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The Local
The Lincoln Lawyer in the land of Friday Night Lights, where a freewheeling patent attorney must take on his first murder trial when an out-of-town client is accused of killing a federal judge.
In the East Texas town of Marshall sits the Federal courthouse of the Eastern District of Texas, a place revered by patent lawyers for the court’s adherence to speedy jury trails and massive punitive payouts. Marshall is flooded with patent lawyers, all of whom find work being the local voice for the big-city lawyers that need to sway a small-town jury. One of the best is James Euchre.
Euchre’s new client is Amir Zawar, a firebrand CEO forced to defend his life's work against a software patent infringement. In a heated moment during the preliminary hearing, Zawar threatens the judge in court. Later that night, Judge Gardner is found murdered in the courthouse parking lot. All signs point to Zawar—he publicly threatened the judge, he was staying at a house near the courthouse, he has no alibi. Moreover, he is an outsider, a wealthy Pakistani-American businessman, the son of immigrants, who stands accused of killing a powerful white Federal judge in a small Texas town.
Zawar claims his innocence, and demands that Euchre defend him. It’s the last thing Euchre wants—Judge Gardner was his good friend and mentor—but he reluctantly agrees. With the help of a former prosecutor and a local PI, Euchre must navigate the byzantine world of criminal defense law in a town where everyone knows everyone, and bad blood has a long history. The deeper he digs, the more he fears that he’ll either send an innocent man to death row, or worse, set a murderer free.
Joey Hartstone is a new, resonant voice in commercial fiction, and his debut is a small-town legal thriller as big in scope as Texas. The Local crackles with tension, high stakes gambits, and a gangbuster narrative that races to the final, shocking verdict.
In the East Texas town of Marshall sits the Federal courthouse of the Eastern District of Texas, a place revered by patent lawyers for the court’s adherence to speedy jury trails and massive punitive payouts. Marshall is flooded with patent lawyers, all of whom find work being the local voice for the big-city lawyers that need to sway a small-town jury. One of the best is James Euchre.
Euchre’s new client is Amir Zawar, a firebrand CEO forced to defend his life's work against a software patent infringement. In a heated moment during the preliminary hearing, Zawar threatens the judge in court. Later that night, Judge Gardner is found murdered in the courthouse parking lot. All signs point to Zawar—he publicly threatened the judge, he was staying at a house near the courthouse, he has no alibi. Moreover, he is an outsider, a wealthy Pakistani-American businessman, the son of immigrants, who stands accused of killing a powerful white Federal judge in a small Texas town.
Zawar claims his innocence, and demands that Euchre defend him. It’s the last thing Euchre wants—Judge Gardner was his good friend and mentor—but he reluctantly agrees. With the help of a former prosecutor and a local PI, Euchre must navigate the byzantine world of criminal defense law in a town where everyone knows everyone, and bad blood has a long history. The deeper he digs, the more he fears that he’ll either send an innocent man to death row, or worse, set a murderer free.
Joey Hartstone is a new, resonant voice in commercial fiction, and his debut is a small-town legal thriller as big in scope as Texas. The Local crackles with tension, high stakes gambits, and a gangbuster narrative that races to the final, shocking verdict.
305 pages, Paperback
First published June 14, 2022
283 people are currently reading
3666 people want to read
About the author
Joey Hartstone
1 book140 followersJoey Hartstone is a film and television writer. He has written two feature films, LBJ (2016) and Shock and Awe (2017), which were both directed by Rob Reiner. He wrote on the first two seasons of the legal drama The Good Fight. He is currently a writer on the Showtime series Your Honor. Joey lives in Los Angeles with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 668 reviews
July 30, 2022
What a terrific debut legal thriller!
The setting is Marshall, Texas, a small town filled with colorful characters. James Eucher is one of the best patent attorneys in town, but gets drawn into a criminal case involving the murder of a local judge, who was his friend and mentor.
James is out of his league taking on a criminal case, and has big shoes to fill, as his father was a rock star among criminal attorneys. James makes some missteps along the way but has a great team behind him. His personal story and the secondary characters adds to the appeal. The well-placed twists and turns kept me on my toes.
A fantastic murder mystery/courtroom drama which will appeal to fans of John Grisham. This is a well-written drama with a great plot and a terrific cast of characters that I hope to see in a series. The author has written screenplays and his skill is evident in these pages.
The audiobook was narrated by Robert Petkoff, who did a superb job!
The setting is Marshall, Texas, a small town filled with colorful characters. James Eucher is one of the best patent attorneys in town, but gets drawn into a criminal case involving the murder of a local judge, who was his friend and mentor.
James is out of his league taking on a criminal case, and has big shoes to fill, as his father was a rock star among criminal attorneys. James makes some missteps along the way but has a great team behind him. His personal story and the secondary characters adds to the appeal. The well-placed twists and turns kept me on my toes.
A fantastic murder mystery/courtroom drama which will appeal to fans of John Grisham. This is a well-written drama with a great plot and a terrific cast of characters that I hope to see in a series. The author has written screenplays and his skill is evident in these pages.
The audiobook was narrated by Robert Petkoff, who did a superb job!
August 4, 2022
Rating:4.5 ⭐ (rounded up because of the fabulous audio narration)
The Book: 4/5
The Audiobook: 5/5
Patent lawyer, James Euchre, is retained to serve as local counsel, as part of the legal defense team for Amir Zawar, a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur who was being sued for patent infringement in the Federal Court in Marshall, Texas. In a shocking turn of events Euchre, an intellectual property rights lawyer, ends up representing his client in the first criminal defense case of his career when Zawar is accused of murdering a Federal Court judge. The murdered judge in question is Judge Gerald Gardner, a mentor and friend to Euchre, who had refused to dismiss Zawar's case in the preliminary hearing which led to a heated altercation in the courtroom. Despite Euchre’s lack of experience in criminal law and against the advice of his Chicago-based lawyers, Zawar insists on Euchre representing him in the murder trial.
Who killed Judge Gardner and Why? All circumstantial evidence points to Zawar being guilty, often raising doubts in the minds of his own defense team. Working with Euchre are former AUSA Layla Stills from the Chicago-based law firm who had retained his services for Zawar and Lisa “the Leg” Morgan a resourceful private investigator. Local law enforcement shows no initiative in further investigation, confident of Zawar's guilt. It is up to Euchre and his team to find out the truth behind what happened on the night of Judge Gardner’s murder. In the course of their investigation, they come across several probable suspects who stood to gain from the Judge’s demise. In a small town where there are few secrets, Euchre’s efforts ruffle more than a few feathers, putting his reputation, goodwill and the future of his legal career at risk.
With its sharp and concise writing, minimal melodrama, and fast-paced and intriguing plot, Joey Hartstone’s The Local is a gripping legal thriller that kept me guessing till the very end! The characterizations were superbly done and the courtroom scenes were so well-written that I could practically visualize the scenes as they played out. An impressive debut, to say the least! I hope that this book is the first in a new series. I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
I combined my reading with Robert Petkoff's fantastic audio narration which made for an amazing immersion reading experience!
Many thanks to my GR friend JanB who put this book on my radar!
The Book: 4/5
The Audiobook: 5/5
Patent lawyer, James Euchre, is retained to serve as local counsel, as part of the legal defense team for Amir Zawar, a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur who was being sued for patent infringement in the Federal Court in Marshall, Texas. In a shocking turn of events Euchre, an intellectual property rights lawyer, ends up representing his client in the first criminal defense case of his career when Zawar is accused of murdering a Federal Court judge. The murdered judge in question is Judge Gerald Gardner, a mentor and friend to Euchre, who had refused to dismiss Zawar's case in the preliminary hearing which led to a heated altercation in the courtroom. Despite Euchre’s lack of experience in criminal law and against the advice of his Chicago-based lawyers, Zawar insists on Euchre representing him in the murder trial.
Who killed Judge Gardner and Why? All circumstantial evidence points to Zawar being guilty, often raising doubts in the minds of his own defense team. Working with Euchre are former AUSA Layla Stills from the Chicago-based law firm who had retained his services for Zawar and Lisa “the Leg” Morgan a resourceful private investigator. Local law enforcement shows no initiative in further investigation, confident of Zawar's guilt. It is up to Euchre and his team to find out the truth behind what happened on the night of Judge Gardner’s murder. In the course of their investigation, they come across several probable suspects who stood to gain from the Judge’s demise. In a small town where there are few secrets, Euchre’s efforts ruffle more than a few feathers, putting his reputation, goodwill and the future of his legal career at risk.
With its sharp and concise writing, minimal melodrama, and fast-paced and intriguing plot, Joey Hartstone’s The Local is a gripping legal thriller that kept me guessing till the very end! The characterizations were superbly done and the courtroom scenes were so well-written that I could practically visualize the scenes as they played out. An impressive debut, to say the least! I hope that this book is the first in a new series. I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
I combined my reading with Robert Petkoff's fantastic audio narration which made for an amazing immersion reading experience!
Many thanks to my GR friend JanB who put this book on my radar!
July 20, 2022
Wow, The Local delivered! This was a legal thriller giving classic John Grisham vibes (think The Firm and A Time to Kill).
First things first — It’s rare, if ever, that I’ve read a fictional story about patent law. Understandably, not the most intriguing subject to all, but I worked with a top intellectual property practice at my last firm for 4 years so you could say I was a bit interested in The Local once I heard what it was about.
James Euchre is a patent lawyer in the small town of Marshall, TX. He is often tapped as local counsel to help represent clients in patent litigation cases in the EDTX, known for its efficient IP trials. After a hearing goes south for one of James’ new clients, Amir Zawar, a Silicon Valley CEO, the judge overseeing the patent case is found dead that night. All signs point to Amir, who insists he’s innocent and that James represents him in this new criminal murder trial. James wants no part of this as he’s skeptical of Amir and was close with the judge, however, he reluctantly agrees.
The mystery of The Local had me hooked from the start! I’m not an expert detective and was sure I had this story figured out at one point, but much to my surprise and delight, I did not!
This is a well-done story by Joey Hartstone, a film and TV writer. Among other projects, he has written for the Showtime series Your Honor which I thought was excellent! This show was a tension filled, family favorite on Sunday nights in 2021 at home during the pandemic.
First things first — It’s rare, if ever, that I’ve read a fictional story about patent law. Understandably, not the most intriguing subject to all, but I worked with a top intellectual property practice at my last firm for 4 years so you could say I was a bit interested in The Local once I heard what it was about.
James Euchre is a patent lawyer in the small town of Marshall, TX. He is often tapped as local counsel to help represent clients in patent litigation cases in the EDTX, known for its efficient IP trials. After a hearing goes south for one of James’ new clients, Amir Zawar, a Silicon Valley CEO, the judge overseeing the patent case is found dead that night. All signs point to Amir, who insists he’s innocent and that James represents him in this new criminal murder trial. James wants no part of this as he’s skeptical of Amir and was close with the judge, however, he reluctantly agrees.
The mystery of The Local had me hooked from the start! I’m not an expert detective and was sure I had this story figured out at one point, but much to my surprise and delight, I did not!
This is a well-done story by Joey Hartstone, a film and TV writer. Among other projects, he has written for the Showtime series Your Honor which I thought was excellent! This show was a tension filled, family favorite on Sunday nights in 2021 at home during the pandemic.
November 12, 2022
Loved, The Local. One of my top books for the year, (Though, this year has been a little sparse on reading due to writing and editing two series novels).
The use of the first-person narrative held me in the story and made the main character three dimensional. The setting had equal weight to a character which also enhanced the reading experience. I learned a bit about patent law without any information dumps. It was meted out slowing within the smooth narrative.
What I thought worked best was how the author laid down these little items within the story and carried them all the way through giving the text a feel of a tightly woven arc. Great writing chops for sure.
I did find some of the courtroom and law enforcement stuff (Procedures, GSWs) a little wonky but that’s only because of my background. I liked how the author side-stepped the hot-button political issues and stayed on track with the story.
For me, the sign of a great novel is when characters evolve as they work through the conflicts. This main character starts out congenial, almost innocent to the ways of a violent world. As the story progresses he becomes a little mean, driven and narcissistic. I liked him better at the beginning but understood his metamorphosis toward the end.
This one is right up toward the top as far as legal thrillers go. I would expect this one to be listed in the awards.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series.
The use of the first-person narrative held me in the story and made the main character three dimensional. The setting had equal weight to a character which also enhanced the reading experience. I learned a bit about patent law without any information dumps. It was meted out slowing within the smooth narrative.
What I thought worked best was how the author laid down these little items within the story and carried them all the way through giving the text a feel of a tightly woven arc. Great writing chops for sure.
I did find some of the courtroom and law enforcement stuff (Procedures, GSWs) a little wonky but that’s only because of my background. I liked how the author side-stepped the hot-button political issues and stayed on track with the story.
For me, the sign of a great novel is when characters evolve as they work through the conflicts. This main character starts out congenial, almost innocent to the ways of a violent world. As the story progresses he becomes a little mean, driven and narcissistic. I liked him better at the beginning but understood his metamorphosis toward the end.
This one is right up toward the top as far as legal thrillers go. I would expect this one to be listed in the awards.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series.
July 22, 2022
“The Local” was an enjoyable legal thriller.
I especially enjoyed the savvy dialogue with its tremendous toughness energy.
The courtroom scenes kept me questioning the truth—
The criminal investigation, accusations, and preparations all move at a steady - intriguing pace.
And the characters were fun to hang out with — both likable and dislikable.
The explosive courtroom scene near the beginning was a standout: a clue that we’re in for an exciting ride.
Amir Zawar, Pakistani-American, not a local, was accused of murdering a local judge. Amir had motive, opportunity, and no alibi — but said he didn’t kill the judge.
James Euchre, a patent lawyer was friends with Judge Gardner, who was brutally killed.
Amir wanted James Euchre to defend him — even though he had never gone into criminal law.
This case would be his first and only murder case. Amir wanted Euchre to represent him — especially because he was a local.
Euchre agreed to defend Amir. But it seemed as though he was a traitor for representing him given that the judge (Judge Gardner) was his friend.
However…
Euchre would do what no defending lawyer would consider.
If he discovered at any time that his client ‘was’ guilty of murdering his friend he would sacrifice himself. Slam him to the wall… not caring if he won or lost.
Euchre was willing to turn on Amir - on a dime- at any time if he became clear that Amir was guilty.
And we wonder all the way to the end!
The entertaining ‘toughness’ suspense was also infused with tenderness!
Enjoyable…. very straight forward—-
It was THAT ENERGY & TONE in the storytelling that made this a very entertaining read.
About 3.7 — rating up.
I especially enjoyed the savvy dialogue with its tremendous toughness energy.
The courtroom scenes kept me questioning the truth—
The criminal investigation, accusations, and preparations all move at a steady - intriguing pace.
And the characters were fun to hang out with — both likable and dislikable.
The explosive courtroom scene near the beginning was a standout: a clue that we’re in for an exciting ride.
Amir Zawar, Pakistani-American, not a local, was accused of murdering a local judge. Amir had motive, opportunity, and no alibi — but said he didn’t kill the judge.
James Euchre, a patent lawyer was friends with Judge Gardner, who was brutally killed.
Amir wanted James Euchre to defend him — even though he had never gone into criminal law.
This case would be his first and only murder case. Amir wanted Euchre to represent him — especially because he was a local.
Euchre agreed to defend Amir. But it seemed as though he was a traitor for representing him given that the judge (Judge Gardner) was his friend.
However…
Euchre would do what no defending lawyer would consider.
If he discovered at any time that his client ‘was’ guilty of murdering his friend he would sacrifice himself. Slam him to the wall… not caring if he won or lost.
Euchre was willing to turn on Amir - on a dime- at any time if he became clear that Amir was guilty.
And we wonder all the way to the end!
The entertaining ‘toughness’ suspense was also infused with tenderness!
Enjoyable…. very straight forward—-
It was THAT ENERGY & TONE in the storytelling that made this a very entertaining read.
About 3.7 — rating up.
June 15, 2022
NOW AVAILABLE!
i'm a fan of mysteries and crime fiction, but i don't often read legal thrillers. i don't have any particular aversion to them, it's just a genre i haven't really explored. so when i was offered a copy of this legal-lit debut, i decided to give it a shot, although—truth be told—what really made my decision for me wasn't some self-betterment goal to fill the gaps in my reader resume, but the fact that the author is one of the writers on The Good Fight, and i am a fan of all things connected to robert & michelle king.
i’m glad i did because this was fantastic! it's set in marshall, texas; a small town where, IRL, a disproportionate number of the country's patent cases are adjudicated, more than half of which (78% sez queen wiki) are won by the plaintiffs, who are often awarded millions in damages. sez hartstone:
in The Local, the legal niche of patent litigation is overseen by the affable judge gardner. over the years, he has streamlined the process into the most efficient system for handling the heavy caseload by enforcing a five-day limit for any trial, ensuring that big firms representing deep-pocket clients can't use any financial-siege strategies to drag out the case until the plaintiff is forced to retreat or go broke fighting.
and since most global-billion-dollar companies, and the clients suing them, are not situated in marshall, texas, both parties must retain local counsel. enter james euchre. okay, so this is going to be a too-long quote for many of you, but hartstone lays out the process so much better than i could summarize. plus, it'll give you a sense of the voicey clarity of his prose, so i'm only slightly apologetic about it:
phew—you still here? hi! so but even if you don't think patent law is gonna hold your interest, don't worry, because it's really about the murrrrderrrr of that verysame visionary judge, in a trial where euchre is uncomfortably placed in the position of defending the man accused of killing his friend, father figure, and mentor; his “favorite person in the world,” the investigation of which exposes the dirty business of smalltown politics, secrets, and dusty rivalries. euchre must also confront the burdens of the past, both his personal demons of loss, addiction, and daddy issues and the larger-picture issues of racial bias in smalltown texas. also, his client is kind of a dick. but maybe not a murderer.
it is a super-quick read—it has more meat to it than a screenplay, but it reads with that same energy, making it a real page-turner through euchre’s sifting through clues and red herrings all the way to its satisfying showdowny conclusion. the romance subplot is perhaps a little threadbare and perfunctory, and layla’s character could have been fleshed out a bit more, but apart from that, it’s a spectacularly fun debut.
and when he dropped the “one-party consent” line, i cheered, since that is a veritable staple of The Good Wife-verse, evoked enough times that you could make a drinking game out of it.
you could even make a drinking game out of drinking, as this round up of all the times kalinda♥ and alicia drink together proves.
anyway, it’s a brisk summer read filled with fascinating information about patent law, which is a sentence i never thought i would write.
come to my blog!
i'm a fan of mysteries and crime fiction, but i don't often read legal thrillers. i don't have any particular aversion to them, it's just a genre i haven't really explored. so when i was offered a copy of this legal-lit debut, i decided to give it a shot, although—truth be told—what really made my decision for me wasn't some self-betterment goal to fill the gaps in my reader resume, but the fact that the author is one of the writers on The Good Fight, and i am a fan of all things connected to robert & michelle king.
i’m glad i did because this was fantastic! it's set in marshall, texas; a small town where, IRL, a disproportionate number of the country's patent cases are adjudicated, more than half of which (78% sez queen wiki) are won by the plaintiffs, who are often awarded millions in damages. sez hartstone:
One by one, plaintiffs in EDTX were not only winning their patent cases, but they were also being awarded ungodly sums of money. This created a gold rush.
Lawyers, politicians, hell, even sociologists would spend the next decade trying to explain what was going on with these juries in East Texas—they were not only unusually sympathetic to plaintiffs in patent cases but were also prone to delivering verdicts with huge dollar amounts. Thousands of legal articles and dissertations were written on the subject, but it all boiled down to this: when people who are overlooked for their entire lives are given a modicum of power, they will wield it with great force.
in The Local, the legal niche of patent litigation is overseen by the affable judge gardner. over the years, he has streamlined the process into the most efficient system for handling the heavy caseload by enforcing a five-day limit for any trial, ensuring that big firms representing deep-pocket clients can't use any financial-siege strategies to drag out the case until the plaintiff is forced to retreat or go broke fighting.
and since most global-billion-dollar companies, and the clients suing them, are not situated in marshall, texas, both parties must retain local counsel. enter james euchre. okay, so this is going to be a too-long quote for many of you, but hartstone lays out the process so much better than i could summarize. plus, it'll give you a sense of the voicey clarity of his prose, so i'm only slightly apologetic about it:
So where did I come in? Lawyers are licensed to practice law in specific jurisdictions, namely in the state or states where they have passed the bar exam and where their law firms are based. When a case takes lawyers out of their jurisdictions, they need to add someone within the new state to the team. That someone is called local counsel.
A local can do as much or as little as the rest of the team demands. Often, a local counsel does nothing more than advise the team on any unique quirks of that particular venue and serve as a signatory on any documents that need a regional John Hancock. All of this can be done for a nominal fee. Clients may never even realize that a local is on their team. That's how it used to be in Marshall. After all, intellectual property law is complex, and no one in East Texas had ever tried a patent case. Lawyers here, though, had other skills that aren't taught at top ten law schools. It didn't take long for white-shoe law firms to discover that something was missing, something essential that local counsels could provide.
Here's a scenario that happened too many times to count. A twin-engine Cessna Citation with the inevitable moniker "Law Firm One" touches down at the quiet Harrison County Airport. Six attorneys step off their firm's jet, all wearing bespoke suits purchased on Madison Avenue. A private car, probably from Dallas, picks them up and drives them five miles, past broken fences and run-down trailers, into town. They march into the courthouse with Italian leather briefcases and polished expert witnesses. A casual observer may understand that this doesn't go over too well with our juries, but rich and powerful people often lack self-awareness. There was a major disconnect between our humble citizens of Marshall and these corporate attorneys from big cities. To make matters worse, some of thee people thought they could fake their way into the good graces of the jurors. I've seen out-of-town lawyers go straight from the airport to the Boot Barn on Pinecrest Drive, buy a pair of shiny new Buckaroos, and then walk their blistered feet into court as if they've just come from the ranch. Mistakes like this have cost clients millions.
The top patent law firms around the country began to realize that what was missing from their teams was someone who spoke the language, someone who could connect with the eight citizens on the jury. The more we locals were asked to speak, the more the jurors seemed to listen. Locals, who for so long had been undervalued and underused, were finally being called upon to perform an indispensable service. Like strong pinch hitters and clutch relief pitchers, our roles were small but vital. And we began to be paid accordingly.
So it came to pass that the best trial lawyers were not in Houston, Austin, or Dallas but rather in a small corner of the state, practicing an area of law that none of us had ever studied, working on cases worth tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. We were the final component to a billion-dollar industry, a magnificent legal universe created by one visionary judge in Marshall, Texas.
phew—you still here? hi! so but even if you don't think patent law is gonna hold your interest, don't worry, because it's really about the murrrrderrrr of that verysame visionary judge, in a trial where euchre is uncomfortably placed in the position of defending the man accused of killing his friend, father figure, and mentor; his “favorite person in the world,” the investigation of which exposes the dirty business of smalltown politics, secrets, and dusty rivalries. euchre must also confront the burdens of the past, both his personal demons of loss, addiction, and daddy issues and the larger-picture issues of racial bias in smalltown texas. also, his client is kind of a dick. but maybe not a murderer.
it is a super-quick read—it has more meat to it than a screenplay, but it reads with that same energy, making it a real page-turner through euchre’s sifting through clues and red herrings all the way to its satisfying showdowny conclusion. the romance subplot is perhaps a little threadbare and perfunctory, and layla’s character could have been fleshed out a bit more, but apart from that, it’s a spectacularly fun debut.
and when he dropped the “one-party consent” line, i cheered, since that is a veritable staple of The Good Wife-verse, evoked enough times that you could make a drinking game out of it.
you could even make a drinking game out of drinking, as this round up of all the times kalinda♥ and alicia drink together proves.
anyway, it’s a brisk summer read filled with fascinating information about patent law, which is a sentence i never thought i would write.
come to my blog!
August 23, 2022
5 Stars ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
June 27, 2022
Move over, John Grisham.
There is a fabulous new legal thriller author in town.
And he's 5-star fabulous.
Anything can happen (and it does!) when a small-town patent attorney reluctantly represents an impetuous and volatile client accused of brutally killing a beloved and respected federal judge in Texas.
The book sizzles and soars, from beginning to end.
It's well-plotted, riveting, unputdownable, and unpredictable; boasting unreliable, deeply flawed, and surprisingly relatable protagonists.
I listened to the audiobook read by Robert Petkoff, one of my favorite male narrators, and he did a superb job with the narration.
First-time legal thriller author Joey Hartstone is a talented and experienced screenwriter ("Your Honor", The Good Fight"...and more!) and it shows.
I look forward to listening to more Joey Hartstone titles.
There is a fabulous new legal thriller author in town.
And he's 5-star fabulous.
Anything can happen (and it does!) when a small-town patent attorney reluctantly represents an impetuous and volatile client accused of brutally killing a beloved and respected federal judge in Texas.
The book sizzles and soars, from beginning to end.
It's well-plotted, riveting, unputdownable, and unpredictable; boasting unreliable, deeply flawed, and surprisingly relatable protagonists.
I listened to the audiobook read by Robert Petkoff, one of my favorite male narrators, and he did a superb job with the narration.
First-time legal thriller author Joey Hartstone is a talented and experienced screenwriter ("Your Honor", The Good Fight"...and more!) and it shows.
I look forward to listening to more Joey Hartstone titles.
May 31, 2023
Read this several months back and I'm still slowly trying to catch up on my reviews. Might need to pick up the pace. It had been ages since I read a legal thriller and this one drew nevin from the very beginning. A lawyer, not used to handling murder trials is given a challenge by a client accused of the murder of a judge. There are plenty of the requisite twists and turns,and of course secrets revealed. It's well done, interesting and satisfying. Will definitely be on the look out for this author and his future endeavors.
December 19, 2024
What happens when a beloved, respected mentor judge is murdered? How do you reconcile this to yourself?
Well...As a patent attorney this is difficult for James Euchre, especially when he is asked to defend the person accused of his murder. Since he has never been a criminal attorney he feels maybe he might get the answers he needs. He does.
And...As readers, so do we.
This is legal thriller that follows an interesting path, especially considering that its author is a film and television writer. If you have ever watched "The Good Fight" or the Showtime series "Your Honor," you might understand why this first novel might be the page turner you were looking to read.
Well...As a patent attorney this is difficult for James Euchre, especially when he is asked to defend the person accused of his murder. Since he has never been a criminal attorney he feels maybe he might get the answers he needs. He does.
And...As readers, so do we.
This is legal thriller that follows an interesting path, especially considering that its author is a film and television writer. If you have ever watched "The Good Fight" or the Showtime series "Your Honor," you might understand why this first novel might be the page turner you were looking to read.
July 29, 2022
A competent small town legal thriller in which a wealthy businessman is accused of killing a federal judge. It ‘s a fairly good debut novel that shows a lot of potential. All the elements are there even if they are not yet fully developed. Joey Hartstone is someone to look out for in the future. Enjoyed!
August 22, 2023
This bright yellow cover popped up on my feed courtesy of my friend Marty Fried. I took a quick peek at the first sentence of the blurb which called this Friday Night Lights meets The Lincoln Lawyer and I committed to take this ol’ Ford for a spin. And now that I’m finished I have this to say to Marty . . . .
I talk quite a bit about how I am the spoiler of my own enjoyment quite frequently when it comes to stories involving the law, but I had forgotten how good a courtroom drama could be when done well. The story here is about a patent attorney from Marshall, Texas (Go Mavericks!) who somehow finds himself smack dab in the middle of a murder trial. If it sounds farfetched, have no fear because it doesn’t come off that way at all. You see, attorney Eucher is a well know “local” (that’s local counsel, if you aren’t familiar) who had been recruited to help defend a patent claim for a new rideshare/mapping/taxi app called Medallion . . . . and then stays on when the defendant of that suit finds himself accused of murdering the judge presiding over his case.
The writing is simple and succinct, legalese is explained without being too explain-y, I learned something I didn’t know in that the Eastern District of Texas is the hotbed for patent suits (nearly everything I do involves Patent and Trademark Agreements, but I work on the lender side so I don’t even pay attention to those when putting my stuff together), the realistic approach of simply providing enough reasonable doubt to find the client innocent was a nice change (although the whodunit aspect of this one was more than satisfactory), and maybe most importantly if there were more books featuring Jimmy I would probably break my normal routine and pick them up. This had everything that makes a good series – mainly a cast of unique and likeable characters who all had great chemistry with each other. And who doesn’t want to know more about The Leg or if James does indeed decide to switch things up and become a criminal attorney?
I talk quite a bit about how I am the spoiler of my own enjoyment quite frequently when it comes to stories involving the law, but I had forgotten how good a courtroom drama could be when done well. The story here is about a patent attorney from Marshall, Texas (Go Mavericks!) who somehow finds himself smack dab in the middle of a murder trial. If it sounds farfetched, have no fear because it doesn’t come off that way at all. You see, attorney Eucher is a well know “local” (that’s local counsel, if you aren’t familiar) who had been recruited to help defend a patent claim for a new rideshare/mapping/taxi app called Medallion . . . . and then stays on when the defendant of that suit finds himself accused of murdering the judge presiding over his case.
The writing is simple and succinct, legalese is explained without being too explain-y, I learned something I didn’t know in that the Eastern District of Texas is the hotbed for patent suits (nearly everything I do involves Patent and Trademark Agreements, but I work on the lender side so I don’t even pay attention to those when putting my stuff together), the realistic approach of simply providing enough reasonable doubt to find the client innocent was a nice change (although the whodunit aspect of this one was more than satisfactory), and maybe most importantly if there were more books featuring Jimmy I would probably break my normal routine and pick them up. This had everything that makes a good series – mainly a cast of unique and likeable characters who all had great chemistry with each other. And who doesn’t want to know more about The Leg or if James does indeed decide to switch things up and become a criminal attorney?
July 2, 2023
Rating: 3.75
As a film buff, I'm fan of screen writers who switch to publishing and love debut novels as well. Joey Harstone is a seasoned screen and TV writer, and to his credit, he does a nice job with his first stab at books.
We're taken to Marshall, TX a small town whose courthouse has been home to major Intellectual property and patent suits. James Euchre, a patent attorney, has won many of the cases over the years due to his amicable relationship with Judge Gardner, who he respects and admires. During a patent trial, Euchre is physically accosted by Sam Whelan, the son of a local judge and Gardner files a complaint with the Texas bureau requesting he's disbarred.
Soon after, a high priced team of NY attorneys arrives in Marshall with a patent battle involving their client Medallion. Knowing of Euchre's success with Gardner, he's offered a tidy fee to represent them in the law suit. Medallion is a next generation ride sharing platform whose patents were infringed during its rise. Its founder, Amir Zawar, a narcissistic, hot tempered executive has an outburst during the first day in court and threatens Judge Gardner. During the annual alcohol fueled courthouse Christmas party, Gardner is found murdered in the wee hours. Locked out of the house he was staying in, Amir triggers the alarm. When The police arrive, they put two and two together and arrest Amir for murder.
In spite of the NY firm's request to use a criminal attorney, Amir demands Euchre represents him, the first of several contradiction in terms. A black female member of the NY firm with experience in criminal, Layla is assigned to collaborate with Euchre. Working side by side, they run into one hurdle after another while the DA plays trickery with Euchre.
As the plot plays out, details about Judge Whelan and his son surface raising suspicion about the story's finale.
The author does a nice job keeping backstory to a minimum and paces the story like a movie. Being one of the writers for "Your Honor", he knows his way around the courtroom. And while the characters and plot are well developed, seeing what's coming half way through was disappointing to say the least. The author manages to throw in a couple of plot twists, but they fail to shift the predictability. Were he to have thrown a curve ball, I'd have rated the book higher.
Regardless, this is a well conceived and written debut and one worth adding to your list. This being the third legal mystery in the past two weeks, its time to take a breather; variety is the spice of life.
As a film buff, I'm fan of screen writers who switch to publishing and love debut novels as well. Joey Harstone is a seasoned screen and TV writer, and to his credit, he does a nice job with his first stab at books.
We're taken to Marshall, TX a small town whose courthouse has been home to major Intellectual property and patent suits. James Euchre, a patent attorney, has won many of the cases over the years due to his amicable relationship with Judge Gardner, who he respects and admires. During a patent trial, Euchre is physically accosted by Sam Whelan, the son of a local judge and Gardner files a complaint with the Texas bureau requesting he's disbarred.
Soon after, a high priced team of NY attorneys arrives in Marshall with a patent battle involving their client Medallion. Knowing of Euchre's success with Gardner, he's offered a tidy fee to represent them in the law suit. Medallion is a next generation ride sharing platform whose patents were infringed during its rise. Its founder, Amir Zawar, a narcissistic, hot tempered executive has an outburst during the first day in court and threatens Judge Gardner. During the annual alcohol fueled courthouse Christmas party, Gardner is found murdered in the wee hours. Locked out of the house he was staying in, Amir triggers the alarm. When The police arrive, they put two and two together and arrest Amir for murder.
In spite of the NY firm's request to use a criminal attorney, Amir demands Euchre represents him, the first of several contradiction in terms. A black female member of the NY firm with experience in criminal, Layla is assigned to collaborate with Euchre. Working side by side, they run into one hurdle after another while the DA plays trickery with Euchre.
As the plot plays out, details about Judge Whelan and his son surface raising suspicion about the story's finale.
The author does a nice job keeping backstory to a minimum and paces the story like a movie. Being one of the writers for "Your Honor", he knows his way around the courtroom. And while the characters and plot are well developed, seeing what's coming half way through was disappointing to say the least. The author manages to throw in a couple of plot twists, but they fail to shift the predictability. Were he to have thrown a curve ball, I'd have rated the book higher.
Regardless, this is a well conceived and written debut and one worth adding to your list. This being the third legal mystery in the past two weeks, its time to take a breather; variety is the spice of life.
November 3, 2022
What a fantastic debut!
I really, really enjoyed this! Very well developed characters and a story that unraveled at a nice pace. I listened to this on audio and Robert Petkoff did an outstanding job with the narration. Hoping that we get to revisit these characters again… my fingers are crossed that Hartstone turns this into a series. Easy 5 stars from me.
I really, really enjoyed this! Very well developed characters and a story that unraveled at a nice pace. I listened to this on audio and Robert Petkoff did an outstanding job with the narration. Hoping that we get to revisit these characters again… my fingers are crossed that Hartstone turns this into a series. Easy 5 stars from me.
June 20, 2022
The easiest 5 stars to give. If you love legal thrillers or heck, just good books - this has to be put on your reading list.
I like to think that I have good book instincts. Sometimes I read a book summary and I think to myself, this is going to be a good one. I'm not quite sure why this book is so under the radar. I haven't seen it around much, but am I glad I requested this from Netgalley and from my local library. I am definitely going to buy this book and put it on my shelves. In what I hope will become a new series, Mr. Hartstone writes as near as perfect as you can get - debut legal thriller. This book had it all. Small town vibes with characters that all know each other's business - including rivalries, grudges and hopes and dreams. James Euchre is our narrator and he is a fascinating character that Mr. Hartstone only scratched the surface on. This book was smart, exciting, educational and featured everything I want in a legal thriller. I really had no idea where the author planned to take me as the story progressed and it definitely kept me guessing. I was extremely happy with the resolution and I'm glad I followed my instincts! Now it will be my job to get as many people as possible to read this amazing story. I really hope there is a next book - and soon!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for the egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 06/20/2022
Publication Date: 06/14/2022
I like to think that I have good book instincts. Sometimes I read a book summary and I think to myself, this is going to be a good one. I'm not quite sure why this book is so under the radar. I haven't seen it around much, but am I glad I requested this from Netgalley and from my local library. I am definitely going to buy this book and put it on my shelves. In what I hope will become a new series, Mr. Hartstone writes as near as perfect as you can get - debut legal thriller. This book had it all. Small town vibes with characters that all know each other's business - including rivalries, grudges and hopes and dreams. James Euchre is our narrator and he is a fascinating character that Mr. Hartstone only scratched the surface on. This book was smart, exciting, educational and featured everything I want in a legal thriller. I really had no idea where the author planned to take me as the story progressed and it definitely kept me guessing. I was extremely happy with the resolution and I'm glad I followed my instincts! Now it will be my job to get as many people as possible to read this amazing story. I really hope there is a next book - and soon!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for the egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 06/20/2022
Publication Date: 06/14/2022
August 24, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
I really enjoyed this book though it did sort of fall into the standard legal thriller formula. One of the differences in this story, is that the MC is a patent attorney who gets sucked into a murder trial. That was a different spin on things that I appreciated. Also, I did not guess the murderer. I'm glad I read it. Overall, it is a good, solid legal thriller.
I really enjoyed this book though it did sort of fall into the standard legal thriller formula. One of the differences in this story, is that the MC is a patent attorney who gets sucked into a murder trial. That was a different spin on things that I appreciated. Also, I did not guess the murderer. I'm glad I read it. Overall, it is a good, solid legal thriller.
July 14, 2023
Audiobook narrated by Robert Petkoff, who did an excellent job.
This was an excellent book, and I was surprised to find out that there are not any more books from this author. I hope he will remedy this situation; in fact, I think this would make a good series.
There are a lot of interesting characters and relationships in the book, and a lot of room for more development.
The story zigged and zagged a few times, so we were never sure whether anyone was guilty or not. I feel a little sorry for the jury; they must have had a hard time deciding on what happened. It didn't help much that the man on trial was not a very sympathetic character, not to mention a liar. I almost didn't care if he got off, but I did want his legal team to win, as they were likable. I especially liked their investigator right from the start.
This was an excellent book, and I was surprised to find out that there are not any more books from this author. I hope he will remedy this situation; in fact, I think this would make a good series.
There are a lot of interesting characters and relationships in the book, and a lot of room for more development.
The story zigged and zagged a few times, so we were never sure whether anyone was guilty or not. I feel a little sorry for the jury; they must have had a hard time deciding on what happened. It didn't help much that the man on trial was not a very sympathetic character, not to mention a liar. I almost didn't care if he got off, but I did want his legal team to win, as they were likable. I especially liked their investigator right from the start.
January 7, 2022
Unraveling a fraught legal system page-by-gripping-page, THE LOCAL is an extraordinary and unforgettable powerhouse of a debut. Hartstone's masterful storytelling and switchblade-sharp wit make for a piercing and wildly entertaining thriller about the fragility of power -- and the feverish and cruel desperation of those who wield it. An absolute must-read.
November 14, 2022
If you are a fan of the TV series Law & Order then this certainly would be a good read for you. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the case unfolded. It held my attention from beginning to end and it gave me exactly what I demand in a crime thriller, a superb ending. I do hope the author is working on the next book in a series.
August 7, 2022
For a long while, I naively thought that John Grisham was the only one who wrote legal thrillers. (I am not counting the Perry Mason series) Then I was introduced to Michael Connelly (Lincoln Lawyer) by the RD select editions. After joining GR I got to know a whole lot of writers who have produced some amazing books in this genre, like Scott Turow, Steve Martini, Steve Cavangh, Paul Levine.
I enjoy courtroom drama and happy that there are many more writers to look forward to.
I am happy to find this new series by Joey Hartstone, which checks all the right boxes. It has interesting characters and intriguing whodunnit. James Euchre was impulsive and emotional, so it was a puzzling when he easily agrees to defend the Client, who was suspected of killing James's mentor, even though he doesn't believe in his Client's innocence. The Client was not likeable and trustworthy, and kept hiding secrets which would have helped to acquit him. The private investigator Lisa, 'The Leg' was very efficient and quickly fills the role of the hero's surrogate sister.
His 2nd chair on defence, Layla - also his romantic interest didn't add much to the story though she adds some 'colour' so, i assume she was there for diversity.
Something new I learnt from the book - about the high number of patent cases in Eastern District of Texas, and little bit about Patent laws.
This is a promising debut and I hope he brings the next one soon.
I enjoy courtroom drama and happy that there are many more writers to look forward to.
I am happy to find this new series by Joey Hartstone, which checks all the right boxes. It has interesting characters and intriguing whodunnit. James Euchre was impulsive and emotional, so it was a puzzling when he easily agrees to defend the Client, who was suspected of killing James's mentor, even though he doesn't believe in his Client's innocence. The Client was not likeable and trustworthy, and kept hiding secrets which would have helped to acquit him. The private investigator Lisa, 'The Leg' was very efficient and quickly fills the role of the hero's surrogate sister.
His 2nd chair on defence, Layla - also his romantic interest didn't add much to the story though she adds some 'colour' so, i assume she was there for diversity.
Something new I learnt from the book - about the high number of patent cases in Eastern District of Texas, and little bit about Patent laws.
This is a promising debut and I hope he brings the next one soon.
March 1, 2022
The Local takes place in Marshall, Texas, which got my interest. It's billed as a "legal thriller" and it is that and more. A battle of wits, a primer in patent law, a cast of intriguing characters. I read it as quickly as I could and was sad with I had to let go of the Local lawyer.
March 26, 2024
4,5 stars
This book kept me awake through the night. I can't remember when it happened to me the last time.
This book kept me awake through the night. I can't remember when it happened to me the last time.
August 25, 2022
The end was a bit disappointing, but overall this mystery was very enjoyable.
April 6, 2023
Euchre is the local patent lawyer for his small town in Texas. When Amir Zawar hires him for his case - both Euchre and Amir - will bite off more than they can chew. When Amir has a meltdown in court, Judge Gardner charges him with being in contempt of court. Later, Judge Gardner is found stabbed to death leaving Amir as the prime suspect. Now Euchre, having sold Amir on hiring him for his patent case wants him to handle his criminal case. Only problem is Euchre has never argued a criminal case before. Does he have what it’ll take to win this case and figure out who killed his friend?
This was a semi-fast-paced legal thriller. While I enjoyed most of it - what is up with having a character who is mostly referred to as “The Leg?” I get the back story but every time I had to read “The Leg” I cringed a little. And as she is called by her nickname 95% of the time. It was a lot of cringing.
The court scenes were lit with a shocking conclusion. This was my first read by this author and won’t be my last. Love his writing and ability to tell a story. 1 million kudos.
“Victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan”
This was a semi-fast-paced legal thriller. While I enjoyed most of it - what is up with having a character who is mostly referred to as “The Leg?” I get the back story but every time I had to read “The Leg” I cringed a little. And as she is called by her nickname 95% of the time. It was a lot of cringing.
The court scenes were lit with a shocking conclusion. This was my first read by this author and won’t be my last. Love his writing and ability to tell a story. 1 million kudos.
“Victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan”
September 6, 2022
This was a very enjoyable and easy breezy listen. Took me back to my John Grisham binging days. A solid small town legal thriller that some might consider basic but I call entertaining.
A solid debut from an film and tv writer.
A solid debut from an film and tv writer.
December 3, 2022
Great legal thriller about a patent lawyer that takes on a murder case in a small town in Texas.
Great characters and a bombshell ending !
Great characters and a bombshell ending !
July 1, 2022
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Pushkin Press and Joey Hartstone for the opportunity to read and review The Local.
Oh. My. Word.
It's been a while since I have been this invested in a mystery. Three months, actually. Wholly entertaining, well written, fleshed out characters, great representation, amazing research. Fabulous.
I'm not super invested in legal matters, so at times some of the information and happenings did go over my head. But holy moly, I'm mind blown. This is one of those books that will have you questioning every single character in the book. I actually have a headache from all the tension now. My heart is racing.
I will be recommending this book to everyone!
Oh. My. Word.
It's been a while since I have been this invested in a mystery. Three months, actually. Wholly entertaining, well written, fleshed out characters, great representation, amazing research. Fabulous.
I'm not super invested in legal matters, so at times some of the information and happenings did go over my head. But holy moly, I'm mind blown. This is one of those books that will have you questioning every single character in the book. I actually have a headache from all the tension now. My heart is racing.
I will be recommending this book to everyone!
February 26, 2023
Incredible
this is an outstanding book in every way. In fact, in many ways, it rivals John Grisham, legal thriller.
I like how the pace of the book moves very very quickly, and it has lots of inlaid hints that lead to a finish that is very much a surprise.
this is an outstanding book in every way. In fact, in many ways, it rivals John Grisham, legal thriller.
I like how the pace of the book moves very very quickly, and it has lots of inlaid hints that lead to a finish that is very much a surprise.
October 7, 2022
The Local
By: Joey Hartstone
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A thrilling legal debut set in Marshall, Texas with a full of cast of colorful characters. James Eucher is a patent attorney but gets drawn into a murder trial. His long time friend, mentor and local judge is murdered. Judge Gardner was murdered in the courthouse parking lot.
☠️
James is trying his hand as a lawyer on a criminal case. So many twists in this legal drama. He does have a great team working with him.
☠️
I can see a series with this main character. The author has written screen plays which definitely is evident on how the story unfolds.
#doubledaybooks, #joeyhartstone, #thelocal, #legaldrama, #booksconnectus, #bookstagram, #bookreview, #stamperlady50
By: Joey Hartstone
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A thrilling legal debut set in Marshall, Texas with a full of cast of colorful characters. James Eucher is a patent attorney but gets drawn into a murder trial. His long time friend, mentor and local judge is murdered. Judge Gardner was murdered in the courthouse parking lot.
☠️
James is trying his hand as a lawyer on a criminal case. So many twists in this legal drama. He does have a great team working with him.
☠️
I can see a series with this main character. The author has written screen plays which definitely is evident on how the story unfolds.
#doubledaybooks, #joeyhartstone, #thelocal, #legaldrama, #booksconnectus, #bookstagram, #bookreview, #stamperlady50
April 1, 2022
I originally requested the book because of the setting. Marshall, Texas is a small non-descript East Texas town I am quite familiar with, and I had to find out what someone could write about it. What I learned is that Marshall is the home of a Federal District Court that hears patent cases from all around the country and is famous for the big payouts awarded. Because of that, the town is inundated with patent attorneys. Thus enters the main character in The Local.
Big city law firms need locals to help with jury selection and to put a familiar face to their cases. James Euchre is one of the best.
This book has everything you could want, as a reader. There is court drama, a murder, a high-stakes law firm, a bit of romance, and local color. As I read the book, I was convinced the author must be from the area. Who else would know about Karnack or Uncertain, Texas? It just goes to show the power of detailed research. Mr. Hartstone made me believe he knew every nook and cranny in Harrison County, in and out of the courtroom.
James Euchre is working with a large law firm from New York when the prestigious judge who had presided over the Federal District Court for over twenty years is murdered. Not only was the judge Euchre’s friend, but a father figure and mentor. He is determined to bring the killer to justice.
It doesn’t help when his client, Amir, from Pakistan is arrested and charged with the murder. James Euchre is a patent attorney. He’s never practiced criminal law, although his father did and made quite a name for himself across the state. But Amir is adamant he wants James to represent him and prove his innocence.
There are many shocking discoveries throughout the unfolding of this story, including publicly accusing the esteemed judge’s replacement of the murder. I will say the author did a fantastic job of keeping the true identity of the killer under wraps until the very end and I did not even come close to guessing who it was.
This is a fantastic story that I devoured! If you like fast-paced action, lots of suspense while at the same time seeing the very human side of the characters, you will love this novel.
Big city law firms need locals to help with jury selection and to put a familiar face to their cases. James Euchre is one of the best.
This book has everything you could want, as a reader. There is court drama, a murder, a high-stakes law firm, a bit of romance, and local color. As I read the book, I was convinced the author must be from the area. Who else would know about Karnack or Uncertain, Texas? It just goes to show the power of detailed research. Mr. Hartstone made me believe he knew every nook and cranny in Harrison County, in and out of the courtroom.
James Euchre is working with a large law firm from New York when the prestigious judge who had presided over the Federal District Court for over twenty years is murdered. Not only was the judge Euchre’s friend, but a father figure and mentor. He is determined to bring the killer to justice.
It doesn’t help when his client, Amir, from Pakistan is arrested and charged with the murder. James Euchre is a patent attorney. He’s never practiced criminal law, although his father did and made quite a name for himself across the state. But Amir is adamant he wants James to represent him and prove his innocence.
There are many shocking discoveries throughout the unfolding of this story, including publicly accusing the esteemed judge’s replacement of the murder. I will say the author did a fantastic job of keeping the true identity of the killer under wraps until the very end and I did not even come close to guessing who it was.
This is a fantastic story that I devoured! If you like fast-paced action, lots of suspense while at the same time seeing the very human side of the characters, you will love this novel.
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