Book Review | Losing Faith by Adam Mitzner

Losing Faith is a legal thriller by Adam Mitzner.

From the acclaimed author Publishers Weekly called “a gifted writer” comes this nail-biting legal thriller in the bestselling tradition of John Grisham and Scott Turow.

Aaron Littmann, the chairman of one of the country’s most prestigious law firms, has just been contacted by a high-profile defense attorney, whose client is Nikolai Garkov, a Russian businessman arraigned on terrorism charges for pulling the financial strings behind recent treasonous acts. The attorney informs Aaron that Garkov is looking to switch representation and will pay one hundred thousand dollars just to take the meeting. But Aaron doesn’t have any choice, as Garkov is ready to go public with the damning evidence that Aaron and the judge in the high-profile case—Faith Nichols—had a torrid affair during another recent case.

Filled with suspense, twists, and turns, Losing Faith will captivate legal thriller fans everywhere.

This may not be readily apparent given the books that are typically on my reading list, but I love legal thrillers. Love them. They are the logic puzzles of the literary world, and the legal system provides a set of rules by which everyone must abide. I love trying to figure out how the characters are going to pull off their case within the confines of the law.

And then there’s Losing Faith. Law shmaw.

Losing Faith started out really great. It’s been a while since I’ve read a good legal thriller so I was fully invested in the book. There was a lot of detail given on legal procedure, which I happen to enjoy. Your mileage may vary. There was also an unexpected twist that really set up the plot and took the book in a great direction.

This is where I get spoilerish on why I hate this book.

I was enjoying the proceedings up until the defense decided to base their entire case on perjury. Perjury from the wife, perjury from friends, perjury from the defendant. I think my blood actually began to boil. It’s lazy, illogical, and just plain anti-what-legal-thrillers-are-all-about.

Losing Faith was a complete disaster after that point.

I see the potential in Adam Mitzner’s writing so I plan to pick up another one of his books. As for Losing Faith, it was totally not my thing.

4/10: Not My Thing

Review copy provided by publisher

Book Review: Cherry Beach Express by R. D. Cain

Book Description

When Steve Nastos is wrongfully accused of murdering his dentist—a man whom he believes committed an unspeakable crime against his daughter—he decides to take the law into his own hands.

Freed on bail, he attempts to track down the actual killer in a town where laws are seen more as guidelines and law enforcement agents adhere to their own moral relativism. Handicapped by a recovering alcoholic lawyer, a rogue cop, and a two-faced judge, Nastos has the cards stacked against him. 

As his estranged yet beloved wife inadvertently becomes involved in the case, the stakes become higher, and Nastos is forced to protect her.

What a week!  In the midst of craziness, I had one perfect escape - R.D. Cain's Cherry Beach Express.I expected to read a great mystery, but I got the added bonus of a great legal thriller, too.

Steve Nastos - a detective in the sexual assault unit - is on trial for murder.  At first I wondered if he did it - then I hoped he did do it.  I wanted Nastos to be guilty, but be found innocent. 

"Is everyone just one bad circumstance away from killing anyone else?" 

Cherry Beach Express makes a strong case for justifiable homicide.

In the end, I was happy with the outcome.  I'm not convinced that everything in Cherry Beach Express could really be pulled off, but like Marcia Clark, R.D. Cain gets instant credibility.  He has "worked for the last 18 years in emergency services as a paramedic, firefighter, and police officer".  His expertise comes through in his writing.

Cherry Beach Express should appeal to a wide audience.  There's mystery, suspense, court room drama, crime, shoot outs, car chases... It was a great read.

Review copy provided by publisher

Book Review: Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark

Guilt by Association is the debut book of both Marcia Clark (of O.J. Simpson fame) and Mulholland Books (a new imprint of Little, Brown).

Book Description

Los Angeles D.A. Rachel Knight is a tenacious, wise-cracking, and fiercely intelligent prosecutor in the city's most elite division. When her colleague, Jake, is found dead at a grisly crime scene, Rachel is shaken to the core. She must take over his toughest case: the assault of a young woman from a prominent family.

But she can't stop herself from digging deeper into Jake's death, a decision that exposes a world of power and violence and will have her risking her reputation--and her life--to find the truth.

With her tremendous expertise in the nuances of L.A. courts and crime, and with a vibrant ensemble cast of characters, Marcia Clark combines intimate detail, riotous humor, and visceral action in a debut thriller that marks the launch of a major new figure on the crime-writing scene.

When I first heard about Guilt by Association, I knew right away I wanted to read it.  Experts claim you should "write what you know", and there is an automatic expectation when someone like Marcia Clark (whose career was in spotlight) writes a book.  I'm happy to report Guilt by Association surpassed my expectations. 

Clark's insight into criminal behavior and law enforcement made Guilt by Association very authentic.  The characters were likeable - the kind you would want to go out and have a few drinks with at the end of the day.  The story was complex and complete.  If you are a fan of mysteries, crime fiction, or legal thrillers, Guilt by Association will not disappoint you.

Review copy provided by publisher