The President's Lawyer: A Novel

by Lawrence Robbins

A Washington, DC, litigator is hired to defend his best friend, the former President of the United States, against a murder charge in this novel that is “clever and thrilling with a shocking twist” (People).

After a long career as one of DC’s most powerful litigators, Rob Jacobson is faced with the case of a the former President of the United States—his childhood best friend—has been accused of murdering his mistress.

Rob knows he’s the only one who can prove his friend’s innocence, but he is soon overwhelmed as he attempts to devise a strategy to defend an authoritative man with a taste for infidelity, serious anger issues, and unconventional sexual appetites. As the high-profile case unfurls, the troubled, intertwining pasts of the two men complicate Rob’s efforts and soon, doubts begin to grow in his head. Could his oldest friend truly be capable of murder or is something even darker at play? “Robbins...keeps the pace fast and the courtroom scenes convincing” (The New York Times Book Review) in this sensational thriller by a true DC legal insider.

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[Jax · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was....not good, particularly the dialogue. It didn’t feel like real people talking, especially people who know each other well. The courtroom stuff was better. As I read I thought it seemed like a lawyer trying to write a book. And that’s exactly what it was per the note at the end. It did keep me guessing about whodunit, partly because there were several viable suspects (good) but also because the “twist” teased on the cover is kind of screwy (not so good).

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The president who has just lost his re-election bid is accused of killing a woman attorney who worked at the White House. His longtime friend Robbie is asked to be his lawyer at trial. As the reader learns more about Jack, the president, and Robbie, his friend and lawyer, you learn about their early lives as well as their lives as adults. I listened to this book and found it very interesting. The surprise ending made me go back and listen to the ending again to be sure I got it straight. This is a good read and I gave this book 4.7 stars.

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. That's all I can say. There was no suspense, you knew almost from the beginning "who done it," and the characters were terribly flat. If I hadn't had to read this for book club, I would have never have finished it. Perhaps Robbins thought this was an original idea, but the whole plot was obvious and unimaginative. I can usually find something good to say about a book, but not this one.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started off fine but would've been much more interesting without the "split personality"/DID plot twist.

[Becky Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Nice twists. Well written.