In desperate need of money, a young man fights in an illegal MMA ring where his opponent dies from his injuries. Now even more desperate, he is blackmailed into a home robbery, only to find he has been set up for murder. This man definitely needs Robin Lockwood as his lawyer.
Phillip Margolin is a well known author of some of the best law and order books I've read. He gives his characters a depth that makes them real, while setting the scene to make you wonder how in the world thay could have become involved in the mess they are in. With everything against them, Robin will keep digging until she finds the evidence she needs to clear them, but how many others will be harmed along the way?

This is book #4 in the Robin Lockwood series. I really like the female lead , former MMA fighter , defendant Robin Lockwood represents her client a homeless man accused of killing a judge;'s wife. Great suspense, a real page turner.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was happy to see A Matter of Life and Death returned to the format of legal thriller I enjoyed in the first two books of this series. Robin Lockwood is back in the courtroom defending innocent victims against corrupt police or judges or DAs. The book opens with Robin winning a case in Judge Carasco's courtroom against a young ADA, embarrassing them both in the process. Carasco holds a grudge and wants to get back at her. Her next case is a homeless man who is an ex-boxer. He has been charged with the murder of Judge Carasco's wife when she is beat to death in her home. Joe's story of being set up is hard to prove, but Robin knows she has to do it or Joe Lattimore will face a death sentence.

There is a lot happening in this book, especially the elaborate set up for the murder of Mrs. Carasco. As the reader, I pretty much knew what happened, the interesting part of the story was how to prove it. Robin has an exceptional investigator, who digs up a lot of information and saves Robin's butt more than once. This case has Robin wading through a pile of events including prostitution, wayward legal minds, organized crime, revenge, blackmail, betrayal, and more. This was a well crafted story that had me listening intently or flipping pages to see what would happen next. Both the courtroom scenes and the investigation were equally interesting and I was invested in Joe's and Robin's story. Robin is a great protagonist; smart, tenacious, independent and caring. Not only does she work hard to clear her clients, but makes sure they are okay afterwards. If I am ever accused of a crime, I definitely want Robin Lockwood and her team on my side.

I just love a good "who dun it" and Margolin certainly delivers with A Matter of Life and Death. At the center is Joe Lattimore trying to save his young family while his attorney, Robin Lockwood fights to get to the bottom of the mystery that has Lattimore accused of murder. Despite the overwhelming evidence Lockwood knows that Lattimore is innocent. She fights to save his life and to discover who is the real murderer.

A Matter of Life and Death by Phillip Margolin is the fourth installment in the legal thriller Robin Lockwood series. Each book of this series really could be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel with each having the case involved wrapped up by the end. There is some important character development that carries over from book to book however with all the main characters so it’s best enjoyed from the beginning.

In the first book of the series readers were introduced to Robin Lockwood who had been just beginning as an assistant attorney and now she is back tackling her own cases after working with her mentor Regina Barrister. Being a former MMA fighter herself Robin is curious when she gets a visit from Joe Lattimore who explains he is homeless so he joined a no hold barred fight for cash but things went south. When Joe ends up arrested for yet another crime Robin is determined to get to the bottom of his case.

I have been following the Robin Lockwood series from the beginning and continue to enjoy each book as it comes along. As a fan of a good legal thriller I love that this has just the right mix of story action alongside the legal side of the novel. Robin is one tough as all heck lead and I love following her as she gets down and dirty to get to the truth to give her clients the best defense. Definitely one I’ll keep coming back to as when I pick up a new installment each year I fall right back in to the series like I’d never left.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Matter of Life and Death is the next installment of the Robin Lockwood series that is sure to be loved by her readers as much as all the previous books. I know that I found it to be a very enjoyable book.
The plot is tightly constructed and flows flawlessly, with fast paced action that propels the reader forward in a somewhat predictable line that results in a satisfying end. Characterizations of the main characters is consistent and new characters are well thought out.
All in all, a good way to spend an afternoon while waiting for the next adventure of Robin Lockwood.

I've read several books by this author and have always enjoyed everything I've read, so I was looking forward to reading this book. I must say it didn't disappoint. This book was easy to read and fast paced and kept me wanting to read more. I highly recommend this book.

This is the fourth book in a legal thriller series (although it can easily be read as a standalone) featuring Robin Lockwood. She is an attorney who paid her way through law school by working as an MMA fighter. She is a strong female protagonist in each of the books. This one focuses on a fighter, Joe, who has been accused of 2 murders and needs an attorney who can represent him. Lockwood is that person. I am not a fan of MMA personally but I appreciated that interaction between the main characters and how it played into the plot.
Recommend.
#AMatterofLifeandDeath #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #Minotaur

Joe would do anything for the family and he’s desperate fipor money behes homeless
He gets talked into a illegal fight ring and his opponent dies then when’s follows is the story of betrayal
His lawyer works to clear him

While the author’s setup is irresistible, the way he crafted the plot is masterful.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Matter of Life and Death is the fourth novel in the Robin Lockwood series. Robin is a Portland lawyer who got through school working as an MMA fighter. She now works criminal law and is very good at what she does. The courtroom is not her only arena but she will investigate on behalf of her client to get to the truth. In this story Robin meets a boxer named Joe Lattimore who is down on his luck and gets framed for two murders. One of them being the rich wife of a local corrupt DA turned Judge. When the system is stacked against her client can she really get to the truth and save an innocent man?

This was an enjoyable book. Like any crime series there is a formula to the story and this is no exception but in this one you know Joe is innocent from the get go making it more interesting. You even know who is behind the wife's murder so it is just a matter of finding out how it came together and seeing if Robin can get the evidence in time. There are many female lead crime novel series out right now but what I like about this one is that Robin Lockwood is not only smart but capable of taking care of herself.

Robin Lockwood agrees to take on the defense of Joe Lattimore, a homeless man in trouble with the law after a series of decisions that leads him to a murder charge. The dead woman is the wife of Judge Anthony Carasco, a man that Lockwood does not hold in high regard. As the evidence points to a frame job, will Robin be able to help her client and figure out the real perpetrator?

The biggest issue that I have with A Matter of Life and Death is that the story is told almost in reverse. There is no discovery, as the reader is told the crimes and criminals who commit them, with the rest of the story having Robin and her team figure out the truth. I am not a fan of this style of writing in thrillers, as I want to be surprised and to discover the real perpetrator along with the characters. Having read all of the books in this series, there is also a lack of character development. Readers are told about Robin Lockwood's past in the first book and there is really nothing here that gives the character more depth. For these reasons, I would hesitate to recommend A Matter of Life and Death to other readers.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books. The choice to review this novel was entirely my own.

“A Matter of Life and Death” is the fourth book in the Robin Lockwood series, but it is not necessary to have read the other books to appreciate this one. Joe Lattimore is a young fighter trying to provide for his family. Through an unusual set of circumstances he finds himself in trouble, big trouble, life and death trouble. Robin Lockwood, a prominent attorney and former MMA fighter, agrees to take his case. She soon finds that Lattimore is guilty of a lot of things but is he guilty of murder? The evidence against Lattimore is almost insurmountable. In fact, the prosecution’s case seems almost too perfect.
Margolin created a compelling scenario where readers know who is innocent and who is guilty. The suspense comes in the unraveling of the truth and in the race against time to actually prove that truth. The cast of characters is diverse, and each character is presented in detail. Readers get to know them well through their actions, their reactions, their plans, and their strategies. Some people are exactly as they appear but others have hidden agendas and concealed motives.
“A Matter of Life and Death” is not a usual legal procedure book. The characters are heart of the narrative not the crime. The crime is the result of flawed personalities living in an imperfect society. The story is not just about the end, it is about the trip and this specific trip with these specific people. I received a review copy of “A Matter of Life and Death” from Phillip Margolin, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books. I found it compelling in a very different and refreshing way.

I enjoy reading legal thrillers, and Phillip Margolin is able to craft a well-written and plot-driven book with a strong female main character. The story kept me turning the pages with its many twists and turns.

A Matter of Life and Death is a good addition to the Robin Lockwood series.

A Matter of Life and Death - Phillip Margolin

Former boxer Joe Lattimore is homeless and desperately trying to find a job to support his wife and daughter, when an offer comes out of the blue. Participate in an illegal fight and earn some money. Desperate to move his family to safer territory, Joe agrees to the fight, and inadvertently kills his opponent. Now, with the unexpected death being held over his head, Joe is essentially blackmailed into a home robbery, or else the tape of the fight will be given to the authorities. As Joe enters the home he’s been instructed to rob, he instead finds a dead woman. Fearing the worst, he runs, and is caught in the headlights of an approaching vehicle. Realizing he’s been set up, Joe attempts to flee, but is arrested almost immediately.

Former MMA fighter-turned-lawyer Robin Lockwood is working on some cases when she gets a call regarding Joe, who’s now been arrested for the murder of sitting Judge Anthony Carasco’s wife Elizabeth. Known to Robin from her fighting days, she agrees to meet with Joe, and listens to his story. Something about the story sounds too cut and dry, and believing in Joe’s innocence, she agrees to take his case. At Joe’s arraignment, Elizabeth’s mother approaches Robin, telling her that she believes her son-in-law, the Judge, orchestrated Elizabeth’s death.

As Robin and her co-counsel Amanda slowly unravel the mess that has been created to cover up a murder, it becomes apparent that much more is at play, and the deceptions go deeper than anyone might think. Meanwhile, Luis Ortega, the son of the now deceased opponent Joe faced in his illegal fight has come to town masquerading as a reporter and is looking to find his own answers as to who or what is responsible for his father’s death…as the players pile up and the body count rises, can Robin get to heart of the matter and free Joe Lattimore?

Robin Lockwood is a fantastic character – she just gets better in every book she stars in! This is one of those books that sucks you right in and before you know it the final page is turned and several hours have gone by – pick a rainy day to read it because you won’t want to put it down! A complex, suspenseful legal thriller from a master!!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from #Netgalley & William Morrow & Custom House Publishing in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit Netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

A Matter of Life and Death is the 4th installment in Phillip Margolin's Robin Lockwood series. It's actually the only book I've read in this series but I don't think it's necessary to read the whole series, you can pick up in the middle. this book kept my interest and and was quite the page turner.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Too easy. Here is what faces Robin Lockwood as she defends a young man desperate and willing to fight in a fight he knows is illegal and underground. His opponent dies and sets this poor fellow on a spiral that eventually has him facing murder charges. It has all the court room backstory you would expect from Mr.Margolin. The writing is easy which is not always the case with procedurals. It liked the fact that the attorney has background in the seedy world of legalized combat in the ring, any ring. She knows something stinks, you the reader smell it and hanging in there you are rewarded with the fresh air of resolve. Happy reading

A thoroughly enjoyable read. While I found this more predictable than others in the series, I found myself unable to put it down and fully engaged. I look forward to the next installment.

A Matter of Life and Death by Phillip Margolin is a new entry in the Robin Lockwood series. Robin is an MMA fighter and a defense attorney. In this newest book she takes on a death penalty case that is literally a matter of life and death. Joe Lattimore is homeless, married with a wife and small child, and living in a tent city. He tries hard to find work but his temper and penchant for fighting (he is a former boxer) make it hard for him to keep a job. One day a man approaches Joe and offers him a chance to make some quick money. If he fights in a illegal fight he will earn $300, if he wins he will earn $600. Joe feels he has no choice. When the fight occurs he realizes something really bad is going on. The fight promoter blackmails Joe and tells him he must do another job or he will release the damaging video of the fight. All Joe has to do is go into a house where no one is home and get something out of a safe. When Joe enters the house he finds a woman murdered and runs out. He realizes he has been set up to take the fall for the murder. The victim happens to be a judge's wife. Joe is soon picked up and charged with capital murder despite his pleas of innocence. Robin agrees to take his case as she feels a moral obligation to. What she learns is that this is a very complication and devious case that was set in motion before Joe even participated in the fight.
I enjoy the Robin Lockwood series. I find her character to be interesting. All of Margolin's books are great legal thrillers and I really like the courtroom scenes. I feel this book ended too quickly and was wrapped up too easily. It was a fast read and I really had a good time reading it. It was just missing some depth. I look forward to more Robin Lockwood stories. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I've only read a few books by Phillip Margolin, and each one has been better than the other. Legal thrillers combine many of the elements that I enjoy reading about and this storyline was excellent. Robin Lockwood who defends Joe Lattimore has a difficult time with this case which should be a slam dunk.
The style of writing is fantastic and I highly recommend this to fans of legal fiction who are familiar with this author, and if you haven't read any of his books, hop on the bandwagon and enjoy.