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Unjust: A Jason Michelson Legal Thriller
In this suspenseful legal thriller novel, a wrongfully convicted man has been sitting behind bars for forty years. He had lost all hope in the justice system and being released until the Exoneration Project agrees to take on his case.
Maxwell loved Amelia, and the fact that he was on trial for her murder was unimaginable.
Maxwell was a black man who thought he had it all. He was set to graduate college, he was in love, and he was ready to start the rest of his life.
When Maxwell found himself behind bars for the murder of the love of his life, he knew they both wouldn't get the justice they deserve.
Forty years in jail, Maxwell thought this was where he would spend the rest of his life. When the Exoneration Project took his case, his eyes were opened to how truly wrong his conviction was.
None of the evidence points to Maxwell, and it is inconceivable how any jury could find him guilty.
Realizing the magnitude of injustices Maxwell faced during his original trial, corporate attorney Jason Michelson and Rachel Nix from the Exoneration Project fight to expose the blatant misconduct and corruption that led to his conviction.
This Courtroom Drama focuses
The injustices that black defendants face in the justice system.
A realistic legal thriller fiction with suspense that keeps the pages turning.
The first book in a legal thriller series that points to injustices in the American judicial system.
Buy Unjust and see Maxwell’s story unfold as he and his attorneys fight for justice.
Fans of Allen Eskens, Michael Connelly, and Robin James’ legal thrillers will love the realistic story portrayed in Unjust.
Maxwell loved Amelia, and the fact that he was on trial for her murder was unimaginable.
Maxwell was a black man who thought he had it all. He was set to graduate college, he was in love, and he was ready to start the rest of his life.
When Maxwell found himself behind bars for the murder of the love of his life, he knew they both wouldn't get the justice they deserve.
Forty years in jail, Maxwell thought this was where he would spend the rest of his life. When the Exoneration Project took his case, his eyes were opened to how truly wrong his conviction was.
None of the evidence points to Maxwell, and it is inconceivable how any jury could find him guilty.
Realizing the magnitude of injustices Maxwell faced during his original trial, corporate attorney Jason Michelson and Rachel Nix from the Exoneration Project fight to expose the blatant misconduct and corruption that led to his conviction.
This Courtroom Drama focuses
The injustices that black defendants face in the justice system.
A realistic legal thriller fiction with suspense that keeps the pages turning.
The first book in a legal thriller series that points to injustices in the American judicial system.
Buy Unjust and see Maxwell’s story unfold as he and his attorneys fight for justice.
Fans of Allen Eskens, Michael Connelly, and Robin James’ legal thrillers will love the realistic story portrayed in Unjust.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2023
10 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 7, 2024
⚫️Unjust by Brooke Holmes is a compelling and thought-provoking legal thriller that grips readers from the very first page and doesn't let go. In this book, Holmes masterfully blends courtroom drama, social justice issues, and deep human emotion, creating a story that is as suspenseful as it is powerful.
⚫️The novel follows Maxwell, a Black man wrongfully convicted of his fiancée Amelia's murder, who has spent forty years behind bars believing justice would never come. When the Exoneration Project takes on his case, a glimmer of hope appears. Enter Jason Michelson, a corporate attorney who, along with the passionate and driven Rachel Nix, uncovers the shocking corruption and misconduct that led to Maxwell's conviction.
⚫️What stands out most in Unjust is its unflinching exploration of the racial injustices that pervade the American judicial system. Holmes sheds light on the systemic flaws that often lead to wrongful convictions, particularly for Black defendants, without being preachy or heavy-handed. The narrative is gripping, and the characters especially Maxwell are complex and empathetic. You can't help but root for him as he fights to reclaim his life after decades of unimaginable suffering.
⚫️Holmes’ legal expertise shines through in the authenticity and detail of the courtroom scenes, making the story feel real and immersive. Fans of legal thrillers in the vein of Allen Eskens or Michael Connelly will find much to admire in Unjust from its sharp pacing to its intricate plotting. The suspense builds steadily throughout, ensuring that readers are invested in every twist and turn of the case. And as the layers of injustice are peeled back, Holmes keeps the stakes high, with each revelation serving to further expose the shocking failings of the system.
⚫️This book isn’t just a page-turning thriller; it’s a reminder of how far the justice system needs to go to truly serve all people fairly. It is an excellent start to what promises to be a gripping series that balances legal drama with an essential conversation about racial and social equity.
⚫️If you enjoy fast-paced, realistic legal thrillers with heart, Unjust is a must-read. You’ll be eagerly awaiting the next installment in Jason Michelson’s pursuit of justice.
September 13, 2024
Workaholic Lawyer has no time for dating, but . . . working with Rachel is not dating.
A la Bryan Stevenson and The Equal Justice Initiative, this is a clearly written book which explains court requirements and legal information along with the complex story. It is understandable and has a great plot.
Jason Michelson is young determined to do well with his commercial cases. He does not take time to date. However, he now has an additional work requirement to complete pro bono hours above his regular duties. Plus, the hours must be in the area of criminal justice which he is not familiar with.
Jason meets Rachel who works for the Exoneration Project. She is already working on a case where a man was wrongfully convicted of sexually assaulting and killing his girlfriend. This was 40 years ago, before DNA evidence was allowed. Rachel’s first impression of Jason is that he just wants to fulfill his pro bono hours. They do not hit it off right away. There is an intern who can help on the case. Things get really interesting when they meet Maxwell, who has been in jail forty years. He is innocent. But the circumstances at the time were confusing.
The ending is complicated, as is real life, but explained clearly and well.
Highly recommend!
A la Bryan Stevenson and The Equal Justice Initiative, this is a clearly written book which explains court requirements and legal information along with the complex story. It is understandable and has a great plot.
Jason Michelson is young determined to do well with his commercial cases. He does not take time to date. However, he now has an additional work requirement to complete pro bono hours above his regular duties. Plus, the hours must be in the area of criminal justice which he is not familiar with.
Jason meets Rachel who works for the Exoneration Project. She is already working on a case where a man was wrongfully convicted of sexually assaulting and killing his girlfriend. This was 40 years ago, before DNA evidence was allowed. Rachel’s first impression of Jason is that he just wants to fulfill his pro bono hours. They do not hit it off right away. There is an intern who can help on the case. Things get really interesting when they meet Maxwell, who has been in jail forty years. He is innocent. But the circumstances at the time were confusing.
The ending is complicated, as is real life, but explained clearly and well.
Highly recommend!
February 17, 2025
Unjust by Brooke Holmes: Book Review
Brooke Holmes' Unjust is a riveting legal thriller that penetrates the flaws of the American justice system depth. The plot revolves around Maxwell Williams, a black man erroneously convicted of killing his fiancée, Amelia, and having had spent 40 years behind bars. The novel skillfully unravels an average repertoire of injustices that literarily follow from a system plastered with racial bias, internal corruption, and wrongful conviction from the word go till the end.
The narrative alternates between the past and the present, detailing Maxwell's first trial in 1982-in which an all-white jury convicted him mainly on circumstantial evidence-and embodying the decades of his struggle toward exoneration. In come corporate lawyer Jason Michelson, a reluctant pro bono worker, and Rachel Nix, an earnest attorney from the Exoneration Project. Their reckless and ardent indictment of entrenched corruption hammeringly blows wide open the appalling misconduct and secret lives waiting for exposure while promising to lead to Maxwell's freedom.
Holmes's writing is evocative yet precise: the emotional toll of wrongful imprisonment impeccably captured, an insistent courtroom drama set to excite. Legal detail and calculations drip with gravity as the reader enters the live courtroom stage, playing on guts. Character development comes as another strength-Maxwell's ability to endure; Jason's metamorphosis, Rachel's ungiving spirit, add heft to the story line.
Not just a thriller, Unjust serves as a meditation on racial unfairness in the legal system. Anyone interested in the works of John Grisham and Bryan Stevenson-a la Just Mercy-will find this book compelling and fresh.
Brooke Holmes' Unjust is a riveting legal thriller that penetrates the flaws of the American justice system depth. The plot revolves around Maxwell Williams, a black man erroneously convicted of killing his fiancée, Amelia, and having had spent 40 years behind bars. The novel skillfully unravels an average repertoire of injustices that literarily follow from a system plastered with racial bias, internal corruption, and wrongful conviction from the word go till the end.
The narrative alternates between the past and the present, detailing Maxwell's first trial in 1982-in which an all-white jury convicted him mainly on circumstantial evidence-and embodying the decades of his struggle toward exoneration. In come corporate lawyer Jason Michelson, a reluctant pro bono worker, and Rachel Nix, an earnest attorney from the Exoneration Project. Their reckless and ardent indictment of entrenched corruption hammeringly blows wide open the appalling misconduct and secret lives waiting for exposure while promising to lead to Maxwell's freedom.
Holmes's writing is evocative yet precise: the emotional toll of wrongful imprisonment impeccably captured, an insistent courtroom drama set to excite. Legal detail and calculations drip with gravity as the reader enters the live courtroom stage, playing on guts. Character development comes as another strength-Maxwell's ability to endure; Jason's metamorphosis, Rachel's ungiving spirit, add heft to the story line.
Not just a thriller, Unjust serves as a meditation on racial unfairness in the legal system. Anyone interested in the works of John Grisham and Bryan Stevenson-a la Just Mercy-will find this book compelling and fresh.
September 28, 2023
I really enjoyed the plot of this book. Also liked that it was mixed with some romance. I love how the end of the books played out. Definitely did not see it coming. Look forward to the next book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews