I totally became immersed in this courtroom thriller. I appreciated the complexity of the characters. I especially liked that Jay Brandon unpeeled the layers of the characters slowly, and their actions fit the character profiles he created. The plot is tightly woven, and the twists and turns are not telegraphed. The book is slow to start, I think because Mr. Brandon may have been setting the scene for a series. If so, I think that the premise of Against the Law kept it's promise, and the character is compelling enough to support a series. I would most definitely like to read more from the author.

Against the law by Jay Brandon.
She’s been accused of shooting the ex-husband she supposedly reconciled with and is convinced that her ex-convict brother is the only one able to save her. To make matters worse, the media won’t ignore Amy’s high-profile case; an example needs to be made of a doctor murdering another doctor. So Edward promises to do everything he can to protect his sister, because she is innocent, isn’t she?
Edward finds himself back in the courtroom facing Cynthia, the judge responsible for his arrest and imprisonment all those years ago. With personal grudges heavy in the air, can Edward spare his sister from a brutal sentencing that could cost her her life?
This was a very enjoyable read with likeable characters. I liked Mike and Amy. Didn't see that coming.  5*.

Courtroom drama with a twist

When Edward Hall receives a call from his sister Dr Amy Hall from jail, he is plunged into a nightmare. She has been arrested for killing her estranged husband and wants him to defend her. Which would seem like the perfect solution as he is a lawyer, except for the fact that he has been disbarred?

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Edward took the fall for a colleague and ended up in jail himself, and this very colleague is now the judge assigned to Amy’s case.

Against this backdrop, the story unfolds with many a twist and turn. Edward is horrified to discover that Amy has a sordid secret past which could impact on her defence and he has to contend with a judge that seems determined to ensure that his sister does not receive a fair trial.

A couple of facts annoyed me - why was Amy not tested for the gun residue at the scene of the crime? Why was the timeline not properly explored? Perhaps reading too many crime stories has turned me into an armchair detective and I pick up on each little fact, which detracts from the overall story.

I enjoyed the flawed characters and how many of them had dark secrets to hide and yet they presented themselves as upstanding citizens. Amy seemed a bit pathetic at times but perhaps this is a realistic portrayal of somebody falsely accused and floundering around at the thought of being imprisoned?

Edward is an unlikely hero, considering his past actions and yet, when the chips are down he behaves in a selfless way, risking his own future to defend his sister and uncover the truth.

Jay Brandon is an attorney as well as an author and his courtroom narrative is very convincing. He has written over 29 novels but says that he practices more law than he writes books.

Gillian

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Well-conceived mystery with clever twists and turns makes this a legal caper deserving of attention and praise. Our protagonist is a cross between a valiant knight-errant, recently released from prison, and a former brilliant litigator, currently prevented from practicing as an attorney. Suddenly his younger sister is accused of murdering her estranged husband and she’s looking more guilty than not. Both sides of our hero’s personality jump forward to help: he wants to rescue and defend her. It is an engaging tale as the case moves forward and we wait to see if justice is served.

4 intriguing stars

Fast paced, dramatic and engaging.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

This book is the first in a new series which introduces Edward Hall who used to be a lawyer but thanks to a three year jail sentence he is now disbarred. He receives an urgent call from his sister Amy, who has been accused of murdering her husband from whom she is separated. Despite informing her that he cannot represent her she persuades him to organise bail and through cajolery he eventually agrees to act as her lawyer knowing that this could see him return to jail.

What follows is for the reader to discover, but this does include an insight into jury selection; the deals made between prosecution and defence; the relationship between the defence and prosecution and the whole investigation process and witnesses. All in all, a really satisfying read with a well-structured plot, that kept me guessing and characters that kept my interest, although I must admit, I really wasn’t sure about Amy. I would like to learn more about Edward Hall.


If you like court-room drama this is a must. Not John Grisham but just as entertaining
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

An interesting story but I really didn't like the writing style. Therefore, unfortunately this book wasn't for me.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Jay Brandon, and Severn House Publishers for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Jay Brandon has crafted this wonderful legal thriller that pulls the story into the courtroom, where a woman’s life hangs in the balance. Edward Hall is startled to hear from his sister, Amy, who finds herself in some legal hot water. Dr. Hill is accused of killing her estranged husband, Paul Shilling. Amy admits to being at his home, though is adamant that she did not gun him down. Edward may be compassionate to her plight, but has issues of his own. Edward recently served jail time for a crime committed at the Houston courthouse when he was an up and coming star in the DA’s office. As such, he has had his licence suspended and is still technically not able to practice law. That does not deter Amy in hiring her brother, who is sure that he can offer some much needed advice. As the trial approaches, Edward realises that he may be put in the position of defending his sister and will have to face the ramifications of his legal issues later. When they are assigned a strict judge for the murder trial, Edward cannot help but remember that this woman was once his colleague at the DA’s office and is intricately tied to the crime he committed. Giving it his all, Edward must face insurmountable odds to defend his sister, though her defence is weak and a key piece of evidence has been placed before the jury, sure to tip the scales against them. Facing a potential death sentence if she is convicted, Amy must hope the brother she has always idolised can pull out a miracle in the courtroom, where he’s made quite a name for himself. Brandon does a wonderful job with this story, pulling on heartstrings and legal manoeuvres alike. A wonderful read for anyone who enjoys a legal thriller with the courtroom as the key setting.

This is my first Jay Brandon novel, but I am sure it will not be my last. He writing strength comes not only from his legal descriptions, but also the detailed characters and delivery throughout this piece. Edward Hall is a wonderfully complex character that shapes the direction of this novel on numerous occasions. The backstory on offer is well balanced with some of the development throughout the novel, as short as the timeline might be. Seeing not only the legal drama that Hall has overcome but the personal and familial struggles he suffered do pull the reader into the middle of it all, perhaps in hopes of trying to personalise him and tipping the scales in his favour. Amy Hall Shilling is another wonderful character who seems to undervalue the extent of the legal hot water in which she finds herself, more focussed on her innocence than the trial and pitfalls that continue to crop up. Brandon does well to portray her as the lost sheep, seeking her brother to guide the way, even when he is barely able to keep his head above water. The story is intriguing, and what it lacks in uniqueness it makes up for in its alluring legal antics. The story flows well and keeps the reader guessing until the very end, hoping that Edward will be able to pull a rabbit out of the proverbial hat when faced with such trying odds. Brandon has done a masterful job and keeps the narrative moving such that the reading experience will surely lead to late nights for the reader.

Kudos, Mr. Brandon, for this powerful piece. I am eager to read more of your work in the coming years.

- A Court Room Drama That Will Keep You Flipping the Pages -

#NetGalley #AgainstTheLaw

Edward Hall is a lawyer who was recently released from prison after 3 years. He has no intention of returning to his attorney days, but he gets a call from his sister, Amy, who is a pediatric doctor. She has been to visit her husband, of which she is currently separated, found him shot and bleeding, rushed to perform CPR then called 911. She called Edward from jail, pleading with him to help her, since she seems to be the number one suspect. Edward is torn regarding representing her for various reasons, some of which are only shared as the book progresses.

Cons: Though I don’t know a lot regarding legal issues, a couple places made me wonder a bit.

Pros: I am a fan of mysteries and top of my list are legal mysteries, so I was very excited to be allowed to read this advance review copy from NetGalley and Severn House. This book started with a bang and kept me turning pages, just the way I like mysteries. The writing is good, the characters are well developed, and the story has creative twists. This is the first book I’ve read by author Jay Brandon, but I will definitely be reading more. I'm slow to give 5 stars to a book, but this rates 5.

Author: Jay Brandon
Published by Severn House Digital; First World Publication edition (May 1, 2018)

Against the Law is a well written law drama. This book has a well crafted plot and characters. I enjoyed the author’s style and look forward to reading more of his books.

I really enjoyed this novel.
A proper gritty legal courtroom drama loved the characters and their story really left me wanting more
Brilliant I hope to read more from this author

Great story telling in an engaging legal drama with so many twists and turns that you feel like you are on a roller coaster!! The characters are well-developed and bring you close as we become friends trying to help figure out what the heck happened!
This is the first book I have read from this author, though I am hoping there will be many more! Edward Hall is a lawyer, just released from jail after a three year stint. He believes his attorney days are over as he was disbarred . Then he gets a phone call, from his sister Amy, a pediatric doctor, but she calls from jail!! He visits her and gets bond as she was arrested for the murder of her separated husband! Amy pleads for him to help her, he at least believes her, and he finds it hard to turn away from his little sister.
The court case begins and we travel through from the picking of the jury on. There is very good courtroom drama, the cast play well off each other, and the thrills and lows really hit you. There are several small plots mixed into this which heat up the excitement even higher!
I was enthralled during the reading of this story, I could barely stop to take a breath. I received this ARC from Netgalley,Severn House Publishers and author Jay Brandon, all who I thank and from which i could read and give my thoughts on this amazing story!

Against the Law is a brilliant courtroom thriller with many twists and turns and a host of great characters.
Edward Hall a former lawyer and just out of prison is begged by his sister to defend her after being accused of murdering her ex husband. Although Edward is not a member of the bar after his conviction he agrees to defend her hoping no one will be any the wiser.
So begins the court case which starts from the jury selection to the main trial which is becoming harder to defend due to the presiding Judge being the person responsible for Edwards arrest and 3 year jail sentence.
Battling for his sister he leaves no stone unturned and this book romps along and this author can certainly write a convincing and engrossing story. The 'thrill' about legal thrillers for me is the courtroom drama, the thrust and parry of both prosecutor and defender, the arguments and counter arguments and this book is no exception I am in awe of the brilliance executed by this authors words.
I would love to read more of 'Eddie' Hall in future books, there's definitely a film to be made out of this one!
My thanks to net galley and publisher Severn House for opportunity to review this book honestly

Jay Brandon has been around for a long time and "Fade the Heat" was a classic legal thriller that I still pick up from time to time.

He knows how to tell a tale and has an obvious and deep personal knowledge of the criminal justice system.

This is a zinger of a tale which rattles along at breakneck pace and features a struck-off lawyer defending his sister against a charge of murdering her estranged husband in a case heard before a judge who has a secret to hide which involves Edward, the ex-lawyer.

A slightly unlikely sorry line, perhaps, but an excellent read which I greatly enjoyed

This is the first book by Jay Brandon that I have read, and what I hope is the first book in a new series featuring Edward Hall. Edward is a disgraced lawyer, fresh out of prison and ready to start a new job and leave his legal days behind him. His world comes to a sudden halt when his sister, Dr. Amy Shilling, is arrested for murdering her husband. Edward drops everything to rush in and help his little sister get out of prison and navigate the murky waters of Houston's judicial system. The author provides good backstory and develops the characters nicely. There is a very realistic legal feel to this book, taking you inside the investigation, courtroom, and judge's chambers through obvious years of experience.

One thing that could unnerve Edward and throw a wrench in the whole plan is that the a former prosecutor that Edward has a delicate past with, Cynthia Miles, is now a judge and she will be presiding over Amy's trial. Personal grudges coupled with a sense of retribution have to be carefully handled as the trial moves forward. Neither Edward nor Judge Miles ever quite know what the other is thinking or what they are planning if they don't get their way.

The prosecuting attorney is under pressure from the district attorney to make an example out of Amy and capitalize on her high profile status. The challenge for Edward will be defending Amy inside the courtroom and in the public eye. Add to this a troubled past for his sister Amy, a growing list of suspects as the defense investigates, and an uncertainty about Edward and Amy's family, and you have an exciting and interesting case and trial.

There is a lot more to Amy than Edward ever realized. Turns out she has a secret life that she developed during Edward's time in prison. She hides it well from her friends and family. There are plenty of other people with motives to kill Paul Shilling, and Edward and his investigator must dig deep to find reasonable doubt and keep Amy out of prison.

Foreshadowing along the way will cast suspicion on a few characters, but the final few chapters are where the action intensifies. A big twist is revealed toward the end of the book, leading up to a shocking conclusion as justice prevails.

I would recommend this book to fans of legal thrillers and suspense. I received this as a free ARC from Severn House Publishers on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.