Deadly Defense

Cass Leary Legal Thriller #13

by Robin James

A savage killing…
A victim every cop in town wants to avenge...
A shocking confession by an accused with no remorse…
A case no other lawyer would dare touch…

Someone didn’t just want Megan Lewis dead. They wanted her obliterated. Even the most seasoned crime scene analysts were haunted by what they found. When Megan’s married ex-boyfriend admits to the murder, her family may at least get the mercy of swift justice.

Defense attorney Cass Leary has every reason to steer clear of this case. Her client, Reed Karl might just be the most hated man in town. But one look at the police report and Cass knows something doesn't add up. And when Reed’s wife and young daughter beg her to help him, she can’t find the heart to say no.

With the odds stacked against her, Cass is all in on a murder trial that threatens to ruin her career and cost her the one person she can't live without. But only Cass knows there's another, more vulnerable victim's life at stake. If she walks away now, she'll have blood on her hands she can never wash clean.

Sometimes, small-town justice comes with a price too high for even Cass Leary to pay.

Deadly Defense is the 13th book in the Cass Leary Legal Thriller Series. It has all the twists and turns you've come to expect from a Robin James novel. Perfect for fans of Grisham, Connelly and Slaughter.

Genres: Legal Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Amazon

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2024

About the author

Robin James is an attorney and former law professor. She's worked on a wide range of civil, criminal and family law cases in her twenty-year legal career. She also spent over a decade as supervising attorney for a Michigan legal clinic assisting thousands of people who could not otherwise afford access to justice.

Robin now lives on a lake in southern Michigan with her husband, two children, and one lazy dog. Her favorite, pure Michigan writing spot is stretched out on the back of a pontoon watching the faster boats go by.

Join Robin James's Legal Thriller Newsletter to get updates on her latest releases and author news. http://robinjamesbooks.com/newsletter

Reviews

[➦Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas · Rating 4 out of 5]

You might think that since this is a small town that the residents don’t have dark secrets lying beneath each story. But you’d be surprised by how big-time twist and turns can be found in each and every one of Robin James’s stories

So, take a journey with me and come and visit a small town in Michigan where Cass is one of those lawyers who always seems to find herself taking on cases no other lawyers will dare to touch, And she always manages to find some deep dark secret that lies beneath each of these unfortunate tales


Cass being Cass, she somewhat agrees to take another case that she shouldn’t be anywhere near, especially since every cop in town wants the defendant’s head on a chopping board

[Flor · Rating 5 out of 5]

moving on to the next book

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[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Thrilled this book that was set to release in 2025 came out early. Cass takes on one of her toughest cases yet. It puts her at odds with just about everyone in town, both personally and professionally. I felt just as frustrated as Cass as she struggles to get justice for her stubbornly uncooperative client. This one was tense to the very end. Book #14 can't come soon enough.

[Shelley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Defense😮

Once again this story blew me out of the water❣️ I was absolutely sure I was on the right path, when I smacked up against a TWIST to end ALL Twists🙌 DID NOT SEE THAT COMING🧐

Cass takes on a case which is by all means a cut and dried case for the prosecution, however, as she delves in further she starts to pick up on nuances that leave more questions than answers….although the answer is not one you’ll see coming but it will leave you with chills.

So, so good…if I could give 10/10 for characters, story development and author ingenuity for amazing stories, then I would absolutely give Robin that. If you haven’t tried one of her books yet and you like a legal mystery with twists galore, then grab one of her books now, I highly recommend. I received an advanced copy and willingly leave my honest review❤️‍🩹

[Charles A. CALLARI III · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Deadly Defense” gets a solid three stars from me—not amazing, but it didn’t totally stink either. It’s like a courtroom drama that showed up for jury duty but forgot to bring the excitement. The plot had a few good moments, but the characters felt like they were on autopilot. I didn’t hate it, but I’m not rushing to recommend it either. If you’re bored and like legal thrillers, this one will pass the time just fine.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Yanks the rug HARD from under ya**

Oh man, the amount of FUN I had with this one was soooo reminiscent of the old days of Cass Leary, when entry after entry was knocking it out of the park. Everything about this entry was great. The case, the story around it, the characters and their interactions, the writing itself, and the resolution of everything by the end. This book does exactly what I prefer from legal thrillers: suck me in with an appealing case and keep me guessing throughout the entire journey.

And the case was DEFINITELY intriguing too, with a brutal killing of a cop we met in a previous entry and a killer's confession that leaves no room for sympathy. Cass doesn't want it. Cass doesn't need it. And yet, Cass has gotta take it. I made my (periodically true) predictions, committed to them, and yet I was STILL thrown for a loop. When I say this story yanks the rug from under foot, I mean it. Just when you think you've got something, it swivels and you gotta regain your footing. Well-played, Robin James. Well-played.  

I had very minimal complaints about this one, nothing beyond the occasional moments in the case that happened off-page that I would have preferred to read, but fortunately, this was a minimal occurrence. I was mostly pleased with this entry, both with the case itself and with the personal life of Cass Leary. And as per usual, I'm PUMPED for the next entry. For my commentary and highlights, click here.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this series

If you have never read the Cass Leary books you owe it to yourself to give them a try! I promise you will not be disappointed. Robin James is a phenomenal writer and I have enjoyed every one of her books, a!ong with this series. Her plots are well thought out, her characters are strong and well developed. Cass is a defense lawyer that always sees cases from a different angle and even when people (her family included) think she's crazy she forges ahead and does what she does best: she fights for the hopelessly lost who need a lawyer to believe in them. Cass is her own person with a distinct and uncanny sixth sense. She's every prosecutors nightmare!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Deadly Defense is the thirteenth book in the Cass Leary Legal Thriller Series by Robin James. This is a gripping and emotionally charged legal thriller series that is as compelling as it is thought-provoking. Cass Leary is a fiercely intelligent and tenacious attorney who navigates the murky waters of justice with a mix of grit, vulnerability, and unyielding determination.
The cases in the series are diverse and meticulously detailed, ranging from domestic disputes to high-stakes criminal trials. Robin James’ background as a legal practitioner shines through in the authenticity of the courtroom scenes and the nuanced exploration of ethical dilemmas. Each book is a page-turner, filled with unexpected twists, moral gray areas, and moments of genuine suspense.
Happy Reading…

[Clifton Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

After clawing my way through “Crime and Punishment,” I was glad to see the latest installment of the Cass Leary Series, “Deadly Defense,” had been released. In this Robin James’ thriller, the reader finds a brutal murder of a police detective, a confession by the supposed killer, and a sheriff’s department that is eager to vent its anger on Cass Leary who has chosen to defend the accused. Something, however, doesn’t seem kosher about the confession, and our protagonist must get to the bottom of the mystery. This one is kind of dark, but still very good reading.
(384 pages)

[Moseleygirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again, Cass Leary finds herself in the middle of a deeply controversial case, one that risks not only her reputation but her relationship with Eric Wray, who's now working with her. Asked to defend a self-confessed cop killer, Cass finds that nothing is as it seems. James has given us another gripping courtroom drama that will leave you reeling. With an ending we don't see coming, this is an exciting, roller-coaster of a ride. An immensely enjoyable book. Can't wait for the next one.

[Cheryl A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading this Cass Leary series. I was a little frustrated with is one. I like reading Robin’s courtroom drama and felt this one was just a little too long in getting to the actual summation. Cass is in court defending Reed Karl after he confessed to murdering Detective Megan Lewis after ending an affair with her. This puts Cass at odds with everyone including Eric Wray her boyfriend who no longer can work for her. But I did enjoy reading it.

[Cathrine "Capi" · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a devoted Robin James fan...whatever she writes, I'll read!! I've read all the Cass Leary books and all the Mara Brent ones as well....Lots of twists and turns, and she keeps me guessing every step of the way!! Love the characters, the relationships, the story lines, the struggles. It certainly doesn't hurt that these books are all available on Kindle Unlimited!!

[Joyce Huffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

This book had me from the first page. As always the story is so real you feel as if you're right there. I guarantee you that the ending will blow you away I had no idea and thought I had it all figured out boy was I wrong.If you're a fan then you must read this book,one of the best yet.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down!

I loved the way Robin James develop the series and plot as I got more involved in the story. There were many twists and turns and surprises.
The only thing I was disappointed in was the way she worked in the "f" bombs. I don't remember them being in previous books.

[Mona Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cass does it again!

How refreshing to read another Cass Leary book. It feels like its been a very long time. This time, I truly thought I had it all figured out. And early in the book too! But Robin James gave it that big twist she always does, and I was wrong. Again!
Exceptional writing and intense reading. Great book to get lost in!

[Linae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

She did it again. Robin James writes the stories that have to be finished in one day. I could hardly put it down. Cass Leary is a phenomenal lawyer. Accentuating the story , is the family setting in Cass' law firm and the lives of her family and friends.. I really enjoyed this and look forward to the continuation in the next book with a new case.

[Alexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Cass Leary series. This was the first book that I was able to figure out the ending of from the beginning, which was a little disappointing honestly. I was still entertained. I still love Robin James's books. I already preordered the next book in the series. I hope the next one is less predictable!

[Kaye M]

Good book, but unfortunately completely predictable. Way too easy to know what would happen and way too slow to be revealed. It’s an anomaly, as the other books were not like this. However, it’s still a good book. The romance between Cass and Eric is super super slow moving with not very good explanations of why.

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d actually give this a 3 1/2 stars, but it was worth the read, clean language and no descriptive sex scenes and that gives it an extra 1/2, making it 4 stars. The only problem was the “voice” the narrator used for Jeanie (office worker). It sounded like she had a clothespin on her nose. I found it distracting.

[Kimiko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I actually picked up in this series. I liked the book alot, because I liked Cass Leary and what she stands for--justice and to find the truth while doing her job of defending people.

I actually figured out "whodunit" within the first few chapters but I still enjoyed reading the entire book while Cass defends a "cop-killer".

[Dakota Knehans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, not a terrible book, though the twist was very predictable. One thing to know, though, as an attorney, is that Michigan has a psychotherapist privilege. No way would the therapist have been allowed to testify. No way when they probably have even been able to go into her diagnosis. That error was really frustrating and kind of took me out of the story a bit.

[Janice Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just OK for me. It was too predictable as I knew who the killer was nearly from the beginning of the book. Additionally, I think this will be the last book I read in this series. I no longer find the characters all that interesting and the plots for the last few books all followed the same formula. Boring and repetitive.

[Thomas R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline, Great plot, and very realistic story. Cass as her nature takes on an impossible case, a case that will cause her to be hated by the local police. A case that could cost her relationship with Her longtime boyfriend. The ending was amazing. Great story

[Peter Strauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good but Predictive

Beautifully written story, well told and very interesting, albeit (for me) predictable,and maybe that's what was expected! I continue to live Cass and all these characters and stories.

[Julie Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guilt will make people do some strange things, but when Cass is asked to represent a man who walks into a sheriff's office and confesses to murder, she must find a way to get to the truth and perhaps save her client.

[Cathy Sallade · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOME RUN!

Yes! A home run! Great thriller that is an easy read ....especially wrapped in a soft blanket ; I never Get tired of reading Robin James novels and so look forward to the next one!!

[Donna Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I was very surprised about the ending. Not at all what I expected. I’m very excited to read the next book in the series but it looks like I have to wait a few months. Looking forward to reading book #14.

[Stacey T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Cass Leary series and I love the reader for these audiobooks. This book was not one of my favorites of hers. It was good but it seemed to have a lot of repetitive parts. The ending made it rate higher even though I had my suspicions.

[Trudi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally realized what bugs me about her writing. She chops up her sentences with far to many periods which effects the flow of the reading. It’s like AL edited the book. Lots of sentences begin with the word but.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened on audio and enjoyed the story and fast pace. However, it was obvious from the beginning who the murderer was and I am no Sherlock Holmes ! I will try another in the series to see if any are more complicated !