Devil's Defense: A Fischer at Law Novel

by Lori B. Duff

A gripping courtroom drama that explores the struggle between morality vs. professional obligation, Devil’s Defense will appeal to fans of female-lead courtroom dramas like The Good Wife.

Jessica Fischer wants nothing more than to build her law practice in small-town Ashton, Georgia. She’s well on her way when the local town hero, football coach Frank “Tripp” Wishingham III, hires her to represent him in a paternity suit. Coach is everything Jessica despises—arrogant, sexist, entitled—but it’s her job to make him look good in public. This is made doubly difficult when her burgeoning relationship with a local reporter gets in the way of telling the truth.

Are things as black and white as Jessica thinks? And can she find a way to succeed without compromising her own personal values—or her personal life?

Genres: Contemporary

344 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2024

About the author

Lori Duff is a two-time winner of the Georgia Bar Journal's fiction competition and a popular humor Blogger. Her humorous essays have won multiple awards, including the Foreword Indies Gold Medal for humor, and first place in the National Society for Newspaper Columnists in the humor category. She also writes fiction. Her novella, Broken Things, won the Georgia Independent Author of the Year Award for Literary Fiction. Her novel, Devil's Defense, the first in the Fischer at Law Series, won the GIAYA award for Legal Thrillers, and is a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards. Devil's Hand, the next in the series, is forthcoming in October 2025 from She Writes Press.

By day, she is the managing law partner of Jones & Duff, LLC and wages war for a living. She prefers making people laugh.

Lori is married to her husband of 26 years, Mike, and together they have two grown children and a rescue dog.

Reviews

[Bharath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like legal & courtroom dramas. In this case there is very little action in the courtroom itself and the case is quite the usual. But it has good characters and a very authentic feel with no lame twists.

In Ashton, Georgia, Coach Frank (Tripp) Wishingham (in his mid-30s) has been served a lawsuit. He approaches Jessica Fischer to represent him. Jessica is relatively young (29) in practice and while she has her misgivings about Coach, the case will help her build her practice. Diane, is her paralegal, and they are very frank with each other. Sarah James claims that Coach is the father of her 16-year-old girl Francesca. She has petitioned the court to establish paternity and get him to support the child. Coach first says he does not remember, though admits to having had many flings in high school and college. Jessica knows Eric, Sarah’s lawyer, and understands that gene testing directed to Coach. Bobby, is a local journalist who is writing about the story. Jessica and Bobby meet socially for some time making things awkward for her. There is also another shorter track where Diane's niece Kaitlyn is pregnant and is consulting Jessica on her options.

The story is simple and the scenario typical. Other than the case itself, there is considerable space devoted to building the characters – especially Jessica & Diane. I liked Jessica’s character – her fair approach to the case, being respectful & considerate of the other side. I found the romance angle in her life with Bobby to be poorly written.

A good strong character in Jessica. If you would like a gentle legal drama with no major plot twists or revelations, this is for you.

My rating: 3.5 / 5.

Thanks to Netgalley, Books Forward | She Writes Press and the author for a free electronic review copy.

[Dr. Monidipa Dutta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil’s Defense is one of those courtroom dramas that pulls you in with its intensity and keeps you questioning right up to the end. Jessica Fischer, the fierce, dedicated lawyer at the heart of this story, is trying to build her reputation in a small town. But when she’s hired by Coach Frank “Tripp” Wishingham III, a hometown hero with more charm than ethics, her world is thrown into a moral maze. Jessica despises everything about the Coach, but representing him means putting aside her personal feelings—a task that proves anything but easy.

If you’re a fan of shows like The Good Wife, where smart, strong women are constantly at odds with the demands of their profession, you’ll love the tension in Devil’s Defense. Jessica’s struggle isn’t just about winning her case; it’s about balancing her career with her own beliefs and values. As a reader, I found myself really invested in her inner conflict and wondering what I would do in her shoes.

What makes this story so gripping is that it doesn’t offer easy answers. Jessica’s choices aren’t simple, and her career risks pulling her away from her own truth. The added complication of a budding romance with a reporter—someone with his own stake in the case—adds even more layers, making you question how much she’s willing to sacrifice for her professional success.

This novel dives into questions about ambition, morality, and whether the ends justify the means. It’s the kind of story that leaves you both satisfied and thoughtful, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for a legal thriller that’s more than just a case—it’s a battle between heart, mind, and career.

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica can hardly say no to a case as she is trying to get her reputation and practice known in the small town of Ashton, Georgia. So when the very well known high school football coach retains her for a paternity case, at first she can hardly believe her luck but soon realizes Tripp's reasoning in hiring a female lawyer. Well known for getting winning results, Tripp has made it very clear what his expectations of Jessica are, to continue to make him look good and to make this whole thing go away. he has no interest in having a teenage child in his life and why now is this lady coming after him 16 years later. He can hardly remember this woman, and how is she so sure it's his kid. One drunken party and how is he to remember what all happened? Jessica has her work cut out for her and often reminds Tripp that her job is the law, not keeping his appearance squeaky clean. Working closely with her paralegal who knows this town inside and out, the two women work to break through the different layers of Frank "Tripp" Washington III to get to the truth of his resistance to this all and what is really driving his wanting nothing to do with this lady or teenager. This novel was a good read with everything that has been happening with the #metoo movements over the last few years. This is not a court room drama, but more behind the scenes of the work lawyers put into a case. Thank you to the author and Books Forward for the complementary novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Mal · Rating 1 out of 5]

thank you netgalley and she writes press for making a copy of this book available for pre-read. I kind of wish you hadn’t.

short review: are the straights ok????

medium review: I suppose that if you belong to a certain demographic who finds the idea of living in a tight-knit, WASPish southern community appealing and who enjoys very stereotypically cishet romances, this might just be the book for you.

longer review: strap in.

tws: rape, pregnancy resulting from rape, men getting off scot free for raping and impregnating someone, insta-love silliness

devil’s defense promises to be a “gripping courtroom drama”. cool, I thought, the author is a lawyer, so this should be good. well, we get one actual courtroom scene, so maybe that’s enough to classify it as “courtroom drama”, but I think that it’s more of a romance novel set in a lawyer(ish) environment.

in general, this book reminds me of one of those harlequin publications from the 80s, except somewhat updated to match slightly more modern tastes, which I’m guessing is why our main character, jessica, is (supposed to be) a Strong Independent Woman with Modern Opinions. (whether or not she lives by them is another thing…)

the plot is fine, even if generic af. fresh out of law school with surprisingly few prospects, jessica decided to move to ashton, georgia, where nobody knows her, because rent is cheap there, lawyers are sparse, and women lawyers especially are nonexistent. ok girl. considering what I know about being a newcomer to tiny rural towns, that’s braver than I would have been, so I’ll give jessica that. at the starting point of the novel, jessica’s business isn’t exactly booming (though she manages to stay afloat), so when the local celebrity – a baseball coach whom everybody calls, uh… coach. okay – shows up to her office demanding that she represent him in a paternity lawsuit, she’s like, oh, cool, this guy’s a sleazy asshole but people in town like him and he can actually pay me the big bucks, let’s do it. but then her conscience gets to her, and we are treated to pages upon pages of thrilling moral dilemmas and difficult moral choices.

ha! just kidding. jessica decides that everyone has the right to legal representation pretty early on (true), so it might as well be her who bills coach perv mcpervertson $250 per hour. like, sure, get your bag, jessica. that’s not what I have a problem with. what I have a problem with is literally everything else, I guess.

jessica is… a badass lawyer, I guess, but alas, also a woman, so you know how it’s gonna go the second a potential mate is spotted on the horizon. this is how it starts:

jessica turned her head and looked up at bobby. he was lifting a forkful of scrambled eggs to his mouth. her shoulder bumped against his, the eggs rolled off his fork, and with a fluid motion, bobby attempted to catch them midair. he missed, following their trajectory to her left leg with his hand. they both looked down at his hand on her thigh. bobby’s cheeks flushed.

these people are in their 30s btw.

I don’t have much to say about bobby himself, except that he was kinda milquetoast and would probably do well on my favorite trashy reality tv show, love is blind, seeing how fucking whipped he was after two (2) dates. least offensive character overall, some of his lines were even genuinely somewhat funny.

then there’s jessica’s assistant, diane, who’s like blanche devereaux if you took away all of blanche devereaux’s redeeming qualities that actually made her funny sometimes. like, I cringed every time that woman spoke. I felt dirty half of the time that woman spoke. someone please tell that lady that she can be a liberated sexual woman without mentioning how a guy 14 years her junior makes her cream her panties in every other sentence.

okay, mal, but those are just characters you personally don’t like, that’s not a crime. sure. the crime is creating a character like coach, making me believe that this book was actually going to give him nuance, and then making me read the actual ending.

we open with coach perv mcpervertson getting sued for child support because his now sixteen-year old daughter matched him on ancestry or some other dna site. now, coach makes it clear from the get go that he has absolutely ZERO interest in having or raising children, his family has lived in ashton for like, forever, so why was he even on an ancestry site? ah, you see, someone had accused him of having had a (gasp) BLACK ANCESTOR, so he took that dna test to make sure there was no such taint on his pristine pedigree. I’m not even american, and I just kind of looked at the page like that white-guy-blinking gif. gotta savor that moment because it gets completely glossed over, like, immediately. because we have to give coach a chance to use the f-slur, say a ton of misogynistic shit, and admit that he had raped his drunk classmate back when he was seventeen. which said raped classmate should be thankful for, by the way, because who would have wanted her otherwise, and also if she didn’t want to get raw dogged against her will she shouldn’t have been drunk, or better yet, shouldn’t have come to the party at all. yeah, guess how that now sixteen-year old daughter of his came to be.

so, you’re me, and you just want to set this guy on fire from, like, the first time he opens his mouth, but the book description implies that shit isn’t simply black and white here, so you keep reading. and you keep reading, and you keep reading. at about 50% of the book you keep reading only because you are morbidly curious as to how the author can un-black and white a guy who looks his lawyer in the eyes and says:

"teenage boys can’t control themselves. hell, grown men barely can. that’s right there in the bible. you don’t see king david getting chastised for succumbing to temptation, do you? (...) no, you don’t. You see the women getting their comeuppance for being temptresses. if girls don’t want to be touched, then they shouldn’t put themselves in a place where touching is easy."

yeah, I puked in my mouth a little just quoting that.

wanna know coach’s redeeming traits by the end of the book? well, he’s super hot! you can’t be mad at a face like that! also, he has Depth, he’s genuinely so smart, he teaches physics. oh, and also he’s actually just a Sad Boy, because his daughter, whom he vehemently refuses to meet ever, looks just like his mom, who had died when he was like sixteen and he’d been blaming himself for her death. that was also why he was a drunk teenage rapist throughout his senior year btw. clearly, he’s just been so sad and misunderstood. oh, and the woman he raped and impregnated, and who spent seventeen fucking years not even KNOWING for sure who had done that to her that night, doesn’t get a single. speaking. line.

but hey, at least jessica gets laid at the end of it (which, as we all know, is the key to female happiness). coach kind of, sort of helps her with that by pushing her and bobby together, too, so, eh, how bad can he be, right? right? also, they shared a Moment during which he was vulnerable and told her all about how sad he is about his mom’s death, so. small town living, I guess.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

With delightful characters and a captivating plot, Devil's Defense showcases the ethical and personal dilemma faced by a young attorney as she defends a client whose cause she abhors. Devil's Defense is cleverly written with plenty of humor to balance the seriousness of the subject. I hope we see more of Jessica, the attorney, and Diane, her feisty secretary, in future books by Lori Duff.

[Jeanette Shaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is out of my normal reading genre, but boy oh boy am I glad I took a chance. The author has a way of building her characters so readers are invested in their stories. From the first page I was hooked and especially liked that the chapters were not overly long. The storyline is basically about a young female attorney in a small town, who finds herself defending the beloved high school football coach in court, even though she doesn't like his manner, believes he is wrong, and finds his arrogance repulsive. This story addresses the thin line Jessica walks as she performs her job without letting personal feelings get in the way. The supporting characters in this book are no less intriguing and each plays a strong role in the story. Read this book, you can thank me later.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.

[Bobby Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful small town legal thriller!

I've enjoyed Lori's previous books, but when I heard about her first legal thriller, I knew I had to read it. I'm a big fan of thrillers and picked up a copy of the paperback directly from the author at a book event. Riveting stuff. The characters are well developed and believable. I love Jessica and Diane and though I disliked Frank through most of the book, I still felt pangs of remorse for him by the end. The storyline and cases were intriguing and surprised me in places, which is always nice. Where Lori really shines is setting the stage. As someone who moved to a small town like Ashton when I was twelve, I know this town. I understand this town. Seeing Jessica learn to navigate this town as an outsider coming in adds a great bit of realism that I enjoyed. Also, a small town's almost religious following of high school football, which baffles me, plays out in a very believable way and adds layers to the story.

All in all, a wonderful read. I'm excited for Jessica's next case.
Write faster, Lori. :)

[Brumby D! · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful book. I was lucky enough to hear the author speak and get the book signed. I flew through the book. I was happy to see a real world take on the legal profession with actual ethical issues and where the lawyer doesn’t have a matlock moment. I enjoyed the coach character. Very relatable. Fun book. I’m excited about book 2.

[Bre3924 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received my free copy of Devil’s Defense by Lori B. Duff from LibraryThing. This novel introduces us to a small-town attorney and takes us through a few “trials” she endures one summer. I enjoyed the characters and how they related to each other. The life experiences shared by each character mase the storyline feel real, even though it is a work of fiction. I encourage you to read this book as I felt it was well worth my time. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.

[Ernestine Whitman]

"Devil’s Defense opens with a young lawyer’s big opportunity to represent Ashton’s small-town hero, the high school football coach. The case could establish Jessica ‘s fledgling law practice, but only if she can stand working with the man. Featuring a quartet of captivating main characters—lawyer, football coach, paralegal, and reporter—Duff’s fluid prose, clever dialogue, unexpected plot twists, and moving backstories keep the reader addictively engaged until the satisfying conclusion. Against the backdrop of the complex, fascinating friendship between Jessica and her worldly-wise paralegal Diane, Devil’s Defense is at once a compelling love story and an insightful probe into contrasting views of feminist issues. If you’re looking for a romance novel that explores some serious issues through the eyes of delightful characters, this is the perfect book for you."
                  —Ernestine Whitman, author of Countermelodies

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Duff creates characters you want to love and love to hate. The main protagonist, local hero and high school football coach, Frank "Tripp" Wishingham III, has a chip on his shoulder and an image to maintain. When he is served papers for a paternity suit, 16 years after the fact, he turns to Jessica Fischer, to get him out of it q1uietly, things don't go as well as he'd like. Jessica falls for a local newspaper reporter Bobby things get messy. Jessica sees life in black and white and personal relationships are not part of the plan.

The town has it's secrets and so does Fran Wishingham III. Jessica knows her client is withholding pertinent information but can't get him to talk.

I won't spoil the end for you. I will say that Ms. Duff's storytelling is compelling. I didn't want to put the book down!

[booksy.tx.ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devils in the past.
I truly love this kind of book that follows a character and their life. Jessica is a lawyer, and she has to take the side of the client no matter what her opinions are. She’s a great character battling moral dilemmas and just trying to find her footing in the big, bad lawyering world. There’s a bit of lawyer drama, romance, and friendship. Her secretary/paralegal, Diane, is such a fun addition. She was so lively and not afraid to live as she wished. She is just the first of many vibrant characters that come alive. There are so many wonderful elements that make me excited to continue following along in Jessica’s journey.


Come read with me on instagram @booksy.tx.ana

[Ellen Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a strong romantic subplot without falling wholly into the romance genre. It's solidly literary, informative, and nuanced, with the kind of subtle humor I love. And I learned a few things about the law. The straightforward legal story line is great for readers who (like me right now) are distracted by current events and looking for a novel that is worthwhile reading but doesn't require keeping track of multiple timelines or too many characters.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It’s a perfect blend of drama, humor, and courtroom action. A real page-turner.

[Jerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did enjoy the major of the book the lackluster ending makes it hard for me to recommend it.
In the end it’s a good quick read, just don’t expect a satisfying ending! Ugh

[Barbara Stark-Nemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this smart, yet poignant story- nothing in this life is as black and white as it might seem..

[Jennifer Fehling]

Good story. I thought it was good. Thank voracious readers for the advance copy. Interesting characters. Good courtroom scenes

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Fischer is trying to build her small-town law practice, but of course nothing is ever simple in Ashton, Georgia. Enter Frank Tripp Wishingham III the town’s golden boy football coach who needs Jessica to defend him in a paternity suit. The problem? He’s arrogant, sexist, and entitled basically everything Jessica can’t stand. And yet, it’s her job to make him look good. Cue the moral and professional headaches.

What I loved here is how the book mixes sharp legal drama with humor and heart. Jessica is smart, stubborn, and not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even when the line between right and wrong starts to blur. Add in her growing relationship with a local reporter which definitely complicates things and you’ve got a story that feels both fun and thought-provoking.

This isn’t just about one messy court case it’s about how far you’ll go to stick to your principles, even when life keeps throwing curveballs at you.

[Nancy Devlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

caught me by surprise!

I love lawyer shows and stories so this book caught my eye. I was engaged from the beginning and that never let up. Oh and of course everyone loves love stories - wasn’t sure this would be one but it kept me going.

A simple little book that i really loved!

[Darren Bourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author (Lori B. Duff), her publisher (She Writes Press), and the fine folks at VoraciousReads.com.

This is a story that examines what happens when a "middle of the class" law student in Georgia decides that while most of her classmates try to make a go of their legal education in big-town Georgia, she is left with the choice of either struggling to make a go of it as the proverbial "small fish in a big sea" or a struggling public defender.

Jessica Fischer decides, after looking at a state law review article, to try to make her mark and build her law practice in small-town Ashton, GA with the intent that the outlying communities tend to be underrepresented in the legal community (and by a female lawyer at that!).

Fischer "inherits" a burgeoning practice when the previous principal is killed in an automobile accident and with that also inherits its lone paralegal, Diane (a widow who is struggling with her fleeting sexual attractiveness - dating younger men for a "good time" as opposed to looking for anything "long term").

While Fischer had based her decision to maintain a practice in small-town Georgia based on the amount of representation and competition, she is faced with a major downfall of how rumour and innuendo can affect her business.

She’s well on her way when the local town hero, football coach Frank “Tripp” Wishingham III, hires her to represent him in a paternity suit. Coach is everything that Jessica despises—arrogant, sexist, and entitled—but it’s her job to make him look good in public. This is made doubly difficult when her burgeoning relationship with a local reporter gets in the way of telling the truth.

Are things as black and white as Jessica thinks? And can she find a way to succeed without compromising her own personal values—or her personal life? Is she supposed to represent a client, whose comments and actions bring the "Me too" movement to small-town Georgia (but whose cheques clear at the bank) which causes her to question her morality (as a result of her decision, she loses a client)?

She finds that public opinion in small-town Georgia affects not only her professional life but her personal one, as well. She attempts to start a relationship with a local journalist (egged on by her paralegal, Diane) but soon finds struggles with a work-life balance. This raises ethical questions with client confidentiality as she worries that the journalist is only dating her to get access to information about her client.

On a scale of five stars, I would begrudgingly rate this book 3.5 stars (which rounds to four stars) as I had chosen this book based on its title and the fact that it was listed as a gripping courtroom drama. In hindsight, I found it to be more of a legal procedural (aren't semantics a hoot!). There is a market for Duff's books but it wasn't quite what I had expected.

As with all my literary ramblings, these are just a sample of my five cents worth.

[Christine Choptovy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from Voracious Readers Only. This is a very well written legal drama. Jessica Fischer is a lawyer in Ashton, Georgia. Her legal assistant, Diane, is a colourful and outspoken woman. I enjoyed reading about her character and her philosophy regarding life. Jessica is hired by Frank Wishingham III (the "devil"), who goes by the name of Tripp and is the revered coach of the local high school football team. He has just found out that he has a teenaged daughter named Francesca and it has been confirmed via DNA that he is her dad. Her mom is a woman named Sarah James, who claims that her sexual encounter with Tripp wasn't consensual. Sarah hires Eric Crabtree to represent her, as she wants child support and Francesca wants to meet her father. Jessica doesn't like Tripp at all. She thinks he's arrogant because he has made it clear that he will have nothing to do with his daughter. She's also certain that Tripp sexually assaulted Sarah but despite her moral quandary, she represents him. I'm not too sure that Tripp could be considered the devil but he is a rather repugnant person. Yet, he's an excellent coach and knows how to effectively deal with teenagers. I won't provide further details because it would ruin the reading experience. I would have given the book a 5* rating but I had a difficult time understanding Tripp's reasoning for not wanting to meet his daughter.

[Kimberly Hickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes you think. Can you do you job to the best of your ability even if you are against doing it? I liked the idea of the book but some of the supporting characters were annoying to me. By the end of the book I just didn’t care about them. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the character that was supposed to be unlikeable. I was hoping for more of the courtroom and trial scenes. I did like the main character and think she can be developed into an interesting series of books. If you like character development and a little romance, maybe this is more for you.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

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This review is cross-posted. Check out the original post with the full review [HERE]
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Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. This does not impact the review and all opinions are my own. Thank you to Books Forward and the author!
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Jessica Fischer just wants to establish her law firm in the same town of Ashton, Georgia. Sure, she’s got a few small clients already, but what she needs is a big-shot client with a major reputation and nobody’s got a better reputation than Coach Frank (Tripp) Wishingham III, the local hero and legend of the town’s high school football team. But, this simple paternity lawsuit becomes a lot more than she bargained for, starting with her client being an absolute vile asshole, arrogant and sexist as one can get! With a love life that somehow manages to get tangled into this mess, the only good thing out of all this is the hefty retainer Tripp will be paying her.

An enjoyable and good first entry into this series. There were some aspects I didn’t particularly like such as it feeling like the romantic subplot was more of a mainplot and certain characters I didn’t much like. The journalist Bobby, the love interest of this book, was a bit poorly developed and so was the entire romantic plot, but otherwise the rest of this book was nicely done.

The remaining writing was good, the dialogue, narration, and even the technical side of this legal read flowed well and wasn’t hard to read or digest. I was never lost and Jessica made sure that everything was always either defined or explained. Though there’s really only one court battle (towards the end), getting to see the entire process leading up to that trial, including the investigations, the back-and-forth telephone negotiations between Jessica and Eric, and even a pre-trial rehearsal, was honestly kind of neat! While some characters fell short in development, the two main characters had some decent growth and depth. I didn’t particularly like Jess’s paralegal, Diane much, but I liked their sisterly friendship and bond and these two had some serious love put into their characters.

Though not particularly a legal thriller, if you are looking for a somewhat straightforward civil lawsuit legal read with a long romantic plot and a look into the whole legal procession that leads up to a trial, Devil’s Defense may be worth a shot!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Famous local high school football Coach (think Friday Night Lights) Frank Wishingham asks Jessica Fischer to be his lawyer because “I thought it would be good to have a lady represent me under the circumstances.” This gives you an idea where Devil’s Defense is headed. It’s the end of football season in Ashton, Georgia and the playoffs are about to begin. Coach Wishingham has just been served with a paternity lawsuit. He may be the father of a 16 year old daughter, who he wants nothing to do with, and whose mother he vaguely remembers from a drunken party. Not only must Jessica defend a man she dislikes and hammer out a child support agreement but she has to deal with her budding attraction to reporter Bobby Turnbull, an attraction that quickly becomes the subject of small town gossip.

All of this makes Devil’s Defense a compelling read. It’s more romance than courtroom drama with a main character with few redeeming characteristics. You understand Jessica’s difficulties understanding Coach’s reasons for rejecting his daughter and her attempts to humanize him when he becomes part of the MeToo movement. Devil’s Defense showcases excellent writing and plotting but the admiration for Wishingham is too much to take. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Books Forward and Lori B. Duff for this ARC.

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coach Frank “Tripp” Wishingham III is the town’s golden boy. Spending his Friday nights under the lights, leading the football team from the sidelines and molding the futures of the young boys he shepherds to victory. But, when a sixteen-year-old’s mother suddenly comes forward with allegations that he’s her father, a new side of him becomes ever present.

Refusing to own up to his actions, meet his offspring, or admit to any wrongdoing, Coach seeks out Jessica Fischer’s legal representation. Requiring this lawsuit to wait until after football season, Tripp Wishingham isn’t used to being told no, and Jessica Fischer is having a hard time finding anything she likes about her newest paying client. Unfolding amongst this paternity battle, readers find a budding relationship with local journalist, Bobby, and Jessica’s ever-growing friendship with her inherited secretary, Diane. Yet somehow Tripp finds ways to come between even those glimmers of light in Jessica’s life.

Using her own background in the practice of law to create these characters, author Lori B. Duff gives each a genuine mix of soft and hard edges. As the circumstances, personalities, legal battle, and emotions come to a breaking point, “Devil’s Defense” portrays the realities of women in the field, male egos, and the nature of small towns.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica has moved to a small town to be the only female attorney. The local high school coach gets served with a paternity suit from 16 years ago (when he was in high school). He hires her because she is female.
The coach is not a very likeable character to her but others tell her he has his good points. The story evolves and you see the flavor of a small town. Jessica and her sassy assistant interact with various members of the community. The various histories of the residents create interesting responses to the paternity suit. You cannot miss the reporter and the judge plus a side story with the neice of the assistant.
Jessica starts to be more a part of the community as the story develops and it is good to see her with more dimensions than just as a lawyer. The people interactions make this story and there are a few unexpected twists to the tale.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lori Duff has a fluidity to her writing, and an ability to support the reader in visualizing her characters, their moods and expressions that is superb.
Jessica Fischer moved from the suburbs of Atlanta. She is in the third year of her law practice, and cases are not pouring in from the citizens of this little town. Then she takes on a case that could be career defining. "The Great and Powerful" Coach Frank (Tripp) Wishingham III, wants to "get out of" a recently filed paternity case (thanks to those spit-in-the-cup genetic tests). His daughter is 16, and has certain expectations, which the coach doesn't cotton to. Simultaneously, there is another paternity issue that arises that hits Jessica closer to home.
I highly recommend this novel. There are twists and turns. There are themes of feminism, maturation, making tough choices, and ethics of law. Really quite a great read!

[Lua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because it was given to me by my friend Kelly, who is related to the author. I had not been reading much lately, partly because I was distracted by the election and related matters, and I've also been distracted by learning Spanish with DuoLingo, which is lots of fun. Anyway, I was glad to get this book which managed to hold my interest and pull me back into reading at night before bed. I tend to like books that deal with the law, so this was up my alley. I usually prefer nonfiction, but this book seemed to mirror a potential real-life situation. Since the author is in fact a lawyer, I had faith that she knew what she was talking about for the lawyerly parts of the story. Recommended.

[Marc Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually do not read courtroom dramas, or romances, for that matter, and this book is both, but I recently met the author and greatly enjoyed her sense of humor. This is an easy and entertaining read with hidden depths, really digging into some of the ethical and emotional issues of attorney/client relationships, and just how a young attorney can end up conflicted between values of fair representation and the perceived moral nature of a client. I usually skip from book to book, with three or four titles going at once, but I read this one straight through, thoroughly enjoying the characters, the story, and the gently introduced lessons of law. This didactic content was very gracefully concealed and went down easily.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Fischer must face the trials and tribulations of being a small-town attorney. She wants to fit in, yet she fights herself all the way. The head high school football coach, "Tripp" Wishingham III, comes to her for help. He's large, attractive, and a bully. She's confronted with defending him in a paternity case where DNA has proven he is the father of a sixteen year old: a daughter he doesn't want to meet.
I expected a higher stakes crime, like murder, to be the focus of Lori's book, but was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't. A look into day to day life in a rural town in Georgia through the lens of a lawyer. An engaging read!