Thank you for allowing me to read this early release so I can review. This book was worth the time just needed a bit more "something" to make it stand out

Tell me one thing. Was justice done here today? The question evokes in my mind the Yamura family sitting, broken in the courtroom. Not even close!

One of the reasons I enjoy reading is how a plot with all its characters can evoke justice. One of the reasons I am attracted to legal thrillers such as this one. But herein lies the frustration, this was not about justice. What then is this about? Clever manipulation.

Mick McFarland has been hired by his good friend David Hanson in the death of a beautiful reporter. A reporter who has the goods on a corrupt police force. With David being found by the police at the scene of the crime, it looks like a David will be doing time. As the case progresses, a video is given to Mick for a price that shows something more sinister. Something that will change Mick's life and the life of his family, if he does not clear his good friend David.

Myers gives you descriptive narrative on all his characters that you are not confused on who is who. There are few in this thriller. I am ok at 5 but anymore, I am a mess. Along with the descriptive narrative on the characters, you are also given intertwining stories as well. Mick's marriage, his relationship with his brother Tommy who also is employed by the legal team and a few more. You are given a great beginning but also a in your face ending.

A Special Thank You to Thomas Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

A Criminal Defense by William L. Myers, Jr. tells the story of Mick and David. The two are friends but soon become lawyer and client when David is accused of murder. Right from the start, David claims that he is innocent. Of course, few criminals admit their guilt so this is isn’t quite a surprise. Mick decides to represent him even though it is not clear if he believes in his innocence or not. One thing that was very clear was that Mick was not going to let anyone else defend David. He was totally committed to be the one to do it.

In the first chapters, readers get to meet all the key characters from Mick, his wife Piper, David and his wife, Marci and Tommy who is Mick’s brother. The chapters give their background stories in detail. The relationships are so complex but contain juicy details that made me want to know more about this group of people. They were complex but realistic. There were instances when my heart broke due to the things that they underwent. Most of the time though, their actions just baffled me in a way but I totally loved it.

The story has so many twists. It isn’t a regular case. There are lies, schemes and blackmail. The number of affairs was crazy and this just complicated the case. Both sides of the case are playing dirty and everyone desperately wants to win. The schemes had me shaking my head. I loved seeing what the teams were coming up with especially on the side of the defendant.

This book has one of the best main twists that I have ever read in a thriller. It shocked me so much that I had to stop reading and take a walk to clear my mind. It was unpredictable and just perfect. Looking back, I guess the clues were there but still, I don’t think that I could ever have guessed that ending.

As you can see, I loved A Criminal Defense by William L. Myers Jr. I think the author did a brilliant job with the twists, criminal case and the character development. The book had everything that I like in thrillers. It was suspenseful with twisted, devious characters that I liked due to all the drama that they brought to the story. I liked how brilliant the lawyer was and the courtroom drama was so intense. Throughout the trial, I knew a bombshell was coming but I couldn’t have guessed it. If you like legal thrillers, domestic noirs or simply suspenseful, well-written books with great twists then you should definitely read this one.

Nice plot twists. Did not see the ending coming. Well written, fast paced. Enjoyed immensely.

A Criminal Defenseby William L. Myers Jr.

Thomas & Mercer

General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 01 Apr 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of A Criminal Defense through Thomas &Mercer and Netgalley:

Television reporter Jenifer Yamura is murdered, a prominent Philadelphia Buissnessmen is accused of her murder and the buissnessman happens to be Mick McFarland's best friend. Soon Mick finds himself with a case that could make or break his career. He must prove his best friend is not a murderer.

Will Mick McFarland be able to prove his friends innocent or will truths he does not want to face come to light, risking his reputation and firm.

A Criminal Defense is the perfect book for those who love fast paced suspense that will leave you guessing.

I give A Criminal Defense five out of five stars.

Happy Reading.

Thomas & Mercer
General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 01 Apr 2017



Thomas & Mercer
General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 01 Apr 2017
Thomas & MercerGeneral Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers

A Criminal Defense is about a defense provided by the main character, a lawyer who defends a long-time friend on a murder charge. It is full of high tension and betrayal, crooked cops, and crooked people. The latter includes some lawyers too! As a reader, I followed the case from beginning to end, not sure how the author was going to wrap it up, especially as several tangents threaten the case. The result is a surprise, one I didn't guess. If you do guess, I think the story will go downhill for you from there. Otherwise, you will get to find out both whodunnit and who cheated. Who were the people finally totally deceived? You? Me? Or some character in a novel!
Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC.

A Criminal Defense reaffirms my faith in thrillers! This was a classic example of a page turner than readers just won't be able to put down. Even the courtroom drama that can get slow with legal descriptions and jargon was engrossing and captivating! A Criminal Defense held my attention to the very last page.

I am not a fan of books that keep going on and on about stuff that do not need to be in the book. Example he cleaned the house instead he washed the dishes, made the bed, vacuumed the living room, cleaned the shower ect. Just goes on and on as I call word kill to fill the pages. This is that type of book and I could not finish the book. Sorry that's just the way I read. Thanks net galley for giving me a copy to try.

Really well done legal procedural by an author who knows his stuff. Sometimes the legal thriller can flag when it gets to the courtroom but this one didn't, largely because Myers knows how to keep up the pace. Mick is a very interesting character and while I sometimes questioned his tactics, I never doubted his motives. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. There are some very good twists in here that surprised me and I'm a long time reader of this genre. Thumbs up!

I recently commented on the fact it'd been a while since I'd read a legal thriller. Brad Park's Say Nothing was the first in a while and now I've added to that with a debut novel by practising lawyer William (Bill) L Myers Jr who - most certainly - knows his stuff.

If I could have I probably would have read this in a sitting, but fate (well, life) intervened. It's also a bit longer than a book suited to easy reading (at almost 400 pages). In fact, it felt like a dense read. I don't mean that negatively... more that it was complex with a lot of detail and many many layers.

I assumed, on starting this book, that it would focus on Mick attempting to free Justin Bauer who he believes has been unjustly jailed for murder. Getting an appeal has been a long process for Justin's beleaguered mother Celine and I assumed the case in question would involve revisiting Justin's past.

It wasn't the case however and we soon meet Mick's old university friend David; and Mick (and his team) get to work on David's defence. However... there's obviously some tension simmering beneath the surface. Whether it relates to old bad blood between the former Uni friends isn't clear. But it's intriguing.

And then there's Mick's marriage to Piper. Myers revisits their first meeting and the early days of their relationship, as well as their wedding and the arrival of their daughter, Gabby... who's obviously the light of Mick's life. We also learn that Mick was a rising star in the DA's office before setting up in partnership as a defence attorney.

We get a glimpse of why...

People like Celine and Justin are the reason I left the DA's office to become a defense attorney. The reason I often violate the sacred rule of lawyering: don't get personally involved. When I care about the client, it's always personal for me. p 3

Mick's relationship with Piper is also tense, or rather, polite. There's an obvious distance between the couple and Myers slowly ekes out the reason - although it's easy to make some guesses early on.

The book's written from Mick's point of view, so we're privy to everything happening in his head.... well, what he's prepared to voice anyway. We know there are secrets, and we know Mick's keeping some. He tells us so.

In the background there's no shortage of suspects for the crime at hand. The victim has just blown apart the Philadelphia police service with allegations of corruption and drug dealing. She was on the verge of being forced to share her confidential source when murdered.

Mick's an interesting character and very much our centre of attention. But he's surrounded by a good supporting cast, including Piper, his brother (and ex-con) Tommy and colleagues at his law firm; and of course, David Hanson and his wife Marcie.

I appreciated the fact that Myers included the financial challenges of his legal partnership. When the book opens Mick talks about being able to take on cases like the Bauers because of high paying clients like the corporations and the guilty he's forced to defend.

Many of my clients are guilty of everything they're charged with, and then some. They don't hire me to get justice but to avoid it at all costs....

I care about those clients about as much as they care about everyone else—I'm only in it for the money. p 3

Myers does a great job of keeping secrets and offering false leads... even though we're in the story-teller's head. And though I guessed at some of the secrets I was completely gobsmacked at one of the key twists. In fact... I gasped. Out loud.

This page-turner reminded me of early Scott Turow, in the guise of his well-known debut, Presumed Innocent and I look forward to more from Myers.

Really enjoyed this read!!

Great twists and turns that I didn't see coming.

Loved the setting. I grew up on the Main Line so it was a thrill to see so many recognizable spots within the story line.

An ethralling legal thriller that really kept me guessing. Perfect for fans of John Grisham and Michael Connelly.
Mick is a defence lawyer married to Piper and they have a young daughter Gabby. One day David Hanson, an old friend of his is accused of the murder of a young journalist, Jennifer Yamura.
Mick must use all his skills to defend David who has been caught leaving the scene of the crime, having tried to clean away the evidence. However, all is not as it seems. Is David guilty or is there another explanation?
There are so many twists and turns in this novel that I really could not guess the outcome. The courtroom scenes were dramatic and obviously written by an author who had experience in the legal field.
It was a compelling read and I could not put the book down until I reached the end and all had been revealed; the title itself takes on a new significace when you get to this point.
The novel is intricately plotted by the author with several well drawn characters. Told in the first person by Mick, the reader really wants to trust him as he seems a great lawyer as well as a good and sympathetic person but is he as reliable as he seems? As the novel progresses we learn more about his character as we flash back to his past and learn that he is also flawed in the way of all heroes. His brother,Tommy, the ex con appears to be more broken than Mick at the beginning but by the end they do not seem so very. different.
I will not reveal any more about the story - you will just have to read it for yourself to find out what happens.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.