Simpson's Will

by Edward A. McCoyd

Just out of Fordham Law School in 1968, Tim O’Leary receives a surprise job offer from Bradford, Lord and Turner, an old-line Manhattan law firm. Upon arrival, he is assigned to what is expected to be a routine probate proceeding in the estate of the well-known and recently divorced Reginald Simpson, who has died and whose Will disinherits his good-for-nothing brother Harold. Matters deteriorate, however, when the Will mysteriously vanishes and Harold hires the brash Brooklyn lawyer Mickey Finn to challenge it. Tim’s girlfriend, a street-smart private investigator, decides the Will has been stolen, but an unexpected turn of events frustrates Tim’s pursuit of her theory as the case hurtles toward what promises to be a costly and embarrassing conclusion.

Genres: Mystery

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2013

About the author

Ed McCoyd was born in Brooklyn, and lived there until his family moved to Glen Cove on Long Island. After graduating from Chaminade High School in 1961, he attended the University of Notre Dame and Fordham Law School. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1968 and joined Hughes Hubbard & Reed, a large Wall Street law firm, as an associate. In 1972 Ed left Hughes Hubbard and started a private practice on Long Island. His firm now has ten attorneys and is known as McCoyd, Parkas & Ronan. Its offices are located in Garden City, where Ed also resides. His firm’s practice is concentrated in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, and estate litigation, and he has lectured and published extensively on these subjects. Ed is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and has received recognition from a number of professional rating services, including Super Lawyers.

Ed’s recently published novel, Simpson’s Will, tells the story of Tim O’Leary, a young attorney who accepts an unexpected job offer from an old-line Manhattan firm, and suddenly finds himself embroiled in a high-stakes probate contest. Struggling to keep his head above water as the case unfolds, Tim doggedly pursues leads as he attempts to solve the mysterious disappearance of the client’s Will, in a frantic effort to avert an outcome that could seriously damage the firm’s reputation. As the story progresses, Tim also has a series of memorable, and often humorous, encounters with people and situations reminiscent of life in New York in the late 1960s.

Reviews

[Gwen Ready · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hunt is on for the Original Copy of Simpson's Will

I really enjoyed this book. Also learned a good bit about estate planning and wills. It was interesting reading about legal issues and the laws that applied in the late 1960's and this was during my college days and beginning my working days as a secretary in Atlanta, Georgia. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading something different once in a while.

[Paula Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book

This book is such a great book. He has written another book, Forester's Will, which is also a good book. If you are looking for a a legal novel which is difficult to put down, I would highly recommend his books. It deserved the 5 stars!!!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. I enjoyed it a lot. Tim is a recent graduate of law school and on his first day on the job at an old law firm, he is assigned to to take care of the will of a client who had died. When he is ready to send the will to probate, he realizes the will has disappeared out of a secure office vault. It looks like an inside job, and it looks like a recently deceased attorney from the firm is responsible. Tim races against the clock to find the will and uncover the mystery into its disappearance.

[Patricia Bergman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting legal page turner. This deals with probate law in the case of a lost will. As a non-lawyer I found the law pertaining to this problem, (circa 1960's), fascinating. The description of the ivy league attorneys inhabiting the Park Avenue, (formally Wall Street), offices provides a contrast to the crass Brooklyn shyster. For some great entertainment, I highly recommend this book.

[Nmk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simpson's Will

I didn't ever really warm up to any of the main characters. The mystery was pretty simplistic. Rounded up to 3 stars...truly a 2.5.

[Sue Boiarsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read!

Really really really enjoyed this book. Rated 5***** because it held my interest all the way to the end. It was fun to see how the author resolved everything.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read with lots of twists and turns regarding the lost will of a multimillionaire.