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Midnight for Justice
Two mismatched lawyers uncover a long-forgotten military conspiracy…Career U.S. Navy JAGC officer Lt. Duncan Carmichael and an ACLU volunteer lawyer, Sydney Warren, form an unlikely team defending a young uncooperative sailor accused of a vicious murder on a U.S. Navy base but are thwarted at every turn by the military command.
Fast-forward 40 Warren and Carmichael are investigating an insurance claim on a yacht wrecked on northern Vancouver Island when they uncover startling links between their 1978 murder case, a break-in at their law office, and a mass shooting by far-right extremists at a protest rally.
Can they prove that the wreck is connected to a large shipment of contraband military arms stolen at the end of the Vietnam War?
Can two aging lawyers prevent the illegal arms from fueling a violent uprising, or will they be outsmarted by a desperate enemy from their past?
Click 'read sample' to start reading this military courtroom mystery thriller, and order your copy today.
Fast-forward 40 Warren and Carmichael are investigating an insurance claim on a yacht wrecked on northern Vancouver Island when they uncover startling links between their 1978 murder case, a break-in at their law office, and a mass shooting by far-right extremists at a protest rally.
Can they prove that the wreck is connected to a large shipment of contraband military arms stolen at the end of the Vietnam War?
Can two aging lawyers prevent the illegal arms from fueling a violent uprising, or will they be outsmarted by a desperate enemy from their past?
Click 'read sample' to start reading this military courtroom mystery thriller, and order your copy today.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 6, 2025
About the author
Charlotte Stuart
21 books432 followersCharlotte Stuart PhD is an award-winning mystery writer who got her start in academia, left a tenured faculty position to go commercial fishing in Alaska, spent a frustrating year as a political speech writer, and enjoyed time as a management consultant and as a VP of HR and Training.
Her current passion is for writing character driven mysteries with twisty plots, including a legal thriller co-authored with writer husband Don Stuart.
Her discount Detective Mysteries received a 1st Place Series Award in the Chanticleer International Mystery & Mayhem competition. Other awards include a Global Ebook Gold, a Reader Views Silver, a Global Book Award Bronze, and making finals in Foreword Indies, Killer Nashville's Silver Falchion and the Eric Hoffer Awards.
She lives and writes on Vashon Island, is the past president of the Puget Sound Sisters in Crime and a member of the Mystery Writers of America.
Her current passion is for writing character driven mysteries with twisty plots, including a legal thriller co-authored with writer husband Don Stuart.
Her discount Detective Mysteries received a 1st Place Series Award in the Chanticleer International Mystery & Mayhem competition. Other awards include a Global Ebook Gold, a Reader Views Silver, a Global Book Award Bronze, and making finals in Foreword Indies, Killer Nashville's Silver Falchion and the Eric Hoffer Awards.
She lives and writes on Vashon Island, is the past president of the Puget Sound Sisters in Crime and a member of the Mystery Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 22, 2026
Having long enjoyed the cozy mysteries of Charlotte Stuart, I was pleased to stumble upon this military legal thriller in which she collaborates with her husband, Don Stuart. In a tense story set in the years after the end of Vietnam, a lifelong JAG lawyer and a private sector attorney doing some pro bono work for the ACLU come together to defend a soldier accused of murder. However, there is more to the story and this unlikely legal pair uncover something much messier as they try to stay one step ahead of it all. The authors deliver a gripping story that had me turning pages well into the night.
In early 1978, U.S. Navy JAG officer Lt. Duncan Carmichael is called to represent an uncooperative sailor accused of murder, but he’s not sure what to expect. There is the standoffish nature to Annie Beck that many of Carmichael’s other clients also seem to possess when they feel they can beat the charge. Beck appears to posses it and then some. After ACLU lawyer, Sydney Warren, arrives to help with the defence, the case takes on new legs in an attempt to argue that not only was the Caucasian sailor innocent of killing a Black fellow officer, but that he was being framed. Working though the maze that is a court martial, Carmichael and Warren butt heads with the military command at every turn, leaving a final verdict anything but assured. However, there is more to the story here when an abandoned yacht turns up forty years later. Carmichael and Warren have forged a strong bond from having worked together, and it would seem this yacht ties into their case from all those years ago. Two aging lawyers and a pile of violent events, all of which might unlock lies buried deep in 1978. The authors deliver a gripping story of military justice, deception, and a secret that history has sought to erase. A great series debut that proved as intriguing as it was tense.
While I know Charlotte Stuart as a cozy mystery writer, the story here is anything but. It’s gritty and highly provocative, exploring issues of post-Vietnam and the military judicial system with ease, where Don Stuart’s expertise appears to come in handy. The story progresses easily and leaves the reader demanding more, while short chapters push things along for the curious reader. Key elements come together, though not entirely in ways that might be expected, as the truth surfaces.
Character development was spot-on for a book that seeks to find tense moments and exacerbate them. Both Carmichael and Warren offer up their own legal expertise to the story and show how their roots help shape the larger story. Flavouring the piece with their backstories and approaches, they shine and left me eager to see what else the Stuarts have in store for them. Supporting characters worked well to push the piece in odd directions, while never entirely making it clear what needed to happen. I liked the approach, though the quick four decade advance tossed me for a loop and left me wanting to know more about what happened for characters in the middle period.
The plot was on point and kept the story propelling forward. There is little time to breathe in this piece, as murder turns to deception and violence subsumed the narrative. Surprises come at the hands of the authors with ease and leave the reader wanting to know more while basking in what is on offer. I am impressed with this series debut and will have to see how the next book compares, knowing that Charlotte Stuart has a knack for great ideas.
Kudos, Mr. and Madam Stuart, for a story that held my attention from start to finish.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
In early 1978, U.S. Navy JAG officer Lt. Duncan Carmichael is called to represent an uncooperative sailor accused of murder, but he’s not sure what to expect. There is the standoffish nature to Annie Beck that many of Carmichael’s other clients also seem to possess when they feel they can beat the charge. Beck appears to posses it and then some. After ACLU lawyer, Sydney Warren, arrives to help with the defence, the case takes on new legs in an attempt to argue that not only was the Caucasian sailor innocent of killing a Black fellow officer, but that he was being framed. Working though the maze that is a court martial, Carmichael and Warren butt heads with the military command at every turn, leaving a final verdict anything but assured. However, there is more to the story here when an abandoned yacht turns up forty years later. Carmichael and Warren have forged a strong bond from having worked together, and it would seem this yacht ties into their case from all those years ago. Two aging lawyers and a pile of violent events, all of which might unlock lies buried deep in 1978. The authors deliver a gripping story of military justice, deception, and a secret that history has sought to erase. A great series debut that proved as intriguing as it was tense.
While I know Charlotte Stuart as a cozy mystery writer, the story here is anything but. It’s gritty and highly provocative, exploring issues of post-Vietnam and the military judicial system with ease, where Don Stuart’s expertise appears to come in handy. The story progresses easily and leaves the reader demanding more, while short chapters push things along for the curious reader. Key elements come together, though not entirely in ways that might be expected, as the truth surfaces.
Character development was spot-on for a book that seeks to find tense moments and exacerbate them. Both Carmichael and Warren offer up their own legal expertise to the story and show how their roots help shape the larger story. Flavouring the piece with their backstories and approaches, they shine and left me eager to see what else the Stuarts have in store for them. Supporting characters worked well to push the piece in odd directions, while never entirely making it clear what needed to happen. I liked the approach, though the quick four decade advance tossed me for a loop and left me wanting to know more about what happened for characters in the middle period.
The plot was on point and kept the story propelling forward. There is little time to breathe in this piece, as murder turns to deception and violence subsumed the narrative. Surprises come at the hands of the authors with ease and leave the reader wanting to know more while basking in what is on offer. I am impressed with this series debut and will have to see how the next book compares, knowing that Charlotte Stuart has a knack for great ideas.
Kudos, Mr. and Madam Stuart, for a story that held my attention from start to finish.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 1, 2026
This is a first in a series. Sydney Warren is a civil lawyer who does pro bono work for ACLU. Duncan Carmichael is a Naval JAG officer. A murder has occurred at a naval base in the state of Washington, and the accused, Arnie Becker, will be represented by both Warren and Carmichael. The case starts during the Vietnam war and spans over 40 years. There are twists and turns and the ending is a surprise.
April 26, 2026
A story set in the late 1970s at a military base where a white man is accused of killing a black. The ACLU sends in a female attorney who ends up cool defending the white client with a male military JAG. It is full of prejudicial and racial language, and, unfortunately, a story heard too many times before.
August 25, 2025
Intriguing adventure, lots of legal and investigative procedure. Engrossing.
February 21, 2026
Good start to a series
Love the characters, especially Ms Warren and her feistiness. Interesting portion of the book in the late 70’s where her feistiness was needed to make her way. Just her competence and her intelligence was not enough in that time. She had to take what she deserved in the way of respect from her co-workers and colleagues. The book was fast paced and interesting to go from the 70’s to today to actually complete the story. Looking forward to the next book and many more in the series with these characters.
Love the characters, especially Ms Warren and her feistiness. Interesting portion of the book in the late 70’s where her feistiness was needed to make her way. Just her competence and her intelligence was not enough in that time. She had to take what she deserved in the way of respect from her co-workers and colleagues. The book was fast paced and interesting to go from the 70’s to today to actually complete the story. Looking forward to the next book and many more in the series with these characters.
May 5, 2025
Good legal mystery
Very tangled and suspenseful legal mystery. A Navy seaman is accused of murdering a fellow seaman. His father calls the ACLU for representation so he gets both civilian and Navy lawyers. The characters play off each other well and eventually form a bond of sorts. The whole mystery spans decades. Highly recommen.
Very tangled and suspenseful legal mystery. A Navy seaman is accused of murdering a fellow seaman. His father calls the ACLU for representation so he gets both civilian and Navy lawyers. The characters play off each other well and eventually form a bond of sorts. The whole mystery spans decades. Highly recommen.
April 4, 2026
I have come to value books that are co-authored. the Stuarts hit a home run with Midnight for Justice. they have come up with a unique literary form, utilizing a highly plausible story within a story, using actual events and real locations based on their shared life experiences. the Stuarts are good story tellers, their prose is captivating.
March 14, 2025
Great Start, liberal biased/based finish
Loved the story up to the forty year jump, then the liberal point was pushed into the narrative and I stopped reading and skimmed over the last forty or so pages
Loved the story up to the forty year jump, then the liberal point was pushed into the narrative and I stopped reading and skimmed over the last forty or so pages
April 11, 2025
Good military law thriller
This was a good book with a lot of twists & turns even up to the end of the book. Some of the military (Navy) lingo & seafaring terms were hard to understand if you were unfamiliar with them. I did like the action & pace of the book.
This was a good book with a lot of twists & turns even up to the end of the book. Some of the military (Navy) lingo & seafaring terms were hard to understand if you were unfamiliar with them. I did like the action & pace of the book.
October 4, 2025
Clever Historical Mysrtery
btallon@gmail.com
Well written two era mystery. The characters were realistic, and fleshed out. Part three was seamless with 50 years earlier. I will watch for the next book!
btallon@gmail.com
Well written two era mystery. The characters were realistic, and fleshed out. Part three was seamless with 50 years earlier. I will watch for the next book!
January 29, 2026
Great suspense
The epilog was an interesting ending. The thrill of the plot as it unwound like a ball of thread was great. I would have liked to have read why the two main characters never married but because law partners and Great friends.
The epilog was an interesting ending. The thrill of the plot as it unwound like a ball of thread was great. I would have liked to have read why the two main characters never married but because law partners and Great friends.
April 28, 2026
Glad It’s Over
2.5 stars This book dragged on and on. I had trouble keeping the characters straight, maybe because I just wasn’t interested in the story. I did finish it, but will not be reading any more of the series.
2.5 stars This book dragged on and on. I had trouble keeping the characters straight, maybe because I just wasn’t interested in the story. I did finish it, but will not be reading any more of the series.
January 17, 2025
Somewhat implausible story, but well written with believable dialogue. Good character development.
January 23, 2025
If you like legal mystery that has intricate twists over 45 years then read this
It holds your attention
It holds your attention
February 18, 2025
Amazing Coincidences
I thoroughly enjoyed the character developments. The storyline over several decades was fascinating. A great read for all to enjoy
I thoroughly enjoyed the character developments. The storyline over several decades was fascinating. A great read for all to enjoy
March 6, 2025
One fine read
A different look at Navy lawyers for those who grew up on JAG, with a twist or two you never see coming
A different look at Navy lawyers for those who grew up on JAG, with a twist or two you never see coming
March 29, 2025
a real thriller
This is one of the excellent books that offer a story that moves in two directions. Great characters and plot.
This is one of the excellent books that offer a story that moves in two directions. Great characters and plot.
March 30, 2025
effective lawyering
The injustice system. All that work for a guilty man but kudos to the writers for the attorneys who never gave up on the bigger picture of greed and corruption.
The injustice system. All that work for a guilty man but kudos to the writers for the attorneys who never gave up on the bigger picture of greed and corruption.
April 19, 2025
Great book
Lots of suspense and drama. A catch of stolen arms & murder of people all around the state of Washington and Alaska. In the end they were all caught
Lots of suspense and drama. A catch of stolen arms & murder of people all around the state of Washington and Alaska. In the end they were all caught
May 22, 2025
2 powerhouse authors join forces to write this intelligent and entertaining book. I strongly recommend it... in addition to their individual works!
May 27, 2025
Sensational realism
I was so intrigued and expect to read many more by these wonderful authors.
Thank you for giving so much to the world of reading
I was so intrigued and expect to read many more by these wonderful authors.
Thank you for giving so much to the world of reading
July 7, 2025
complexity
Plot over complex and lead to the length of the book being over long
Thus despite it’s good parts strains of boredom set in
Plot over complex and lead to the length of the book being over long
Thus despite it’s good parts strains of boredom set in
September 14, 2025
Audio book narration was subpar. Readers were not skilled and throat clearing occurred more than once. Storyline was confusing.
October 6, 2025
Good Read
As a Navy brat of a supply officer, I found this book an interesting read. The ending was a bit of a surprise.
As a Navy brat of a supply officer, I found this book an interesting read. The ending was a bit of a surprise.
March 3, 2026
Captivating!
I’d read for a while, put it down but always went back to Midnight for Justice to see where the next leg of the story would take me.
I’d read for a while, put it down but always went back to Midnight for Justice to see where the next leg of the story would take me.
March 27, 2026
Not a bad read but not a great one either. The historical element was interesting. Everything seemed “almost.” Almost good characters, almost good story, almost original ending.
April 18, 2026
This is the first book of this author I have read gripping ,but I do have a gripe how it moves forward 40 years with a real link in the story
March 11, 2025
entertaining and fun
A fun story with interesting twists and turns, and good character development. It comes alive as you progress through the story, and resolves in a most unexpected way.
A fun story with interesting twists and turns, and good character development. It comes alive as you progress through the story, and resolves in a most unexpected way.
January 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this intense and intricate investigation into a murder on a navy base in Seattle during Vietnam era. Two attractive attorneys who spar and flirt. Good courtroom drama. Will keep you guessing to the end.
April 28, 2026
Enjoyed this book, something different. I like "courtroom dramas", but this had a little extra. I don't understand the intricacies of Naval justice, but this book walks you through some of it so it is understandable.
Good story with a twist at the end.
Not convinced it is good enough to purchase Book 2.
Good story with a twist at the end.
Not convinced it is good enough to purchase Book 2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews