i love a good mystery and was excited to try this author. I was not disappointed! Two mysteries in one! Mafia, gangs, deception, lots of twists and I had no idea what to expect by the end. The characters were in depth, and the author wrote in a relatable way that was not over my head. I will definitely be reading more by William Myers!

Killer's Alibi is an exciting, legal thriller that follows one legal team across two of their biggest cases both incredibly intense murder trials.

One trial is for the city's most infamous, violent gang lord caught up in the murder of his daughters lover.

The other is an Innocence Project for a young girl accused of murdering her sexually and physically abusive father.

The opposing storylines are equally exciting and the personal issues of the legal team woven in add even more drama to an already intense book.

Nothing is what it seems and you can only find out the truth by reading the book. SOLID 4 STAR BOOK maybe 4.5

I love a good legal thriller and this series is one of my favorites. I absolutely loved the first book, A Criminal Defense but I somehow missed book 2 in the series. I still could not resist grabbing this one off NetGalley when I saw it.

Mick has a tough case in his hands. First, his client is a mobster. Everyone knows Nunzio’s reputation. So how will Mick prove that the mobster is innocent especially when there is evidence to the contrary? Secondly, Nunzio does not want to share the story with his lawyer. I mean, Mick has to defend the guy but he doesn’t even know what really happened. Nunzio makes it clear that he is the puppet master and Mick is his puppet. It was a crazy, twisted case that had me captivated from the first to the last page.

The second case handled by Mick’s wife, Piper, is also equally interesting. Piper is trying to offer Darlene a second chance. She is a young woman convicted of murdering her abusive father. However, Piper first needs to find out whether Darlene is innocent. This case had my stomach in knots. I was curious to find out whether Darlene committed the crime or not? Either way, I was on her side so I really wanted a favorable verdict for her.

Once again, Myers, Jr. created a masterpiece in this legal thriller. I don’t know how he managed to have the two story-lines run concurrently with each being just as captivating.

One thing you need to know about this author is that he doesn’t write your usual kind of legal thrillers. Sure, the courtroom drama is fascinating. In this case, I was curious to find out how everything would work out, as Mick kept saying, what was the ace? The case was so intense and unpredictable. However, Myers, Jr. also has a way of ensuring that each case is memorable by including jaw-dropping twists. In this story, there were two cases and twice, I had to pick my jaw from the floor. The twists were so good that I found myself exclaiming aloud, good thing I was reading the book alone at home. I don’t think I can aptly explain just how good the cases and twists were so just grab the book and find out for yourself.

If you enjoy fast-paced, engrossing legal thrillers with twists that will make your head spin, then you need to read the Philadelphia Legal series by William L. Myers, Jr. Right from the jaw-dropping prologue to the final full stop, I was utterly captivated by the narrative. I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2 of the series.

Well written, twisty and definitely memorable, The Killer’s Alibi was an enjoyable read.

I liked this book. The alternating storylines at first kind of was distracting. At first there was Mick's case and than the case that his wife, Piper was working on. I did not really make the connection at first that the story changed between the two cases and therefore, I was trying to figure out the connection between the cases. In fact, I thought that Mick's wife was helping him in the beginning. This is partly my bad but at the same time it showed that the transition to the two storylines was not as smooth. Yet, the further that I got into the book, the clearer the dual storylines got.

I was drawn more towards Piper's case. The main character, Darlene was more relatable. Plus, I really felt for her and her story. So for me the overall story was a bit more one sided. Yet, I thought that Mick; himself was good. He showed his intelligence. Together, I thought that Mick and Piper worked well with each other. They fed off one another's energy.

While, I might not have "loved" this book, I would read another one by this author. I may even go back and start with book one in this series.

I’ll start by saying, I’ll pick up anything that has to do with the mafia. Its such a fascinating lifestyle and is it’s own world with it’s own rules. So when I saw that A KILLER’S ALIBI was a legal thriller involving the mafia, I had to pick it up! Despite this being book three in the Philadelphia Legal series, I wasn’t lost at all. In fact, I had no idea this was part of a series, so don’t let that deter you when starting it.

Mick McFarland finds himself sucked into the world of the mob when he has to represent the notorious crime boss Jimmy Nunzio. He was caught with a knife in his hand standing over the dead body of his daughter’s boyfriend. McFarland quickly finds out that the boyfriend was actually part of the rival mob – is a mob war on the horizon?

The Nunzio family is making things difficult for him to build his defense because they aren’t sharing all the information. Having your defense lawyer on a need-to-know basis seems like a bad idea, but McFarland quickly finds himself becoming sucked into the conflict.

The tension builds throughout the book and there are so many questions. How long will the Nunzio family keep Mick in the dark? When is the rival mob going to strike? What’s going to happen in the courtroom? This book had plenty of suspense and kept the action up making this a binge-read. I loved the courtroom scenes and Myers’ experience in the field shines through without it being hard to follow for those of us with no knowledge of the inner workings of the legal system. I would highly recommend this to those looking for a captivating thriller!

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review, "A Killer's Alibi"
by William L. Myers Jr. This book truly kept up the suspense during the entire duration of the novel!. The book has a great flow to it, with characters that make the book worth reading.

The third in a series and each are so different from the other. This book brings it back to the lawyer of book one - Mick McFarland and a major character of book two - Jim Nunzio, a big mob boss in Philadelphia. Jim Nunzio is caught with the murder weapon in hand and the deceased and his daughter in a warehouse. At the same time Susan from the law firm and Mick's wife Piper have started an Innocence Project and are dealing with another father daughter storyline trying to free from prison a daughter who was found guilty years ago for the murder of her father.

There were two cases going on in this book, but it was really easy to keep the details of each apart. Yes there are daughters and fathers in each, but the details of each case were so far from each other that I had no confusion. And I didn't realize until the end all the connections between the book and I am saying that now because I wish I had paid more attention - not spoiling just wish I had been a little more aware!

It was entertaining to dive deep into the mob world in this book. The one thing that bothered me was seeing it from Mick's point of view and Mick not being in the know as to how Jimmy was going to play his case. I didn't enjoy walking in the courtroom with him and him not having a plan in place - that was unnerving for me, the reader.

I loved having Mick and Piper in a good place and enjoyed having her interact with his team at work. I would love to read more about cases that she takes with her Innocence Project and wouldn't mind a whole book that focuses on her cases and her mission.

A scorching legal thriller, William L Myers Jnr has come up with a more than worthy follow up to his first two books in this, the third, of the Philadelphia Legal series.

In this book lawyer Mick McFarland finds himself representing mob boss Jimmy Nunzio (aka Jimmy Nutso) after he is caught red handed with a knife in his hand, and his daughter's boyfriend dead on the floor with a slashed throat. The problem is the boyfriend was from a rival mob, so a mob war is imminent, and Mick finds himself caught up in the middle of it.

Mick soon finds himself as a puppet to the Nunzio clan, trying to prepare a defense, yet the family will not let him be privy to the whole story, that he'll find out what their defense will be when he needs to know. As the trial creeps closer, and Mick is still in the dark, we feel his anxiety. And then the rival clan prepares to strike...

A Killer's Alibi is a first class thriller, quickly building momentum, until the shattering crescendo in the courtroom, when all is finally revealed. Or is it? You'll find yourself racing through this one, trying to figure out what really happened on that fateful night, waiting for the twist, and when it comes you'll find yourself smiling with satisfaction. I recommend this book to all lovers of legal thrillers.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Killer's Alibi is the third in a series of Philadelphia Legal thrillers by Wm L. Myers, Jr., but completely stand alone. I was excited to see this story line continue. The protagonists who shine in this legal battle are Mick and his brother Tommy McFarland, the firms investigator, but the whole crew are in and out of the story. And a fine story it is - there are clashes and the promise of war between organized crime families Nunzio, with an established and settled business set-up, and Valiante, the new guys on the block, looking to take over the meth and heroin needs in Philadelphia's Southie district. Oh, and the Nunzio daughter is in a relationship with the Valiante son. Messy.

Meanwhile, Mick's wife Piper and fellow lawyer Susan Klein are working an Innocence Case through the firm. Darlene Dowd has served 15 years for the murder of her abusive father, but there is new information pointing to her possible innocence, as well as mishandling of information at the time of the crime that will perhaps qualify her for a new trial. So sad.

William L. Myers is an author I watch for. He always brings an interesting, fast paced story that intrigues.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, William L. Myers, Jr. and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

This is the third in a series that focuses on a legal firm in Philadelphia. Each book has been great and this one continues the theme: a top notch mystery unfolds over the course of the tale and the ending provides a real surprise. In this book, two stories run side by side, with no true connection between them. The connection is for the protagonist; he is left to consider the relationships between fathers and daughters and the myriad ways in which they play out over time. This is definitely a cerebral take on motive and plot, but fits with the attorney at the heart of the series. I look forward to these books and if the author intends more, I am an eager reader. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley

This really is a fantastic plot, with an underlying mystery that will keep you in suspense through the whole book. Great story and characters as well as very good flow.

Protagonist (attorney) Mick McFarland has been recruited to mount the defense for crime lord James (Nutzo) Nunzio when he is discovered at the scene of the vicious murder of an opposing "family" member. In a dual plot, Mick's wife Piper is involved with the Innocence Project and takes on the case of a sexually abused daughter possibly wrongly convicted for the murder of her heinous father (who may have deserved what he got, but still, the law is the law). Piper enlists the help of Mick's associate Susan.

Myers has crafted his characters with painstaking detail, honing in on the disturbing personality quirks that a powerful mob boss might possibly exhibit. Menacing when he wants to be. But Mick is given very little to work with and is frustrated by a lack of information. In the meantime, Piper works diligently to find the missing pieces in her Innocence case and excited when she feels she is getting all the pieces to a very old puzzle.

I greatly enjoyed the way the author weaves the two plots in and out of each other in synchronous timing. Piper's case appears settled about the time Mick goes to court with Jimmy. Courtroom dialogue is riveting, hanging on to volleys only to have them backfire with Mick's hidden thoughts about their success or failure. The drama gathers speed as it nears conclusion with red herrings blown in and little twists that have you scratching your head. But that "gotcha!" at the end? You did NOT see that coming!

I'm a big fan of thriller and suspense novels. Add legal and crime to the mix and I'm a very happy camper! Yes! The third book in this series, my second (I also read and enjoyed An Engineered Injustice) and I'm a solid Myers fan looking forward to the next in the series. I was allowed this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley and greatly enjoyed the opportunity to read and review.

Favorite Quotes:

If you’re suggesting he agree to be conscripted into witness protection, I just don’t see Jimmy Nunzio letting you move him to Iowa to sell fire insurance.

I don’t need to spend any time thinking about him. He does enough thinking about himself for all of us.

I never met people who could talk so much without saying anything. It felt like they were blowing words into the air to fill up the space between us.

Mick can tell he’s having a good time dragging out the tale. “I feel like a marlin,” Mick says. “You’re pulling me in, letting me out, pulling me in.”

He couldn’t incite the Philadelphia jury any more skillfully than if he flashed pictures of Nunzio urinating on the Rocky statue.

My Review:


A Killer’s Alibi was an active and compelling read with a near constant series of surprising twists and turns before culminating into an ending I never saw coming. It was ingenious, devilishly clever, and tautly written. This was my first exposure to the talented word skills of William L. Myers, Jr. and I was awed by his devious plotting and compelling storytelling. The complex storylines were maddeningly paced, skillfully crafted, and involved two separate investigations and trials employing the same law firm, each with myriad conundrums and laced with tetchy witnesses who seemed incapable of giving a straight answer. I devised and cast off a notebook full of theories but would never have arrived at the final conclusion. It was stellar.

Ooh my, my, my what a tangled legal web Myers weaved! The readers got to enjoy two legal thrillers for the price of one. As usual, Mick McFarland is called upon by an unlikely wanna-be-client, Jimmy Nunzio, better known as Jimmy Nutso and with good reason. He’s a known mob killer high up the chain and he finds himself in such a pickle, it’s definitely not kosher. He seeks out Mick’s help, and in true McFarland style, he and his law firm agree to take the gangster on. Why it came as any surprise to most that Jimmy was caught with his hand in the cookie jar, although this jar turns out to be his daughter’s boyfriend, who happens to be the son of another Godfather—whereas the police find him with the smoking gun—the knife. By all accounts, it certainly looks as though the mobster stabbed this young man to death, but did he? Mick is trying desperately to defend Jimmy, but in his true fashion, he’s giving Mick a hard way to go.

Meanwhile, Mick’s wife, Piper, and another associate, Susan, have their hands full with an innocence project trying to free Darlene Dowd and they are met with their own set of challenges trying to prove she didn’t murder her father in cold blood. It appears as though the only witness that can clear Ms. Dowd is nowhere to be found and with good reason—she’s on the run! But why? As you continue to read these two legal stories, it will become very clear that there are some shady characters trying their best to throw Mick and his legal team off the beaten path.

If you’ve been following the series, you already know that Mick doesn’t give up so easily! This was a really good story. I have to say I was a bit thrown off in the very beginning because I was trying to figure out exactly what was going on, but as I continued to read, it became crystal clear there were two stories in one and what happens as you go is electrifying! What a dynamic story line and brilliantly written by one of my favorite legal authors! If you haven’t read yet, no worries because it comes out tomorrow. Enjoy everyone! This is another hit by Myers. Simply awesome!

This is a very unusual mystery with two stories that make you rethink the definition of justice. The author lead you down a path that has some strange twists and a surprise ending. At times you want to yell at the attorney and other times feel sorry for him but never do you like the suspects! A very good mystery.

This was probably one of the best legal thrillers I have read in a long time. It honestly kept me guessing until the last page. The courtroom scenes were very well-written and I could not read them fast enough. The last few chapters were just twist after twist after twist. In fact, the one I didn't like the one "twist" that it initially dropped me down to a 3/5, but the real reveal at the end brought it back to a 4/5.

Why not 5/5? Two main reasons - something about the author's writing just felt off to me. I can't quite place it to be honest. It felt like viewpoints/perspectives kept changing, but the story was always told in third person so I am not sure what exactly. The other reason were the two side plots. The "secondary case" could have been dropped entirely without an impact on the main plot, while the other one seemed too convenient. Both plots basically disappeared after they resolved (around 70% through the book), with one passing mention of the one at the end.

Overall, I recommend this book to those who enjoy legal/crime thrillers. I do believe that this book is part of a series, but I didn't feel at a loss by not reading the others. However, I plan to read them soon!

The book opens with a prologue in which the reader witnesses a dramatic and shocking event, the consequences of which will only become apparent later in the book. 

I liked the way the book alternates between the two story lines – Mick McFarland’s defence of mob boss, Jimmy Nunzio and the attempts of Mick’s wife, Piper, to prove the innocence of convicted killer, Darlene Dowd.  Needless to say, the progress of neither investigation runs smoothly and both Mick and Piper are forced to confront the consequences of what they have taken on and face difficult moral dilemmas.  And, of course, things are not always exactly what they seem...

As events unfold, readers (as I did) will no doubt find themselves making connections and finding common themes between the two storylines.  That is especially true in the final few paragraphs.  The plot positively zips along, with plenty of twists and turns.  This reader certainly found herself reading long after she’d intended to put the book down for the night. 

The author chooses to give the reader an insight into the inner thoughts of the manipulative and ruthless Jimmy Nunzio and I have to say it is a chilling experience but at the same time totally compelling.  Unfortunately, nasty people tend to have other nasty people around them and that’s certainly the case here.  Plus it’s always worth remembering Rudyard Kipling’s words ‘For the female of the species is more deadly than the male’.

Given the author’s profession, it’s no surprise that the book is full of precise and convincing details about police, investigatory, legal and prison procedures (although a little less detail about Philadelphia’s road system would have been okay with me).  The final scenes in the courtroom as Jimmy Nunzio stands trial are convincingly realistic and I was fascinated by the sections covering the process of jury selection.  Who knew there were such things as jury consultants or shadow juries?

Although there are references to events in the two earlier books, A Killer’s Alibi works perfectly well as a standalone.  In fact, the author cleverly gives just enough information about the events in A Criminal Defense and An Engineered Injustice to tease but not to spoil.  It’s clear many of the characters are still working through in their own minds the consequences of the actions and decisions they took or were forced to take. Secrets don’t tend to stay buried forever, after all.  

I really enjoyed A Killer’s Alibi. It’s a fast-moving, intricately plotted and compelling crime thriller.  My thanks to the author for my advance review copy.

Thank you William L. Myers, Jr. and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book.
This is the third book of the Philadelphia Legal Series. The story is a stand alone, although there are some references to things that must have happened in the previous books of the series. This is the first one that I have read but it definitely won't be the last.
Mick McFarland is an attorney who is "hired" by a mob underboss that is charged with the murder of his daughter's boyfriend, a member of a rival mob. He is found holding the blood soaked knife that killed the boyfriend. It seems like an open and shut case for the prosecution because the underboss refuses to tell his own attorney what happened and whether it was self-defense.
In the meantime, Mick's wife and law partner are working on a case of a young woman who was charged and convicted of killing her abusive father. They are trying to get her a new trial to prove that she is innocent.
Throughout both story lines of this book, things are not always what they seem. Both stories involve father/daughter dynamics. The author did a great job of building the suspense and then giving little hints of what might be coming. But there are things going on behind the scenes that you never see coming. It isn't until almost the end of the book that we find out what is really going on in both of the story lines.
I loved that the author was able to make even some of the "bad guys" likable.

Crime lord Jimmy Nunzio is caught, literally red handed, with the knife in his hands over the dead body of his daughters lover. He quickly hires Mick McFarland to defend him. But Nunzio is staying tight lipped, refusing to tell Mick what really happened. Meanwhile, Mick's wife, Piper is trying to free Darlene David, a young woman who was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her sexually abusive father.

It feels like a lifetime that I have waited to read this third instalment of the Philadelphia Legal series, but boy, it was definitely worth the wait. I would also say that this is the best book in the series so far. Myers writes with an intricately to detail. The plot is full of many twists that I never saw coming. The two storylines complimented each other and we're both believable as were the characters. The best bits by far is the courtroom drama. The tension builds as the drams unfolds. The book caught my attention straight away and I did not want to put this book down. This is one hell of a roller coaster ride. I don't know how the author is going to top this novel, but I'm sure, somehow, he will.

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

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.