I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Although this is the first book that I have read in the Robin Lockwood series, it is not dependent on previous novels. The combination mystery / courtroom drama will keep the reader turning pages as fast as possible. The story highlights how easy it can be for an innocent indigent person to be charged in a horrific crime.

Are you looking for a great legal thriller to lose yourself in over a weekend? Look no further…you found it!

This is a twisty tale involving a fight club, blackmailing prostitutes and most importantly …murder! How does all this fit together you ask? Well, I can’t spoil the fun…you’ll have to pick this book up to find out!

This is book four of the Robin Lockwood series but can easily stand on its own. So don’t be afraid to just jump right in.

I’ve been reading books by Phillip Margolin for years. Both his series and stand-alone. I enjoy each equally and I always know I’m in for a treat when I pick up one of his novels.

This latest release includes lots of courtroom drama, so if that your thing (and it is mine) then I think you’ll really enjoy this one.

Phillip Margolin remains one of my go-to authors, and I’m already looking forward to his next release!

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Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC to read and review.

I wanted to like this one. And it started off pretty well, but I found myself becoming bored pretty quickly. Maybe I just didn't read it at a good time. Not the book for me.

2/5 Stars

I have read each of the books in this series featuring Robin Lockwood, however this book works fine as a standalone. Lockwood is a Yale Law graduate and former MMA fighter. In this book she takes on the murder case of Joe Lattimore, a former boxer who has been framed for the murder of the wealthy wife of a sleazy judge. Lattimore is facing the death penalty if convicted.

The first half of this book is the more interesting part. That’s were we see how the elaborate framing was carried out, who was involved and why. I found the rest of the book a little sluggish. Since the readers know everything already there is no mystery or suspense involved. We are just waiting to see how Lockwood will finally glom on to what happened. In the end, the right guy starts confessing, so it’s not like Lockwood outsmarted anyone. I find Lockwood to be a little too perfect, but I will probably continue with the series. I have also like some of the author’s non-series books.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

I was new to this series when I opened this book. Firstly, I had no problem following this story or enjoying it and the characters without having read anything by this author before. That's how you get readers when you write in series. Now I not only want to read back in this series, but other books by the author, as well.

This book was a murder mystery type of book but it was also very much a court procedural. If you like the workings of courtrooms and all of their drama this is for you. It may be done often, but watching someone fall into the trap that has been set for them and then pulling for them as their story gets unwound and set right is just satisfying. And I have to say that was especially so with the last thread placed back in place. Some characters just beg for a comeuppance.

Thank you to Philip Margolin, someone I will get to know more in the future, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the ARC and for the new name to add to my reading rotation.

A Matter of Life and Death by Philip Margolin is an engaging and exciting entry into his Robin Lockwood series. Lockwood was an M.M.A. fighter who now does her combat in the courtroom rather than in the ring. In doing so Robin comes to the aid of a former fighter. Joe Lattimore is homeless and down to his last buck. He is approached by a devious man who has his own game going on which results in Lattimore being framed for the murder of the wife local judge. The frame seems air-tight especially because the damage inflicted upon the victim seems like something that an M.M.A. fighter could dish out. Lockwood, the lawyer thinks that the frame is too neat and obvious.
What happens next is a wild ride involving cops, the courts, attorneys, and all sorts of characters typically found in a thrilling courtroom drama. Margolin is a master, and he proves it again in a wonderfully tantalizing novel that will not let you down.

Excellent legal thriller. Well researched and well written. Great character development in this series, especially Robin Lockwood, the female protagonist. I would have liked a little more suspense but overall it was an enjoyable read. Strongly recommended.

Judge Anthony Carasco has a problem. He loves a beautiful prostitute named Stacey, who he has set up in her own apartment. But he can’t let his rich wife divorce him over his affair. He wants to keep her trust fund money for himself. His solution is an immensely complicated murder for hire scheme. But has he tied up his patsy in too tight of a bow for the police to believe it? It’s A Matter of Life and Death for his fall guy, Joe Lattimer, a professional boxer down on his luck. Only with Robin Lockwood as his attorney does Joe have any hope of avoiding the death penalty.

Just when you think you have the whole plot figured out, wham there is another twist thrown in! The courtroom scenes are intense. I read this in a single evening because I couldn’t put down. A Matter of Life and Death is the best legal thriller I have read in a while. 5 stars and a favorite!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Capital crimes require the best available defense attorneys. Robin Lockwood fits that description. A persons’ life hangs in the balance. The press and the prosecuting attorneys present the defendant as a cold blooded and ruthless killer. Robin is faced with the task of saving the life of the accused. All the I’s and T’s need to be dotted and crossed and no mistakes made!

Phillip Margolin opens the reader’s eyes to the process. Robin is portrayed as a hands-on defense attorney charged with saving the arrested man’s life. Evidence can point one way and the truth takes another path. Knowing that a life hangs in the balance is the carrot driving the story line.

Unlike TV dramas this book reads more like a defense lawyers’ primer. Dig into the events, identify key witnesses for both the prosecution and the defense and strategize how the prosecutor will present the case. Build a solid timeline of the events leading up to the crime. The investigators of the crime and the forensic team will do their best to label your defendant as the perpetrator and how he is tied to the case.

Framing a patsy for the crime is an interesting process. Robin goes about the procedure with a fine-toothed determination. Certainly, the prosecutors are not cheating or manufacturing evidence. Can the actual killer be doing such a great job of manufacturing damning evidence? Reading this book is a way to learn what brilliant strategies culprits can employ.

I highly recommend this book as both an entertaining read and a satisfying use of time. The actual conclusion had enough twists to keep me totally engaged. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

A Matter of Life and Death is the fourth Robin Lockwood legal mystery by Phillip Margolin. Due out 9th March 2021 from Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well written action filled plot driven legal mystery with an insider's view to much of the legal process, including high stakes cases (capital murder, in this case). Robin Lockwood and co. are back and they're as committed to justice as in the previous books. The story contains several subplots which intertwine more and more closely as the book progresses toward the final satisfying climax and denouement.

The protagonist is intelligent and tenacious (she's a former MMA martial artist - so something of a badass in addition to being a lawyer). The author includes some legal procedural content and background notes which I found fascinating (he's a former trial lawyer also, so seems to know what he's talking about).

The language is R rated for cursing, mild on-page sex, and descriptions of murder. Nothing that is egregiously graphic or NSFW. Nothing here which will scandalize other commuters or co-workers.

Four stars. Well written and an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to readers of legal procedurals and modern murder mysteries.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I have been a big fan of the Robin Lockwood series since I started reading it ( The Third Victim, The Perfect Alibi, and A Reasonable Doubt). So when I saw this book on Netgalley, I knew I had to have it. And it def continues my enjoyment of the Robin Lockwood series!

What I Liked:

The cover!

How Phillip Margolin has all these secrets and double crossing and things may not make sense as to how they will relate- but then he pulls it all together and it’s good!

The ending. I just love how the book comes together.



Bottom line: Another winner for me. The only sad thing is that I have to wait for another book!!



*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

LOVED THIS BOOK!

It is so hard to write a review about a Phillip Margolin book, because what more can I say about one of my absolute favourite authors?

I was beyond thrilled to get to read the latest installment of his Robin Lockwood series, and it did not disappoint!! From the first pages I was intrigued, and as the story and characters developed further I never lost interest, and couldn't read fast enough to see where things end.

Fans of Margolin's Lockwood series will enjoy this book- it has all the right elements of murder, corruption, secrecy, and of course the legal elements. As usual, Margolin has us rooting for Robin Lockwood and hoping that her client (Mr. Lattimore) gets justice.. What was absolutely surprising and fun was that Amanda Jaffe (herself the main character in a different Margolin series) was also present in this book! As an avid Margolin reader this was such an exciting bonus!

As a lawyer, I sometimes find legal thrillers to be too unrealistic, or not engaging enough to make me want to read about the legal system in my spare time. This is never the case for Margolin's books, and it is why I am always so excited to read a new one.

If you have never read this series before, I think you could read this book as a stand alone and enjoy it just as much as I did. However, do yourself a favour and go back to the beginning of the series, so that you can see how Robin evolves over each book, and how her legal skills and knowledge sharpen.

This is a can't miss installment in the series, and will bring Margolin fans hours of exciting and engaging reading. Now the only problem is having to wait for the next book!

My thanks to Mr. Margolin for another amazing story, as well as to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an early e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The latest in the Robin Lockwood series, Margolin, again, presents a strong female trial lawyer and his background as a lawyer helps immensely in presenting a believable storyline. Robin Lockwood is defending a homeless black man who has been framed by a corrupt Portland Oregon judge and is accused of murder. After the set up of the problem, much of the action focuses on Robin and her team as they go about proving the judge is behind the murder of his wife. It is a decent book to read, most readers should know exactly what is going on a third of the way through, but it’s the research behind the defense that makes this much more believable than those Perry Mason shows used to be.

I've long been a fan of Phillip Margolin's books and in particular the Robin Lockwood series. In this installment Robin, a young attorney with a MMA fighting past, takes on the case of a homeless former boxer caught up in a situation that now has him fighting for his life. Robin's grit, and willingness to put herself in dangerous situations will need to make up for her lack of experience in death penalty cases, but will that be enough? This plot has several plot lines that all come together in an exciting and fulfilling conclusion. Margolin keeps Lockwood's character fresh and his plots are as clever as ever.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance review in return for an honest review.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.75 Hearts This is the 4th in the series. I really enjoyed this read. The suspense was well written and kept me interested. This one had a bit more of a story than the last one.

I have been a fan of Margolin for a while and I think this might be one of his best in recent books.

I thought Robin was great at how she handled Joe’s case. I felt so bad for Joe. He is just a good guy trying to support his family who gets into trouble. Robin just wants to save an innocent man from the death penalty.

There are a lot of twists and suspense in this book and I recommend it to any fan of the genre.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is what a great legal thriller series should be. Phillip Margolin writes complex, pitch perfect books and his character, Robin "Rockin Robin" Lockwood is one of the best around. She is a former MMA fighter and now she fights just as hard for her clients. In this latest book, she faces a huge challenge when she works to keep her client, a former boxer who is down on his luck, off of death row. All of the evidence points to his guilt but there are deep, dark secrets working against her client and it will take all of her smarts and determination to set him free and bring the guilty party to justice.
Several threads are introduced and, at first, they seem unrelated but therein lies the enjoyment. Robin pulls on a thread or two and the reader gets a great read. The pace is rapid and each time I pick up one of Phillip Margolin's books I have to set aside a chunk of time because I want to read straight through without major breaks like going to bed when I should. An added plus is the setting of Portland, OR, one of my favorite cities.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to @minotaurbooks for the review copy!

4.5 stars for this one! I have read the first book in the Robin Lockwood series, and when I received this ARC i immediately purchased the next two books. Unfortunately they didn't arrive in time for me to read them both before A Matter of Life and Death, so I was worried I would have missed some key facts. Rest assured, you can read these books as stand alone books, as I never felt lost or confused.

I read this book fairly quickly, there were just enough loose ending tidbits, or surprises that kept me NEEDING to know what happened next! This book had me on the edge of my seat right to end! Did I guess the ending? Nope!

My favourite character is without a doubt, Robin, the MC and the perfect depiction of a strong woman. She is a former MMA fighter turned promising attorney. You don't want to mess with her! She also shows character growth in her personal relationship, showing that she isn't as perfect as people think she is.

First of all, this is the fourth book in the Robin Lockwood series, but any of the books can be read as a standalone. In this book, Robin, a defense attorney extraordinaire, is tasked with defending what looks like a slam-dunk case against a homeless man named Joe Lattimore. Instead of a police procedural, I would call this book a defense lawyer procedural in which Robin pits her wits and those of her private investigator Jeff against the prosecution. In this latest book, Joe is facing the death penalty for having killed a judge’s wife. The plot was intricate and totally engaging, with plenty of action and tons of interesting details. I felt bad for Joe, but things really looked bad for him, even with Robin as his attorney. The sleazy people in the story were really sleazy, so I didn’t mind at all when they were exposed. The characterization was spot-on, with the major characters being so well-developed that reading the book was like watching a movie. The intriguing storyline and the fast pace kept the book absorbing to me, even though at times I did get bogged down in some of the details, like the illegal fights. But every detail was important to the story, showing how well the author knows his craft. Fans of suspense and legal thrillers will enjoy this book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Fans of legal thrillers should give this one a try- even if they haven't read the earlier books in the series. Robin Lockwood, an MMA fighter turner attorney, has a tough case on her hands. Yes, Joe Lockwood, a homeless former boxer, killed a man in an illegal fight and yes he broke into the home of Judge Anthony Carasco but he did these things to help his family and he did not beat the Judge's wife to death. Whew. Set in Portland, this is very much a plot driven book (although fans will see the growth in Robin). The explanations of legal points might be a bit too basic at times for fans of the genre but they are often a good reminder (or, no spoilers- point to something that might be important later). Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's a fast paced read that would be good on a plane (if we were doing that) and will be fine in an armchair.

Long a fan of Phillip Margolin's work, I was thrilled to see A Matter of Life and Death (#4 in the Robin Lockwood series) pop up as a book ready for review. His newest offering does not disappoint in any way; plenty of action to satisfy, multiple intiguing story lines that he brings together flawlessly, and characters that you love, or love to hate.

Joe Lattimore is a former boxer who is down on his luck. He has a wife and child whom he loves dearly and wants more than anything to get them out of the homeless tent city where they're currently living. Desperate times call for desperate meaures, and when someone approaches Joe to participate in an illegal private no-holds-barred boxing match with the promise of a big payout and more to come, he feels that he has no choice but to grasp at the chance. What he doesn't know is that he is being set up to take the fall for a murder, and he soon finds himself on trial for his life.

Robin Lockwood, a rising young attorney, doesn't usually take death sentence cases. It's one thing to lose a case, and another entirely when that loss means the death of your client! There's such an innate honesty in Joe though, that she finds herself believing his convoluted story and decides to take his case.

Joe is not the only victim though. There are plenty of amoral characters, some in high places, who play with others' lives at will to get what they want, and who will stop at nothing to get it. There's enough blackmail, threats, and danger to keep your head spinning in this twisted and satisfying read.

Lovers of legal thrillers won't want to miss this one!

My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read a copy of the book prior to its scheduled publication on March 9, 2021. All opinions expressed here are my own.