So-called "third-rate" Charlie Webb is the central figure in Philip Margolin's novel An Insignificant Case. Webb starts out weak but ends up strong as gets involved in major cases after representing a strange artist in an insignificant case. Margolin does a great job in bringing interesting characters and some interesting plot twists to his novel.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

An Insignificant Case- A THRILLER is a misleading title. it does have some suspense, but certainly not a white-knuckle, edge-of-your-seat, breathtaking thriller! It’s a mystery but the thrills and chills are absent. Still, a very good mystery with some twists and turns I didn’t see coming!

An Insignificant Case is a fast and fun read! Pacing slowed in the middle and my interest waned a bit. Also, I wish the characters had been developed to a greater dimension. Charlie is a very endearing character and I hope this will be the premier of a new series! Phillip Margolin is known for his intense courtroom drama novels; this is a nice but lighter addition to his repertoire!

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

3.5*
The latest stand-alone legal thriller from the talented and established author, Phillip Margolin.

Charlie Webb may not be the first lawyer you’d necessarily turn to when finding yourself in a pickle. He works independently, barely making enough money to put a roof over his head… and his personal life doesn’t fare much better.

But a golden opportunity lands in his lap to defend a man named Guido Sabatini. (At least that’s how he likes to refer to himself.)

He’s an artist who’s accused of stealing back one of his paintings. The motivation? He didn’t like where the purchaser hung it!😂 But in the midst of the art heist, Guido helped himself to a thumb-drive that it seems everyone wants to get their hands on.

Now Charlie is really in over his head… the stakes just ramped-up to murder charges!

I would classify this book as legal thriller-lite. As with most books by this author they are quick, enjoyable reads. I did hope for a bit more character development with Charlie and some of the others. I think it would have added a bit more depth to the storyline.

Overall, another entertaining addition to Phillip Margolin's catalogue of legal thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I wanted to add a quick personal note - I have enjoyed Margolin's books for decades, so I was thrilled to find an offering from him on Netgalley; he certainly is a "tried and true" famous author of captivating mysteries and legal thrillers..

Phillip Margolin’s latest standalone novel, An Insignificant Case, is a masterful blend of legal drama and suspense that keeps you turning the pages...

Set against the backdrop of Oregon’s legal landscape, the novel introduces us to Charlie Webb, a lawyer whose career and life have been anything but remarkable—until now.

Charlie Webb, a washed-up lawyer from a lower rung law school, has spent his career handling minor cases for dubious clients and court-appointed cases. His life takes an unexpected turn when he is appointed to defend Guido Sabatini, a crackpot artist with a penchant for trouble. Sabatini, born Lawrence Weiss, is arrested for breaking into a restaurant to steal back a painting he sold, only to also swipe a thumb drive from the owner’s safe. This odd and simple theft begins a cascade of other actions and unexpected consequences.

Margolin excels in character development, particularly with Charlie Webb. Described in book description as “a leaky boat floating down the stream of life,” Webb’s transformation from an insignificant lawyer to a key player in a high-stakes case is made compelling and believable.

This novel explores themes of redemption, the quest for justice, and the unexpected ways in which seemingly insignificant events can alter the course of one’s life. 

Margolin’s writing is crisp and fast-paced, with just the right amount of legal jargon to keep the story grounded without overwhelming the reader. 

An Insignificant Case is a thrilling ride that showcases Phillip Margolin’s expertise in legal thrillers. With well-drawn characters, a gripping plot, and thought-provoking themes, this novel is a must-read for fans of the genre.

Not a single insignificant thing to be found here!
Margolin has struck gold, once again, in his stand alone thriller about attorney Charlie Webb and Leonard Weiss (aka Guido Sabatini).
Charlie, a not too famous attorney about town, is assigned Guido's ( as he prefers to be known ) case involving his theft of a picture he had painted and sold to the owner of a local Italian restaurant and then proceeded to break into and steal back because he did not like the placement of the picture. A simple case of B&E which could easily be dismissed with return of the picture and some community service suddenly takes on epic proportions when it turns out to that isn't all Guido stole. He also made off with a thumb drive whose contents can apparently topple current govt officials and city leaders.
All of a sudden non descript Charlie, along with his client, become the targets of hit men out to retrieve the drive.
A great thrilling and absolutely riveting story with amazingly interesting sub stories and characters who jump right off the pages.
Would love to have another Charlie Webb adventure unfold.



that jump right off the pages.

Charlie Webb, an unremarkable attorney with a small practice, is appointed to represent an eccentric artist, accused of a burglary. What at first appears to be a simple matter explodes when the accused artist also steals a thumb drive that contains incriminating information that puts both the artist and Charlie’s life at stake. An Insignificant Case is an enjoyable, quick read with quirky characters, some dark humor, and an engaging plot. The courtroom scenes are perfect - no overly tedious legal jargon or maneuvering, just straightforward testimony that’ll hold your interest. Loved the characters and the banter between them, and the ending hints at another book, which would be welcomed! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely fantastic!! I loved this book so much!! I could not put it down. (Seriously). Charlie Webb is a middle-of the-road attorney starting out in his career. Taking small cases - largely court appointed. His life begins to change when he's asked to take on Guido Sabatini (born Lawrence Weiss) as a client. Guido believes he's the reincarnation of an Italian painter that studied with the masters. Nothing takes him away from his painting (and he's really good). However, when a client did not display his artwork in a prominent place, Guido breaks in, steals the painting, and some other easy-to-conceal items from the client's safe. Of particular note, is a missing flash drive that Charlie cannot get Guido to confirm or deny that he has. I'd be remiss if I did not mention that Charlie does work for a biker gang... and he enlists them to protect Guido when bodies start piling up and attempts are made on this life. Seriously, everyone needs the Barbarians in their back pocket. As always, Mr. Margolin has written such a deep and fantastic character - here's hoping that perhaps Amanda Jaffe or Robin Lockwood make a cameo in the next Charlie Webb book! Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for an advanced reader of the book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Another enjoyable offering from Philip Margolin. I have enjoyed his books and the characters he weaves in and out if his narratives.

Margolin continually knocks out a wonderful legal thrill and this is no exception. Charlie is a down-at-the-heels public defender assigned to represent an artist who steals back his work if he doesn't like where it's been hung. Read the novel for Guido if nothing else.
Guido happened to steal some incriminating evidence with his latest are retrieval and now both Guido and Charlie are running for the lives. The bright light for me is seeing insignificant Charlie realize his worth and legal brilliance has nothing to do with the grades he got in law school. He is acing life.

A superb book by Phillip Margolin and I hope you can sense the thrill when you reading this novel, An Insignificant Case. I really like the protagonist, Charlie, and I hope can find more books with this character. Thanks.

Another great book by Phillip Margolin whose books are always fantastic. Charlie Webb is appointed by the courts to defend Guido Sabatini whose real name is Lawrence Weiss who is accused of 2 murders. Guido is a very talented artist who is very smart but also thinks he has met famous Italian artists such as Davinci. He is found innocent but then who killed these 2 people? The story continues with many twists and turns until it is figured out who was responsible for their deaths,
Excellent writing, great character development and a very interesting storyline. I will recommend this book to all who loves a good legal thriller.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Charlie is a lawyer with little experience in murder cases. When a man wants him, he knows he will need help. This book captured my attention from the start.

I'm a Phillip Margolin fan and this was another fun, fast read. Loved the protagonist, Charlie, and hope we get a few more books by him. Enjoyed watching him unpack this one!

Charlie is a young lawyer representing mostly low level petty cases. The setting for this twisty legal thriller is in Oregon. His newest client believes he’s the reincarnation of a famous painter. He’s a con man, an artist, a gambler and most people underestimate his IQ. He’s cunning and much more intelligent than he gets credit for. However, this time his escapades have taken a darker turn than his usual schemes. He’s crossed the wrong people, heinous criminals, murder ensues. The one-off case Charlie thought would’ve settled easily has become complicated and deadly. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the participants in this unpredictable case. There were surprising reveals and unexpected outcomes. It was easy to read and follow their quest for resolution to the legal issues. As a fan of this author for more decades than I’m willing to quantify, he’s never failed to entertain me.
Thanks to Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Publishing for the Uncorrected Digital Galley of “An Insignificant Case” by Phillip Margolin, expected publication 11/05/2024, provided via NetGalley. These are my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

I thoroughly enjoy reading all of Margolin’s books! They’re quick reads, suspenseful and he doesn’t waste time telling the story. I hope he writes more books the new lawyer characters in this book - Charlie and Bridget. Thanks for the advanced read!

An Insignifcant Case by Phillip Margolin is a modern day legal thriller based in Oregon. A sex ring scandal makes waves when some big names are arrested. Guido is a mentally disturbed artist who gets wrapped up with the wrong people all because he has big dreams for his artwork. Charlie Webb is an inexperienced lawyer whose usual case is a B&E or theft, but gets pushed into the deep end of his first murder case.
I had high hopes for this book because I love a good legal thriller. However, there was little character development, with no back stories to ease you in to the story. It jumps in right away with a frenetic effort which felt abrupt and didn’t have good flow. The legal story is a good one, but it was too hard to follow in an enjoyable way and I think it really missed the mark with not giving the reader more to these characters. As a positive, this was a speedy read. You didn’t want to put it down to find out how it ended.
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martins Press for my ARC.

I love Phillip Margolin legal thrillers and this was no exception. Charlie Webb was an average guy who got into an average law school and made average grades. He was struggling to make a living handling mostly court appointed cases and divorces. Until he was appointed attorney for a crackpot artist who stole his own painting because it wasn’t displayed where he wanted it. He also stole a flash drive that important people wanted back. This was a great mystery with some surprises. I highly recommend this book.

When it comes to legal thrillers, Phillip Margolin is one of the best. His standalone thriller, An Insignificant Case finds Charlie Webb, a non-superstar, average lawyer who normally tries easy, unimportant cases, defending, Lawrence Weiss, who insists he is Guido Sabatini a artist who trained centuries ago, and is arrested for the umpteenth time for stealing a painting of his that hasn’t been displayed where it can be seen by enough people. Unfortunately, several murders that are related to his latest theft land him in jail on murder charges. He wants Charlie to represent him even though Charlie has never tried a murder case.

Margolin is a favorite author and is an expert at weaving a good legal story. This novel is no exception. There are dozens of twists and turns, as Charlie’s investigation opens up possibilities that are related to much bigger crimes. Guido’s obvious mental illness adds to the novel, as well as Lawrence Weiss’s number skills which makes him a gambler that has the capacity to win big (and has, leading to him being kicked out of big gambling establishments). The characters are very well developed and relatable; they seem real, albeit not the run of the mill underdogs that win in the end. The fact that Charlie’s skills are just average, adds to the suspense because readers will be sure he can’t win. A trial lawyer joins him in the trial, which helps his chances.

All told, this novel is well-written and keeps readers on the edge. It is also a fast read since it isn’t as long as most novels.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

I always enjoy Margolin's books and this was no exception, Gretchen owns La Bella Roma restaurant when she is gifted a beautiful painting by Guido which she chooses to hang in her office over her safe instead of in a prominent place in the dining room. Guido comes to "retrieve" it and takes a flash drive from her safe; he then is arrested and hires attorney, Charlie Webb. And we're off!! Things get dicey as it appears Guido believes he is someone else, the bad guys will kill to get the flash drive, shots are fired everywhere, and chaos ensues. It's a thrill ride for sure and Margolin never disappoints!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Ann interesting plot and characters. Well written. Thee plot develops slowly with twists I did not see coming. Good read b