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Trial Junkies #1
Trial Junkies
Ethan "Hutch" Hutchinson hasn't seen his old college pals for nearly a decade. Now fate has brought them together again as one of the gang is put on trial for a brutal, senseless murder. The Chicago police and prosecutor think they have their perp, but Hutch isn't about to sit silently in a courtroom as someone he cares about is wrongfully convicted.
When Hutch and his friends join forces to search for the real killer, what they find shatters every notion they have about friendship, loss and redemption... and may very well cost Hutch--and the woman he loves--their lives.
When Hutch and his friends join forces to search for the real killer, what they find shatters every notion they have about friendship, loss and redemption... and may very well cost Hutch--and the woman he loves--their lives.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2014
98 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
About the author
Robert Gregory Browne
38 books126 followersRobert Gregory Browne is a bestselling author, Nicholl Fellow, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Gold Alumnus, and a Thriller Award nominated member of the International Thriller Writers.
He has written teleplays for Showtime, Saban, Marvel, and Fox Kids, and has published multiple novels under multiple names in multiple countries with St. Martin’s Press, Penguin Dutton, Signet, and Harlequin. His short stories have appeared in Lee Child’s Killer Year and Sandra Brown’s Love is Murder.
His novel Kiss Her Goodbye was produced for television by CBS TV/Sony Pictures. His novel The Paradise Prophecy was optioned by Temple Hill Productions for ABC Television.
He lives in California with his wife, cat, two dogs, and Jura coffee machine.
He has written teleplays for Showtime, Saban, Marvel, and Fox Kids, and has published multiple novels under multiple names in multiple countries with St. Martin’s Press, Penguin Dutton, Signet, and Harlequin. His short stories have appeared in Lee Child’s Killer Year and Sandra Brown’s Love is Murder.
His novel Kiss Her Goodbye was produced for television by CBS TV/Sony Pictures. His novel The Paradise Prophecy was optioned by Temple Hill Productions for ABC Television.
He lives in California with his wife, cat, two dogs, and Jura coffee machine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
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May 17, 2012I wrote this book.
June 3, 2012
Before you start reading Trial Junkies by Robert Gregory Browne, I want to offer you some advice.
Let the dog out. Put the kids to bed. Give your spouse-ish a snack and the remote. Turn off your phone. Shut down the laptop. Do not answer the door.
Ignore everything in your life that needs to be done.
Once you read the first line of Chapter One, you will forget everything else anyway. You might as well prepare for it.
When Robert B. Parker passed away, I lost my favorite crime writer.
I have been in abject mourning.
Ring those bells, I have thrown off the black!
As a fiction editor and more importantly, an avid mystery/crime/thriller/suspense reader, I have read it all.
I have slogged my way through drek.
Alternately, I have tiptoed stealthily through the dark recesses and alleyways and deserted buildings of the best prose on the planet.
And I can say wholeheartedly--and gleefully--that Robert Gregory Browne's latest, Trial Junkies, is the best of the best.
You will not see it coming. I didn't. And I have solved every single crime in every single book I've ever read.
Browne literally has no "tell."
This book is brilliant.
Robert, you are my hero.
Let the dog out. Put the kids to bed. Give your spouse-ish a snack and the remote. Turn off your phone. Shut down the laptop. Do not answer the door.
Ignore everything in your life that needs to be done.
Once you read the first line of Chapter One, you will forget everything else anyway. You might as well prepare for it.
When Robert B. Parker passed away, I lost my favorite crime writer.
I have been in abject mourning.
Ring those bells, I have thrown off the black!
As a fiction editor and more importantly, an avid mystery/crime/thriller/suspense reader, I have read it all.
I have slogged my way through drek.
Alternately, I have tiptoed stealthily through the dark recesses and alleyways and deserted buildings of the best prose on the planet.
And I can say wholeheartedly--and gleefully--that Robert Gregory Browne's latest, Trial Junkies, is the best of the best.
You will not see it coming. I didn't. And I have solved every single crime in every single book I've ever read.
Browne literally has no "tell."
This book is brilliant.
Robert, you are my hero.
May 21, 2012
Robert Gregory Browne's Trial Junkies catapults you into the very essence of what is means to be "guilty by public opinion." Things and people are not always what they seem. Cops and lawyers are not always on the side of justice. Just when you think you have this case solved the author takes you careening down a road with so many curves you will be questioning everyone's actions. This book is a thrill ride you don't want to miss. You will finish it and start looking for the sequel. I would give it six stars if I could.
June 28, 2012
I got this book free on my Kindle. I'm so glad I didn't pay for it. A review that I read on Amazon said that it was like John Grisham meets The Big Chill. That sounded interesting, so I gave it a try. Very disappointed. I wanted to stop reading it several times, but I kept with it. Predictable plot. Unrealistic dialogue between characters. Undeveloped characters. I read a lot of legal thrillers and this was nothing special. I do not recommend this book.
June 24, 2012
I was looking for a great new legal thriller. This wasn't it. The first part of the book is called "The gang's all here" - and it certainly was - the murder of a successful woman, the reunion of her friends at the funeral, the charging of one of them with her murder, incompetent police, and a heavily signalled "surprise" twist....not really worth the time.
September 18, 2012
Three stars--one for each Part that I enjoyed (there were four total). This book is an easy read -- it took me two evenings after work to complete. It's also a compelling read, right up until Part Four, when the story goes completely off the rails and begins to feel like a very poorly executed Jigsaw trap from the infamous Saw movies, sans most of the gore. After reading the reviews on Amazon and the book sample, I had high hopes and perhaps that's why I'm so let down. However, in spite of feeling insulted by the level of suspension of disbelief required to get through Part Four, I did still find myself concerned for the protagonists' wellbeing and still wanted the answer to the main question--who killed Jenny? I didn't like it, but I did at least get an answer. Had I been shocked by or impressed with the answer, I might haven given this one more star. It's far more predictable than some will lead you to believe. I personally just recommend reading Parts 1-3 and then skimming the ending.
June 11, 2012
I have read a few other novels by the author and really groove on his style and substance. "Trial Junkies" is a fun,quick, character driven read that drew me in from the first page. The cast of characters is worth the coin, the novel will leave a blister on your finger from "turning" the pages, the smile on your face will say the rest. I am looking forward to the next already.
June 14, 2012
This book had its good moments but overall I found it predictable and too abrupt when it came to emotions about characters and changing of the minds of who done it. I put it aside to start another book before I finished it so you know it could have been better.
June 7, 2012
This is a page turner,well-written and plotted story with several unusual twists and turns.
June 29, 2012
The quote on the cover of Robert Browne’s new book Trial Junkies says, “A mystery I dare you to solve.” Well, I always love a challenge, especially when it comes to solving a mystery.
Whenever I watch shows like “Monk” or “Psych,” I always try to solve the mystery before the grand reveal at the end of the show. I’ve watched enough of these shows by this point in my life that I often have figured out the culprit halfway through the show. So with that in mind, I eagerly started Browne’s new self-published book.
With my busy schedule working a full-time job, commuting three hours a day and coaching both of my daughters’ softball teams, I don’t have as much time for reading as I would like. However, Trial Junkies was so fast-paced and so well-written that once I had started, I couldn’t stop turning the pages and I had finished the book in no time. Did I solve the mystery before the end? I’ll get to that in a minute.
Ethan “Hutch” Hutchinson is a washed-up actor who returns to his Chicago roots when his former college sweetheart who he hasn’t seen in years is found murdered. Hutch reluctantly reunites with the rest of their group of friends at her funeral. When another member of the group is arrested for the murder, Hutch and his friends band together to find the real killer before their friend is convicted. The case takes multitudes of twists and turns as the police and Hutch follow the breadcrumb trail of clues until Hutch at last discovers the horrible secret hiding in plain sight. To say any more about the story would ruin the surprises for you.
Did I solve the mystery before the big reveal? Not entirely. But I loved trying! Throughout the twist and turns, I was able to partially figure out what was going on, but not 100%. In spite of that, I was left feeling very satisfied by the ending. Sometimes, a surprise ending in a mystery feels like it came from out of left field, or, at the other extreme, it is too completely telegraphed to actually be a surprise. This falls perfectly in the middle, with just enough clues to give you a taste of what is coming without completely letting the whole murderous cat out of the bag.
Trial Junkies is a pulse-pounding thriller that is populated by real characters. Browne's snappy dialogue and masterful storytelling makes the characters come alive. You will quickly feel as if you know Hutch and his friends and will want to fight along with them to discover the truth.
Browne has said this is the first book in a series and I can’t wait for the next one. I am eager to see what twist and turns Browne has in store for us in book two.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give Trial Junkies a 5.
Whenever I watch shows like “Monk” or “Psych,” I always try to solve the mystery before the grand reveal at the end of the show. I’ve watched enough of these shows by this point in my life that I often have figured out the culprit halfway through the show. So with that in mind, I eagerly started Browne’s new self-published book.
With my busy schedule working a full-time job, commuting three hours a day and coaching both of my daughters’ softball teams, I don’t have as much time for reading as I would like. However, Trial Junkies was so fast-paced and so well-written that once I had started, I couldn’t stop turning the pages and I had finished the book in no time. Did I solve the mystery before the end? I’ll get to that in a minute.
Ethan “Hutch” Hutchinson is a washed-up actor who returns to his Chicago roots when his former college sweetheart who he hasn’t seen in years is found murdered. Hutch reluctantly reunites with the rest of their group of friends at her funeral. When another member of the group is arrested for the murder, Hutch and his friends band together to find the real killer before their friend is convicted. The case takes multitudes of twists and turns as the police and Hutch follow the breadcrumb trail of clues until Hutch at last discovers the horrible secret hiding in plain sight. To say any more about the story would ruin the surprises for you.
Did I solve the mystery before the big reveal? Not entirely. But I loved trying! Throughout the twist and turns, I was able to partially figure out what was going on, but not 100%. In spite of that, I was left feeling very satisfied by the ending. Sometimes, a surprise ending in a mystery feels like it came from out of left field, or, at the other extreme, it is too completely telegraphed to actually be a surprise. This falls perfectly in the middle, with just enough clues to give you a taste of what is coming without completely letting the whole murderous cat out of the bag.
Trial Junkies is a pulse-pounding thriller that is populated by real characters. Browne's snappy dialogue and masterful storytelling makes the characters come alive. You will quickly feel as if you know Hutch and his friends and will want to fight along with them to discover the truth.
Browne has said this is the first book in a series and I can’t wait for the next one. I am eager to see what twist and turns Browne has in store for us in book two.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give Trial Junkies a 5.
June 19, 2012
What draws a person to pick up a particular book? Is it an eye catching or intriguing cover? Is it a famous author's name that everyone knows? Or is it the opening line or chapter of a book? An unusual cover will usually cause me to stop & pick a book up or perhaps the brief synopsis of the story might cause me to stop & ponder if it's something I want to read. But truth be told, the first few lines of a book will "make it or break it" for me. If I can't be hooked from the beginning, I know I usually won't make it past the first couple of chapters.
I can honestly say when I read the first couple paragraphs of TRIAL JUNKIES, my interest was piqued.
"They found her body in Dearborn Park. She had been left to die in a vacant lot on Clark Street, lying in a pool of her own blood, multiple stab wounds to her chest and abdomen, her face slashed, her throat slit ear to ear."
How could you not be just a little bit curious after that opening paragraph?
The main character, Hutch, is a washed up actor who discovers his college girlfriend has been murdered. He returns home to Chicago after a 10 year absence for her funeral & reunites with his old college friends. While there, the police finally arrest a suspect, who just happens to be one of Hutch's friends. And this is where things get interesting. As facts are introduced & evidence revealed, it looks like it's a slam dunk for the prosecution. Or is it?
I read this book in two days, although I would have finished it in one day if I had had the time. I was totally captured by the story & just had to see what happened. Mr. Browne has woven just enough mystery & intrigue to tease you into saying "Just one more page. Just one more chapter.”. And then there was the ending. An ending that I certainly did NOT see coming.
I cannot wait to see where Mr. Browne takes us in the next installment of TRIAL JUNKIES. If you haven't read any of Mr. Browne's books, you should try this one. I don't think you'll be disappointed. I certainly wasn't!
May 29, 2012
TRIAL JUNKIES is a pulse-pounding read that’s part courtroom drama and part traditional thriller. Ethan “Hutch” Hutchinson, a washed-up TV and screen actor looking for some sort of meaning in his life, returns to his Chicago roots for the funeral of a woman he once loved. When another college friend is arrested for her savage murder, Hutch gets his shot at redemption. The evidence points to his friend Veronica, and though at first Hutch believes she’s guilty, eventually he changes his mind. As her trial gets underway he and his friends will go to any lengths to defend her, even looking for the real murderer themselves. But they quickly encounter a case of “be careful what you wish for” when their investigation puts them on the trail of a serial killer and leads them all into mortal danger. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, Browne throws in some twists so neatly that while you want to cry foul instead make you marvel at his sleight of hand.
May 27, 2012
Trial Junkies is a well-crafted, tightly written, gripping mystery, thriller with enough intelligent twists to keep you riveted to the book until the last page, and then make you wish the book hadn’t ended.
Robert Gregory Browne does an excellent job, keeping the mystery and suspense elements sprinkled throughout the whole book. The dialogue is snappy and moves the story along at an exceptional pace. The chemistry and dynamics between the characters are believable and entertaining. The author’s masterful storytelling and writing skills make the characters come alive with credibly, irresistible, yet flawed traits. You will root for the characters, laugh with them and hold your breath in fear for what is going to happen to them next with all the surprising twists and turns.
I look forward to the next installment of Trial Junkies.
Robert Gregory Browne does an excellent job, keeping the mystery and suspense elements sprinkled throughout the whole book. The dialogue is snappy and moves the story along at an exceptional pace. The chemistry and dynamics between the characters are believable and entertaining. The author’s masterful storytelling and writing skills make the characters come alive with credibly, irresistible, yet flawed traits. You will root for the characters, laugh with them and hold your breath in fear for what is going to happen to them next with all the surprising twists and turns.
I look forward to the next installment of Trial Junkies.
June 11, 2012
This was an entertaining and fairly quick mystery read. I liked the dialogue with the characters and I liked the sharp narrative. It was borderline "thriller" for me as there wasn't much thrilling in it until nearer the end. I figured the group's suspected perpetrator was a red herring, I had some other characters in mind, yet I think in the back of my mind I suspected the real mastermind. I would like to see more about the other characters in subsequent books. One plot point that just didn't do it for me was Hutch's quick realization that he was in love with Ronnie. And as usual with Kindle versions, there were a plethora of editing mistakes - primarily with words being left out.
August 29, 2012
The hero, a thirty something almost was Hollywood Actor, returns to Chicago for the funeral of his college love who was brutally murdered. He links up with old college friends and rekindles their relationships when, following the funeral, one, a woman, is arrested for the murder. He attends the trial daily, from the time of jury selection to its culmination and learns a lot about the crime and those involved no matter how loosely. The plot runs through it quite well. He generally uses his past experiences as an actor to judge what he is seeing and his reactions to what is going on in the trial. The solution is somewhat of a surprise, but not totally unexpected.
July 23, 2012
I really got into this book by Robert Gregory Browne. When I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to get back to it. I loved the Chicago setting and I found that I came to really care about the characters quickly.
I have to admit that I was a tad let down by the way the serial killer path went, but it was minor. I didn't see the solution coming. The fact that I kept wanting to get back to the book coupled with the fact that it kept me thinking about the story and the characters even after I finished it made me decide to give it 5 stars. Well written and well plotted, I think most mystery/thriller fans will really love this book.
I have to admit that I was a tad let down by the way the serial killer path went, but it was minor. I didn't see the solution coming. The fact that I kept wanting to get back to the book coupled with the fact that it kept me thinking about the story and the characters even after I finished it made me decide to give it 5 stars. Well written and well plotted, I think most mystery/thriller fans will really love this book.
May 10, 2013
At first I thought this was somebody's really good self-published novel because I got it free on Kindle and there were a dozen or so errors a professional editor would have caught. But no, this is a traditionally published work and despite the grammar goofs Trial Junkies is a well-written who-done-it with characters you can invest in, a believable plot, and didn't-see-that-coming twists and turns that are simply genius. Recommended especially if you like mysteries, trials, and really interesting writing.
October 22, 2012
tense, fun, fast-paced legal thriller. You think they've got the answer, but no, it can't be quite so easy... It isn't, and the real answer is way more than you imagined. Well-written, with memorable, well-drawn characters. Not the genre I usually read, but I've already downloaded another more samples from this author.
March 5, 2014
Great book
Classic courtroom drama with many twists....very entertaining! This book kept me reading from the second I downloaded it. Anyone interested in slick, fast-paced, smart thrillers needs to read this one.
Classic courtroom drama with many twists....very entertaining! This book kept me reading from the second I downloaded it. Anyone interested in slick, fast-paced, smart thrillers needs to read this one.
August 13, 2014
A fantastic courtroom thriller that's entertaining, fast-paced, and surprises you with great twists. I normally hate stories centered around courtroom cases BUT this one held me all the way to the end. Very enjoyable. Well done, Mister Browne!
May 30, 2012
got this one from the kindle lending library and enjoyed it very much. the author says its the first of a series and i'm already looking forward to the next one.
May 28, 2012
Lots of twists and turns, I suspected many before "almost" getting it right. The dialogue is a bit cliche and the author tries to explain the obvious unnecessarily. A fun, quick thriller.
June 7, 2012
Being a legal secretary I liked the trial aspect and the mystery of the case at hand was very interesting.
August 24, 2012
Story is predictable. Characters were stereotypical. I didn't find myself in any way rooting for the "good guys". The dialogue was boring and cliche. Didn't like this book much at all.
November 11, 2012
Loved it
September 18, 2013
I couldn't hardly put this book down and finished it in 2 days. It was a mystery that was not easy to figure out which made it a great read and nail-biter.
December 15, 2013
Enjoyed it!!!! The first book in the Trial Junkies series. A legal thriller with a little who done it thrown in. A surprising ending. Can't wait to read the second book!!!
April 26, 2014
Interesting
This book had me on edge. This is definitely a who done it kind of book. With a surprise ending. A never would have guessed.
This book had me on edge. This is definitely a who done it kind of book. With a surprise ending. A never would have guessed.
July 1, 2025
When Ethan Hutchinson (better known as Hutch) is approached at his college about becoming an actor, Hutch wants to give up his college education, his friends and try out hollywood. He leaves the girl he loved behind. He has never forgotten her, but he never told her goodbye.
Now ten years later, Hutch is a struggling actor after a hit series and is finally trying to get his acting career back when he finds out that the girl he loved has been killed. Leaving Hollywood to go home and face the friends he left behind, he attends the funeral.
Now being back, he wants to finally make up to Jenny those years of leaving her. He reunites with his college friends to find the killer!!
Great book and can't wait to the next in the series!
Now ten years later, Hutch is a struggling actor after a hit series and is finally trying to get his acting career back when he finds out that the girl he loved has been killed. Leaving Hollywood to go home and face the friends he left behind, he attends the funeral.
Now being back, he wants to finally make up to Jenny those years of leaving her. He reunites with his college friends to find the killer!!
Great book and can't wait to the next in the series!
May 2, 2021
Really enjoyed this. A fast paced, exciting thriller, with many twists and turns along the way. Once I've done My current reading plan(I'm working my way through all my kindle books in alphabetical order), I shall be returning to this author and reading the second book in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews