This was just about everything I like in a legal thriller - fast-paced and authentic. You can tell this author is either a lawyer themselves or did an incredible amount of research for this -- it read very accurate to me. I thought I had it figured out, but was pleasantly surprised by the reveal at the end. I will definitely be picking up more from this author!

An entertaining, fast-paced legal thriller. The courtroom scenes are well done and I admit, I didn’t see the twist at the end. Nicely done for a debut.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun "Presumed Innocent" style legal thriller about a lawyer who helps defend his best friend from childhood (also the President) in the murder of the President's mistress.

1. The author clearly has a huge amount of litigation/trial experience and it showed (thus my comparison to Scott Turow, as both went to Harvard Law School).

2. The murder premise reminded me a little of the Chandra Levy case.

3. I enjoyed The President's Lawyer overall.

4. Should point out that it was a very testosterone heavy book with a truly weird ending. <spoiler> Like Turow in Presumed Innocent, I think Robbins was going for the shock ending, and I love that!

This story focuses on the death of a lawyer who did work for the president but now the evidence is pointing towards him.
If you like legal thriller you’ll like this .

I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on October 8, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.

This was an engrossing legal thriller that I ate right up. You could easily tell that Robbins had done a great amount of research and had written a book that was so well done. Really enjoyed it.

The President's Lawyer is one of the most compelling reads I have encountered. While the book focuses on the death of a lawyer who at one time worked for the President of the United States, it also focuses on the likelihood, given the evidence, that the President committed that crime.
Much of the book focuses on the exciting criminal trial of the President and the interplay of those who knew him, loved him, hated him, represented him and prosecuted him. I confess that the book kept me guessing in its entirety. At times, I felt certain that I knew what the outcome would be and at other times, I recognized how little I knew.
Could not put the book down, enjoyed the characters, the story line and the many twists and turns!

You can 100% tell that the author is not only passionate but extremely knowledgeable about what they are writing - which I absolutely love.

This is my first legal thriller and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves legal thrillers. I fear they are not for me, but now I know. Although I don’t love legal thrillers, that doesn’t take away from how great the book was.

All of that aside, the book is written very well. The scenes were so realistic and the twists and turns kept me engaged. The end was not at all what I expected, and I’m normally pretty good at predicting. All in all, would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a legal thriller or anyone who has yet to experience one!

Atria eARC
I love a good legal thriller, and this one delivered. I was fully into it right in the beginning because I was getting some Scandal vibes. I think the author really shined in multiple places and one was the flashback parts of the book. They were used to develop the story and weren't overdone. I think this balance is hard to get sometimes, and I applaud his work here. I also loved the courtroom scenes. They were can't look away from moments, and he just knew how to leave the perfect amount of breadcrumbs to leave me wondering what exactly was going on here. I enjoyed this story a lot and will look forward to more from this author again.

This was a very good book for a debut author, it was intriguing, though I found the setup took a while but it certainly gave a good background on the characters motives. Robbie and Jack are close friends, went to school together, Jack stole Robbie's girlfriends (two at least) and married one, whom he is still married to when he is accused of murdering his mistress, Amanda, who also happened to be pregnant. Jack is the former President of the USA, not long out of office and asks Robbie to defend him against the murder charge, Robbie comes up with several valid reasons why he shouldn't but Jack will hear none of it and with the help of his second Jane, they setout to defend the seemingly undefendable. Jack doesn't want to air his sexual deviances to the public, doesn't want to even discuss them (he likes rough sex, though so did she) but that he has to is unavoidable. Robbie does a commendable job of defusing the Prosecutor's case, putting out details before they can, though the Prosecutor still brings up some zingers that cause angst for the defense. The story is told mostly from Robbie's perspective, interspersed with some dialogue between a psychiatrist and a person, who that person is you don't find out until the ending, I did not guess who the bad guy was. Overall a good book for a debut, I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Atria Books for the ARC.

The President's Lawyer is a debut by Lawrence Robbins about Rob Jacobson, a lawyer and best friend to the former President, Jack Cutler, only months after his failed bid to win re-relection. The police have charged Cutler with murdering his former White House advisor and BDSM-aficionado mistress, who also happened to be the mistress of Jacobson...until she left him for reasons she wouldn't explain. A bum finds her strangled in a Washington, DC park, and her autopsy reveals clear signs of recent sexual activity...and her body being moved to that location to throw off any investigation.

Cutler is clearly a composite of JFK, Bill Clinton and that 45th Disgrace Who Shall Not Be Named. He's a classic narcissist: self-serving, manipulative, dishonest if it will get him what he wants, and deluded that he's smarter than he actually is. For instance, he's smart enough to call his minion--er, old friend the lawyer when he thinks he may be in trouble about his dead girlfriend, then he promptly ignores explicit legal advice and talks to the police without counsel. Worse, he lies to them about knowing the victim (Barely knew her! Just some flunky hanging around! Sound familiar?). He thinks he's outwitting them, when they know he knows her--and knows her quite well. Intimately, one might say, and thus his classic narcissistic belief that he's the smartest guy in the room and thus can talk his way out of anything makes him the #1 target of the investigation.

Rounding out the cast of characters is Cutler's wife, eerily similar to him in her capacity for manipulation and self-serving deceit (note: she was Roberson's girlfriend before she left him for Cutler); Jane Cashman, a brilliant former litigator and black conservative who comes out of retirement to assist in defending liberal Cutler; Nan, Roberson's bitter and cold ex-wife; the Robersons' schizophrenic son, Jonathan, and Rob's brutish elder brother, Nathan, seen mostly in flashback.

From there, we get pretty much boilerplate legal thriller elements of secrets revealed about victim and her murderer, the requisite red herrings pointing at other potential suspects, exposed lies and betrayals, and, of course, putting together the legal defense, then the courtroom antics. Robbins is a former attorney, so he doesn't play too fast and loose with the legal complexities and subtleties. He sticks to realistic depictions of the legal process, especially some of the grayer parts of it, like spousal testimony during a trial--not required, unless the spouse wants to give it about things not said in confidence.

As with all mystery/thrillers, pay attention to the small details in this book, because a few of them are the kind that niggle but might get forgotten until the end. And :::SPOILER ALERT::: the book does have a twist ending, so it's important to follow the bread crumbs that seem like throwaway info at the time.

This isn't a great book, the serviceable writing won't ever win any literary awards, but the book isn't mediocre, either. Reading it was a pleasant way to pass a few hours, but it won't change the world any....or stick in the memory for long. I read it only a few days ago, but I needed the notes I took about various impressions to remember what stood out for me during the reading.

This one-person jury was underwhelmed by this legal thriller:

What I Liked:
-author knows the law well
-great dialogue during cross examination and questioning in court

What I Didn’t Like:
-the main character (not evil enough or good enough to really be intrigued by)
-guessed the plot twist halfway through
-writing style felt choppy for me
-implausible turns through different rabbit holes

Lots of others have liked this one - it just was not for me, even as a huge fan of legal thrillers.

For fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow, this legal thriller will hold you spellbound to the end. A one term president with a string of infidelities is accused of murdering his latest girlfriend. To defend him, he turns to his oldest friend who narrates the story and takes us through the court case. The story is fast-paced, and the legal strategies are explained without slowing down the action.
This review is short because I don’t want to give away a single clue and spoil the pleasure of this book. This is definitely a 5 star book.

Huge thank you to Atria for the ARC!

Title: The President's Lawyer
Author: Lawrence Robbins
Pub date: October 8, 2024

This one was overall so fun and easy to read! I flew through it in a day!

I loved the timing of this release being right around election season and felt like it was the perfect escape from real life presidential drama to pretend presidential drama (I much prefer pretend).

This book starts out with a bang! We quickly learn that the former President of the United States has been accused of murder, and he must now rely on his lawyer and childhood best friend to prove his innocence. The whole book is from the perspective of the former president's lawyer, Rob Jacobson, and I really appreciated the singular POV in this case. It was such a unique take and perspective on a crime thriller!

The pacing was great and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time with no idea how things would turn out for the president or his lawyer! I can't say much more without giving anything away, but I will say that the ending was VERY well done!

I think this one will be a hit, especially with crime thrillers fans!

Pretty interesting read but a bit formulaic, I felt. Could have been better. But loved the political and legal aspects and the author certainly knew what he was writing about
4 stars

Do you love a thriller with all things legal and a little kink and a gasping ending? Then this one’s for you! I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this one as im done with politics in general but I was shocked and surprised at how fast I became invested in this book. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages as fast as your fingers will allow. Loved it!

The old adage says authors should write about what they know. That’s certainly true with legal thrillers. Best-selling authors like John Grisham and Scott Turow were practicing attorneys for several years before picking up their pens and turning to fiction. However, few attorney-authors boast as impressive a resume as Lawrence Robbins. As a practicing lawyer, Robbins has argued over 20 cases before the US Supreme Court and represented such in-the-news figures as Dr. Christine Blasey Ford at Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. So, Robbins knows of which he speaks regarding both the law and Washington politics. Both areas of expertise are clear in his entertaining first novel, “The President’s Lawyer,” in which an ex-president goes on trial for killing his mistress.

The title character in “The President’s Lawyer” is Rob Jacobson, who is the only criminal defense attorney at an elite DC law firm. He’s also been a friend since childhood of ex-President Jack Cutler. Shortly after Cutler lost his bid for re-election and vacated the White House, the body of his mistress, Amanda Harper, a former White House staff attorney, was found in a popular national park on the outskirts of Washington. When police later discovered physical evidence on the victim’s body implicating Cutler, they arrested the ex-president. He then asked Jacobson to defend him.

Although Jacobson has been friends with Cutler since their school days, the relationship between the two men is complicated. Jacobson had dated both Cutler’s wife and the victim before Cutler became involved with both women. Jacobson also knows his friend has an ego and a temper, both of which might make him capable of murder. However, Jacobson takes the case after Cutler passes a lie detector test.

“The President’s Lawyer” starts out slowly, with the first third of the book dedicated to Jacobson describing his own upbringing and the similarities and differences between his working-class youth and Cutler’s more privileged lifestyle. Some of this material is relatively slow going since the author isn’t a natural fiction writer. The effect is like reading a Perry Mason novel in which Erle Stanley Gardner spends the first few chapters discussing Mason’s school days. Although this part of the book was slow-moving, the author eventually tied some of these events to what happened during the trial.

Once the ex-president’s trial begins, “The President’s Lawyer” becomes a superior example of the genre. Because Jacobson serves as the book’s narrator, the author can give readers a blow-by-blow account of trial tactics and strategy. Readers see how a seasoned attorney decides what questions to ask and not to ask witnesses and what witnesses to call. The author discusses the tactics and strategies behind opening and closing statements. During the trial, Jacobson adopts the “somebody else did it” strategy by suggesting other possible suspects the police never pursued because they were convinced they had their man. He even hires a private investigator who discovers that Harper was likely a drug user who might have been killed by her dealer. (The author gives in to one staple of the literary thriller by reducing a trial that would take well over a month in real life to less than two weeks total.)

Readers also learn about modern-day forensics, including the existence of two types of DNA analysis, only one of which the prosecution used to tie Cutler to samples found on Harper’s body. This material was new for me and, I suspect, most readers as well. I also learned about the cutting edge version of a lie detector test, which is conducted similar to an MRI. The author does an excellent job of providing enough explanation to satisfy readers on these subjects without bogging them down with confusing technical details.

In today’s politicized Washington climate, it’s difficult to write a novel about an ex-president on trial for murder without getting into the political aspects of the situation. The author doesn’t ignore politics, and the agendas of both Cutler and his immediate predecessor are discussed briefly. Possible jury bias also comes into play at one critical moment of the trial. However, I found the author avoided turning this book into an examination of the real-world political ramifications of a trial like this one. The author mentions the frenzy surrounding the trial but doesn’t dwell on it. And, although the author’s political views are easily discernable, he doesn’t turn the book into a partisan diatribe. For the most part, I found the description of this trial pretty much the same as it would have been for any high-profile defendant charged with a similar crime.

Many readers will note the similarity between “The President’s Lawyer” and David Baldacci’s novel, “Absolute Power” (later made into a Clint Eastwood movie). In Baldacci’s book, the sitting president is complicit in the murder of his mistress. Although the central theme of both books is the same, there are enough differences so readers can enjoy “The President’s Lawyer” despite their familiarity with Baldacci’s book. (Here, the ex-president’s guilt or innocence is the book’s ultimate mystery.) Baldacci’s book is not the only literary or cinematic influence on “The President’s Lawyer.” However, I can’t reveal others without giving away key plot points. Let’s just say these (sometimes specific) references to other works will be enjoyable Easter eggs for readers familiar with those earlier works.

“The President’s Lawyer” has a huge twist ending that will probably surprise most readers. I guessed the ending, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book. The author plays entirely fair with readers, and I enjoyed recognizing the clues the author left as the book progressed.

Lawrence Robbins has taken his vast legal knowledge and acquaintance with the genre’s tropes and conventions and crafted an entertaining thriller that will fool many people and delight many more. He exhibits some flaws of an inexperienced novelist with some awkward phrasings and transitions. Also, the book’s opening chapters could be more compelling. However, once the trial starts, readers will be transfixed until the ultimate twist is revealed on the book’s last page. “The President’s Lawyer” passes the bar for literary thrillers with high honors.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.

This is a debut thriller and wow it was good. I always worry about an author's first book being just a tad short of what I expect but this one was SO GOOD. I did figure out what was going on fairly early on but it didn't take away from the book at all. I could have been wrong. I wasn't.

This is one of the best books I've read from a debut author. Actually one of the best books I've read. It had everything you could want. Characters that I despised. Murder. Accusations. Trial. Abuse. Infidelity. (not that I approve of this) Mental illness. A great wrap up. A great lead in. The only character that I liked was maybe Rob's son. And that is a maybe.

The man accused of murder was the President of the United States of America. He was a jerk. He was not well liked. He did awful things to his friend Rob. Yet when he was accused of murder he called his best friend, Rob. Rob was a pretty good attorney. A lifelong friend. Someone that would do all he could to seek justice. But would Rob take this case. Could he take this case. Seeing how he was friends with Jack and had dated, not only the deceased, but Jack's wife.

This book takes you into the courtroom. Lays it all out for you. Even parts that should tell you what is coming. If you look close enough. You get to know Rob, Jack, Amanda, and Jess. You also get to know Rob's brother, Evan. Rob's ex and their son, somewhat. You'll have a front row view of a trial and all it entails. It's such an easy read too. It was just that good. I loved how the author tied everything up. It's very obvious that he is a lawyer.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Atria, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this fabulous debut legal thriller by Lawrence Robbins. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Long known as one of DC's most powerful litigators, Rob Jacobson is now facing the case of a lifetime. Jack Cutler, former President of the United States and Rob's best friend since childhood, has been accused of murdering his mistress. Amanda. To further complicate matters, Robbie had relationships in the past with Jess, Jack's wife, and Amanda. Could Jack really be guilty of murder?

Wow - this debut thriller blew me away and I couldn't put it down. If you are a fan of Scott Turow or John Grisham, make time now to read this book. Set in DC, it's gripping but thankfully doesn't veer into the political arena. There's lots of past history between Robbie and Jack, muddying the waters, and Robbie brings in a former colleague, Jane, to assist. They are smart lawyers but the evidence seems stacked against Jack. The end was mind-blowing. Robbins is himself an acclaimed attorney, so he definitely writes what he knows. Highly recommended - a must read! Sure hope there's more to come from this author!

Can you picture the evening news caster when the former POTUS is arrested for murder? Front page news when he hires his best friend to represent him against the charges.....but wait......his friend is connected to POTUS's wife and the victim, POTUS's current mistress. While the story line is not quite unique, Lawrence Robbins' treatment of this wild story is incredible. As the "before" story builds in the first few chapters, we'll learn how the two men became friends and how they each know too many of the other's secrets to be comfortable. Then Robbins uses his extensive trial experience to show the tension and suspense as a jury is chosen and the trial begins. Then the story explodes as evidence builds a story of the former president's sexual history and his parade of women. Plan a binge read. Once you start, you'll not want to stop until the verdict is read!