Eight stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, James Patterson, Mike Lupica, and Little Brown and Company for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Tackling yet another James Patterson collaborative effort, Mike Lupica joins the fray for this piece, the second novel in the series. The authors delve further into Jane F. Smith, a tough as nails attorney who is relentless in her efforts to defend her clients. Jane's current cancer diagnosis has not been able to stop her quite yet, though she wants to make the most of the time she has left.
When she learns that a former client has been picked up once more for a multiple murder, she is baffled. She helped get a not guilty verdict for Rob Jacobson and stands by her defense. However, the new case makes her second guess her work. Battling alongside her investigator and against her cancer, Jane Smith is ready to toss it all out there and find the truth. Another gripping story that has Patterson and Lupica showing their true colours!
Jane F. Smith (Jane Effing Smith, to those who know her) has long been known as a cunning and ruthless criminal attorney. Her goal is to always provide her clients the best possible representation, leaving no stone unturned in trying to get to the root of any issue. This has made her well-known and feared in the New York legal community, while also creating a varied list of those who wish to engage her services.
One of these clients, Rob Jacobson, proves to be as unlucky as they come. After Jane was able to secure a not guilty verdict for the murder of a family of three, Rob is arrested once more. Another family has been murdered and Rob seems to be the most likely suspect, as the cases are quite similar. Jane sees the parallels and knows that while double jeopardy does not apply, the situation is too similar to ignore!
Working to defend Rob is more difficult, especially with the past case she argued, as well as her client's own family who are ready to throw him under the bus. Jane uses her investigator, Jimmy Cunniff, to help uncover the truths that many would like buried, but when you look there is the chance you'll uncover a snake or two. Rob's personal choices and sexual endeavours make the targeting of mother-daughter duos all the more likely. While Jane cannot ignore the information she receives, she knows that Rob may have made enemies who are eager to see him suffer for life, even if that means bending the truth. As many people close to Jane are hurt or threatened, she has to wonder if this case might be best left to others. Still, she wants the best for her client. The law may be blind, but Jane Effing Smith does not want her client convicted when the court puts blind trust in past indiscretions. Patterson and Lupica deliver a stellar piece once more in this thriller.
While I have read a number of James Patterson's thrillers, this one has been one of the stronger efforts. The narrative approach is swift and impactful, complemented by the Patterson traditional short chapter recipe. The narrative begins strong and offers the reader much entertainment as the mystery unfolds, less a legal thriller than one of investigation. When the truth becomes clear, the story's speed helps prepare for the fallout of the final reveal. The characters are both relatable and interesting in their own way, flavouring the story effectively. Jane Smith proves to be tough and vulnerable simultaneously, which is a refreshing way of presenting a protagonist.
The twists within the book are both case-based and personal, fuelling many key plot points. The authors did well to build up the plot and keep things from getting too predictable, while never showing all their cards. While I was expecting something in the legal thriller genre, this tended more towards an investigation or police procedural. I am curious to see if there will be more to the series in the coming years, as I know Patterson and Lupica have some great ideas, likely able to create quite the story should they keep the series going.
Kudos Messrs. Patterson and Lupica, for bringing a great story to life.
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