As always, Robert Bailey does not disappoint. From the beginning I was hooked. As I got further in the book I found situations that I had not expected but was pleased that they were broadcast nor contrived.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for opportunity to get this early read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for offering me e-copy of the book in exchange for the honest feedback.
I have not read any previous books from the author .

The characters are well written and book is paced well.

Brittany Crutcher, a local pop star and Odell Champagne ,a local football star are in love. Odell has big game one night where Brittany is also performing. Odell and Brittany have a small argument before the game .Next day she is found murdered and Odell is the prime suspect.

Odell requests one his friends dad Bo Haynes to represent him . Odell had a tough childhood and Bo relates to it ,and does believe that Odell is innocent

How Bo proves Odell to be innocent is rest of the story. I was able to figure out the murderer but not the reason for it..

Over all I enjoyed the book and am willing to read another book by the autor.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to review an electronic copy of this book.

You know the handful of authors that you constantly check for new releases? Well, Robert Bailey is high on that list for me, and so I was delighted to find his newest installment, which overall exceeded my expectations. The book did begin a little bit slowly for me - a bit more details on the football than what I needed - but after about 15% of the way I was engrossed and never looked back.

The story telling here is really superb. One of my favorite parts about a mystery book is trying to figure out for myself whodunnit and how they will come to a resolution - and I'm usually pretty good at it. I had some ideas here as well, but the ending proved me to be totally wrong. The clues were there... but I just missed them.

While the book does make references to some of the previous installments by Mr. Bailey, this can easily be read as a stand alone, as there is enough background included to help make everything understandable if you haven't read the previous versions.

Overall, highly recommended... and I can't wait for the next!

*Thank you to NetGalley, Robert Bailey and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously posted at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/the-wrong-side/


Brittany Crutcher is a local pop star who just signed with a major record label and is on her way. Odell Champagne is a local football star. Theirs is a match made in heaven until she breaks it off the night before she leaves for L.A.

A few hours later, Brittany is found dead on a school bus, killed with a blunt force object. And then there’s Odell, just outside the bus, holding her bloody sweatshirt and the weapon she was killed with: a broken beer bottle.

Bocephalus Haynes is tired. After being acquitted of murder, getting his law license back, defending a controversial case, and renovating a farmhouse to become a live-in center for teens, he no longer has an interest in pursuing crime cases in court. When one of the teens, who he has known all his life, is accused of murder, he decides to go back to the courtroom and prove the teen’s innocence.

The murder seems cut and dry. However, Bo Haynes isn’t convinced Odell murdered Brittany. When the young man asks Bo to represent him, he is hesitant. The entire town of Pulaski is sure Odell is guilty. Bo knows if represents him, his family could be in danger. It’s that much harder to be a black defense attorney defending a black man accused of killing his black girlfriend. Still, Bo decides to defend Odell as the entire small town Alabama community, in outrage, turns against him.

Determined to prove Odell’s innocence, Bo investigates the last hours of Brittany’s life, coming up with many suspects who were angry enough with her to commit murder. As additional information comes forward, he is much closer to finding out who really killed Brittany Crutcher.

The Wrong Side is one of those books that immediately catch your attention. The characters are well-developed and the sense of place is strong enough to make a reader feel like they’re a resident in this small Alabama town. Each person is more interesting than the next. I found myself rooting for Odell, even though it is not clear whether he killed Brittany. This book is not a black vs. white book. This is about justice and false accusations and the bias that results. But most of all, this is about forming opinions before knowing all the facts.

This book is second in the Bocephalus Haynes story. I have not read the first book, though I think it would be helpful. There are characters and cases referred to that you may not have the background on unless you have read his previous book. I will definitely read any further books in the series.

Thanks so much for the advance copy, this was already on my preorder Amazon list. I have read all the other titles by this arthor & really liked the McMurtre series too. I selected Bailey's books because I live in the south & love pro football. His knowledge of the deep south, race & highschool football is good.
I had a pretty good idea of "who done it" early on, I was close, but wrong, kept me guessing.
Thought provoking, easy read, would recommend.
I would advise reading first in series to better understand characters.

Bailey masterfully spins a whodunnit! His genius of tying in darker history, with all the captivating features of an epic legal thriller, is phenomenal. Even though this is the second installment, it didn’t feel like the reader is missing out. One was able to dive right into it. Another appreciative aspect was that it read so well! I was thoroughly impressed by Bailey’s John Grisham type of narrative. I was held captive by Bo’s search for truth and healing; both within himself and in his community. This novel tackles the struggles of different family dynamics--some of which are stemmed from tough circumstances from the past. No spoilers here, but there is a sort of a mini-plot twist within this mystery--and unfortunately, I will have to leave it at that. You will just have to read it for yourself! I can’t wait to see other novels by Bailey--whether in this series or others! This novel is set for release in early August. So get yourself ready for the upcoming football season and enjoy “The Wrong Side”! See for yourself just whose perspective you choose to side with!

This was good! I enjoyed the story a lot and didn't see the surprise coming. Well written. The small town Tennessee locale was a nice touch - I'm actually from the area and greatly enjoyed seeing all the local references. This was a good book.

I have become a massive fan of Robert Bailey, the author of the McMurtrie and Drake legal thrillers. I have read a couple of them and fully intend to read the other two but I have really enjoyed both of the Bocephus Haynes series, which debuted with Legacy of Lies and the is the follow up.

All of his books are linked and it helps with the backstory to have read the earlier ones. This is a wonderfully told tale of justice in the deep south with an excellent plot which draws you in as well as characters who are beautifully depicted and who you really care about.

An exceptional book which deserves a wide audience.

A fun, thought-provoking novel that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was hooked and read this novel in two sittings. Highly recommend.

A great addition to Robert Bailey’s series. Bocephus is carrying on the legacy of the Professor in another great story that features not only the well-developed characters, but also the South itself.

I discovered Robert Bailey many years ago and have enjoyed every book he has written. He has a very likeable style of writing, easy to get into with many interesting tales usually set in rural America.
The Wrong Side stars Bocephus, who was first introduced as a protégé in the McMurtie and Drake series, who defends a friend of his son who is accused of murdering a young female singer. The courtroom and murder mystery keeps you glued to the book until the end. A fast and wonderful book that I highly recommend.

This is a pretty good mystery, love the setting and definitely liked this book.

Thank you to Robert Hailey, NetGalley, and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this book.

This was a great book! It was quick! Chapter's were short and sweet!
I enjoyed the story this author told! If you enjoy a good legal thriller this is your book!

A gripping legal thriller, I could not put it down until I had finished it, I have not read this author before, but will now be watching out for his books. Thank you netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advance copy of this book, I really enjoyed it.