Fox Is Framed

Leo Maxwell #3

by Lachlan Smith

In the thrilling third novel in the series, Oakland attorney Leo Maxwell returns to the dark place where the Maxwell family saga began. Lachlan Smith won great critical acclaim for his first novel in the Leo Maxwell series, Bear Is Broken, a Shamus Award finalist and Kirkus Reviews the best book of the year that William Bernhardt called one of the best debuts I've read in years. The second Lew Maxwell mystery, Lion Plays Rough, continued the story, and now, in the utterly suspenseful Fox Is Framed, Smith confronts anew the drama that has haunted Leo--and his recently Brain-damaged elder brother, Teddy--since childhood. Faced with evidence of stunning prosecutorial misconduct, a San Francisco judge has ordered a new trial for the Maxwell brothers' father, Lawrence, who was convicted of killing their mother twenty-one years before. A prison snitch soon turns up dead, with Lawrence the only suspect, and Leo teams up with hotspot attorney Nina Schuyler to defend Lawrence against murder charges both old and new. Working on the streets while Nina handles the action in the courtroom, Leo is forced to confront the darkness at the center of his life as he follows a trial of corruption and danger the leads to the very steps of City Hall.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Crime, Audiobook

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2015

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this third book in the 'Leo Maxwell' series, the attorney's father is being re-tried for killing his wife, and Leo helps defend him.



The book can be read as a standalone, though knowing the characters is a plus.

*****

Twenty-one years ago attorney Lawrence Maxwell was convicted of murdering his wife.



Since then prosecutorial misconduct was proven and Lawrence's conviction was overturned. Now the district attorney intends to try him again.

Lawrence's two attorney sons, Leo and Teddy, plan to assist Lawrence's court-appointed defense attorney. The situation is complicated, though, because Teddy - once a formidable lawyer - was shot and brain-damaged five years ago; and Leo, who found his mother's body when he was a child, believed his father was guilty and became estranged from him.

Now Leo is rethinking Lawrence's guilt though some people still believe Lawrence is a manipulative liar who committed the crime.

The DA's office turns up new evidence in the form of Lawrence's former jailmate Russell Bell, who says Lawrence confessed to the crime when they were in prison together. Ironically, Russell, who was convicted of rape, is now free because Lawrence helped him write an appeal.



To add to the weirdness, Russell is working as a driver for the city councilman who originally testified against him.

Russell Bell is murdered before he can testify, potentially placing Lawrence on the hook for two murders: that of his wife and Russell. In any case the DA begins by re-trying Lawrence for killing his wife. The ensuing courtroom scenes are compelling, with the lawyers and witnesses sparring to gain an advantage with the jury.



Meanwhile Leo, now pretty solidly in his dad's corner, is working behind the scenes to discover who really killed Russell Bell.

Other interesting characters who round out the story include Angela Crowder - the tough, smart district attorney; Nina Scuyler - Lawrence's clever defense lawyer; Teddy's wife Tamara - who's also brain-damaged and has no short term memory;



Lawrence's fiancé Dot - who got engaged to him ten years ago when he seemed to be in prison for life; Neil Shanahan - the detective determined to prove Lawrence's guilt; and Judge Liu - who does things by the book.



The story starts out strong, introducing the characters and setting up the situation that leads to Lawrence's retrial. The side plot involving Russell Bell is also interesting for a good while. By the end, though, the explanation of what happened with Russell is so tangled and confused as to be almost incomprehensible.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew....A roller coaster ride reading experience! I'm exhausted, but I'd take this ride again in a second! Think of this as an aerobic workout for your brain!

Lawrence Maxwell has been in prison for 21 years -- convicted of killing his wife. ...A crime he may or may not be guilty of.
Its noted that Lawrence -himself was a lawyer before being sent behind bars.

Now, 21 years later, Lawrence is out on bail --having won a new trial because it was discovered the prosecutor, Gary, Coles, who worked on his case was hiding evidence. Gary is now dead --so he can't be called upon on this new trial.

Leo and Teddy are Lawrence Maxwell's son's (both lawyers), taking over their dad's case. They hire another lawyer, Nina Schuyler to represent their father. She'd had worked for the S.F. public defender's office for six years -opened her own practice --and tried a few high profile murder cases. --She has a name for herself.

Teddy is the oldest brother --who stayed in communication with his dad the entire time he was behind bars -- fought for him --worked on his case -helped find the new evidence to give him a new trial.
Another man by the name of Keith Locke admitted to having killed their mother --as he was the son of a man their mother was having an affair with.
However --Keith took a gun to Teddy's head, (Teddy survived), --but for the next five years --Teddy never stepped into a murder trial courtroom again.

So...Younger brother, 'powerhouse', Leo,...steps in to defend his father -- yet hasn't had any relationship -not even seen him for 20 years. Teddy encourages Leo to defend their dad. Teddy has always believed their father to be innocent --Leo has not. Leo assumes his dad is guilty and a manipulator.
Leo was just a child, coming home from school 21 years ago, to an empty house - let himself in the door -- then found his mother crumpled on the floor in a pool of blood beaten with a child's aluminum baseball bat which was covered in blood.
I'm thinking??? which 'brother' killed the mother?

but...this story takes so many twists and turns --with many characters introduced....any one of them --including the father has reasons to be guilty.

As the reader --I was on the edge. First off --this story takes place in the S.F. Bay area...(HOME-for ME). From S.F.--to Oakland on Bart -to San Rafael -
... with hookers - crooked inmates -- old friends --friends of friends -- the fiance- secret e-mails---heck --I didn't have a clue who was guilty and who was innocent.

My 'head' was doing as much with this story --equally with the story itself. This is one hell of a fantastic courtroom drama.

The courtroom trial itself in City Hall --with the closing arguments were brilliant --It felt 'real'.

Two things were going on for me while reading this:
1) My brain was working to hold all the details together and playing with trying to figure out the end result (In time--I gave up trying). I guessed GONE GIRL in the first 8-10 pages ---but I did not guess this end result at 'all'! So---I love it when I can't figure out the ending! ...cheers goes to the author!

2) I was also aware of the relationships in this novel. The characters 'increased' my imagination. I wanted to know them more --I wanted to dive into their personal lives even deeper --
The two brothers were very different -with a history between them that I only started to get close to.
All the characters were soooooooooooo interesting --I'm still left with wanting to spend more time with them.

hm?? I don't read 'series' books often... maybe??? is this what series type books do to us? leaving us feeling a longing for the characters -- Wanting them to 'come back'?

I read very few courtroom dramas -- I had been looking for another book though to read with the same 'feelings' I had in "Defending Jacob"...
As I discovered I enjoyed the courtroom reading experience --
THIS book --proved to be the perfect pick...

After reading a book like this --there is only one thing to do next...
Go soak in a warm pool! lol

A treasure -treat!

Happy to have discovered a new author --in which the story takes place in the S.F. Bay area.!

FABULOUS!

[Meredith (Trying to catch up!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fox is Framed is the 3rd book in the Maxwell brother's series, but this is the first one that I have read. While it would have been nice to have read the first two books before reading Fox is Framed, it isn't necessary, as I wasn't lost when it came to the details of the drama. The focus is much more on the family dynamics than the mystery. However, the mystery comes together and the novel ends with a twist. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Nicholas George · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid courtroom thriller with a complex plot that would have been more satisfying had it not stretched into the books preceding it (which I hadn't read) and extends into the next one. The characters are well drawn and the thing moves along at a lively pace, but an editor should have caught the many missing or misplaced dialogue tags (often it isn't clear who is speaking).

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

May 13, 2015
I found this book in my mailbox with a letter saying I'd won it on goodreads. It was quite a surprise. I feared my memory might be going since I had no recollection of entering or being notified I won. I took the time to look back at the first reads contests I entered this year and see no evidence I entered to win it. That is a relief. My memory seems to be intact. I hereby forgive Grove Press for scaring me like that.

I will assume it was just a nice gesture on the part of Grove Press to send me a hardback copy of Fox is Framed. I will give it a try.

May 24, 2015
I've finished it. I don't read many gritty mysteries where it is not quite clear who the good guys are and double crosses are to be expected, but I think this is well written for that genre. I have not read the first two books in this series so I can't say how I would feel if I had read the book in order as part of a series. Fortunately, Mr. Smith does a good job of working the back story into the narrative so it all hangs together as stand-alone fiction. He also succeeds in resolving the immediate mystery while leaving story-lines open for the series to continue.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love legal thrillers and this one does not disappoint, well, not really though it comes at it from a very different direction.

Attorney Leo Maxwell has his hands full, his lawyer father, in jail for the murder of his mother, is getting out on a technicality, at least he's standing trial again. Is Leo thrilled? Not so much. Leo was the one who found his mother's body and has always bought into his father's guilt. When more evidence is discovered the courts are compelled to reopen the case and wonder why the prosecutor failed to disclose the evidence. Moot point now as the prosecutor is dead.

Leo's brother Teddy has always kept in touch with his dad though Leo hasn't. The new attorney, Nina Schuyler is court appointed but that doesn't mean she won't throw her heart and soul into the case. It all becomes muddled with accusations of yet another murder and suspicions of his father being associated with incarcerated gang members, organized crime, threats to Leo and his brother and family.

It's another road on the journey of the Maxwell family. Promises to bring even more mystery in the future.

Didn't love it, didn't hate it.

[Kevin McCloskey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got too confused by the end of the story. Sort of over the top, like Glass Onion, in that characters are not who they seem. I picked up a used copy of the book. If I had been reading it on a Kindle I might have quickly answered my questions about who a particular character was, searching and backtracking to find their name.
This is the 3rd in a series. It is the first of the 3 novels I read, so I'm sure that added to my confusion.

[Margaret Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous legal thriller, third in a series starring Leo Maxwell, defense lawyer and legal strategist without equal! In this story, the writer focuses on courtroom trial strategy that requires, for those of us without honed legal minds, to really focus! A great read!

[Andy Plonka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever courtroom drama. A complex murder and an even more complex ending.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a stupid ending. The book had been a 3 until then.

[Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel filled with unpleasant characters, okay okay Nina is pleasant. 😀. The ending - no one believes it.

[Gloria Mccracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be continued. Again.

[Tom Donaghey · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOX IS FRAMED by Lachlan Smith is a lawyer novel. Ever since Perry Mason arrived on the shelves there have been many authors writing in the Lawyer/Suspense/Mystery genre. As with anything else, some are great, some are terrible, and most fall some where in between. Mr. Smith's novel falls into the pretty good category. The only major problem I had with "FOX" is that it is the fourth novel in a series that relies very heavily on what has come before. While it is possible to read this as a stand alone, it shouldn't be but read after the others.
Years before this story begins, lawyer Lawrence Maxwell had been sent to San Quentin, convicted of murdering his wife. He left behind two sons, Teddy and Leo. Now the boys are grown, lawyers themselves, and are having to face their father's pending retrial. It seems there was some evidential misconduct on the part of the D.A. during the first trial.
Lawrence is now free from prison and is living with his girlfriend in San Francisco.
There is to be a retrial but when the prosecutor's key witness is murdered, the keen eye of justice focuses on all the Maxwells. Perhaps the father did it, or it might have been one of the sons in a misguided attempt to help the father.
There is so much more here including betrayals, misconduct both legal and criminal, as well as an overriding sense of a family trying to become one entity again even as they work to tear themselves apart.
This book feels a little slow in places, and there are way too many things going on that hinge on past occurrences in the previous novels, but overall it is a pretty good read with strong, forceful characters, a winding plot and a finish that delivers the goods.
I won this book through the Good Reads program.

[Gloria Feit · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this, the third novel in the Leo Maxwell series, Leo’s older brother, Teddy, obtains a new trial for their father, Lawrence, who has served 21 years in San Quentin for the murder of his wife, Caroline. The basis for the retrial was prosecutorial misconduct, the withholding of evidence from the defense. In the second trial, it is never clearly explained by either the DA or the defense attorney if disclosure originally would have made any difference. However, the new trial allows the author, a practicing attorney, to write a detailed and interesting description of the tactics and planning for a murder trial.

In the new trial, the DA introduces evidence of a “confession” made by Lawrence to a fellow inmate while incarcerated. Soon, however, the snitch is found dead and the specter of Lawrence being charged for the murder looms over the trial. While a brilliant attorney defends Lawrence in court, it remains for Leo to follow up on leads, both large and small.

To give the author his due, he graphically portrays the courtroom scenes realistically, showing how the judge rules with wisdom and fairness, as well as how an attorney goes about probing a witness. He continues the high drama surrounding the Maxwell family found in the previous novels and lays the groundwork for the next addition to the series. A very fast read, and one which is recommended.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Disclosure: I was chosen a Goodreads winner and received a hardbound copy of Fox is Framed in the mail. That in no way affected this review.

Lachlan Smith is easily the best crime fiction writer I've encountered since John Grisham. This book, the third in his series of Leo Maxwell mysteries, stands alone but definitely made me want to go back and read the first two! I thoroughly enjoyed the characterizations, plot twists, family relationships, etc. that Smith has so carefully crafted.

In this tale, Leo Maxwell finds himself assisting with the retrial of his and (his brother) Teddy's father, who had been imprisoned after being convicted of killing their mother twenty-one years before. The story is fast-paced and exciting, and kept me up late until I had finished reading it.

Definitely a winner, and 5 stars from me without question. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this.

[Dolly Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is book 3 of the series, it's very much a stand alone. There was enough background information given that you could understand what's going on, as to where the characters are at this point in time. (I have not read the earlier 2 novels in the series).

I felt more involved once the court room proceedings started happening and I liked the pace the story started taking at that point. It ended with a definite cliffhanger moment, and for me a bit of 'what just happened?' moment. Which overall made me like the book even more.

I did receive this book through the Good Reads Giveaway program.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always looking for new authors in the mystery/crime genre and came across this one on the library's new mysteries shelf. Since it was the third in the series I went back and got the first one, Bear is Broken, then read this one and finished up with the second one, Lion Plays Rough. My 4 star rating is for the series overall. The second book was the weakest and my least favorite. But I liked the character of Leo Maxwell and found the continuing story revolving around brother and father's situations engrossing. There is bound to be a fourth as the story isn't finished. Is he writing for a possible pick up for a TV/Netflix series?

[Bill Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Disclaimer, I won this book in a Goodreads drawing in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed Lachlan Smith's Fox is Framed. A very well written legal drama involving an alleged domestic violence, turned murder and a father who is trying to regain the respect of his two sons. Mr. Smith does a great job with character development and giving us all a taste of what a criminal trial is like. Overall, I gave the book 3 stars as the ending left me a little confused with the importance of Russell Bell, the Gainer brothers and their involvement with Lawrence Maxwell. Other than the ending this was a great book, very quick read and would recommend others give it a read.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear Is Broken was my favorite, of the Leo Maxwell books. Fox Is Framed left me wondering did Lawrence really kill his wife, and does Teddy know more about his mothers murder than he has ever let on. I know Teddy has a lot of mental issues since being shot but his silence in his fathers trial has left a big hole for me in the story, I got the impression he knows something but can't bring himself to say or it's just elusive somewhere in his mind. Will there be another book in the Maxwell series? If so I will be reading it. I am happy I stumbled upon Lachlan Smith and hope he writes more.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this I'm not sure if I believe Lawrence in anything. I don't know if he is innocent for the past crime or the present one. I do believe that he is cagey and he will always look out for #1, no matter the lip service he gives about his sons and granddaughter. I also hate how Leo seems to keep getting pulled into Lawrence's web. No good can come of that. Something that Leo is starting to see.

[roulette]

I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

Of course, I hadn't realized it was the third in the series. I couldn't give an honest review, I feel, without reading the preceeding books, but more than 60 pages into the first, Bear is Broken, my attention still hadn't been caught and I decided to let this one go.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fox is Framed by Lachlan Smith deserves more than a five star rating! I loved this book and wish I had known about his previous books, Bear is Broken and Lion Plays Rough. I will read his two previous books. Excellent writer, plot thickens, very suspenseful and should appeal to every reader who enjoys suspense, and most of all an excellent writer.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun legal thriller. Third book in a series but likely works for those who didn't read prior books. As a lawyer my only peeve is the dialogue during trial. The author is a practicing attorney who knows better about the kinds of questions actually allowed. I guess those thought to be more boring for readers.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a decent read. It was not overly interesting at the beginning, but as the plot progresses it gets more interesting. The basis of the book is that the main characters father is fighting for his freedom and his legal team (including both his sons) fights for him. Not sure I would recommend it, but I don't have anything terrible to say about it either.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. My opinion is just that...mine...and completely unbiased.

A really good solid read. The characters seem real and the courtroom drama is not filled with a barrage of legalese that tends to be overwhelming for a lot of readers. This was my first novel by Mr. Smith and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like it very much; good lawyerly stuff; enough mystery; really pissy father charcter; very ungraspable brother character...there seems to be potential here and there are two before this.

Next from the library.

[Rusty Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. There wasn't much character development, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, but in a way it didn't need it; as the line from the movie said, "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride."

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning confused me because I never read book 2. Legal stuff in the middle was good. Cliffhanger endings are not my favorites.

[Al Stoess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat better than the first two.

Characters still unpleasant people

Good courtroom material.

Looks like there will be a fourth book.

[February Four · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, I love courtroom trials. I look forward to the next.