This was a fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I now want to read all the other books written by Phillip! Highly recommend!

Attorney Robin Lockwood finds herself at an isolated retreat in the Oregon mountains, one with a tragic past and a legendary curse, and surrounded by many suspects and confronted with an impossible crime. I have been a fan of this series from the beginning but felt in the last book it may have been getting a bit stale. This book totally proves me wrong. Robin is back at her finest and this book was full of twists and interesting characters. Looking forward to the next one! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Written as if an old butler were telling the story, Margolin does a wonderful job of creating a "Clue"-like mystery. Margolin creatively weaves a tale of folklore into the setting, to create the spooky undertones of the haunted house on the hill. While there are a whole host of characters included within this story, I often felt confused by the information provided about each, as it was often unnecessary to add such details. I felt as though I would have been more satisfied without the addition of a second mystery within the one book, but rather an entire potential spin-off dedicated to that story. Overall, I enjoyed the rollercoaster of events that occurred within the walls of Black Oaks, and look forward to more from Margolin in the future.

The author brings back defense attorney Robin Lockwood in a new novel that danger, thrills, murder, and a good mystery. A (wrongly) convicted murderer is released from prison and his attorney, who had sought Robin’s help, is found murdered. In a story that evokes memories of Agatha Christie we are led in a chase to figure out “whodunnit?”

I have really enjoyed the Robin Lockwood series. This one felt a bit gothic and I missed the courtroom action. I did enjoy it and was surprised by the ending. I do have to say I’m still mad at the author for killing off Jeff.

I’ve been a fan of Phillip Margolin for years. The Robin Lockwood series never disappoints. Loved the gothic themes in Murder at Black Oaks, a locked room mystery with tinges that recall the best of Agatha Christie. With a cast if suspicious characters reminiscent of The Addams Family and. Munsters mixed with windswept moors, castles with hexes, remote manor houses on twisted mud filled roads, secret passages, an eerie psychiatric facility and wrongfully convicted innocents. This book has it all. And, the ending completely surprised me.

I found this book to be entertaining and a quick read. Margolin did a nice job describing bits and pieces of the legal profession and problems that face defense attorneys every day. With the murder of Frank Melville at Black Oaks, the excitement increased as suspect after suspect in the 17th century mansion were found innocent. Praise for Margolin for his character development of Robin Lockwood and her crime scene observations and intelligence.

When I was in grade school, I combined my love for mystery stories featuring Nancy Drew, The Happy Holisters, and others with memories of the Haunted House ride at Disneyland to create spooky stories to entertain my friends as we lay on the floor covered with blankets and pillows at sleepovers. I’d pull in a hidden staircase or a ghostly figure looming at the end of a dark hallway to create the mood and progress the plot. Murder at Black Oaks by Phillip Margolin reminds me of the stories I shared.

It takes a spooky gothic mansion from Ireland and (bafflingly) drops it into Oregon; its villains escape from the mental facility down the road; the actions take place during a “dark and stormy night,” and the characters are pulled from a wide variety of stereotypes found in old mysteries. As with my ghostly tales, these elements seem to be placed for effect rather than logic, and the reading level of this murder mystery is probably not much above the language selection in my sixth-grade vocabulary.

But despite the derivation of my tales and their simplicity, my friends enjoyed them and always asked for more. This story was entertaining in that way. For those looking for deep character studies or intricate plot twists, this book will likely disappoint. (It’s quite a stretch to compare it to Agatha Christie’s novels as indicated in the dedication.) But it does supply an adequate diversion of a quick read with familiar story elements.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book. My review is voluntary and reflects my honest opinion.

Easily one of the best books of 2022 (and the year is just half over). Phillip Margolin has written such a twisty, fabulous mystery in Murder at Black Oaks. Margolin's heroine, Robin Lockwood, is still hurting over the loss of her love. She's invited to meet with a retired attorney at his estate -- an estate high on the mountain - Black Oaks. Rich of legend, story, and a very strange tapestry in the entry way, Robin is enlisted to help right a wrong. And boy... the story escalates from there. Run.. don't walk... in November to read Murder at Black Oaks. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an advanced copy of this book. This review is entirely my own.

"I am not afraid of werewolves or vampires or haunted hotels. I'm afraid of what real human beings do to other real human beings." (Walter Jon Williams)

Phillip Margolin clues us in from the onset. He's had fun with this one. Pack a few silver bullets in your pocket as we enter into the darkened halls of Black Oaks. Black Oaks is a replica of a towering 17th century mansion in England. It's twin has been built to exact specifications in the higher elevations outside of Portland, Oregon. And the curse? Well, that seems to have drifted in alongside the estate as well.

We'll meet Frank Melville, a retired deputy district attorney, who is burdened with a deep sin of the past. Back things up to 1990 where Jose Alvarez, an engineering student, has been found guilty of the murder of his college girlfriend. And Frank brilliantly set up the case against Jose with a perfect eye-witness. Done deal. Jose has been on death row ever since.

But Frank has since come eye-to-eye with the real murderer. Truth popped open like an exploding grenade. Frank hires Robin Lockwood to see what she can do in setting Jose free. After an auto accident and the death of his wife, Frank has been left paralyzed and in a wheelchair.......kinda like a hard sentence in itself. He's inherited Black Oaks from his wife while breathing in a wafting curse. And in the grand entrance is a tapestry of a vicious werewolf and a bloody dagger. Well, now......

Admittedly, Margolin designed an atmosphere of the haunted, the cursed, and a trickle of Agatha Christie with a werewolf on a leash. It reads as a standalone and takes a wild ride from the usual Robin Lockwood novels so far.

As readers, we ponder the legal questions of whether wrongs can be righted and can restitution ever be fully rendered? We'll have a mansion packed with guests on a "dark and stormy night"with trailings of a body found in an elevator. And Margolin has just begun......

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Phillip Margolin for the opportunity.

This book started out so well for me. I really enjoyed reading about attorney Robin Lockwood and the mysteries and alleged curse of the Black Oaks estate. The story of wrongly convicted Jose Alvarez, who is on death row as the story begins, was also very engaging. But about half way through the story it started to fall flat and I felt like I was stuck in a bad game of Clue. Mr. Alvarez in the elevator with the dagger!

This is my first book by Philip Margolin and his books seem to be very well reviewed. I would definitely try another of his books but this one is getting 2 stars from me.

Many thanks to Netgally and Minotaur Books for this ARC.

I have read all of Philip Margolin's books and Murder at Black Oaks is my favorite by far. It is extremely fast paced and contains a mixture of legal thriller aspects and old time mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie with a locked room "whodunit". I failed to guess every single twist and turn and I don't even mind that my eyes will be bloodshot tomorrow for having stayed up far to late to finish reading it. I would give it 6 out of 5 stars if I could.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Murder at Black Oaks is a really good book. It captivates the reader and at the same time is very suspenseful. Jose Alvarez is sent to prison on death row for killing his girlfriend, Margo Prescott when students at Randolf College. He was prosecuted by then deputy district attorney, Frank Melville .Frank leaves the DA and goes into private practice with an old friend Lawrence Trent. Seven years later Archie Stallings comes to his office and asks him to defend him in a rape case. Archie was one of the students who witness seeing Jose leave Margo's room at college. Frank becomes his lawyer and gets him off. When back in the office Archie admits that he really did rape this woman as well as he killed Margo Prescott. Because of client-lawyer privilege Frank is not able to go to the police. This is where his nightmare begins when he realizes he sent an innocent man to prison. When Stallings dies from a heart attack On Frank's behalf his daughter Nelly Melville, contacts Robin Lockwood who is a lawyer at Barrister, Berman and Lockwood.

Nelly tells Robin that her father would like to talk to her, He is not able to come to her office as he was paralyzed from a car accident and would like her to come to his home Black Oaks. which is situated in a remote area of Solitude Mountain. She agrees to come. Robin asks her associate, Loretta Washington to check out the new client. In doing so she tells Robin that the manor house is cursed, The reader reads in detail the story of the manor house and why it is referred to as "werewolves". The main part of the story with the supporting characters takes at the manor house.

Robin goes to the house and meets with Frank. He tells her his story and wants to save Jose and hopes Robin can do it. She tells him that she will get back to him after she reviews his research. When she gets back to the office she asks Loretta and the firm's investigator, Ken Breland to read the reports and if they have a chance to get Jose released. They take the case to court and are able to get Jose released.

Frank wants to meet with Jose .Robin, Ken and Jose go back to Black Oaks to speak to Frank and spend a few days there. Corey Rockwell, a movie star is also a guest at the manor. This is where the story takes off and lots of things start to happen. There is a rain storm with mud slides which make it impossible to leave the manor. Robin and Ken realized that one of the people who are at the manor must be the killer The police arrive and all the guests are allowed to leave.

Before Robin and Ken leaves Nelly gives them a report that her father was investigating pertaining to Corey Rockwell. A beggar, Yousef Khan is sleeping on the beach and is accused of killing her. She asks them determine that Corey killed his wife, Claire Winters. This becomes another part of the story in finding out if he did kill his wife. Ken follows the leads and the reader is taken on a journey to an exciting ending.

The story goes back to Black Oaks and the reader again is taken on another journey to the the exciting ending. I don't think I did this story justice in trying to tell it.

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur Books and St. Martin Publishing Group for this ARC.

Murder at Black Oaks is an atmospheric novel that takes us on a dark and brooding journey. Robin Lockwood is a strong and likeable character, an attorney with a conscience. This book travels through several mysterious encounters, and interesting outcomes. An enjoyable read with an unexpected story line and interesting characters that keeps you turning pages right to the end.

A copy of Murder at Black Oaks, A Robin Lockwood Novel by Phillip Margolin was provided to me by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an honest review.

The setting of this book in a haunted and creepy mansion is incredible. I really enjoyed the setup and characters. The mystery is easy to read but still very interesting. I enjoyed this book and the other books from this series

This book reads like a game of Clue set in a haunted house...with lawyers. Professor Plum in the library with a silver handled wolf claw. While it was a good read I could not help but think that Phillip Margolin is certainly capable of better. If you like Clue and older mystery writers this is for you.

So I had no idea that this book was a part of a series when I read it. I wish I would have know that before hand because I really do not like reading books in the middle of a series. Yes this was on me because I guess I could have looked it up before I read it. However, this was an okay murder mystery book. It is exactly what you would expect in this kind of book. I do not think I will read the other books though. But this did keep me entrained while reading it.

Robin Lockwood is hired by former ADA Frank Melville to help free an innocent man. When Robin wins the case she joins him at his cursed isolated mansion in the Oregon mountains with an assortment of other guests. But things start to go wrong. And before to long Robin finds herself unraveling another mystery.

I didn’t read the first 5 books in the Robin Lockwood series so I went in to this completely blind. That being said I don’t think I was missing anything. Enough of Robin’s backstory is explained in this that it’s 100% necessary to read the previous books. This is a murder mystery and for the most part it was mysterious, and murdery. The dialogue was stiff in places and eye-rollingly…corny…stereotypical. There were also a few places where what the author wrote was just a touch problematic. In my opinion he points out peoples races/ethnicities in a way that’s unnecessary and unneeded for the plot, and the way he says it. Oof.

This was a decent murder mystery but I don’t know that I’ll read the rest of the series based off reading this one. Robin’s character is a little haughty and I didn’t find her particularly likeable .

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the copy of Murder At Black Oaks. Robin is a great character and I’m sorry I didn’t know about this series a long time ago, because I am now a fan. The story was pretty good, but there were parts of the story that felt unnecessary. I have read many books by Mr. Margolin, although it has been at least 20 years since the last one, so I knew the writing would be superb so I will happily seek out the other books in this series!
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Defense Attorney Robin Lockwood is invited by the retired District Attorney Frank Melville to his home in the mountains called Black Oaks. Frank needed help on a previous case and Robin helped him successfully. Then Frank is found murdered at a celebration party for the case, and all of the guests are suspects. Who killed Frank?

This one was right up my alley. The setting of a creepy old manor with a haunted history is perfect for me. And the story line reminded me of the TV show, Murder She Wrote, which I also loved. Brilliant writing from Phillip Margolin and I would definitely read more of his books in the future. In fact, MURDER AT BLACK OAKS is the 6th book in the Robin Lockwood series, but I read it as a stand alone and I loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.