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The Out-of-Town Lawyer
🎧Run Time = 8 hours and 42 minutes
USA Today bestselling author Robert Rotstein is back with The Out-of-Town Lawyer, a gripping legal thriller that throws a community into chaos and questions the very foundations of our morality.
This “highly original courtroom drama” (Kirkus Reviews) follows defense attorney Elvis as he returns to his closed-minded hometown to represent a woman accused of murder. But as his past catches up to him, he might have more to worry about than a tough case… Read by an Earphones Award–winning narrator, “this book will seize you and not let go” (Allen Eskens).
The Quartz County, Alabama, district attorney has charged Destiny Grace Harper with murdering her unborn twins—a crime punishable by death. However, Alabama v. Harper isn’t your ordinary homicide case. Harper’s babies suffered from a rare disorder called TTTS, a fatal condition if left untreated, but correctable with minimally invasive surgery. Harper refused the surgery on religious grounds, resulting in the death of both babies, and now Harper is on trial.
Enter Elvis Henderson, a traveling criminal defense attorney who roams the country in his campervan. He receives assignments from Hazel Curnow, a once iconic trial lawyer turned recluse. When Curnow assigns Elvis the Harper case, he balks—Quartz County is his home turf. He left Alabama under a dark cloud at age eighteen and has no intention of returning.
When Elvis arrives to meet his paralegal, Margaret Booth, they immediately realize the case is fraught with complications: a desperate client whose story keeps shifting; a local populace who vociferously defend the rights of the unborn; a charismatic minister whose family lords over the town; a ruthless DA with political ambitions; an old-school judge who relishes handing down capital convictions; and a sheriff who might just want Elvis dead.
An action-packed ride to a shocking verdict, The Out-of-Town Lawyer is a gripping legal thriller that explores family love, reconciliation, and the moral and legal issues that draw a fine line between tragedy and crime.
USA Today bestselling author Robert Rotstein is back with The Out-of-Town Lawyer, a gripping legal thriller that throws a community into chaos and questions the very foundations of our morality.
This “highly original courtroom drama” (Kirkus Reviews) follows defense attorney Elvis as he returns to his closed-minded hometown to represent a woman accused of murder. But as his past catches up to him, he might have more to worry about than a tough case… Read by an Earphones Award–winning narrator, “this book will seize you and not let go” (Allen Eskens).
The Quartz County, Alabama, district attorney has charged Destiny Grace Harper with murdering her unborn twins—a crime punishable by death. However, Alabama v. Harper isn’t your ordinary homicide case. Harper’s babies suffered from a rare disorder called TTTS, a fatal condition if left untreated, but correctable with minimally invasive surgery. Harper refused the surgery on religious grounds, resulting in the death of both babies, and now Harper is on trial.
Enter Elvis Henderson, a traveling criminal defense attorney who roams the country in his campervan. He receives assignments from Hazel Curnow, a once iconic trial lawyer turned recluse. When Curnow assigns Elvis the Harper case, he balks—Quartz County is his home turf. He left Alabama under a dark cloud at age eighteen and has no intention of returning.
When Elvis arrives to meet his paralegal, Margaret Booth, they immediately realize the case is fraught with complications: a desperate client whose story keeps shifting; a local populace who vociferously defend the rights of the unborn; a charismatic minister whose family lords over the town; a ruthless DA with political ambitions; an old-school judge who relishes handing down capital convictions; and a sheriff who might just want Elvis dead.
An action-packed ride to a shocking verdict, The Out-of-Town Lawyer is a gripping legal thriller that explores family love, reconciliation, and the moral and legal issues that draw a fine line between tragedy and crime.
270 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2024
43 people are currently reading
3922 people want to read
About the author
Robert Rotstein
9 books119 followersRobert Rotstein is an entertainment attorney with over thirty years experience in the industry. He’s represented all of the major motion picture studios and many well-known writers, producers, directors, and musicians. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
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Mystery Writers of America
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 27, 2025
Review first posted on mysteryandsuspense.com
Elvis Henderson receives the call while mindlessly driving his Ford Transit van through Texas, close to the Mexican border. He’s instructed to drive to the place he least wants to go: Quartz County, Northern Alabama. Elvis has history there, and it’s not good history. He left this place twenty-eight years ago and swore he’d never go back.
But he’s a restless lawyer who has stepped away from prestigious law firms to practice ‘small law,’ defending whoever his mysterious boss instructs him to. This time, it’s a woman charged with capital murder and facing a potential death penalty. The trial starts in just four and a half weeks, so time is very tight. But that doesn’t stop Elvis from being distracted by a billboard advertising a cabaret featuring fully nude women—there’s always time for that! Yes, Elvis is an interesting character: a man with a mysterious past, a driven professional passionate about his work, but also someone who enjoys some of the seedier aspects of life. The woman he’s been instructed to defend is Destiny Grace Harper, accused of murdering her twin babies. More accurately, her crime seems to be letting her unborn fetuses, who suffered from a rare condition called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (commonly referred to as TTTS), die as a result of denying them specialized laser surgery that might have saved them.
Destiny Grace had been a member of the Church of the Lord’s Rapture, run by an evangelical preacher named Jeremiah Tipple and his family. The church doesn’t allow parishioners to seek help from the medical profession. Their view is that prayers heal while doctors interfere. It’s quickly established that refusal of medical treatment on religious grounds will not be an effective defense; recent case law makes this quite clear. It’s hard to see how Elvis and the small team supporting him will be able to defend Destiny Grace. Everything seems stacked against them, including an idiosyncratic and mistake-prone judge, who seems hell-bent on supporting every wish of the prosecuting team while denying every request Elvis puts forward.
There’s a lot to take in here: a substantial cast of characters, a good deal of legal debate and argument, a plethora of Biblical quotes, and a backstory that explains why Elvis was so reluctant to return to this place. It takes a bit of concentration and patience, but past the halfway point, it really does develop into an attention-grabbing tale. Elvis is a compelling character, and he’s certainly the star attraction here. But there’s no end of colorful characters to enjoy and a compelling narrative that kept me on edge as we crept towards the story’s nail-biting climax.
The core argument here poses a really interesting conundrum, and it’s explored in an intelligent and comprehensively satisfying way. That alone should be enough to grab the interest of readers who enjoy a good legal thriller. But, augmented by the additional elements supplied here, what you have is not only a strong stand-alone story but one which, I hope, might prompt further adventures featuring Elvis and his crew. I, for one, would be happy to bump into this engaging legal practitioner at least one more time.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Elvis Henderson receives the call while mindlessly driving his Ford Transit van through Texas, close to the Mexican border. He’s instructed to drive to the place he least wants to go: Quartz County, Northern Alabama. Elvis has history there, and it’s not good history. He left this place twenty-eight years ago and swore he’d never go back.
But he’s a restless lawyer who has stepped away from prestigious law firms to practice ‘small law,’ defending whoever his mysterious boss instructs him to. This time, it’s a woman charged with capital murder and facing a potential death penalty. The trial starts in just four and a half weeks, so time is very tight. But that doesn’t stop Elvis from being distracted by a billboard advertising a cabaret featuring fully nude women—there’s always time for that! Yes, Elvis is an interesting character: a man with a mysterious past, a driven professional passionate about his work, but also someone who enjoys some of the seedier aspects of life. The woman he’s been instructed to defend is Destiny Grace Harper, accused of murdering her twin babies. More accurately, her crime seems to be letting her unborn fetuses, who suffered from a rare condition called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (commonly referred to as TTTS), die as a result of denying them specialized laser surgery that might have saved them.
Destiny Grace had been a member of the Church of the Lord’s Rapture, run by an evangelical preacher named Jeremiah Tipple and his family. The church doesn’t allow parishioners to seek help from the medical profession. Their view is that prayers heal while doctors interfere. It’s quickly established that refusal of medical treatment on religious grounds will not be an effective defense; recent case law makes this quite clear. It’s hard to see how Elvis and the small team supporting him will be able to defend Destiny Grace. Everything seems stacked against them, including an idiosyncratic and mistake-prone judge, who seems hell-bent on supporting every wish of the prosecuting team while denying every request Elvis puts forward.
There’s a lot to take in here: a substantial cast of characters, a good deal of legal debate and argument, a plethora of Biblical quotes, and a backstory that explains why Elvis was so reluctant to return to this place. It takes a bit of concentration and patience, but past the halfway point, it really does develop into an attention-grabbing tale. Elvis is a compelling character, and he’s certainly the star attraction here. But there’s no end of colorful characters to enjoy and a compelling narrative that kept me on edge as we crept towards the story’s nail-biting climax.
The core argument here poses a really interesting conundrum, and it’s explored in an intelligent and comprehensively satisfying way. That alone should be enough to grab the interest of readers who enjoy a good legal thriller. But, augmented by the additional elements supplied here, what you have is not only a strong stand-alone story but one which, I hope, might prompt further adventures featuring Elvis and his crew. I, for one, would be happy to bump into this engaging legal practitioner at least one more time.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2025
4 Stars
February 26, 2024
Well, the author has certainly written a book that will ruffle some feathers and cause some conversation (and consternation)!
When I began reading this, I really thought I was not going to like it – not because of the political nature, but because a couple of characters in the beginning have the tendency to lecture. It felt like the literary equivalent of a sledgehammer to the head.
Eventually, though, the author concentrates on the story and it’s very well done.
I do think the story is simply a vehicle to show how murky ANY political ideology becomes. The characters have complex reasoning behind everything they do, mixed with an absolute faith that their own view is correct. And the consequences? Devastating.
I’m not sure I adored how the book ended. It seemed an easy ending for a complicated story.
But in the end, I did very much enjoy the read.
• ARC via Publisher
When I began reading this, I really thought I was not going to like it – not because of the political nature, but because a couple of characters in the beginning have the tendency to lecture. It felt like the literary equivalent of a sledgehammer to the head.
Eventually, though, the author concentrates on the story and it’s very well done.
I do think the story is simply a vehicle to show how murky ANY political ideology becomes. The characters have complex reasoning behind everything they do, mixed with an absolute faith that their own view is correct. And the consequences? Devastating.
I’m not sure I adored how the book ended. It seemed an easy ending for a complicated story.
But in the end, I did very much enjoy the read.
• ARC via Publisher
June 27, 2024
Elvis Henderson is a criminal defense attorney who travels the country in a camper-van, trying cases where his boss sends him. He winds up in Alabama, in the hometown he left years ago never intending to return. The case? Destiny Grace Harper, a woman pregnant with twins who had a rare disorder TTTS, fatal if untreated. Harper refused the treatment on religious grounds and the twins died. Now she’s facing two counts of capital murder.
WOW. I. Could. Not. Put. This. DOWN! The relevant and divisive issues such as a woman’s right to choose what happens to her body, religious freedoms and the fine line between what is legal and what is moral had my rapt attention. Elvis or “E” as he likes to be called, is a charismatic lawyer with sardonic wit who had me chuckling with his fierce courtroom displays and comments to the judge. E had his reasons for leaving Alabama which are slowly revealed, adding an intriguing layer aside from the already intense court case. I liked E and his transgender paralegal Margaret so much, I wish this was the first of a series!
Thrown into the mix are prejudices and beliefs of the Deep South Bible Belt. Medicine, faith, morality and law are all entwined in a suspenseful edge of your seat drama. The entire trial was nothing short of brilliant, from the opening arguments of both sides to the direct and cross examinations of witnesses. I LOVE an intelligent battle of wills (and legalities) in a courtroom. Both sides were so persuasive, I had NO IDEA which way the jury would swing with their verdict. I was shocked at the final outcome! Robert Rotstein has won me over completely with his bigger than life characters and ability to handle both sides of touchy subjects with authenticity. If you enjoy courtroom battles with heavy topics, and shocking twists, don’t miss this electrifying thriller!
_____
Thank you Robert Rotstein and Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copy. All opinion are my own.
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content Warnings: mild use of language and violence, gun violence, death, infant death, transphobia, strong religious beliefs, mention of drug overdose, rape, prostitution, abortion and suicide
WOW. I. Could. Not. Put. This. DOWN! The relevant and divisive issues such as a woman’s right to choose what happens to her body, religious freedoms and the fine line between what is legal and what is moral had my rapt attention. Elvis or “E” as he likes to be called, is a charismatic lawyer with sardonic wit who had me chuckling with his fierce courtroom displays and comments to the judge. E had his reasons for leaving Alabama which are slowly revealed, adding an intriguing layer aside from the already intense court case. I liked E and his transgender paralegal Margaret so much, I wish this was the first of a series!
Thrown into the mix are prejudices and beliefs of the Deep South Bible Belt. Medicine, faith, morality and law are all entwined in a suspenseful edge of your seat drama. The entire trial was nothing short of brilliant, from the opening arguments of both sides to the direct and cross examinations of witnesses. I LOVE an intelligent battle of wills (and legalities) in a courtroom. Both sides were so persuasive, I had NO IDEA which way the jury would swing with their verdict. I was shocked at the final outcome! Robert Rotstein has won me over completely with his bigger than life characters and ability to handle both sides of touchy subjects with authenticity. If you enjoy courtroom battles with heavy topics, and shocking twists, don’t miss this electrifying thriller!
_____
Thank you Robert Rotstein and Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copy. All opinion are my own.
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content Warnings: mild use of language and violence, gun violence, death, infant death, transphobia, strong religious beliefs, mention of drug overdose, rape, prostitution, abortion and suicide
June 23, 2024
I love legal thrillers and when they keep me at the edge of my seat even better.
The Out-of-Town Lawyer is thought-provoking, gripping and intense, it will make you question everything, this book is perfect for a book club discussion.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours and Blackstone Publishing for this tour invite.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁 -𝗢𝗳 -𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿 by Robert Rotstein - author page released June 25, 2024.
The Out-of-Town Lawyer is thought-provoking, gripping and intense, it will make you question everything, this book is perfect for a book club discussion.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours and Blackstone Publishing for this tour invite.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁 -𝗢𝗳 -𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿 by Robert Rotstein - author page released June 25, 2024.
July 24, 2024
TITLE: THE OUT OF TOWN LAWYER
AUTHOR: ROBERT ROTSTEIN
PUB DATE: 06.25.2024 Now Available
There’s nothing more I love than a legal thriller that is griping and an impossibly difficult case to defend at every turn. Rotstein delivers a brilliant storyline in this whip smart courtroom drama with heart stopping twists, nail biting suspense, and thought provoking situations, that losing sleep and an occasional spike in my blood pressure was all worth it. I was so engaged by my reading, that I was left arguing with myself filled with all the emotions - as a nurse and a mother, where do I stand in this situation, and just how can Elvis Henderson defend this in a situation that intersects morality, medicine, and motherhood?
You have to read this book to find out! Rotstein may be a new author to me and I absolutely enjoyed his writing I am already stalking his back list.
AUTHOR: ROBERT ROTSTEIN
PUB DATE: 06.25.2024 Now Available
There’s nothing more I love than a legal thriller that is griping and an impossibly difficult case to defend at every turn. Rotstein delivers a brilliant storyline in this whip smart courtroom drama with heart stopping twists, nail biting suspense, and thought provoking situations, that losing sleep and an occasional spike in my blood pressure was all worth it. I was so engaged by my reading, that I was left arguing with myself filled with all the emotions - as a nurse and a mother, where do I stand in this situation, and just how can Elvis Henderson defend this in a situation that intersects morality, medicine, and motherhood?
You have to read this book to find out! Rotstein may be a new author to me and I absolutely enjoyed his writing I am already stalking his back list.
March 16, 2024
An excellent legal suspense novel! Rotstein is a master at courtroom suspense and this flows well. I wanted to get to know the legal team a bit more than I did because they are such a fascinating mix of a team. A great setting and a very interesting issue made this a winner in my book. I would like to read more from this author and see what the team might tackle next. Well done!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I couldn't put it down and indeed did not want to put it down! More, please.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I couldn't put it down and indeed did not want to put it down! More, please.
June 27, 2024
Audiobook Review: The Out-of-Town Lawyer by Robert Rotstein
I was intrigued by this title "The Out-of-Town Lawyer" by Robert Rotstein, a thrilling legal drama that is set in the south of US and haven’t read many similar books, I knew I needed to try it out.
Elvis Henderson, a criminal defense attorney, returns to his Deep South hometown to defend Destiny Harper, accused of murdering her unborn twins. The town, steeped in old prejudices and ruled by the "good old boys," doesn't welcome him back warmly. His unconventional style and work teammates only add to the tension.
The story dives into deep, complex themes, exploring the fine line between tragedy and crime. The courtroom suspense is masterfully written, and I find myself engrossed in the twists and turns of the case. The characters are richly developed, especially Elvis and his eclectic legal team. The audiobook narrator does an exceptional job bringing them to life, making the experience even more engaging.
Overall, this legal thriller hits all the right notes, leaving me eager to read more from Rotstein.
Very grateful to @libro.fm for my alc, opinions are my own.
I was intrigued by this title "The Out-of-Town Lawyer" by Robert Rotstein, a thrilling legal drama that is set in the south of US and haven’t read many similar books, I knew I needed to try it out.
Elvis Henderson, a criminal defense attorney, returns to his Deep South hometown to defend Destiny Harper, accused of murdering her unborn twins. The town, steeped in old prejudices and ruled by the "good old boys," doesn't welcome him back warmly. His unconventional style and work teammates only add to the tension.
The story dives into deep, complex themes, exploring the fine line between tragedy and crime. The courtroom suspense is masterfully written, and I find myself engrossed in the twists and turns of the case. The characters are richly developed, especially Elvis and his eclectic legal team. The audiobook narrator does an exceptional job bringing them to life, making the experience even more engaging.
Overall, this legal thriller hits all the right notes, leaving me eager to read more from Rotstein.
Very grateful to @libro.fm for my alc, opinions are my own.
July 16, 2024
This may be my favorite read so far this year.
I have forgotten how much I love legal dramas until I listened to this book on a road trip.
This book has EVERYTHING you could want in a legal thriller. It’s set in a small town in Alabama. It’s got a court case that will hit all kinds of hot topic buttons. It has a judge set to retire. It has a lawyer protagonist, Elvis Henderson, who lives in his campervan. Elvis has come back to his hometown to be the defense attorney. Elvis has secrets from when he lived in town before which makes him unpopular with the current sheriff and the pastor of the town’s mega church.
In this read, there is a perfect mix of the courtroom drama, legal procedures, and out of court action.
I have forgotten how much I love legal dramas until I listened to this book on a road trip.
This book has EVERYTHING you could want in a legal thriller. It’s set in a small town in Alabama. It’s got a court case that will hit all kinds of hot topic buttons. It has a judge set to retire. It has a lawyer protagonist, Elvis Henderson, who lives in his campervan. Elvis has come back to his hometown to be the defense attorney. Elvis has secrets from when he lived in town before which makes him unpopular with the current sheriff and the pastor of the town’s mega church.
In this read, there is a perfect mix of the courtroom drama, legal procedures, and out of court action.
June 21, 2024
This story is extremely relevant to the state of our nation as it stands now, pertaining to the muddiness of politics, faith & morals and how those things have become entangled with one another.
When I read the synopsis, I knew this one was going to grip me & hold on for dear life given the topic & complications surrounding it and what side of the fence I personally stand on in relation to the main topic.
This was a super quick read because once the story got going, it was hard to put down. As the tensions rise, the pages begin to flip faster & faster.
I HIGHLY recommend picking this one up. I can almost guarantee you will not be disappointed. It is well-written, quickly paced, relevant & delivers EXACTLY what you want out of a legal thriller. This was my first read by Rotstein, but it most certainly will not be my last.
4.5 Stars
When I read the synopsis, I knew this one was going to grip me & hold on for dear life given the topic & complications surrounding it and what side of the fence I personally stand on in relation to the main topic.
This was a super quick read because once the story got going, it was hard to put down. As the tensions rise, the pages begin to flip faster & faster.
I HIGHLY recommend picking this one up. I can almost guarantee you will not be disappointed. It is well-written, quickly paced, relevant & delivers EXACTLY what you want out of a legal thriller. This was my first read by Rotstein, but it most certainly will not be my last.
4.5 Stars
July 25, 2024
“The Out of Town Lawyer,” by Robert Rotstein. This legal thriller is good ugly. I know those two words don’t make sense together, but if you give the book a read, you will understand why I say that. It’s actually unputdownable. Yup, another ridiculous word, but it’s true.
July 8, 2024
⭐️ 3.5/4 stars ⭐️
September 19, 2024
This book has three questions to resolve. The first is one of pro-choice. Indeed, that is the basis of the whole charge, the so-called murder of the accused’s unborn babies. The second is one of deeply held religious convictions, that depend entirely on faith and reject access to hospitals, doctors and medicines. Fine and well. But what if your unborn children are not likely to share your faith, particularly when it's their lives at stake? The third is that the accused faces trial in one of the most radical of the Southern states, one that is high on religion and low on empathy.
To add to the mix, the prosecution fields a smart lady whose modus operandi is “trial by slander,” a cross-grained judge who violates political correctness, legal and ethical norms, and a defence team that looks a bit iffy to the locals: a maverick ex-local, a second chair a woman of ethnic Asian origin, and a tranny paralegal?
While not in the Scott Turow or Robert Traver class, ‘Out-of-town Lawyer’ is both entertaining and thought-provoking. If the ending is a bit flat, there are few alternatives left to the author but the one he has chosen.
To add to the mix, the prosecution fields a smart lady whose modus operandi is “trial by slander,” a cross-grained judge who violates political correctness, legal and ethical norms, and a defence team that looks a bit iffy to the locals: a maverick ex-local, a second chair a woman of ethnic Asian origin, and a tranny paralegal?
While not in the Scott Turow or Robert Traver class, ‘Out-of-town Lawyer’ is both entertaining and thought-provoking. If the ending is a bit flat, there are few alternatives left to the author but the one he has chosen.
July 1, 2024
Good plot, good premise. Well drawn characters. Author needs to raise up “show me”rather than “tell me.”
November 27, 2025
This is my second legal thriller by Robert Rotstein. Like a lot of legal thrillers, it's the courtroom procedurals that take up most of the book, but this one fits a lot of backstory about Elvis Henderson, a peripatetic hired legal gun working for a patron of leftist causes. When Elvis comes to Quartz County, Alabama, he's returning "home" - to a place he ran away from years ago. There is not much love lost between him and his former townsfolk, or even the uncle who raised him. As more history unfolds, we learn even the sheriff has reason to want him dead more than his client.
His client is Destiny Grace Harper, who's being charged with murdering her unborn twins. This is post-Dobbs Alabama, and they're doing their best to make abortion a capital crime. Except Destiny Grace didn't have an abortion. What she did was give birth to twins with a rare medical condition for which she refused treatment because of her religious beliefs. The twins died almost immediately, so the district attorney is charging her with capital murder.
It's a case that offends the sensibilities on many levels, and Rotstein doesn't hide his (or his character's) feelings. The depiction of small-town Alabama was filled with cliches: the vengeful sheriff, the conservative judge, the preacher who controls much of the town, the jury being packed with pro-lifers who think evolution is a Satanic lie, the DA who has ambitions of becoming a state senator and thinks giving a 21-year-old girl a lethal injection will help her do that. There is very little sympathy given to any of the antagonists, who mostly come across as purely bigoted and evil.
Destiny Grace is not exactly a model defendant. She has her share of secrets, which in typical legal thriller fashion will emerge at very inconvenient times. Witnesses who should cooperate don't, Elvis sometimes loses his temper, and his transwoman assistant doesn't exactly win them points either.
While I thought the setting and some of the characters were a little stereotyped, the story still moved along at a good clip, with twists and turns and occasional bullets flying outside the courtroom. It's clearly a case that wears politics on its sleeve. The climax brings together a number of improbable coincidences and a judgment that I found legally questionable, but I still enjoyed the story overall.
His client is Destiny Grace Harper, who's being charged with murdering her unborn twins. This is post-Dobbs Alabama, and they're doing their best to make abortion a capital crime. Except Destiny Grace didn't have an abortion. What she did was give birth to twins with a rare medical condition for which she refused treatment because of her religious beliefs. The twins died almost immediately, so the district attorney is charging her with capital murder.
It's a case that offends the sensibilities on many levels, and Rotstein doesn't hide his (or his character's) feelings. The depiction of small-town Alabama was filled with cliches: the vengeful sheriff, the conservative judge, the preacher who controls much of the town, the jury being packed with pro-lifers who think evolution is a Satanic lie, the DA who has ambitions of becoming a state senator and thinks giving a 21-year-old girl a lethal injection will help her do that. There is very little sympathy given to any of the antagonists, who mostly come across as purely bigoted and evil.
Destiny Grace is not exactly a model defendant. She has her share of secrets, which in typical legal thriller fashion will emerge at very inconvenient times. Witnesses who should cooperate don't, Elvis sometimes loses his temper, and his transwoman assistant doesn't exactly win them points either.
While I thought the setting and some of the characters were a little stereotyped, the story still moved along at a good clip, with twists and turns and occasional bullets flying outside the courtroom. It's clearly a case that wears politics on its sleeve. The climax brings together a number of improbable coincidences and a judgment that I found legally questionable, but I still enjoyed the story overall.
July 15, 2024
The Out of Town Lawyer by Robert Rotstein
As a part of the ALC program by @librofm I had the opportunity to get to know a new author for me and I enjoyed it deeply. I am taking about @robertrotstein
This book deals with extremely controversial issues and I do not want to review this jewel by simply saying: “Elvis is back in his hometown to solve an extremely complex case”. This book is so much much more than that.
Truth to be told, Elvis is back in town to solve a heinous crime. Destiny Grace, a mother of two, and a young and deeply religious woman murders her twins by not accepting medical help and completely based on her beliefs. Did she murder them? Does the law go beyond our own personal beliefs even if we don’t agree?
Destiny Grace will shake the readers to the core. This novel is full of biblical passages, counter arguments and though provoking questions. It is one of the most intelligent, well written novels I have read this year.
This novel will challenge your beliefs, your church if you’re a person of faith and above all; the legal system. Destiny Grace is in her early twenties. She truly believes in her heart that Our Lord will heal her twins. Who am I to tell her to stop believing in miracles? But also: Why can’t I tell her that Our Lord sends us help in human form and that all knowledge comes from the Holy Spirit?
To conclude: Why can’t I tell her that she murdered her twins based on her beliefs? That both her babies would be alive if she had accepted the procedure. Would they? Only God knows the answer.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 I will read it again, it was that good!
As a part of the ALC program by @librofm I had the opportunity to get to know a new author for me and I enjoyed it deeply. I am taking about @robertrotstein
This book deals with extremely controversial issues and I do not want to review this jewel by simply saying: “Elvis is back in his hometown to solve an extremely complex case”. This book is so much much more than that.
Truth to be told, Elvis is back in town to solve a heinous crime. Destiny Grace, a mother of two, and a young and deeply religious woman murders her twins by not accepting medical help and completely based on her beliefs. Did she murder them? Does the law go beyond our own personal beliefs even if we don’t agree?
Destiny Grace will shake the readers to the core. This novel is full of biblical passages, counter arguments and though provoking questions. It is one of the most intelligent, well written novels I have read this year.
This novel will challenge your beliefs, your church if you’re a person of faith and above all; the legal system. Destiny Grace is in her early twenties. She truly believes in her heart that Our Lord will heal her twins. Who am I to tell her to stop believing in miracles? But also: Why can’t I tell her that Our Lord sends us help in human form and that all knowledge comes from the Holy Spirit?
To conclude: Why can’t I tell her that she murdered her twins based on her beliefs? That both her babies would be alive if she had accepted the procedure. Would they? Only God knows the answer.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 I will read it again, it was that good!
July 2, 2024
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is such a fantastic legal thriller full of suspense and drama!!! I could not put this down and found myself riveted by the story! Move over Grisham, there is a new legal thriller author on my shelf! How have I missed this author?
Elvis is a traveling lawyer who is tired of big law and travels around the country in his van and takes his assignments from his very prolific boss. This assignment is ripped from the headlines and from Elvi's past. He swore he would not return to his home town in Alabama but that is where he is headed.
Destiny Grace is a member of the Church of the Lord's Rapture and is accused of murdering her twin daughters. The identical babies had twin to twin transfusion syndrome and on the basis of religious grounds, Destiny Grace refused life saving medical care. Both babies died and the state of Alabama wants to send Destiny Grace to the death chamber for murder.
The characters in this story are richly developed, and the story is both intriguing and well written.
At its core, the argument for the case is an interesting question, and the story explores it in an intelligent and comprehensively satisfying way. That alone should grab the interest of readers...such a great legal thriller!
Highly Recommend!!!
This is such a fantastic legal thriller full of suspense and drama!!! I could not put this down and found myself riveted by the story! Move over Grisham, there is a new legal thriller author on my shelf! How have I missed this author?
Elvis is a traveling lawyer who is tired of big law and travels around the country in his van and takes his assignments from his very prolific boss. This assignment is ripped from the headlines and from Elvi's past. He swore he would not return to his home town in Alabama but that is where he is headed.
Destiny Grace is a member of the Church of the Lord's Rapture and is accused of murdering her twin daughters. The identical babies had twin to twin transfusion syndrome and on the basis of religious grounds, Destiny Grace refused life saving medical care. Both babies died and the state of Alabama wants to send Destiny Grace to the death chamber for murder.
The characters in this story are richly developed, and the story is both intriguing and well written.
At its core, the argument for the case is an interesting question, and the story explores it in an intelligent and comprehensively satisfying way. That alone should grab the interest of readers...such a great legal thriller!
Highly Recommend!!!
July 25, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
It’s been a while since I read a gripping legal thriller; THE OUT-OF-TOWN LAWYER did not disappoint.
This high-octane blend of medical drama and a courtroom battle reaches into the deep recesses of faith, science, law, and a mother's heart.
Elvis Henderson, a traveling criminal defense attorney, never wanted to return to Alabama. He is assigned to defend a young woman charged with murdering her unborn twins - twins that suffered from TTTS, a rare and fatal disease if left untreated.
As the case plays out, you’ll see how complicated this is - how there’s more to it than religious belief or personal rights. Something is not adding up.
Elvis and his paralegal, Margaret, do a fantastic job investigating this case. The courtroom scenes and the interviews are brilliantly written and feel vivid and cinematic.
Fair warning: This delves into many emotional and potentially polarizing topics as it dances along that gray line of right and wrong. Although the dialogue is witty and sharp, it can be shocking and saddening, but you won’t be able to put this one down!
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @blackstonepublishing and @robertrotstein for a spot on tour and a gifted book.
Thank you @libroFm for the gifted audiobook.
It’s been a while since I read a gripping legal thriller; THE OUT-OF-TOWN LAWYER did not disappoint.
This high-octane blend of medical drama and a courtroom battle reaches into the deep recesses of faith, science, law, and a mother's heart.
Elvis Henderson, a traveling criminal defense attorney, never wanted to return to Alabama. He is assigned to defend a young woman charged with murdering her unborn twins - twins that suffered from TTTS, a rare and fatal disease if left untreated.
As the case plays out, you’ll see how complicated this is - how there’s more to it than religious belief or personal rights. Something is not adding up.
Elvis and his paralegal, Margaret, do a fantastic job investigating this case. The courtroom scenes and the interviews are brilliantly written and feel vivid and cinematic.
Fair warning: This delves into many emotional and potentially polarizing topics as it dances along that gray line of right and wrong. Although the dialogue is witty and sharp, it can be shocking and saddening, but you won’t be able to put this one down!
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @blackstonepublishing and @robertrotstein for a spot on tour and a gifted book.
Thank you @libroFm for the gifted audiobook.
July 23, 2024
Title- The out of town lawyer by @robertrotstein
Rating-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love a good legal thriller and Im a sucker for a good court room storyline. This book covered a heavy controversial topic that is relevant in our political world today. The writing style is straight to point with short chapters, yet is also incredibly descriptive.
Synopsis-
The Quartz County, Alabama, district attorney has charged Destiny Grace Harper with murdering her unborn twins—a crime punishable by death. However, Alabama v. Harperisn’t your ordinary homicide case. Harper’s babies suffered from a rare disorder called TTTS, a fatal condition if left untreated, but correctable with minimally invasive surgery. Harper refused the surgery on religious grounds, resulting in the death of both babies, and now Harper is on trial.
Enter Elvis Henderson, a traveling criminal defense attorney who roams the country in his campervan. He receives assignments from Hazel Curnow, a once iconic trial lawyer turned recluse. When Curnow assigns Elvis the Harper case, he balks—Quartz County is his home turf. He left Alabama under a dark cloud at age eighteen and has no intention of returning.
When Elvis arrives to meet his paralegal, Margaret Booth, they immediately realize the case is fraught with complications: a desperate client whose story keeps shifting; a local populace who vociferously defend the rights of the unborn; a charismatic minister whose family lords over the town; a ruthless DA with political ambitions; an old-school judge who relishes handing down capital convictions; and a sheriff who might just want Elvis dead.
Thank you @netgally and @blackstonepublishing for this advanced copy.
Rating-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love a good legal thriller and Im a sucker for a good court room storyline. This book covered a heavy controversial topic that is relevant in our political world today. The writing style is straight to point with short chapters, yet is also incredibly descriptive.
Synopsis-
The Quartz County, Alabama, district attorney has charged Destiny Grace Harper with murdering her unborn twins—a crime punishable by death. However, Alabama v. Harperisn’t your ordinary homicide case. Harper’s babies suffered from a rare disorder called TTTS, a fatal condition if left untreated, but correctable with minimally invasive surgery. Harper refused the surgery on religious grounds, resulting in the death of both babies, and now Harper is on trial.
Enter Elvis Henderson, a traveling criminal defense attorney who roams the country in his campervan. He receives assignments from Hazel Curnow, a once iconic trial lawyer turned recluse. When Curnow assigns Elvis the Harper case, he balks—Quartz County is his home turf. He left Alabama under a dark cloud at age eighteen and has no intention of returning.
When Elvis arrives to meet his paralegal, Margaret Booth, they immediately realize the case is fraught with complications: a desperate client whose story keeps shifting; a local populace who vociferously defend the rights of the unborn; a charismatic minister whose family lords over the town; a ruthless DA with political ambitions; an old-school judge who relishes handing down capital convictions; and a sheriff who might just want Elvis dead.
Thank you @netgally and @blackstonepublishing for this advanced copy.
July 12, 2024
Centered on values in the Deep South embroiled in a courtroom, I thought back to early Grisham.
This one really had me thinking. I am quite the “liberal” thinker when it comes to women’s rights, but I did pause at the issues in this unique trial. It almost seemed like it could be ripped from today’s headlines by trying to draw a line between right and wrong, good and evil, and lawful and unlawful. With a pregnancy, a woman’s choice and religion all rolled up in this firecracker of a case.
Memorable characters that had me constantly wondering if I liked and could trust them. Once I started I was engrossed and didn’t want to put it down.
There is a lot to unpack here including an intriguing back story from the main character but at no point did it seem like it was too much. That takes talent.
Sean Pratt does an excellent job narrating Elvis and the other colorful characters. He sounded like I thought Elvis would.
This was the courtroom drama I didn’t know I needed.
This one really had me thinking. I am quite the “liberal” thinker when it comes to women’s rights, but I did pause at the issues in this unique trial. It almost seemed like it could be ripped from today’s headlines by trying to draw a line between right and wrong, good and evil, and lawful and unlawful. With a pregnancy, a woman’s choice and religion all rolled up in this firecracker of a case.
Memorable characters that had me constantly wondering if I liked and could trust them. Once I started I was engrossed and didn’t want to put it down.
There is a lot to unpack here including an intriguing back story from the main character but at no point did it seem like it was too much. That takes talent.
Sean Pratt does an excellent job narrating Elvis and the other colorful characters. He sounded like I thought Elvis would.
This was the courtroom drama I didn’t know I needed.
June 6, 2024
Elvis returns to his hometown in the Deep South to defend Destiny of a charge of murdering her twins. Elvis left after high school and most people are not happy to see him back. When he arrives, he has long hair and a transgender paralegal, not a good way to make his re-entry into a town full of hell fire and brimstone, a town where the good old boys rule and a place where racism very much exists. Upon Elvis' return to town in his "hippy van" the first thing he does is visit his uncle to get a gun for his own defense. This book has the capability of becoming the legal thriller of the year for many readers. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC. This review is in my own words. Due to the subject matter and my own prejudices about the law/religion/mother's right I gave it three stars rather than the five it probably deserved.
June 26, 2024
A heavy subject handled with intelligence and heart.
A very topical story in today's political and religious climate. I really enjoyed how the author handled all sides of the issues with a balanced hand and reasoning. I totally saw all sides of the arguments which made for a riveting legal thriller. I really didn't know which way the jury would go but given what we know about this jury, the verdict makes perfect sense, but beyond that, the ending was surprising. I don't know if the author has any intentions of making this a series but I think Elvis and Margaret are a fun team and would love to see more from them.
Thank you to the author, Blackstone Publishing and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
A very topical story in today's political and religious climate. I really enjoyed how the author handled all sides of the issues with a balanced hand and reasoning. I totally saw all sides of the arguments which made for a riveting legal thriller. I really didn't know which way the jury would go but given what we know about this jury, the verdict makes perfect sense, but beyond that, the ending was surprising. I don't know if the author has any intentions of making this a series but I think Elvis and Margaret are a fun team and would love to see more from them.
Thank you to the author, Blackstone Publishing and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
June 30, 2024
If Jack Reacher practiced law, he might look a lot like Elvis Henderson, the engaging itinerant lawyer at the heart of this new series from Robert Rotstein. All Roads Lead to Justice tells the timely story of two preventable deaths and their aftermath. Following her fundamentalist religious beliefs, a young mother refuses to undergo a straightforward surgical procedure to save her unborn twins. The girls' deaths are called murder, and the maverick lawyer Henderson returns to his Alabama hometown to defend his stubborn, self-righteous client, Destiny Grace Harper. All Roads Lead to Justice sparkles. A provocative and stirring clash of science, faith, and the law.
July 8, 2024
This is an intriguing suspense novel and traveling lawyer Elvis Henderson is a fascinating character. I loved his sly intelligent humor and his no nonsense approach to the facts. The writing style is to the point with short chapters, yet is also incredibly descriptive and created a montage of images as I read. I was immediately drawn into this story and the complexities of the case. It's a well thought out plot and I adore not knowing or even wanting to guess how it's going to end. The story tells itself and I was just along for the ride. I really hope we see more of E in future books!
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2024
Destiny Grace has allowed her newborn twins to die because she believes God will save them, although she does seem to follow her religion in an erratic way. According to the prosecution, she committed murder and deserves the death penalty. A rebellious juvenile lawyer, E, defends her (he’s childish but in his 40s). E argues that the state has no right to impose an invasive procedure on a pregnant woman in defiance of her religious beliefs.
The book is repetitious, sometimes interesting, sometimes not. It doesn’t help that E is annoying and Destiny Grace is not all that sympathetic, at least not to me.
The book is repetitious, sometimes interesting, sometimes not. It doesn’t help that E is annoying and Destiny Grace is not all that sympathetic, at least not to me.
July 2, 2024
I love a good legal drama and this one was thrilling. It was unputdownable and it’s the first book in a long time that I’ve read in a day. The small town southern personalities and religious extremists were often infuriating but also made for a great story. I always appreciate a thought provoking book and I’ll be thinking about this one for quite awhile. This was my first book by Robert Rotstein and I am eager to read more asap!
July 12, 2024
For all my legal thriller/suspense fans, this is a good binge worthy one. I’m a sucker for a courtroom suspense not only did this keep me on the edge of my seat just expecting a twist at any moment but the character development is spot on.
Elvis returns home to defend a case of a mom murdering her twins. His hometown is not very happy to see him add that to his “unconventional” ways, well let’s just say that it’s one thing after another happening. It’s timely and a five star read for me!
Elvis returns home to defend a case of a mom murdering her twins. His hometown is not very happy to see him add that to his “unconventional” ways, well let’s just say that it’s one thing after another happening. It’s timely and a five star read for me!
January 17, 2025
Robert Rotstein has written about being a lawyer representing pregnancy and a woman's rights related to that pregnancy. This is not another story about abortion, though it is briefly discussed. This looks at health care, spiritual beliefs, and the rights of both the mother and the fetus. I never felt this fictional story was challenging my personal beliefs, rather examining a very new angle. Well written and interesting. I recommend reading "The Out-Of-Town Lawyer."
October 30, 2025
4.3⭐️ This book had me hooked from the beginning. The book being based in Alabama and mentioning places that I've visited multiple times was very neat. My mouth was on the floor as the plot thickened around the witnesses being called to testify. It was my first read by this author and I'm definitely interested in reading more!
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