp. What follows is a strategic dance of subterfuge, legal integrity, and ideological rebellion, all wrapped in wit, tension, and some laugh-out-loud moments courtesy of press secretary Vicki Smith’s PR disasters. It’s part courtroom drama, part political satire, and part character study of a man walking the tightrope between truth and survival in a world that expects allegiance above honesty.
I loved how Byrd played with tone. He bounces from biting satire to tense legal sparring without missing a beat. The opening scene with Vicki bungling the death announcement of Justice Egley had me laughing—lines like calling it a “standard, ordinary, everyday expiration of human life” hit with pitch-perfect awkward comedy. But then Byrd shifts gears in the courtroom scenes, like when Jason grills the government lawyer in the Argus Pipeline case. That whole back-and-forth about “potential” environmental harm and due process felt like reading a modern-day Aaron Sorkin script. It was fast, cutting, and quietly enraging. Byrd knows how to build a speech that punches through the page.
What stuck with me the most, though, was Jason’s internal conflict. His private monologues were some of the most honest writing I’ve read in a political novel. When he’s sitting in his study, weighing the morality of accepting the nomination under false pretenses, it’s not just good drama—it’s real. Like when he fears letting “the wrong kind of judge” take the seat instead. Byrd doesn’t shy away from that ethical gray zone. He leans in, and it makes Jason’s choices feel earned, not just symbolic. And the Supreme Court scenes where the other justices slowly start to realize Jason isn’t the conservative clone they expected? Absolutely delicious. It’s the quiet chaos of watching a system unravel from the inside out, led by someone who just refuses to be predictable.
If you like fast-paced political thrillers with brains, bite, and a moral center, this one’s for you. Fans of The West Wing, Scandal, or even Suits will be right at home. It’s not just for legal nerds or political junkies either—this book is for anyone who’s ever wondered what might happen if the person in power decided to put country and conscience before party. It’s smart. It’s brave. And it’s a good time.
Pages: 105 | ASIN : B0DZTRHP6C
The Destruction Of Their Market
Bottled Lightning follows an elite technology lawyer who finds himself entangled in a web of corporate espionage deep in the heart of bustling Tokyo. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When I practiced law, we advised renewable and nuclear energy clients on their cross-border transactions. I started wondering what would happen if someone invented an energy technology that would replace every other type of energy, including oil, existing renewables and nuclear. How would powerful entrenched industry players react to the destruction of their market share? I decided on lightning-on-demand technology after experiencing the power of lightning firsthand in the Florida Everglades while lying on the bottom of a skiff with thunderbolts exploding all around us.
The male international lawyer character arose out of my own experience as an attorney practicing in New York and Japan and the experiences of my son, whose mother is Japanese and who has lived in both the US and Japan. I created the female inventor character based on a composite of very smart technology company founders I’ve worked with over the years, including a woman client with a PhD in chemical engineering.
What is it about Tokyo that made it the perfect setting for your novel?
Tokyo has Blade Runner and Neuromancer vibes, particularly at night. It is also an exotically beautiful modern city with a wonderful skyline. And it’s the perfect city for the urban motorcycle scenes in the book.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing, or did it come out organically as you were writing?
Completely organically. I pantsed it, i.e., wrote it by the seat of my pants. It started with the desire to write a thriller with an international lawyer character. Then I needed to decide who the client would be and what her invention was. Then I needed to determine the conflict and inciting incident. Etc. Etc. I struggled with each step in the process. For example, I changed the beginning chapter three times. The first chapter I ever wrote didn’t even make it into the published novel. As many successful authors have said, writing is rewriting and the first draft is for the author whereas editing is for the benefit of the readers.
And since I’m a lawyer by trade and Bottled Lightning is my debut novel, in many ways I had to unlearn my legal writing skills to learn how to write fiction. For example, there is a lot of passive writing in corporate legal writing and that is death in fiction. The general rule is that you must write with an active voice, although there are exceptions. Also, in legal writing, I don’t want to be triggering an emotional response in my clients: Kind of like the old TV show, Dragnet – “Just the facts, ma’am,” if you will. In fiction, by contrast, you want to trigger an emotional response in the reader on every page! And in legal writing, you want to give the client the answer or conclusion up front. You don’t want to make a paying customer wade through pages of discussion to find your advice. In fiction, however, you want to hide the ball all the way to the end, while at the same time leaving breadcrumbs along the way.
What is the next novel that you are working on, and when will that be available?
A novel about tarpon tournament fly fishing in a fantasyland based on the Florida Keys. The working title is Poontown, based on the nickname (poon) guides and anglers use for tarpon, the best fly rod gamefish in the world, bar none. I’m shooting for the first half of 2026.
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Top global technology lawyer Tornait “Torn” Sagara knows he shouldn’t get involved with his beautiful client, Saya Brooks, whose revolutionary lightning-on-demand invention will solve climate change and render all other energy sources obsolete. But their shared connection as hafu (half Japanese, half American) draws them irresistibly together.
Saya’s technology could save the world, but what’s good for the planet is bad news for those who profit from the status quo. Now, someone wants to stop Saya from commercializing her invention and will go to any lengths—even murder—to do so. When Torn takes Saya for a spin on his motorcycle, they are viciously attacked. That death-defying battle on a crowded Tokyo expressway is only the start of Torn’s wild ride.
As the violence escalates, Torn discovers that everything he values—his reputation, his family, and even his life—is on the line. Racing from the boardrooms of Tokyo to the wilds of Russia in a desperate search for the truth, Torn is forced to face his own flaws and discover what really matters most.
Unlawful Games
Unlawful Games, by Adam Klein, is a gripping legal thriller that plunges readers into a world of high-stakes tension and moral ambiguity. From the outset, Klein crafts an action-packed murder mystery, leaving readers glued to the pages as they try to unravel the dark secrets and deadly traps that surround Salvatore Amici, a promising defense attorney in New York City. Salvatore, fresh from a courtroom victory, is basking in the praise of his family and friends when his life takes a chilling turn: a former client, newly acquitted, becomes the prime suspect in a brutal double homicide. But why was he targeted? And what danger lies ahead?
The suspense in Unlawful Games doesn’t ease up. Klein masterfully weaves in plot twists, from anonymous threats at Salvatore’s doorstep to harrowing encounters with law enforcement, that keep readers on edge. Just as you think you’ve pieced together the mystery, a shocking new revelation emerges, pulling you deeper into the story’s intricate web. Klein’s skillful pacing and efficient prose make this complexity manageable within the novel’s concise length, under 300 pages, yet the impact lingers long after. While the plot is fast-paced and intense, Klein’s characterizations, particularly Salvatore’s, provide a thought-provoking look at the attorney’s internal struggles. Salvatore’s professional facade cracks under the weight of guilt and self-doubt as he questions his own ethics and the consequences of his work.
I do believe that the supporting characters could benefit from deeper detail. While Salvatore’s wife and children appear throughout as anchors in his tumultuous life, they serve more as background elements than as fully realized characters. Klein’s writing style, formal and precise, seems to draw from his familiarity with legal settings, adding authenticity to Salvatore’s voice. By the end of the novel, some mysteries remain unanswered, leaving an open door for a sequel. Klein sets the stage for further character development and exploration into Salvatore’s troubled conscience and professional battles, a prospect that would appeal to readers captivated by this suspenseful first book.
Unlawful Games is a suspenseful and tightly crafted thriller, filled with shocking twists and high emotional stakes, solidifying Klein as a writer of intense, character-driven mysteries. It’s a compelling read that leaves readers questioning what justice truly means.
Pages: 314 | ASIN : B0BL3DLMXW
LITERARY TITAN 