The Inheritance

by Anna Legat

‘More than just a legal thriller… The first book in a gripping series.’ Thomas WaughRay Thorpe, a criminal defence lawyer, is engaged to represent Conrad Hardy, a militant eco-activist accused of arson at a GM crops farm. Thorpe is used to dealing with uncompromising idealists; his father, a staunch Marxist, was one of them.The case seems straightforward until a succession of bombings at a nearby pharma corporation, with material evidence linking them to Hardy, leads to the escalation of charges to murder and eco-terrorism.The case mounted against Hardy appears irrefutable and Thorpe's only witness is found dead.To complicate matters further, one of the bombing victims was the wife of Thorpe's business partner and a close friend of his Chinese wife Lou, a frail and emotionally unstable woman.Having angered a high-ranking official of the Communist Party of China, Lou fled her homeland and now lives in constant fear for her life. The last thing Ray and Lou want is exposure to public scrutiny.As Thorpe’s own investigation begins to cut through the smokescreen of misdirection contrived by the killer, he uncovers evidence pointing towards someone he would least suspect.He is compelled to confront the killer, but that may lead to him compromising his career and his wife's safety. Although she writes in a wide range of genres, Anna Legat is best known for her DI Gillian Marsh detective series and The Shires, her cosy murder mysteries. Anna is also the author of the historical thriller, Buried in the Past. She lives near Bath.Praise for Anna Legat:‘[Her] characters pull at our heartstrings and are incredibly vivid, their stories moving.’ Carol McGrath, author of the She-Wolves trilogy‘The pleasure for the reader, as ever, lies in the believable and engaging characterisation, an expertly handled plot and a wry observational prose style.’ Tim Stretton, author of Catfish Alley

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2023

About the author

Anna Legat is a Wiltshire-based author, best known for her DI Gillian Marsh murder mystery series. A globe-trotter and Jack-of-all-trades, Anna has been an attorney, legal adviser, a silver-service waitress, a school teacher and a librarian. She read law at the University of South Africa and Warsaw University, then gained teaching qualifications in New Zealand. She has lived in far-flung places all over the world where she delighted in people-watching and collecting precious life experiences for her stories. Anna writes, reads, lives and breathes books and can no longer tell the difference between fact and fiction.

To find out more: https://annalegatblog.wordpress.com/

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ray Thorpe, a criminal defence lawyer, is employed to represent Conrad Hardy, an eco-activist who is accused of setting fire to GM crops. That’s just the start and ‘the easy bit’ as things escalate dramatically as do the charges Hardy faces. As if that’s not enough, Ray’s Chinese wife Lou is especially vulnerable and unstable presently- Lou fled Communist China and is constantly in fear of her life.

I admit to knowing nothing of this author, have no expectations but I’m impressed at the start of this series of legal thrillers. Here this blends with Big Pharma and looks to the past, eco terrorism and has a good political element especially of China. Characters past in China blends well with the present day and leaves me full of intriguing questions which hopefully will get some answers in the follow ups. I like the characters especially Ray - daughter Robyn is perhaps a tad headstrong but is well portrayed. There are interesting background stories that feel authentic.

It’s well written, fast paced, full of action and plot twists and turns. A very enjoyable read.

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