The Lawyer’s Game

by Cole Baxter

In a room full of strangers, the only thing more dangerous than the truth is the person who knows it...

James Arnold, a cocky tech mogul, owes his wealth to secrets he’d rather keep buried. But when his best friend and corporate lawyer, Bertram Caulfield, invites him to an exclusive ski resort for a getaway with colleagues, James sees it as an opportunity to indulge his ego—and seduce Helen, a beautiful young woman who happens to be someone else’s girlfriend.

A sudden snowstorm locks the group in, and Bertram proposes a a mock courtroom where they’ll reexamine famous legal cases. James, eager to charm Helen, volunteers to play her “defendant.” What starts as a harmless diversion quickly spirals into something sinister.

As the group delves into James’s life, the “trial” turns uncomfortably personal, peeling back the layers of his past. His deepest secrets are exposed, and he realizes too late that this isn’t just a game. It’s a reckoning—and the people in this room might just be his judge, jury, and executioners.

James has always used his fortune to escape consequences. This time, there’s nowhere to run.

The Lawyer's Game – the gripping psychological thriller perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, and K L Slater.

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2024

About the author

Cole Baxter loves writing psychological suspense thrillers. It's all about that last reveal that he loves shocking readers with.
He grew up in New York, where there crime was all around. He decided to turn that into something positive with his fiction.
His stories will have you reading through the night--they are very addictive!

Sign up for Cole's VIP Reader Club and find out about his latest releases, giveaways, and more. Copy and paste this link to sign up: http://eepurl.com/dqL8yT

Reviews

[Darren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible! I don't know what happened to Cole Baxter, but this book goes beyond filth. Language is horrible, James is probably one of the worst characters I have come across in sometime. The very definition of filth. Don't waste your money on this book, don't even waste a Kindle unlimited check out for this book. Even if it doesn't cost you any money, this isn't worth it.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the author strayed too much this time. The protagonist was despicable. The plot was incredibly repetitive with vile sexual innuendos. And the final parts were just too unbelievable. Also the book needs some serious editing. Not a hit by this author.

[Bev Shoesmith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the "gripping psychological thriller" as stated in the blurb. 85% of the story was the main character talking himself up and never doing "anything bad". The "breathtaking twist" was little more than a breath!! And easy to work out how the "death penalty" would come about. Just not an enjoyable read for me.

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even the title is too long

This could have been a fascinating short story! The whole thing was wordy and tedious. It rambled for chapters about the lust the protagonist had for the female antagonist. There was nothing “unputdownable” (really?), gripping, thrilling or breathtaking about the book. Truly, even the title is too long! Don’t waste your time on this one.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

does NOT match the title

I was hoping for something really good - lawyers, psychological thriller - but no. the entire book is the thought process of one man, who was very simple and selfish. I stayed with it, waiting on the breathtaking twist, but was very disappointed. I don’t like to leave bad reviews, but there was just nothing good to say about this book.

[Collin Cash · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is absolutely awful! I made it through about half and it just droned on and on and on about the main character plotting about sleeping with one of the other characters and the plot was going nowhere! I rarely ever don’t finish a book, but this was excruciating

[Flyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was one of the most difficult books I have ever read to the end. The storyline turned out to be fairly predictable at the end of the day. A lot of time and pages was wasted on regurgitating the same typical lines and thoughts from the main protagonist just in a different way.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC through "Booksirens" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest revie.

This story begins with Bertram telling James about a weekend that he has planned with friends at a ski resort and asks him if he wants to go. James is hesitant at first, but after seeing a picture of the group he spots Helen and decides to go. Upon arriving, he checks in and then after putting things in his room goes to find the group with special emphasis on Helen. James has lewd thoughts of what he wants to do with her, but learns she is there with her boyfriend, Chase. James tries all sorts of things but has no luck. As the weekend is coming to an end, a blizzard forces them to remain. At this time the group decides to play a game by holding mock trials.

The group is split into teams comprised of a prosecutor, defense lawyer and a defendant. One of the group is a judge and he will run each of the trials. The 1st two relate to cases that were previously held and the final one is based on an idea. In the last trial, Helen is the prosecutor, Bertram is the lawyer and James is the defendant. The trial for James takes a strange twist as compared to the others.

To learn what sort of trial James is subjected to, what the real purpose of the weekend gathering is and how it all works out in the end, then you need to read this book.

The ending is unexpected, don't miss out!

[Ashley Cestra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, okay! what a unique plot line! I was so curious as to where it was going that by the time I comprehended how simple it all was, I was in too deep to stop! This author found a way to keep my attention so hard I was hanging on every word…
That main character was a complete Jack $@&!. Wow! I wanted to stop reading because he was so irritating but I couldn’t look a way! What an excellent ending. Color me impressed!
Why 4 stars you ask? The lawyers game intrigued me and wowed me for sure, but it missed the best story ever feeling. I have nothing ill to say about the book, and I will continue to tell others about it!

[CammieOH · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very unique story! Our MC James is a truly despicable man. Narcissist, psychopath- just a couple descriptive terms for him. But I loved the story- revenge at its finest! I have to admit though that the epilogue was confusing. If any of you out there can explain what the heck that was I would really appreciate it.

Okay, now I see that the epilogue is a preview to another of Baxter books- The Perfect Daughter. It was just weird that he used it as an epilogue to a completely different story . But onward to reading the next book,

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. What a wild ride, a gripping thriller kept me in suspense the whole time. The character James was truly a psychopathic narcissist. I couldn't believe his gall thinking everyone else was wrong and he was the 'innocent' one.
The only thing I found puzzling was the
very last chapter, I didn't get it.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dive into a book that is going to leave you on the edge of your seat!
This was well done, and kept me engaged the entire time. I was reading as fast as I could, as it was that good. I wanted answers!

If you are looking for a book to get lost in, I highly suggest this one! You won't be disappointed.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was fairly interesting. The characters were hard to like. James especially. I hated him. I think Bertram was weak compare to James and his character does not show as much as James. The story line was fun. It was a thrill for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this story and I freely left this review.

[Winter · Rating 1 out of 5]

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. I usually don't read reviews before reading to make my own judgement about a book but this time I sure wish I had. Book has no suspense and the majority of it is about nothing more than the MMC's obsession and lusting after a woman. It is also rife with errors and unnecessary swearing and needs some serious editing.

[Victoria Costley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as twisted…

While the main character is very graphic in his thoughts, however the plot is fairly predictable and the “twist” wasn’t as exciting as I hoped. I read this quickly because I felt I knew what was happening, and I was not shocked by the ending.

[Ronda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tough slog to finish because I found the main character so repugnant and most of the book was told from his POV. Very capable writer, with great characterizations, but lacked a cohesive plot past the first three chapters.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!

I absolutely love the way the author Cole Baxter pulled me into this book!
It was a non-stop roller-coaster ride. The ending was not what I would've expected. The killer twist was out of this world!

[ComfyChapters on IG · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF** I really wanted to like this one but I just couldn’t get hooked, it was hard to differentiate who was James and who was Bertram

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

suspenceful

An interest twist with a lawyers vibe
A person who is evil and will do anything to be a winner. Hurt people kill people lie to people

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

James is a prick.....he got his payback. Story line was very good.

[Sharmaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to get into this book to start with, didn’t grip me from the first page or even the first couple of chapters but half way through the book I found it page turning and I wanted to pick the book up to continue the story.

Overall, a good book. Think i would’ve enjoyed it even more if it had me hooked from the first couple pages or chapters. I did persevere and I’m glad I did

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review For a honest review in my own words on a book I read. So this was different two friends Bertram and James go on vacation when the betrayal begin.