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Double Jeopardy
Handed a rotten case, a lawyer will risk his life to uncover the truth
A young woman is abducted by six men, beaten, raped, and left for dead. She can only identify one of her Al Moroconi, a tough guy whose links to the attack are only circumstantial. And when Moroconi’s first lawyer is brutally murdered, the court appoints Travis Byrne, an ex-cop turned attorney, to defend him. In a lifetime of bad breaks, this will prove the worst piece of luck Byrne has ever had. Someone is trying to frame Moroconi, but why? Byrne is determined to answer this question, but doing so will see him threatened, beaten, and framed for murder. And as he attempts to clear his name, Byrne uncovers a sickening secret for which the original crime was only a cover-up. Only the truth can save him, but in a case like this, the truth could cost him his life.
A young woman is abducted by six men, beaten, raped, and left for dead. She can only identify one of her Al Moroconi, a tough guy whose links to the attack are only circumstantial. And when Moroconi’s first lawyer is brutally murdered, the court appoints Travis Byrne, an ex-cop turned attorney, to defend him. In a lifetime of bad breaks, this will prove the worst piece of luck Byrne has ever had. Someone is trying to frame Moroconi, but why? Byrne is determined to answer this question, but doing so will see him threatened, beaten, and framed for murder. And as he attempts to clear his name, Byrne uncovers a sickening secret for which the original crime was only a cover-up. Only the truth can save him, but in a case like this, the truth could cost him his life.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
96 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
William Bernhardt
99 books516 followersWilliam Bernhardt is the author of over sixty books, including the bestselling Daniel Pike and Ben Kincaid legal thrillers, the historical novels Challengers of the Dust and Nemesis, three books of poetry, and the ten Red Sneaker books on fiction writing.
In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring writers. The Center hosts an annual writers conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. More than three dozen of Bernhardt’s students have subsequently published with major houses. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.
Bernhardt has received the Southern Writers Guild’s Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (University of Pennsylvania) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (Oklahoma State), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." He has been nominated for the Oklahoma Book Award eighteen times in three different categories, and has won the award twice. Library Journal called him “the master of the courtroom drama.” The Vancouver Sun called him “the American equivalent of P.G. Wodehouse and John Mortimer.”
In addition to his novels and poetry, he has written plays, a musical (book and score), humor, children stories, biography, and puzzles. He has edited two anthologies (Legal Briefs and Natural Suspect) as fundraisers for The Nature Conservancy and the Children’s Legal Defense Fund. OSU named him “Oklahoma’s Renaissance Man.”
In his spare time, he has enjoyed surfing, digging for dinosaurs, trekking through the Himalayas, paragliding, scuba diving, caving, zip-lining over the canopy of the Costa Rican rain forest, and jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet. In 2013, he became a Jeopardy! champion winning over $20,000.
When Bernhardt delivered the keynote address at the San Francisco Writers Conference, chairman Michael Larsen noted that in addition to penning novels, Bernhardt can “write a sonnet, play a sonata, plant a garden, try a lawsuit, teach a class, cook a gourmet meal, beat you at Scrabble, and work the New York Times crossword in under five minutes.”
In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring writers. The Center hosts an annual writers conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. More than three dozen of Bernhardt’s students have subsequently published with major houses. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.
Bernhardt has received the Southern Writers Guild’s Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (University of Pennsylvania) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (Oklahoma State), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." He has been nominated for the Oklahoma Book Award eighteen times in three different categories, and has won the award twice. Library Journal called him “the master of the courtroom drama.” The Vancouver Sun called him “the American equivalent of P.G. Wodehouse and John Mortimer.”
In addition to his novels and poetry, he has written plays, a musical (book and score), humor, children stories, biography, and puzzles. He has edited two anthologies (Legal Briefs and Natural Suspect) as fundraisers for The Nature Conservancy and the Children’s Legal Defense Fund. OSU named him “Oklahoma’s Renaissance Man.”
In his spare time, he has enjoyed surfing, digging for dinosaurs, trekking through the Himalayas, paragliding, scuba diving, caving, zip-lining over the canopy of the Costa Rican rain forest, and jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet. In 2013, he became a Jeopardy! champion winning over $20,000.
When Bernhardt delivered the keynote address at the San Francisco Writers Conference, chairman Michael Larsen noted that in addition to penning novels, Bernhardt can “write a sonnet, play a sonata, plant a garden, try a lawsuit, teach a class, cook a gourmet meal, beat you at Scrabble, and work the New York Times crossword in under five minutes.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 10, 2021
Lots of action it kinda moves off track here and there but 5*
March 27, 2014
An intriguing new character inhabits this book. A former cop who is now a defense attorney puts a completely different spin on what it means to defend clients, even when you strongly detest them. This book builds through multiple unexpected turns to a very rewarding conclusion. The only reason I can't give it five stars is that I think this character has more in store for us and I want to be able to reward his growth and development. Please give us another book starring this intriguing character.
October 1, 2008
worst book i've read by Bernhardt
October 21, 2020
Let me start by saying that I'm not intensely interested in crime novels or courtrooom drama novels, of which this book balances between quite readily. That being said, Double Jeopardy is a fast-paced, easy to consume drama centering around Travis Byrne, ex-cop and recently respected defense attorney. He's gotten himself into quite the pickle, representing sleezeball Al Moroconi who is being tried, apparently falsely, for a hideous crime to a college-aged girl. Unfortunately, when Al escapes his detention center, Travis is flung into a turmoil-ridden few days where everyone seems out to get him before he discovers the truth about who set up Al and why. The mob, the FBI, the police, and the newspapers all seem out to get him and his only salvation is to keep moving and make some unlikely friends.
The novel, as I said, is a pretty quick read. Separated into small chapters based on date and timestamps, the pages turn quickly and, I gotta say, Bernhardt keeps you guessing throughout the narrative. He's also rather skilled a writer to hold your hand through the confusing web of falsities and lies the main character, and therefore you, have to wade into. He gives just enough information to keep you on your toes and enough to keep the characters straight and defined in your mind. Bernhardt also has a good sense of witty sarcasm that keeps the book light reading despite the heavy-hitting connotations involved in the plot.
However, that's about all I can say about the book. Sometimes the sarcastic quips get in the way, and often the scene painted is far too unrealistic to be believable. The plot is too neat at the end of the story, and although it surely makes sense it wasn't too much of a shocker--which most crime novels really go for. This isn't to say the book is terrible, it's just not memorable.
If you enjoy crime and courtroom suspense, this is right up your alley. If, like me, you're not it's 400 pages of quick reading if nothing else. Bring it with you to the beach.
The novel, as I said, is a pretty quick read. Separated into small chapters based on date and timestamps, the pages turn quickly and, I gotta say, Bernhardt keeps you guessing throughout the narrative. He's also rather skilled a writer to hold your hand through the confusing web of falsities and lies the main character, and therefore you, have to wade into. He gives just enough information to keep you on your toes and enough to keep the characters straight and defined in your mind. Bernhardt also has a good sense of witty sarcasm that keeps the book light reading despite the heavy-hitting connotations involved in the plot.
However, that's about all I can say about the book. Sometimes the sarcastic quips get in the way, and often the scene painted is far too unrealistic to be believable. The plot is too neat at the end of the story, and although it surely makes sense it wasn't too much of a shocker--which most crime novels really go for. This isn't to say the book is terrible, it's just not memorable.
If you enjoy crime and courtroom suspense, this is right up your alley. If, like me, you're not it's 400 pages of quick reading if nothing else. Bring it with you to the beach.
July 12, 2024
Starting with 5 stars...
-1 star Lots of cheesy, implausible dialog for any given situation. I often felt like I was reading a superhero comic book for teenagers.
-1 star Too complicated plot with layer after layer after layer of bad guys
-1/2 star Lots of clichés
-1/2 star Travis Byrne, the main character, suddenly changes from tough ex-cop to wuss
Many other problems, but I gave the book 2 stars. Why? It's probably the worst book that I've ever finished; I reserve 1-star ratings for books that I stop reading.
August 7, 2019
Travis Bryne is a criminal defense lawyer who gets caught up in running after people who are trying to kill him (the mob). He partners up the a female prosecutor and in the end they get married. This was a "medium" read. Lots of action, suspense. Good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2022
I almost gave this a two, but I gave it a III instead, because I was into some of it and enjoyed some of the characters. In saying that there are so many parts that made no sense and was way out there. I was close on putting the book down quite a few times.
October 26, 2025
I did not even finish this book, which is something that is hard for me to do. But the characters were highly educated professionals in this story and they spoke and behaved so stupidly I couldn't continue to read the story.
The ridiculous dialogue sometimes was more than I could handle, and I read a lot of books and many by this author.
Quite disappointed in this book.
The ridiculous dialogue sometimes was more than I could handle, and I read a lot of books and many by this author.
Quite disappointed in this book.
October 24, 2017
My lowest score for a Bernhardt book ever, but still better than other authors works.
January 15, 2019
Slogged through this one. I found it to be really confusing as to the storyline and all of the characters. Not recommended as a 'legal thriller'.
June 21, 2019
a little draggy in spots, but overall quite good!!
March 9, 2020
Quick paced, great mob style murder mystery
December 21, 2021
Good legal thriller. All his are really good. This one is not one of the Kincaid series.
January 6, 2022
This book is too filled with coarse language and horrific, graphic descriptions. I couldn’t get through the first chapter.
February 1, 2024
I've read a lot more crime.books than I ever thought I would
November 23, 2024
Not a courtroom story so I was disappointed.
September 1, 2025
Life and live are great
When life works it can help fill you up. This is a great story hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
When life works it can help fill you up. This is a great story hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
January 4, 2026
Not good
January 30, 2026
A good lawyer is assigned to defend a mobster.
September 14, 2025
I thought the plot was overly complicated. There were too many characters. It was very difficult to keep it all straight.
March 27, 2016
BOTTOM-LINE:
A fairly light read
.
PLOT OR PREMISE:
Travis Byrne is having a hard time. He traded his badge for a law degree and now most cops hate him. His courtroom opponent thinks he's scum since he switched sides. And to prove her point, he's just been appointed lawyer for Al Moroconi -- all-round scumbag with mob ties.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
Then Al breaks out of prison, shooting a guard in the process, and starts gunning for his lawyer who he thinks hasn't done enough to help him. Add in the mob and some crooked FBI agents, and this story gets complicated real fast.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
It has the feel of a fish-out-of-water TV-movie and never quite pays off.
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow him on social media.
A fairly light read
.
PLOT OR PREMISE:
Travis Byrne is having a hard time. He traded his badge for a law degree and now most cops hate him. His courtroom opponent thinks he's scum since he switched sides. And to prove her point, he's just been appointed lawyer for Al Moroconi -- all-round scumbag with mob ties.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
Then Al breaks out of prison, shooting a guard in the process, and starts gunning for his lawyer who he thinks hasn't done enough to help him. Add in the mob and some crooked FBI agents, and this story gets complicated real fast.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
It has the feel of a fish-out-of-water TV-movie and never quite pays off.
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow him on social media.
February 9, 2009
Story of a man who quit the police force in Dallas after his fiancee is killed. He becomes a successful attorney whose life goes down the tubes after being assigned to a pro bono case. He gets cross-wise of the mob and realizes that people are not always what they seem.
December 21, 2007
Good book...nothing to write home about, but I finished it!
March 6, 2008
Excellent beach-side read
April 3, 2008
pretty good, one of his first books, writing gets better as he gets going.
July 23, 2008
I stopped before the first tape was over. I just didn't like the language.
November 22, 2011
bit too violent
Want to read
March 10, 2013a so so read
July 25, 2012
nothing special
Want to read
September 19, 2012I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11412458
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11412458
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews