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Small Town Lawyer #1-3
Small Town Lawyer: Books 1 - 3
Dark secrets haunt a small town lawyer…
Leland Monroe lost everything… His big city job, his sterling reputation and, worst of all, his loving wife. Now he’s starting over, setting up shop in his quiet hometown of Basking Rock. And struggling to repair his relationship with his troubled son.
But Basking Rock holds dark memories for Leland. And even darker secrets…
When a case involving Leland’s high school sweetheart reveals a tangled web of corruption, Leland realizes it’s not just his client’s life that’s at stake. Powerful forces surface to threaten the precious few loved ones he has left.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As Leland’s cases pile up, he begins to uncover a rot that runs to the core of Basking Rock. From dirty cops, to corrupt prosecutors, and even organized crime. Only Leland will stand up for his innocent clients, even as each case puts his career… and his life… on the line.
Leland Monroe brings justice to his small town, no matter the cost. Three complete legal thriller novels, for one bargain price…
Leland Monroe lost everything… His big city job, his sterling reputation and, worst of all, his loving wife. Now he’s starting over, setting up shop in his quiet hometown of Basking Rock. And struggling to repair his relationship with his troubled son.
But Basking Rock holds dark memories for Leland. And even darker secrets…
When a case involving Leland’s high school sweetheart reveals a tangled web of corruption, Leland realizes it’s not just his client’s life that’s at stake. Powerful forces surface to threaten the precious few loved ones he has left.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As Leland’s cases pile up, he begins to uncover a rot that runs to the core of Basking Rock. From dirty cops, to corrupt prosecutors, and even organized crime. Only Leland will stand up for his innocent clients, even as each case puts his career… and his life… on the line.
Leland Monroe brings justice to his small town, no matter the cost. Three complete legal thriller novels, for one bargain price…
- GenresThriller
1019 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2023
About the author
Peter Kirkland
23 books151 followersPeter Kirkland grew up in Beaufort, South Carolina. As a kid, Peter loved history and learning about his area. One year in school, he was given a project to research a few South Carolina law cases and the precedents they set and their effect on people’s lives.
This research project lit the flame for his passion for law and creating a more equal justice system since. Soon after this, Peter began reading legal thrillers voraciously and enjoyed the legal maneuvering and justice found within. As an adult he has continued researching the law and understanding the system and its effects on individuals. A few years ago, he decided to try writing his own legal thriller.
Now a full-time writer, he uses his research, passion for justice, and real case studies to bring together courtroom dramas with deep, rich characters, and gripping twists and turns. New to the industry, Peter would love to hear from readers and other authors and invites you to connect with him.
This research project lit the flame for his passion for law and creating a more equal justice system since. Soon after this, Peter began reading legal thrillers voraciously and enjoyed the legal maneuvering and justice found within. As an adult he has continued researching the law and understanding the system and its effects on individuals. A few years ago, he decided to try writing his own legal thriller.
Now a full-time writer, he uses his research, passion for justice, and real case studies to bring together courtroom dramas with deep, rich characters, and gripping twists and turns. New to the industry, Peter would love to hear from readers and other authors and invites you to connect with him.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 29, 2023
Interesting Characters and Cases for This Southern Lawyer
I listened to the audiobooks in this bundle earlier this year and enjoyed them so much that I decided to pick up the book bundle to actually read the books. If you love legal thrillers, perfect for lazy summer days ... or any time! Below are my reviews of the books without my discussion of narration. (If you're curious, I wasn't wild about the narrator, particularly how he voiced women ... including favorite character Terri.
Review of Defending Innocence: Great Story
While they are not my go-to reading jam, I love a well-written legal thriller every now and then. So I'm delighted that I picked up this audiobook at a book review site. Except for one aspect, I found it a delightful read that kept me guessing as to the ultimate bad guys until the very end. The author threw down a lot of red herrings and blind alleys, weaving a complex world wherein this seemingly straightforward case took place. You couldn't help but feel for the young man who is at the heart of the case, an abused young man--abused his entire life by his father--who was fiercely protective of his mother when he could be. Yes, he was no perfect angel, with drug issues and tendencies toward vandalism,but he was only violent in answer to violence when protecting his mom. (By the way, his mother is the one touted as the main male character’s supposed high school sweetheart in the book's blurb. They weren't really such, from what I could gather from what the book actually said. Instead, they dated occasionally in high school, not true high school sweethearts.) The main male character is the small-town lawyer of the subtitle. He’s come back to his hometown after being a successful prosecutor in Charleston, coming home in disgrace--though not everyone knows the full extent of it--because he used the power of his position to bail out his now-deceased wife in her legal issues because of alcoholism. Even though we only see the back of him on the cover, that cover model appears to be far too young for the 40-something character. The man on the cover looks barely passed teenage years without a speck of gray and looks like a tween wearing his father's suit!
Review of Influencing Justice: Influencer On Trial
While legal thrillers are not my typical read, I do enjoy good ones on occasion, and I'm so glad I chose this series at a book review site. The author does an excellent job building a complex web of intrigue that keeps you wondering how everything interconnects and contributes to the story of the defendant at the center of the book as well as to the overarching series storyline about some local villains who have ties to crime outside of this small southern town. I listened to the audiobook version of this, and I kept returning to listen (even though I should have been doing other things!) as I kept hearing layers and layers being added. I truly was not sure how things would come together and which way it would go for the client until the big reveal at the end. I did, of course, know that the client was innocent, but how she could be found not guilty at trial, given her parameters for what legal avenues she was willing to go down, was certainly a challenge for Leland Monroe, the small-town lawyer of the subtitle. For all the complexity of the book, I felt a little short-changed by the final chapter. It felt abrupt, and I wish this author's books ended more satisfyingly (though what is here is probably more realistic). Since we see the lawyer and his family in jeopardy in this book, it would have been nice to see at least some brief moment of the villains (or even one villain) getting their due. I don't like how we learn about the verdict in retrospect instead of seeing it play out in the courtroom or on the courthouse steps. I guess I'm a little too much of a Law and Order nerd. I just feel like I needed a stronger, more definitive ending.
This is the first book that I've read or listened to that specifically is set during the pandemic, and I'll admit it was a little odd returning to those times not so long ago when we didn't know what we were in for in the next couple of years. As someone who has been living in Oregon, I found it very interesting to see how the early days of the pandemic were handled in North Carolina because we had a much longer lockdown and a slower easing back to normality. (Only in this last month have healthcare facilities not required masking at all times!) The author's descriptions of the empty streets and shuttered businesses certainly brought back memories. He should have talked about empty shelves as well!
This is the third book of the series I've listened to--and yes, I listened to them out of order accidentally. All in all, I did enjoy this book and these first three books of the series, but I just wish the endings felt more wrapped up and satisfying and that the narrator did a better job voicing female characters.
Review of Interpreting Guilt: Two Cases to Follow with Very Sympathetic Clients
I've been enjoying this audiobook series about small-town lawyer Leland Monroe, who's returned to his small Southern hometown in disgrace after using the benefits of his office to protect his alcoholic wife, who is now deceased. In this particular book, we follow two cases. Both feature people for whom the scales of justice are weighted down. Both are at a substantial disadvantage, one socioeconomically and ethnically and the other because he’s the perfect fall guy, as it is unlikely the other surviving young man, the son of the circuit solicitor (the head of the local prosecutorial team), would pay for what happened that fatal night. Leland has to walk on tenterhooks with both cases, as he doesn't want to inflame Mr. Ludlow (the circuit solicitor) and make himself any more of a target than he already is because of his prior cases. With great care, he researched the old case where a Hispanic mother of five was convicted of murdering her boss, the circuit solicitor’s mother, and put away for life. The main case, so to speak, is about a horrible accident that took a promising young man's life, but it’s hard to pin the blame for a matter that is simply a tragic accident, not really the fault of the young people involved beyond doing stupid young people things like drinking and driving a boat after midnight. As in the other book I listened to—yes, I'm reading them out of order—I really enjoyed the courtroom scenes.
I received a free copy of this collection, but that did not affect my review.
I listened to the audiobooks in this bundle earlier this year and enjoyed them so much that I decided to pick up the book bundle to actually read the books. If you love legal thrillers, perfect for lazy summer days ... or any time! Below are my reviews of the books without my discussion of narration. (If you're curious, I wasn't wild about the narrator, particularly how he voiced women ... including favorite character Terri.
Review of Defending Innocence: Great Story
While they are not my go-to reading jam, I love a well-written legal thriller every now and then. So I'm delighted that I picked up this audiobook at a book review site. Except for one aspect, I found it a delightful read that kept me guessing as to the ultimate bad guys until the very end. The author threw down a lot of red herrings and blind alleys, weaving a complex world wherein this seemingly straightforward case took place. You couldn't help but feel for the young man who is at the heart of the case, an abused young man--abused his entire life by his father--who was fiercely protective of his mother when he could be. Yes, he was no perfect angel, with drug issues and tendencies toward vandalism,but he was only violent in answer to violence when protecting his mom. (By the way, his mother is the one touted as the main male character’s supposed high school sweetheart in the book's blurb. They weren't really such, from what I could gather from what the book actually said. Instead, they dated occasionally in high school, not true high school sweethearts.) The main male character is the small-town lawyer of the subtitle. He’s come back to his hometown after being a successful prosecutor in Charleston, coming home in disgrace--though not everyone knows the full extent of it--because he used the power of his position to bail out his now-deceased wife in her legal issues because of alcoholism. Even though we only see the back of him on the cover, that cover model appears to be far too young for the 40-something character. The man on the cover looks barely passed teenage years without a speck of gray and looks like a tween wearing his father's suit!
Review of Influencing Justice: Influencer On Trial
While legal thrillers are not my typical read, I do enjoy good ones on occasion, and I'm so glad I chose this series at a book review site. The author does an excellent job building a complex web of intrigue that keeps you wondering how everything interconnects and contributes to the story of the defendant at the center of the book as well as to the overarching series storyline about some local villains who have ties to crime outside of this small southern town. I listened to the audiobook version of this, and I kept returning to listen (even though I should have been doing other things!) as I kept hearing layers and layers being added. I truly was not sure how things would come together and which way it would go for the client until the big reveal at the end. I did, of course, know that the client was innocent, but how she could be found not guilty at trial, given her parameters for what legal avenues she was willing to go down, was certainly a challenge for Leland Monroe, the small-town lawyer of the subtitle. For all the complexity of the book, I felt a little short-changed by the final chapter. It felt abrupt, and I wish this author's books ended more satisfyingly (though what is here is probably more realistic). Since we see the lawyer and his family in jeopardy in this book, it would have been nice to see at least some brief moment of the villains (or even one villain) getting their due. I don't like how we learn about the verdict in retrospect instead of seeing it play out in the courtroom or on the courthouse steps. I guess I'm a little too much of a Law and Order nerd. I just feel like I needed a stronger, more definitive ending.
This is the first book that I've read or listened to that specifically is set during the pandemic, and I'll admit it was a little odd returning to those times not so long ago when we didn't know what we were in for in the next couple of years. As someone who has been living in Oregon, I found it very interesting to see how the early days of the pandemic were handled in North Carolina because we had a much longer lockdown and a slower easing back to normality. (Only in this last month have healthcare facilities not required masking at all times!) The author's descriptions of the empty streets and shuttered businesses certainly brought back memories. He should have talked about empty shelves as well!
This is the third book of the series I've listened to--and yes, I listened to them out of order accidentally. All in all, I did enjoy this book and these first three books of the series, but I just wish the endings felt more wrapped up and satisfying and that the narrator did a better job voicing female characters.
Review of Interpreting Guilt: Two Cases to Follow with Very Sympathetic Clients
I've been enjoying this audiobook series about small-town lawyer Leland Monroe, who's returned to his small Southern hometown in disgrace after using the benefits of his office to protect his alcoholic wife, who is now deceased. In this particular book, we follow two cases. Both feature people for whom the scales of justice are weighted down. Both are at a substantial disadvantage, one socioeconomically and ethnically and the other because he’s the perfect fall guy, as it is unlikely the other surviving young man, the son of the circuit solicitor (the head of the local prosecutorial team), would pay for what happened that fatal night. Leland has to walk on tenterhooks with both cases, as he doesn't want to inflame Mr. Ludlow (the circuit solicitor) and make himself any more of a target than he already is because of his prior cases. With great care, he researched the old case where a Hispanic mother of five was convicted of murdering her boss, the circuit solicitor’s mother, and put away for life. The main case, so to speak, is about a horrible accident that took a promising young man's life, but it’s hard to pin the blame for a matter that is simply a tragic accident, not really the fault of the young people involved beyond doing stupid young people things like drinking and driving a boat after midnight. As in the other book I listened to—yes, I'm reading them out of order—I really enjoyed the courtroom scenes.
I received a free copy of this collection, but that did not affect my review.
July 17, 2023
I received an ARC through "Booksprout" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Defending Innocence
This story introduces Leland Munroe who has left his job as a prosecutor and returned to his hometown. Here he is trying to start his own law practice, but is currently working with Roy Hearst as he tries to develop his own clients. In this small town where very little happens, a body is discovered on the beach and is eventually identified as a homicide.
Leland is brought in to this case because the son of one of his school classmates has asked for his help. He takes the initial discussion and ultimately gets the role of a Public Defender.
With the assistance of a private investigator who was a friend from school as well as a former police officer, they chased down whatever sort of information was available. As the case went to trial, Leland was still trying to discover something to free his client.
To discover how this all played out and what kind of situations Leland wound up in, then you must read this book. It is well worth it.
Influencing Justice
In this story, Leland is working from home because of the Covid Pandemic and has stopped at the office where he learns that someone wished to speak to him. Leland was leaning towards different type of cases other than criminal. Later he finally agreed to talk to Simone who had been charged with manslaughter. She wanted to change her lawyer because she thought the lawyer didn't believe her.
Leland agreed to take the case which later became a murder charge. Leland and his investigator, Terri, started looking into what happened at the time. The case was about the discovery of a person who died over a suspected overdose. The assumption was that Simone had supplied the drugs.
To learn all that Leland and Terri discovered, who was responsible for the event where the murder occurred and how this one case brought to light another issue that had the Feds looking at, then you need to read this book. It will open your eyes to how a person's footprint in social media can reveal so much.
Interpreting Guilt
This story has Leland and Terri balancing three different court cases. They run as follows: a claim of self-defense, a case where an individual had died as the result of a boat accident while the client had been drinking and finally the attempt to get a new trial for a person who was in prison for murder which happened 20 years earlier.
Follow along with Leland and Terri as they move from each case searching for something which will swing evidence in their favor for each of their acting cases. See what obstacles they have to overcome as they prepare for trial.
The ending sums it all up and his success is fulfilling. It is a definite read for you.
Defending Innocence
This story introduces Leland Munroe who has left his job as a prosecutor and returned to his hometown. Here he is trying to start his own law practice, but is currently working with Roy Hearst as he tries to develop his own clients. In this small town where very little happens, a body is discovered on the beach and is eventually identified as a homicide.
Leland is brought in to this case because the son of one of his school classmates has asked for his help. He takes the initial discussion and ultimately gets the role of a Public Defender.
With the assistance of a private investigator who was a friend from school as well as a former police officer, they chased down whatever sort of information was available. As the case went to trial, Leland was still trying to discover something to free his client.
To discover how this all played out and what kind of situations Leland wound up in, then you must read this book. It is well worth it.
Influencing Justice
In this story, Leland is working from home because of the Covid Pandemic and has stopped at the office where he learns that someone wished to speak to him. Leland was leaning towards different type of cases other than criminal. Later he finally agreed to talk to Simone who had been charged with manslaughter. She wanted to change her lawyer because she thought the lawyer didn't believe her.
Leland agreed to take the case which later became a murder charge. Leland and his investigator, Terri, started looking into what happened at the time. The case was about the discovery of a person who died over a suspected overdose. The assumption was that Simone had supplied the drugs.
To learn all that Leland and Terri discovered, who was responsible for the event where the murder occurred and how this one case brought to light another issue that had the Feds looking at, then you need to read this book. It will open your eyes to how a person's footprint in social media can reveal so much.
Interpreting Guilt
This story has Leland and Terri balancing three different court cases. They run as follows: a claim of self-defense, a case where an individual had died as the result of a boat accident while the client had been drinking and finally the attempt to get a new trial for a person who was in prison for murder which happened 20 years earlier.
Follow along with Leland and Terri as they move from each case searching for something which will swing evidence in their favor for each of their acting cases. See what obstacles they have to overcome as they prepare for trial.
The ending sums it all up and his success is fulfilling. It is a definite read for you.
April 13, 2026
T.A. Kirkland delivers a gripping legal thriller series following Leland Munroe, a former prosecutor navigating the psychological and financial hurdles of starting a defense practice in his hometown. It’s a fantastic series for those who love "morally grey" dilemmas and authentic small-town atmosphere.
Series Highlights
• Book 1 (Defending Innocent): A powerful introduction to Leland’s tragic backstory and the high-stakes reality of being a public defender. It strikes a perfect balance of detail and pace.
• Book 2 (Influencing Justice): A modern mystery involving a social media influencer. While the resolution felt slightly rushed, the partnership between Leland and his PI, Terri, is excellent.
• Book 3 (Interpreting Guilt): Explores the subjectivity of truth through a tragic boating accident. The evolving father-son dynamic with Noah is a standout highlight.
Audiobook Performance
J.J. Hosenfeld captures Leland’s weary but determined tone perfectly. While the voicing for some female characters was a bit hit-or-miss, his pacing keeps the suspense moving. Overall, a very entertaining binge-listen!
The Verdict: A story of hope and persistence in the face of injustice. The ending of Book 3 leaves a massive hook—I’m ready for the next one!
Series Highlights
• Book 1 (Defending Innocent): A powerful introduction to Leland’s tragic backstory and the high-stakes reality of being a public defender. It strikes a perfect balance of detail and pace.
• Book 2 (Influencing Justice): A modern mystery involving a social media influencer. While the resolution felt slightly rushed, the partnership between Leland and his PI, Terri, is excellent.
• Book 3 (Interpreting Guilt): Explores the subjectivity of truth through a tragic boating accident. The evolving father-son dynamic with Noah is a standout highlight.
Audiobook Performance
J.J. Hosenfeld captures Leland’s weary but determined tone perfectly. While the voicing for some female characters was a bit hit-or-miss, his pacing keeps the suspense moving. Overall, a very entertaining binge-listen!
The Verdict: A story of hope and persistence in the face of injustice. The ending of Book 3 leaves a massive hook—I’m ready for the next one!
April 5, 2026
SMALL TOWN LAWYER:
SMALL TOWN LAWYER, Boxset Books 1 - 3, Audiobook - Finally, I'm able to read the start of this interesting series. Good characters. Easy pace. No Southerner says pe-CAN (like in can do). The narrator JJ Hosenfeld otherwise does a decent job with his characters.
DEFENDING INNOCENCE, #1 - 4*
INFLUENCING JUSTICE, #2 - 4*
INTERPRETING GUILT, #3 - 4*
Source: Booksprout. 4*
BURNING EVIDENCE, #4 - My first read by this author and I enjoyed it. A constant pace with a good blend of interesting characters, interesting story lines and good dialog. The lawyer and the PI make good co-workers professionally and privately. Also interesting is the relationship between the businessman and his wife. Source: Booksprout. 4*
PRESCRIBING DOUBT, #5 - Enjoyable and interesting. Good characters. Intriguing story lines. Wish I had discovered this author five books ago. Source: Booksprout. 4*
TWISTING JUDGMENT, #6 - Another well written story with good characters, interesting story lines, a devastating hurricane, and a tetch of romance. Source: Booksprout. 5*
SMALL TOWN LAWYER end.
SMALL TOWN LAWYER, Boxset Books 1 - 3, Audiobook - Finally, I'm able to read the start of this interesting series. Good characters. Easy pace. No Southerner says pe-CAN (like in can do). The narrator JJ Hosenfeld otherwise does a decent job with his characters.
DEFENDING INNOCENCE, #1 - 4*
INFLUENCING JUSTICE, #2 - 4*
INTERPRETING GUILT, #3 - 4*
Source: Booksprout. 4*
BURNING EVIDENCE, #4 - My first read by this author and I enjoyed it. A constant pace with a good blend of interesting characters, interesting story lines and good dialog. The lawyer and the PI make good co-workers professionally and privately. Also interesting is the relationship between the businessman and his wife. Source: Booksprout. 4*
PRESCRIBING DOUBT, #5 - Enjoyable and interesting. Good characters. Intriguing story lines. Wish I had discovered this author five books ago. Source: Booksprout. 4*
TWISTING JUDGMENT, #6 - Another well written story with good characters, interesting story lines, a devastating hurricane, and a tetch of romance. Source: Booksprout. 5*
SMALL TOWN LAWYER end.
May 25, 2026
I've listened to all of these books and while I do love a good legal thriller, these may not be something I pick up again.
The stories are good but the narration (Especially for the female characters) pulled me out of the mood from time to time.
I did enjoy the stories and the way they unfolded, the characters and their relationships. I do like how the COVID angle is handled and dealt with in the series, as it appears to be mostly set throughout the pandemic.
A good series, but it could do with a better narrator.
The stories are good but the narration (Especially for the female characters) pulled me out of the mood from time to time.
I did enjoy the stories and the way they unfolded, the characters and their relationships. I do like how the COVID angle is handled and dealt with in the series, as it appears to be mostly set throughout the pandemic.
A good series, but it could do with a better narrator.
June 21, 2025
Small Town Lawyer
I read books 1-3 of Small Town Lawyer and enjoyed them! Great characters and stories that kept me interested to the end! I highly recommend them for anyone who enjoys legal stories with a Southern accent.
I read books 1-3 of Small Town Lawyer and enjoyed them! Great characters and stories that kept me interested to the end! I highly recommend them for anyone who enjoys legal stories with a Southern accent.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews