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Alex Hayes #3
Buried Testimony
A buried witness. A tainted conviction. A federal prosecutor caught in the crossfire of power and truth.Fresh from a high-profile fall and looking for a clean slate, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Hayes is assigned the one thing she swore she’d left a stack of hopeless habeas petitions. But when a routine case file reveals a chilling confession from a former prosecutor—a buried witness statement that could unravel a twelve-year-old murder conviction—Alex is thrust into a storm far more dangerous than she expected.
The deeper she digs into the case of Gabriel Ortega, the clearer it someone wanted the truth hidden. Now, vital evidence has vanished, her own supervisors are warning her off the case, and the judge who once prosecuted Ortega holds a lifetime appointment on the federal bench.
As Alex races to uncover what really happened the night of the murder, she’s drawn into a dark underworld of corruption, cover-ups, and powerful figures who will do anything to protect their legacy. With her career—and her life—on the line, Alex must decide whether justice is worth sacrificing everything.
In a system built on truth, what happens when the truth itself is on trial?
Perfect for fans of Lisa Scottoline, Michael Connelly, and John Grisham, Buried Testimony is a gripping legal thriller about loyalty, legacy, and the cost of digging up the past.
The deeper she digs into the case of Gabriel Ortega, the clearer it someone wanted the truth hidden. Now, vital evidence has vanished, her own supervisors are warning her off the case, and the judge who once prosecuted Ortega holds a lifetime appointment on the federal bench.
As Alex races to uncover what really happened the night of the murder, she’s drawn into a dark underworld of corruption, cover-ups, and powerful figures who will do anything to protect their legacy. With her career—and her life—on the line, Alex must decide whether justice is worth sacrificing everything.
In a system built on truth, what happens when the truth itself is on trial?
Perfect for fans of Lisa Scottoline, Michael Connelly, and John Grisham, Buried Testimony is a gripping legal thriller about loyalty, legacy, and the cost of digging up the past.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2025
2367 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
L.T. Ryan
164 books1,452 followersL.T. RYAN is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. The new age of publishing offered L.T. the opportunity to blend his passions for creating, marketing, and technology to reach audiences with his popular Jack Noble series.
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
BOOKS IN THE JACK NOBLE SERIES
The Recruit (prequel short story)
The First Deception (prequel)
Noble Beginnings
A Deadly Distance
Thin Line
Noble Intentions
When Dead in Greece
Noble Retribution
Noble Betrayal
Never Go Home
Noble Judgment
Never Cry Mercy
Deadline
End Game
BOOKS IN THE BEAR LOGAN SERIES
Ripple Effect
Blowback
Takedown
Deep State (coming January, 2020)
BOOKS IN THE CLARISSA ABBOT SERIES
Beyond Betrayal
BOOKS IN THE MITCH TANNER SERIES
The Depths of Darkness
Into the Darkness
Deliver Us From Darkness (coming soon)
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
About the Author
L.T. RYAN is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. The new age of publishing offered L.T. the opportunity to blend his passions for creating, marketing, and technology to reach audiences with his popular Jack Noble series.
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
BOOKS IN THE JACK NOBLE SERIES
The Recruit (prequel short story)
The First Deception (prequel)
Noble Beginnings
A Deadly Distance
Thin Line
Noble Intentions
When Dead in Greece
Noble Retribution
Noble Betrayal
Never Go Home
Noble Judgment
Never Cry Mercy
Deadline
End Game
BOOKS IN THE BEAR LOGAN SERIES
Ripple Effect
Blowback
Takedown
Deep State (coming January, 2020)
BOOKS IN THE CLARISSA ABBOT SERIES
Beyond Betrayal
BOOKS IN THE MITCH TANNER SERIES
The Depths of Darkness
Into the Darkness
Deliver Us From Darkness (coming soon)
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
About the Author
L.T. RYAN is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. The new age of publishing offered L.T. the opportunity to blend his passions for creating, marketing, and technology to reach audiences with his popular Jack Noble series.
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 20, 2025
This review is similar to my last review of the previous book.
I love LT Ryan's writing style and the fact that I always want to continue reading nonstop. For me, the most exciting thing about reading mystery/drama books are the twists that the author adds in. In this case, from the first Alex Hayes book to this one, LT Ryan has a knack for adding twists and turns. In this book, there are multiple twists. Just when you think this book could have ended within the first couple of chapters, you are hit with a twist that make you question what where did you go wrong. Good book and I think it's worth the read.
However, I only gave this book four stars because LT Ryan seems to be stuck when using certain describing words. Almost every chapter talks about walking into a room with the humming fluorescent lights or the silence being broken by the humming of the fluorescent lights or walking into a room with the smell of stale coffee. It gets tiring after a while. Either leave out the smell of stale coffee and humming fluorescent lights or have new smells or other sounds...which have been used very sparingly.
Again, I would recommend this as a good read because of the story itself.
I love LT Ryan's writing style and the fact that I always want to continue reading nonstop. For me, the most exciting thing about reading mystery/drama books are the twists that the author adds in. In this case, from the first Alex Hayes book to this one, LT Ryan has a knack for adding twists and turns. In this book, there are multiple twists. Just when you think this book could have ended within the first couple of chapters, you are hit with a twist that make you question what where did you go wrong. Good book and I think it's worth the read.
However, I only gave this book four stars because LT Ryan seems to be stuck when using certain describing words. Almost every chapter talks about walking into a room with the humming fluorescent lights or the silence being broken by the humming of the fluorescent lights or walking into a room with the smell of stale coffee. It gets tiring after a while. Either leave out the smell of stale coffee and humming fluorescent lights or have new smells or other sounds...which have been used very sparingly.
Again, I would recommend this as a good read because of the story itself.
June 2, 2025
Good read with some problems
A better editor would have caught the errors and repetitive wording that took away from the storyline. Like fluorescent lights that hummed, flickered, or buzzed in every setting. Or clocks ticking, refrigerators humming, stale air, etc. Two chapters started almost identically, enough so that I thought I’d somehow ended up on the wrong chapter. The defendant can’t have two different original lawyers, and there’s no reason to describe a restaurant twice when they return, especially since the descriptions were long and almost identical. This would have been a solid five, because it’s a good plot, but the execution was definitely lacking.
A better editor would have caught the errors and repetitive wording that took away from the storyline. Like fluorescent lights that hummed, flickered, or buzzed in every setting. Or clocks ticking, refrigerators humming, stale air, etc. Two chapters started almost identically, enough so that I thought I’d somehow ended up on the wrong chapter. The defendant can’t have two different original lawyers, and there’s no reason to describe a restaurant twice when they return, especially since the descriptions were long and almost identical. This would have been a solid five, because it’s a good plot, but the execution was definitely lacking.
June 1, 2025
Thrills Abound
Great Alex Hayes story as she begins her career with the feds.
Moving over to a job as a federal prosecutor, Alex's first job throws het
into deep waters as she works with a special Prosecutor assigned to
discover if a witness statement was intentionally omitted from a federal case, handled by her someone from her new office.
Great suspense with twist after twist.
Throw in a little romance on the side and the story just gets better and better.
Now on to book 4.
Great Alex Hayes story as she begins her career with the feds.
Moving over to a job as a federal prosecutor, Alex's first job throws het
into deep waters as she works with a special Prosecutor assigned to
discover if a witness statement was intentionally omitted from a federal case, handled by her someone from her new office.
Great suspense with twist after twist.
Throw in a little romance on the side and the story just gets better and better.
Now on to book 4.
July 18, 2025
As Alex steps up to federal court from defense to prosecution she’s faced with a claim of wrongful conviction with claimant currently serving 12 years.
Her dilemma is viewing both sides when faced with cross examination, she expertly uses silence to get at the truth.
There are many twists & turns- both inside & outside court- as Alex faces investigating the potential error .
I especially wondered about a potential relationship with her colleague while sharing some Thai food ❣️
Totally enjoyable book & well written 👏
Thanks
Her dilemma is viewing both sides when faced with cross examination, she expertly uses silence to get at the truth.
There are many twists & turns- both inside & outside court- as Alex faces investigating the potential error .
I especially wondered about a potential relationship with her colleague while sharing some Thai food ❣️
Totally enjoyable book & well written 👏
Thanks
August 3, 2025
Fabulous!
I am loving this Alex Hayes series. She is tenacious and a hell of an attorney. I love that these books are keeping the story about her mother going. She's gotten a few steps ahead now. And the bad guys are right.....she's just as smart as her mother. I hope that smart doesn't make her vanish, too. I love Holloway!
I am loving this Alex Hayes series. She is tenacious and a hell of an attorney. I love that these books are keeping the story about her mother going. She's gotten a few steps ahead now. And the bad guys are right.....she's just as smart as her mother. I hope that smart doesn't make her vanish, too. I love Holloway!
September 6, 2025
Layers of Lies
Now that Alex is working at the federal level, this third book takes us through the procedure of a convict's last appeal and the federal steps usually taken to analyze and answer it. But nothing connected with Alex ever seems to be usual. Throw in a handsome Special Prosecutor and this one gets really interesting !!
Now that Alex is working at the federal level, this third book takes us through the procedure of a convict's last appeal and the federal steps usually taken to analyze and answer it. But nothing connected with Alex ever seems to be usual. Throw in a handsome Special Prosecutor and this one gets really interesting !!
August 8, 2025
Florescent lights
In almost every chapter of the books I’ve read, there’s a mention of florescent lighting. It’s like you have a compulsion about lighting.
A few chapters without lighting would make your writing less distracting.
In almost every chapter of the books I’ve read, there’s a mention of florescent lighting. It’s like you have a compulsion about lighting.
A few chapters without lighting would make your writing less distracting.
June 6, 2025
This is a great series. Suspenseful with so many twists. Alex is a badass attorney who is out for justice no matter the cost.
June 7, 2025
Federal Accusations
LT Ryan did it again with this book! Alex Hayes is taken a new federal prosecutor position and trouble always finds her. One of the best yet!
LT Ryan did it again with this book! Alex Hayes is taken a new federal prosecutor position and trouble always finds her. One of the best yet!
June 27, 2025
Really good series, could use a little less 'noise walking down the hallway'.
June 29, 2025
Keeps getting better and better
This series grabs your interest from the first chapter. Hard to put down. Late nights are in your future. Enjoy!
This series grabs your interest from the first chapter. Hard to put down. Late nights are in your future. Enjoy!
August 21, 2025
Great Read !!
Excellent storyline but at times find Alex a bit over the top. Not sure she would get away with done of her theatrics in real world.
Excellent storyline but at times find Alex a bit over the top. Not sure she would get away with done of her theatrics in real world.
September 9, 2025
Fascinating account. Thrilling story that will pull you in.
November 5, 2025
buried testimony
Great read as all the books in this series ! I can only recommend these books , so much fun and definitely catching your attention in the first few pages !
Great read as all the books in this series ! I can only recommend these books , so much fun and definitely catching your attention in the first few pages !
November 29, 2025
Excellent!!
November 13, 2025
I had to keep reading!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews