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Jason Kolarich #4
The Last Alibi
Defense attorney Jason Kolarich is back in another edge-of-your-seat thriller . . . and this time he may find himself in over his head, in more ways than one.Believing he’s the target of a frame-up, geeky loner James Drinker hires defense attorney Jason Kolarich to take his case. Two women he knows have recently been murdered, seemingly by the same killer, and Drinker thinks he’ll be the police’s main suspect. Something about Drinker seems off from the start, but Kolarich doesn’t give it too much thought. Until another murder occurs. And then another.
As he begins to probe his client’s life and story more closely, it quickly becomes clear that nothing about James Drinker is what it seems…and the target of the frame-up isn’t Drinker, but Kolarich.
Faced with a murder charge and unable to prove his own innocence without breaking his sworn attorney-client privilege, Jason Kolarich must hunt for the truth about James Drinker, the series of brutal killings, and why he’s been set up to take the fall. The answers will be beyond anything he could have imagined.
465 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2013
103 people are currently reading
2079 people want to read
About the author
David Ellis
84 books2,300 followersDavid Ellis is a lawyer and the Edgar Allan Poe Award winner for Best First Novel for Line of Vision. Ellis attended Northwestern Law School and began his legal career in private practice in Chicago in 1993. He served as the House Prosecutor who tried and convicted Illinois Governor Blagojevich in the Impeachment Trial before the Illinois Senate. He was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court in 2014 and took office December 1, 2014. Ellis currently lives outside Chicago with his wife and three children.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
December 21, 2023
3.5 stars
In this 4th book in the 'Jason Kolarich' series, the attorney himself goes on trial. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
While recuperating from a knee injury, criminal defense lawyer Jason Kolarich - a partner in the Midwestern law firm 'Tasker and Kolarich' - becomes addicted to the painkiller oxycodone.
To hide his drug habit, Jason conceals the tablets in an Altoids box and munches them throughout the day.
Jason's opioid dependency may explain the lack of judgment and misguided behavior that results in his being tried for first degree murder.
Early in the story, Jason has a meeting with a potential client named James Drinker - a big stocky man with curly red hair, large black glasses, and a substantial beer gut. Drinker announces that two women of his acquaintance have recently been murdered, and - though he claims 'I didn't do it' - Drinker fears he'll be framed for the killings.
Drinker asks Jason EXACTLY how a person might go about framing someone, and the lawyer provides a step by step primer. (So that's not too bright.) Before long more women are killed, and each time Drinker claims 'I didn't do it.' As the bodies pile up, however, Jason comes to believe Drinker DID do it. All this leads to big problems for the attorney.
Meanwhile, Jason meets a beautiful court reporter named Alexa Himmel.
Jason and Alexa go on a few dates, have a lot of hot sex, and become a couple. Alexa is very sympathetic about Jason's 'hurting knee' (which is completely healed) and encourages him to take all the painkillers he needs. In fact, Alexa even obtains (illegal) pills for her boyfriend. Soon afterwards, Alexa manipulates the situation so that she's practically living with Jason.
Jason's law partner, Shauna Tasker - who's concerned about Jason's sickly appearance, weight loss, and odd behavior - hints that Alexa is bad news.....but the drug addict doesn't want to hear it.
In a coup de grâce Jason returns home one night to find a dead woman in his living room, shot with HIS gun.
The attorney is arrested, charged with murder, and put on trial. It looks like someone very cleverly framed Jason!
Jason insists on being defended by Shauna, even though she's a civil litigator, not a criminal lawyer. Shauna nervously takes on the task, knowing she'll have guidance from her partner.
The story is told from the alternating points of view of Jason and Shauna, and switches back and forth between the trial and the events leading up to it. There are numerous court scenes, with lots of maneuvering by the prosecution and defense - so plenty of fun for fans of legal thrillers.
The book is well-written, with a variety of interesting secondary characters, including: the district attorney, the judge, and the private investigator - Joel Lightner - who makes inquiries for Jason. Lightner's discoveries are very important to the story.
The author does a good job with twists and surprises, which are cleverly woven into the novel. We also see Jason deal with his opiate addiction and withdrawal, a topic that's very relevant these days.
All in all an enjoyable mystery/thriller, recommended to fans of the genre.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
March 21, 2020
While my exploration of David Ellis’ series starring Jason Kolarich has come to an end, it surely did not wane with this fourth novel. A story in which Kolarich finds himself in the crosshairs of a killer is only made better when our protagonist is tied up in knots and left as the accused in a murder trial. After a series of highly troubling events that left Jason Kolarich addicted to pain medication, he tries to hide all this from those around him. However, he is caught up by a new courtroom stenographer, Alexa Himmel, with whom he is soon in a heated relationship. Kolarich is approached by a man who says that he might soon be framed for the murder of a woman and wants advice. A new challenge for Kolarich, but one he is happy to decipher for his hourly fee. It would seem that James Drinker feels that someone is out to pin a number of murders on him, leaving Kolarich to help him creat an alibi that will be useful should the authorities pay him a visit. However, with each subsequent visit by Drinker, Kolarich comes to feel that his client may be a serial killer who is using attorney-client privilege to all but confess. Ready to break all the rules and ensure Drinker is taken into custody, Kolarich violates the state bar’s ethics and points the police in his direction, all while distancing himself from his law firm and falling down the rabbit hole of addiction and a trust with Alexa. However, even Alexa has her limits and she soon creates a situation where Kolarich chooses to keep her at bay. Their rough patch is documented in texts, emails, and voicemail messages. When Alexa turns up dead in his apartment, Kolarich is sure Drinker is behind it, but has no concrete proof. This game of cat and mouse gets harder when Kolarich is put on trial for the murder, forcing his partner, Shauna Tasker, to show off her legal skills. Kolarich is fighting for his life, while the elusive James Drinker hides in the shadows and uses the legal advice he received to exact bloody revenge. Might Jason Kolarich finally have met his match? Ellis does a formidable job with this piece, which keeps the reader guessing in this multi time period narrative. Recommended to those who have loved the series, as well as the reader who needs a legal thriller of the highest caliber.
David Ellis is an author I should have discovered long ago. He keeps his story strong and his characters ever-evolving in a genre that is so crowded with writers these days. As the series reader will know, Jason Kolarich is an evolving character whose backstory and character development never takes a break with Ellis in the driver’s seat. From the loss of his family through to some of his less than stellar relationship choices, Kolarich has always been able to use his gritty work ethic to rise to the occasion. However, with this piece, the tables are turned and Kolarich must rely on others as his life hangs in the balance. While Shauna Tasker has been a secondary character throughout, she peeks through to get a stronger role in this novel, receiving her own narrative perspective. This gives the reader additional first-hand information about the protagonist and some backstory that might have been missed with Kolarich off-hand comments in past novels. The handful of other key characters help propel the story forward and keeps the reader full enthralled with the progress of all things related to the piece. Ellis does well with this story, painting the characters into some interesting corners before pushing out and weaving together perhaps the best story to date. There is no point in the book when there narrative wanes and the mix of chapter lengths works well to give the reader something they can thoroughly enjoy. While it seems David Ellis has moved to working in collaboration with a popular author, I would love to see more of this series or read other standalone work, as this was a wonderful treat for me to discover!
Kudos, Mr. Ellis, for a series that is surely binge-worthy. I will be back for more of your work as I can get my hands on it.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
David Ellis is an author I should have discovered long ago. He keeps his story strong and his characters ever-evolving in a genre that is so crowded with writers these days. As the series reader will know, Jason Kolarich is an evolving character whose backstory and character development never takes a break with Ellis in the driver’s seat. From the loss of his family through to some of his less than stellar relationship choices, Kolarich has always been able to use his gritty work ethic to rise to the occasion. However, with this piece, the tables are turned and Kolarich must rely on others as his life hangs in the balance. While Shauna Tasker has been a secondary character throughout, she peeks through to get a stronger role in this novel, receiving her own narrative perspective. This gives the reader additional first-hand information about the protagonist and some backstory that might have been missed with Kolarich off-hand comments in past novels. The handful of other key characters help propel the story forward and keeps the reader full enthralled with the progress of all things related to the piece. Ellis does well with this story, painting the characters into some interesting corners before pushing out and weaving together perhaps the best story to date. There is no point in the book when there narrative wanes and the mix of chapter lengths works well to give the reader something they can thoroughly enjoy. While it seems David Ellis has moved to working in collaboration with a popular author, I would love to see more of this series or read other standalone work, as this was a wonderful treat for me to discover!
Kudos, Mr. Ellis, for a series that is surely binge-worthy. I will be back for more of your work as I can get my hands on it.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
March 14, 2018
An extremely odd client by the name of James Drinker wanders into Jason Kolarich’s office looking for legal counsel. You see, James happens to know, not one, but two young women who’ve recently been stabbed to death. He’s obviously (?) being framed and needs to line up a defense for when the police connect the dots and come knocking. James quickly becomes Jason’s nemesis with the antagonism between client and attorney forming the backbone of the plot.
Meanwhile, Jason is not at his professional best. He’s battling a personal demon, dating a new girl, and headed toward a serious falling out with his best friend / law partner. Busy, busy. 467 pages later (and not a moment sooner!), all these matters intersect and the truth becomes clear.
I’m a sucker for a legal thriller. This one has so many twists and turns it’s ridiculous, but the writing is convincing. There are a few macho man moments in which David Ellis, author, and his alter ego, Jason, seem to merge into one Neanderthal (did you know one hundred pounds is a perfectly adorable weight for a woman?). But not too many so I can forgive. The book is too long, but Ellis cast some kind of mojo that kept me eagerly flipping all those pages.
It’s a good read, especially for walking in on the fourth quarter of this series.
Meanwhile, Jason is not at his professional best. He’s battling a personal demon, dating a new girl, and headed toward a serious falling out with his best friend / law partner. Busy, busy. 467 pages later (and not a moment sooner!), all these matters intersect and the truth becomes clear.
I’m a sucker for a legal thriller. This one has so many twists and turns it’s ridiculous, but the writing is convincing. There are a few macho man moments in which David Ellis, author, and his alter ego, Jason, seem to merge into one Neanderthal (did you know one hundred pounds is a perfectly adorable weight for a woman?). But not too many so I can forgive. The book is too long, but Ellis cast some kind of mojo that kept me eagerly flipping all those pages.
It’s a good read, especially for walking in on the fourth quarter of this series.
March 13, 2021
DNF Horribly disappointing. Very interesting premise but, as far as I read, almost nothing but one character’s thoughts followed by pages of another’s thoughts. Extraordinarily boring! Seemed like the author was trying to be really clever. He wasn’t.
First time I’ve had two DNFs in a row. Could it be me? Doesn’t really matter, does it; since a review is my reaction to a book. In any case, no more David Ellis for me.
First time I’ve had two DNFs in a row. Could it be me? Doesn’t really matter, does it; since a review is my reaction to a book. In any case, no more David Ellis for me.
August 24, 2020
I'm sorry to get to the end of the available books of this series. I flew through the series pretty quickly, and enjoyed each book. I thought this one was different in several ways. Usually Jason is strong and smart, always on top of his game. But in this book, he was addicted to pain killers, hiding it from himself and his closest friends, and going downhill. Oh, and on trial for murder.
It seemed as if all was lost for much of the story. I never guessed very much of what was going on until near the end - and what an ending. All I can say is, when you get near the end, cancel all your immediate plans because it's going to be a long, steep ride to the end.
It seemed as if all was lost for much of the story. I never guessed very much of what was going on until near the end - and what an ending. All I can say is, when you get near the end, cancel all your immediate plans because it's going to be a long, steep ride to the end.
July 26, 2016
I wish I could give this 4.5 stars. It seems to be the last in the Jason Kolarich series and is a fitting finale.
Jason is literally in the fight of his life as he is charged with the murder of a former girlfriend. It all started with a mysterious client who approached Jason concerned that he might be arrested for the murder of two women. Naturally he claims he is innocent. Jason has his doubts about this mysterious person but attorney-client privilege means he can't say anything. Also his judgement is clouded by an addiction to pain killers and he comes under the sway of an exotic court court reporter who is very intense and clingy. His life soon spirals out of control and he takes the biggest gamble of his life by standing trial for a murder he didn't commit.
This was a gripping, page-turning train-wreck mystery of a very high calibre.
Jason is literally in the fight of his life as he is charged with the murder of a former girlfriend. It all started with a mysterious client who approached Jason concerned that he might be arrested for the murder of two women. Naturally he claims he is innocent. Jason has his doubts about this mysterious person but attorney-client privilege means he can't say anything. Also his judgement is clouded by an addiction to pain killers and he comes under the sway of an exotic court court reporter who is very intense and clingy. His life soon spirals out of control and he takes the biggest gamble of his life by standing trial for a murder he didn't commit.
This was a gripping, page-turning train-wreck mystery of a very high calibre.
February 25, 2014
This story would have been better with less courtroom dialogue and drug dependency. Talk and write about major distractions, they stay in the way far too long to reduce a good plot to whinnyness. That's too bad. 4 of 10 stars
December 27, 2014
David Ellis took me through an incredible journey with this tale. It was simply amazing. Well done
May 4, 2018
4,25 sterren - Nederlandse paperback - Ik heb dyslectie -
Er zijn een aantal dingen die mij wat verwonderde toen ik de eerste pagina's van dit boek las. Ten eerste was ik op de verkeerde voet gezet door het wordt thriller op de cover. Na gelang ik las vond ik het meer een rechtbank/suspence boek. Daarnaast heeft het mij ook de eerste 100 pagina's gekost voordat ik
begreep dat er twee -ik vertellers - zijn.
Reden van de 4,25 sterren, het verhaal neemt je mee. En ondanks dat er steeds meer dingen duidelijk worden in de loop van het verhaal hield de spanningsboog mij toch vast. 🌹🦋🌹
Er zijn een aantal dingen die mij wat verwonderde toen ik de eerste pagina's van dit boek las. Ten eerste was ik op de verkeerde voet gezet door het wordt thriller op de cover. Na gelang ik las vond ik het meer een rechtbank/suspence boek. Daarnaast heeft het mij ook de eerste 100 pagina's gekost voordat ik
begreep dat er twee -ik vertellers - zijn.
Reden van de 4,25 sterren, het verhaal neemt je mee. En ondanks dat er steeds meer dingen duidelijk worden in de loop van het verhaal hield de spanningsboog mij toch vast. 🌹🦋🌹
August 26, 2013
I have a terrific legal thriller for you today, The Last Alibi by David Ellis. Since this is the ninth book in the Jason Kolarich series, I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but I've just discovered Kolarich. Needless to say, I'll be looking for the previous eight books now.
In this story Kolarich has had knee surgery and unfortunately was given Oxycontin for postop pain. That's the one piece of the mystery that I found hard to believe. Oxycontin, the highly addictive pain killer, for this type of pain? Anyway, Kolarich has become addicted and when the doctor refused to prescribe any more of it, he started buying it illegally on the street. Meanwhile, his life is in such a downward spiral that even he begins to be aware of it, but he's too addicted to stop.
His legal partner, Shauna Tasker, can see something is very wrong but doesn't know what and he refuses her help. She is handling a huge civil case with their junior associate so she's really too busy to catch on anyway. Then a court reporter catches Kolarich's eye and she becomes his lover and his enabler.
During this time a new client enters Kolarich's office. He says two women he has some connection to have been murdered and he's afraid the police will arrest him but he's innocent. Sounds fishy but then Kolarich isn't too sharp under the influence of the drugs and he promises to be the guy's lawyer if he is arrested. From that point on the lawyer's life takes a hinky turn that grows worse and worse. And I was definitely hooked. There are so many things for the reader to worry about and work out, twists and turns that defy attempts to solve them, and you just have to keep turning pages. It's an amazing plot and one that I loved.
Author David Ellis has written a couple books with James Patterson but don't let that influence your decision whether to read this one. Personally I think Patterson has lost his touch and I don't read his books anymore. Maybe that's why I never read Ellis before. Who knows?
Highly recommended
Source: won from LibraryThing
In this story Kolarich has had knee surgery and unfortunately was given Oxycontin for postop pain. That's the one piece of the mystery that I found hard to believe. Oxycontin, the highly addictive pain killer, for this type of pain? Anyway, Kolarich has become addicted and when the doctor refused to prescribe any more of it, he started buying it illegally on the street. Meanwhile, his life is in such a downward spiral that even he begins to be aware of it, but he's too addicted to stop.
His legal partner, Shauna Tasker, can see something is very wrong but doesn't know what and he refuses her help. She is handling a huge civil case with their junior associate so she's really too busy to catch on anyway. Then a court reporter catches Kolarich's eye and she becomes his lover and his enabler.
During this time a new client enters Kolarich's office. He says two women he has some connection to have been murdered and he's afraid the police will arrest him but he's innocent. Sounds fishy but then Kolarich isn't too sharp under the influence of the drugs and he promises to be the guy's lawyer if he is arrested. From that point on the lawyer's life takes a hinky turn that grows worse and worse. And I was definitely hooked. There are so many things for the reader to worry about and work out, twists and turns that defy attempts to solve them, and you just have to keep turning pages. It's an amazing plot and one that I loved.
Author David Ellis has written a couple books with James Patterson but don't let that influence your decision whether to read this one. Personally I think Patterson has lost his touch and I don't read his books anymore. Maybe that's why I never read Ellis before. Who knows?
Highly recommended
Source: won from LibraryThing
September 28, 2013
It's unusual for me to give a book five stars, but this one deserves them.
Jason Kolarich is back, and this time he's fighting for his own life on several different fronts. A serial killer wants revenge for a trick Jason pulled on him 8 years prior, he has a new girlfriend who has mental issues, and he is dealing with an Oxycontin addiction. Quite a lot on one defense attorney's plate!
Unfortunately, I can't say more than this for fear of spoiling it for someone else, but the twists and turns (with detours for romance), the relationships, and how Ellis ties this all together are simply brilliant. Is justice done? Well, that depends on your definition of justice. Speaking strictly in legal terms, it isn't. But if your view of justice is morally-based, then it definitely was served.
Shauna, Jason's long-time BFF and law partner, also plays a prominent role in this book, and there is a "moment" there between them that I really hope is explored further in the next book, which I'll be looking forward to.
Jason Kolarich is back, and this time he's fighting for his own life on several different fronts. A serial killer wants revenge for a trick Jason pulled on him 8 years prior, he has a new girlfriend who has mental issues, and he is dealing with an Oxycontin addiction. Quite a lot on one defense attorney's plate!
Unfortunately, I can't say more than this for fear of spoiling it for someone else, but the twists and turns (with detours for romance), the relationships, and how Ellis ties this all together are simply brilliant. Is justice done? Well, that depends on your definition of justice. Speaking strictly in legal terms, it isn't. But if your view of justice is morally-based, then it definitely was served.
Shauna, Jason's long-time BFF and law partner, also plays a prominent role in this book, and there is a "moment" there between them that I really hope is explored further in the next book, which I'll be looking forward to.
January 14, 2018
I became a big fan of David Ellis in February 2017 when I read Invisible--co-written with James Patterson. This was part of the Goodreads Psychological Thrillers Reading Group's Book of the Month (BOTM) read. So after that, I grabbed The Black Book, Invisible and Murder House, all co-written with Patterson.
Now, David Ellis is my go-to guy. The Last Alibi is complicated. So bring your thinking cap. But it moves in typical David Ellis first-person / present-tense narration. The chapters are short and the twists and surprises are many. I thought I had it all figured out, too. But -- HAHAHA! -- I was wrong and the ending surprised me.
Check it out for yourself.
Here's a great quote from the book:
"If I limited myself to innocent clients, the phone wouldn't ring very often."
-- David Ellis, The Last Alibi
Now, David Ellis is my go-to guy. The Last Alibi is complicated. So bring your thinking cap. But it moves in typical David Ellis first-person / present-tense narration. The chapters are short and the twists and surprises are many. I thought I had it all figured out, too. But -- HAHAHA! -- I was wrong and the ending surprised me.
Check it out for yourself.
Here's a great quote from the book:
"If I limited myself to innocent clients, the phone wouldn't ring very often."
-- David Ellis, The Last Alibi
March 13, 2024
This one is a sucker-punch to the solar plexus! The plot in this one is so tightly written that no air can get through. I can't discuss anything from the book without giving away major (and I do mean major), plot points. Suffice it to say, fans of Jason Kolarich will be on the edge of their seats, and breathless until the last few pages.
February 1, 2017
I am a fan of the Jason Kolarich books, and this 3rd one, The Last Alibi doesn’t disappoint. There are so many twists and turns in this book, it might make your head spin. The story is so well plotted though, that you never lose the thread.
In order to understand where Jason is coming from, it might be helpful to read the earlier books in this series. Indeed, from past books we know that the loss of his wife and child is a very determining factor in how Jason goes about his life and his work. Jason was bereaved and despondent for a long time, until his old friend, Shauna Tasker asks him to join her law firm – and that’s where we find Jason today. His last case caused him to hurt his knee, have surgery and get addicted to oxycontin in the process.
His addiction leads him to be somewhat careless and he gets involved with the wrong girlfriend, a court reporter, Alexa Himmel, who appears to be a total enabler, which isn’t helping him. Furthermore, when a client, James Drinker, comes in and tells Jason he might be suspected of murder, Jason doesn’t catch on right away something fishy is going on.
The story is told from 2 different time-lines, one the facts as they unfold, the other one, when Jason is being tried for the murder of his girlfriend. The ingenuity of how Jason is able to get out of this pickle is remarkable. I have to say that as a legal thriller, this was certainly an extremely captivating read.
In order to understand where Jason is coming from, it might be helpful to read the earlier books in this series. Indeed, from past books we know that the loss of his wife and child is a very determining factor in how Jason goes about his life and his work. Jason was bereaved and despondent for a long time, until his old friend, Shauna Tasker asks him to join her law firm – and that’s where we find Jason today. His last case caused him to hurt his knee, have surgery and get addicted to oxycontin in the process.
His addiction leads him to be somewhat careless and he gets involved with the wrong girlfriend, a court reporter, Alexa Himmel, who appears to be a total enabler, which isn’t helping him. Furthermore, when a client, James Drinker, comes in and tells Jason he might be suspected of murder, Jason doesn’t catch on right away something fishy is going on.
The story is told from 2 different time-lines, one the facts as they unfold, the other one, when Jason is being tried for the murder of his girlfriend. The ingenuity of how Jason is able to get out of this pickle is remarkable. I have to say that as a legal thriller, this was certainly an extremely captivating read.
September 7, 2013
This was a very disappointing book. Ellis has one of my favorite series, the Jason Kolarich series, and one of my favorite all time mysteries, In the Company of Liars. This book made me yearn for earlier ones in the series. I've always liked Jason's partner, Shauna. This time, she was badly drawn, did many stupid things in the book, and made me cringe for this male writer who apparently has no clue about women. I am getting tired of this. This was also the first in the series that Ellis experimented with intertwining narrative points of view. It was not convincing. I had to keep looking at the subtitle of each chapter to know who was talking. In other words, the dialogue spoken and the thoughts and comments made were indistinguishable. Finally, the plot was over the top. One of these things I could believe; two of them strained credulity. Oh well.
January 21, 2014
I highly recommend this novel. Best that Ellis has written so far. The ending is totally unexpected and takes your breath away yet makes sense. I just didn't see it coming. In that respect I am reminded of Presumed Innocent where the accused prosecutor only realizes in the last couple of pages who has framed him for murder.
Ellis writes well. The plotting is well done and the structure of the novel lends itself to the slow revelation of Jason Kolarich's predicament as he faces murder charges. His lover Alexa reminded me somewhat of Glen Close's character in Fatal Attraction although given her fate that is not a fair comparison.
I bet you will be left guessing: who did it?
Ellis writes well. The plotting is well done and the structure of the novel lends itself to the slow revelation of Jason Kolarich's predicament as he faces murder charges. His lover Alexa reminded me somewhat of Glen Close's character in Fatal Attraction although given her fate that is not a fair comparison.
I bet you will be left guessing: who did it?
May 19, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ great thriller. A bit predictable in some of the twists, but all loose ends were tied, which I always appreciate. David Ellis is becoming an auto-read author for me!
December 8, 2024
Šī bija laba. Interesanti par tiesu sistēmu un veidiem, kā izvairīties no soda:)
February 4, 2017
When a new client walks into attorney Jason Kolarich's office, little does Jason know that he faces a rocky next few months James Drinker presents as a man who fears he may be being framed for several murders, and asks what kinds of things he should be looking for. He verifies that the client attorney privilege keeps his story secure. Then there is Alexa, a court reporter who Jason asks out for a drink. The relationship warms up very fast and they are soon practically living together. This does not help Jason with his increasing addiction to pain medication which he initially took for a now healed knee injury. Alexa, seems to relish being able to make him happy. She makes sure he has a pill when he needs one. Shauna, his law partner, sees the downward spiral and tries to warn him that Alexa may have ulterior motives, but he will not listen. Drinker starts calling him and he soon realizes that Drinker is the serial killer who has been murdering women. The scene is set. The police are on the trail. Let the twists and turns commence.
February 4, 2017
You can tell this book was written by an attorney! Only a lawyer can tell a ruthless tale like this one. I was bewitched by the way the defense lawyer Jason Kolarich went on trail for murder and knew he would get himself off along with his best friends Shauna and Joel. The twists and turns kept me guessing and I wanted to smack that girlfriend in the face from the time I met her! I just knew she was dangerous and she deserved what she got..
The only thing I didn't care for was the constant change of time, I lost track of where I was, but just read on.
I love a legal thriller and David Ellis is just as good as the King, John Grisham! Can't wait until I find another one..
The only thing I didn't care for was the constant change of time, I lost track of where I was, but just read on.
I love a legal thriller and David Ellis is just as good as the King, John Grisham! Can't wait until I find another one..
October 31, 2013
This book has an engaging plot, great characters, more twists and turns than a country road, and a terrific ending. The only problem is it is way too long. The twists come so frequently that it's almost boring, and eventually they add nothing to the story. I found myself growing weary of the past to present storytelling, as it too became tedious. It's not that the ending is predictable, it's that after a while you just wanted to get there.
March 27, 2017
A good legal type thriller with a well written plot with plenty of twists. I haven't read any in this series before so new territory for me but thought the main characters were well written and the book was very readable and I did not guess the truth until very late on.
July 27, 2016
As far as a mystery goes, this is the best of the series. I would assume that Ellis will be advised to stop on a win.
April 3, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. Well written, with short, compelling chapters that compelled you to read "just one more."
Not necessarily thought provoking, but still, a good legal thriller.
Not necessarily thought provoking, but still, a good legal thriller.
April 30, 2022
Did not see that coming!
May 4, 2024
An intense legal thriller that hits home! David Ellis has done it again!
May 28, 2023
A 4.75 is more appropriate than a 4…but it’s not *quite* 5 material only because I guessed the twist at the eleventh hour! Another fantastic read from my new favorite author!
August 4, 2013
"The Last Alibi" is the latest thriller from David Ellis, Edgar Award winner who has written eight previous novels. Last year he co-wrote "New York Times" bestseller "Guilty Wives" with James Patterson.
Jason Kolarich is a hotshot attorney who has been both on the prosecuting and on the defense side of the courtroom. In this novel he is fighting off the effects of his oxycodone addiction.
Maybe his mind isn't what it used to be but he agrees to see a man who tells him that he's going to be accused of killing two women that he knows but he's being set up and is innocent. Jason tries to get him to go to the police but the man doesn't want to and Jason is bound by his attorney client oath.
When two more women are killed, Jason has to take some action and when he does, the man contacts him and tells him that he betrayed him and will pay a heavy price.
Jason ends up on trial for murder and from this point, the story moves from his trial to his actions in the period leading up to the trial. A new character enters the story, Alexa Himmel, court reporter. She and Jason form a relationship but his friends think she's not everything she should be and even Jason begins to get weary when she becomes more assertive.
There are many twists and surprises in the story and Ellis manages to maintain a gut wrenching level of suspense. The story moves along with lightening speed and my fingers were shaking as I turned the pages.
I received this book for free to write an honest review and intend to find other books by the author since I enjoyed his writing style.
Jason Kolarich is a hotshot attorney who has been both on the prosecuting and on the defense side of the courtroom. In this novel he is fighting off the effects of his oxycodone addiction.
Maybe his mind isn't what it used to be but he agrees to see a man who tells him that he's going to be accused of killing two women that he knows but he's being set up and is innocent. Jason tries to get him to go to the police but the man doesn't want to and Jason is bound by his attorney client oath.
When two more women are killed, Jason has to take some action and when he does, the man contacts him and tells him that he betrayed him and will pay a heavy price.
Jason ends up on trial for murder and from this point, the story moves from his trial to his actions in the period leading up to the trial. A new character enters the story, Alexa Himmel, court reporter. She and Jason form a relationship but his friends think she's not everything she should be and even Jason begins to get weary when she becomes more assertive.
There are many twists and surprises in the story and Ellis manages to maintain a gut wrenching level of suspense. The story moves along with lightening speed and my fingers were shaking as I turned the pages.
I received this book for free to write an honest review and intend to find other books by the author since I enjoyed his writing style.
April 3, 2016
This was a whole new look in to the life of Jason Kolarich. It hit home in the sense that I have had people in my life with drug addictions be it alcohol or something harder. To get that abusers perspective made for a tough read for me. But once again he finds himself being victimized and again needing to find away to come out on top.
I can honestly say this is David Ellis best book of the series. Especially since it gets more personal with his law partner's life and story. Compared to Shauna just being a "prop" for the storyline for previous installments. Would highly recommend this one without a need for starting from book one. It's definitely a stand alone story
I can honestly say this is David Ellis best book of the series. Especially since it gets more personal with his law partner's life and story. Compared to Shauna just being a "prop" for the storyline for previous installments. Would highly recommend this one without a need for starting from book one. It's definitely a stand alone story
October 25, 2023
Pretty good. Very long and drawn out though. I love the first book i read from him and I still appreciate the way he slowly unviels unexpected items that twist and turn the plot. I was still shocked at the end but it look what like 300 pages to get me really shocked and invested. I will still read more from this author when I have nothing to read. Just was slightly dissapointed by how long this book took for the outcome. I mean yea, his books have like really thrilling and surprising parts that make the book worth reading but this was took longer than i would have liked and it wasnt as full of the surprises as the other one i read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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