12 Months to Live is the first James Patterson or Mike Lupica book that I have read. I know, hard to believe. I know now that it will not be my last.

The fast paced, serpentine plot will keep you on your toes. Jane Smith, is a tenacious Hamptons defense attorney and former NYPD officer hired to defend wealthy Rob Jacobson, who is charged with the murders of the Gates family. She is not a fan, but that is not her job, The waters are muddied by the fact that her sister is his mistress.

On top of this, Jane and her investigator, Jimmy Cunniff (also ex NYPD) are asked to investigate the deaths of the Carson family in Garden City, Two triple homicide cases each fraught with adversaries who are more than happy to take down Jimmy and Jane. Yet looming over her is the most menacing foe of all, her terminal cancer diagnosis.

The multiple story lines are married together well and never feel disconcerting moving from one to another, Lupica and Patterson are adept at crafting authentic, multi-dimensional characters and skillfully maintaining a realistic narrative pace in their storytelling. The short chapters keeps the reader engaged as the plot keeps them intrigued.

This is a fun quick read that I will recommend to those interested in the crime genre.

My thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for the ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

12 Months to Live is a fast paced murder mystery involving a tough defense attorney who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In order to devote her full attention to the case, our lead character refuses to pursue any cancer treatments until the case has been completed. The story has many twists and turns and quickly immerses the reader in the plot.

Oh there is nothing better than a juicy legal case! I’ve long been a fan of Patterson, but haven’t read Lupica before. The collaboration flowed well between the short chapters, so I kept reading just one more. The story is related in first person by the primary character, Jane. She’s an attorney defending a wealthy jerk. He lies, he’s insufferable and besides being accused of murdering an entire family, he is a scumbag. You just know from the start that he’s guilty of something, but what? Someone warns Jane off the case with life threatening gunfire, but she’s already been presented with an expiration date. A defense attorney must defend all types of people regardless of guilt or innocence. She doesn’t much trust or believe Jacobson, that is not her job. Her investigator, Jimmy, tries to make sure there are no hidden surprises when she gets to court. Jane has never lost. She keeps an ongoing commentary of snide comebacks in her head. I wavered between guilty and innocent right to the ending. The threats to Jane and Jimmy keep coming and the bullets keep flying. I guessed a few tiny clues but the majority of the plot kept me in suspense and the tension never let up. Too bad about the twelve month sentence, a follow up with these characters would be awesome. Highly recommend!
Thank so much to NetGalley, James Patterson and Mike Lupica, Little, Brown and Company Hachette Book Group for the digital advance reader copy of “12 Months To Line”. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Well, it ain't the cheeriest of stories: hard-driving defense attorney and former NYPD officer Jane Smith has no shortage of enemies, any one of whom is more than capable of taking her down at any given moment. Should they miss, though, her terminal cancer will finish her off.

Jane's client, wealthy ne'er-do-well Rob Jacobson, is on trial for the murder of an entire family - dad, mom and daughter. Her investigative partner, Jimmy Cunniff, is an ex-cop as well, and the two are determined to get a favorable jury verdict for their client, no matter how unlikable he is (nor, for that matter, whether or not they believe in his innocence). In between, Jane - whose sister Brigid also is fighting terminal cancer - is training for a biathlon. At that point, I have to be honest and say that while I was impressed with both Jane and Jimmy, the thought of wading through a book that's bound to have an unhappy ending no matter which way the trial goes lost a bit of appeal. But I hung in there - if only because I'm a big fan of both the authors - and also honestly, the story itself began to draw me in.

An old friend of Jimmy's asks Jane to investigate a similar case that happened about six months earlier - another dad, mom and daughter who were murdered in a similar fashion. Despite the (ahem) trials and tribulations in the courtroom, Jane decides to take on both cases; and that's when the action really starts to pick up. Apparently, someone out there isn't rooting for Jane and Jimmy to win; they're both threatened, and when they don't heed the warnings, the threats turn all too real.

Scenes shift from the courtroom, where Jane mixes it up with a worthy legal adversary, to what's happening in her personal life to what turns up as Jimmy investigates the relationship, if any, between the two horrific murder cases. Of course, you won't get the details from me, but I will suggest reading it for yourself as I did - even if you're pretty sure in the end you won't like the ending - just because it's a doggone good book. And I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

12 Months to Live introduces the reader to Jane Smith, a lawyer who has the impossible job to defend her client against multiple murder charges.

Jane has a reputation of never losing but the odds are against her in this case and her personal life but that wont stop Jane.

She is smart, funny and determined to put her health issues aside (not a good move Jane) and win this case .

Bodies pile up and her client Rob is a nasty piece of work.

Pages fly by and I was holding my breath as the tension mounts.

James Patterson and Mike Lupica make a formidable team that will keep you going back for more.

Highly recommend 12 Months to Live its a face paced and hard to put down read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for a great read.

I really enjoyed this one! I thought Jane was the absolute best and found myself rooting for her the entire time. I also found myself questioning everything she was as well, including her own clients innocence. A wild ride full of twists, lies and deception.

What a book! So glad I could read it and I hope there is a sequel. Always a winner with James Patterson, and Mike Lupica too. Attorney Jane Smith is defending an obnoxious and rich Rob Jacobson, for murder of a family. He is someone she’d rather not be involved with in any way and he claims he's innocent and was set up. It's a difficult case as there is lots of irrefutable evidence against him, however Jane is the best and has never lost a case. I highly recommend this book. The pace and continued action keeps you glued to the book. Thank you NetGalley and Publishers Little, Brown and Company. For this eARC

I must admit I haven’t read James Patterson for a long time but I’m glad I decided to read this one. Short chapters, great characters and an interesting storyline…just what you can expect from this prolific writer. The ending leaves it open for more with these two partners to be back for more.

Thank you NetGalley for introducing Jane Smith to me!

This one seemed a little different than other J.P. books. I could "tell" that the writing style was different and probably mostly done by the "co-author".

A lawyer has a client that is on trial for killing an entire family. She has never lost a case and doesn't plan on making this the first time. While the trial is going on, someone is killing off potential witnesses that may know harmful information. In the interim, she has to deal with being told that she has cancer, and possibly only 12 months to live. Her best friend is working as her private investigator trying to find out who is doing the killings.

This isn't the typical story where there is more than one story going on in the same novel. Overall, it was ok but not as suspenseful as other books by the same author.

Thank you to #netgalley for the #ARC

Read this book. It was totally good. Love Jane Smith..tough as nails. Loved the dog..great story.Patterson and Lupica are great together

Great new book by Patterson & Lupica. Jane Smith is a lawyer who just found out she is sick and only has 12 months to live. Lots of action, humor and great characters. I hope there is more to come.

If I get called for jury duty, I need Jane Smith to be one of the lawyers!

In this legal thriller, Jane is a defense attorney with a spotless record in the courtroom. She's currently defending a wealthy and entitled man from a triple murder charge while also working with her investigative partner and best friend, Jimmy, to get to the bottom of another triple homicide. Not everybody wants the truth to come out, though, and Jane and Jimmy receive some violent warnings to let sleeping dogs lie. The courtroom isn't Jane's only battlefield, as she is diagnosed with a serious medical condition and given (you guessed it) 12 months to live.

This is another stellar addition to the Patterson & Lupica collection. Jane is a tough, wild, and extremely funny character and Jimmy is a great intrepid sidekick. The action had my heart racing and I frequently burst out laughing - sometimes all at the same time. The short chapters and quick pace of this book made it easy to inhale in just 2 sittings. It was a fast, fun, easy read and reinforced why this duo is an auto buy author for me!

Thank you to Little, Brown, and Company, NetGalley, James Patterson, and Mike Lupica for the opportunity to read an ARC of this legal thriller in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good James Patterson book and this didn't disappoint! Fast paced drama with a great new lawyer and her partner!
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read and review book!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Little Brown and Company, James Patterson and Mike Lupica for the opportunity to read an advance copy of 12 Months to Live, to be published 25 September 2023. James Patterson never disappoints and this legal thriller is proof. When an attorney and a former police officer join ranks to try to get a man acquitted of a triple homicide, there is hell to pay and several of those involved lose their lives over it. Meanwhile, Jane Smith learns she is fighting for her own life due to an unexpected medical diagnosis. 5/5 Stars #NetGalley #LittleBrownandCompany #JamesPatterson #MikeLupica #12MonthstoLive

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
You’ll always have a good mystery when you grab a Patterson book,
Jane is a badass lawyer who has just found out she has cancer, She is in the middle of a murder trial, Can she stay strong to the finish and get the ending she strives for even if she doesn’t think he is innocent. So why is someone trying to murder her?

There’s never been a book by Patterson that I haven’t enjoyed reading - including books he writes with another author. Love his new character Jane Effing Smith and look forward to another book about her!

Jane Smith is a fierce no holds barred lawyer who finds out she has cancer right before a murder trial. As the trial proceeds secrets are revealed, and Jane and her partner Jimmy find themselves in serious danger.

This is a fast paced, action packed story filled with very complicated characters, i would love to read more about Jane, Jimmy, Ben and Rip.

Thank you to #Netgalley, #LittleBrownandCompany for the opportunity to read and review , #12MonthsToLive #JamesPatterson #MikeLupica.

Lots of action and a strong female protagonist are evident here in this stand-alone book. Jane Smith is in the middle of a trial where she is defending an accused murderer when she learns that she has cancer. She faces much stress as she strives to clear her client, who may or may not be guilty. Patterson's typically short chapters and action-filled plot make reading the book quite enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing an ARC.

Thank you to @netgalley and @LittleBrownandCompany for this ARC. Jackpot getting approved to pre-read a Patterson book!
Jane is an attorney that doesn't always defend the innocent. Her current client, she is still unconvinced about his plea but she will do her best job. Jimmy, her right hand man is out working the streets to find out what truly happened when both of their lives are threatened and witnesses keep disappearing. On top of all that, Jane has been diagnosed with cancer and doesn't want to start her treatment until after the case is tried. I liked the relationship that Jane and Jimmy have as co-workers but I am not sure these are my favorite Patterson characters. Would I read a book 2 if it came out? Of course!
#12MonthsToLive #JamesPatterson #MikeLupica #LittleBrownandCompany #Sept2023

Once again Patterson & Lupica have teamed up to give us a rollicking good story. Rich well-developed characters and a fast-moving story line leaves you breathless and at the edge of your seat in this high-octane action thriller. I hope that this is a beginning of a great series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.