A gripping story written in a way that makes you need to know what’s going to happen. It’s easy to plow through and will have you ready to throw your book/device more than once.

An Engineered Injustice (William Myers Jr., Thomas & Mercer, 320 pp.) is the sophomore effort in the Philadelphia Legal series, following A Criminal Defense (reviewed on the blog here.) As in other series (e.g., the Kindle County books by Scott Turow, the Dublin Murder Squad books by Tana French), a peripheral character becomes the main character. Mick McFarland, the law partner protagonist of A Criminal Defense, is supplanted by his associate Vaughn Coburn. Coburn takes on the defense of a train engineer after the train crashes and dozens of people are killed - the engineer is his cousin, a sober alcoholic who has put his life back together. But his job is complicated by one of Coburn’s colleagues, injured in the crash, the engineer’s head injury and amnesia, and pieces of the scene that don’t fit. As Coburn muses, “The scenario is a paradigm for how vulnerable everyone is, how each and every one of us depends for his life on the care and diligence of people we don’t even know.”

Whereas A Criminal Defense reminded me of Scott Turow’s oeuvre, An Engineered Injustice was closer to John Grisham’s in its plotting - more dramatic, with more flamboyant bad guys. With the end of summer approaching, this would be a good choice for your last beach read, despite a conveniently unlocked door that does a deus ex machina job on the plot climax.

Read if: You’ve already devoured A Criminal Defense (the better of the two, for my money) and can’t get enough of legal thrillers.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This fast paced thriller moves quicker than a roaring locomotive to its breathtaking conclusion...

It has been ages since I have read good legal thrillers but this one caught my attention for multiple reasons, not the least of which was the topic of a massive train crash. Anyone keeping up with the news in the US is aware that there has been a number of Amtrak wrecks in 2018, so this book is as timely as it is captivating.

In An Engineered Injustice, one of the largest and deadliest train wrecks has just occurred and as Vaughn Coburn is frantically searching for news on his co-worker, he receives a call from cousin’s wife: his cousin was the engineer on the train. While Vaughn’s loyalty is torn between sympathizing with his injured co-worker and his duty to his family, he owes a debt to his cousin that has to be repaid. Vaughn agrees to represent Eddy, his cousin, and begins searching for the answers that Eddy, due to amnesia, cannot remember – why did Eddy plow into an obstruction on the tracks without ever applying the brakes or slowing down. As tension mounts and evidence against Eddy grows, Vaughn slowly begins to realize that there is far more to this case than a train wreck and blame. The nefarious undertones and implications will have you, the reader, turning the pages so quickly you will not stop for a break until the very end. The story is compelling, unique and, sadly, extremely plausible.

I had no idea that this was a follow-up to William Myers, Jr.’s best seller, “A Criminal Defense.” Since I haven’t been reading legal thrillers, I had not read the first book but it didn’t in any way affect my enjoyment of this book. It works fine as a stand-alone. If you enjoy thrillers of any type or legal thrillers specifically, then this is definitely a “must read.” Myers is a very successful attorney and his writing reflects his skill and knowledge. 4 out of 5 stars.

I greatly appreciate #ThomasandMercer, #Netgalley and Mr. Myers for their generosity in providing my copy of this book for review.

Wow, it felt like watching one of those court TV series, which sucks you in, and you want to binge watch all the seasons at once. :D
The protagonist in this novel was Vaughn, most probably not a very likable person in the society, because he is a defense lawyer. I really liked him in this book though, he sounded like a hero to me :D There were a wide variety of characters to choose from, and all of them were quite diverse and very intriguing personalities. Even though there were so many characters, I didn’t get lost in who was who, the author described them all pretty well, I think. I really enjoyed, that author used multiple perspectives to tell the story, it allowed me, as a reader, to understand the characters way better.
I really like trains and somehow this story was close to my heart. I loved the narrative of this book, and I really enjoyed all the twists and turns, which author had to offer. The villains were given away throughout the book, and there was no surprise effect there, but the whole finding out process and proving Eddy’s innocence was what kept me glued to this book. It was very amusing to read a book, where author’s confidence and experience just shines through. There is plenty of legal terms in this novel, but for me it was a plus, just showed that author knows what he was talking about.
I personally think that Mr. Myers is a very gifted writer, and I loved his writing style in this book, it seems difficult, but for me, it was pretty understandable and easy to read. I really enjoyed the structure of the chapters, it didn't drag to me, wasn’t too long and was divided into smaller parts. I really liked the setting of this book as well, it has this American spirit about it, and I really loved that. The ending of this novel rounded the whole story very nicely and I loved the outcome. So to conclude, if you like to watch court dramas, do give this book a try, it has very amusing and interesting characters and quite twisty and unexpected narrative. I do hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. :D

This book was added to my shelf through an email I received, though I wasn't interested in reading it.
I'm adding this review to correct my feedback stats .

OK, this book right here. Awesome!!! The characters draw you in and the courtroom writing is amazing!!! I will definitely be reading more of this author. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

Wow! This was a gripping and fast paced crime thriller that kept me captive until the very end! I am definitely going to seek out some of the author’s other books.

William Myers Jr has an interesting background. He tells of being a lawyer defending corporations until one day when he say what happened to the man he was fighting against. He left corporate life and started his own firm.

I think Bill's own story is his motivation and guiding star. Big vs little. Not bad vs good so much as he tells the story of every man and does it quite brilliantly. I highly recommend both of his books.

Feels like you are in an episode of law and order! This crime thriller is well written and fast paced. It keeps your eyes glued to the page and keeps you hungry for more. I look forward to more novels from this author.

Having read and loved the author's first book, I was delighted to get a chance to read An Engineered Justice. It is such a clever and well-crafted book. An excellent plot and a fast moving narrative made this a fantastic read! Highly recommended!

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review, "An Engineered Injustice"
by William L. Myers Jr. . I was amazed at how realistic this work of fiction felt. From the derailing of the train to the courtroom, I was eager to find out who did it. It felt just like an episode of Law and Order. I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the 3rd installment of the series.

A passenger train derails in the North Philadelphia with fatal results, and criminal defence attorney Vaughn Coburn takes on the most personal case of his young career. The surviving engineer is his young cousin, Eddy. Vaughn has a debt to repay, as he and his cousin share an old secret.

Wow. I don't really know how to praise this book as I'm afraid I will do it an injustice. This is the best courtroom drama I have read in a long while. The book takes you on a fast running roller coaster ride where curve balls are continually being thrown at you. The tension keeps building throughout the story. The plot line is very believable. I did not realise that this is the second book in this series. Now, I'm going to have to try and fit into my busy reading schedule, A Criminal Defense, before , A Killer's Alibi come out next year.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author William L. Myers Jr. for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well written, engrossing story. Subject was well researched & could happen IRL (no further comment because I don't want to spoil it). Enjoyed the characters from the author's previous book having a presence.

Engineered Injustice is the second novel in the Philadelphia Legal series by author William L. Myers.
Let me say at the outset it isn’t quite as good as the first: A Criminal Defense. That is not surprising because I said in an earlier review of A Criminal Defense that it was “a scorcher of a legal thriller.” This didn’t quite get to the same heat levels for me probably because the earlier parts of this second book were more pedestrian than the first novel.
But Mr. Myers is a fine writer and his novels really are worth reading.
The plot revolves around a train crash resulting in many dead and even more seriously injured. The train driver, Eddy, is the cousin of a somewhat inexperienced lawyer, Vaughn Coburn, who nevertheless takes on the case despite huge media attention and the public and media baying for the blood of the engineer (train driver to us in the UK).
Through the telling of the story, we learn of the attorney Coburn’s terrible secret which involves Eddy and this is the reason why he will do anything it takes to exonerate his engineer relative.
The protagonist is the lawyer and his lawyer sidekicks. He is a realistic and likeable fellow if somewhat naïve. The antagonists line up to ensure Eddy, the engineer cousin, is not only blamed for the crash but also incarcerated for criminal manslaughter. Those antagonists include the two top personal injury lawyers in town with their nasty henchmen who will stop at nothing in the dirty tricks department. If that wasn’t bad enough the son of a mobster was killed as a passenger on the train and he is out for bloody revenge.
It is a great mix of characters and the true nature and cause of the train crash is brought out bit by bit in a suspenseful telling of the tale. The real cause is so implausible and that is what the perpetrators counted on. That it was so unbelievable no one in his or her right mind would believe it. Clever stuff and the author carries it off to a tee!
For me, the courtroom scenes are the best (it’s that former lawyer in me). This is where Mr. Myers comes into a territory where he is a master.
Two little niggles: I did find the predominant use of the present tense a little irritating at times. Possibly because I am English and many native English men and women of a generation before mine often slip into a sloppy habit of using the present tense when they should be using the past tense. Maybe an American audience would not pick up on it?
The other minor niggle was towards the end of the book when the author is tidying up the loose ends. He tells us about the demise of one of the antagonists but, for me, he adds some gratuitous piece of medical information which is totally unnecessary. In fact, I think he could have satisfactorily wrapped up the book with some sharp editing omitting certain things, which I do not mention to avoid spoilers, and added nothing to a wonderful book.
Can’t wait for book three!
I received a Kindle version of this book through Netgalley. I was under no compunction to review it. I thank Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity of reading this book.
It is to be released on January 23, 2018.

Well my, my, my! What a way to start the 2018 reading season off with a legal thriller so exciting, it’s literally begging Hollywood to turn this novel into a major feature film!

Talk about ripped from the headlines? A catastrophic train derailment not only tore up the tracks and anything that came within inches of its wrath, but destroyed the lives that it carried within its cars. These passengers were thrown about like clothes tumbling in a dryer. Some came out with major injuries, while others lost their lives right upon impact.

What on earth could have caused this derailment? If you were to ask Eddy Coburn, the engineer of Amtrak 174 train, he’d tell you he can’t remember what caused the accident. For you see, Eddy sustained life-threatening injuries and was placed in an induced coma due to his brain swelling. The doctors didn’t want him to wake up or try to move while they tried to put his body back together again. His wife was beside herself with grief for the pain her husband was in and all those lives that would forever remain changed.

Of course, the media became frenzied with the story and trying to figure out who and/or what caused this derailment? But it didn’t take long to figure out who would ultimately be blamed for this tragedy. Yes, you guessed it, the engineer, Eddy Coburn. While the media continued to spin the story in every direction it would bend, Kathy, Eddy’s wife, called the only person she knew would be able to help her family out. Enters, Vaughn Coburn, cousin to Eddy.

Vaughn is a brilliant attorney working on his cases never dreaming that a matter this huge would end up in his lap. When he got the call, he had to answer. This, for Vaughn, was a no-brainer. Eddy is family for God’s sake and there wasn’t any way he was going to let his cousin fry for this. After he visits with Eddy and his wife to get an assessment of what he was dealing with, it will soon become very clear to the reader that this case isn’t going to be so cut and dry after all. There are forces so strong that you will not see the circumstances coming.

Hot Damn, we’ve got a damn good thriller now! Man, Oh Man was this book good! I could not get enough of this story line. If you thought Myers outdid himself with his last novel, his newest one is going to knock your damn socks off for real. Myers is an exceptional writer and he puts the story right up in your face and you just can’t ignore or hide from what is happening. I became so frustrated with the bullshit that was happening to Eddy, I hated when I had to stop reading because I couldn’t wait to find out what the hell the system was going to do to him next? These characters were so lifelike, raw, gritty, telling, witty and vicious. Myers didn’t miss a trick in this latest installment. There’s a little bit of everything going on in here and I couldn’t control my excitement. This novel gave my mind quite an orgasmic stimulation, I hated when the story ended. When a book makes you feel that damn good, you already know it will last with you for years to come.

What an outstanding read! Damn, Intellectual Minds, as I told you last year when I read Myers A Criminal Defense, I knew I stumbled across a masterful writer. He does not let you down in this latest novel. If you love legal thrillers as much as I do, I am ordering you to get this book, An Engineered Injustice.

Mello & June gives An Engineered Injustice five locomotive speed-lightening stars! This, by far, was one of the best legal novels I’ve read. The story is so enticing and with Myers’ legal knowledge brings to life a story so horrible, yet so intriguing, you will not be able to put this down! If Hollywood doesn’t come knocking on Myers door soon, I don’t know what the hell they’re waiting on? This would be a blockbuster for real! Awesome, Awesome read! Until next time, Intellectual Minds, keep on reading! An Engineered Injustice goes on sale, Tuesday, January 23, 2018! You can pre-order now. Don’t delay!

A passenger train crashes in North Philadelphia resulting in multiple fatalities with hundreds injured. It's not long before criminal defense attorney Vaughn Coburn gets a call regarding his cousin Eddy, the engineer, and a survivor. He and his cousin share a shameful secret caused when they were both young and dumb. Vaughn owes Eddy, and both their families--big time, and he is forced to accept his defense. The novel works well as a standalone, though perhaps by reading the debut you'd have greater back story.

The plot is clever and intricate and involves a whole host of shady persons in addition to the PI (personal injury) attorneys, including railroad personnel, news personnel greedy for the story, and a Philadelphia mob boss looking for revenge for the loss of his son. The plot moves from 0 to 80 very quickly and continues to gather one denunciation after another against his cousin. Unfortunately, Eddy cannot remember the crash after entering the curve doing 80 mph.

Vaughn is well developed and struggles with keeping his cousin safe while trying to unravel what could have happened. His girlfriend, Erin, working for an opposing firm supports him and provides romantic relief, though is not as well fleshed. Dialogue is intelligent and natural and ramps up in the court scenes, making for a tight, tension-filled will he or won't he pull it off situation. Myers can paint a heinous personality as well as a sympathetic one, and chapters devolving his manipulation of the mob boss were brilliant. The climax in the courtroom was quite satisfying.

I enjoyed the novel very much (though I'd have appreciated clarification on a point I couldn't reconcile.). I received this download from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Recommended for any who enjoy an intelligent, fast-paced legal thriller.

This is a carefully plotted and nicely written but most importantly entirely plausible legal thriller. Vaughn Coburn may be a fairly new attorney and he knows that he might be a bit out of his depth but he's determined to do his best for his cousin Eddy, an engineer on a fatal train derailment in Philadelphia. Myers has done a terrific job of raising all the possibilities that can come in this situation, from the criminal issues to the hugely complex civil litigation. There are good guys and bad guys, conspiracies, greed, lies, and so on but it's all very real. I was impressed with Myers' first novel and this cemented the positives. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one (and it's fine as a standalone) if you like old fashioned genuinely suspenseful legal thrillers.

An Engineered Injustice follows the same law firm from A Criminal Defense which I purchased and loved recently, but either could be read as a standalone and I highly recommend both especially if you have been lacking good legal thrillers in your reading life…

A train crash, a huge loss of life, and immediately there are lawsuits – but in the case of Vaughn’s cousin Eddy, a possibility of criminal charges as it may well be that he is responsible for the crash, an event he has no memory of.

This is a clever, absorbing and often thought provoking read – with some excellent characters, proper full on courtroom drama and a mystery element that is unpredictable and highly intriguing. History comes into play as we learn more about the relationship between the cousins and the wider family – we have a mob boss out for blood, a nefarious civil litigation firm and a horrifying incident tying them all together..it is a fast, addictive read and one that really gets the blood up.

If you watched “Goliath” and enjoyed it you’ll probably love this – whilst Vaughn is not quite a lone wolf he is often the lone voice supporting Eddy, often having to push against his own colleagues and friends – danger lurks, not only from the mob but also in unexpected places. The story twists and turns towards a really excellent finale, overall it is just a really really good read.

Highly Recommended.

Last summer I read (and loved) Myers debut, A Criminal Defense and realized how much I’ve missed reading a good legal thriller. When the author contacted me about reviewing this one it was a no brainer, I loved that while the law most definitely plays a huge role in his writing it’s not over complicated and confusing. Things are told in a fast paced manner with legal terminology laid out in simple terms while the plot itself is complicated with many puzzle pieces and various angles making it impossible to work out on your own. I’m thrilled that this book was executed in the same impeccable manner and I now I have a go to author to satisfy my legal thriller craving.

I actually didn’t realize this was going to be a follow up to ACD but as soon as I started I recognized the characters. While it’s not necessary to read both, this works fine on it’s own, I highly recommend both of them and with reoccurring characters it’s always best to have as much background as possible. The idea behind this both terrifies me and intrigues me, the notion that someone could engineer a horrific train crash for their own gain is just about as awful as it gets. It’s pretty clear from the blurb alone that this isn’t what it seems but the path to the truth was riveting and shocking.

I fear saying much more regarding the plot because it’s so strong that it’s best uncovered on your own and I would hate to ruin even a small part of that brand of enjoyment. Besides a clever plot the writing style is sharp and the last part of the story that is actually in the courtroom is just amazing. The tension is palpable, I had no idea what would happen next and then the very ending was unexpected and so satisfying.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a fast read because it kept me interested. Lots of action!