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Jessie Black is a rising star at the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. But all of her abilities will be put to the test when Frank Ramsey, a brutal serial murderer and rapist she successfully prosecuted over a year ago, petitions the court for a new trial.
Public defender Jack Ackerman represented Ramsey at his first trial. Beating him had not been easy. That was before his spectacular public breakdown, which saw him singing and dancing in open court and resulted in his commitment to a mental institution mere weeks after Ramsey's guilty verdict.
Now, Ramsey may have a chance at a new trial based on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. To stop Ramsey, Jessie will need to defend a defense attorney she never liked, and prove that he's not crazy--a fact she's far from sure of. A new trial would devastate Kristen Dillard, the teenage girl whose life Ramsey shattered and the only witness to his horrific crimes. And to make matters worse, powerful forces are hellbent on putting Ramsey back on the street for their own mysterious purposes, and won't let anyone--including a prosecutor--stand in their way.
Will one lawyer's nervous breakdown set a killer free? For Jessie, this fight will be the toughest of her career, and one she's not willing to lose.
Public defender Jack Ackerman represented Ramsey at his first trial. Beating him had not been easy. That was before his spectacular public breakdown, which saw him singing and dancing in open court and resulted in his commitment to a mental institution mere weeks after Ramsey's guilty verdict.
Now, Ramsey may have a chance at a new trial based on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. To stop Ramsey, Jessie will need to defend a defense attorney she never liked, and prove that he's not crazy--a fact she's far from sure of. A new trial would devastate Kristen Dillard, the teenage girl whose life Ramsey shattered and the only witness to his horrific crimes. And to make matters worse, powerful forces are hellbent on putting Ramsey back on the street for their own mysterious purposes, and won't let anyone--including a prosecutor--stand in their way.
Will one lawyer's nervous breakdown set a killer free? For Jessie, this fight will be the toughest of her career, and one she's not willing to lose.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
April 12, 2023
I was looking for some new legal thrillers and it certainly looks like I have hit upon an interesting series. This is the first book in the Jessica Black legal thriller series (now there are more than 10 books). A good solid legal thriller!
Jessica Black is part of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. She successfully prosecuted and ensured the conviction of Frank Ramsey, a firefighter, for - killing Bob Dillard, a research scientist, raping & killing his wife Erin Dillard and assaulting & raping Kristen Dillard. Kristen Dillard was stabbed but survived the horrific assault and had a quick look at the man when he briefly removed his ski mask. There have been other such killings, but Kristen is the only person who has survived so far. There is no forensic evidence at any of the places of the attacks, including the Dillards’ home. Frank Ramsey’s conviction by the jury was based largely on Kristen’s identification. The serial killer takes a souvenir from each of the homes and Bob’s briefcase with important research material is missing. Michael Rushford is Bob’s employer and is fighting for his life. Bob’s research could have helped him get better.
Ramsey has filed an appeal claiming inadequate counsel as his defense attorney Jack Ackerman later had a breakdown and received treatment at a private institution. Gil Goldhammer, a top attorney is now representing Ramsey. Jessica’s boss Warren suggests she can just provide support and young attorney Elliot (his nephew) can handle the appeal. Jessica is fearful of the implications and argues to get involved. Judge Spatt hears the appeal and it is not clear which way this will go. Gil is determined to win the case and engages a psychologist Katherine Moscow to give testimony. Jessica also gets in touch with detective Mark Leary to see if their case can be further bolstered.
The story is very engrossing, and the pace is good. The legal proceedings are all very authentic with interesting & tense exchanges and makes for great reading. I especially loved the opening & closing arguments and the cross-examination of witnesses, especially Katherine Moscow and the crime scene visit. The difficult job of analysing the circumstances, evidence, the burden of proof, limitations the available evidence imposes on the results, and the strategies the attorneys adopt is described very well. The story somehow does not cover how Frank Ramsey was narrowed down as the prime suspect and that felt odd. The romance aspects of Jessica’s life are poorly written. The last sections have a lot of action & violence, and while it comes together well, it could have been better.
My rating: 4.25 / 5.
A series I look forward to continuing!
Jessica Black is part of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. She successfully prosecuted and ensured the conviction of Frank Ramsey, a firefighter, for - killing Bob Dillard, a research scientist, raping & killing his wife Erin Dillard and assaulting & raping Kristen Dillard. Kristen Dillard was stabbed but survived the horrific assault and had a quick look at the man when he briefly removed his ski mask. There have been other such killings, but Kristen is the only person who has survived so far. There is no forensic evidence at any of the places of the attacks, including the Dillards’ home. Frank Ramsey’s conviction by the jury was based largely on Kristen’s identification. The serial killer takes a souvenir from each of the homes and Bob’s briefcase with important research material is missing. Michael Rushford is Bob’s employer and is fighting for his life. Bob’s research could have helped him get better.
Ramsey has filed an appeal claiming inadequate counsel as his defense attorney Jack Ackerman later had a breakdown and received treatment at a private institution. Gil Goldhammer, a top attorney is now representing Ramsey. Jessica’s boss Warren suggests she can just provide support and young attorney Elliot (his nephew) can handle the appeal. Jessica is fearful of the implications and argues to get involved. Judge Spatt hears the appeal and it is not clear which way this will go. Gil is determined to win the case and engages a psychologist Katherine Moscow to give testimony. Jessica also gets in touch with detective Mark Leary to see if their case can be further bolstered.
The story is very engrossing, and the pace is good. The legal proceedings are all very authentic with interesting & tense exchanges and makes for great reading. I especially loved the opening & closing arguments and the cross-examination of witnesses, especially Katherine Moscow and the crime scene visit. The difficult job of analysing the circumstances, evidence, the burden of proof, limitations the available evidence imposes on the results, and the strategies the attorneys adopt is described very well. The story somehow does not cover how Frank Ramsey was narrowed down as the prime suspect and that felt odd. The romance aspects of Jessica’s life are poorly written. The last sections have a lot of action & violence, and while it comes together well, it could have been better.
My rating: 4.25 / 5.
A series I look forward to continuing!
June 17, 2019
This was an excellent legal procedural. A man who was convicted of the brutal murders of a man and his wife and rape and attempted murder of their sixteen year old daughter returns to Court where his cases are ordered to retrial. Jessie Black is the Philadelphia DA assigned to the case. The novel goes into the trial and investigation of the crimes once again. It is extremely well written and will grab the reader from the onset. Thanks to the Author and Publisher for an e-Galley for an honest review.
October 4, 2016
Suspenseful story.
This was the first book I read in this series, will be reading more. Like the writing style, he doesn't fill the pages with detailed descriptions. Many twists and turns, suspense will keep you reading. Like Jessie character, but maybe this experience will teach her not to trust so quickly.
This was the first book I read in this series, will be reading more. Like the writing style, he doesn't fill the pages with detailed descriptions. Many twists and turns, suspense will keep you reading. Like Jessie character, but maybe this experience will teach her not to trust so quickly.
November 4, 2015
Burnout is a book that kept me hooked throughout! Jessie Black works in the Homicide Unit of the District Attorneys office in Philadelphia. She puts Ramsey – a serial killer, behind bars, but she never seems to forget his crimes, or the victim that lived, Kristen Dillard. When his appeal comes across her bosses desk, she’s ready to take charge and fight the case all over again.
There were many twists in this story that I didn’t see coming. The authors writing style was full of great description, and each page held my attention. This is a long book, and I never got bored. During the court proceedings, the author came across as a true lawyer. The characters were well developed which also helped the plot move along.
The bad guy is working hard to make sure that Ramsey wins his appeal and quickly sees freedom. His motives are genuine in his mind, and he will do anything it takes to get Ramsey out of jail. This ensures a plot with murder, mystery and suspense.
I did wonder how Ramsey’s picture got into a photo lineup, and how he became a suspect so quickly. The author, Larry A. Winters did not go in to great detail about this, and it did not detract from the story or plot of Burnout. I’m just curious.
There is violence, but not graphic. There is a rape scene, but it is not written to be descriptive and disturbing. There were 43 f-words. There is mention of sex, but once again it is not written to be graphic. I try not to give away any spoilers in my reviews – its the job of the author to lay the plot, and describe all characters. The books title of Burnout, does not come from Jessie Black being a burnout in her job. She is hard working and professional. This is the first Jessie Black book I have read, and I look forward to more. I was given a copy of the book by the author Larry A. Winters, in exchange for an honest review.
There were many twists in this story that I didn’t see coming. The authors writing style was full of great description, and each page held my attention. This is a long book, and I never got bored. During the court proceedings, the author came across as a true lawyer. The characters were well developed which also helped the plot move along.
The bad guy is working hard to make sure that Ramsey wins his appeal and quickly sees freedom. His motives are genuine in his mind, and he will do anything it takes to get Ramsey out of jail. This ensures a plot with murder, mystery and suspense.
I did wonder how Ramsey’s picture got into a photo lineup, and how he became a suspect so quickly. The author, Larry A. Winters did not go in to great detail about this, and it did not detract from the story or plot of Burnout. I’m just curious.
There is violence, but not graphic. There is a rape scene, but it is not written to be descriptive and disturbing. There were 43 f-words. There is mention of sex, but once again it is not written to be graphic. I try not to give away any spoilers in my reviews – its the job of the author to lay the plot, and describe all characters. The books title of Burnout, does not come from Jessie Black being a burnout in her job. She is hard working and professional. This is the first Jessie Black book I have read, and I look forward to more. I was given a copy of the book by the author Larry A. Winters, in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2018
Always on the look-out for a good legal thriller, I stumbled upon this first book in the Jessie Black series, by Larry A. Winters, and yes, I moderately enjoyed it.
There’s no question that this writer shows some promise in this genre. For instance, the court scenes felt authentic and quite a bit of detail went into explaining how the court system worked. Another plus, was the progress of the story which kept the reader in the dark for some time and I thought that was a rather clever. Yet, on the other hand, I felt that the characters missed depth. I felt that many of the key players were not, in my opinion, given enough background, or definition, even Jessie, the main character. Something that also bothered me, was discovering the real motive behind the 2nd set of gratuitous killing. It didn’t make any sense to me (not giving away spoilers). So yes, this is a mixed bag for me.
There’s no question that this writer shows some promise in this genre. For instance, the court scenes felt authentic and quite a bit of detail went into explaining how the court system worked. Another plus, was the progress of the story which kept the reader in the dark for some time and I thought that was a rather clever. Yet, on the other hand, I felt that the characters missed depth. I felt that many of the key players were not, in my opinion, given enough background, or definition, even Jessie, the main character. Something that also bothered me, was discovering the real motive behind the 2nd set of gratuitous killing. It didn’t make any sense to me (not giving away spoilers). So yes, this is a mixed bag for me.
February 25, 2018
I have to say it did throw some surprises my way. A good thriller read. I would read another in the series
October 16, 2020
What a book! This author is fantastic. I had to hide a few times that’s how real he makes it. I loved all the courtroom and can’t wIt to see where we go next. The story was interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat!
July 28, 2018
Let me start with the positive first, and it is very positive. This is one of the most realistic legal thrillers I’ve ever read. Usually trying to read or watch anything law-related makes me cringe, because there’s always something so wildly inaccurate that it sets my teeth on edge. Almost always the problem is the timeline, with a case going from event to trial in a matter of days or weeks. Even the otherwise great movie The Judge had that problem. Although the timeline felt compressed here because of the fast pace of the book, there are several mentions of trial prep and so on stretching out over months. On our docket a case like this might take a year or more to go to trial, but months could be accurate as well, depending on the docket and how fast the judge pushed it to trial. The judge in the book did not seem like the sort to entertain a lot of discovery shenanigans and motions for continuance.
Also, the characters felt very real. I liked Jessie, even though I wasn’t sure I was going to at first. I liked most of the lawyers (even the ones, it turned out, that I should not have liked), because they felt like people I know and work with. I haven’t read the bio to see if the author is a lawyer or maybe comes from a family of them, but either way, he has a lot of the characteristics down perfectly.
Including the fact that all prosecutors think that they’re white hats and on the side of angels, and all defense attorneys are black hats in league with the devil. (I used to feel like that until I started officing with a bunch of defense attorneys, which broadened my horizons.)
My only real issue with the book is that it had so many twists and turns that by the end, I was somewhat unsure of what had actually happened. I got the main ideas, of course, but the details are just a tangled mess in my head. If I read it again it will probably make more sense, but I think that the plot was a little too intricate and probably could have used one or two of the elements trimmed out. And there was a coda at the end that was kind of weird, like it was tacked on to finish off some plot points, but it didn’t really seem to fit. But this is the first book of the series, so maybe the ‘epilogue’ ties into some of the future books, I’m not sure.
Overall, though, this was a solid installment and a great read.
Also, the characters felt very real. I liked Jessie, even though I wasn’t sure I was going to at first. I liked most of the lawyers (even the ones, it turned out, that I should not have liked), because they felt like people I know and work with. I haven’t read the bio to see if the author is a lawyer or maybe comes from a family of them, but either way, he has a lot of the characteristics down perfectly.
Including the fact that all prosecutors think that they’re white hats and on the side of angels, and all defense attorneys are black hats in league with the devil. (I used to feel like that until I started officing with a bunch of defense attorneys, which broadened my horizons.)
My only real issue with the book is that it had so many twists and turns that by the end, I was somewhat unsure of what had actually happened. I got the main ideas, of course, but the details are just a tangled mess in my head. If I read it again it will probably make more sense, but I think that the plot was a little too intricate and probably could have used one or two of the elements trimmed out. And there was a coda at the end that was kind of weird, like it was tacked on to finish off some plot points, but it didn’t really seem to fit. But this is the first book of the series, so maybe the ‘epilogue’ ties into some of the future books, I’m not sure.
Overall, though, this was a solid installment and a great read.
April 15, 2016
Frank Ramsey was convicted of rape and murder a year ago but when a mysterious benefactor steps forward to pay his legal bills to appeal his conviction, the case is reopened. Now prosecutor Jessica Black has to face the man again in court and worse still the only eye-witness and surviving victim seventeen year old Kristen Dillard will have to face the trauma of testifying, but legal politics aside why would anyone want Frank Ramsey free?
I really enjoyed this legal thriller, which had so many interesting aspects other than the central case. The inter-departmental politics, the conspiracy theory underlying the story and the questionable science behind eyewitness testimony all made this a very gripping read that I could not put down.
I loved Jessie Black, a seasoned prosecutor who is a bit of a loaner but has her own frailties and gets close enough to care about victims to her own detriment. Not all the action in this thriller is in the courtroom and there were situations with an abundance of suspense in the story too.
I will look forward to reading more thrillers from this author.
I really enjoyed this legal thriller, which had so many interesting aspects other than the central case. The inter-departmental politics, the conspiracy theory underlying the story and the questionable science behind eyewitness testimony all made this a very gripping read that I could not put down.
I loved Jessie Black, a seasoned prosecutor who is a bit of a loaner but has her own frailties and gets close enough to care about victims to her own detriment. Not all the action in this thriller is in the courtroom and there were situations with an abundance of suspense in the story too.
I will look forward to reading more thrillers from this author.
April 6, 2021
I was really looking forward to this as I love legal thrillers. This one seemed to be all over the place You have the guy in prison who people only have to glance at to know he is a mass murderer but then turns out to be more saintly than Mother Theresa!
Youve got a high flying prosecutor who is running a high profile case for a firm but they decide to replace her with someone who doesn't have any experience. What is that all about? Is that a financially appropriate move now?
Then there are all these people that come in and out of the plot ...and Im thinking 'hold up' who are you again....
Overall very disjointed but you know what im in a good mood and am going to give it another go with book 2 I hope it improves
Youve got a high flying prosecutor who is running a high profile case for a firm but they decide to replace her with someone who doesn't have any experience. What is that all about? Is that a financially appropriate move now?
Then there are all these people that come in and out of the plot ...and Im thinking 'hold up' who are you again....
Overall very disjointed but you know what im in a good mood and am going to give it another go with book 2 I hope it improves
March 18, 2019
If you’re a fan of court room drama and crimes that present a stunning revelation at the end of the story then you will love this book. I can’t say too much without giving it away so you will just have to read the book and find out for yourself. It moves at an ever increasing pace to the final page. You will find yourself feeling one way at the beginning of the story only to find yourself feeling exactly the opposite by the end. It will make you wonder just how flawed the legal system can be. The scary part is ... it could happen.
March 26, 2022
Burnout. A book so nice that I’ve had to read it twice. This is the book that turned me into a Larry A. Winters fan. A Jessie Black fan. I first read Burnout nine years ago, right after it was published. Now I’m reading the ten-volume series for the second time. There are eleven volumes counting the prequel.
In Burnout, we meet Assistant DA, Jessie Black, Detective Mark Leary, Warren Williams, Jessie's immediate supervisor, the boss of the DA Felony Division, and the DA, Jesus Rivera, the main cast of characters. The main characters that will appear in all the Jessie Black books to follow. Characters were so lifelike that I felt like they were all people that I had known in the real world. The dialogue, the settings, the action so realistic that the temporary suspension was never an issue for me. I didn’t feel as if I was reading a book. I felt as if I was right there with them, experiencing what they were experiencing. Perhaps that was because, back in the day, I had lived that lifestyle.
Burnout, at 424 pages, is also one of the longest books in the series, but, as with all the Jessie Black books, it’s nonstop action, a roller-coaster thrill ride from the first page to the last, so they seem much shorter. For me, they often seem to end too quickly, leaving me wanting more of Jessie.
In Burnout, a man on death row for multiple murders and rape that he did not commit wins an appeal for a new trial. A jury of his peers at the new trial finds him not guilty and given his freedom, but this story doesn’t end there. The real ending to this story will blow you away. This story has more twists and turns than a sidewinder’s path through the desert sand. Read this story and it will better prepare you for what you will encounter in all the Jessie Black Legal Thrillers.
Larry A. Winters reminds me a great deal of John Grisham because both write legal thrillers where the action takes place both in and outside of the courtroom/
In Burnout, we meet Assistant DA, Jessie Black, Detective Mark Leary, Warren Williams, Jessie's immediate supervisor, the boss of the DA Felony Division, and the DA, Jesus Rivera, the main cast of characters. The main characters that will appear in all the Jessie Black books to follow. Characters were so lifelike that I felt like they were all people that I had known in the real world. The dialogue, the settings, the action so realistic that the temporary suspension was never an issue for me. I didn’t feel as if I was reading a book. I felt as if I was right there with them, experiencing what they were experiencing. Perhaps that was because, back in the day, I had lived that lifestyle.
Burnout, at 424 pages, is also one of the longest books in the series, but, as with all the Jessie Black books, it’s nonstop action, a roller-coaster thrill ride from the first page to the last, so they seem much shorter. For me, they often seem to end too quickly, leaving me wanting more of Jessie.
In Burnout, a man on death row for multiple murders and rape that he did not commit wins an appeal for a new trial. A jury of his peers at the new trial finds him not guilty and given his freedom, but this story doesn’t end there. The real ending to this story will blow you away. This story has more twists and turns than a sidewinder’s path through the desert sand. Read this story and it will better prepare you for what you will encounter in all the Jessie Black Legal Thrillers.
Larry A. Winters reminds me a great deal of John Grisham because both write legal thrillers where the action takes place both in and outside of the courtroom/
December 14, 2020
This book represents the first installment in a new series (to me, anyway) featuring, in this case, plaintiff attorney Jessie Black. I enjoyed Winters' consumable writing style and, for a legal thriller, it contained lots of courtroom drama including a horrific murder committed by an alleged serial killer (on trial), likable and competent detectives, an irascible judge (Spatt), a high profile out-of-state lawyer for the defense, and a few creepy attorneys whose allegiance to our heroine is questionable throughout the story. Being a legal thriller, most of the narrative tended toward cerebral (courtroom strategies, tactics, evidence), but there is a compelling action sequence toward the end that had me page-turning furiously to find out how it ended. Initially, I planned to hold back one star on the basis that this is only episode #1 in the series; but, then, I reasoned that such a demerit would be unfair. I cannot deny that I found "Burnout" to be thoroughly engrossing and entertaining from start to finish. Though I am not a lawyer, the courtroom interactions seemed completely believable as well as intellectually intriguing. I am eagerly looking forward to #2 in the series...
July 14, 2021
WARNING: Do not read this book unless you truly want a challenge! Do not read this book if you are just looking for an easy read; a fun read; a quick read; or anything less than a true challenge. This is one of the most challenging and complicated mystery books I have ever read. It was not until near the end that everything started to come together and I thought maybe I understood what it was all about. Don’t get me wrong, it is well worth the effort if you are truly looking for a tough challenge - if up to it you might just find it worth the effort - but if you are just looking for some entertainment, I would urge you to look elsewhere. Just the number of important characters and their relationships is tough enough. But to see thru all the smoke and misdirection - not to mention the layers and layers of thick smoke that permeates the entire book - is a real challenge. In the end you must always ask yourself: “Was it worth it?” I will leave that up to you decide.
February 18, 2018
Jessie is a pretty good prosecutor who retries a murder case because of reasons beyond her control. Her boss assigns his nephew to the case as a good learning experience for him. I don't think this would ever happen in the real world for a host of reasons, but it's needed for this story to help everything happen. Think of a nerd, a hooker, a fireman found guilty of murder, a burned out defense attorney, a seventeen year old girl who watched her father get killed, her mother raped and killed, and she herself then gets raped and almost killed. Add in the owner of a foundation suffering from ALS, his criminal brother, a police investigator with the hots for Jessie, and a bunch of other stuff mixed in to give a good read. Did too many things happen too quickly near the end? Maybe, but that's what a climax is about, and this one is hard to put dow. Enjoy.
April 6, 2023
Great book, Worth the read
I don’t really know how to describe this book but I feel like the description does a good job.
This book was amazing if your into the legal triller type stuff. It kept me interested through out the whole book and the author made the characters feel real so it was really easy to connect to them. I found myself emotionally invested in the story and I loved the ending. The book kinda tries to lead you to root for the DA and their case but I found myself from the very beginning taking the accused side. This book really makes you think about how everything isn’t how it always appears and facts aren’t always facts. I would be cautious reading this book PLEASE check the trigger warnings this book deals with some heavy stuff.
I don’t really know how to describe this book but I feel like the description does a good job.
This book was amazing if your into the legal triller type stuff. It kept me interested through out the whole book and the author made the characters feel real so it was really easy to connect to them. I found myself emotionally invested in the story and I loved the ending. The book kinda tries to lead you to root for the DA and their case but I found myself from the very beginning taking the accused side. This book really makes you think about how everything isn’t how it always appears and facts aren’t always facts. I would be cautious reading this book PLEASE check the trigger warnings this book deals with some heavy stuff.
March 1, 2024
Actually closer to 4,5 but indeed a good legal thriller. I loved the unconventional way the plot develops and the twists it entails. To reach a full 5 stars it should have had something less: I didn't appriciate much the last 10% of the novel, where it gets a bit too much "western" and action packed for a legal thriller. This is a charateristic of most american thriller novels anyway: it has to mandatory include at least an explosion, a gunfight, a chase. All things that IMHO are often useless and redundant.
The plot is original (not an easy thing in this genre), the main characters are likable and the reader's POW puts him on the edge between believing or not to the various theories presented at trial, just like a juror in the panel.
I'll read for sure the following novels.
The plot is original (not an easy thing in this genre), the main characters are likable and the reader's POW puts him on the edge between believing or not to the various theories presented at trial, just like a juror in the panel.
I'll read for sure the following novels.
June 28, 2025
Hackneyed characters and a chaotic plot made this a less than pleasant read. There is Jessie Black, basically little miss put-upon pie who does the right (ish) thing anyway, the wisecracking badboy with a heart of gold cliche character, the slobbering maniacal killer cliche character, the lunatic rich man behind all of it cliche character. There were a few redeeming elements like the victim who clings to her wrong beliefs to the very end; in defiance of the "rules of writing mysteries," but probably a relatively common occurrence in real life.
I might go on to the next one if for some reason I am completely desperate, but probably this will be it for Jessie Black.
I might go on to the next one if for some reason I am completely desperate, but probably this will be it for Jessie Black.
September 23, 2022
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this novel. It is the first in the series called Jessie Black Legal Thrillers. The premises are enticing, and the development of these premises are so enticing. Will our protagonist survive with her career intact? Will her career end and will she perhaps even lose her legal license? This novel is one you will not want to pass by, and you will not have to wait for your next novel as several of the following novels are already published. If you are a read of crime novels and want to read about a prosecutor that has a knack for putting brutal killers behind bars - this novel is for you. This is my true and honest review.
December 6, 2022
This is the second Jessie Black Legal Thriller I have read (yes, I can see it's #1 in a series). The blurbs for this series read as if Jessie Black should be walking around in a leotard and cape, wielding her super powers against crime and evil. In this book she comes across as knowing about law and her job as a prosecutor but not understanding much about people. She gets taken in (by men) repeatedly. But don't worry: this always puts her in a position of saving the day, solving the mystery. . .
I will probably read more of the Jessie Black series when I want to be entertained. The books are easy to read and have just enough mystery and suspense to keep me reading.
I will probably read more of the Jessie Black series when I want to be entertained. The books are easy to read and have just enough mystery and suspense to keep me reading.
November 18, 2016
This was a very interesting book. I didn’t pull things together until Chapter 33. Now, I don’t recommend that you start at Chapter 33 because you would never understand what is going on. But, don’t be discouraged if you find the first part of the book convoluted. You don’t know who to trust and you don’t understand why people are doing certain things. From Chapter 33 to the end, things move along so quickly that you almost forget the beginning. Take your time and enjoy this book as I did. I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2020
Can you trust your memory
Every person involved in Jessie Black's case involving an appeal of a serial killer who accidentally left one victim alive. The defence lawyer is not one to do pro bono work so who is paying him and why. Even the psychiatric expert gets paid more for every case she works and the defence for the appeal is that the accused's lawyer had a mental breakdown soon after his client was found guilty. Originally Jessie was assigned to the case but then pulled off for a newbie. One twist after another to keep you guessing all the way.
Every person involved in Jessie Black's case involving an appeal of a serial killer who accidentally left one victim alive. The defence lawyer is not one to do pro bono work so who is paying him and why. Even the psychiatric expert gets paid more for every case she works and the defence for the appeal is that the accused's lawyer had a mental breakdown soon after his client was found guilty. Originally Jessie was assigned to the case but then pulled off for a newbie. One twist after another to keep you guessing all the way.
May 25, 2020
A well-executed legal thriller you cannot put down…
Wow! This book had it all: Mystery, suspense, courtroom drama, interesting characters, romantic relationships and unexpected surprises. It certainly held my interest from beginning to end. It raises an intriguing question pertaining to eye-witnesses who are victims of a heinous crimes and drives its point home. You cannot help pondering the issue and considering the new disclosures while reading in an attempt to figure out how things ends up. There’s a climatic ending that ties up the loose ends which make it a worthwhile read.
Wow! This book had it all: Mystery, suspense, courtroom drama, interesting characters, romantic relationships and unexpected surprises. It certainly held my interest from beginning to end. It raises an intriguing question pertaining to eye-witnesses who are victims of a heinous crimes and drives its point home. You cannot help pondering the issue and considering the new disclosures while reading in an attempt to figure out how things ends up. There’s a climatic ending that ties up the loose ends which make it a worthwhile read.
August 10, 2020
Liked this edge of seat page turner. Various plot lines interesting although the ALS storyline didn’t quite come together. I wondered how Ramsey got on the phot lineup to begin with. Felt badly about Eliot. He was just getting his shit together. Jessie, on the other hand, was less impressive. A woman trying for a life but since this was book one in a series, I guess she has plenty of time to grow up. A tad too violent for me. I loved the judge. All in all, lots of surprises and twists AND I LIKE THIS AUTHOR!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2020
An excellent read...
My second book by this author and definitely not my last. I have a sincere affection (addiction?) to books that force you to give up on your plans because you can’t put the book down until it is finished. Jessie Black’s character is easy to fall in love with. She is so good at her job but also good at managing to screw things up beyond repair-almost. The twists and turns keep the story captivating until the end. Like Dean Koontz the stories include enough real geography and real legal principles to keep it believable. Highly recommended!
My second book by this author and definitely not my last. I have a sincere affection (addiction?) to books that force you to give up on your plans because you can’t put the book down until it is finished. Jessie Black’s character is easy to fall in love with. She is so good at her job but also good at managing to screw things up beyond repair-almost. The twists and turns keep the story captivating until the end. Like Dean Koontz the stories include enough real geography and real legal principles to keep it believable. Highly recommended!
April 12, 2021
I struggled a bit in reading this because I got frustrated with the decisions of some of the characters, but it’s a well-written book with a gripping story line.
Jessie Black, a prosecutor in Philadelphia, has to retry a case that she initially won of Ramsey, who was convicted of stabbing and killing a scientist doing research on ALS and his wife, and of raping and stabbing their teenage daughter, Kristen.
Other key characters: former defense attorney Jack Ackerman and homicide detective Leary.
Jessie Black, a prosecutor in Philadelphia, has to retry a case that she initially won of Ramsey, who was convicted of stabbing and killing a scientist doing research on ALS and his wife, and of raping and stabbing their teenage daughter, Kristen.
Other key characters: former defense attorney Jack Ackerman and homicide detective Leary.
August 22, 2021
Legal thriller with some twists
This is the first book of the series,& the first I have read by the author. Very well written, characters that are easy to remember(some likable,some not). An entire family is murdered, well not ENTIRE. The youngest survived, identified the attacker. He says he is innocent (don't they all ?) After a few appeals he is granted a new trial. A high powered & high priced attorney has come in from out of town to represent the defendant. And so it begins ...
This is the first book of the series,& the first I have read by the author. Very well written, characters that are easy to remember(some likable,some not). An entire family is murdered, well not ENTIRE. The youngest survived, identified the attacker. He says he is innocent (don't they all ?) After a few appeals he is granted a new trial. A high powered & high priced attorney has come in from out of town to represent the defendant. And so it begins ...
April 28, 2022
A trial a year ago was a nightmare, and with a surviving witness she got a guilty verdict. Now a new trial was granted, and if certain ones are brought in, they could rattle the witness. Along with the lawyer having a breakdown afterwards, was another key factor. Jessie along with the lead detective before on the case was asked to help her. The attraction was mutual for her and Leary. Without the foul language would have been better. Good courtroom drama and a look behind the scene of what goes on.
July 17, 2022
Too much drama outside of the courtroom. Jessie Black, the main character, is a deputy district attorney, but this book is closer to a murder mystery, which wasn’t what I expected.
Jessie starts a personal relationship that makes no sense, in part because of things she herself says earlier in the book.
A couple of characters are introduced but they don’t show up again until much later, so it was hard to remember them. It also took too long for all of the plot twists to be resolved. Don’t think I’ll read more books in this series.
Jessie starts a personal relationship that makes no sense, in part because of things she herself says earlier in the book.
A couple of characters are introduced but they don’t show up again until much later, so it was hard to remember them. It also took too long for all of the plot twists to be resolved. Don’t think I’ll read more books in this series.
May 29, 2017
An excellent surprise!
I'm not sure why, but I didn't have great expectations for this book. Maybe it was because of the cover...who knows. But this is a very solid 4.75 star legal thriller. I was hooked immediately and remained absorbed until the very end. I wish the rest of this series was available via audible. I will be patiently awaiting the next in the series. And if my some miracle I get a few minutes to actually read, I'm definitely continuing on with this series!
I'm not sure why, but I didn't have great expectations for this book. Maybe it was because of the cover...who knows. But this is a very solid 4.75 star legal thriller. I was hooked immediately and remained absorbed until the very end. I wish the rest of this series was available via audible. I will be patiently awaiting the next in the series. And if my some miracle I get a few minutes to actually read, I'm definitely continuing on with this series!
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