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In the Presence of Enemies
Widow Elizabeth Daren persuades attorney Jake Martin to defend her against her ruthless enemies in a battle for her dead husband's fortune. Reissue.
407 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
275 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
William J. Coughlin
35 books44 followersWilliam Jeremiah Coughlin (1929-1992), former defense attorney and judge in Detroit for twenty years, was the author of sixteen novels. He lived in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan with his wife, Ruth, an author and book critic.
Also wrote under the pseudonym of Sean A. Key.
Also wrote under the pseudonym of Sean A. Key.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 10, 2010
I liked this book. It was a pretty straightforward legal drama. There was nothing thrilling about it, but I thought the trial procedure was fun to read. I particularly appreciated the balance Coughlin used - half the time, things went well for Jake and the other half, things went badly. But at no point did I know for sure how the jury would find. The balance was nice because I don't like reading books where things go badly the entire time, and books where everything goes right all the time aren't very interesting.
I thought Sage was a good character. I liked the ending, though it was a little short. Nothing except the verdict was concluded. I was completely misled by the back cover, which says that Jake and Elizabeth were lovers. They certainly weren't at any point in the book, and that wasn't a driving factor anyway. I think I would have liked more drama at the end. But other than that, it was an easy and enjoyable book.
I thought Sage was a good character. I liked the ending, though it was a little short. Nothing except the verdict was concluded. I was completely misled by the back cover, which says that Jake and Elizabeth were lovers. They certainly weren't at any point in the book, and that wasn't a driving factor anyway. I think I would have liked more drama at the end. But other than that, it was an easy and enjoyable book.
September 29, 2020
What a messy book. Decency doesn't exist much. Most everybody is conspiring against someone. Money and power brings out the worst in people. It is amateur hour for the main character. Predictable outcome. The author made a mess of a story but mostly ties it up in a neat package. There is more to be told too. Is there a book 2?
December 21, 2021
Another great story from this guy. I'm so sorry that so much of his stuff is out of print... This time lawyer Jake Martin risks his partnership in the firm of his dreams to defend the young widow of a very old, rich man. Coughlin never takes the cheap way out and in this story there were plenty of opportunities.
May 8, 2018
Banking and Drama
Very enjoyable legal thriller with great character development and suspense as to the outcome. Not easy to separate the good guys from the semi-good guys but a very satisfactory ending. Looking forward to more from this author. Highly recommended to all.
Very enjoyable legal thriller with great character development and suspense as to the outcome. Not easy to separate the good guys from the semi-good guys but a very satisfactory ending. Looking forward to more from this author. Highly recommended to all.
January 3, 2022
The buildup is really long. I was so excited about the court trial and I was getting worried that I need a sequel to read about it. But turns out, the trial was really short. I even expected Elizabeth to testify for dramatic effect. But overall, I think the trial was executed nicely. I learned a few things about court trials where I have almost none before. Finally learning how "overruled" and "sustained" are used. Judge Lila Vinson and Elizabeth Daren: BOSS BABES. I was entertained, nonetheless.
February 14, 2025
Each Better Than the Last!
This is the second Coughlin thriller I have read (through the night). His storytelling is fast and his character development sensational. I will now catch a few hours of sleep and then dive into another challenging ‘case’.
This is the second Coughlin thriller I have read (through the night). His storytelling is fast and his character development sensational. I will now catch a few hours of sleep and then dive into another challenging ‘case’.
February 25, 2018
Fantastic!!!
January 25, 2023
So good
I've read this book 3 times. I might read it again. The phrase, "in the presence of enemies" comes from the bible. Psalm 23. Jake was surrounded by enemies.
I've read this book 3 times. I might read it again. The phrase, "in the presence of enemies" comes from the bible. Psalm 23. Jake was surrounded by enemies.
July 28, 2024
A Great Story
I honestly couldn't put the story
down. Read it in one day! Best Legal Thriller I have read in years.
I honestly couldn't put the story
down. Read it in one day! Best Legal Thriller I have read in years.
October 8, 2024
A terrific legal thriller
Coughlin has done a great job with his “newbie” attorney! I highly recommend this book. I can guarantee you will enjoy every chapter.
Coughlin has done a great job with his “newbie” attorney! I highly recommend this book. I can guarantee you will enjoy every chapter.
Read
November 16, 2024Really enjoyed this book . I read a lot of law stories. This one especially as wasn't about killings and such.g
December 6, 2024
Great Read from beginning to end
This story grabs you early and you stay hooked all the way. It is really a very “believable” book. You won’t be disappointed.
This story grabs you early and you stay hooked all the way. It is really a very “believable” book. You won’t be disappointed.
December 25, 2024
Great read
Excellent story and characters....what a great book....best i have read in a long time. Hated to put it down. Looking forward to more of the same
Excellent story and characters....what a great book....best i have read in a long time. Hated to put it down. Looking forward to more of the same
May 21, 2025
About in the presence of enemies
I have read a few of William j Coughlin’s books and this is his best to date. Good plot, likable, relatable hero,good read.
I have read a few of William j Coughlin’s books and this is his best to date. Good plot, likable, relatable hero,good read.
April 4, 2016
This novel was a really good read. Close to 5-star, but I maintain that such ratings have to be held in reserve for those novels that really deserve it.
In the Presence of Enemies wasn't just a legal novel. It presented a helluva business scenario as well. The astute mind of the deceased as to what would happen after his death was right-on, and that wasn't only because the author made it so. The predicted scenarios were, in fact, predictable by one sufficiently knowledgeable to understand the probabilities and the psychology of the players, friend and foe alike, involved.
Further, the sub-stories were able to hold this reader's interest as well. I think that this was mostly the case because of the believablity of all the players, again, friend and foe alike.
However, I must again mention my dislike of the main character's adversary's legal tactics, as necessary as they seem to be in the modern legal world. It is this behavior by the law's practitioners that ensures that the main character of my works, Hammering Nails Can Be Murder and Felony Murder, doesn't practice. Worse yet is that the main character ends of becoming his opponent's partner. and will learn to practice the same tactics he just fought against. The main character took the partnership largely due to the money involved. This money will cause him to lose to his new partner's insistence that his tactics be followed.
The 1-star rater of this book quite correctly states that the cover blurb stated quite clearly, "He's become (her) lover,"when that never happened. All through the book, I was waiting for the truth" of this claim. In spite of many hints in that direction, and because of those hints and the cover blurb, one should expect it to have happened somewhere along the way, but nothing ever came about. The reader has been misled.
While the statement "was completely fraudulent and an absolute lie," a reader shouldn't take this out on the author, but on the publisher.
In the Presence of Enemies wasn't just a legal novel. It presented a helluva business scenario as well. The astute mind of the deceased as to what would happen after his death was right-on, and that wasn't only because the author made it so. The predicted scenarios were, in fact, predictable by one sufficiently knowledgeable to understand the probabilities and the psychology of the players, friend and foe alike, involved.
Further, the sub-stories were able to hold this reader's interest as well. I think that this was mostly the case because of the believablity of all the players, again, friend and foe alike.
However, I must again mention my dislike of the main character's adversary's legal tactics, as necessary as they seem to be in the modern legal world. It is this behavior by the law's practitioners that ensures that the main character of my works, Hammering Nails Can Be Murder and Felony Murder, doesn't practice. Worse yet is that the main character ends of becoming his opponent's partner. and will learn to practice the same tactics he just fought against. The main character took the partnership largely due to the money involved. This money will cause him to lose to his new partner's insistence that his tactics be followed.
The 1-star rater of this book quite correctly states that the cover blurb stated quite clearly, "He's become (her) lover,"when that never happened. All through the book, I was waiting for the truth" of this claim. In spite of many hints in that direction, and because of those hints and the cover blurb, one should expect it to have happened somewhere along the way, but nothing ever came about. The reader has been misled.
While the statement "was completely fraudulent and an absolute lie," a reader shouldn't take this out on the author, but on the publisher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2016
This was such an enjoyable book and so well written. William J Coughlin certainly know how to write a Thriller that not only has a great plot, but also has a very diverse and interesting range of characters. When 68 year old Augustus Daren passed away, his two grown children weren’t too happy about his fourth wife being beneficiary on the voting rights of his 51 percent share in the bank. Thus making her chairman with controlling interest in running his Bank. Augustus two adult children were from previous marriages. Chip Daren from his second wife, and Augusta “Gussie” Daren from his third wife. Chip and Gussie had no idea that their father wrote another will in between in first and second stroke, thus squashing their own plans for the Bank. However they aren’t prepared to go down without a fight. So Chip retains the services of T G Sage, who by all reports is a bull dog of a lawyer. In return Elizabeth Daren has a team of Lawyers from Sperling Beekman looking after her interests. Jake Martin being of those lawyers hoping to impress, and be offered partnership at the firm. He certainly needs it with his marriage to Marie falling apart. This really is a great story, and well worth the 5 star rating.
February 11, 2017
Slow start but kept my interest until I couldn't put it down
After a slow start I couldn't put it down. Would like to read a sequel with Jake as main character.
After a slow start I couldn't put it down. Would like to read a sequel with Jake as main character.
August 5, 2016
Fantastic
Though this is a book in the 1990, it is full of action, and courtroom drama. Jake Martin is in his 5th year at a prestigious law firm and he has to make partner this year or he will be out. Jake is a lawyer that probated wills. He has never tried a case. His marriage is ending and he trying to keep his wife from leaving him.
Jake was the lawyer in drawing up a new will for the CEO/owner of the well known bank Hanover. He video taped the owner making a new will leaving full control of the bank to his 4th wife Carolyn. When he passes away, the two step children want to prove that their father was not in his right mind when he made the changes,
Jake is put in charge of getting all the tapes and will together. He is suddenly thrown into trying the case and it will be his first one. Is he being set up by his firm to lose?
I loved all the characters in the book including the feisty lady judge, and the prosecuting attorney. Enough action to keep you reading all night.
Though this is a book in the 1990, it is full of action, and courtroom drama. Jake Martin is in his 5th year at a prestigious law firm and he has to make partner this year or he will be out. Jake is a lawyer that probated wills. He has never tried a case. His marriage is ending and he trying to keep his wife from leaving him.
Jake was the lawyer in drawing up a new will for the CEO/owner of the well known bank Hanover. He video taped the owner making a new will leaving full control of the bank to his 4th wife Carolyn. When he passes away, the two step children want to prove that their father was not in his right mind when he made the changes,
Jake is put in charge of getting all the tapes and will together. He is suddenly thrown into trying the case and it will be his first one. Is he being set up by his firm to lose?
I loved all the characters in the book including the feisty lady judge, and the prosecuting attorney. Enough action to keep you reading all night.
October 25, 2012
I picked up this book based on the synopsis posted here on Goodreads. Boy, was I misled! The posted synopis has NOTHING in common with this book. The only thing right in it was the two names mentioned.
I expected an edge-of-my-seat legal thriller on a par with works by Michael Connelly. What I got was a novel that started off slow and maintained that pace through 18 chapters of Machiavellian plotting by every character to screw over every other character in the book. Then it crawled through a few chapters of lame courtroom scenes to an ending where everything was wrapped up a litte too fast and neat. Along the way, some Deus ex Machina scenes save the hero's bacon.
After reading some of the rave reviews posted here by other readers, I wonder if we read the same book.
The jury's in on this one. I won't read another Coughlin book.
I expected an edge-of-my-seat legal thriller on a par with works by Michael Connelly. What I got was a novel that started off slow and maintained that pace through 18 chapters of Machiavellian plotting by every character to screw over every other character in the book. Then it crawled through a few chapters of lame courtroom scenes to an ending where everything was wrapped up a litte too fast and neat. Along the way, some Deus ex Machina scenes save the hero's bacon.
After reading some of the rave reviews posted here by other readers, I wonder if we read the same book.
The jury's in on this one. I won't read another Coughlin book.
August 22, 2016
IMHO, This is The Best of William J Coughlin's Novels. (So far).
Having read several of Mr Coughlin's " Legal Thrillers", this one was so unpredictable and had so many variables and possibilities, that I never knew until the final pages, just what the verdict, or the Rookie Lawyer's fate would be. Because this genre is my current, well, really, my Long-term Favorite, I frequently know the Verdict, and the Story's resolution, at about the mid-point, or at most 2/3's of the way into the tale. Doesn't matter if it's Grisham, Turow, or Brett Battles, having read so many Courtroom Dramas, I at least have an inkling of the resolution long before I run out of Pages. Not so with this outstanding work. Now, as I often say in my reviews, " I'm off to read the Next of Mr Coughlin's Books".
Having read several of Mr Coughlin's " Legal Thrillers", this one was so unpredictable and had so many variables and possibilities, that I never knew until the final pages, just what the verdict, or the Rookie Lawyer's fate would be. Because this genre is my current, well, really, my Long-term Favorite, I frequently know the Verdict, and the Story's resolution, at about the mid-point, or at most 2/3's of the way into the tale. Doesn't matter if it's Grisham, Turow, or Brett Battles, having read so many Courtroom Dramas, I at least have an inkling of the resolution long before I run out of Pages. Not so with this outstanding work. Now, as I often say in my reviews, " I'm off to read the Next of Mr Coughlin's Books".
June 26, 2013
Jake Martin is weary. He's being considered as a partner in the Sperling Beckmann law firm, his wife has just served divorce papers on him, and he's been made lead council in a probate case that most likely will turn very ugly, if it goes to trial. How this is going to influence his possibilities of partnership is anybody's guess. Now he finds himself (having never tried a case before) going up against council whose textbook he'd found in a used book store while he was still in school! His opposition becomes his teacher in this trial, and when critical evidence is found missing, things become dicey, to say the least.
December 16, 2009
With evidence missing and key witnesses changing their stories, the battle for her dead husband's fortune is turning ugly. Someone is out to get her, and only one of the country's shrewdest, most battle-hardened lawyers can save her. If he can trust her.Jake Martin is a rising star in a powerhouse law firm. Everything he ever dreamed of and sweated for now means nothing to him. He's become Elizabeth Daren's lover-and made her enemies his own. It's a choice that could take him down....and the only one that matters
March 17, 2010
This is the last book wy William J. Coughlin, and those familiar with his work know how very readable his novels are and how compelling the plot.
This one is really good. What looks like a simple open and shut case for the lawyer becomes anything but and things seem to go out of contro. But, therein lies the mystery and the thrill of reading how the characters try to overcome the problems which are thrust before them.
This is an excellent and enjoyable read.
J. Robert Ewbank, author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
This one is really good. What looks like a simple open and shut case for the lawyer becomes anything but and things seem to go out of contro. But, therein lies the mystery and the thrill of reading how the characters try to overcome the problems which are thrust before them.
This is an excellent and enjoyable read.
J. Robert Ewbank, author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
November 3, 2013
The Goodreads review for this book is completely wrong. The lawyer and his client were attracted to one another, but they were not "in love" - they never even kissed. I don't know why the publishers or whomever felt they had to lie to sell this book, which is a perfectly good and engaging legal thriller without that sexy stuff. I am offended by that review and I would never have read the book if I'd known the review was full of lies, regardless of how enjoyable it was. I despise lying.
October 26, 2010
Good basic story; engaging characters; and lots of boring pages of legal jargon that can be skipped to follow the story. makes for a quick read. Legal "thrillers" always offer lots of passages and pages that are easily identified as non-essential, so the reader can skip them and move on with the plot.
January 14, 2014
While I am not much for courtroom dramas I really like the fish-out-of-water story of a lawyer having to argue a case for nearly the first time. The backstory and mystery of the differing motives of the various players was interesting and kept the story moving along. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Coughlin's work.
August 28, 2009
OK; lawyer and widow fight the efforts of other family members to revoke will of bank megamillionaire.
November 9, 2009
This was a real pleasure of a read! It was fun to experience the hero overcome the odds to win.
May 29, 2012
Beginning of summer candy. Easy legal drama. Thriller wouldn't be the right word.
June 7, 2012
Great look into the life and workings of a big time law firm, the polîtics of becoming a "partner", the power struggles, etc... on top of that, good legal drama (Another hand-me-down from dad :-)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews