Beyond Reasonable Doubt is a smart, well-crafted legal thriller by Robert Dugoni. It is #2 in the Keera Duggan series, but can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel.
Working in the family law firm, Keera is learning much from her well-known father Patsy Duggan. When he becomes unable to take on the defense of an infamous former client, Jenna Bernstein, Keera must step in to handle the case. One huge complication: Jenna is her former childhood friend, at whose hands Keera suffered from the mean girl’s manipulative actions. Needless to say, Keera struggles with putting the past behind while trying to mount a successful defense for her unreliable, sociopathic client.
The strength of this story is the strong plot line around the investigation and courtroom drama, as well as the moral dilemmas and family relationships Keera must navigate. The characters are strong—either likeable or despicable! There are warm family moments, among the sisters and especially between Keera and Patsy, who is struggling with alcoholism and recovery. This is a very relatable tribe.
With echoes of the Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos case, this thriller has tech innovation and deception as well as a great murder mystery! The author is a strong storyteller and I look forward to his next novel!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

This book grabbed me from the first page. The story is reminiscent of one recently in the news: female wunderkind heads up company to save the world, has a mighty fall when the product is proven to be a hoax. In this case, Leah Bernstein, said wunderkind, is also accused of murdering her partner who was allegedly on the verge is revealing her misdeeds, and testifying in a case that would put her in jail for awhile. Leah asks Keera Duggan to be her defense attorney. Keera has history with Leah; they grew up together and to put it mildly, Keera is not a fan. To add interest and complexity to the story, Keera's father Patsy defended Leah in a previous murder trial, in which was not "proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt" and hence was not convicted. But Patsy is older now with has health troubles, and not up to the grueling task of providing a defense to anyone. Keera is on her own with this one, and skillfully plans a defense for a client she dislikes, distrusts and wouldn't mind seeing in jail. In typical Robert Dugoni style, misdirections abound, the victim is not completely sympathetic, the client is a piece of work, and the remaining cast of characters are not there to make Keera's life easier! This is one you won't want to put down until you are finished...and even then, you'll be hoping for more. A great read! I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second in a new series by this author, and I very much enjoyed the first one - and the second one did not disappoint. It can be read as a stand-alone, but reading this book will impel you to read the first as well, I promise. It's another gripping legal thriller/police procedural that keeps you engrossed to the end. After "meeting" Keera in the first book of the series, this deepens the back story of her relationship with her family, particularly her defense attorney father. And what a great premise, having Keera defend her childhood nemesis, who cannot be trusted. Keera's ability to think one or more steps ahead stands her in good stead, and again the story shows the ambivalence of living with the gray shading between the black and white of life. I can't wait for the next in this series!

Another captivating and fast paced procedural/legal thriller from Robert Dugoni! I think it's safe to say I'm a big fan of RD's books and characters. This is the second book in the Keera Duggan series, and it did not disappoint!

Keera is an easy character to admire. She works hard to prove herself at her family's law firm as a former prosecutor turned defense attorney. From the first chapter, we find that Keera is still struggling with this shift. I think the author did a great job of putting us in Keera's mind set- how do you defend someone you aren't sure is worthy of defense? That is something Keera struggles with the entire book. I really enjoyed how RD navigated Keera working through questioning her client and determining for herself what she was and was not comfortable with. This book really leaned heavily into Keera learning how to be the best defense attorney she could be, especially with her father unable to help guide her through this trial. I loved seeing Keera excel on her own, and I think this sets up some great future cases!

I did miss some of the family dynamics in this book and would love to have learned more about Keera's personal life. But I think this book did its job is growing Keera as a lawyer and sets the stage for her getting together her personal life in future books.

If you are a procedural/legal thriller reader, you will definitely not want to miss this one! It's a page turner for sure! Make sure you grab it today on KU (available as an e-read and audiobook)!

I am really loving this series! Complex characters and compelling mystery kept me up way past bedtime. I didn't figure this one out before the reveal. This author never fails to deliver a story that grips you and sucks you into the pages!

Beyond Reasonable Doubt is book two in the Keera Duggan series by Robert Dugoni is a riveting legal thriller that had me hooked from the very first page.
This is a masterfully crafted thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
With its engaging plot, compelling characters, and twists and turns I was engaged from the beginning.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Amazon Publishing, Brilliance Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by the wonderful Robert Dugoni, and the second in the Keera Duggan series, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld – 5 stars!

Jenna Bernstein, disgraced CEO of a controversial biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner and lover. Three years early, Keera Dugan’s father successfully defended Jenna when she was tried for killing the company’s chief medical scientist who threatened to go public with allegations of corporate fraud. Jenna now wants Keera to defend her against the latest allegations, but Jenna and Keera have a history since childhood, and Keera knows that trouble follows Jenna.

Dugoni has done it again, written a gripping police procedural/legal thriller that kept me guessing until the end. I really like Keera’s character – smart, confident, driven, flawed – and how she interacts with people both professionally and in her family life, especially with her dad. This book has Keera defending her childhood nemesis, and she doesn’t trust Jenna to be honest with her. But with so much on the line, the two must rely on each other. Keera’s chess prowess once again comes into play as she must think one step ahead. The ending was perfect and I can’t wait for more in this series!

Robert Dugoni is one of my favorite storytellers weaving police investigation with defense's plan for acquittal! In Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Dugoni has gifted us with the second legal thriller with Keera Duggan. Keera returns and steps out from under the shadow of her father, the Irish Brawler, Patsy Duggan. In Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Keera is tasked with defending Jenna Bernstein (think "Einstein"), the CEO of Ponce de Leon Restorative Technology, one of many biotechnology companies in and around Seattle.
Part I is about Erik Wei, chief scientist at PDRT, and his demise and the consequential trial, chaired by the Irish Brawler. In Part Two, five years hence, Keera is tasked with the defense of a childhood friend/not friend Jenna Bernstein. Jenna constantly alters any situation to her benefit. Now, accused.of a different murder, Keera has her work cut out for her. Jenna is facing murder charges for the death of her one-time lover, Sirus Kohl, the CFO of PDRT and top investor. And just to add a couple additional characters, we have daughter, Adria Kohl, chief council of PDRT, and Jeff Martin, head of security, both in the mix of people Jenna manipulates. There are twists, surprises in & out of the courtroom, fantastic character development and WHAT AN AMAZING ENDING!!!
I highly recommend this outstanding legal thriller!!!!!

First.....Robert Dugoni is an auto-read author for me. Whether fiction or nonfiction, Dugoni can be counted on to provide a compelling story told in a fast paced, tension filled manner that keeps readers like me coming back for more. I've read much of his extensive back library and have yet to find one I did not love enough to give it 5 stars. This is book #2 in his Keera Duggan series. It is written in a "law and order' manner with the book divided into the crime and investigation first and the trial second. Keera Duggan is a criminal defense attorney that becomes involved in the investigation of her clients, giving her some insight into the investigation. In BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT, Keera is defending a woman she has known since childhood against murder charges. This is not the first time this client has been charged with murder where she was defended by Keera's father, who has now retired. This knowledge influences the defense.......but you'll have to read the book to find out how. This is another excellent example of Dugoni's skills. You will take each step with Keera as she decides whether her client is innocent or not.

Keera Duggan and Jenna Bernstein had been friends briefly in childhood, but once Keera realized what a controlling and manipulative liar Jenna was, she distanced herself. Now, one-time prosecutor-turned-defense attorney Keera finds herself defending disgraced biotech CEO Jenna, who has been accused of killing her former partner and boyfriend before he could present evidence implicating her in past crimes.

This is the second installment of this budding legal thriller series, and the author continues to expertly develop the main and supporting characters, while perfectly weaving together tension and conflict. By exploring the police investigation, the internal family legal practice drama, and the courtroom suspense together with the Elizabeth Holmes-like narrative, Robert Dugoni has once again delivered a very engrossing read and I can’t wait for the next installment.

NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer kindly provided me an ARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This is the second book in Dugoni's Keera Duggan series and it's a devilish courtroom drama that travels a twisty road hand in hand with a crafty police procedural. I love this author's literary style. It is so easy to become immersed in his stories.

This author has once again whipped together the perfect recipe for the continued success of this series. The plot line is intriguing, the characters are developed perfectly, and the story has great flow and suspense. I can't wait for the next one!

My sincere thanks to the publisher Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this terrific novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the second book in the Keera Duggins series and, since I had read the first and liked it, I happily picked this one up. Although it is always nice to read previous books, I think this one could be enjoyed as a stand alone.

Description:
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 nothing but the truth. If this is all just another devious game, Keera might be working to set a murderer free.

My Thoughts:
With what Keera knew about Jenna from her prior interactions with her, I feel like she had a conflict of interest from the start on this one. Regardless, Keera is a fierce attorney and gave it her all. Thre is some definite tension throughout the book and some great courtroom drama. The issues continue with Patsy fighting his alcoholism and Keera is trying her best to be supportive of him. Keera's chess playing background comes through in her profession making her mind work in a logical, calculating, methodical way to keep her focused and make the right moves. I enjoy the chess references. I recommend this legal thriller as well as the series. Robert Dugoni spins a good story.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Three years ago Jenna Bernstein was found not guilty of shooting Erik Wei, a researcher at Ponce de León Restorative Technology where she was the CEO. Her lawyer was Patsy Duggan, Keera's father. Erik was going to blow the whistle on a product that claimed to work as a "Fountain of Youth", but in reality it did not. Today, Jenna is once again charged for murder. Sirus Kohl, her CFO and, her the lover who was also talking to the Feds about Jenna, was shot. It turns out it is the same gun used three years ago to kill Erik Wei. Patsy is in no condition to take on a murder trial, health issues, alcoholism. Keera steps up to take the case, even though Jenna tried to drown her when they were kids.

Keera is a Master Chess player. She uses the skills she has learned from chess to plan her strategy for Jenna's defense. Jenna is an unlikeable character from the start. She lies, manipulates, and has sociopathic tendencies.

I enjoyed the courtroom scenes. Keera really shines when she is defending her client. She is a fearless litigator. I would have liked more time spent in court and less time in trial/discovery. This is the second Keera Dugan legal thriller and can be read as a stand-alone. I would recommend reading the first, Her Deadly Game, for more background on the main characters and the dynamics of the Duggans. Robert Dugoni has written a fast paced, twisty, legal thriller that has me excited for the next Keera Duggan case.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for an ARC. The review is my own.

Another excellent story in the Keera Duggan Legal Thriller Series. Keera is on holiday when she is summoned to be back at the office where she finds a long time acquaintance who her father had previously defended in the court of law, and, again, she is being accused of murder. Their past is filled with bad memories and Keera is not willing to take the case which she'll eventually do. What readers will find is an extremelly well put together plot, with all the mysteries and rituals of the judiciary system whilst at the same time learning about how family life affected Keera and her siblings and how her life was entangled with that of the woman she decided to defend. Highly recommended!
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Second book in the Keera Duggan series. Keera's old 'friend' Jenna Bernstein, a master manipulator and a compulsive liar, is accused of murder. She want's Keeras father Patsy 'the Brawler' Duggan to represent her. He's gotten her off the hook once already. Patsy is dealing with health problems and can't take the case. Keera is the only one available and Jenna has no choise but to reluctantly comply.

This was an excellent legal thriller and police procedural. Some of the chapters are told from the investigating police point of view. Detective Frank Rossi is the lead investigator. We met him in the first book and now we get to know him even better. Keera is a former chess prodigy and uses her knowledge of chess in how she works. She plans all her moves beforehand and is usually at least a couple of steps ahead of others. Jenna was such an unlikable character, I had no warm feelings for her. The ending was good and now I can't wait to read the next book.

Keera's family law firm is hired to defend Jenna, who she grew up with. Keera is then forced to take on her murder defense solely by herself. Jenna is smart and narcissistic- traits that Keera saw all too closely when they were teens. Now she is accused of killer her much older business partner and ex-boyfriend, on the cusp of him turns state's evidence against her for fraud. As Keera dives into the facts of the case, she must use her chess playing skills to defend her client, whom she doesn't trust, to the best of her ability.

This is the second in a series of legal thrillers by the excellent writer Robert Dugoni. I have loved some of his non-series books (The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell and The World Played Chess) and in these legal thrillers, he shows he's very versatile while also maintaining his excellent writing. I would probably start with the first book in this series and not jump in with this one, but I think Dugoni is absolutely worth reading. Luckily, he is very prolific, so I have lots of his books ahead of me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

This started out a little slowly for me. In fact, I had to start it several times before it caught my attention. It was ultimately good, but not my favorite by this author.

4.5 ⭐️

I was thrilled to see a second book in the Keera Duggan series! I love a well written and intriguing, fast paced legal drama, intertwining the personal with the professional in a dramatic race to the conclusion, and Beyond Reasonable Doubt ticks all the boxes for me.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt sees Keera having built up her own reputation in the business, keeping her father’s legacy alive by keeping his defence practice going, working alongside her dysfunctional and challenging family members.

This times she’s drawn into defending someone, someone she knows all too well. Someone her father previously defended. Someone she knows she can’t trust. Defending her onetime childhood friend Jenna, she knows Jenna as a scheming and skilled manipulator, someone used to manipulating people and situations for her own gain

This case sees Keera having to trust her instincts. A chess prodigy as a child, she’s always been more than one step ahead of her opponents, these days that includes her clients too. It sees her navigating this case in her own bold, unpredictable and instinctual manner.…

4.5 Stars
One Liner: Keera does it again!

Seattle attorney Keera Duggan is back. This time, she is approached by her friend Jenna Bernstein, the CEO of a biotech company, accused of murdering her former partner and lover. This isn’t Jenna’s first touch with trouble. Keera’s father had handled a case for her three years ago and she knows just how manipulative Jenna can get.
Still, Keera is determined to give a case a shot. As the investigation gets deeper, Keera must determine if her client is innocent or guilty.
The story comes in the third-person POVs of Keera and Frank.

My Thoughts:
After reading the first book, I hoped it would be a series. Keera was too good to be limited to a single book. Imagine my delight when I saw this one!
While the plot and the courtroom drama are not as intense as in the previous one, there’s enough to keep the reader hooked. That’s why I read the book on a Sunday and finished it in two back-to-back sittings.
There are also fewer references to chess moves, which worked just fine for me since I don’t know the game. The courtroom scenes, especially in part two, were fab. They were not filled with tension but more like a waiting game to see what she planned.
The book relies heavily on the FMC. Keers does a great job of carrying the plot. The opening scene followed by how she dealt with the afterward shows her character. There’s a touch of ruthlessness in her which is exactly what one needs to do the job right but within the boundaries of the law.
The family is less present but we get enough to remember how dysfunctional it is. Patsy also has a smaller role which allows the plot to move steadily without unwanted distractions.
Frank Rossi is the second lead and a detective who gets the other half of the POV. Through him, we see the police procedural parts of the case. He is a reliable, stable, and rational narrator. While Frank and Keera don’t have many scenes together (they work on the opposite sides now), I like how there’s a lot of read-between-the-lines thing going on. The development is almost non-existent but I can see the foundation being laid. It will get interesting in the next books (can’t help it; I love a bit of romance as long as it is organic).
I could connect the dots and guess the way things would turn over sometime in the second half. That didn’t affect my reading experience. For me, knowing I read the clues right implies the author planned well and kept the readers informed instead of wanting to surprise them with a ‘twist’ or by hiding crucial information.
Did I want a little more exploration of Jenna’s psychology? Yes! A bit more of cat-and-mouse games; yes! Still, no complaints about what I got.
Also, I love this new trend of introducing new white characters as white. Keep doing it.

To summarize, Beyond Reasonable Doubt is without doubt a solid continuation of the series and sets the tone for what’s come. I can’t wait to read book #3 and meet Keera (& Frank) again.
There’s no author’s note in this ARC. Wonder why? The one in the previous book was lovely!
Thank you, NetGalley, and Thomas & Mercer, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Kept Me On My Seat’s Edge Until The End

Erik Wei, the chief science officer, meets Jenna Bernstein, his CEO at Ponce de León Restorative Technology, in a restaurant. He will tell her that the technology they are developing will not live up to the marketing hype. As a third infusion of investment cash is needed, announcing that more time is required to bring the product to market would be disastrous and cause the company to fail. That night, Erik Wei was shot to death. Bernstein is tried for his murder. From this start, a déjà vu story of another murder and being tried again starts.

This novel has one main storyline thread, beginning five years earlier and transitioning to the present. The protagonist, Keera Duggan, faces many significant issues defending Bernstein. She went to school with Bernstein and was seen as a friend, as their families were friends, so she knows the type of person Bernstein is in real life. Neither trusts the other. Burnstein is a liar and manipulator, but Duggan will only defend her if she makes all the defense strategy decisions. As the story proceeds, the evidence appears to deepen the hole in which Burnstein finds herself. The narrators are Duggan and the police detectives on the case, so the reader sees this story unfold from the prosecution and defense investigating Burnstein and the crime. All interactions between the principal persons involved in the crime and witnesses information are provided in interviews with them. The reader is not provided with their thoughts and actions, so the level of suspense is very high. This captured my interest early, and I kept it until the end, when the truth came out.

Keera Duggan’s background is one of the richest I have ever read. Much is provided in two B-storyline threads. The first is the relationship between Duggan and Burnstein forged in their years together in school and the close friendship between the families. This thread provides insight into Duggan’s development in a poisoning environment. The second is the early development between Duggan and her father. The close relationship started with her father teaching her chess, and her competitiveness was honed in chess matches. It continues to the present, where he passes on his wisdom on handling complex cases with difficult clients. Her role in getting her father to control his alcoholism provides another aspect of her character. The reader also learns why her father is so insistent in defending Burnstein. This aspect was a large contributor to my enjoyment in reading this novel.

This novel has minimal aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading. There are no intimate scenes. Vulgar and rude language is present, but its level is low. All violence is described as less edgy after the fact. While this novel is the second in the series, I found no instances that were not sufficiently explained. This novel can be read without first reading the previous novel.

I read this novel on an eReader, taking notes as I read. I did not note anything with which I had an issue. What I enjoyed the most was the test of wills between Duggan and Burnstein from their schoolgirl days to the present. I found the ending very appropriate for Burnstein. This is the 20th novel of this author I have read. He is one of my Must-Read authors. As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and highly recommend it. I rate this novel with five stars.

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