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Ben Carter Legal Thriller #1
Dead Man's Jury
A SLAIN FATHER. AN ORPHANED SON. ONLY A LAWYER CAN HELP THEM BOTH.What began as a weekend fishing trip, turns into the fight of his life when lawyer Ben Carter finds a young boy alone on the side of a road in upstate New York. Quickly linking the boy to a murder scene more than a hundred miles away, the pair travel to nearby Pittsburgh, where a mystery thrusts them both into the fight of their lives.
With corrupt city officials, a Columbian drug cartel, and a bent detective all fighting to silence the only witness to the murder, Carter must rely on his wits, if he hopes to save the boy from certain death. But with the boy’s father suspected of helping the very people now hunting his child, Carter must put the pieces together in order to save them both. But with time running out, he must draw on every ounce of his skill to tip the scales of justice before it's too late...
From perennial USA TODAY and 3-Million copy bestselling author DAVID ARCHER comes a brand new legal thriller series perfect for fans of John Grisham, Michael Connelly, and James Chandler.
With corrupt city officials, a Columbian drug cartel, and a bent detective all fighting to silence the only witness to the murder, Carter must rely on his wits, if he hopes to save the boy from certain death. But with the boy’s father suspected of helping the very people now hunting his child, Carter must put the pieces together in order to save them both. But with time running out, he must draw on every ounce of his skill to tip the scales of justice before it's too late...
From perennial USA TODAY and 3-Million copy bestselling author DAVID ARCHER comes a brand new legal thriller series perfect for fans of John Grisham, Michael Connelly, and James Chandler.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2024
About the author
David Archer
187 books524 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
David Archer was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He is a fiction author and novelist, writing in the mysteries and thrillers genre. His approach to writing is to hit deep, keep you entertained, and leave you wanting MORE with every turn of the page. He writes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels, all of which are primed to get your heart pumping.
David Archer was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He is a fiction author and novelist, writing in the mysteries and thrillers genre. His approach to writing is to hit deep, keep you entertained, and leave you wanting MORE with every turn of the page. He writes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels, all of which are primed to get your heart pumping.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 10, 2024
Not quite up to snuff.
Was this one of Archers’ earliest novels? If so, he’s really improved. Compare with the books he’s done with Blake Banner. Here the plot becomes based thinly on the unlikely original decision of the prime character/narrator. Then it is jagged and comes with a ridiculously lazy climax with none of the subtleties in novels involving criminal defense attorneys.
Buying this book would be a mistake but it may be useful for Kindle Unlimited readers who might be afraid of a page turner that would keep them up.
OK, I don’t wish to seem only negative. The dialogue is well done and believable for the characters involved. That’s about it.
Was this one of Archers’ earliest novels? If so, he’s really improved. Compare with the books he’s done with Blake Banner. Here the plot becomes based thinly on the unlikely original decision of the prime character/narrator. Then it is jagged and comes with a ridiculously lazy climax with none of the subtleties in novels involving criminal defense attorneys.
Buying this book would be a mistake but it may be useful for Kindle Unlimited readers who might be afraid of a page turner that would keep them up.
OK, I don’t wish to seem only negative. The dialogue is well done and believable for the characters involved. That’s about it.
December 17, 2024
If you like trial thrillers this is a good one
Our lawyer Ben takes on an impossible case to acquit his client but also to save the life of. Young boy whose father was assinated in front of him and who is thought of as mute. Twists ant tuns to keep the boy safe and bring justice. Not an intellectual read but a good story.
Our lawyer Ben takes on an impossible case to acquit his client but also to save the life of. Young boy whose father was assinated in front of him and who is thought of as mute. Twists ant tuns to keep the boy safe and bring justice. Not an intellectual read but a good story.
January 8, 2025
Great lawyer
Atty Ben Carter is a good man being a lawyer. He finds a boy on the side of the road and then defends the man accused of murdering his dad and assistant. All hell breaks loose when he puts his client on the witness stand and a bad cop shoots his client but it ends well with two bad cops going down and saving the boy.
Atty Ben Carter is a good man being a lawyer. He finds a boy on the side of the road and then defends the man accused of murdering his dad and assistant. All hell breaks loose when he puts his client on the witness stand and a bad cop shoots his client but it ends well with two bad cops going down and saving the boy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2026
David Archer delivers another fast-paced winner with Dead Man’s Jury. This book hooked me almost immediately because what starts as a simple weekend fishing trip for Ben Carter spirals into absolute chaos in the best possible way. Archer has a real talent for taking ordinary situations and turning them into high-stakes survival stories, and this one never lets up.
Ben Carter continues to be such a likable and grounded main character because he’s not some over-the-top superhero. He’s a lawyer who gets thrown into an unbelievably dangerous situation after finding a young boy alone on the side of the road in upstate New York. Once Carter realizes the boy is connected to a brutal murder scene over a hundred miles away, the tension kicks into another gear and never slows down.
One of the things I really loved about this book was the constant pressure surrounding Carter and the boy as they tried to stay alive. Between the corrupt Pittsburgh officials, the Colombian drug cartel, and the crooked detective hunting the only witness left alive, there’s this nonstop feeling that danger is waiting around every corner. Archer did a phenomenal job creating that atmosphere of paranoia and urgency throughout the story.
The Pittsburgh setting also gave the book a gritty, realistic feel that worked perfectly with the darker tone of the plot. I especially enjoyed watching Carter try to piece together whether the boy’s father was actually involved with the criminals chasing them or if there was something much bigger happening behind the scenes. Every new revelation seemed to raise the stakes even higher.
This book flies. Short chapters, sharp dialogue, constant danger, and enough twists to keep you guessing all the way through. If you love thrillers with corruption, cartels, murder investigations, and an everyday guy forced into impossible circumstances, Dead Man’s Jury is absolutely worth the read.
Ben Carter continues to be such a likable and grounded main character because he’s not some over-the-top superhero. He’s a lawyer who gets thrown into an unbelievably dangerous situation after finding a young boy alone on the side of the road in upstate New York. Once Carter realizes the boy is connected to a brutal murder scene over a hundred miles away, the tension kicks into another gear and never slows down.
One of the things I really loved about this book was the constant pressure surrounding Carter and the boy as they tried to stay alive. Between the corrupt Pittsburgh officials, the Colombian drug cartel, and the crooked detective hunting the only witness left alive, there’s this nonstop feeling that danger is waiting around every corner. Archer did a phenomenal job creating that atmosphere of paranoia and urgency throughout the story.
The Pittsburgh setting also gave the book a gritty, realistic feel that worked perfectly with the darker tone of the plot. I especially enjoyed watching Carter try to piece together whether the boy’s father was actually involved with the criminals chasing them or if there was something much bigger happening behind the scenes. Every new revelation seemed to raise the stakes even higher.
This book flies. Short chapters, sharp dialogue, constant danger, and enough twists to keep you guessing all the way through. If you love thrillers with corruption, cartels, murder investigations, and an everyday guy forced into impossible circumstances, Dead Man’s Jury is absolutely worth the read.
March 8, 2025
Excellent Read!
An entertaining story and although I generally don’t like lawyer books, this one was written by David Archer, one of my favorite authors. From start to finish, lots of action and believable characters. Ben and his staff have their work cut out for them defending their client who almost certainly is guilty but will the the truth come out??
An entertaining story and although I generally don’t like lawyer books, this one was written by David Archer, one of my favorite authors. From start to finish, lots of action and believable characters. Ben and his staff have their work cut out for them defending their client who almost certainly is guilty but will the the truth come out??
May 23, 2026
Quick enjoyable read
Found this series when I had the opportunity to read the prequel. Liked the characters so I started the series. (4 stars is an “excellent “ rating from me as the 5 goes to books that end up on the top 100 “.) My pet peeve is errors and I didn’t find any in this book. Interesting story line and good character development.
Found this series when I had the opportunity to read the prequel. Liked the characters so I started the series. (4 stars is an “excellent “ rating from me as the 5 goes to books that end up on the top 100 “.) My pet peeve is errors and I didn’t find any in this book. Interesting story line and good character development.
December 16, 2024
boring and slow moving
One of the slowest moving, full of fluff novels I have tried to read. The moments of action are rare, hardly a thriller by any stretch. Tried to finish it twice but gave up at 62%
One of the slowest moving, full of fluff novels I have tried to read. The moments of action are rare, hardly a thriller by any stretch. Tried to finish it twice but gave up at 62%
January 19, 2025
Dead man's jury
Pretty good story with a lot of twists and turns to confuse and keep you guessing, but written a style that seemed to indicate it might have been a fledgling starter book. Could use a lot more written discussion to set stage and make it seem more real.
Pretty good story with a lot of twists and turns to confuse and keep you guessing, but written a style that seemed to indicate it might have been a fledgling starter book. Could use a lot more written discussion to set stage and make it seem more real.
March 13, 2025
A very riveting and suspenseful story.
The author has written a very intriguing story that will lead you through a long and suspenseful journey that will keep you totally in grossed and guessing as well as entertained.
The author has written a very intriguing story that will lead you through a long and suspenseful journey that will keep you totally in grossed and guessing as well as entertained.
March 24, 2025
Enough to make me want more
Interesting, exciting courtroom drama and plenty of suspense! The ending was a bit abrupt for my liking but I'll read more in the series. Ben Carter is an interesting character.
Interesting, exciting courtroom drama and plenty of suspense! The ending was a bit abrupt for my liking but I'll read more in the series. Ben Carter is an interesting character.
September 15, 2025
Not terrible but was pretty cookie cutter as far as legal thrillers go in my opinion. I can do without the world’s best plot with good character development and this felt like it fell a little flat on both.
September 17, 2025
Riveting story line. Unexpected outcomes.
Ben Carter is a sharp attorney with a troubled past! Leaving his vacation campground as 'not his thing', he sees a young child standing on the edge of the road and stops...!
Ben Carter is a sharp attorney with a troubled past! Leaving his vacation campground as 'not his thing', he sees a young child standing on the edge of the road and stops...!
December 8, 2024
An excellent beginning of a new series. David Archer has a serious knack for writing spectacular novels. Waiting for number two!
December 23, 2024
Boring and trite
May 10, 2025
A Jury of His Peers?
Excellent first in a series of many more to come. Most enjoyable character in lead position. Great twist of a story and good ending. Please continue, thanks.
Excellent first in a series of many more to come. Most enjoyable character in lead position. Great twist of a story and good ending. Please continue, thanks.
August 23, 2025
Dynamite!
Well developed characters even to a child. Trial conclusion! Well I was preparing for a quick verdict … and I got it!
Well developed characters even to a child. Trial conclusion! Well I was preparing for a quick verdict … and I got it!
March 24, 2025
Ridiculous!
So many characters named during Carter's investigation, never to be heard of again.
Two trucks EVERY night stop suspiciously. It's not drugs, but STOLEN ART WORKS!!! they are smuggling. You've got to be kidding!
So many characters named during Carter's investigation, never to be heard of again.
Two trucks EVERY night stop suspiciously. It's not drugs, but STOLEN ART WORKS!!! they are smuggling. You've got to be kidding!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews