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Cass Leary Legal Thriller #9
Guilty Acts
A murder committed in front of a million online viewers.
Everyone clicked. Watched. Commented. Shared.
No one intervened.
Desperate for fame and fortune, there’s never been a get-rich-quick scheme housewife Juliet Clay hasn’t chased. When she finally goes viral selling diet shakes, she figures all her dreams have come true. But when her husband ends up dead from poison, Juliet’s dreams become a nightmare and she’s the prime murder suspect.
A sucker for lost causes, Defense Attorney Cass Leary takes the case to pay forward a favor she owes. Though Cass soon learns this case is more hopeless than most. Juliet made more enemies than friends in town and publicly threatened to kill her husband. Twice. The physical evidence draws a direct line to Juliet as well.
All of Cass’ instincts tell her Juliet might be innocent. The woman is way too smart to act that guilty. Cass becomes convinced the police haven’t dug deep enough. But that alone won’t carry the day in court.
Now it’s up to Cass to expose the truth and stand up to a killer. Even if it’s her next client....
Guilty Acts is the jaw-dropping ninth book in the Cass Leary legal thriller series.
Duration: 7 hours 49 minutes.
Everyone clicked. Watched. Commented. Shared.
No one intervened.
Desperate for fame and fortune, there’s never been a get-rich-quick scheme housewife Juliet Clay hasn’t chased. When she finally goes viral selling diet shakes, she figures all her dreams have come true. But when her husband ends up dead from poison, Juliet’s dreams become a nightmare and she’s the prime murder suspect.
A sucker for lost causes, Defense Attorney Cass Leary takes the case to pay forward a favor she owes. Though Cass soon learns this case is more hopeless than most. Juliet made more enemies than friends in town and publicly threatened to kill her husband. Twice. The physical evidence draws a direct line to Juliet as well.
All of Cass’ instincts tell her Juliet might be innocent. The woman is way too smart to act that guilty. Cass becomes convinced the police haven’t dug deep enough. But that alone won’t carry the day in court.
Now it’s up to Cass to expose the truth and stand up to a killer. Even if it’s her next client....
Guilty Acts is the jaw-dropping ninth book in the Cass Leary legal thriller series.
Duration: 7 hours 49 minutes.
8 pages, Audible Audio
First published December 22, 2021
996 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Robin James
24 books425 followersRobin James is an attorney and former law professor. She's worked on a wide range of civil, criminal and family law cases in her twenty-year legal career. She also spent over a decade as supervising attorney for a Michigan legal clinic assisting thousands of people who could not otherwise afford access to justice.
Robin now lives on a lake in southern Michigan with her husband, two children, and one lazy dog. Her favorite, pure Michigan writing spot is stretched out on the back of a pontoon watching the faster boats go by.
Join Robin James's Legal Thriller Newsletter to get updates on her latest releases and author news. http://robinjamesbooks.com/newsletter
Robin now lives on a lake in southern Michigan with her husband, two children, and one lazy dog. Her favorite, pure Michigan writing spot is stretched out on the back of a pontoon watching the faster boats go by.
Join Robin James's Legal Thriller Newsletter to get updates on her latest releases and author news. http://robinjamesbooks.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
December 22, 2021
ღ Another great read by Robin James . the author will instantly pull you into the story with Cass Leary, and all the other characters in this series. If you are anything like me , Once you start this book you will not want to put it down.
Cass is in the position in her career where she can pick and choose which cases or clients interest her , and the Funny thing about this story is that after so many headline trial cases, Cass Leary decided that she wasn’t going to take on anymore murder cases. She was going to go into one-year moratorium. But she had Jeanie and Tori pretty much begging her to take on this new client
I am a huge fan of this author and I loved how if you wished you may read this book as standalone read- but my question would be why would you want to , you’ll love the back story to this series, and each murder thriller case
Omg that ending
December 31, 2021
Finally!
I was desperately awaiting this book's release, especially given the way things ended in the previous book. I hungrily reread everything leading up to this entry just to make sure I was prepared for it, then eagerly DOVE right into this one. I wanted answers. I craved them. What was to become of Eric and Cass after the high-stakes case from the previous book? It was all left up in the air: will they finally get together, or will Eric stay away? Yes, I love the legal thrills of Cass Leary books, but it's the wonderful characters that I love even more. And the slow-burn relationship of Cass and Eric has the highlight of this entire series for me. Theirs was the story I was MOST desperate for.
But (ugh, and I HATE that there's a "but"), as good as it felt to be back in the world of Cass Leary, it pains me to admit that it did not live up to either my expectations or the standards set by the previous books. I wish I could say it was worth the wait, but sadly, it fell short. Way short, rating the lowest of all entries at 2.5 stars for me. The only reason I rounded up to 3 simply was because of the interesting court case on Cass's plate, about a social media star who has been accused of slowly poisoning her husband on her platform. It was still quite fun and entertaining case to puzzle through, and I had some solid guesses that ended up proving true. It was a great legal case, albeit feeling a bit haphazard and rushed compared to previous entries.
This is a rare entry in which the primary focus is on Cass's court case without mixing too much of her family life. Some folks likely prefer that and likely will be happy with it, but...I have become too fond of mixing the both of them that it just feels empty without the proper attention to the other half of the equation. I was deprived of answers to so many questions left from the previous book. Not only that, but the moments where I'd expect the answers to come are cheaply presented to me in a rush, as if their inclusion would be an inconvenience. They were overlooked, glossed over, or pushed into background territory without embellishment. I'd have been fine with that if things were meant to be covered later in the book, but not even THAT happened. Since I'm a big, BIG fan of Cass's personal life (particularly when it involves a relationship with Eric) and not just her court life, this was by far the biggest disappointment.
Hence, the remainder of this review, which is pretty much a spew.
After Eric leaves, I learn that Cass has been communicating with him via text during his entire absence until it fizzled out, but I don't get to read any of it. What did they even talk about? Was it awkward? Was it deep and meaningful? Why did it stop? Nope. I wasn't allowed to know about it.
Before his return, Eric sends Cass a card that, according to Cass, "...might be a letter inside along with whatever card he’d sent." It's thicker than a card, hence her suspicion. But she never opens it, fearful of what it would say. When it's finally opened in Eric's presence, there's just the card with some nice words about Eric missing her. But where's the letter? Why was it so thick, as Cass claimed it was? It was never mentioned again.
When Eric DID reappear (earlier than I expected, I'll admit), I'm told he and Cass "talked for hours." Really? About what? Come on, I remember thinking, don't do this to me. This was when things started to grate on my nerves. Why am I not privy to ANY of these exchanges of information between them? After 8 books of Eric and Cass randomly crushing or flirting, building tension, teasing me about them becoming official now that hindrances have been removed (albeit painfully) in the previous book, I get squat? Nothing? He just waltzes back, they exchange words that I mostly don't get to witness that could have compensated for the massive gap of interaction, and Cass puts him to work nearly instantly to help on her case. And that's how they carry on the majority of the way of this book. Seriously?
When Cass's band of loveable work companions hears of Eric's return, Cass says they "grilled me constantly." Are you kidding me? When? How long did it last? What did they say? What did they ask? What were Cass's answers? Don't I get to be a part of that too? Nope. Tossed by the wayside like it is all just meaningless drivel. Background stuff.
There was a fortunate moment when one character did question how Cass doesn't have millions of questions for Eric and I was thinking, "FINALLY SOMEONE SAYS IT!" So when a new opportunity for a meaningful conversation presented itself in the final chapter, one that I was hopeful can make up for all the lost conversations throughout the entire book, Cass silences Eric with a kiss and then they finally "do the deed" (which was also annoyingly glossed over) with NO MORE CONVERSATION. What about the proposal? Where did Eric stand in that department? Did Cass even care about that anymore?
Beyond my obvious complaints about the VERY unwelcome dismissal of Eric and Cass's relationship, it's hard to put my finger on what else went wrong in this book, but things certainly did. The entire vibe felt just altogether off the whole way through. This book legit felt like a filler to me, and I totally didn't like that feeling, not at THIS point in the series when the momentum had been so strong. It was diluted, lacking the emotional substance that I've become so accustomed to in the previous books. Characters felt different than how they were portrayed in literally ALL previous books. Their personalities were just.... wrong. So much of this thing was presented in a tragically half-hearted manner compared to the careful crafting of all the previous entries, stuff that I always PRAISED the author for doing. I like the little development between Mattie and Tori, but even THAT was rushed. Was he even officially divorced now? It was never mentioned.
Was the wait too long? Did Robin James lose her mojo and hurried to finish to meet a deadline? Did she stop caring as much or has she simply run out of steam? Or is she more attentive to the upcoming entry and thus quickly tackled this one just to get sort of get it over with? Given the way this book ended, with a reappearance of Killian Thorne to complicate matters between new item Eric and Cass, I'm going with the latter: That Robin James sacrificed the TLC that should have been reserved for this book and is instead, perhaps, saving it for the next. Or maybe it was none of this. Maybe this was just the one entry that failed to resonate with me like the others, the one "bad" egg. Every series is allowed to have one. I just didn't like that it was this one. 😔
I was desperately awaiting this book's release, especially given the way things ended in the previous book. I hungrily reread everything leading up to this entry just to make sure I was prepared for it, then eagerly DOVE right into this one. I wanted answers. I craved them. What was to become of Eric and Cass after the high-stakes case from the previous book? It was all left up in the air: will they finally get together, or will Eric stay away? Yes, I love the legal thrills of Cass Leary books, but it's the wonderful characters that I love even more. And the slow-burn relationship of Cass and Eric has the highlight of this entire series for me. Theirs was the story I was MOST desperate for.
But (ugh, and I HATE that there's a "but"), as good as it felt to be back in the world of Cass Leary, it pains me to admit that it did not live up to either my expectations or the standards set by the previous books. I wish I could say it was worth the wait, but sadly, it fell short. Way short, rating the lowest of all entries at 2.5 stars for me. The only reason I rounded up to 3 simply was because of the interesting court case on Cass's plate, about a social media star who has been accused of slowly poisoning her husband on her platform. It was still quite fun and entertaining case to puzzle through, and I had some solid guesses that ended up proving true. It was a great legal case, albeit feeling a bit haphazard and rushed compared to previous entries.
This is a rare entry in which the primary focus is on Cass's court case without mixing too much of her family life. Some folks likely prefer that and likely will be happy with it, but...I have become too fond of mixing the both of them that it just feels empty without the proper attention to the other half of the equation. I was deprived of answers to so many questions left from the previous book. Not only that, but the moments where I'd expect the answers to come are cheaply presented to me in a rush, as if their inclusion would be an inconvenience. They were overlooked, glossed over, or pushed into background territory without embellishment. I'd have been fine with that if things were meant to be covered later in the book, but not even THAT happened. Since I'm a big, BIG fan of Cass's personal life (particularly when it involves a relationship with Eric) and not just her court life, this was by far the biggest disappointment.
Hence, the remainder of this review, which is pretty much a spew.
After Eric leaves, I learn that Cass has been communicating with him via text during his entire absence until it fizzled out, but I don't get to read any of it. What did they even talk about? Was it awkward? Was it deep and meaningful? Why did it stop? Nope. I wasn't allowed to know about it.
Before his return, Eric sends Cass a card that, according to Cass, "...might be a letter inside along with whatever card he’d sent." It's thicker than a card, hence her suspicion. But she never opens it, fearful of what it would say. When it's finally opened in Eric's presence, there's just the card with some nice words about Eric missing her. But where's the letter? Why was it so thick, as Cass claimed it was? It was never mentioned again.
When Eric DID reappear (earlier than I expected, I'll admit), I'm told he and Cass "talked for hours." Really? About what? Come on, I remember thinking, don't do this to me. This was when things started to grate on my nerves. Why am I not privy to ANY of these exchanges of information between them? After 8 books of Eric and Cass randomly crushing or flirting, building tension, teasing me about them becoming official now that hindrances have been removed (albeit painfully) in the previous book, I get squat? Nothing? He just waltzes back, they exchange words that I mostly don't get to witness that could have compensated for the massive gap of interaction, and Cass puts him to work nearly instantly to help on her case. And that's how they carry on the majority of the way of this book. Seriously?
When Cass's band of loveable work companions hears of Eric's return, Cass says they "grilled me constantly." Are you kidding me? When? How long did it last? What did they say? What did they ask? What were Cass's answers? Don't I get to be a part of that too? Nope. Tossed by the wayside like it is all just meaningless drivel. Background stuff.
There was a fortunate moment when one character did question how Cass doesn't have millions of questions for Eric and I was thinking, "FINALLY SOMEONE SAYS IT!" So when a new opportunity for a meaningful conversation presented itself in the final chapter, one that I was hopeful can make up for all the lost conversations throughout the entire book, Cass silences Eric with a kiss and then they finally "do the deed" (which was also annoyingly glossed over) with NO MORE CONVERSATION. What about the proposal? Where did Eric stand in that department? Did Cass even care about that anymore?
Beyond my obvious complaints about the VERY unwelcome dismissal of Eric and Cass's relationship, it's hard to put my finger on what else went wrong in this book, but things certainly did. The entire vibe felt just altogether off the whole way through. This book legit felt like a filler to me, and I totally didn't like that feeling, not at THIS point in the series when the momentum had been so strong. It was diluted, lacking the emotional substance that I've become so accustomed to in the previous books. Characters felt different than how they were portrayed in literally ALL previous books. Their personalities were just.... wrong. So much of this thing was presented in a tragically half-hearted manner compared to the careful crafting of all the previous entries, stuff that I always PRAISED the author for doing. I like the little development between Mattie and Tori, but even THAT was rushed. Was he even officially divorced now? It was never mentioned.
Was the wait too long? Did Robin James lose her mojo and hurried to finish to meet a deadline? Did she stop caring as much or has she simply run out of steam? Or is she more attentive to the upcoming entry and thus quickly tackled this one just to get sort of get it over with? Given the way this book ended, with a reappearance of Killian Thorne to complicate matters between new item Eric and Cass, I'm going with the latter: That Robin James sacrificed the TLC that should have been reserved for this book and is instead, perhaps, saving it for the next. Or maybe it was none of this. Maybe this was just the one entry that failed to resonate with me like the others, the one "bad" egg. Every series is allowed to have one. I just didn't like that it was this one. 😔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2021
Rounding up to 4 stars!
'The things you fear shall lead to new opportunities.'
People we have progress which makes me a very happy bunny. Gonna keep it simple here. Cass didn't want to take on anymore murder cases until her mentor Jeannie gently nudges her to take a look. Well what happens`? Cass takes the case. With little time to prepare and the client being narcesstic, young and easily dislikeable she is having a tough time and although she may be all of those things she is in this an innocent bystander.
The book is engaging and kept me overall interested in the plot. However I can't stand typos. That ending finally Eric is back and then a spanner is thrown in the works. Gah!
'The things you fear shall lead to new opportunities.'
People we have progress which makes me a very happy bunny. Gonna keep it simple here. Cass didn't want to take on anymore murder cases until her mentor Jeannie gently nudges her to take a look. Well what happens`? Cass takes the case. With little time to prepare and the client being narcesstic, young and easily dislikeable she is having a tough time and although she may be all of those things she is in this an innocent bystander.
The book is engaging and kept me overall interested in the plot. However I can't stand typos. That ending finally Eric is back and then a spanner is thrown in the works. Gah!
February 14, 2024
5.0 stars. Another excellent read. Tough, sad, twisted case for Cass and her crew. And then there's Eric. Sigh. This author drives me crazy anxious as she has Cass and Eric's relationship move at a snails pace. 😫 And then leaves us with an ohhhh shitttt of an ending. 🤦♀️🫣
Can't start book 10 soon enough.
Can't start book 10 soon enough.
December 23, 2021
Despite having sworn off murder trials for a year, Cass Leary is persuaded to take on the case of Juliet Clay, a deeply unpopular social media fanatic who is accused of slowly poisoning her husband, Nate, to death. Having taken on yet another pyramid scheme, Juliet even uploaded videos of herself cheerfully feeding the apparently poisoned health drinks to her husband for weeks. Caught in the middle of what is a toxic relationship is Juliet's son, Bryson, who was with his beloved step-father at the end.
What seems at first glance to be a cut & dried case of murder that was committed very publicly on Juliet's Instagram pages is anything but simple. With Detective Eric Wray still awol and the evidence stacked against her client, Cass has her work cut out for her if she is to get a 'not guilty' verdict.
As usual, James is on top form here with an exciting & well-constructed thriller. The pace never drops and it was near impossible to put down. I pretty much read this in one sitting. It's a slick, stylish courtroom thriller that keeps the reader guessing, although the clues are there if you pay attention. It's also a darker thriller than usual and, in the end, there are no real winners. That said, James is again on form here: it's an exciting thriller with great characters, a well-constructed & fast-paced plot that will keep you on your toes to its jaw-dropping conclusion. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy to review. I can honestly say that I have yet to read anything less than stellar by James and 'Guilty Acts' is just the same high standard as all her other work.
What seems at first glance to be a cut & dried case of murder that was committed very publicly on Juliet's Instagram pages is anything but simple. With Detective Eric Wray still awol and the evidence stacked against her client, Cass has her work cut out for her if she is to get a 'not guilty' verdict.
As usual, James is on top form here with an exciting & well-constructed thriller. The pace never drops and it was near impossible to put down. I pretty much read this in one sitting. It's a slick, stylish courtroom thriller that keeps the reader guessing, although the clues are there if you pay attention. It's also a darker thriller than usual and, in the end, there are no real winners. That said, James is again on form here: it's an exciting thriller with great characters, a well-constructed & fast-paced plot that will keep you on your toes to its jaw-dropping conclusion. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy to review. I can honestly say that I have yet to read anything less than stellar by James and 'Guilty Acts' is just the same high standard as all her other work.
June 6, 2023
Hmmmmm.
This was about a former Marine being charged with m*rder of a guy behind a motel room. Looks bad but nothing is what it seems.
I have enjoyed reading the series thus far. I think the Author is brilliant in her writing and her suspense. It's definitely one of my favorite reads...until now. I think the saying "stop while your ahead" applies here. I think the Author needed to stop at book 9. This book, it was more soap opera than a legal thriller. We had the legal side but we also had way too much drama with Cassie and Eric. That isn't even solved yet either, not completely. We had drama with Cassie and Killian. If I remember correctly, Cassie said goodbye to Killian in Book 8. She left him while he got away on a boat or something. I thought that was the end of that cycle but the Author brought him back ? Why? Idk. I dont get it. She should have ended Killian and Cassie then. Not here. We had the drama between Eric and Killian which to me wasn't even needed. I felt like we were sucked into The Young and the Restless or As the World Turns. It was too much drama , too much soap opera. That affected this book one hundred percent. I can't love this for the life of me. I truly think this was extra and readers didn't need it. It's shocking that there's two more after this one. Why? I don't understand it. Anyway, I'm giving a three of five. Not horrible but too much extra drama we don't need.
This was about a former Marine being charged with m*rder of a guy behind a motel room. Looks bad but nothing is what it seems.
I have enjoyed reading the series thus far. I think the Author is brilliant in her writing and her suspense. It's definitely one of my favorite reads...until now. I think the saying "stop while your ahead" applies here. I think the Author needed to stop at book 9. This book, it was more soap opera than a legal thriller. We had the legal side but we also had way too much drama with Cassie and Eric. That isn't even solved yet either, not completely. We had drama with Cassie and Killian. If I remember correctly, Cassie said goodbye to Killian in Book 8. She left him while he got away on a boat or something. I thought that was the end of that cycle but the Author brought him back ? Why? Idk. I dont get it. She should have ended Killian and Cassie then. Not here. We had the drama between Eric and Killian which to me wasn't even needed. I felt like we were sucked into The Young and the Restless or As the World Turns. It was too much drama , too much soap opera. That affected this book one hundred percent. I can't love this for the life of me. I truly think this was extra and readers didn't need it. It's shocking that there's two more after this one. Why? I don't understand it. Anyway, I'm giving a three of five. Not horrible but too much extra drama we don't need.
September 28, 2024
Law-enforcement folks in the small Michigan town figure Juliet Clay murdered her husband, Nate. So certain are they that they arrest her, essentially orphaning the woman’s 17-year-old son, Bryson. It is he who appears at Cass Leary’s legal office begging for help, and it is Cass’s legal partner, Jeannie, who is most moved by his pathos.
Juliet Clay is an entirely unlikable character. Her narcissism is a horrific trait, and she displays it every chance she gets. She murdered her husband, so the cops say, with millions watching on her social media platform where she sells diet shakes. Numerous times in public, she threatened to kill him in his sleep.
But things are rarely as cut and dried as they appear. Nate had stage four pancreatic cancer, and his death was a matter of days or weeks away at most.
But the cops insisted she poisoned him, and all those followers are mute witnesses. In her videos, she hands him the apparently lethal shakes, and he downs them.
Cass had sworn off high-profile murder-type cases for a year, but Bryson’s forlorn appearance in her office changed all that.
Of course, you can read this to see how it turns out. If you read this series to immerse yourself in the antics of Cass’s family, this will disappoint you. If you read this because you enjoy the courtroom tension, you’re going to do fine with this book in the series.
Juliet Clay is an entirely unlikable character. Her narcissism is a horrific trait, and she displays it every chance she gets. She murdered her husband, so the cops say, with millions watching on her social media platform where she sells diet shakes. Numerous times in public, she threatened to kill him in his sleep.
But things are rarely as cut and dried as they appear. Nate had stage four pancreatic cancer, and his death was a matter of days or weeks away at most.
But the cops insisted she poisoned him, and all those followers are mute witnesses. In her videos, she hands him the apparently lethal shakes, and he downs them.
Cass had sworn off high-profile murder-type cases for a year, but Bryson’s forlorn appearance in her office changed all that.
Of course, you can read this to see how it turns out. If you read this series to immerse yourself in the antics of Cass’s family, this will disappoint you. If you read this because you enjoy the courtroom tension, you’re going to do fine with this book in the series.
August 8, 2022
Mercy Kill by Robin James 8/3/2022 Kindle
I’m back with this series as a quick read, following Cass Leary and her lawyer exploits is Delphi, Michigan. In this installment, Detective Eric Wray, a constant part of Cass’s life, becomes a major character when his long-comatose wife finally succumbs, just after he had visited her. Unfortunately, her death is ruled murder and he becomes the prime suspect. Naturally, Cass defends him. This is in spite of the fact she isn’t entirely sure he is innocent! Eric himself isn’t very helpful in his own defense.
The same group of character is in and out with the usual conflicts surrounding them. We hear different expressions of mercy killing as well. Our story raps up in the usual over-the-top fashion I’m used to and continue to dislike. It seems a simpler and more logical ending doesn’t work for this author. However, once again I generally enjoyed this quick read, will continue with the series, and recommend it to others.
I’m back with this series as a quick read, following Cass Leary and her lawyer exploits is Delphi, Michigan. In this installment, Detective Eric Wray, a constant part of Cass’s life, becomes a major character when his long-comatose wife finally succumbs, just after he had visited her. Unfortunately, her death is ruled murder and he becomes the prime suspect. Naturally, Cass defends him. This is in spite of the fact she isn’t entirely sure he is innocent! Eric himself isn’t very helpful in his own defense.
The same group of character is in and out with the usual conflicts surrounding them. We hear different expressions of mercy killing as well. Our story raps up in the usual over-the-top fashion I’m used to and continue to dislike. It seems a simpler and more logical ending doesn’t work for this author. However, once again I generally enjoyed this quick read, will continue with the series, and recommend it to others.
September 7, 2025
Finished this one last week and forgot to post! Good audiobook but didn’t realize it’s a series so I started back at the beginning now!
“Desperate for fame and fortune, there’s never been a get-rich-quick scheme housewife Juliet Clay hasn’t chased. When she finally goes viral selling diet shakes, she figures all her dreams have come true. But when her husband ends up dead from poison, Juliet’s dreams become a nightmare and she’s the prime murder suspect.
A sucker for lost causes, defense attorney Cass Leary takes the case to pay forward a favor she owes. Though Cass soon learns this case is more hopeless than most. Juliet made more enemies than friends in town and publicly threatened to kill her husband. Twice. The physical evidence draws a direct line to Juliet as well.
All of Cass’s instincts tell her Juliet might be innocent. The woman is way too smart to act that guilty. Cass becomes convinced the police haven’t dug deep enough. But that alone won’t carry the day in court.”
“Desperate for fame and fortune, there’s never been a get-rich-quick scheme housewife Juliet Clay hasn’t chased. When she finally goes viral selling diet shakes, she figures all her dreams have come true. But when her husband ends up dead from poison, Juliet’s dreams become a nightmare and she’s the prime murder suspect.
A sucker for lost causes, defense attorney Cass Leary takes the case to pay forward a favor she owes. Though Cass soon learns this case is more hopeless than most. Juliet made more enemies than friends in town and publicly threatened to kill her husband. Twice. The physical evidence draws a direct line to Juliet as well.
All of Cass’s instincts tell her Juliet might be innocent. The woman is way too smart to act that guilty. Cass becomes convinced the police haven’t dug deep enough. But that alone won’t carry the day in court.”
January 14, 2022
I always look for another in this series.
Cass Leary has her own legal practice, but now it seems that she is into trying muder cases. When her friend comes to her to ask her to look into case. In this one, the woman is accused of murdering her husband by putting poison in the milkshakes she was giving him everyday. She is a well known blogger, who has a lot of followers and now the claim is that she taped it every day. All the evidence points to her.
Cass wasn't sure about taking the case, but after hearing the story, she takes it on. But, will this one be the case the Cass loses.
Eric is back after the loss of his wife and will him and Cass finally get together or is he only coming back to say goodbye!
As always, great courtroom drama!!
Cass Leary has her own legal practice, but now it seems that she is into trying muder cases. When her friend comes to her to ask her to look into case. In this one, the woman is accused of murdering her husband by putting poison in the milkshakes she was giving him everyday. She is a well known blogger, who has a lot of followers and now the claim is that she taped it every day. All the evidence points to her.
Cass wasn't sure about taking the case, but after hearing the story, she takes it on. But, will this one be the case the Cass loses.
Eric is back after the loss of his wife and will him and Cass finally get together or is he only coming back to say goodbye!
As always, great courtroom drama!!
November 2, 2025
5 Stars
Guilty Acts is the ninth book in the Cass Leary Legal Thriller Series by Robin James. This is a gripping and emotionally charged legal thriller series that is as compelling as it is thought-provoking. Cass Leary is a fiercely intelligent and tenacious attorney who navigates the murky waters of justice with a mix of grit, vulnerability, and unyielding determination.
The cases in the series are diverse and meticulously detailed, ranging from domestic disputes to high-stakes criminal trials. Robin James’ background as a legal practitioner shines through in the authenticity of the courtroom scenes and the nuanced exploration of ethical dilemmas. Each book is a page-turner, filled with unexpected twists, moral gray areas, and moments of genuine suspense.
Happy Reading…
Guilty Acts is the ninth book in the Cass Leary Legal Thriller Series by Robin James. This is a gripping and emotionally charged legal thriller series that is as compelling as it is thought-provoking. Cass Leary is a fiercely intelligent and tenacious attorney who navigates the murky waters of justice with a mix of grit, vulnerability, and unyielding determination.
The cases in the series are diverse and meticulously detailed, ranging from domestic disputes to high-stakes criminal trials. Robin James’ background as a legal practitioner shines through in the authenticity of the courtroom scenes and the nuanced exploration of ethical dilemmas. Each book is a page-turner, filled with unexpected twists, moral gray areas, and moments of genuine suspense.
Happy Reading…
February 18, 2023
Another really good read, keeps you guessing
I've gotten used to guessing wrong as to who is guilty in Robin James' books, but this one really is one of those "didn't see THAT one coming" stories. That is, until the reasoning and planning starts to be revealed, and then it actually makes perfect sense. And, just like real life, maybe the "good guys" aren't really all that good. Some of the characters will probably remind you of people you know. It's that kind of story. Robin James' books just keep getting better and better, and she set a high bar to begin with. Don't miss this one.
I've gotten used to guessing wrong as to who is guilty in Robin James' books, but this one really is one of those "didn't see THAT one coming" stories. That is, until the reasoning and planning starts to be revealed, and then it actually makes perfect sense. And, just like real life, maybe the "good guys" aren't really all that good. Some of the characters will probably remind you of people you know. It's that kind of story. Robin James' books just keep getting better and better, and she set a high bar to begin with. Don't miss this one.
December 19, 2021
The next Cass Leary book is here❣️
Guilty Acts is the next book in the Cass Leary series and it’s a real suspenseful and exciting read😁
Cass once again gets involved in a murder trial when the evidence is clearly all pointing at her client as the murderer..but will she be able to prove reasonable doubt where her client is concerned?
A few surprises in this book and that ending…oh gosh, it already has me on tender hooks for the next book😍 I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review❤️
Guilty Acts is the next book in the Cass Leary series and it’s a real suspenseful and exciting read😁
Cass once again gets involved in a murder trial when the evidence is clearly all pointing at her client as the murderer..but will she be able to prove reasonable doubt where her client is concerned?
A few surprises in this book and that ending…oh gosh, it already has me on tender hooks for the next book😍 I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review❤️
December 26, 2021
Loved it!
I hate to know the next book is the last in this series. Cass has a way about her in the courtroom that keeps me reading. Her family life is as interesting. I just never know how a book is gonna end with her. I did notice some grammatical errors like sustaining an objection bt then saying go ahead and answer to the witness or saying Bea threw the horse brush in a bucket but a few lines later said Bea stopped brushing the horse and …blah blah. But still a great story!
I hate to know the next book is the last in this series. Cass has a way about her in the courtroom that keeps me reading. Her family life is as interesting. I just never know how a book is gonna end with her. I did notice some grammatical errors like sustaining an objection bt then saying go ahead and answer to the witness or saying Bea threw the horse brush in a bucket but a few lines later said Bea stopped brushing the horse and …blah blah. But still a great story!
January 14, 2024
Did not like Juliet - felt she was too cliché as a character. As an attourney, knowing he was dying from cancer you would have thought he would have ties up his legal affairs much better especially in regards to his legal partnership Eric comes back after 6 months and the first afternoon all they talk about is the case and multiple other times all about the case Big deciion coming up for Eric whether to work for Cass or go back to the police
February 14, 2025
I feel like these Cass Leary books are starting to blend together for me. In other words, a little on the formulaic side. A part of me wants to see her get out of the small down and back to the city for a few books, to deal with big city mob stuff and her ex-bf Killian Thorne. Maybe even a few prequel novels, set in that era?
Having said that, Robin James is still amazing at what she does. Great characters, great courtroom drama, etc...
Having said that, Robin James is still amazing at what she does. Great characters, great courtroom drama, etc...
February 6, 2022
What an awesome book beginning at page one! It keeps you turning pages as fast as you can read. I enjoy the language is NOT offensive with F bombs every page too! I’ve read all books so far and each one is perfect! Great job Robin James! Can’t wait for the next story to be released! Thank you for entertaining me hour after hour, book after book.
April 8, 2022
Technology vs law
Eeeeee if you're into the whole social media thing you'll probably enjoy this one. Shows how being open to the world and stuff can really be a downfall. Yeah its cool and people can enjoy it but you can also become unpopular and famous and it can switch up on you.
Eeeeee if you're into the whole social media thing you'll probably enjoy this one. Shows how being open to the world and stuff can really be a downfall. Yeah its cool and people can enjoy it but you can also become unpopular and famous and it can switch up on you.
July 24, 2023
Review of Guilty Acts
The latest installment in the Cass Leary series reminded me of the old " Peter Gunn" Detective series, he was always hesitant about taking on a case. This storyline was very interesting, it involved Social Media, adultery, child abuse, insurance fraud and great court room action. Cass is really tested by the case and of course family drama. Great Story
The latest installment in the Cass Leary series reminded me of the old " Peter Gunn" Detective series, he was always hesitant about taking on a case. This storyline was very interesting, it involved Social Media, adultery, child abuse, insurance fraud and great court room action. Cass is really tested by the case and of course family drama. Great Story
April 21, 2024
I always enjoy a Cass Leary whidunit. Cass herself is a very likable character & I feel like I’ve known her family for years. The atmospherics of the series are a bit thin … that’s why I always rate these a 3 & then when writing the review raise it to 4. Let me put it this way … I always finish a Cass Leary mystery. There are plenty where I don’t even finish the sample.
May 21, 2024
Finally
This book was a Rollercoaster ride. As with all her other books this one had an ending no one could see coming. This one ended with no happy ending for the players involved but we finally got a happy ending for
Cass and Eric just to have a new question when her past collides with her future and now on to the next book. Can't wait to dive in
This book was a Rollercoaster ride. As with all her other books this one had an ending no one could see coming. This one ended with no happy ending for the players involved but we finally got a happy ending for
Cass and Eric just to have a new question when her past collides with her future and now on to the next book. Can't wait to dive in
January 6, 2025
Absolutely loved this series. I love stumbling across a long series that I can get my teeth into, and this one did not disappoint. I'm even more stoked that there is another series, too, from the opposite side of the court. I thought all the books were quite fast-paced and kept my attention throughout. The side characters all had their parts to play and I loved their dynamic.
December 23, 2021
Guilty Acts
I love this series and characters. Life outside of the court room moves at a snails pace, which can be a little annoying. It feels like nothing is discussed or decided in the life outside the case. But I’m still looking forward to the next one.
I love this series and characters. Life outside of the court room moves at a snails pace, which can be a little annoying. It feels like nothing is discussed or decided in the life outside the case. But I’m still looking forward to the next one.
December 31, 2021
Another great book!
Cass Leary is the rare protagonist. She is a multidimensional character. Robin James writes her and all the characters so fully formed that you think you're reading a true story. I look forward to all her books.
Cass Leary is the rare protagonist. She is a multidimensional character. Robin James writes her and all the characters so fully formed that you think you're reading a true story. I look forward to all her books.
January 4, 2022
Guilty Acts
This is a great thriller. I really enjoyed this book. I did not put it down until I finished it . I can't wait till the next book in this series comes out. I highly recommend this book.
This is a great thriller. I really enjoyed this book. I did not put it down until I finished it . I can't wait till the next book in this series comes out. I highly recommend this book.
July 26, 2022
Another great read in the Cass Leary series. This case really had some twist. (Can't say what). Cass pulls it out at the end, as usual.
What I really like was how the book ended. I can't wait to read the final book in this series.
What I really like was how the book ended. I can't wait to read the final book in this series.
August 5, 2022
This one felt lik a transition book to me. Although the case was based on foundational law, death bed statements, it really seemed more about the culture of social media fame and dysfunctional family dynamics.
August 13, 2022
Justice for All! No where near true!
How do you love someone knowing they are ruining your life. Family is to be trusted! Not in every case. Love has many connotations! Be aware. Look inside yourself. Don't get hurt!
How do you love someone knowing they are ruining your life. Family is to be trusted! Not in every case. Love has many connotations! Be aware. Look inside yourself. Don't get hurt!
May 17, 2024
Despicable defendent
After weeks of intense preparation, Cass is finally in the court room defending a disliked, despicable defendant. This trial pulls her practice apart and presents countless challenges.
After weeks of intense preparation, Cass is finally in the court room defending a disliked, despicable defendant. This trial pulls her practice apart and presents countless challenges.
May 23, 2024
This was another great book in this series. Solid 4.5. Love the characters as they feel like family. Three more books to go! Can't wait for her new ones to come out next year! Starting on book 10 tomorrow!
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