I have been a fan of Philip Margolin for many years now so, I was thrilled for the chance to read his newest mystery with Robin Lockwood. I was not disappointed.
A magician accused of murder is gotten off by Robin's friend Regina for not just one but two murders. Did he do it? You never know 100% for sure whether he did or not. A disappearance during the staging of his newest trick, only to return several years later to debut the trick leads to several twists which leave you trying to figure out what happened and who and how they did it. I thought I figured out the truth only to be surprised that I was wrong. Great storytelling of a great mystery again Mr. Margolin!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins press for the opportunity to read this book for my fair review!

I couldn't wait to read Phillip Margolin's latest novel, A Reasonable Doubt. Then it appeared as if by magic on my dashboard! (Really, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!) Robin Lockwood makes a great appearance as a lawyer and crime solver. The author paces his complex plot well and keeps the surprises coming. The ending may not delight everyone, but it is sure better than coming across a predictable one.

Robin Lockwood is a partner in a law firm when a Magician Robert Chesterfield, who was once charged with two murders and defended by Robin's former boss, comes in looking for legal help. When Robert is murdered Robin must figure out who did it.

While the overall story was good this book gets lost in the many little side characters that are put in to show us what a despicable character the victim is. This makes the book a little hard to follow at times. The jump back to let us learn about the crimes Robert was charged with years ago and how he was not convicted seem to take up a good portion of the book which leaves the current mystery seem like an afterthought and not the main story line. Robert is a throughly despicable character and the the thing you really wonder about him is how he wasn't murdered sooner. This does make you interested to see who actually committed the crime everyone wanted to do.

I had not read the other books in the Robin Lockwood series before reading this one but there is enough background on Robin included that this wasn't an issue. Robin was an interesting character and I would give the other two books in her series a read if I happen to come upon them in a book sale one day.

Having really enjoyed other books by Phillip Margolin I was disappointed that I did not like this one more.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for my honest review.

Phillip Margolin's Robin Lockwood is one of my favorite characters. His next installment in her series, A Reasonable Doubt, is a fantastic addition and does right for both the reader and Robin. This novel revolves around a less-than-moral magician and his antics throughout many years. It begins with Robin's mentor, Regina Barrister, defends him and over the years, Robin becomes involved. On a side note, I love how Mr. Margolin keeps Regina involved and important in the cases -- bringing note to the value of individuals who have dementia. With Jeff by her side, and her strong wits (not to mention muscles), Robin navigates her way through the case... and the reader is along for a wonderful ride. I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for this review. It's a wonderful book - and you don't need to have previously read any of the Robin Lockwood Series in order to jump right in to enjoy!

A Reasonable Doubt is the third book in the Robin Lockwood series. The series revolves around Robin, who is an attorney in a prestigious law firm. The current book has Robin hired by a client who’s a magician with a checkered past, and that past comes to light 20 years later. The plot is a little convoluted in this one, with a large cast of characters, almost all shady, that can be a bit confusing. The dialogue between the characters is a little cliched and stilted, not what I’ve come to expect from this author, and I’ve read all the books in this series as well as many of his other books. I was somewhat disappointed in this effort, as the story fell flat, I didn’t care for the narration style, and our heroine, Robin, isn’t even featured in most of the book. Not my favorite. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the Robin Lockwood series! This is a great addition to this series. Robin is smart and tough, and it shows best in this latest thriller by Margolin. Robin is asked to take a client that was Reginas first. The client is a magician that disappeared after three murder accusations were attributed to him, but Regina got him off. He comes back twenty years later and asks Robin to represent him in a patent case. He later dismissed that case and, well I don’t want to give it all away, but it keeps you guessing until the end. Highly entertaining and suspenseful. Highly recommend!

A good story, but even though it was about a magician accused of murder(s), it didn’t have the ‘magic’ of the previous book in the series. Too much time was spent on investigations, and not enough of an interesting plot. The lawyers and their work deserved greater emphasis.

I have been a huge fan of Mr. Margolin since Gone But Not Forgotten. That one is still my favorite, although I have loved most of his others. While this one was not a favorite, even a non-favorite Margolin book is still a good book! I did enjoy it and really like the characters of Robin Lockwood and Regina Barrister, it was just sort of confusing in places, as there were numerous characters. The story did wrap up neatly and I was satisfied. Still a fan!

Thank you to NetGalley, Phillip Margolin and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

3.5 rounded up. This is the third book in this series, and I’ve read all three. I will say this one was perhaps the most fun; I appreciated the magic element and it seemed well researched. The flipping narration can get a bit confusing, especially considering this book flipped through several time periods and a plethora of characters. That being said, it worked for me and I think the suspense was built up nicely. One struggle I have with this series is the need to put the main character in dangerous life threatening situations in every book. This book could’ve easily ended without that, especially considering it happened in the prior two. I understand it’s part of the character’s persona, being she has a fighting background and can be stubborn, but it just seems too unbelievable that all three books end with these dramatic scenes. I’ll hope not to see this in the next one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have always wanted to read one of Philip Margolin's books. I had heard that he wrote interesting and exciting novels. I was pleased when I received a copy of A Reasonalbe Doubt and started reading it imediately. However I was disapointed with the plot and even the theme. I didn't feel interest in any of the main characters and felt the story was all over the place. I guess I should try anter of his books since authers can't always write wonderful books.

this is my first book by the author and i found it rather flat, way too many characters and too much one note, not distinguishing characters from each other by different voices. I finished it because i wanted to see how it came together but probably would have stopped sooner as it was fairly long and needed to be cut down

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview A Reasonable Doubt by Phillip Margolin. This is a series book, and I have read others with these lead characters. This book does stand on its own as well. A thriller, however, Margolin takes the reader into the legal space without too much jargon.
Returning is Regina Barrister and Robin Lockwood - strong female leads with interesting back stories.
Murder, mayhem, mystery - very good read - 3.5 stars.

This was my first Phillip Margolin novel and it wasn't for me. As other reviewers have noted, there is a huge cast of characters, many of them superfluous. For example, at one point we meet Jimmy, an ex-con and client of Robin's (the protagonist). We are given a huge amount of Jimmy's backstory, leading one to think he will eventually be part of the mystery at the heart of this book, but no, he is not; his extended appearance merely served to put Robin in a certain location.

I also found the plotting of the book a bit unwieldy and convoluted. We barely meet Robin before we are plunged back in time (twice) and suddenly our protagonist is Regina Barrister, and a big chunk of the book follows her exploits defending a renowned magician. Even as we move forward in time again and Robin begins to solve the new mystery (which doesn't happen until the midpoint of the book), Regina is still such a presence that I felt the book was as much about her as Robin. And, the various detectives assigned to these cases do a lot of the legwork and get a lot of page time, making Robin seem more like a supporting player rather than our mystery-solving hero.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Phillip Margolin is a master of suspense and this book was no exception. Having read all of Margolin's prior books, I especially love this new Robin Lockwood series. The settings in Portland OR are great, and I thought the topic of magicians was quite clever. Thank you for the advanced copy. Our library will definitely purchase this title!!

I have been a Margolin fan since I first picked up Gone But Not Forgotten many years ago. He pulls you in on the first page and never lets you go. Most of his books are stand alone, and his plots are always fascinating. He does have one series that I thoroughly enjoy, and A Reasonable Doubt is the third in the series that follows the exploits of attorney Robin Lockwood.

Margolin created such an interesting character in Lockwood that I understand why he doesn’t want to let her go. Aside from being an extremely bright defense attorney, she is a former MMA fighter which adds depth to her character. She is surrounded by several interesting secondary characters, but there is never a doubt as to who is the star of this series.

In A Reasonable Doubt magician Robert Chesterfield requests her help in obtaining patent protection for an illusion that he is about to present. As a criminal attorney Robin explains that she would not be the right choice, but Chesterfield insists. He had been defended in a murder trial several years before by Regina Barrister, former partner of the firm and a legal legend. Regina, suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s, retired from the firm after mentoring Robin to follow in her footsteps. Chesterfield is somewhat mysterious as he gives her a retainer and asks her to please look into his patent protection.

Shortly after the meeting, Robin is invited to the unveiling of his illusion. Chesterfield disappears, as expected, but he never reappears. Robin isn’t sure whether he is in hiding from his many enemies or whether one of those enemies actually harmed him. Following her, as she tries to track him, makes for some very exciting reading.

Margolin does such a good job with his characterization of the despicable magician, that you can easily see any number of people wishing to make him disappear. His characters are always multifaceted though, and the reader continues wondering if perhaps Chesterfield is more than just a con man.

A Reasonable Doubt is a wonderfully plot driven story that will have the reader wondering until the very end.

A Reasonable Doubt is another captivating legal thriller by Phillip Margolin. Robin Lockwood, who we've seen before in an earlier book, finds herself entangled in cases involving a magician with a troubled past. The magician is actually an old client of her mentor, who has retired as she battles the onset of dementia and can provide limited assistance. The narrative is clean and straightforward. The first section of the book covers an early case involving the magician, setting the stage (pun intended) for the case that is the center of the novel. There are several logical suspects, a lawyer who puts herself in more physical danger than one might think a lawyer would do, and finishes with an ending that makes sense and is satisfying. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Regina Barrister was a formidable attorney known as “ The Sorceress” for her ability to get acquittals for her clients in what seemed to be impossible cases.
Robin Lockwood is a partner in Reginas’ firm and a former MMA fighter. One morning she shows up for work to find a gentleman named Robert Barrister waiting and wanting to retain the services of Regina who has retired after being diagnosed with dementia . He introduces himself and explains he is a professional magician and needs a parent for a new illusion he is developing called “The Chamber of Death.” Robin informs him that Regina has retired but they did not handle intellectual property cases anyway but specialized in criminal defense. He hands her a check for five thousand dollars and asks that it be put in a trust and that she consider his case.
Robin is intrigued and asks a long term secretary is she remembers the case involving Robert Chesterfield. She learns that he had been accused of two murders twenty years ago but with Reginas’ skillful representation the case was dismissed.
When she calls to explain what she has learned about the patent, he tells her he no longer needs it but invites her to see the debut of his illusion. Robin has been intrigued by magic since she was a child and accepts his invitation. He disappears during the trick, in front of an audience filled with enemies, people he owes money and an ex- wife with her new lover leaving behind questions and suspicions.
The story weaves different timelines and stories in a manner that is a bit convoluted and confusing at times and there are a bit too many characters to keep track of.
I have enjoyed all of this authors works but this one is not a favorite though the main character is appealing. Although this is the third in the Robin Lockwood series, it can be read as a stand-alone.
A story of murder and magic that is sure to bring mixed reviews.

This book was an interesting one with a ton of twists and turns. Robin Lockwood (love the name Robin, same as my wife’s 😂) is a former UFC fighter turned lawyer. She is a bad ass woman both in the octagon and in the courtroom.
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One day Robin is visited by a man named Robert Chesterfield, a magician, who asks her to arrange a patent on a new trick he is planning. Robin is a criminal lawyer and patents are not her specialty. Robert came to Robin as her old partner represented him when he was accused of two murders.
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Robert is a shady character and when more people start dropping dead, Robert is the main suspect.
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The story was overall just ok for me. There was a lot happening and sometimes I found myself confused. The story is also somewhat far fetched and I seemed too unbelievable. There was also one plot line intertwined with the main story that was confusing and seemed out of place. I was wondering if it was some sort of mistake. Anyways certainly if you are into magic you will probably enjoy the book as there is tons of magic talk and gives secrets on how tricks are done.

I am usually a big fan of Phillip Margolin's books, but this one was a disappointment. Too many characters to keep track of and a lot of jumping around. I found it hard to follow the story.

Oh, but, I was looking forward to reading this......a magician linked to several murders and suspicious deaths years ago, disappears within his act.....

However, I found the story confusing and slow and I’m afraid I really struggled to finish it.
There are some strong characters, it just didn’t flow well.

Overall, I didn’t really enjoy it, so, an OK read from me.

I’m grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview.