Ms. Dylan’s new book, Deadly Proof, is a plot twisting story about a major civil lawsuit. Her writing is very descriptive especially in describing the legal aspects to this case. She provides the reader with the background to understand what occurs in the court of law of a civil case. Her detailed account of the case against Mason Pharmaceutical is superb. The leading character Kate Sullivan and her friendship with Landon offers the reader a romantic twist to this legal suspense novel. This is a Christian suspense book. Ms. Dylan’s does a superb job of including pertinent information of the characters’ lives that includes the status of their spiritual state. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Deadly Proof and highly recommend reading it. I have read some of Ms. Dylan’s past books and found this one to be just as well written as the others.
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher to review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.

Kate is a strong woman, a really awesome leading lady/heroine. She's a lawyer, smart and driven. This book is a thriller and suspense as well as legal story. The Atlanta Justice series is off to an amazing start. I like that it has Atlanta, because I am familiar with the area. This book has a fast pace with a story that didn't let up. I read it much faster than I expected to. It didn't bog down in the legal parts, but instead, pulled me in rooting for Kate and James and for justice to be served. I enjoyed the strong Christian faith elements woven into this book as well. I would read another book in this series, with anticipation.

My copy came from Celebrate Lit. My review, thoughts and opinions are my own left of free will.

I was really excited about this book. It’s got all the things I love. Suspense, intrigue, a bit of action (perhaps not enough but that’s just here or there), mystery, and a clean story-line. Romance is neither here nor there for me in these stories, sometimes I get burned out on happily ever after. Sometimes I just want real life. There I go sidetracking myself again! Brass tacks: team of lawyers lead by the indomitable Kate takes on a major pharmaceutical company in a class action lawsuit, Big Pharma doesn’t like their odds and may or may not have done some shady dealings in their drug testing, where’s the truth lie and who is trying to sabotage the case from within? My synopsis. Intrigued yet? You should be!

I have just have to say it. Sometimes the omission of something is a bright red flashing neon arrow pointing at it. This alone is what created the situation where I knew who the culprit was entirely too close to the beginning of the book. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the reveal, I loved how it carried throughout the story, but… Perhaps no one else caught this (or will catch this) and you are wondering if we read the same book. That’s OK. I realize that more often than not I pick up on things no one else does while missing glaringly obvious things that no one else misses. Welcome to Me-ness! The other things I need to address is the way faith was introduced into this book. I know, I know that’s almost a recurring theme for me … sometimes. Don’t count me out here. The way it was first introduced to the story wasn’t awkward at best and carried forward to a few more awkward interactions. By the time those conversations would have made more sense it wasn’t just awkwardly on the table already. It felt like ‘I need to get faith to the story so blam here ya go’.

That aside this book was intricately woven with twists and turns and missed exits and high speed action that created a story I didn’t want to put down. I didn’t care that I knew who did it, I still wanted to know how it ultimately got there. It didn’t matter that faith was awkward it still enhanced and added depth to the characters. I needed to know the outcome with this drug. I needed to know how the court case worked out. I even needed to know if they fell in love and stayed together. There was so much I needed to know. This book was well written and ticked off all the mystery/suspense/intrigue that I love in a great book. For that alone you need to read it.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by CelebrateLit, NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

In this novel, a young idealistic lawyer takes on the jaded villains of a giant pharmaceutical company that will stop at nothing--including murder--in its efforts to block a mass tort action where consumers of a leading drug are injured on a large scale by the drug's side effects. I was delighted to find a legal thriller that contained a high degree of suspense. I cared about the characters, who were believable and well-drawn out. Although I generally prefer a bit more action than romance in the novels I read, I enjoyed the balance between the two. The legal backdrop struck me as accurate, and I might only wish that there had been more courtroom scenes.

Kate Sullivan had no idea what she was getting herself into when she took on the Mason Pharmaceutical (MPC) litigation! Sure, she knew it was big; thousands of cases had been filed on behalf of victims who had died or been injured taking their migraine drug, and as lead counsel, she was determined to get the justice they deserved. But was she really prepared for just how far someone would go to make sure the truth never came to light?

The key to unlocking this case for Kate is in the discovery phase, so there’s not a lot of court action in this novel. If she can find proof in the documents produced by MPC that they were aware of potentially harmful side effects, it will blow the case right open, and so that’s what she’s focused on. But that’s exactly what Ethan Black, Kate’s long-time friend and opposing counsel on behalf of MPC, doesn’t want to see happen, and he’s under a lot of pressure from the CEO of MPC to make sure any ‘hot’ documents, as they’re referred to, don’t end up in Kate’s hands.

I really enjoyed the legal side of this story, and in this respect, it’s obvious Rachel Dylan knows her stuff. Explanations of the legal process were worked naturally into the story where necessary, which meant that the reader was able to follow what was going on without getting bamboozled by legalese. We also got to experience the legal process as it played out from both sides of the case—Kate’s determination to get justice on behalf of her clients, and Ethan’s increasing struggle against the ethical dilemmas he faces, which was great for the tension.

The disappointment for me was that I didn’t really connect with these characters as well as I wanted to. I felt as though the distinction between Kate, the uber-ethical lawyer focused on achieving justice, and Ethan, the ambitious lawyer looking for wealth and prestige, was overemphasised to the point where they became one dimensional, and Landon wasn't really developed beyond your 'standard' ex-military character. I would have liked to have felt more of an emotional connection between Kate and Landon, too.

Nevertheless, those who enjoy a solid legal suspense with a hint of romance will find this a satisfying read.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

What a fast-paced thriller! Deadly Proof may keep you guessing all the way to the end. The characters are realistic and flawed. The female lead is a workaholic lawyer struggling with depression. Dylan makes you care about Kate and her struggles. Read it!

I really enjoy reading legal thrillers and while Christian Suspense is not a genre I have ever read before I was intrigued by the description of this book. I'm glad I took the time to read it, which actually took very little time as I didn't want to put it down! The connection to a case involving big Pharma was also of interest to me. If you have any interest in legal thrillers and getting an inside view of how lawyers prepare for cases then I think you will enjoy this book!

I am never disappointed in Rachel's suspense filled books. This was a intriguing read. Just when I thought I had it figured it out I would read something that left me "Whoa, where did that come from?" And I love that in a book. Within this book you will find crime, murder, theft, suspicions, struggles of all kinds, hustling to make one's mark in society, danger and always being on guard because one doesn't know who can be trusted. The past comes forth to be faced, memories flood places that shatters the hope that no one find out about the past lives of the characters. Be prepared-you'll be surprised at the ending. I totally was, it was great!

Blessings,
Karen Hadley
Rating: 5*
I received this book as a gift and all opinions are my own.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2135584127

I enjoyed this novel of high stakes litigation. I had no idea the huge teams legal firms put together for a big case. The amount of work that needs to be done is mind boggling. In this novel, our heroine, Kate, is lead counsel in a case against a huge pharmaceutical company. In the discovery phase of the work, her teams has to go through tens of thousands of documents.

I liked Kate. She really has a heart for those she is representing. People had suffered greatly from the side effects of a drug for migraines. Some had died from tumors believed to be caused by the drug. But as Kate pursues the case, problems arise. A potential informant is killed. Kate's life is threatened. She is sure the attorney's across the aisle are hiding damaging material. And then it seems someone in her own office is sabotaging her work.

This novel could well represent a story from today's headlines. There is big money in pharmaceuticals and the drive for profit might cause some to do unethical acts. There is big money for the lawyers too and they are tempted to cross the ethical line.

This novel has a good balance of character development, legal procedure, suspenseful action, and a hint of romance. There is also a good message about forgiving one's self for mistakes done in the past, accepting God's forgiveness too.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

"Deadly Proof" is a Christian legal suspense novel. There was some romance as well, but that consisted of a few scenes where they told each other about painful events in their pasts. While there was some danger to Kate, Landon and Kate believed that the bad guys were just trying to scare her. Due to the threat not apparently being deadly, it added some suspense, but not a lot. The other two viewpoint characters underwent more obvious pressure as they were dealing with high stakes and being pressured into legal wrongdoing. Most of the suspense came from developments in the case--trying to prevent information from getting out on one side and trying to find proof of what they suspect on the other.

While I liked the main characters, I didn't feel engaged by Kate and Landon at an emotional level. Too much of the character development involved being told what the person was like, not actually seeing it. For example, we're told that Kate struggled with depression and also pride, but we never see that struggle. But we do see that Kate is a nice balance of tough but kind, independent but willing to accept advice and help from others. Still, I felt more emotionally engaged by the other two viewpoint characters.

Landon felt guilty about a war experience and felt that God didn't care about him. The Christian element was prayer for help plus Kate helping Landon heal and come back to God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel.

I enjoyed this.The faith aspect was handled well and not preachy,I connected with the characters especially Kate and it was mostly engaging. I would have loved to see more of Landon and Kate's relationship and the ending was anti-climatic but it was enjoyable over all.

I wouldn't re visit this book but I was engaged while I was reading.
3 1/2 stars

This is legal thriller that doesn't have the typical cursing or violence that is characteristic of this genre. The legal case in the story is interesting but what makes the book enjoyable are the characters that Dylan has created. Kate is an attorney who is tough and accomplished but also full of heart. What I really enjoyed was the way Dylan wove the redemption of God into the story. The way she shared the Christian faith was the strongest part of the story.

Additionally, the supporting characters were not only likable but they are introduced in a way that the readers knows their story will be told later.

As a person with a degree in paralegal studies, I found this book to be very interesting. It contained more legal terms than some "legal" thrillers which made it more engaging to me. I liked the main character and how she stuck to her principles and remained true to her relationship with Christ while also pointing others to Him. This is a great legal read - would highly recommend for fans of John Grisham and anyone who enjoys reading books centered around a legal case.

This is book one of the Atlanta Justice series. I look forward to reading more in this series, if they are as good as this one. This is a fast paced mystery full of legal issues, friendship, romance and more.

Kate Sullivan is a good hearted woman just trying to find justice for those who have suffered. When she is placed in the biggest role in her carrier against a huge pharmaceutical company she is determined to find justice for her clients, no matter what. Kate must rely on the handsome PI for more than just background issues. When her life is in jeopardy, will she back out or get stronger.

Former Army Ranger, Landon James, is now the handsome PI. When Kate starts to take down so many walls he has built will he rise to the challenge or is his past more than he can overcome.

I loved the mystery and suspense in this book. The dialogue is well written and the characters are well developed. I look forward to reading more from this group of people.

This book was SO good!! I could not put it down! I am sure that this will be a great series. Legal thriller written by an real-life litigation and trial lawyer which makes the book more real. Lots of legal details especially in the courtroom and they are well-written and easy to understand. Fast=paced story line with lots of twists kept me guessing until the end. Kate Sullivan is the lead attorney investigating a case for a large pharmaceutical company. She is great character, driven and also a Christian which is something new that I really loved about this book. There are not many strong Christian women characters, at least in books that I have read, so that was something refreshingly new and different. Kate enlists the help of PI Landon James, hired to help find more evidence which adds romance and more intrigue to the story. Lots of action and a steady pace kept the story on track and mesmerizing. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from the same author! Great legal thriller!! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!!

Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

___________________________________________________________________________________________
Story Notes

Rachel Dylan’s new mystery series will have readers holding their breath and biting their nails as they fly through the pages trying to find out what will be the conclusion to this thriller.

After receiving Rachel Dylan’s novella Incriminating Evidence for Christmas from a family member, I was hooked on her writing style. And when Deadly Proof was offered to me for review I was really excited to read it. Ms. Dylan has a way of writing that not only brings you alongside her characters, she makes you feel you ARE the character – this is your life. For this reason I’m attaching a warning to other readers: Do not start this book before bed or you will not end up sleeping until you finish! It was honestly that well written and developed. I don’t give 5 stars easily so when I find a book that meets my strict criteria I will most certainly tell others about it. Ms. Dylan begins her story with a Big Pharma case that is in the beginning stages of litigation and waiting for the assignment of plaintiff lawyers/lead counsel. Mason Pharmaceutical Corporation has been accused by a multitude of persons and estates as willfully producing a migraine headache relieving drug called Celix that causes brain tumors. Kate Sullivan is a partner at the Warren McGee law firm and is on the short list for the lead counsel position for the executive plaintiffs representing the victims of Celix and MPC. Although she is aware of the importance of this case for her career, she is more focused on getting justice for the victims and their families. But when an MPC informant is killed after sharing information with Kate about the case, Kate realizes there is more going on than just a cover up of harmful side effects. She hires PI Landon James to help her sort out all the possible data she’s been given and to provide security if needed. As Kate begins to delve deeper into the case, more and more suspicious documents are concealed and only by an order from the judge does Kate have a chance to uncover them all. Opposing counsel for MPC is Kate’s friend from law school Ethan Black, who works for the same firm Kate did before changing to plaintiff law. Ethan is confident that MPC did not release Celix knowing the harmful side effects and believes that he can win the litigation in favor of MPC. But as the case continues to unfold, Ethan will start questioning whether he’s been kept in the dark about the goings-on at MPC. Kate finds herself the target of several personal attacks and attempts to sabotage her case, leaving her with no other choice than to allow Landon to create a constant level of security. Knowing she is in the right and there is a major amount of cover up happening within MPC, Kate seeks to find a link between the main drug Celix and another MPC drug Acreda (a drug that treats brain tumors), set to be released soon. When she is anonymously sent copies of emails between MPCs head scientists showing a direct link between Celix and Acreda, she is determined to show in court that MPC knowingly released Celix with the brain tumor side effects so that they could then release Acreda to treat the tumors, making money both times. But someone at MPC is just as determined as Kate to keep that information under wraps, going so far as to intimidate, murder and kidnap. Its up to Kate and Landon to find out who is behind all this evil before someone else gets hurt. I can’t in good conscience reveal the outcome of the book as I want others to experience this wonderful story for themselves. I loved that Ms. Dylan uses real, everyday issues that people struggle with to make her characters relatable. Kate has issues with confidence and trust that she keeps hidden well behind her “court face” and will have to realize that she will need help in this fight for justice if she is to win. Landon has much in his past that has hardened his heart and devastated his faith; and it will be Kate’s careful, persistent pushing that will cause him to seek God and His will again. Together they will both learn that trusting God for the best outcome and safety is the only way to live. And they will also learn that love doesn’t wait for life to be neat and tidy, it comes in the tough times when you can see what really matters in life. I am most certainly going to purchase a hard copy of this book for my shelves and for my friends, it will a great gift for those I know that enjoy a good, solid case and characters. I’m also going to be looking for Ms. Dylan’s past writings to catch up on as well as looking forward to future installments of this series. Well done, Ms. Dylan! Keep up the excellent work.

I received this E-book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.

I did enjoy this book. Started out with a lot of legal info but did get better

When Kate becomes the lead counsel for a case against a Big Pharm company MPC which has
allegedly been making migraine drugs causing brain tumours, she becomes involved in very dangerous situations and several mysteries. Who has killed the scientist who was going to be a witness in her case? Why are leading documents in the case going missing? When she starts getting physically attacked, she is forced to get security and finds herself attracted to Landon, who has his own security firm. But Kate is so busy, her budding romance almost seems like another problem, especially when Landon isn’t a Christian like her…

Ethan, MPC’s leading defence lawyer, is a friend of Kate’s but is he willing to let ambition make him cross the line into unethical behaviour? At the very least, he wants to take advantage of her idealism and he knows that she does everything by the book. He is put under great pressure by MPC.
This is an exciting story which keeps one reading as Kate attempts to get to the truth of the case and keep one step ahead of Ethan and MPC. I also enjoyed the romance. However, the story sometimes got rather technical for a lay reader, I felt, and it also seemed contrived at times. I also thought that the ending was far-fetched until I read an article in The Australian which made me think again! Who knows what is going on behind the scenes these days?


I enjoyed this legal thriller and I am interested in reading more by Rachel Dylan.

http://suspensesisters.blogspot.com/2017/09/feed-your-addiction-by-elizabeth-goddard.html

I just finished reading Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan. Rachel is a new-to-me author even though we share the same publisher in HQ Love Inspired Suspense. She’s an attorney who has practiced law for over a decade and by the details in her stories, you know she knows what she’s talking about. Let me just add, her stories are edge-of-your-seat romantic legal thrillers.



Deadly Proof is her debut novel with Bethany House Publishers and the first book in the Atlanta Justice series. The premise intrigued me so I picked up the book and started reading, and I was hooked. I read for a while every evening after my own writing and work is done. Once I started Deadly Proof, I looked forward to my reading time so I could get back into the twists and turns of this legal thriller.


I’m not going to give much away here. There’s nothing I hate worse than spoilers in reviews or even knowing small things about the plot. In fact, I don’t often read the back cover blurb if it gives too much away. So I’ll simply say that Rachel has weaved an intriguing high stakes, legal plotline with the right amount of romance to keeping you hooked in the story.

Here's the back cover copy:

Riveting New Series Offers Legal Suspense with a Romantic Twist

In the biggest case of her career, attorney Kate Sullivan is tapped as lead counsel to take on Mason Pharmaceutical because of a corporate cover-up related to its newest drug. After a whistleblower dies, Kate knows the stakes are much higher than her other lawsuits.

Former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James is still haunted by mistakes made while serving overseas. Trying to forget the past, he is hired by Kate to look into the whistleblower's allegation and soon suspects that the company may be engaging in a dangerous game for profit. He also soon finds himself falling for this passionate and earnest young lawyer.

Determined not to make the same mistakes, he's intent on keeping Kate safe, but as the case deepens, it appears someone is willing to risk everything--even murder--to keep the case from going to trial.

You don’t want to miss this one.
Want a chance to win a copy of Deadly Proof? I’m interviewing Rachel on the Suspense Sisters blog, October 13th, so stop by again and you’ll get your chance.


But if you're like me and can’t wait to get your hands on a copy? Here’s the KINDLE link. That should get your going.