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Small Town Lawyer #6
Twisting Judgment
A murdered judge. An innocent accused. Justice comes at a deadly price.
Small town defense attorney Leland Munroe isn't afraid to tackle cases others run from. But when a federal judge plunges to his death from a locked courthouse stairwell just before testifying, Leland is pulled into a deadly investigation. Every clue he uncovers drags him deeper into a dark web of deceit.
The FBI arrests Vinny Baptiste, a courthouse janitor with a troubled past and ties to the courthouse. It looks like an open-and-shut case—except Leland doesn’t buy it. The judge had secrets of his own, and the evidence points to a far more influential suspect hiding in plain sight.
As Leland races to uncover the truth and defend an innocent man, the cost of justice grows steep. And the rural retreat that’s been a safe haven in the past comes under threat from an unexpected direction.
In a system rigged to protect the powerful, can Leland expose the truth before the killer claims another victim…
Small town defense attorney Leland Munroe isn't afraid to tackle cases others run from. But when a federal judge plunges to his death from a locked courthouse stairwell just before testifying, Leland is pulled into a deadly investigation. Every clue he uncovers drags him deeper into a dark web of deceit.
The FBI arrests Vinny Baptiste, a courthouse janitor with a troubled past and ties to the courthouse. It looks like an open-and-shut case—except Leland doesn’t buy it. The judge had secrets of his own, and the evidence points to a far more influential suspect hiding in plain sight.
As Leland races to uncover the truth and defend an innocent man, the cost of justice grows steep. And the rural retreat that’s been a safe haven in the past comes under threat from an unexpected direction.
In a system rigged to protect the powerful, can Leland expose the truth before the killer claims another victim…
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2025
About the author
Peter Kirkland
23 books152 followersPeter Kirkland grew up in Beaufort, South Carolina. As a kid, Peter loved history and learning about his area. One year in school, he was given a project to research a few South Carolina law cases and the precedents they set and their effect on people’s lives.
This research project lit the flame for his passion for law and creating a more equal justice system since. Soon after this, Peter began reading legal thrillers voraciously and enjoyed the legal maneuvering and justice found within. As an adult he has continued researching the law and understanding the system and its effects on individuals. A few years ago, he decided to try writing his own legal thriller.
Now a full-time writer, he uses his research, passion for justice, and real case studies to bring together courtroom dramas with deep, rich characters, and gripping twists and turns. New to the industry, Peter would love to hear from readers and other authors and invites you to connect with him.
This research project lit the flame for his passion for law and creating a more equal justice system since. Soon after this, Peter began reading legal thrillers voraciously and enjoyed the legal maneuvering and justice found within. As an adult he has continued researching the law and understanding the system and its effects on individuals. A few years ago, he decided to try writing his own legal thriller.
Now a full-time writer, he uses his research, passion for justice, and real case studies to bring together courtroom dramas with deep, rich characters, and gripping twists and turns. New to the industry, Peter would love to hear from readers and other authors and invites you to connect with him.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
October 20, 2025
I really enjoy the small town lawyer series--the stories are quite believable and the characters come across as authentic people. The author knows his surroundings and it shows that he knows South Carolina well. This book covers two legal cases, one taking place in Charleston at the Federal Courthouse. The other case is taking place in Basking Rock. Leland Munroe is the attorney and his clients are both young men. One charged with Computer Fraud and Abuse Act--multiple felonies, the other charges with murder. What I enjoyed about this case was the details regarding how the one professor who was reviewing everything could pull together the cell phone data and locate who's phone was where during the events taking place at the courthouse. I find it interesting to learn about all the data that is collected through cell phones, Wifi etc. Both cases are interesting and I find all the local folks quite charming--local podcaster of crime--prosecutor--
I definitely recommend this book and I hope there will be more to come in this series.
I did receive an advanced reader copy and I thank the author and his publisher
for the opportunity to read it prior to publication.
I did receive an advanced reader copy and I thank the author and his publisher
for the opportunity to read it prior to publication. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I definitely recommend this book and I hope there will be more to come in this series.
I did receive an advanced reader copy and I thank the author and his publisher
for the opportunity to read it prior to publication.
I did receive an advanced reader copy and I thank the author and his publisher
for the opportunity to read it prior to publication. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 28, 2025
I loved Twisting Judgement for its suspenseful writing. I loved how the author had two simultaneous cases; he was working. The way he jumped between the two cases was tense and gripping.
The author did a great job of bringing the characters to life. They each have distinctive qualities that make them unique to the story. Leland is a strong MMC that you'll find yourself rooting for because you want the best for his clients.
The only part of the book that was irrelevant to the storyline was the hurricane. It didn't add anything to the story except pages to the book. The story would have flowed better if that entire storyline had been eliminated. I kept wondering why the author included it, but never saw the reasoning.
The writing was so realistic and gripping. I was instantly drawn into the story and the characters. The author did a great job at balancing the antagonists in the story with the protagonists. The plot felt like it was pulled right out of the daily headlines, but uniquely told from the perspective of a lawyer.
I enjoyed the author's storytelling and the pace of his writing. I was interested from page one; he did not disappoint with his ending. He pulled the two cases together to create a satisfying conclusion. This was the first book I've read by this author. I'll be reading many more of his books.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The author did a great job of bringing the characters to life. They each have distinctive qualities that make them unique to the story. Leland is a strong MMC that you'll find yourself rooting for because you want the best for his clients.
The only part of the book that was irrelevant to the storyline was the hurricane. It didn't add anything to the story except pages to the book. The story would have flowed better if that entire storyline had been eliminated. I kept wondering why the author included it, but never saw the reasoning.
The writing was so realistic and gripping. I was instantly drawn into the story and the characters. The author did a great job at balancing the antagonists in the story with the protagonists. The plot felt like it was pulled right out of the daily headlines, but uniquely told from the perspective of a lawyer.
I enjoyed the author's storytelling and the pace of his writing. I was interested from page one; he did not disappoint with his ending. He pulled the two cases together to create a satisfying conclusion. This was the first book I've read by this author. I'll be reading many more of his books.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
October 26, 2025
federal judge, dead at the bottom of a locked stairwell. A college student accused of hacking into the student data at his school. A janitor accused of murder. And an attorney. Sounds like this could be the beginning of a bad joke, but these are the main players in this twisting and turning, and sometimes confusing legal tale.
The judge; meant to be testifying in a tense public trial, is killed just before he takes the stand. The accused, a janitor who provided the key card that allowed him access to the stairwell where he fell to his death. The only convincing evidence is that key card and the camera showing both enter the area. But of course what would a sensational murder trial be without a dramatic prosecutor? Enter the defense attorney who has his work cut out for him and you get a pretty decently laid out story. Oh, where does the college student fit into all of this...that's something to read the book to find out.
All in all this was a pretty decent book. I did find myself confused at times keeping up with all of the people; who they were, where they fit in, why they were relevant. Like the college student. But then at the end they all wrapped up nicely and it made sense. I did get the sense that I would have been a little less confused if I'd read other books in this series. But I'm a firm believer that even in a series, books should have enough info to stand alone. Still, I'd recommend giving this one a go.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review. All of the opinions are my own.
The judge; meant to be testifying in a tense public trial, is killed just before he takes the stand. The accused, a janitor who provided the key card that allowed him access to the stairwell where he fell to his death. The only convincing evidence is that key card and the camera showing both enter the area. But of course what would a sensational murder trial be without a dramatic prosecutor? Enter the defense attorney who has his work cut out for him and you get a pretty decently laid out story. Oh, where does the college student fit into all of this...that's something to read the book to find out.
All in all this was a pretty decent book. I did find myself confused at times keeping up with all of the people; who they were, where they fit in, why they were relevant. Like the college student. But then at the end they all wrapped up nicely and it made sense. I did get the sense that I would have been a little less confused if I'd read other books in this series. But I'm a firm believer that even in a series, books should have enough info to stand alone. Still, I'd recommend giving this one a go.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review. All of the opinions are my own.
November 6, 2025
I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
An enjoyable story set in the frame of a small town, likable lawyer Leland Munrow, works on two cases simultaneously. On the one hand, he is defending a janitor charged with the murder of a federal judge. On the other hand, a student is charged with committing a cyber crime.
Would translate well to film and probably easier to follow if the prequels in this series were read, though this can be read as a standalone. 4 stars
An enjoyable story set in the frame of a small town, likable lawyer Leland Munrow, works on two cases simultaneously. On the one hand, he is defending a janitor charged with the murder of a federal judge. On the other hand, a student is charged with committing a cyber crime.
Would translate well to film and probably easier to follow if the prequels in this series were read, though this can be read as a standalone. 4 stars
November 2, 2025
4.0 stars. Good read, plenty of supense, great plot twists. The ending felt like the final book of the series. If so, sad to see it go, but with two more newer series just getting started, I'm glad to have more to look forward to from this author.
January 2, 2026
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book and its my first review of the new year
this is only my second book by this author and already i am a big fan of his
i love how we get the build up for the big court case the actual setting of a court room and how when you think the chips are down and the prosecutor has built a solid case in comes our hero and manages to some how kick when questioning witnesses on the stand and this book is no different
its a classic whodunnit
when a federal judge is found at the bottom of a staircase where he shouldnt have been dead the fbi are called in and suddenly there is an arrest
could the perp have done it and why.....
so when leland goes to interview the perp he doesnt really know if he will defend him ..... there is something about the perp that unsettles leland but the more he looks into the perp and the family and discovers the more he realises that he hasnt been telling him the whole truth.....
have to admit to being hooked from the first page and never saw the outcome coming at all.... looking forward to reading more from this author
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book and its my first review of the new year
this is only my second book by this author and already i am a big fan of his
i love how we get the build up for the big court case the actual setting of a court room and how when you think the chips are down and the prosecutor has built a solid case in comes our hero and manages to some how kick when questioning witnesses on the stand and this book is no different
its a classic whodunnit
when a federal judge is found at the bottom of a staircase where he shouldnt have been dead the fbi are called in and suddenly there is an arrest
could the perp have done it and why.....
so when leland goes to interview the perp he doesnt really know if he will defend him ..... there is something about the perp that unsettles leland but the more he looks into the perp and the family and discovers the more he realises that he hasnt been telling him the whole truth.....
have to admit to being hooked from the first page and never saw the outcome coming at all.... looking forward to reading more from this author
September 28, 2025
The sixth book in the Small Town Lawyer series, Twisting Judgment is another solid entry from Peter Kirkland. In this book, attorney Leland Munroe takes on the case of a young maintenance worker in the local courthouse who has been accused of murdering a retired federal judge. The case looks quite good against the defendant but Leland and his investigative team, including his son who is now a PI, seek out clues pointing towards other interested parties and reasons for the murder.
Great ending, and a very thorough education on how cell phones are tracked. I learned a lot from this one!
Well written, tracked well, and kept me guessing.
My thanks to the author and Booksprout for the pleasure of reading this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Great ending, and a very thorough education on how cell phones are tracked. I learned a lot from this one!
Well written, tracked well, and kept me guessing.
My thanks to the author and Booksprout for the pleasure of reading this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 25, 2025
I fell in love with this book series. The authors created compelling storylines with enough twists and turns to keep me involved, as well as the ongoing character development, and continuity of the characters throughout the series, both good guys and villains. Most of all I am a fan of legal thrillers and not all authors of this genre, get to the level of depth and accuracy of rules, procedures, and witness questioning. As a retired paralegal, the courtroom details matter. Can’t wait until Book 7 is out in February 2026! Keep writing to both Daley Hall and Peter Kirkland. You have a new fan!
December 18, 2025
📚Twisting Judgement
✍🏻Peter Kirkland
Blurb:
A murdered judge. An innocent accused. Justice comes at a deadly price.
Small town defense attorney Leland Munroe isn't afraid to tackle cases others run from. But when a federal judge plunges to his death from a locked courthouse stairwell just before testifying, Leland is pulled into a deadly investigation. Every clue he uncovers drags him deeper into a dark web of deceit.
The FBI arrests Vinny Baptiste, a courthouse janitor with a troubled past and ties to the courthouse. It looks like an open-and-shut case—except Leland doesn’t buy it. The judge had secrets of his own, and the evidence points to a far more influential suspect hiding in plain sight.
As Leland races to uncover the truth and defend an innocent man, the cost of justice grows steep. And the rural retreat that’s been a safe haven in the past comes under threat from an unexpected direction.
In a system rigged to protect the powerful, can Leland expose the truth before the killer claims another victim…
My Thoughts:
My first read by this author and I enjoyed it. A constant pace with a good blend of interesting characters, interesting story lines and good dialog. The lawyer and the PI make good co-workers professionally and privately. Also interesting is the relationship between the businessman and his wife. The Series follows a lawyer named Leland Monroe, who following a prosecuting career in Charleston, South Carolina, moves to a small town, Basking Rocks.. Monroe needs to help two clients out of predicaments. The first is a student who exposes a college's network shortfalls by giving student's personal data to a reporter. The second, is a janitor in the Basking Rocks Courthouse, who is accused of killing a federal judge. Monroe needs to help two clients out of predicaments. federal judge, dead at the bottom of a locked stairwell. A college student accused of hacking into the student data at his school. A janitor accused of murder. And an attorney. Sounds like this could be the beginning of a bad joke, but these are the main players in this twisting and turning, and sometimes confusing legal tale. I highly recommend this book, add it to you TBR.
Thanks NetGalley, Relay Publishing and Author Peter Kirkland for the advanced cop[y of "Twisting Judgement" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#RelayPublishing
#PeterKirkland
#TwistingJudgement
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Peter Kirkland
Blurb:
A murdered judge. An innocent accused. Justice comes at a deadly price.
Small town defense attorney Leland Munroe isn't afraid to tackle cases others run from. But when a federal judge plunges to his death from a locked courthouse stairwell just before testifying, Leland is pulled into a deadly investigation. Every clue he uncovers drags him deeper into a dark web of deceit.
The FBI arrests Vinny Baptiste, a courthouse janitor with a troubled past and ties to the courthouse. It looks like an open-and-shut case—except Leland doesn’t buy it. The judge had secrets of his own, and the evidence points to a far more influential suspect hiding in plain sight.
As Leland races to uncover the truth and defend an innocent man, the cost of justice grows steep. And the rural retreat that’s been a safe haven in the past comes under threat from an unexpected direction.
In a system rigged to protect the powerful, can Leland expose the truth before the killer claims another victim…
My Thoughts:
My first read by this author and I enjoyed it. A constant pace with a good blend of interesting characters, interesting story lines and good dialog. The lawyer and the PI make good co-workers professionally and privately. Also interesting is the relationship between the businessman and his wife. The Series follows a lawyer named Leland Monroe, who following a prosecuting career in Charleston, South Carolina, moves to a small town, Basking Rocks.. Monroe needs to help two clients out of predicaments. The first is a student who exposes a college's network shortfalls by giving student's personal data to a reporter. The second, is a janitor in the Basking Rocks Courthouse, who is accused of killing a federal judge. Monroe needs to help two clients out of predicaments. federal judge, dead at the bottom of a locked stairwell. A college student accused of hacking into the student data at his school. A janitor accused of murder. And an attorney. Sounds like this could be the beginning of a bad joke, but these are the main players in this twisting and turning, and sometimes confusing legal tale. I highly recommend this book, add it to you TBR.
Thanks NetGalley, Relay Publishing and Author Peter Kirkland for the advanced cop[y of "Twisting Judgement" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#RelayPublishing
#PeterKirkland
#TwistingJudgement
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 29, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
First off, thank you to NetGalley, Relay Publishing, Peter Kirkland, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co Op for letting me get into this one early.
Alright now, let me tell yall straight, this one right here had me hooked quick. Soon as that judge turned up dead inside a locked courthouse stairwell, I already knew this was fixing to be one of them stories where nobody is clean and everybody got something to hide.
Leland keeps being one of them characters that feels real. He is not walking around acting bigger than life. He is just stubborn enough to keep pushing when everybody else is ready to call it solved and move on. The FBI grabs Vinny fast, and most folks are probably thinking case closed, but Leland smells something off from the jump.
What I liked most was how the story kept peeling back layers little by little instead of throwing everything at you all at once. Every time Leland thought he was getting close to the truth, another lie or secret came crawling out. And the deeper he digs, the more dangerous things start getting for everybody around him.
There is a good mix of courtroom drama, murder mystery, corruption, and that small town tension where people know more than they are saying. Some of these folks had me side eyeing every conversation wondering who was fixing to stab somebody in the back next.
The pacing stayed strong all the way through, and the suspense kept building without dragging things down. I also liked that it was not just about solving the murder. There was a real feeling that the people in power would do whatever it took to protect themselves, and that made the stakes feel higher.
If you like legal thrillers with murder, corruption, secrets, and a lawyer who refuses to quit digging even when it starts putting him in danger, this one is worth your time.
I give it a 4 outta 5 catfish!
First off, thank you to NetGalley, Relay Publishing, Peter Kirkland, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co Op for letting me get into this one early.
Alright now, let me tell yall straight, this one right here had me hooked quick. Soon as that judge turned up dead inside a locked courthouse stairwell, I already knew this was fixing to be one of them stories where nobody is clean and everybody got something to hide.
Leland keeps being one of them characters that feels real. He is not walking around acting bigger than life. He is just stubborn enough to keep pushing when everybody else is ready to call it solved and move on. The FBI grabs Vinny fast, and most folks are probably thinking case closed, but Leland smells something off from the jump.
What I liked most was how the story kept peeling back layers little by little instead of throwing everything at you all at once. Every time Leland thought he was getting close to the truth, another lie or secret came crawling out. And the deeper he digs, the more dangerous things start getting for everybody around him.
There is a good mix of courtroom drama, murder mystery, corruption, and that small town tension where people know more than they are saying. Some of these folks had me side eyeing every conversation wondering who was fixing to stab somebody in the back next.
The pacing stayed strong all the way through, and the suspense kept building without dragging things down. I also liked that it was not just about solving the murder. There was a real feeling that the people in power would do whatever it took to protect themselves, and that made the stakes feel higher.
If you like legal thrillers with murder, corruption, secrets, and a lawyer who refuses to quit digging even when it starts putting him in danger, this one is worth your time.
I give it a 4 outta 5 catfish!
June 4, 2026
Twisting Judgement, is the sixth book in the ‘Small Town Lawyer’ series by Peter Kirkland. All the novels in this series work as standalones but I have personally enjoyed the whole series. Courtroom thrillers featuring small-town defence attorney Leland Monroe.
A prominent federal judge plunges to his death from a locked, highly secure courthouse stairwell. The timing couldn’t be more suspicious as the judge was scheduled to give crucial, damning testimony in a major case just hours later. The FBI sweeps in to handle the fallout and immediately executes a swift, convenient arrest. Vinny Baptiste, a courthouse janitor with a troubled past is arrested when it is discovered he happened to have access to the building’s restricted zones. To the federal authorities it is a straightforward case, but Leland Monroe thinks differently.
Leland steps in to defend the vulnerable janitor, firmly believing Vinny is merely a convenient scapegoat. As he launches his own investigation, he discovers that the deceased judge was harbouring massive, dangerous secrets of his own. The forensic trail doesn’t lead down to the basement where Vinny worked, it points straight up to an incredibly influential suspect hiding in plain sight within the upper echelons of power.
Leland faces a race against time to break through the federal shield protecting the true killer. In this novel the drama isn’t just in the courtroom, the one safe haven that has protected his family from the fallout of his past cases, comes under a direct, terrifying threat from an entirely unexpected direction.
Leland Monroe faces a fight against a system that is rigged to protect the powerful. A crime occurring in the very place where justice is meant to be dealt out. A courthouse that is now a murder scene.
If you enjoy legal thrillers full of courtroom drama then this could be the series for you.
A prominent federal judge plunges to his death from a locked, highly secure courthouse stairwell. The timing couldn’t be more suspicious as the judge was scheduled to give crucial, damning testimony in a major case just hours later. The FBI sweeps in to handle the fallout and immediately executes a swift, convenient arrest. Vinny Baptiste, a courthouse janitor with a troubled past is arrested when it is discovered he happened to have access to the building’s restricted zones. To the federal authorities it is a straightforward case, but Leland Monroe thinks differently.
Leland steps in to defend the vulnerable janitor, firmly believing Vinny is merely a convenient scapegoat. As he launches his own investigation, he discovers that the deceased judge was harbouring massive, dangerous secrets of his own. The forensic trail doesn’t lead down to the basement where Vinny worked, it points straight up to an incredibly influential suspect hiding in plain sight within the upper echelons of power.
Leland faces a race against time to break through the federal shield protecting the true killer. In this novel the drama isn’t just in the courtroom, the one safe haven that has protected his family from the fallout of his past cases, comes under a direct, terrifying threat from an entirely unexpected direction.
Leland Monroe faces a fight against a system that is rigged to protect the powerful. A crime occurring in the very place where justice is meant to be dealt out. A courthouse that is now a murder scene.
If you enjoy legal thrillers full of courtroom drama then this could be the series for you.
September 23, 2025
I enjoyed this book. Fans favourite lawyer is back facing his arch nemesis, well not exactly. Ludlow was arrested in the last book and this book is the follow up with him in court but things don't go as planned, when the key witness a judge dies. Of course Leland is the one hired to defend the accused and the fun begins. He is also working another case, I must admit this case went over my head as it was a cyber case and with the technical talk I skipped a few paragraphs. Otherwise I enjoyed this book, there was plenty of action and twists to keep it entertaining and I don't just mean in the court room. I know it has nothing to do with being a legal thriller but I liked the retreat interlude where things got really interesting and dramatic. I love the characters and can't wait for the next book.
Leland is looking forward to just watching the proceedings as his arch nemesis, who has threatened his and his son's life a number of times, is put away. However the court house is quickly shut down when a body is found at the bottom of an unused staircase. With all his money and power was Ludlow behind the key witnesses death? Leland is out of the loop, until he is hired by the accused. A janitor from the court house lied to the FBI and when it is discovered he had a motive to want the judge dead he is arrested. Leland isn't sure if his client is guilty or not but he plans to defend him the best he can. Even with mother nature throwing road blocks in his way, his nemesis still in the picture and witnesses involved in car crashes Leland will stop at nothing to get to the truth.
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Leland is looking forward to just watching the proceedings as his arch nemesis, who has threatened his and his son's life a number of times, is put away. However the court house is quickly shut down when a body is found at the bottom of an unused staircase. With all his money and power was Ludlow behind the key witnesses death? Leland is out of the loop, until he is hired by the accused. A janitor from the court house lied to the FBI and when it is discovered he had a motive to want the judge dead he is arrested. Leland isn't sure if his client is guilty or not but he plans to defend him the best he can. Even with mother nature throwing road blocks in his way, his nemesis still in the picture and witnesses involved in car crashes Leland will stop at nothing to get to the truth.
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
October 25, 2025
Twisting Judgment is a compelling and believable legal thriller that showcases Peter Kirkland’s talent for creating authentic characters and gripping courtroom drama. The story follows attorney Leland Munroe as he defends two young clients—one charged under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act with multiple felonies, and the other accused of murder.
Kirkland packs a wealth of detail about both crimes into the narrative, giving readers a deep and fascinating look at the legal and moral complexities behind each case. The courtroom scenes are sharp and engaging, full of tension and emotion that make it hard to put the book down.
The characters—whether strong, likable, sinister, or somewhere in between—come across as realistic and multidimensional. Each piece of the puzzle clicks neatly into place by the end, resulting in a satisfying and well-constructed conclusion.
As the sixth book in the Small Town Lawyer series, Twisting Judgment is another solid entry that reinforces Kirkland’s reputation as a master of the legal thriller genre. Fans of courtroom drama and smartly written mysteries will not be disappointed. As always, I’m already looking forward to Kirkland's next release.
Thank you to the author for an advance copy of this book for review consideration. I am voluntarily leaving this review which is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Kirkland packs a wealth of detail about both crimes into the narrative, giving readers a deep and fascinating look at the legal and moral complexities behind each case. The courtroom scenes are sharp and engaging, full of tension and emotion that make it hard to put the book down.
The characters—whether strong, likable, sinister, or somewhere in between—come across as realistic and multidimensional. Each piece of the puzzle clicks neatly into place by the end, resulting in a satisfying and well-constructed conclusion.
As the sixth book in the Small Town Lawyer series, Twisting Judgment is another solid entry that reinforces Kirkland’s reputation as a master of the legal thriller genre. Fans of courtroom drama and smartly written mysteries will not be disappointed. As always, I’m already looking forward to Kirkland's next release.
Thank you to the author for an advance copy of this book for review consideration. I am voluntarily leaving this review which is my honest, unbiased opinion.
November 5, 2025
Twisting Judgement is an excellent courtroom thriller. It has all of the tension, suspense, and expected revelations of the best of Perry Mason, and I can't think of a higher compliment I can give. Once again, I have managed to start a series in the middle, but luckily, reading the previous books is recommended by Mr. Kirkland, but it is not required. I was able to pick up the threads of the story without difficulty. While I hope that I never find myself needing a criminal defense attorney, Leland Munroe is the type of lawyer I would hope to be able to find. He is determined to give his clients his best, and he does. He never does anything halfway, and he surrounds himself with people who are as good at their jobs as he is. I will be looking for other books in the series, and I'm sure I will enjoy them just as much as this one.
While I didn't find the book to be "Unputdownable", I did find myself itching to get back to it when I found myself interrupted. I recommend this book for fans of tight, exciting, realistic courtroom drama with wonderful characters that come alive on the page. I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens, and this review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.
While I didn't find the book to be "Unputdownable", I did find myself itching to get back to it when I found myself interrupted. I recommend this book for fans of tight, exciting, realistic courtroom drama with wonderful characters that come alive on the page. I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens, and this review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.
Read
November 18, 2025Recently, I had the opportunity to read Peter Kirkland's "Twisting Judgement" - a legal thriller that takes place in small town North Carolina,
In Peter Kirkland's legal thriller "Twisting Judgment", small-town defense attorney Leland Munroe investigates the suspicious death of a federal judge who plunges from a locked courthouse stairwell just before he was scheduled to testify
Thinking this would be a single-case legal thriller, I was mildly concerned when the author introduced a separate, seemingly unrelated legal case, but it was the solution to the second case that set up the solution to the primary case, which was the book's theme.
Ultimately, the book is a fast-paced legal thriller with numerous twists, as Leland races against time to expose the truth and prevent the real killer from claiming another victim. The book is the sixth installment in the Small Town Lawyer series.
That said, on my vaunted five-star scale, I would give Kirkland a solid five stars on this effort. Readers who enjoy authors of this genre - including John Grisham, James Chandler, and Peter O'Mahoney - would enjoy this author.
As with my other literary rants, these are just my five cents' worth.
In Peter Kirkland's legal thriller "Twisting Judgment", small-town defense attorney Leland Munroe investigates the suspicious death of a federal judge who plunges from a locked courthouse stairwell just before he was scheduled to testify
Thinking this would be a single-case legal thriller, I was mildly concerned when the author introduced a separate, seemingly unrelated legal case, but it was the solution to the second case that set up the solution to the primary case, which was the book's theme.
Ultimately, the book is a fast-paced legal thriller with numerous twists, as Leland races against time to expose the truth and prevent the real killer from claiming another victim. The book is the sixth installment in the Small Town Lawyer series.
That said, on my vaunted five-star scale, I would give Kirkland a solid five stars on this effort. Readers who enjoy authors of this genre - including John Grisham, James Chandler, and Peter O'Mahoney - would enjoy this author.
As with my other literary rants, these are just my five cents' worth.
October 12, 2025
I received an ARC through "Booksprout" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
In this story, Leland had just left court and stepped into the Ludlow trial to see how it was going. While he was in the courtroom waiting for Judge Nicholson to testify. The court was in a short recess and everyone was waiting for it to start again. As it turned out, Judge Nicholson was killed and the court was locked down. Leland was later contacted to defend the suspect, a janitor, who was charged with the murder. Around this same time, Leland had another big cause regarding the misuse of a computer. Both cases were being charged as Federal vs. State.
Read along and learn what sort of strategy for each trial that Leland was defending. Discover how each trial ended and what was the most significant event in each. Discover what steps Leland took for himself and Terri as a result of dangerous events which were happening. Learn about the time that Terri and Leland were in N.C. the weekend before the trial.
This is another excellent story in the series and well worth reading. Don't miss out, you won't be sorry!
In this story, Leland had just left court and stepped into the Ludlow trial to see how it was going. While he was in the courtroom waiting for Judge Nicholson to testify. The court was in a short recess and everyone was waiting for it to start again. As it turned out, Judge Nicholson was killed and the court was locked down. Leland was later contacted to defend the suspect, a janitor, who was charged with the murder. Around this same time, Leland had another big cause regarding the misuse of a computer. Both cases were being charged as Federal vs. State.
Read along and learn what sort of strategy for each trial that Leland was defending. Discover how each trial ended and what was the most significant event in each. Discover what steps Leland took for himself and Terri as a result of dangerous events which were happening. Learn about the time that Terri and Leland were in N.C. the weekend before the trial.
This is another excellent story in the series and well worth reading. Don't miss out, you won't be sorry!
October 12, 2025
Thanks to BookSirens, the author and publisher for an ARC of Twisting Judgement by Peter Kirkland and Daleth Hall. I received an advanced copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Twisting Judgement is the sixth in the Small Town Lawyer Series. I was not familiar with this series but will certainly be going back to read the previous five books. While this book stands reasonably well on its own, there were a lot of references to prior events that I assume are a part of the other books in the series. I think having read those prior books would have made this book much more enjoyable.
Twisting judgement is about the murder of a federal judge just before he testified. A janitor, Vinny Baptiste, is arrested and charged with the murder and hires small town defense attorney, Leland Munroe. Munroe believes the case against Vinny is more complicated than it seems on the surface.
Despite not having all of the background in this series, I greatly enjoyed this book. A great legal thriller and I look forward to the other books in this series.
Twisting Judgement is the sixth in the Small Town Lawyer Series. I was not familiar with this series but will certainly be going back to read the previous five books. While this book stands reasonably well on its own, there were a lot of references to prior events that I assume are a part of the other books in the series. I think having read those prior books would have made this book much more enjoyable.
Twisting judgement is about the murder of a federal judge just before he testified. A janitor, Vinny Baptiste, is arrested and charged with the murder and hires small town defense attorney, Leland Munroe. Munroe believes the case against Vinny is more complicated than it seems on the surface.
Despite not having all of the background in this series, I greatly enjoyed this book. A great legal thriller and I look forward to the other books in this series.
November 4, 2025
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Twisting Judgment is principally a courtroom drama. Leland Munroe is a defense attorney, representing a janitor accused of murdering a judge. That judge was about to be a key witness in a different case involving a corruption charge.
This is my first book from this author and he has written many. This appears to be the sixth book in a series. Though this works OK as a standalone, I had a hard time feeling familiar with the characters. I suspect a reader of previous books in the series would have understood these people better.
There are two sections of the book that seemed like unnecessary tangents to me. One was a hurricane that Leland got caught in. This was a gruesome experience but had nothing to do with the main plot. The other section was a separate case Leland was working, where he was defending a young student accused of hacking a school computer system. That second case was remotely connected to the main murder case.
The main plot was outstanding. The author writes very clearly and I enjoyed the book.
Twisting Judgment is principally a courtroom drama. Leland Munroe is a defense attorney, representing a janitor accused of murdering a judge. That judge was about to be a key witness in a different case involving a corruption charge.
This is my first book from this author and he has written many. This appears to be the sixth book in a series. Though this works OK as a standalone, I had a hard time feeling familiar with the characters. I suspect a reader of previous books in the series would have understood these people better.
There are two sections of the book that seemed like unnecessary tangents to me. One was a hurricane that Leland got caught in. This was a gruesome experience but had nothing to do with the main plot. The other section was a separate case Leland was working, where he was defending a young student accused of hacking a school computer system. That second case was remotely connected to the main murder case.
The main plot was outstanding. The author writes very clearly and I enjoyed the book.
October 1, 2025
Twisting Judgment is the 6th book in the Small Town Lawyer Series. The Series follows a lawyer named Leland Monroe, who following a prosecuting career in Charleston, South Carolina, moves to a small town, Basking Rocks. In this book, Monroe needs to help two clients out of predicaments. The first is a student who exposes a college's network shortfalls by giving student's personal data to a reporter. The second, is a janitor in the Basking Rocks Courthouse, who is accused of killing a federal judge. As this is a legal thriller, Monroe needs to find out who is responsible for the murder of the judge, even if it might be his client. All the while, Monroe has to avoid individuals out to hurt or kill him, and as an added bonus, avoid the impacts of a hurricane. Kirkland is great at writing legal thrillers. As always, I am looking forward to his next one.
October 21, 2025
This was stunning! How they finally figured out whodunit. I was utterly impressed with the tracking of the red and blue phones in the courthouse for the jury. Astounding! This book really amped me up and had my synapses firing. The adrenaline rush is real folks! The pieces of the puzzle clicked into places, and it was satisfying to see the worm squirm. The trap fell so seamlessly, and I loved every second of it . Be ready for all the twists and turns. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.
October 22, 2025
Who done it? This is not a one hour tv show because there is much more packed into the pages, making it so enjoyable. There is plenty of courtroom drama. There is a murder. There are threats. There is betrayal. Spun with a little technology and some overlapping cases. There are natural elements that come very close to derailing the whole defense. The characters come across strong, likable, sinister and realistic. It is twisted and convoluted. It is surprising and entertaining. It is a book you’ll want to take your time with and don’t want to see this one end. Thank you Leland Munroe!
May 1, 2026
Twisting Judgment is a compelling legal thriller that immerses readers in the complexities of a high-stakes courtroom battle. The novel follows a seasoned defense attorney as he navigates a case filled with conflicting testimonies, hidden agendas, and moral ambiguity. Kirkland and Hall excel at building tension, crafting multidimensional characters, and exploring the gray areas of justice. While the legal procedures can be intricate, the story’s fast pace and unexpected twists make it a satisfying and thought-provoking read for fans of courtroom dramas.
Thank you, BookSirens, for the ARC.
Thank you, BookSirens, for the ARC.
October 26, 2025
Loved the narration from J J Hosenfeld
We find attorney Leland Munroe defending two young clients. One of them is being charged for Computer Fraud and multiple felonies, and the murder.
You will find yourself at holding your breath as the courtroom scenes are full of tension and emotion.
You will be hooked with the characters and twists.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
We find attorney Leland Munroe defending two young clients. One of them is being charged for Computer Fraud and multiple felonies, and the murder.
You will find yourself at holding your breath as the courtroom scenes are full of tension and emotion.
You will be hooked with the characters and twists.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 30, 2025
This is the sixth book in the Small Town Lawyer series. This series is amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone. A murdered judge and an innocent person accused of the crime are the center piece for this story. Leland Munroe is pulled into a shocking case of apparent suicide or was it murder, when a federal judge plunges to his death in a locked stairwell. When the FBI arrests Vinny, the janitor of the courthouse, Leland must step in and figure out what happened to save Vinny.
November 1, 2025
Enjoyable small town Southern USA legal thriller, with great characters and as ever a David and Goliath standoff. Twisting Judgement covers corruption, and a lot of very technical phone tracking info as well as a focus on hacking and how easy it is.
Leland Munroe is the sort of lawyer anyone can get behind and the cast of characters supporting him draw you in making this a great binge worthy series.
Leland Munroe is the sort of lawyer anyone can get behind and the cast of characters supporting him draw you in making this a great binge worthy series.
November 9, 2025
Finally the Federal Court
I worked for 17 years in the District of Vermont Federal Court in Brattleboro under His Honor J. Garvin Murtha as a Court Security Officer for the U.S. Marshals, after retiring from 28 years with the Vermont State Police.
Reading this 6th book of a 6-book series was refreshing. The author is well-versed, authoritative, and knowledgeable on the Federal level law. It's a fast read, one of those books that you can't wait to read the next chapter!
I worked for 17 years in the District of Vermont Federal Court in Brattleboro under His Honor J. Garvin Murtha as a Court Security Officer for the U.S. Marshals, after retiring from 28 years with the Vermont State Police.
Reading this 6th book of a 6-book series was refreshing. The author is well-versed, authoritative, and knowledgeable on the Federal level law. It's a fast read, one of those books that you can't wait to read the next chapter!
October 23, 2025
A judge is dead and he is pulled into the case and a man is accused of the killing. He believes they are innocent but proving it is not going to be very easy. It seems the killer is hiding in plain sight and the case is going to get more complicated. See if he can prove their innocence
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great thriller
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great thriller
November 4, 2025
This was an excellent legal thriller. A likeable hero in Leland Munroe, the epitome of the small town lawyer, two plots converging into one, lots of court room drama , a few twists and an unexpected but satisfactory conclusion.
This is a good series and the author has come up with a concept that could well run for a long time.
This was a good and entertaining read.
This is a good series and the author has come up with a concept that could well run for a long time.
This was a good and entertaining read.
November 25, 2025
I am voluntarily leaving a review after receiving an ARC from Hidden Gems.
It was okay. it took a while for me to get i to the story. The lead up to Munroe taking Vinny's case slow. I wish that there was more of a connection between Munroe's cases. I also wish that Ludlow connection would end but I have a feeling that Ludlow will be around for a while.
It was okay. it took a while for me to get i to the story. The lead up to Munroe taking Vinny's case slow. I wish that there was more of a connection between Munroe's cases. I also wish that Ludlow connection would end but I have a feeling that Ludlow will be around for a while.
November 25, 2025
Absolutely such a great series!
I am not sure how I managed to come across this new author to me, but this is such a great series and it was almost impossible to put down. I started reading book one a couple days ago and this is book 6. You will totally enjoy this. It's so vivid and alive
I am not sure how I managed to come across this new author to me, but this is such a great series and it was almost impossible to put down. I started reading book one a couple days ago and this is book 6. You will totally enjoy this. It's so vivid and alive
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