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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
Larry Never Gives Up
Diminished Capacity follows a hardworking lawyer as he takes on two cases that bring more attention, and work, than he expected. What were some sources that informed this novels development?
Every lawyer wants to be altruistic. The reality is every lawyer has an office to run, bills to pay and a family to support. Larry’s character was formed before the book was written.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The themes are suspense, conflict, grief and determination. Larry never gives up and he is never intimidated.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have two more Larry Ross novels completed and one more “in the can.” My goal was to create a repeat character that readers would identify with and want to follow.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Tom Rogers has just been accused of brutally murdering his business partner, Art Mendoza. Larry decides to represent Tom in the capital murder case, even though it looks like Tom is guilty. But while waiting for the trial, Larry makes a tactical error and accepts another high-profile case-a complicated products liability case against a major auto manufacturer.
Now, with two work intensive cases to deal with, Larry is drowning in responsibility. His one man practice is suddenly catapulted into the local and national spotlight, and things only get worse when Tom leans on Larry for support in his personal life. Larry’s stress level has just about reached its limit and both trials have yet to start. Can he win both cases and keep his sanity? There’s only one way to find out.
Intrigue, murder, and mystery combine in Diminished Capacity, a first-rate legal thriller from talented newcomer Leighton Rockafellow.
Diminished Capacity
Diminished Capacity by Leighton Rockafellow is a riveting legal thriller that picks up at the start of a murder trial. Tom Rogers finds himself in a position of self-defense when his partner, Arturo Mendoza, attacks him with an intent to kill. The reader might guess that Tom should be free because it was a case of self-defense, but from a legal perspective, it is not that simple. Between the murder weapon, witness testimony and lawyers, Tom’s life is in the hands of hardworking layer, Larry Ross. Larry has a business to run and clients to attend to and Tom’s case is proving to be a handful. Can Larry balance his work, two tough cases, and the harsh light of the new publicity he’s getting?
Larry Ross is a refreshing character. Many legal thrillers will setup their protagonists as altruistic lawyers; I’m not saying Larry isn’t, but he is a much more grounded character that worries about his business and takes on work for money, as many people needing to pay the bills would. I found that many of his decisions throughout the book were influenced by money, in a good way, even if he didn’t like to think about it. Larry is a realist and his character shows that.
What also sets this novel apart from other legal thrillers is how Larry takes on two big cases at once. Again, many other legal dramas will focus on one case, and while the murder trial is certainly intriguing all on its own, readers are also treated to another compelling civil suit. This sets up the novel to deliver two fascinating legal cases in one book.
With a civil suit and a criminal trial handled by one lawyer, Larry rightly feels the stress of his work. Juggling between the two, he truly became an excellent lawyer by the end of the book. The author does an excellent job of juggling these story lines while ensuring readers don’t feel as overwhelmed as Larry does. We get a glimpse into the lives of some interesting character as well.
The legal procedures throughout the story felt authentic, getting a bit technical at times, but readers who enjoy a good legal drama will find plenty to enjoy here. The story is still easy to follow, and at times the author explains both legal, mechanical and medical topics in detail so that the reader understands the gravity of the situations the characters are in.
Diminished Capacity is a rousing courtroom drama that pulls readers in right from the beginning. A very impressive debut novel that is easily recommended.
Pages: 256 | ASIN: B08LB4L35G
A Life Changed Forever
Dry Heat follows a high school jock who is arrested for attempted murder while the real criminal goes missing, and he must make choices that will alter the course of his future. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Back in the 90s I had an engine rebuilding company in Phoenix. The son of one of my employees was arrested and charged with shooting at an off-duty police officer during a highway altercation. The actual shooter escaped and despite having no record, the boy was facing a trial where he could be sentenced to jail for ten years. His family had to make an instant decision to take a plea deal for three years. So instead of college he went to prison.
The agony for the boy and his parents of having to make that kind of instant decision was something that stuck with me. A stupid mistake and bad luck and a life is changed forever.
Joey has a really bad day that only gets worse as the story goes on. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Joey is a good person and he’s trying to do the right thing, but he’s facing pressures he’s never faced before and he keeps making bad decisions. I wanted the story to be a cautionary tale, but also a hopeful one. Joseph (the adult Joey) makes a new life for himself. He finds redemption and has not given up on love.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Loyalty. Family ties. Friendship. The enduring power of love.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am about 2/3 through the first draft of a novel titled, “Freedom’s Just Another Word…” It takes place in 2018 and is the story of fictional Chicago Tribune columnist, Jake Doyle, who fell from grace years ago (had an affair and a child with his twenty-year- old intern) and is struggling to survive in the newspaper world of the 21st century. When the new billionaire owner of the Tribune recruits Jake to help him with his campaign to run for president, Jake must decide whether to go along or get out.
I am hoping it will be available by the end of 2023.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Indeed | Twitter | Instagram
The high school bonfire is supposed to be the kickoff to a great night: Joey has just won a football scholarship and he’s hoping for a sex breakthrough with his new girlfriend. Then his true love–but ex-girlfriend–Mallory tells his she’s pregnant. He’s reeling from that news when the bonfire explodes.
Joey, his new girlfriend and her drug dealer friend TJ, flee in her truck. When the police pursue, TJ shoots at the cop’s car. It crashes and in the ensuing chaos TJ slips away undetected. Joey, the only adult in the truck, is hauled off to jail.
Joey is charged with attempted murder and released on bail. TJ is nowhere to be found. When Joey discovers that Mallory’s father is pressuring her to terminate the pregnancy, Joey has to remain free to prevent that from happening. In desperation, he reaches out to notorious gang leader, Chico Torres, whom he met in jail, for help locating TJ.
When Joey is offered a deal–his freedom in exchange for his cooperation in nailing Chico–he faces a decision that will change the course of his life and Mallory’s.
FETCH ME A HANGMAN
Fetch Me a Hangman by R. G. Ashcroft is a legal thriller that presents readers with an eerie, vicious crime, a slew of intriguingly suspicious characters, and a wholesome lawyer that has been given the unpleasant task of representing the lead suspect. This legal thriller opens with a bang, giving readers a teaser of the crime. As a non-lawyer reading this gripping novel, I particularly enjoyed the moral challenge that Ashcroft presents – what is a lawyer obligated to do if there is reason to believe his client is guilty, or, at a minimum, not telling the whole truth? I believe that both lawyers and non-lawyers alike will enjoy this legal thriller which contains a creative and multifaceted story.
The novel centers on Brandeis Fields, an upstanding lawyer in the small village of Clifton Springs. Brandeis lives a relatively simple and pleasant life, one that many would dream of. A well-paying and consistent career, a doting wife, and two teenage children who are exceptionally pleasant. Brandeis’s peaceful life is turned upside down when he is selected to represent Aaron Tait, the young man accused of committing a brutal murder in this otherwise idyllic town. Aaron, resentful of Brandeis for thinking he might be guilty, is less than a forthcoming client and seems hellbent on doing everything he can to not help Brandeis defend him. As Brandeis and Aaron move through the legal process together, other intriguing characters are introduced to the mix, including fellow lawyer Bill Williams, whose methods are questionable, to say the least; the seductive and mysterious lawyer Jenna Hines, whose surprise appearances are not entirely welcome; and the tight-lipped Maria St. Rosa, nurse to one of Brandeis’s clients who may know more than she lets on.
Ashcroft excels in his presentation of the legal process and the intricacies that it involves. Readers will learn so many interesting facts about different components of the law in this book – from the rules surrounding bail to jury selection to sentencing. Ashcroft explains these concepts in relatively simple terms through the eyes and voice of his protagonist, Brandeis, whose fatherly and lawyerly characteristics make him a good teacher.
Fetch Me a Hangman is a fast-paced legal thriller. There were a number of loose ends that were not tied up by the end of the book, possibly setting readers up for a sequel. Ashcroft has created an intriguing cast of characters and the plot had many twists and turns. This is a brilliant crime novel filled with suspense.
Pages: 316 | ASIN : B09MZKBFC9
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
