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Michael Collins #1

No Time To Run: A legal thriller

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Michael Collins burned his suits and ties in a beautiful bonfire before leaving New York and taking up residence at Hut No. 7 in a run-down Mexican resort. He dropped-out, giving up a future of billable hours and big law firm paychecks. But, there are millions of dollars missing from a client's account and a lot of people who want Michael Collins to come back. When his girlfriend is accused of murder, he knows that there really isn't much choice.

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2011

1077 people are currently reading
1196 people want to read

About the author

J.D. Trafford

16 books255 followers
J.D. Trafford is the winner of the National Legal Fiction Writing Competition for Lawyers, has been profiled in Mystery Scene Magazine (a "writer of merit"), and written multiple bestselling legal thrillers. This includes the “No Time” series featuring Michael Collins, which was selected as an IndieReader bestselling pick, and Little Boy Lost, which has sold over 100,000 copies and was the #1 overall bestseller on Amazon.

In addition to graduating with honors from a Top 20 law school, J.D. Trafford has worked as a civil and criminal prosecutor, an associate at a large national law firm, and a non-profit attorney for people who could not afford legal representation.

Prior to law school, J.D. Trafford worked in Washington D.C. and lived in Saint Louis, Missouri. He worked on issues of housing, education, and poverty in communities of color.

He now lives with his wife and children in the Midwest, and bikes whenever possible.

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5 stars
523 (28%)
4 stars
672 (37%)
3 stars
476 (26%)
2 stars
103 (5%)
1 star
42 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Profile Image for Cheryl.
208 reviews17 followers
April 3, 2013
A legal mystery (they say thriller, but I disagree with that adjective) about a retired lawyer who is forced back to work to try to save his girlfriend from the death penalty.

it was a fairly quick read but, I didn't feel that the characters were well-written. I didn't really like any of them...mainly because I felt like I didn't know any of them. The plot was difficult to figure out at some points.

All in all, John Grisham has nothing to worry about.
Profile Image for Pete Loveday.
160 reviews5 followers
November 19, 2012
No Time To Run
By
J.D.Trafford
(Legal Thriller)

Much has been written in praise of this book. I guess it depends on how much one enjoys copycat.
Such as Harry Hole, Dismas Hardy etc.
The protagonist, Michael Collins is a flawed ‘good guy’ who has suffered a major setback in his successful life as a leading lawyer for a major New York law firm. Having walked away from the good life for a beach bum’s existence, he is drawn back into his former life to help the woman he loves in her time of need, namely arrested for murder.
The story unfolds in a jerky and disjointed fashion with so much unknown about all the characters. I found it difficult to empathise with the lead character due to in consistencies in the story. Although fast paced and with-holding an explosive conclusion, I found the book complicated and it did not satisfy me.

Four Stars ***

Available on Amazon Kindle.
Profile Image for Al Canary.
458 reviews1 follower
February 2, 2012
This was supposed to be "legal fiction" but at 39% on my Kindle, I've read little that puts in this genre, except that our Protag is a Lawyer & His best budddy is a Math Genius & Pothead. The dialog so far discribes overblown characters. Exagerated to the point of disbelief. I may trry to finish later, but I cant stomach much more at the present. O well, the Kindle price was right!
1,070 reviews5 followers
November 9, 2021
Michael gave up being a lawyer and moved to a run-down resort in Mexico--but there is millions of dollars missing from a client account. Will Michael be arrested & his friend sentenced to die? Good plot, fast moving. I rate this a 4.8.
Profile Image for Cindy B. .
3,899 reviews219 followers
February 5, 2014
Good premise, interesting cast, some cussing, no graphic sex, no gory violence, book #1 of series, TTS-enabled, free from Amazon.com. Would read the author again.
Profile Image for Mike French.
430 reviews109 followers
July 30, 2014
As in all good thrillers there is non-stop action from start to finish. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you up till late at night!
Profile Image for Nancy Silk.
Author 5 books82 followers
October 6, 2017
"One Of The Most Exciting Novels I've Read"

This novel is a Top 20 Legal Thriller which will engulf you. Michael Collins had been a New York attorney. He left the firm because there were millions of dollars missing from a client's account and suspicions fell upon him. So he rapidly moved to Mexico to a dilapidated Hut No. 7. There were many people wanting him to return. He had no plans ever to return to N.Y. until his girlfriend is accused of murder. He has to help her. Wow, I couldn't put this novel down. I grabbed a cup of coffee late at night to enjoy more of the great story. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Chloe Cuthbert.
Author 2 books5 followers
September 3, 2018
Fantastic legal thriller

This is the first book in a series. When beginning, it seems as if you've missed something but worry not, all will be revealed. Michael John Collins is an attorney on the run. Burned out after years as a top associate in a major NYC law firm, he's made a new life in Mexico. But the past has caught up with him, and Trafford takes the reader on a whirlwind ride to find the truth.
Profile Image for Burma.
35 reviews
April 13, 2018
Exciting first book in a series. Foreword indicates the author did further editing before this release, but he missed several things. I often wish I could mark mistakes and automatically send them to the author. I really liked the main character and look forward to reading book two. Couldn’t give it five stars because I find multiple mistakes distracting. My cross to bear.
Profile Image for Janis.
473 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2019
3.5 stars. I read a stand alone book by Trafford (Little Boy Lost) that I really enjoyed and so I decided to try his Collins series. Book #1 wasn’t too enticing....too many story lines that didn’t get tied up (I guess he saved some for his future series books) but it was all too jumbled for me with no clear story line. I did like his main character, so I may try book two.
Profile Image for Ernest Godfrey.
198 reviews1 follower
June 14, 2017
Liked this one

Ok so 500mill is a silly amount but still a good storey well told. Absolutely loved Kermit fantastic character everybody should have a K-.man in their lives if they could cope
82 reviews
August 11, 2017
Disappointing

The plot was too contrived to be believable and the sidekick character was an unnecessary distraction to the extent of being ridiculous. The book didn't measure up to the author's "Little Boy Lost."
Profile Image for Tara Butler.
84 reviews1 follower
August 16, 2017
Fantastic fast paced and gripping legal thriller

With deep characters and a gripping who done it plot, No time to Run kept me turning pages until I had devoured the entire thing. I can't wait to read more about Kermit and Michael.
Profile Image for Ann Wright.
322 reviews5 followers
September 5, 2017
A worthy rival of John Grisham

Michael Collins is an attorney and he's charged with trying to defend his lover, accused in a murder. She's being set up but he doesn't know that for a while.
Profile Image for Mary Manson.
354 reviews1 follower
January 3, 2018
You Certainly Don't -

Have time to run! Not while reading this legal thriller! I finished it in one reading. It is a page turner with lots of action and an ending you won't coming. I loved the book, the characters, the fast paced writing style!
Profile Image for Gerald .
389 reviews6 followers
April 1, 2018
I was hoping to love this book; but could never make that happen and even found myself debating if I wanted to finish it. I stuck with the story and ended up willing to check out another of the author's books.
Profile Image for Abbie .
613 reviews3 followers
August 25, 2019
Legal thriller perfected

Not since A Time To Kill have I so enjoyed reading a lawyer novel. This one has all the best and worst characters in one book racing to find the guilty party. A must read.
22 reviews
July 18, 2017
An enjoyable story

Fast paced and suspenseful. Good character development and a good read. I'm off to "No Time to Die" and the rest of the series.
Profile Image for carla abel-zieg.
27 reviews
August 10, 2017
Interesting read

Overall the reading was easy and fast. The plot was ok but somewhat predictable but it flowed. I plan to read the next book. I liked the lawyer he had moxie.
Profile Image for Nancy.
144 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2017
Well, the numbers may be in equilibrium, but the parentheses sure weren't!
660 reviews
June 19, 2018
A legal thiller that involves dissolution attorney. Along for the ride is the girlfriend and a Energetic
Quirky Friend,
82 reviews
August 5, 2018
Great book

I liked the characters. The twists and turns kept the story interesting. Looking forward to the next book about Michael Collins.
Profile Image for Lindamac.
584 reviews6 followers
August 19, 2018
I liked the characters, the writing and the pace of this novel. I'll be reading more of the Michael Collins series.
Profile Image for Lori.
419 reviews26 followers
March 17, 2019
Another good one from J. D. Trafford. If you like legalese lit with great characters and surprise endings try one of this author's books
Profile Image for Jeanette Hurrelbrink.
415 reviews7 followers
June 19, 2019
No Time to Run

Another successful story written by Trafford. A young attorney gets caught in the middle of a lost money mystery. A good read.
323 reviews
August 13, 2020
Quick read. Nice little mystery, but very little character or plot development. It was entertaining, but not challenging.
669 reviews
August 29, 2022
Well constructed plot of fraud and murder that takes us from New York to the Islands and back.
452 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2023
Just fair. It did get me through a plane ride
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews

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