This book was one of his best yet! Great story, who knew what Jenna would come up with next? I especially liked how Keera got through the trial and how it ended. I think Dugoni has a great series going here. I like Tracey but maybe liking Keera more? I really enjoy both series. And really like both Keera and Tracey, so it's probably down to which series I'm reading at the time, as to which is better. Love the characters, love the plots, love the location. Highly recommend.

Robert Dugoni is a must-read author for me, though I am late to the game in finding his mysteries and legal thrillers. Beyond Reasonable Doubt, book 2 in the Keera Duggan series, was every bit as good as Her Deadly Game, and left me excitedly anticipating the next in the series. Dugoni writes legal thrillers that will appeal to readers of John Grisham, and characters that have significant depth. His stories always keep me guessing, and wondering at the accused's guilt or innocence.

In Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Keera Duggan is faced with representing a woman she has known since childhood, though they could not be described as friends. She also has to face her former colleagues across the courtroom, and without her father by her side. What she learns about herself and her abilities is one of the best aspects of this novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the digital ARC of Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni. The opinions in this review are my own.

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 have loved everything I have read from Robert Dugoni. The series I've read are all mysteries of some sort: a police procedural, a spy thriller and now a legal thriller. Beyond Reasonable Doubt is the next in the Keera Duggan series. The setting is Seattle, as some of his other series and we have seen a few characters in the police or CSI I recognized.

Kerra is in her family's firm after leaving the prosecutor's office. The firm needs her as her father, a star criminal defense attorney, is aging and has issues with alcohol. Now a childhood enemy of Keera is up on her second murder charge. Her father got the charges dismissed on her first charge.

Keera has to think hard about whether she will defend this women who bullied and mistreated her in the past. Jenna is a master manipulator who is used to lying and getting her way. With her father in rehab, Keera will be on her own. Keera gathers all the evidence which brings her to the truth. Jenna will have to tell the truth to not spend the rest of her life in prison.

Keera is stellar and I love her. The details in the strategy and her cool handling of the case as she does her best even if she doesn't like her client. Although I enjoyed it when she told Jenna to shut up and listen. I can be petty that way. Keera works well with the prosecution and the detectives. It is just a joy to have these stories.
:

Beyond Reasonable Doubt (Keera Duggan Book 2)
by: Robert Dugoni
Thomas Mercer
Pub date: Oct. 22, 2024
General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers

The second book in Dugoni's Keera Duggan series gripped me throughout the story, as all of his books have. Seattle defense attorney Keera was pulled from her staycation when she is called into a case involving her high school classmate Jenna. As Keera defends the manipulating Jenna, she uses strategies she has learned from playing chess and from her father Patsy.

Dugoni's writing is taut and tense, taking readers from a murder scene and into the courtroom for an outstanding legal thriller. His dialogue is exceptional, as is his character development. I like knowing Keera through her career, family relationships, and personal growth. Her father faces an exceptionally difficult period in his life in this book. Having devoured Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series, I will patiently wait and hope for a third book featuring Keera Duggan.

I received an advance reader's copy from Net Galley and Thomas Mercer. My review is my own.

I absolutely loved this legal thriller, even though it’s the second in the series—it can easily be read as a standalone. The intricate plot kept me engaged from start to finish, weaving together complex characters and moral dilemmas. The author has a remarkable ability to craft a story that balances intense legal battles with deep personal conflicts.

This time, the theme of separating personal feelings from the need to defend someone from the past really resonated with me. It was a brilliant exploration of loyalty and the sacrifices we make for others. The tension and stakes were palpable, making it hard to put the book down.

Every twist and turn added depth to the narrative, showcasing the author’s exceptional storytelling skills. I found myself fully immersed in the characters’ struggles and triumphs. This book reinforced why this author is one of my favorites—his work is always compelling, complex, and thoroughly enjoyable. I can't wait to see what he does next!

This was a good legal thriller. Keera is asked to defend Jenna, someone she’s known since childhood, and someone she does not trust! This is the second time Jenna has been charged with murder. After delving into the evidence, Keera is able to eventually find her way to the truth.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It was not a 'slow burn' nor was it an 'edge of your seat ride' from the beginning. But rather like the game of chess referenced in the book, it was interesting from the onset and built its plot evenly throughout the story. It was a great legal thriller that brought the characters to life. I have enjoyed Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crossehite series and this one did not disappoint. I enjoyed reading and following as each piece of the puzzle was dropped down in place escalating to a dramatic finish in the court room. Honestly, I did not see how the lead heroine was going to pull this together, but she did! I loved this book and will read more in the series.

As a longtime fan of Robert Dugoni’s work, especially The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell and the first Keera Duggan novel (Her Deadly Game), I was eager to dive into Beyond Reasonable Doubt. While this second book in the series offers a solid legal thriller, it didn’t quite grip me in the way I’d hoped.

Criminal defense attorney Keera Duggan returns to the courtroom, this time defending her high school rival turned health tech wunderkind in a murder trial. The writing is good, but I didn’t feel invested in the outcome of the trial. The pacing, while steady, didn’t build the same level of tension that made the first book such a standout for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for providing me with the ebook and audiobook in exchange for my honest review

A 3.5 rounded to 4 stars.

Last year when I read the first book of the Keera Duggan series, Her Deadly Game, I was completely awed by the taut narration from the author, and it reminded me so much of the quick-paced, legal thrillers by John Grisham. This book too kept me entertained but I felt that the case covered in the first book was more nuanced than the one handled in this book.

Keera Duggan is a defense attorney in her father's firm, but she was also a prosecutor few years back. So it's quite a shift for her in terms of her mindset and strategy to defend and argue for her clients, who are sometimes charged with violent crimes like murder and rape. And in some cases where there is only circumstantial evidence, it's Keera's job to prove that her client is, if perhaps, not guilty, at least maybe, not guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Keera's vacation abruptly ends when her sister Maggie, calls her into office for an emergency meeting. Jenna Bernstein, the ex-CEO of a biotech company is charged with the murder of her business partner and her lover, Sirus Kohl. Three years earlier, Keera's father, Patsy had successfully defended Jenna when she was charged with the murder of the company's scientist and whistle-blower, Erik Wei. Although Jenna seems to be a sociopath, with absolutely no guilt over the consequences of her actions, can she be a psychopath too?

As Keera gets to the bottom of this tangled mess of a case, she also gets to test her own mettle as an attorney. As always the author's writing is flawless and we get to read some really well written courtroom scenes. I did feel that the author was writing in circles sometimes about the evidence in the case and also the case seemed to be pretty simple one to solve. I also missed the interaction between the Duggan family members, especially since Patsy is MIA for the courtroom drama. But I do love this series, its a quick-read and I love the efficient and focused Keera and how she is always two steps ahead of her opponents.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance copy of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”Beyond Reasonable Doubt” in exchange for my honest opinion. Robert Dugoni is one of my favorite authors and I am always excited when I have the opportunity to read his latest work. I enjoy the character of Keera and her latest case was certainly complicated because of her personal connection with the character she was representing. Having lived with an alcoholic, the depiction of her father’s struggle and the impact it has on family members was very authentic. I don’t think I connect with Keera the way I do with Tracy Crosswhite, from one of his other series, but it was a good read.

I did not read the first book in the series, but it didn’t hinder the understanding or the ability to follow the plot at all. The book opens with a very exciting scene. I kind of wished that I could have had more of that. The author gave a lot of background to some of the characters that made their actions make sense. I especially loved the ending. It was pretty satisfying.

Keera and Jenna - frenemies since early childhood. Not much has changed now that they are adults. Keera is a smart, ethical lawyer working at her father’s law firm. For the second time, Jenna has been accused of murder. The first time, Keera’s Dad got Jenna off. Now it’s Keera’s turn. Part of the problem is that Jenna is the consummate liar. She’s so good at manipulating, no one knows what to believe.

I was not aware this is book #2 of a series. It worked extremely well as a stand alone but is enticing enough for me to want to read book #1. The intrigue for Keera is trying to find the truth and to give the best defense for her client, even if she personally does not like Jenna.

This was highly entertaining. I was thrilled to see it in the Read It Now section on Netgalley, as I know Mr. Dugoni is a veteran author of numerous well written books. This one did not disappoint.

Thomas & Mercer publisher via Netgalley. Publication date is October 22, 2024.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni is the second in his courtroom drama featuring Keera Duggan, who was making a name for herself as a defense lawyer, despite initially being seen only as her father’s daughter. Her father, Patsy, is known as the Irish Bulldog. She was, maybe, not so far away from that title herself. She had just finished a case wherein it was possible her client was guilty and was taking some time for herself. She was on a run when her sister texted. She ignored. Texted again. Ignored again. Finally she gave up and called and Maggie, also the firm’s receptionist, told her she needed to come in. Her father had decreed. So, she went in, not expecting clients. Who was it but Jenna Bernstein and her parents? Patsy had gotten Jenna off on a murder charge. She had been the CEO of a fantastic new startup that promised great inroads into medical science with their device. Then, their head scientist had been murdered, after he threatened to go public with the fact the device was not there yet. Patsy had done an amazing thing: he had let Jenna testify. She was the consummate sociopath, lied well, and got herself off. Now what was going on?

Keera is clever and audacious. The lead detective in this case is Frank Rossi, an excellent investigator. One she had toyed with having a relationship with when she work for the DA. Now he was on the other side; still wouldn’t work. He was the police representative in court. He knew her well, but even he couldn’t figure out what she was up to, but he knew it was something. Keera didn’t like Jenna. They had known each other as children and young teens and Jenna had tortured her. She knew her client was lying. Could she change that? This was an in-the-edge-of-your-seat kind of book. The reader didn’t know exactly what Keera was planning either. The story was easy to follow, built slowly, and was extremely well-plotted. The characters are full of charm and charisma, albeit of different sorts. The crime was also well thought out and obvious once it was brought to light. The truly amazing thing was the startup, PDRH, and their inner workings. Hopefully that was all fiction. Can’t go wrong with Dugoni.

I was invited to read Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Thomas & Mercer. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #ThomasAndMercer #RobertDugoni #BeyondReasonableDoubt

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’, the second book with Keera Duggan written by Robert Dugoni, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Defence Lawyer Keera Duggan is working on behalf of childhood acquaintance Jenna Bernstein who’s been charged with the murder of ex-lover Silus Kohl. Frank Rossi and Billy Ford are the detectives called out when Silus Kohl is found shot dead in his home. They’re all seeking evidence, Keera to get her client acquitted and Rossi and Ford to get her found guilty and locked away.

‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’ is probably the best legal thriller I’ve read with a plot so exquisitely woven I felt I was there with them in the Courtroom. I could feel the tension increasing as the story gradually built-up and the dramatic twists and turns had me guessing from the first page to the last especially as Jenna was unable to tell the truth even if her life depended on it. I could feel the attraction between Keera and Rossi and the respect they had for each other and hope that in a future book they get to watch a match together. It’s been a thoroughly enjoyable book to read, worthy of its five stars and more, and I look forward to reading more of Keera and the Duggan family in the future.

Keera Duggan is back defending a morally questionable person. I like this! No clear cut good or bad, just a lot of grey. I did guess/assume the true culprit pretty early on. It was just a matter of waiting for Keera to figure it out. I also liked how we got to learn some more about Keera's history. But, there was one subplot that I am not sure I am a fan of; however, to tell you would be a spoiler, so you can read and decide for yourself. I can't quite decide. Part of it I like but part makes me a little uncomfortable. Intriguing, isn't it? Just means I need to hope we get a third in the series soon so I can find out where this all leads. I hope we continue getting interesting and convoluted plots like this one, along with developing the characters around Keera. I think there is a lot there and I'm looking forward to reading all about it!

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

The story begins with Keera awaiting the results from the jury for whether her client is guilty or not. Once the verdict is given, Keera has a discussion with her client. The story jumps then to a scene where an individual associated with Keera's childhood friend, Jenna, has been discovered. Keera is on a vacation when she gets several calls and messages from Maggie telling her she needs to come to the office immediately. Once Keera arrives, she goes to the conference where she discovers Jenna and her parents are there with Keera's father Patsy and sister Ella. Since Patsy had gotten Jemma off at a previous murder trial, they wanted him to handle the murder case if Jenna is charged. Patsy is no longer doing trials and that now falls to Keera to handle. Keera tells Jenna if she is to handle the case, she has to do what Keera says.

Jenna is finally charged and the story follows the measure that Keera plans to use as she tries to defend Jemma.

To learn what evidence the prosecution has against Jenna and how Keera handles it, what steps she has JP, her investigator does and how everything works out in the end, then you need to read this book. The trial ending is one that is unexpected. Don't miss out!

Book 2 in the Keera Duggan Series, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, was one of my highly anticipated books of 2024. I loved Her Deadly Game and highly recommend reading it first - though not absolutely necessary.

Forced to give up her staycation, Keera is back in the office when another high profile case lands on her desk. What follows is another legal drama told from a couple POVs - Keera the lawyer and police detective, Frank Derossi. Again Dugoni has written a compelling courtroom legal story that was authentic and had me reading the last 50% in one day.

The storyline, red herrings and characters were real (even if I didn't like them - looking at you Jenna). The backstory of Keera and Jenna's relationship was woven in nicely to get that big picture of what Keera was going through as she defended her.

I am a relatively new fan of Robert Dugoni, my thanks to TheBakingBookworm for the recommendation and now I continue with his backlist to keep me occupied until book 3 comes out.

My thanks to Thomas Mercer for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

“…a defense attorney’s job was not to find guilt or to exonerate. That was the jury’s job. Trials were not about determining the truth, only what the evidence could support.”

When Jenna Bernstein, disgraced CEO of a biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner, she turns to Seattle attorney Keera Duggan to defend her. Keera, who is Jenna’s childhood friend, sees her for who she was: a manipulative and frighteningly controlling sociopath.
As the investigation gets underway, Keera puts her trust in a client who swears she's telling nothing but the truth. If this is all another devious game, Keera might be working to set a murderer free.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt, the second Keera Duggan book, brings Keera’s brilliance to the fore as she applies chess moves to her defence strategy in the courtroom. One can’t help but admire how Dugoni studies human psychology through this case where Keera and her client are locked in an intense battle of trust.

The case itself is intriguing where the defendant is on trial for one murder but there is a second closely-related case from five years ago that remains unsolved. With the story narrated from the POV of Keera and the detectives, Dugoni does a fabulous job of keeping the tension high.

I was glad to see JP Harrison return and enjoyed his witty interactions with Keera. I’m also curious to see how things progress between Keera and Det. Frank Rossi.

With psychological drama both in and out of the courtroom, Dugoni pulls you in with his clever writing and nail-biting suspense. It is impossible to stay away from his books and I’m already eager for Keera’s next case.

This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

Thanks to MBC books for the gifted copy.

These are the kind of books. I really like to get lost in. While fantasy is a natural choice to escape my life, I always enjoy a good legal thriller, imagining my life if I had taken a different path. I like the strategy and the unexpected turns.

The story plays off of the real life story of Elizabeth Holmes and her biotech that was a bit of a house of cards. In this story, there is a similarly charismatic but perhaps a bit sociopathic powerful female leader who is sleeping with an older male who is funding her company. We join them after the company has folded and she’s already been acquitted of the death of the whistleblower that took her down. Now her ex-lover is dead and the cops are looking to nail her for this murder.

Her lawyer is a former prosecutor taking over her father’s practice, her father notoriously got the prior acquittal. About half the story takes place in the lead up to the trial and then the fireworks begin at the trial itself.

I loved the balance of characters to root for and ones to hate in this one. Lots of little tidbits of evidence lead you to the truth with a few great twists along the way.

Read this if you like John Grisham or Scott Turow.

"Trouble seems to follow that girl." Jenna Bernstein, CEO of Ponce de León Restorative Technology, is facing yet another murder charge after having been found not guilty in a previous case. All Keera Duggan needs to do as her defense attorney is create enough doubt in the jurists' minds to find her client not guilty. The only problem is that Keera herself believes Jenna, a lying narcissistic sociopath she's known most of her life, is entirely capable of murder.

I always enjoy a good legal thriller like this. Here, we get to watch both sides at work as the case is built and brought to trial. Keera has recently joined her family's law firm run by her father, Patsy. In fact, he's the one who got Jenna off in her first murder trial. But this time around, Patsy is stepping back and letting Keera take the case. He has been a life-long alcoholic and the struggle to stay sober has taken too much of a toll. Interesting characters and a strong family dynamic make this series different and entertaining.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new legal thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.