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Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer
Daniel Simmons struggles between his work and family life. His wife, Hannah, wants more kids even after giving birth to their daughter, Lilly, which causes physical and mental trauma. Meanwhile, Simmons, an up-and-coming lawyer, is looking to make his way in the world. After receiving a call, Simmons gets the opportunity to take on his first case. Emmett Kendrick is a prisoner assigned to solitary confinement. Under constant scrutiny and harassment from the staff, Kendrick has made multiple attempts to change his circumstances through the legal system. Together Simmons and Kendrick work to make prison life more humane.
Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer by Michael Stockham is exceptionally well-written. The writing is beautiful, clear, and concise, and the author’s knowledge of medicine and legal commentary is impressive. It’s a relaxing and educational read with a storyline that slowly picks up the pace. Stockham provides much information regarding the legal and medical fields, but he does this to help the reader better understand what is going on.
The main character’s wife, Hannah, seems excessively aggressive towards her husband when the topic of children arises. She’s very stubborn and does not seem to want to explore other options, and she frustrated me as a reader. I feel sorry for Daniel because it almost feels like Hannah is driving him into a corner. It’s wonderful to have children, but at the expense of whom? Daniel’s character is one that many can relate to because he is trying his best to take care of his family while also focusing on his career. The fact that this book is inspired by actual events made this book even more intriguing.
I feel that if the medical scenes were cut shorter and simplified, the story would’ve been much more powerful. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book because once you get past the medical jargon, the tension begins to rise, and you begin to appreciate how beautifully written this book is.
Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer is a domestic and legal thriller that has been inspired by a true story. Readers will be given a look at the challenges faced by those in the medical and legal fields, as well as the prison system.
Pages: 314 | ASIN : B0B5YDHHCC
Getting Justice
Unconscionable tells the story of one family’s long quest for justice after their loved one was brutally murdered in a racially motivated attack. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This story was important for me to write because I know the actual family. I’m married to a cousin of the real victim. We’ve been together since 1990 and they’ve always talked about getting justice.
The story is based on true events. What aspects of the story were fictionalized and what aspects stuck close to the truth?
In the real story, there were only two perpetrators, not three. Location and setting are different. Some of the witnesses didn’t actually exist. Carl Castor was fictional. The marches were fictional as well. The woman portrayed by Francine Stoner Grant actually passed away in 2010. Truths are the victim’s brutal murder, his brother’s suspicious death in jail, the parent’s passing. Evidence tampering, terrorizing and threatening the family was true too. As well as the convictions and sentences.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The important theme was to accurately and adequately paint a true picture of the long history of racism in the deep south. Another theme was the love, faith and strength of the family and how frequently violent crime occurred with impunity.
When and where will your book be available?
The book is available at http://www.urbanedgepublishing.com,http://www.charlesrbuttsjr.com and GrdyBby@yahoo.com
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
Thirty-four years later, those suspected of the murder are finally indicted, arrested and set to stand trial. Follow the journey of an aggrieved family’s long quest for the justice of their loved one. Based on a true story, Unconscionable revisits the common and frequent racism that once ran amok in the deep South, and usually with impunity.
Unconscionable
How far would you go to see justice served? How far would you go to see a light shone on the truth? And what would you let it take from you in return? The Grier family is haunted by a terrible crime. They must face these questions in their search for what is right. Tragically lost and surrounded by a hatred that is embedded in the very foundation of their community, this family must rely on the strength and courage of each other to see their way through the storm. Because the only way they can prevail is together.
Unconscionable, by Charles R. Butts Jr., is a harrowing tale of injustice, corruption and loss, spanning across four decades. It follows the story of the Grier’s, a black family living in the deep south of America. When their son is horrifically murdered in a racially motivated hate crime, they find that it is only the beginning of their plight. Corrupt police officers, false investigations and a cover up that runs deep into the roots of their hometown are some of the obstacles they must overcome. But through love, belief and guidance, this incredible family will rally together to overcome the odds.
I really enjoyed this riveting crime drama. It gripped me from the first page with sharp writing and a thick atmosphere of intrigue. What I really enjoyed about this engaging crime thriller was that it was about the family, not just the crime. To experience their journey, the highs and lows, was surreal. I was there with them on every page. I felt every word. The characters are authentic and compelling. I have come to know The Griers and sympathize with them. I felt anger, sadness, disgust, pride and joy, all in one book. The authors writing allows you to easily get absorbed by this story and lets you explore all the powerful emotions that accompany a heinous crime.
Unconscionable is a heartbreaking story but an excellent read. I highly recommend this captivating story to readers who enjoy culturally relevant crime fiction novels with a spellbinding plot and captivating characters.
ISBN: 979-8-9855389-0-8
I Love To Write About The Struggle
Miranda Writes follows a disgraced attorney who must choose between going after the defendant that got away or pursuing her new career. What inspired the idea behind this story?
Miranda Writes is my sixth novel, and despite varying ages and backgrounds, all of my main characters share at least one thing; a desire for a do-over or a second chance at a happier, more satisfying life. I love to write about the struggle, the efforts that we go through to make that happen. My dearest friend, to whom the book is dedicated, was a lawyer and I wanted to honor her legacy with Miranda, a woman who believes in justice and tries to make sense of the world. RIP LGC
I was completely wrapped up in the mystery behind this story. Did you plan the mystery or did it develop organically while writing?
Right from the beginning, I had an idea that there was some sort of a coverup at a fairly high level and that both Miranda and Becky would be threatened. But the details came to me as I wrote, and the twists and turns evolved along the way. That’s what I love most about writing: the surprising path that a novel can take you on!
Miranda is a character I loved following. What were some questions you kept asking yourself as you were creating her character?
My main goal was to keep Miranda’s character authentic. Despite her years of experience as a successful prosecutor, she suffered a serious setback and I felt that she would naturally question many of her professional and personal decisions going forward. I hope that her renewed confidence in her abilities was apparent as the story progressed.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available? Could we see more stories with Miranda?
I had been working on a historical novel, but I couldn’t get Miranda out of my mind. I felt that there was more to her story and the words just started to flow. I expect you’ll see a sequel to Miranda Writes in 2023!!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Former Assistant District Attorney Miranda Quinn is on the brink of a career comeback when she gets a phone call. It’s a witness who disappeared three years earlier, resulting in a violent criminal going free. Miranda got fired as a result, but the witness has re-surfaced with a shocking story to tell; one that implicates Miranda and her ex, defense attorney Adam Baxter. And now, there’s a new victim.
Miranda’s legal advice blog-turned-podcast Miranda Writes is about to become a daytime TV show, but the negative press could destroy her credibility. Will the network stand behind her?
When it comes to the law, Miranda has all the answers, but the questions are getting harder and the stakes are getting higher. The dangerous web of lies and cover-ups she exposes leaves her questioning just how much she is willing to risk. She has the right to remain silent, but needs to speak up… doesn’t she?
Miranda Writes is a story of how far we’ll go to protect those we love and the power of second chances.
The Product Of My Warped Mind
You Have The Right To Remain Silent follows a high-profile lawyer as he takes on a brutal murder case involving a congressman that challenges him on all fronts. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I am usually inspired by an event in the news or cases I handled in my practice. You Have The Right to Remain Silent is the exception. The inspiration for the novel was a short article I read about a man who fell into a coma and could not participate in his own defense. I wondered (and then researched) how the legal system typically handled this unusual event. The result of my research (and novelist’s license) is You Have The Right to Remain Silent.
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
No, I had no idea. I hadn’t written a novel like this before. The closest example to this, in my portfolio, was my 3rd Zachary Blake legal thriller, Betrayal in Blue, which was not “ripped from the headlines” like the others. However, it was a follow-up to my 2nd novel, Betrayal of Justice, which was. In Silent, I wanted to introduce the concept of jury consulting, with the expert assistance of my good friend, Shari Belitz (a central character in the book), a real person and a great sport. She loves and approves her fictional self. I also knew the book would be a “whodunnit.” The rest, as I began to peck at my computer keys, was the product of my warped mind.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
For you aspiring novelists out there, my research consists of information available in a routine Internet search. As a lawyer, I might know legal concepts and specific laws that you don’t know, or use search terms or articles and materials that you might not be familiar with, but all of this information is available online. As a person who is old enough to remember “legal research” before computers and the Internet, I am constantly amazed on how technology has changed research. And, of course, this is a novel, not a court filing—if I fudge a bit, I enjoy, as I stated earlier, a novelist’s license.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
As you may or may not know, I took a short detour from my adult legal thrillers. I just released my cookbook, The Blake-Lewin Family Cookbook of Traditional Jewish Recipes: L’Dor V’Dor—From Generation to Generation II and my first children’s social justice picture book: Happy Jack, Sad Jack: A Bullying Story. The next book, if I can ‘kidnap’ my wonderful illustrator, Melinda T. Falgaust, will be the 2nd book in the Children’s Social Justice/Safety Series, probably late Fall, early Winter. Stay tuned!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | LinkedIn
Conservative talk-show host Mia Folger is in therapy with Dr. Harold Rothenberg. Mia and her husband, progressive Congressman Bradley Crawford, are not getting along these days, personally or politically.
When Crawford is found brutally dismembered and murdered, the evidence points to Mia as his killer. While the prosecutor pushes for a murder indictment, Dr. Rothenberg, convinced of his patient’s innocence, turns to an old friend—high profile attorney Zachary Blake, Detroit’s self-proclaimed ‘King of Justice.’
Blake will do anything for Rothenberg, the man who successfully treated his kids in their battle with a predator priest. Zack takes Mia’s case, but has his work cut out for him because Mia has been hospitalized, shocked into a catatonic state at the discovery of her husband’s mutilated body, unable to assist in her own defense.
Sensing he must prove Mia’s innocence to avoid an eventual life sentence, Zack enlists the aid of his crack investigator, Micah Love, and Micah’s cyber-specialist, Reed Spencer to dissect and poke holes in the case. But, for this case, Micah in convinced that Zack needs more—he recommends beautiful, sharp, brash, foul-mouthed, cocky-confident New York based jury consultant extraordinaire Shari Belitz and her team of mock trial/focus group gurus.
Shari is the best of the best. Her assignment in the Folger case? Flyspeck the evidence and unleash her arsenal of psychological techniques and predictive skills—use focus groups or mock juries to determine what evidence or circumstances would cause the real jury to declare Mia Folger innocent of all charges. Zack wants no part of Shari; one cocky lawyer-Zachary Blake-should be sufficient to prove Mia’s case. Blake knows what he needs for an acquittal; a brash jury consultant from NYC will only get in his way. But Micah persists and persuades Zack him to give Shari and her team a try.
Zack, Micah, Reed, and the irrepressible Ms. Belitz join forces in an all-out attack on the evidence, while evil characters lurk in the background, engaged in a sinister plot to assure Mia’s demise.
Expect the unexpected in this whodunit legal crime thriller, the 8th installment of the Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series, featuring all your favorite series characters and one brash, exciting newcomer who gives Blake all he can handle.
Miranda Writes
Miranda, who was an assistant state’s attorney, was assigned a case where a young girl was assaulted and raped. Determined to put the assailant behind bars even though the case was weak to begin with, Miranda does what she can to help this innocent girl. When the case falls apart, the defendant goes free, and Miranda is fired after it comes out that she was having a relationship with the lawyer who represented the defendant. Miranda makes an effort to move on and in doing so she creates a podcast called Miranda Writes. After three years a victim of the case Miranda was on comes forward to say that the defendant has struck again. Miranda must decide between going after the defendant or continuing on with her rise to success by taking an offer to host a daytime TV show.
Author Gail Ward has created a compelling legal thriller that is as bold as it is entertaining. The author writes sharp dialogue which feels authentic and pulls you into this emotionally invigorating crime thriller. The author paints realistic courtroom scenes; utilizing obvious experience with the subject matter to make the legal drama feel grounded even when the intrigue is high.
Miranda is a character I was immediately intrigued by and empathized with, which I think is why I clung so tightly to the book when the twists started coming. I enjoyed reading about Miranda’s character as she is tenacious, smart, and devoted to her clients. Readers are immediately immersed in the plot and the story takes off with only the occasional respite for some background information.
One thing that stood out to me the most with this book is how there is a balance of emotions in this book, making it way more accessible and entertaining then your average legal thriller where everyone is constantly brooding. The book has its sad moments, but there are also moments of levity where humor is used to great effect, and even made me laugh out loud a few times. The author takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster that winds through love, hate, fear of the unknown, and anxiety.
Miranda Writes, by Gail Ward Olmsted, has well developed characters and an engaging plot that will have you hooked as you are taken on this tense journey to put Chelsea and Becky’s rapist behind bars. For me, this is the year’s stand out legal thriller.
Pages: 239 | ASIN: B0B1G87C1Y
Heroes To The Public Villains To The Law
Heroes To The Public Villains To The Law is Marta Nater’s third and final book of her exciting villains’ series. The villains that we met in the first two books are back for a final confrontation. Shadow Claw and her daughter Darla are using their strange super powers to run from the law and seek vengeance. Jerico Raven, Nina Dansk and Danny Rojas are teaming up to bring some sense of order into their surroundings. And Cora Rollins is back in New York, more hateful and angry than ever, focused on hunting down sex offenders and human traffickers, taking justice into her hands. All of these characters will clash and confront each other in a fight that might be the final one to restore order and justice in the streets of New York.
Nater’s final book is incredibly thrilling. From the very start there’s action everywhere, something new and exciting is always occurring and the characters have to figure out how to deal with each situation. As they run from the law the characters keep trying to manage justice in their own way. However, as Cora Rollins takes her vigilante justice too far, she might have to confront her own family and friends. Now the villains that we’ve met are older and trying to move on from their old ways as they build their families, expecting that the criminal justice system has learned their lesson. Cora will not let this happen though, and will make sure to bring chaos every step of the way.
Every chapter of this book was exciting, it’s simply not possible to get bored. It was interesting getting to see the evolution that so many of these characters have had, and how they’ve changed and become less vengeful throughout the series. The main point remains though: there are huge flaws in the justice system, and it’s necessary to find a way to bring true justice in order to protect people from the most horrible criminals. This series has been a fun adventure through which one can explore the effects of vigilante justice, and leaves lots of doors open for readers to make their own conclusions of what is right and what needs to change.
Heroes To The Public Villains To The Law has a compelling plot and engaging characters, this book marks a great and exciting end for this series. There are lots of unexpected events to look forward to in this book and plot twists that will keep the storyline at a steady exciting pace. There are hidden secrets behind every character which will be finally uncovered in this last book.
Pages: 169 | ASIN: B09XVKDJLZ
LITERARY TITAN 