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He sued and took away the mob's casino. Now they want it back .

His estranged sister is charged with murder and Thaddeus Murfee must defend. An employee is arrested for a drug crime and he must defend. Topping it all off, Thaddeus himself is charged with tax crimes—at the worst possible moment. A legal mystery all but sweeps them away.

In this fast-paced legal novel, well-known lawyer Thaddeus Murfee has everything to lose and the weight of the legal world on his shoulders. A lawyer of four years who has earned his spurs, Murfee finds himself defending three felony crimes--including his own.

His new wife has given him a daughter and he dotes on her. Then the mob comes. Legal suspense takes over and the reader is taken on a wild ride through the Nevada desert in this lawyer novel that takes you inside the operation of the Desert Riviera Casino and Hotel. Plus the reader is witness to the preparation and defense of three criminal cases. It all comes together through the terrible actions some would take against the young lawyer's family.

Thaddeus Murfee Attorney at Large is the third book in the Thaddeus Murfee series of legal thrillers. The books may be enjoyed in any order the reader wishes.

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 7, 2014

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About the author

John Ellsworth

141 books514 followers
Formerly a trial lawyer for 30 years, John Ellsworth is now a full-time writer of thrillers and historical fiction, with over millions of copies sold. He holds titles such as USA Today bestseller, an Amazon Bestseller and Featured Author, as well as a Kindle All-Star.

Official Website: www.ellsworthbooks.com
Official Twitter: @jellsworthbooks
Official Instagram: @johnellsworth_author
Official Facebook: facebook.com/johnellsworthauthor

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5 stars
1,664 (54%)
4 stars
974 (32%)
3 stars
307 (10%)
2 stars
58 (1%)
1 star
31 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
Profile Image for Nancy Steinle gummel.
507 reviews98 followers
February 8, 2015
Attorney at Large (Thaddeus Muffed Legal Thriller, #3) by John Ellsworth. is a fast paced action thriller. It was hard to put down. I could have read it in one seatting if I had the time. It revolves around three felony crimes and a kidnapping. The mob is angry they lost a lawsuits and had to turnover the Desert Sierra Casino and Hotel to pay the lawsuits. They wanted their money back. It took a while before they found a hitman who would take on a child. They find one in Ragman. Ragman checks out the security around Thad's girlfriend Katy Landers. He spies which room everyone is in. He sets up surveillance to get the numeric code for the home alarm system. The felony cases make an interesting sideline to the story.
Profile Image for Shirley.
44 reviews
February 24, 2015
Needs better proofreading

The book was suspenseful and fun but not quite as believable and as good as the first two. I do plan to read #4 in the series.
Profile Image for Apollo Hesiod.
131 reviews48 followers
January 19, 2017
Another good book in the series, the growing cast of characters & the twists, will be reading more from this series
13 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2017
Confused

First, let me say I love reading John Ellsworth. I truly loved the Michael Gresham series. I was really starting to enjoy this series but there was a blaring inconsistency. In the first book, it spoke of Thad being in foster care and receiving survivors benefits due to his parents death. Now we find he has a sister AND a father..who it was hinted, was very wealthy. Did I miss something?
Profile Image for Don Paske.
1,131 reviews7 followers
March 17, 2015
I enjoyed this book but was disappointed in the grammar. I worked with lawyers for over 30 years. Most were very well-spoken and were excellent writers. Mr. Ellsworth doesn't use complete sentences, which bothers me very much. I was also a little disappointed in some of the courtroom "scenes" because they were not very realistic. Still, this was an entertaining read with very understated humor.
Profile Image for Laurie .
8 reviews
January 5, 2020
I just started this series, beginning with #1 "Thaddeus Murfee". In that story, Thaddeus has no family & was raised in foster care which was why he was recruited as a spy.
Now, I've just finished this story & all of a sudden he has a sister & a father is also mentioned. I love when authors can't keep a story line straight from one book to the next.
Profile Image for Donadee's Corner.
2,648 reviews64 followers
December 4, 2017
Attorney At Large Thad Murfee Bk 4 by John Ellsworth
He sued and took away the mob's casino. Now they want it back.

In this highly charged legal thriller, Thaddeus Murfee's estranged sister is charged with murder and Thaddeus must defend. An employee is arrested for a drug crime and he must defend. Topping it all off, Thaddeus himself is charged with tax crimes—at the worst possible moment. A crime thriller all but sweeps them away. Thaddeus has everything to lose and the weight of the legal world on his shoulders. A lawyer for four years who has earned his spurs, Murfee finds himself defending three felony crimes--including his own. His new wife has given him a daughter and he dotes on her. Then the mob comes. Legal suspense takes over and the reader is taken on a wild ride through the Nevada desert in this lawyer novel that takes you inside the operation of the Desert Riviera Casino and Hotel. Plus, the reader is witness to the preparation and defense of three criminal cases. It all comes together through the terrible actions some would take against the young lawyer's family.

What did I like? Here we are, and Thaddeus is up to his neck in trouble. It just does not seem possible for all this bad luck to happen to one guy but heck when you sue the MOB and they decide that they are not going to stand for it then watch out!

What are you going to like? This is so full of action and drama that you will not lay this down. Besides the courtroom drama and the kidnapping of his daughter the low life that gets involved and where that will take us… wow mystery, intrigue, drama, losses, heartbreaking, twists, turns and all in one book.
Profile Image for Aimee.
318 reviews7 followers
December 1, 2018
Intense Thriller

Wow! I just finished Attorney at Large: A Legal Thriller, and the ending got a bit intense. I had to use the restroom the last10 minutes, but I couldn't put the book down! I started reading this book early this afternoon. I finished it at 9:30pm. After this review I am starting Book 4. The ending was definitely a "whaaat!" moment. I can't wait to start where Book 3 left off.

Attorney at Large keeps inline with the rest of the series. It's like getting two books worth of suspense, intrigue and a thriller in one book. The book starts off at a great pace and keeps going the entire length of the book. John Ellsworth masterfully packs a lot in each book, but it doesn't read as a hot mess. You don't feel rushed through, but Ellsworth doesn't drag on and on or belabor a point. He really hits a happy medium in his story telling.

I still really like Thaddeus. He is a kind, flawed man in his late 20's. He has made some stupid choices, but he is loyal to those he calls a friend or loved one. For a rich man, he spreads his wealth. He is generous but shrewd when it counts.

I love the new characters introduced in this book, as well as returning ones. He picks up a genuine group of friends in his travels. He also attracts the Chicago Mob. So his life isn't all rainbows and unicorns.

Attorney at Large definitely deserves all 5 Stars!
Profile Image for Scott Woodard.
31 reviews4 followers
December 31, 2019
So much potential; such marginal performance.

I really wanted to like "Attorney at Large," the fourth in the Thaddeus Murfee series. I'd read the first three books in the series and was really enjoying Thaddeus's adventures.

However, with this fourth book, I felt the John Ellsworth was rushing the writing. I read that the ten Thaddeus Murfee books were released between 2014 and 2016 (https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/joh...). Ten books in two years! "Attorney at Large" certainly seemed to be a rush job. Ellsworth's writing style made me wonder if he was drafting several books at once.

Several reviewers have addressed the grammar mistakes, which were evident, but not overly distracting. What was distracting was the sophomoric dialogue and plot pacing. In fact, after two-thirds into the book, I just couldn't finish it.

I've got a couple more of Ellsworth's books stored on my Kindle, one of which is another Thaddeus Murfee adventure. I'm hoping that "Attorney at Large" is a one-off, and that subsequent books get back on track to Ellsworth's higher standards.
444 reviews4 followers
August 5, 2024
another great book by author, please read

I really enjoy this author penmanship. But 1 thing author should pay attention to, the characters age be off. Like Henry was 98 when we met him and 2 yrs later, he’s still 98. Thad and the children age didn’t collaborate. It’s just small things but noticeable. I don’t know why anyone wants to bother Thad bc they ought to know by now, he’s the king of lawsuits. But he’s still my favorite character. And I knew Ilene was foul. I blame the parents for Sarai ordeal. They were careless bc they didn’t checked the noise Katy heard. You always check noise, whether you thought you imagined it or not. And after Bat reported seeing the suspicious van, they still didn’t check. And the actions that they took to save her was all wrong bc it almost blew up in their faces if Ragman didn’t develop a conscious and if the young boy wasn’t out and about.
Profile Image for Jeffrey.
291 reviews4 followers
August 28, 2022
This is the second book by Ellsworth that I have read, and the first in this series. I enjoy his writing. Like the various characters and the descriptive nature of the stories.

This one set in Vegas has lots to consider and gives some fun insigth into casino life.

Thaddeus is an iinteresting person, especially for a lawyer and a casino owner. I had not read the previous books, but look forward to reading future ones to see where this character may go.

One small detail involves a character at the end and we don't learn what really happens to him, but it doesn't spoil anything, jusy an unknown.

Glad my library had a copy.
Profile Image for Nancy Silk.
Author 5 books82 followers
April 26, 2018
"Legal Thriller To Amaze You"

After Murfee has taken away a Las Vegas casino from a mob boss, they want it back. Murfee's sister is charged with murder and he will defend her. One of his employees is arrested for a drug crime and Murfee will also defend him. Lastly, Thaddeus is charged with tax crimes by the IRS. How can Thaddeus retain his mental capabilities which seem to get tangled in a spider web? Awesome, captivating story to capture you. This is a wild ride you're to thrill you and take your breath away.
Profile Image for ursula gift.
15 reviews
October 8, 2018
Just finished Attorney At Large, John i give you your props that was a good one but I must say a little selfishly that it was too short, I could of read some more, I did think that those two boys would of found the baby, and was glad when it turned out like that, also I was so scared for Kiki but it turned out alright, I sometimes wonder about lawyers and their tactics to get a client off, I ask my 2 cousins that all the time. At the end I want Thad to find his baby snatcher, but it's okay I guess we would find out some other time. This was my first Mcfee and I loved it, Kudos John .
410 reviews6 followers
December 21, 2018
This was the 3rd series of the Thaddeus Murfee and it was the best so far. It continues the story line with Thad still being stalked by the mob, and he meets and falls in Love with another woman, even though he has feelings for his woman back home in Illinois. The author really knows Las Vegas and the working of the casinos. Also awesome knowledge of the inner workings of the FBI and the Drug War in Mexico. Really great story and I'm looking forward to the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
2 reviews
February 13, 2021
Sloppy Writing

This was a fun book to read, and I enjoy the Thaddeus Murfee series. However, the author made a glaring mistake. Early in the book, he had a character pull a gun from her purse and aim it an attacker’s heart. She then shot him in the heart.

Later in the book, her defense was that the gun accidentally fired leaving a hole in her purse. This error should have easily been avoided, either by the author or his editor .

77 reviews
November 9, 2021
Wow, how many things can happen in one book! All kinds of activities. Very exciting all the way through. Glad Thad's personal life is straightened out a bit. He had too many kids and too many girlfriends--this is better. I can see he will be looking for revenge in the next book, I am looking forward to getting into that. Excellent book all around, highly recommend as well as the series. Good writing!
Profile Image for Scott Miller.
11 reviews
February 16, 2019
The adventure stays exciting!

A well written chronicle of the attorney, Thaddeus Murfee's take-down of a Mob family using the legal system to pull the carpet out from under them. The twists and turns of the plot keep the story interesting and make it necessary to keep following the story to its conclusion.
Profile Image for Gary Webster.
336 reviews
August 2, 2019
This One’s Good

This one is a lot of fun. We meet more of Thad’s life, and we learn more about him. His life at this stage seems a little unbelievable but it allows for some fun. The cases keep the story rolling, but I would like a little more meat at the end. However, keep reading.
Profile Image for Don.
1,027 reviews5 followers
December 12, 2019
Fabulous story of Thaddeus Murfee’s life in Vegas after he acquires the casino. I like How Ellsworth let you read any book he writes as a stand alone even though all these books progress in how Thaddeus Murfee made it in this lawyering business. Engaging from the very beginning all the way to the end. Read it in two days.5
24 reviews1 follower
January 13, 2023
A great read.

A true thriller, which delivers fully crafted & newly emerging characters @ imaginative plot twists. A complete thriller. Being a practicing litigation attorney, I recognize & appreciate the factual & legal maneuvering & authentic court scenes. Another thoroughly enjoyable read. I can't wait to load the storyline in the Thaddeus Murder saga.
796 reviews5 followers
September 29, 2017
Good plot

While I like his plots and characters, this one had way too many f bombs, even used by young teens-- too much foul language-- if this continues in the one following, I am done with the series.
99 reviews
January 26, 2018
Too much money.

Most of as Ellsworth's books that I have read including this one have so much money involved that it's hard to fathom.
Lawyers make good money usually, but the ones I know tell settlements as large as he uses seldom happen.
22 reviews
February 22, 2018
Good legal thriller

Morevof Thaddeus Murphy and his exploits. Book is entertaining but it does stretch the imagination. Overall still a good read, particularly if you have kindle unlimited.
77 reviews
March 25, 2018
Yet another good read

Enjoyed yet another good read from John Ellsworth. Downloading book 5 now. There seem to be more spelling/grammatical errors cropping up. Guess it's the price you pay for Kindle Unlimited books.
Profile Image for Louise Pledge.
1,292 reviews28 followers
July 22, 2018
I'm trying to read everything that Johns Ellsworth has written, and the Thaddeus Murfee books are exceptionally entertaining. Murfee is quite the character but a very good guy and even better attorney.
661 reviews
July 27, 2019
Great Read

Wow! What a roller coaster ride. Plus I got a full education on the inside workings of aVegas casino.

Several legal cases to solve, including one involving a family member. Family drama.

One of the best of this series
368 reviews
May 11, 2020
I can get enough of John Ellsworth.

Thaddeus Murfee is a magnet for trouble. Sticky issues from the previous book were resolved within the first two chapters. Then it all hit the fan again! I never "got" who Ragman was supposed to be? The ending was quite abrupt.
2 reviews
May 16, 2020
ANOTHER TOP DRAWER BOOK

Really enjoy these legal inspired books by John. I have read a few and feel a friend of John Ellsworth. Hard to put down as one event leads to another. Highly recommended to all my reader friends.
Profile Image for Teri Hawk.
149 reviews
June 5, 2020
Loved this book!

The characters in all of Mr. Elliott's books are so likable and you care about them. This author has a gift for writing and I'm so glad he shares it with us! This book was so exciting, that I read it in one day.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews

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