This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4.5 hearts

I discovered this author earlier this year when I was looking for lawyer series. I LOVED his Robin Lockwood series and hope to continue reading it soon. When I saw this new standalone, I was thrilled to read it.

The main character Charlie Webb is a regular, good guy. He's not too smart or too ambitious but he has integrity which turns out to be the most important thing. He gets assigned a case to defend a "painter" who stole the painting back from the person who bought it. His paintings are truly inspirational. He broke in and apparently took another item as insurance, a flash drive. He agrees to give everything back if the owner will hang the painting where more people can see it.

Meanwhile, the owner of the painting has been arrested for sex trafficking along with her movie producer partner. Now multiple people including their clients are worried about what the painter took and attempts on his life begin. Charlie teams up with Bridget, the prosecutor in the sex trafficking case to try to resolve things. He also has a new legal intern who turns his head.

An Insignificant Case is fast paced and exciting. The hunt for the flash drive leaves a trail of bodies on the side of those trying to conceal it and those trying to expose it. It's fun to see Charlie grow and use his legal skills effectively. He learns more about people as well. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it highly. I wouldn't mind having more stories about Charlie.

An Insignificant Case by Phillip Margolin was the best legal thriller I’ve read in some time.
I’m a big fan of his stories and d writing and was eager to start his new one. Which did not disappoint.
A gripping story that made me almost read the book in one go.
This book is well written and plotted as are all of Phillip Margolin’s novels.
The suspense was interesting and his writing was excellent.
Great story and plot as I would expect from Mr. Margolin!

4.5 Stars raised to 5. This was a riveting, entertaining mystery and court drama. I had never read anything by Phillip Margolin, which was a big mistake. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for introducing me to this writer, who is now on my list as a writer I definitely want to follow. The court scenes were compelling, with increasing suspense. The storyline and the characters were brilliantly developed, with the predominant ones memorable and intriguing.

Charlie Webb lacks self-confidence and self-respect. He has led a mediocre life and considers himself insignificant. He has a few loyal friends who regard Charlie as better than he views himself. He was always a C student and was turned down by first-rate law schools, settling into one that was third-rate. Unable to join a legal team, he opened his own modest law office where he represented old friends from a motorcycle gang and a few court-appointed cases. His bank balance is very low. He has always had difficulty with women, considering them out of his league and fearing rejection.

Charlie has been to an insignificant legal case. He must represent a deluded artist, Guido Sabatini, who has a marvellous talent. Guido, whose real name is Lawrence Weiss, becomes belligerent if referred to his actual name. He firmly believes that he is the reincarnation of a Renaissance painter who worked alongside Michelangelo and de Vinci. Before he started painting incessantly, he was a brilliant mathemetician, a professional card shark, and a skilled burglar. After winning a huge sum of money at cards from fellow gamblers, they tried and failed to get it back and now want revenge.

Because he is nervous, thinking that he does not have the skills and ability to represent Guido, Charlie is given a first-class, experienced lawyer to assist him. Guido is charged with theft. He sold a magnificent painting to Gretchen, a restaurant owner She hung the artwork in her office rather than in the main dining area, where customers could admire it. Angry and feeling disrespected, Guido breaks into her safe to retrieve his painting and also takes a thumb drive. Charlie's arguments for the defence were better than anyone expected, and he did a good job thinking on his feet.

In the meantime, Gretchen, a movie producer, and her bodyguard are taken into custody and charged with the sex trafficking of young girls. The case is now becoming tangled. Bodies start piling up, and the case has accelerated to a significant one. Guido has been set up to look guilty. Charlie wants out, but Guido will not consent to anyone else defending him. Charlie now has his first murder trial.

The thumb drive is now in Guido's possession, and it contains a video of a disturbing rape and murder of a young teenage girl. It also shows the leaders of the sex trafficking ring and some of its powerful and prominent clients. Those wanting the video will go to great extremes to retrieve it to avoid going to prison. Guido is in great danger. He refuses to disclose to Charlie and other legal authorities where he has hidden it. Elin is a naive, pleasant, and pretty young girl who sits in the courtroom taking notes. Charlie was persuaded to allow her to help when she said she was interested in a possible future in law. Mainly, he was attracted to her but wouldn't dare ask for a date. This was all a deception on Elin's part. Her identity, background and motives were entirely different, and her goal is to enact vengeance on somebody.

Charlie uses great resources to keep Guido protected from imminent harm. Guido finally agrees to hand over his evidence to the judge if he can choose the place and the people present. This meeting erupts with violence, chaos, and some shocking surprises. Arrests are made, and we learn about the outcome for those involved, except very little was said about Guido.

I thought this gripping and intense book would make an excellent series. It was thought-provoking, contrasting legal with moral issues. Is vigilante action ever justified? Would some agree that the law may be subverted by principles and morality? What is true justice? Recommended.

This standalone novel is an excellent legal thriller that included sharp writing, intense action and a uniquely addictive plot that had me turning pages quickly. Charlie Webb is a third-rate lawyer, with a few clients, but no one who will make him rich or even allow him to move from his tiny apartment. Then, he is assigned the case of Guido Sabatini. Guido is one of the quirkiest characters that I have ever had the pleasure to meet within the pages of a Margolin book. He is a talented artist as well as a card shark, holding an advanced degree in mathematics. When Charlie and Guido meet, Charlie thinks the case will be simple. Guido just has to return the painting that he took from restauranteur Gretchen Hall as well as whatever he lifted from the safe at the same time. Guido had a problem with his masterpiece being hidden away in Gretchen’s office while Gretchen has a problem with the fact that Guido stole a flash drive that implicates her in multiple crimes. The action is addictive and deeply immersive. I was completely engaged in the drama of the story because the plot has a high sense of believability. When murder becomes part of the plot, the twists begin and just keep building the story into one that was a mystery within a mystery that begged me to try to solve them all. The characters were fascinating and all unforgettable. The story was relevant, with a realistic crime element and the signature style of the author who weaves a complicated web and then unravels it methodically for the readers. This is a slam dunk as a legal thriller and I was sad to see the story end, even though the conclusion was satisfying and well planned. Crackling with tension throughout the plot and subplots, the novel includes deliberate misdirection and is very atmospheric, with plenty of edgy action. This may be my favorite book by the author, especially since it has multiple layers and a well-crafted plot that kept me reading and totally engaged as I tried to guess what would happen next.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

DNF at 40%. I enjoy courtroom thrillers and have enjoyed other books by Margolin in the past so I was intrigued by this one. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. Examples of what didn’t work for me. Charlie has a new potential client come in but she’s so beautiful he can’t concentrate so he takes down her contact information before giving her his rate while thinking if she can’t afford it at least he will have her info to be able to ask her out. Very shortly after he’s in an intense shooting situation with a woman he works with and after tackling her and saving their lives he’s focused on her breasts pushing against him. Is Charlie an adult lawyer who is going to figure out what’s really going on or a thirteen year old boy? Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the gifted ebook and audiobook.

A Quirky But Enjoyable Murder Mystery

An eccentric painter who goes by the name of Guido Sabatini sells one of his paintings to Gretchen Hall, the owner of La Bella Roma. He expects it to be displayed in the restaurant dining area. When he returns to see his painting displayed, he does not see it. The maître 'd tells him the owner has it in her office. Upset, he breaks in at night and discovers that his painting is hanging over the safe that Hall opened to access the money to pay him. He saw the combination in the mirror. He opens the safe. He didn’t want money and felt around to see if he could find something to blackmail her. It is all bulky paperwork, but he finds a flash drive. He takes it. This flash drive leads to much more trouble for Sabatini than he could ever imagine.

This novel has two threads. The first thread starts with a robbery and escalates to a murder trial after three deaths. The second thread is the second murder trial. The major difficulty is that he is totally unprepared to be the defense attorney on a murder trial. The next largest difficulty is an eccentric client who believes he is the reincarnation of Guido Sabatini, a Renaissance painter who worked with Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci. The police believe that Sabatini stole a flash drive that has evidence of a ring that trafficked underage girls. Very powerful men in that ring will do anything to get the flash drive. The tension is kept by characters working to keep Sabatini out of jail and vulnerable to attempts to persuade him to give them the flash drive. Several violent attempts occur. There are many twists, turns, and misdirections. Several of these attain the level of what I call literary grenades. My attention was completely captured. The novel’s flow is just right.

As this is a stand-alone novel, character development is extensive for the protagonist, Charlie Webb. Two B-storyline threads contribute to learning his character. One is Webb’s relationship with the prosecutor, Bridget Fournier. The second is his relationship with his assistant, Elin Crane. As a C student from elementary to law school, he shows some glimmers of legal brilliance. There even is a C-storyline as Web goes from an insecure lawyer surviving on court appointments and his biker gang friends to one who can conduct a murder defense with confidence.

This novel has minimal objectionable aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading. Intimate scenes are non-existent, and foul language appears infrequently. A few violent scenes are portrayed, but the level of violence is quite tolerable. The only warning is that this novel has crimes against women as a central aspect. As this novel seems to be a stand-alone, there is no worry about what happened in previous novels.

I had two issues with this novel. The first occurs during the second murder trial. If I were a juror, I would have voted not guilty on the three murder charges, as the prosecutor did not present any direct evidence that the defendant was at those scenes. The second issue was the ending. I started watching movies on TV that were made under the Hays Code. I like my novels to end that way, too. What I liked was the Guido Sabatini character. His antics regularly brought a smile to my face.

I have read three previous novels by this author, but they were Robin Lockwood novels. When this ARC became available, I did not read the description and thought it was another novel in the Lockwood series. This author is one of my Must-Read authors. Even with that surprise, I did enjoy reading this novel and would like to see more novels with these characters. I rate this novel with four stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Minotaur Press. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

Entertaining and fast-paced legal thriller.

This is a standalone, so I was able to jump right in and get my fix as I love fiction involving legal maneuvering and complicated plots. This one however, got me with the characters. So many different personalities on the legal end and a really quirky mathematician turned artist who made for a very interesting criminal.

The basic plot involves an inappropriately displayed painting, a stolen flash drive, sex trafficking, murder, and vigilantism. The story takes off quickly and the excellent writing kept me hooked. As the action ricochets from one scenario to another, the attorneys adapt and try to keep their client alive.

Guido Sabatini (born Lawrence Weiss) is a most unlikely criminal as he's a slightly crazy painter who believes he was trained by the masters in a past life. He gets mad when a painting he sold to a restaurateur is not hung out in the main dining area but hidden away in an office. He decides to break in and liberate it, but also, in spite, takes a flash drive from the office safe thinking he will simply give it back once the owner hangs the painting in a more suitable place. Arrested for theft, he needs an attorney. Enter third rate lawyer Charles Webb. Charlie's a good guy but he's no match for what's coming. Oh, Guido. What a nest of serpents he let loose. There is something on that flash drive that many people will get to keep secret.

I really liked this story and was lucky to be able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publishers. The narrator did an excellent job of voicing the characters with appropriate tone, accents, and dramatic flair. The production was well done and enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Charlie might not be a legal star but he's good at what he does. And now what looked like a fairly simple case has turned into a sticky wicket with far reaching implications-and murder. This is topical (as are all of Margolin's novels) but trafficking, as real, tragic, and horrible as it is, is becoming a too common plot element. This is a standalone but I can envision Charlie taking on other cases-he's the one you will root for. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Entertaining read.

I liked this book, the story was interesting. I thought the dialogue was rather stilted for most of the book, especially at the beginning. I thought there was something wrong or slow about the characters at first. This was not like Phillip Margolin's books. I have read them all and always enjoy them. This was a good story, and I was just a bit frustrated with the characters. I know that Lawrence was strange, but I got the feeling that most of the characters weren't as natural and normal as Margolin's characters usually are. Other than that, the story was good.

Phillip Margolin is a go to author for me, so when I saw he had this new book coming out I was happy to grab it. This one is a stand alone rather than one of his series.

Description:
Charlie Webb is a third rate lawyer who graduated from a third rate law-school and, because he couldn’t get hired by any of the major law firms, has opened his own law firm, where he gets by handling cases for dubious associates from his youth and some court appointed cases. Described as “a leaky boat floating down the stream of life,” Charlie has led unremarkable life, personally and professionally. Until he’s appointed to be the attorney for a decidedly crackpot artist who calls himself Guido Sabatini (born Lawrence Weiss). Sabatini has been arrested – again – for breaking into a restaurant and stealing back a painting he sold them because he was insulted by where it was displayed. But as Lawrence Weiss, he’s also an accomplished card shark and burglar and while he was there, he stole a thumb drive from the owner’s safe.

Not knowing what else Sabatani has stolen, Webb negotiates the return of the painting and “other items’ for the owner dropping charges against Sabatini. But the contents of the flash drive threatens very powerful figures who are determined to retrieve it, the restaurant owner (Gretchen Hall) and her driver (Yuri Makarov) are being investigated for the sex trafficking of minors, and there are others who have a violent grudge against Sabatini. When a minor theft case becomes a double homicide, and even more, Charlie Webb, an insignificant lawyer assigned to an insignificant case, is faced with the most important, and deadliest, case of his life. Going back to his long-time bestselling roots, Phillip Margolin returns with a brilliant standalone legal thriller in the tradition of John Grisham.

My Thoughts:
Fast-paced and tense, just the way I like them. Both the investigation and the court case kept my attention. Charlie Webb is the underdog character and it was easy to relate to him and want him to succeed. I felt kind of sorry for him, as this was much more than he bargained for when he started. The pace never stopped and there were a lot of twists and turns. Anyone who likes a good thriller would enjoy this one.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Charlie is considered a third-rate lawyer who gets most of his cases either through a motorcycle club or a court assignment. Charlie has won another trial for his motorcycle brethren. His next trial is a court assignment for an individual who has stolen a painting. This is not the 1st time that Guido, the accused, has done this He has had two other cases where he stole the painting because the individual that purchased it from him. The only reason that he stole it back because the buyer did not display it where it could be seen by the public. For this case, Guido also took something from the safe. This item caused Guido to come into danger.

Charlie got Guido out on bail and the D.A. said that if Guido returned the items, the charges would be dropped. Before the deal could be made, the owner of the painting and another individual were killed and Guido was arrested for murder. Charlie was once again assigned by the court to represent Guido once again. Charlie on meeting with Guido told him that he didn't have any experience with this type of trial so did not want to represent him. Charlie was convinced by the judge to take the case.

Read along and follow all the events that happened as Charlie prepared his case. Learn what individuals were behind the attempts on Guido and what actions one individual and the police took to keep Guido safe. Learn how this case led to another trial and how it was related.

The story is well done and kept my interest right to the end.

The story ending is well done. Don't miss out reading this book, you won't be disappointed.

Charley Webb is a struggling attorney who opened his own practice because of the lack of job offers from the big firms and takes a case representing Guido Sabatini on a seemingly simple breaking and entering. Guido had sold one of his paintings to Gretchen Hall, the owner of a local restaurant. However when she didn't display it for all to see in the restaurant, he broke into her office and stole it back off the wall where it was covering her safe. He happened to remember the combination when she paid him because his is genius level with numbers and opened the safe. He didn't steal any of the cash but did take a thumb drive that looked interesting in hopes he could blackmail her. Charley dives in trying to get him to return the painting and "whatever he took out of the safe" to get the charges dropped only to realize all is not as it seems. Gretchen Hall has just been indicted for luring underage girls for sex trafficking and things get complicated very fast. As people start dying, it becomes clear that the cases are related and there must be some pretty influential people on that thumb drive who will stop at nothing to make sure it disappears. Charley has stumbled on a very significant case that will take all he has to manage Guido who is not worried because God will protect him and somehow convince him to turn over the thumb drive before he gets killed. Guido is a crazy character and the story has tons of twists and turns that are a fresh and unique twist in a legal thriller that will keep you entertained.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
#NetGalley #AnInsignficantCase

In this legal thriller, Margolin introduces a new character, Charlie Webb, a small-time lawyer. The story builds quickly, there is action and twists holding my attention to the unpredictable conclusion. Another well-written story authored by our talented Phillip Margolin.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of Phillip Margolin's legal thrillers, so when the opportunity to read his new one, An Insignificant Case, was offered, I jumped on it. While the premise was excellent, and the story itself was interesting and at times humorous, I was left feeling just 'meh' about the thriller, as a whole.

The characters were interesting, and Charlie, in particular, was someone I could really get behind and root for his success. He was not an overachiever, and while he wanted more success, his entire life had been kind of mediocre--the author described him as a 'C' which pretty much summed him up. As the story developed, however, his lack of insight into what was going on and his simplistic acceptance of events that should have been huge red flags became quite distracting, and as a reader, I wanted to shake him out of his complacency.

I also felt like the writing was not quite what I expect from Mr. Margolin. The conversations and some of the situations were unrealistic, and the court room scenes were far too brief for the complexity of a homicide trial. I expect better from Margolin.

I didn't dislike the book, though, and would recommend it as a quick, fun legal thriller. Like the main character, I would give it a 'C' grade, and I will definitely continue to read Margolin's books. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of An Insignificant Case by Phillip Margolin. The opinions in this review are my own.

Phillip Margolin scores another win with this outstanding standalone! While I do love the Robin Lockwood series, it is nice to read this story, that I feel took me back to when I was first discovering this favorite author way back in the 90's with Gone but Not forgotten. Low-rung lawyer, Charlie Webb becomes the court-appointed attorney for a simple B&E involving client Guido Sabatini and a stolen painting. Or so he thought. The case turns out to be so much bigger, involving a sex-ring and murders. It was hard to put this one down, as there is something happening on almost every page. Can Charlie save the day. I really enjoyed Charlie and while I did appreciate a standalone, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if he becomes a new series. Hint, hint.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Phillip Margolin and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Facebook and other retail and social media sites upon publication date of November 5th.

Book Review: An Insignificant Case by Phillip Margolin
Published by St. Martin's Press, November 5, 2024

★★★★★ (5.0 Stars!)

One of the first Phillip Margolin books I thoroughly enjoyed was his 1996 standalone novel, "The Burning Man", which features a young attorney, Peter Hale, who loses his job at his father's high-powered law firm and ends up as a public defender in a small Oregon town. In a high-profile career defining capital murder case, inexperienced Hale finds himself defending a mentally retarded client.

I find interesting parallels in the author's new book, "An Insignificant Case" (2024). Protagonist Charlie Webb, similarly unexperienced and moreover described as "third-rate", is saddled with the defense of Laurence Weiss accused of a double homicide. Weiss, who calls himself "Guido Sabatini", is irretrievably psyched into the delusions of his alter ego, convinced that he is someone who'd learned his craft as a contemporary of Renaissance icons Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci.

Both novels are set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, as with most of Margolin's novels and legal thrillers.

// "An Insignificant Case" by Phillip Margolin (2024) //

It all begins as an insignificant case, comical, some would even say.

Ultra-talented Guido Sabatini sells one of his sublime Renaissance-style paintings to the owner of the Italian restaurant "La Bella Roma" - then subsequently steals it back. Why? Because his feelings were hurt. His artwork wasn't displayed in an appropriately prominent spot for viewing at the eatery. You could almost feel bad for the guy, who now will have his day of reckoning in court.

Enter Charlie Webb, appointed by the court to represent the eccentric 6'4" Sabatini, perennially clad in a floor-length turn of the Common Era caftan. Except the Renaissance art genius isn't "Sabatini", but an accomplished acrylic painter named Lawrence Weiss, who's also reputed to be a card shark, yegg and burglar.

Charlie Webb is average in every way. "If he were a grade, he would have been a C, which was the average grade he received starting in elementary school and ending in law school." He gets by in his private practice with such court appointments as handling a "Sabatini", and in being of counsel to family referrals, and to certain colorful personalities, all of whom so happen to be members of the "Barbarians", a motorcycle club.

In the meantime, the owner of restaurant "La Bella Roma" is implicated in a sex-trafficking ring, alongside a famous Hollywood movie producer. Teenagers were alleged to be lured by promises of movie acting roles, then drugged, and forced to have sex.

A close relative of one of the sex victims slips quietly in the mix, someone who just so happens to be a military trained sharpshooter, infiltrator - and assassin.

As for Mr. Weiss /Sabatini, it turns out the recovery of his painting wasn't the only item he retrieved from "La Bella Roma", as his other career as a burglar shifted into gear. The theft of a purloined item ensues in a double homicide for which Weiss /Sabatini is subsequently charged.

Thus the insignificant case morphs into a capital case nightmare, one for which even young Charlie Webb, Esq. himself, inexperienced, overmatched and in over his head, readily admits he is utterly unqualified...

-------

Prior to this novel, I've read all seven books of Phillip Margolin's recent "Robin Locke" series (2018-2023), featuring the 5'8" strong female protagonist, ex-pro PPV UFC cage fighter aka "Rockin' Robin", Yale Law graduate, from her tough beginnings through her rise to law firm partner; along with most of Mr. Margolin's earlier bestsellers also invariably showcasing female protagonists equally as indomitable, "Amanda Jaffe", "Dana Cutler"; plus many standalones.

Each and every Margolin novel refreshing, a respite from the noise of the mob, devoid of undercurrents of divisive issues, at times enthralling, harrowing, amusing, gripping, but always easy on the palate, agreeable reading.

Or in a word, unputdownable!

Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of St. Martin's Press and NetGalley.

Philip Margolin has written a suspenseful standalone legal thriller: An Insignificant Case. Carlie Webb is considered a third-rate lawyer who opened his own law firm when he couldn’t get hired by any major law firms in Portland, Oregon. He gets by handlings court-appointed cases as well as handling cases for friends and those his family refers to him.

When Lawrence Weiss, calling himself Guido Sabatini, is arrested for breaking into a restaurant and stealing back a painting he sold them because he was insulted by where he is displayed, Charlie is assigned to handle his case. However, the painting isn’t the only think Guido stole, and the situation quickly becomes suspenseful and dangerous. But as the charges mount up, can Charlie handle the cases or will his inexperience lead to convictions?

Charlie is humble, empathetic, too trusting, and doesn’t gloat when he wins. Guido is a talented artist who is witty, eccentric, and a card shark. The other main and secondary characters have depth and felt true to their natures.

This was a fascinating premise and storyline. The investigation as well as the courtroom drama were well-done. The pacing was fast and kept me engaged and turning the pages rapidly. With exciting scenes and an antagonist that thinks on his feet, this is a riveting legal thriller. The story quickly hooked me and kept me engaged to the very end. However, the ending felt somewhat rushed.

Overall, this is an entertaining, suspenseful, and fast read with several plot twists and good characterization. I would love to see this turned into a series.

St. Martin’s Press and Phillip Margolin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for November 05, 2024.

I have read and enjoyed a number of Margolin’s books but usually in the Robin Lockwood series. This one, as a standalone, creates what I hope could be the start of another great series.

Charlie Webb is definitely not caliber class attorney material. He barely scraped by from a third-rate school to become a third-rate lawyer. No problem, he opened his own office and, again, barely scraped by.

When he gets a file for Guido Sabatini, local artist and nut case, he takes it on thinking it’s a simple B and E. Of course, there is the small matter of his also lifting something from the safe while on a mission to steal back his painting.

It’s not the painting so much as the little device he stole from the safe that sets up a whole different case. He is badly in over his head, knows it, tries to refuse the case. Guido insists it must be he. I guess you have to start somewhere, but he has to find some help—quick.

As you might suspect, it’s a fast read, engaging with unusual characters, and quite entertaining. Yes, there are some twists and it’s possible that a reader who enjoys not only a legal thriller, but mysteries, crime fiction, and courtroom dramas would enjoy this as well. 4.5 stars

Decent read, entertaining . What I like about this book, even though its obvious who what its still very entertaining
Thanks NetGalley for advance copy

Margolin’s latest thriller is a reminder of why this genre, and his writing, is so powerful. Charlie Webb is a mediocre lawyer who is a court appointed attorney for Guido Sabatini, also known as Lawrence Weiss. Sabatini is accused of stealing a painting back from a restaurant so it can be displayed in a place of honor. While he does this, he also steals a flash drive and becomes mixed up in sex trafficking and homicide. Most enjoyable were the development of Margolin’s characters. While this novel is a stand-alone, I would be happy to revisit the characters of Charlie Webb and Lawrence Weiss/Guido Sabatini.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advance copy. All thoughts are my own.