A debut by author James Barretto, that I found to be a really good courtroom drama. The courtroom scenes were riveting and dramatic. Obviously Barretto is a wonderful storyteller, his characters interesting and believable. I could feel the anguish and pain of David Lamb, proclaiming his innocence, as his lawyer Jack Marino ’, a former prosecutor now a criminal defense lawyer, desperately attempts to clear his name. Lots of bad guys in this one, and it was alarming how corrupt some of the higher ups were.
This would certainly be a good series, as Jack Marino has a real story to tell, as he and his ex con brother, try to put their childhood past, living in the slums of Mystic behind them. There’s also Jack’s struggle to fit in with the wealthy, having married an attorney, who’s father owns a prestigious corporate law firm. He’s never been able to connect with the in laws or their elite crowd.
I recommend this book highly and worthy of four stars. My thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This author's debut is a tangled, deceit filled legal drama, the first in a new series about Attorney Jack Marino. It is an adult murder mystery with some violent crimes.
The setting north of Boston in Mystic has seedy projects down by the railroad tracks. Not where you want to go after dark. There are homeless camped in the area eeking out a pitiful existence.
Former District Attorney Jack Marino married into money. His wife, Abby, got him a job at her father's prestigious firm when he left the DA's office. He's a corporate paper pusher now, he hates it and his marriage that's all about money and appearances.
Jack is still suffering nightmares and the traumatic after effects of a home invasion attack and a near death beating.
He is pressured into taking a court appointed murder case. David Lamb is indigent and charged with killing his friend, Thomas. They both did cleaning up grunt work at a local strip club for the owner, Mickey Nolan.
Jack runs into a previous girlfriend, Summer, soon after taking Lamb's case. He wonders what his life would've been if he'd not chosen Abby and all that came with her family strings.
Lamb professes his innocence and Jack believes him. Proving it could cost both of their lives. The District Attorney, Trevor Cameron, has decided to make an example (election strategy) and is asking for the death penalty. He's announced his candancy for governor.
Jack has been estranged from his only remaining family. Swallowing past animosity, he reaches out to his brother, Matt. He has limited resources, time and needs Matt's help or Lamb faces death.
The prosecution granted immunity to a co-conspirator, Mickey Nolan, to testify against Lamb. The crux of the legal issues in this case addresses the pitfalls and consequences of immunizing a witness. An interesting glimpse into the process showing disparity, prejudice, and the outcome of misplaced immunity.
Jack's previous relationship with Summer is rekindled, but puts her in an impossible situation. The romance could cost not only her life, but her career.
Jack stumbles onto evidence of another possible witness to the murder, “Crazy Nora", one of the homeless. Trying to find her takes the reader on an action packed race against time, facing corrupt characters, lies and deceit, cover-ups, and additional crimes.
A good first effort and a series I would continue to read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance digital copy of "Mystic Wind" by James Barretto and to Oceanview Publishing. These are my honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily.

One of the best books I'v read recently - a great plot, spellbinding narrative with all the elements of a great espionage and legal thriller! Fans of John Grisham and Stephen King will love this.

Fast paced, engaging characters, fill of suspense and surprising twists! This is a great story! The author did a great job with the characters and bringing everything together for a satisfying ending. It was a gripping and fascinating story! And it's a debut! I can't wait to see what will come next with this author]!

This book sounds intriguing for those who like court room dramas, but unfortunately is not my cup of tea. Thanks for the digital review copy.

💭 I’m a huge fan of legal thrillers and I love when I find new authors to read and their stories.

Mystic wind is coming out in September and I can’t recommend it enough.

The story entrails and the court moments were so well done that I spaced out and thinking that I’m there in the same room with these characters.

There’s so much going on in here. Power and greediness of it all, with corruption and how some people will pay lots of money to buy their freedom at all costs.

The poor will always be at the wrong time and wrong place for murders and this case will showcase how much behind-the-scenes things can go at the huge length.

I loved that in here we get so much of the personal life that Jack is dealing with. Many times we live the heroes, but we forget they are humans with emotions and a personal story as well. His marriage is suffering again when he took this case, but this is who he is and the author has combined so many small details with the great facade that can't be missed.

That the judge doesn't like him made this story even more interesting.

Whit a trilling and addictive game of power in the courtroom, this is a must-read book for any reader.

🆓📖 Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

2.5 STARS

This is a legal thriller debut.

I love a good courtroom drama, but this one was a struggle at times.

Jack Marino has an interesting background as a star prosecutor, but he has switched and he will be defending a man in a capital murder case. I think this would have been better as a movie. There is quite a bit of action, gang fights, power struggles and corruption. There are a few surprises.

The trial was very tedious, a detailed account that felt like I was reading a transcript at times! I was just waiting for it to end so I could find out if Jack pulled off a win.

This is a new series so check out more reviews if enjoy legal action dramas.

An exciting read! Loved Jack and his fight both from his 1. mental adjustment post home invasion, broken future/ marriage and 2. his empoverished upbringing to working together with his previously lost brother Matt. This book covered so much: power craved people of entitlement, dreadful corruption by those people in power, exploitation of those who could not protect themselves and their families, how volatile the courtroom can be in the hands of the corrupt, how important it is to have a heart and not let power take over!
Also how important paying attention to small details can be. It was so emotional in many parts I was: frustrated, annoyed, angry, shocked, horrified, extremely sad, totally excited, releaved and optometrist!
I would highly recommend this book...

Thanks to NetGallery for providing a free copy of this this in exchange for an unbiased review,
The characters and the story line of Mystic Wind are excellent . The main character Jack Marino, is likeable and credible.
After experiencing a violent attack, Jack steps away from a successful legal career and loses his confidence and edge, so he starts to work at his wealthy wife's family law firm.
However, one day he is asked to take an unlikely case outside of the firm and outside of his new remit - he is asked to defend someone who has all the odds stacked against him. His client is accused of murder - he is poor, uneducated, was at the scene of the crime, lied in court and insists on managing his own defence without really understanding what he is fighting against. To top it all off, the judge's dislike of Jack makes him hell-bent on denying his client a fair trial. However, despite his reluctance to return to criminal law, the lopsidedness of the case ends up being exactly what is needed to bring out the best in Jack - even when the judge denies him the funds to hire a detective, he hunts down every clue he can to save his client putting his own life in jeopardy again.
Positives: The characters and setting and the subtle contrast of Jack's wealthy in-laws and his origins on the wrong side of the tracks in Mystic and how he comes to reconcile his past with his present.
Improvements - the editing could be better - there is a lot of extraneous description that detracts from the narrative. I also thought that Jack's defence and cross examination could have been stronger - he seemed to make a point then go on to another then another when he could have made fewer points that were stronger with more follow through.
But these observations did not affect my enjoyment of this book and I look forward to more from this author,

This is a story about an up-and-coming prosecutor who has a winning record and a beautiful wife. But when he is beaten almost to death, he cannot do his job anymore. His wife's father has a huge law firm that deals with big money. This doesn't really fulfill his work cravings, even though the money is very good. When he is asked to defend someone for murder, something he really doesn't want to do due to his fear, he does it as a favor. This causes problems within his marriage, especially when it lights that fire that has been missing in him, Unfortunely, things are an uphill battle with this case, and it also causes his past to come back at him. A very well written story that keeps the reader glued to the pages to see what could possibly go on next. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

3 & 1/2 stars rounded up to 4

My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Mystic Wind. Expected publication date - Sept 6th 2022

Jack Marino is a top ranked prosecuting attorney within his father-in-law’s exclusive law firm. After an attack and being beaten to within an inch of his life, he's struggling to find meaning in what he's doing. A former mentor and judge persuades him to defend a man from the Mystic projects who has been accused of murder and headed to death row. What Jack uncovers is a desperate case with a missing eye witness, a judge holding a grudge from the past and the man who is likely the real murderer being given absolute immunity.

What I loved...
📚 As a debut novel, this legal thriller delivered everything that could be expected. A great paced novel with enough twists and turns to keep the reader fully involved. As a fan of John Grisham and Steve Cavanagh, this was an unexpected surprise and I'm definitely looking forward to future offerings from Mr. Barretto and Jack Marino

What I didn't love...
📚 I found that Jack and Abby's personal lives were irrelevant and didn't add anything to the overall novel. This book could've benefited from some editing and there would've been no loss to the storyline if Abby had been excluded
📚 While the overall pace was very good, I felt that the ending was incredibly rushed. An additional 30-50 pages would've allowed a suspenseful ending that continued with the overall pace of the book

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest review.
I've read a few legal thrillers in my days but this is right up there with the absolute best.
A welcome new force to the genre and here's hoping he can follow this up with more tales involving Jack Marino.
If you like this genre then I guarantee this publication won't disappoint.

This book was so good! I want to see more from this author in the future!! I couldn't put this book down. What a page turner!!!

Mystic Wind is a legal thriller and an outstanding debut. Interesting plot with intriguing characters enough to keep me turning the pages until the very end. It is a fast-paced well-written book about a courtroom drama. If you like legal thrillers then you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishers for a copy for an honest review.

WOW!

An explosive courtroom thriller reminiscent of Michael Connelly! This is the first book penned by the author. I can’t wait for the next installments! Intriguing plot, fast pacing, engaging characters, edge of your seat suspense, electrifying twists, chilling climax with a satisfying denouement !

WOW!

Keeping an eye on this new author! KUDOES to James Barretto, definitely a rising star in the political/ legal thriller genre! This book was a grand slam!

WOW!

My thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview publishing for a complimentary digital copy in exchange for a honest review.

This author is talented and gifted and weaves a story that is like true crime…books by this publisher are always good…at least I enjoy them…this book was sent to me electronically for review from Netgalley…the characters are likable …some of them…and others not so much.…the story is easy to follow…discerning the outcome is not an easy task… this is a quick read with so many red herrings that I kept guessing…don’t miss this book…

Keeps you on your toes!… I highly recommend this to the armchair detectives of the world! A totally addictive page-turner that will have you racing through the pages and reeling at the twists! A fantastic read… Had me guessing till the last pages!

I read Mystic Wind, James Barretto's debut novel, today because I couldn't stop until I finished the book. The author's background as a prosecutor was evident in his skillful handling of the murder trial, which is the majority of the novel. The writing and dialog are excellent, and the political corruption was believable until the surprise at the very end, my least favorite part.

Hopefully, Mystic Wind is the first of a series featuring attorney Jack Marino, the main character in Mystic Wind, because I really want to know what he does next. Until then, I recommend reading Mystic Wind if you love a good legal courtroom drama.

Mystic Wind is one of those page turners that makes your heart race, and is very difficult to put down. Lots of plot twists that I didn't see coming! I highly recommend this book!

This is a great story, and it is really more than a legal thriller. Thanks to the publishers and to Net Galley for an ARC of this well-done novel about a former Boston prosecutor, Jack Marino. Jack was working at the prosecutor's office when was savagely beaten up by an unknown gang in retribution for his work as the head of the District Attorney's Urban Gang Unit. He is then fired from the prosecutor's office because of what seems to be a power move by his boss. Jack joins his father-in-law's law firm and starts making big money practicing corporate law. But when the court assigns him to defend an indigent man and he works as a defense attorney against his former prosecutor colleagues, the story's palpable intrigue grows deeper. This author does a good job with both plot and characters, and I loved the court room scenes. I kept turning the pages even when I had work to do because I was so moved by it. The ending is exceedingly well done...no cliffhanger here! Unfortunately, everyone will have to wait for about September of this year before it is available. But make a note to self, because - for sure - this isn't one to miss.