Keera Duggan is on vacation after her last trying case at the family law firm. Now if only her family would recognize that. Called in for a new case, Keera is already none too happy, but when she finds out it’s a nemesis from her past, she’s even threatening not to take the case, after all, Jenna made her life miserable while they were growing up. As push comes to shove, Keera’s dad, Patsy, encouraged her to take the case on her own terms, stating that sometimes the things you learn about yourself while trying a tough case are worth it. As Keera dives in, she knows that Jenna is not telling the whole truth and decides going for reasonable doubt is her best option, but is there something she’s missing? This is the second book in the Keera Duggan Series starting right where the first left off, but can be read as a stand alone as well. Dugoni has a way of capturing your interest from the first page and carries it out until the end. Hoping to see more of Keera in the future. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

EXCERPT: Keera wouldn't take the case for Jenna or her parents, nor because their firm needed the money, nor even for Patsy's belief in preserving the judicial system. She'd take the case because she'd meant what she said. She wanted to be the best, just like he had been. And because she suspected her father was right - that she'd learn more about herself defending the most difficult cases rather then the easy ones. She wouldn't run from Jenna Bernstein. She hadn't run when they'd been young, and she wouldn't run now. She'd defend her, but she'd do it her way. And in the process, maybe she'd learn a little more about Keera the defense lawyer, as well as Keera the person.

ABOUT 'BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT': A master manipulator accused of murder. An attorney sworn to defend her.

When Jenna Bernstein, disgraced wunderkind CEO of a controversial biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner and lover, she turns to Seattle attorney Keera Duggan to defend her. Keera is more than a master chess player who brings her intuitive moves into court—she’s Jenna’s childhood friend. But considering their history, Keera knows that where Jenna goes, trouble follows.

Three years earlier, Keera’s father successfully defended Jenna when she was tried for the killing of her company’s chief medical scientist who threatened to go public with allegations of corporate fraud. Keera knows Jenna too well. When she was a kid, Keera saw Jenna for what she a manipulative and frighteningly controlling sociopath. Now, with only circumstantial evidence against Jenna, Keera is willing to bury any trepidation she might have to defend a woman she believes, this time, to be innocent.

As the investigation gets underway and disturbing questions arise, Keera puts her trust in a client who swears she is telling nothing but the truth. If this is all just another devious game, Keera might be working to set a murderer free.

MY THOUGHTS: The plot to Beyond Reasonable Doubt is complex. I wouldn't recommend you try reading it without first having read Her Deadly Game.

I loved Her Deadly Game, and I was excited to lay my hands on a copy of Beyond Reasonable Doubt where Keera finds herself agreeing to defend her high school nemesis in a murder trial.

While I enjoyed Beyond Reasonable Doubt, it didn't grip me to the extent that Her Deadly Game did. The pacing is steady - maybe a bit too steady. I was looking for a little more excitement, a lot more tension.

The larger portion of the book is taken up by the Discovery phase. Interesting, but . . . . The trial itself is full of manipulation, and once that started I simply could not put this read down. The solution was a complete surprise, so full marks Mr Dugoni for that!

What an ending! And I'm glad to see that Keera is sticking to her guns.

Legal thriller, family drama, who and howdunnit, this is an exciting mix of genres with Robert Dugoni's trademark unexpected ending. Will I be reading the next in this series? Definitely.

⭐⭐⭐.8

#BeyondReasonableDoubtKeeraDugganBand2 #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: A writer turned lawyer turned writer.
Robert Dugoni was born in Idaho and raised in Northern California the middle child of a family of ten siblings. Dugoni jokes that he didn't get much of a chance to talk, so he wrote. By the seventh grade he knew he wanted to be a writer.

Dugoni wrote his way to Stanford University, receiving writing awards along the way, and majored in communications/journalism and creative writing while working as a reporter for the Stanford Daily. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and worked briefly as a reporter in the Metro Office and the San Gabriel Valley Office of the Los Angeles Times.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni allows Keera to learn more about herself.

Will Keera get a not guilty verdict and set Jenna free?

Keera Duggan
Our main character is attorney Keera Duggan. She is the trial attorney for her family's law firm, Duggan and Associates. Even though Kerra is one of the leading attorneys at the firm, she still feels like her dad is her safety net; in this case, he wasn't able to be there with her. So, Keera figured out how to proceed with this particular client. It wasn't easy representing a pathological liar. Yet, she figured out how to deal with her client and get her desired outcome.

Keera is still developing her character and learning not to let others impose their expectations on her. I love how she can be honest with her dad and get past some of her anger. This installment had real growth for Keera and Patsy.

The Case
Keera's high school friend, whom she didn't like, is being accused of murder yet again. Only this time, Patsy isn't up to being the first chair, which is now Keera's job. Jenna is known to lie more than tell the truth, and Keera thinks she has figured out what Jenna is up to. Yet, how can she really know if Jenna is telling the truth?

Five Stars
I absolutely enjoyed Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni. I adore his writing style. He transported me to Seattle to follow the case. Keera is a spectacular character.

I look forward to the next installment. Oh, I do recommend Beyond Reasonable Doubt.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Another Keera Duggan thriller that hits it out of the park. I love police procedurals and court room dramas. This was the best of both worlds.

So engaging. Keeps you guessing the entire time.

BOOK: BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT
AUTHOR: ROBERT DUGONI
PUB DATE: 5TH NOVEMBER 2024
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REVIEW- 3.8stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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This is the second book in Keera Duggan's series, I liked Keera in the first book and was eager to know what was next for her. In this aspect, I was not disappointed. In the first book, she was an accomplished lawyer, but she kinda depended on her dad. Maybe that was because she was starting off as a defense lawyer from being a prosecutor. But, that changed greatly in this book. Her Patsy was away for most part of the book, so Keera really grew into her own and managed to drop the 'Patsy's daughter label', and I liked it for her.
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Now, I liked this book, and I'd definitely recommend it, but... First, I enjoyed that this book was thriller fulfilling the thriller part of the legal thriller. Keera's firm really worked hard to uncover the stones and find out what really happened. About Jenna Bernstein, she was not my favorite character, vut she got what she deserved. At first, I wondered how Keera would defend her, but she did a very good job, and I enjoyed reading her process. I also acknowledge the MMC, Detective Frank Rossi's efforts in doing his job. He also turned every stone, and between him and the firm's private detective, they were able to discover who the real culprit was, although Keera uncovered the last clue.
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I liked Keera's growth, but it was kinda annoying when she kept going on and on about how Jenna treated her when she was in school. It was overdone, and I think she was too fixated on her. Keera did a very good job in her defense of Jenna, but I feel like it wouldn't have worked in real life, Keera hated Jenna, but it was justifiable.
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But, I didn't really get the motive for the murder, Sirus Kohl's. I felt like it was rushed, but it was a good ending, so I accepted it. I was disappointed at the slow progress of Keera and Frank's relationship. Are they going to get together or what?
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The book was fast paced in the beginning and the end, but it was kinda slow in the middle. I also liked the legal aspect of the book. This book was worth it. I would definitely recommend this series. Can't wait for more of Keera and Rossi!
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This was okay! It’s a continuation of a series, but there’s plenty of context to put together the history between the main characters. I especially like the two sides of the coin in this series, both seeing a detective and a criminal defense attorney. The mystery that was unraveling was okay, but it didn’t pull me along and I didn’t feel particularly invested. I felt more invested in Keera’s story itself. It was a quick read and it moves at a quick pace. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

An excellent follow up to Her Deadly Game has Keera defending a client without her father in court. She still has his reputation as the Irish Brawler to uphold, while charting her own path. There’s sufficient background to read this as a standalone (but don’t skip the first it was well worth reading). The family law firm is based in Seattle with sisters filling different roles. Keera used to be a prosecutor and is still finding her way as a defense attorney. She’s asked to take on a client she knew from school days. There is bad blood, hard feelings, distrust and animosity. Keera doesn’t trust Jenna, despite her rise to fame and wealth in the medical tech field. Her job is to protect her client, guilt or innocence isn’t the only issue to be addressed. The client is very self-absorbed, lies every time she speaks and Keera struggles to trust her. With the patriarch of the firm nearing retirement, they need the exposure this murder trial could generate in future clientele. The story chronicles Keera’s growth as an individual and in her new role. As the case goes to trial all kinds of bombshells are uncovered. Is Jenna innocent? The evidence against her is quite damning. Keera will need her investigator to dig deep into a tech company locked tighter than a vault. I couldn’t abide the defendant, Jenna was intolerable! Keera had my respect for putting up with the depth of havoc Jenna created. I sped through the plot biting my nails to see what transpired. I loved the courtroom drama and all of the team on Jenna’s case. I’m happy to have discovered the series and highly recommend.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer (via NetGalley) for providing an Advance Reader Copy of “Beyond Reasonable Doubt” (Keera Duggan #2) by Robert Dugoni, publication 10/22/2024. These are my honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Those who read bestselling author Robert Dugoni’s first novel in the Keera Duggan series, will want to pick up the second installment, Beyond Reasonable Doubt , where Keera is the attorney for Jenna Bernstein, founder of a disgraced biotech company, who was found not guilty for the murder of the chief scientist of the fallen company, when she was represented by Keera’s dad, Patsy Duggan. Patsy is in rehab, so Keera must represent Jenna in this second trial for the murder of Sirus Kohl, who was the biggest investor in her start-up company where Jenna misrepresented what was going on to get more money from investors. Keera has history from childhood with Jenna, who has always been cruel and narcissistic, and Keera doesn’t trust her, since she is a liar and does things only for her own good.

Dugoni has done an excellent job of developing the characters in this novel. Keera is known to readers who have read the previous novel, but further development has made her a real person; she is likeable and very human. Most of us know someone like Jenna, and Dugoni has presented her so that she is real, and not a bit likeable. Of course readers don’t want Keera to lose her case and good reputation, but most readers believe Jenna is guilty and may get off again for a murder as well as fraud. Dugoni is absolutely brilliant in his characterization of Jenna and the other supporting characters. He is also a brilliant storyteller, and readers will find themselves not being able to put this spellbinding book down.

Dugoni’s writing style is on par with the top bestselling authors, and he is a bestselling writer for a reason. His novels flow, are well organized, and to the point. Whenever he comes out with a new novel, no matter what the series, I read it immediately because I know it will be fabulous; I haven’t been wrong on that so far. This series is excellent, and this novel is one of his best yet. Highly recommended.

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

Headline: Unputdownable!

Book Review: Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Keera Duggan #2 by Robert Dugoni
Published by Thomas & Mercer, October 22, 2024

★★★★★ (5.0 Stars!)

In Robert Dugoni's latest legal thriller, the Seattle legal firm of Patrick Duggan and Associates — with daughters Ella, Margaret and Keera, gets entangled with the "Fountain of Youth", even as the "Irish Brawler" passes the torch to his youngest.

A biotech company, Ponce de León Restorative Technology (PDRT), seeks to revolutionize medicine by commercializing tissue nanotransfection (TNT), a minimally invasive technique that uses electric sparks to deliver genes or drugs to reprogram tissue functions in the body at the nanoscale to alleviate deadly diseases and to regenerate failing organs.

PDRT boldly touts its main device, "LINK", as the new "Fountain of Youth", which, as it turns out, isn't quite ready to be brought to market, at best; or at worst, simply doesn't work.

Two deaths, that of the chief scientist of PDRT, years prior, and now, the death of PDRT's billionaire primary investor, have PDRT's wunderkind CEO as a prime suspect. The onus to defend Jenna Bernstein, CEO, falls on Keera, with the Irish Brawler now in semi-retirement.

Bernstein is a known factor to Keera. They grew up together and were schoolmates, but their common experiences were far from benevolent and beneficial. Bernstein was cruel, devious and manipulative, and had caused Keera a lot of grief, an acquaintance to be loathed, shunned and avoided.

And yet, now, notwithstanding her extreme trepidation, Keera's career, along with the solvency of the Duggan firm, rests on a successful defense of her childhood nemesis.

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The rise and fall of Dugoni's fictional "PDRT" and its product "LINK" is reminiscent of the rise and fall of high-flying Theranos and its "nanotainer" product. The disgraced multibillion-dollar biotech startup headed by Elizabeth Holmes, currently serving an 11-year sentence at a federal prison, falsely claimed to be able to analyze a patient's blood from a single drop of blood. The massive scandal is comprehensively covered in "Bad Blood" (2018), the non-fiction best selling book written by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, John Carreyrou.

Except that, unlike Theranos and nanotainer, nanotransfection (TNT) is real science.

Discovered in 2017, tissue nanotransfection (TNT) treatments are currently undergoing human trials for chronic wounds, brain injuries, nerve injuries, burns, diabetic complications, and a variety of other conditions.

Count on Robert Dugoni, writer, lawyer and investigative journalist to do the research and heavy lifting for his readers, and embed in his novels the most cutting-edge knowledge and technologies, along with the usual fare of high quality courtroom drama, astute legal twists, and unparallel gripping excitement in his books.

Unputdownable!

Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley.

This was my first read by this author, and I’m now officially a fan. What a great courtroom drama! I definitely didn’t have it figured out. Keera is lead counsel for a murder trial after her father Patsy,known as the Irish brawler, has to go to rehab for his alcohol addiction. it seems a really bad time for this, but Keera has been trained well by Patsy and is up to the task. Her client Jenna Bernstein is well known to her since they grew up together, and it seems Jenna wouldn’t know the truth if it was right in front of her. She’s on trial for murder for the second time in her life after Patsy got her off the first time.

The mystery was whether Jenna actually shot and killed her former partner and lover, and if not, who actually did? Jenna is adamant that she’s innocent, but she lies when the truth sounds better.

The author does a masterful job of setting up the case and keeping us in the dark until the last minute. The devious minds of Jenna and the other possible suspects left mine spinning! This is an instance of things working out for Keera, but it’s slightly bittersweet.

I recommend! 4 stars!

I enjoyed book one in the Keera Duggan series, but I loved this one even more because (I think ) it was based on a real-life case that absolutely fascinated me. When a female tech CEO is accused of the murder of her older lover, can Keera put aside her own past dislike for the woman and give her a solid defense.

Keera was at her best in this book, and my full thoughts area linked in my review below!

Many book series I have come across till now inevitably go through the 'not-as-brilliant-as-the-previous-book' curse; very rarely do we get to see a book series where the 2nd book is very much better than the first one. "Beyond Reasonable Doubt " is one of those rare cases.

Though I had enjoyed the first book of the series, I can't say I was really impressed by it. However, I had liked Keera Duggan and wanted to see where her story progresses to. I am happy I chose to do so as "Beyond Reasonable Doubt", the 2nd book in the series, far exceeded my expectations.

Keera Duggan's father's firm is still coming out of the fallout from her father's bout with alcoholism. The firm is still picking up clients with less frequency than it used to and any income is greatly appreciated. Thus, Keera is forced to take her childhood nemesis Jenna Bernstein as a client to save her from another scrape with the law. Jenna had already been saved from a murder charge, a couple of years ago, by Keera's dad.

Jenna's ex-partner has been recently murdered and Jenna becomes the prime suspect owing to her previous relationship with him. Keera's work is cut out for her with the convoluted defence she needs to mount while dealing with a non- cooperative and manipulative client. Does Keera succed in getting her client acquitted? Does she manage to build a name for herself outside of her father's shadow?

I enjoyed this book a lot more than the previous one. The main characters have all been developed significantly and the beginnings of the bond between the siblings was wonderful to read. Keera is coming into her own and the way she leads the case was a treat. The story travels to unexpected places and the truth was bizarre enough to be unpredictable.

This book was a great reading experience and I can't wait to read more of her works

I remember enjoying Keera’s story in the first book and I was excited to get back into it and see what the characters were up to this time around. I found Part One of the story to read a little slower and I struggled to get fully invested until Part Two (which was frustrating because the second part was really only the last 80 or so pages).

I would continue to read the series if more books came out, as I always enjoy Dugoni’s world building of characters.


Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Copy.

Another great Dugong read. This fast paced legal thriller kept me turning the [virtual] page. This was just like a chess match, a game enjoyed by attorney Keera Duggan and how she tackles her legal defense in the same fashion. I cannot wait for the next Keira Duggan book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy.

Perry Mason had it easy. His clients were always innocent, and almost always likable. There was no doubt Perry would see justice done in a climactic courtroom showdown. Keera Duggan, the protagonist of Robert Dugoni’s new legal thriller, “Beyond Reasonable Doubt,” doesn’t have that luxury. Her client isn’t very likable and may not be innocent. Further, Keera has a bad history with the client dating back to childhood. The result is an intriguing psychological character study that’s even more entertaining than the later courtroom theatrics.

In “Beyond Reasonable Doubt,” Keera’s client is Jenna Bernstein, the young CEO of a billion-dollar startup company working on a medical device that can inject a person’s own genetic material into their skin, altering the organs and becoming a cure-all for many diseases. The company attracted many smaller investors thanks to Jenna’s enormous charisma and natural marketing ability, and its value on paper skyrocketed. Jenna’s instant success story had only one problem; her miracle invention never worked, and Jenna knew it, but misled investors, anyway. If this story seems familiar, it should. Jenna’s tale is clearly based on the Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos saga. And, like Holmes, Jenna’s empire fell apart. It started when the company’s science officer threatened to blow the whistle on Jenna’s investment fraud. He wound up murdered, and Jenna was tried and acquitted of the murder.

Fast forward five years, and Jenna is in trouble again. This time, it’s Sirus Kohl, the company’s COO, who is the murder victim. He was a savvy, veteran investment executive who was having an affair with the much younger Jenna. His death occurred hours before he was supposed to cut a deal with the Feds and inform on Jenna. Sirus was shot with the same gun as the whistleblower, and Jenna was again arrested. At her first trial, Jenna was successfully defended by Patsy Duggan, Keera’s father. Unfortunately, in the five years since Jenna’s first trial, Patsy fell off the wagon one time too many, and Keera has now inherited her father’s practice.

Although “Beyond Reasonable Doubt” is a courtroom thriller, the trial doesn’t begin until just past the book’s halfway point. However, the book’s first half is more interesting than the actual trial. Jenna isn’t just a well-to-do client whose case can boost Keera’s career. Instead, the two women have known each other since childhood, and the relationship hasn’t been happy. Keera knows Jenna’s personality: sadistic, manipulative, and possibly sociopathic. The book’s first half contains several lengthy anecdotes from the two women’s personal histories with each other. The material is disturbing but compelling, the same way the best true-crime shows are. When Keera takes the case, she still doesn’t know whether Jenna is guilty. Keera also figures out quite early in the book that Jenna manipulated Patsy during the first murder trial to put on a defense that allowed Jenna to manipulate the jury.

Keera’s relationship with her father also plays a significant part in “Beyond Reasonable Doubt.” His newfound sobriety is sorely tested when Keera agrees to defend Jenna at the second trial. I thought the author’s portrayal of Patsy as an alcoholic was quite realistic. The impact his situation has on his family, especially Keera, is one of the stronger parts of the book. Patsy is portrayed as decent but flawed, with a loving but, at times, exasperated family.

As Keera investigates Sirus’s murder, the police continue their investigation as well. Much of the book’s first half is told in alternating chapters, switching from Keera’s point of view to Frank Rossi, the Seattle police detective in charge of the investigation. Readers who enjoy police procedurals like most “Law and Order” episodes will enjoy seeing how the cops continue to gather evidence to strengthen their investigation. I haven’t read the first book in the Keera Duggan series, in which Frank also appears, but the author hints at a possible romantic relationship between the two that will probably be explored further in later series entries.

The author’s coverage of Jenna’s trial is decent, but not quite at the level of what you find in the best courtroom thrillers. He discusses legal concepts like the titular “reasonable doubt” in slightly simplistic terms, and the book has less trial minutiae than in other similar books. I enjoyed the author’s discussion of Keera’s decision-making process regarding cross-examining the state’s various technical witnesses. One of the most challenging decisions real-life attorneys must make is what points to try to establish in cross-examination and what topics to let alone.

As the trial progresses, readers will wonder whether Jenna is guilty (of both murders) and, if not, who killed Sirus and the earlier victim. The author provides satisfactory answers to both questions. Unfortunately, the explanation goes on much longer than it should. The book could have been condensed by several of its final chapters and would have been stronger. I wasn’t disappointed in the book’s ending but in how the author decided to end it.

Despite a few flaws, “Beyond Reasonable Doubt” is a solid courtroom thriller. The coverage of the trial and its aftermath are decent, but the author excels at the pre-trial setup. Jenna Bernstein is one of the most fascinating fictional defendants I’ve encountered in a legal thriller. Keera butts heads with Jenna more than with the prosecuting attorney in the case. The result is a trial in which readers aren’t sure whether the defendant is guilty, but they are convinced she’s a very unlikable person. “Beyond Reasonable Doubt” is an excellent character study and an enjoyable courtroom thriller. Of that, I have no doubt.

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.

I did not realize this was book 2 in the series when I started it, but I had no trouble following the story.

This is a great legal thriller that shows the case from both the attorney and the police perspective. It encompasses an unlikable defendant, a history between the defendant and defense attorney and a moral dilemma. The characters are complex and flawed. The story is gripping. I loved the courtroom scenes. It was fascinating to watch Keera's trial strategy change as the case progressed and the facts became clearer.

While it is heavily character driven there was an underlying mystery centered around if Jenna, the defendant, was guilty of this and a previous murder.

I can't believe this is my first read of the author's. I should have believed all the buzz from his previous books.

Saskia Maarleveld narrates the audiobook and great to listen to. She handled the large cast of characters and let the story flow.

If you are a fan of legal thrillers, you need to add this one to your TBR.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt is book 2 in the Keera Duggan series. I love a good murder mystery where you find out what happened as the lawyer does. This book grabs you at the start and gives you just enough information to keep you engaged. The characters in this series are fantastic. I love Keera Duggan and her family. Keera is supposed to be on vacation, but her sister keeps calling her. It's getting really annoying as Keera never takes vacation time. Her sister is the secretary at the family law firm and knows that Keera doesn't want to work right now. When Keera finally picks up to tell her sister off, she finds out that her father has requested to see her. Keera decides to go in, but stay in her sweats with no make-up. She has just finished a run and is sweaty.

As Keera enters the offices she's told what room her father is in. She heads that way and slows when she hears voices. She wasn't told about anyone else being here and she looks awful. Keera goes in to find her father talking to a new client. Jenna is there, a childhood "friend", along with her father. They're trying to explain to Paddy, Keera's father why they need representation. They think Jenna is going to be arrested for the murder of her boss. Jenna lived with him for awhile and worked with him as he was the biggest investor in her biomedical tech company. Paddy had represented Jenna in another murder trial a few years back. Trouble always follows that girl Keera's mother always says.

Keera is not fond of Jenna as she knows what a manipulative liar she is. They've known each other since they were 10 and Keera has lots of bad memories of their time together! Jenna wants Paddy to be her lawyer again, but he's older and not up to it. Keera would be Jenna's lawyer, but she doesn't know that yet This case is going to be difficult as the gun used in the murder is the same as one owned by Jenna, Jenna had motive, and she's been accused of killing someone before. Will Keera take the case? Will Jenna be okay with Keera defending her when she wants Paddy to do it? When Paddy has a health issue and has to go away, Keera will be left to figure out the best way to defend Jenna. Will Jenna listen to Keera? The last third of the book is amazing and you'll fly through it. I couldn't wait to find out what really happened and if Keera was able to get Jenna off! I rate Beyond Reasonable Doubt 4 stars with a high recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of Beyond Reasonable Doubt in exchange for a fair review. #BeyondReasonableDoubt

This is another great series book by Robert Dugoni. I have read a couple of his series and have just started this one. I love the characters and their development. The legal scenes are accurate and make for a very readable story. Keira is now my favorite character by this author. I can’t wait for his next installment. Keep writing Mr. Dugoni. I can’t wait to read more.

The second installment in the Keera Duggan series is a compelling, sharply-written legal thriller clearly drawing inspiration from the Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos saga. This time, Keera finds herself unexpectedly charged with representing her childhood nemesis, Jenna Bernstein.

Years ago, Jenna was acquitted by Keera’s father, Patsy, for the murder of her company’s chief scientist, who had been on the brink of jeopardizing her career and company. Now, she stands accused again—this time of killing her lover and COO, Sirus Kohl (a character unmistakably reminiscent of Sunny Balwani), following his agreement to testify against her.

The plot is enriched by Keera’s reflections on her turbulent history with Jenna, whose manipulative and sociopathic tendencies make her both fascinating and unpredictable. Keera’s growing frustration with Jenna’s elusive honesty adds a tense layer to the narrative: is Jenna a calculating psychopath, or is there more to her actions? The mystery surrounding why Jenna was near the victim's neighborhood on the night of the murder creates intrigue, compelling readers to question her motivations.

The court interactions, Keera’s razor-sharp legal strategy, and the fierce rivalry between her and Jenna make the story super enjoyable. Despite the crime's somewhat predictable resolution, the conclusion is as satisfying as one expects from Dugoni’s work.

This had good moments but had far more moments where I felt the story was being dragged out for length when they could just SAY what they're getting at. The beginning was intriguing, the end saved it for me. The middle was a long, drawn out process of figuring out if this woman murdered one, possibly two people. I enjoyed the first Keera Duggan book much better. Would read a third but Tracy Crosswhite is this author's bread and butter. Everything else is just stuff I read waiting for the next book in that series.