Second Degree

by A. Turk, Jessica Turk (Editor), Dimples Kellogg (Editor)

A. Turk, retired trial attorney, now writes fiction, inspired by true events and the cases he handled during his more than thirty-year career. Second Degree, the next installment in the Benjamin Davis Book Series, is a story about sex, drugs, addiction and country music. A. Turk’s alter ego, Nashville attorney Ben Davis, together with his faithful team, is thrown into several sexually explicit and difficult cases, which they address head-on. The antagonist, Dr. Charles Juan Batista Garcia, a young handsome surgeon with a bright future, gives in to temptation and is pursued civilly and criminally for his wrongful and unethical conduct. Second Degree provides the reader with realistic insight into how the judicial system works and how it’s flawed.

460 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2014

About the author

A. Turk was born in 1954, in Brooklyn, New York, and he grew up on Long Island. He earned a BA from George Washington University, an MBA from the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Business, and a JD from Vanderbilt School of Law. He was licensed to practice law in Tennessee in 1980. In 1983 he also was licensed, but never practiced, in New York because of a promise he made to his mother.

A. Turk for more than thirty years was a prominent Nashville attorney and a veteran of fighting courtroom battles. He garnered national media attention in 1994 when he won a unanimous US Supreme Court decision, which held that 2 Live Crew's parody of Roy Orbison's song "Pretty Woman" did not require a copyright license. With the support of NBC, HBO, Time Warner, Mad Magazine, and others, A. Turk won this landmark case preserving the right of commercial parody under the Fair Use Doctrine.

A. Turk recently retired to begin his second career as an author of courtroom dramas based upon his personal experiences. First Do No Harm is A. Turk’s debut novel, where he introduces his fictitious alter ego, Benjamin Davis. The Benjamin Davis Book Series will explore and address the same legal issues and moral dilemmas that A. Turk faced during his legal career.

A. Turk has been married to his wife Lisa for 33 years and they have two adult children, Jessica and Ben, as well as three pugs. A. Turk currently splits his time between Nashville, Aspen, and Highland Beach.

Reviews

[Tulay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every good book.

At the beginning all the characters and their relation are listed, also at the end some legal terms explained. Very easy to understand and follow. Maybe from now on Davis will believe his office manager's intuition. This book is for those like to read courtroom dramas. As far as I know, in year 1999 cellphones didn't have the picture and video future.

[Dawn Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Degree (Benjamin Davis Book 2) by A Turk

460 Pages
Publisher: A. Turk LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles
Release Date: January 7, 2015

Fiction, General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller, Legal, Medical

Peter Nichols is a cosmetic dentist. His mother has died from a rare form of dementia and his older brother is now suffering with it. Thinking about the future of the practice, Peter talks with his attorney, Ben Davis, about options. They decide the best option would be to bring in a medical doctor to supplement services. After reviewing three candidates, they select a young oral surgeon, Charles Juan Baptiste Garcia. He is good looking and trouble seems to follow him. Now with the future of his practice in jeopardy, Peter depends on Ben’s expertise to get him out of this fix.

The book has a fast pace, the characters are well developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. This author has a way of spinning a story that pulls the reader in until the end. If you like legal or medical suspense books, you cannot go wrong with this one.

[Ken Glisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riviting story line.

I am impressed with the story and the facts of the law explained in this book. The story grabs you at the start and doesn't let go. It is too bad the ending is as it is but I understand Turns novels are based on real cases. Maybe in the third book characters will get there just deserts. Well written and very informative. I learned about the exactness of the law and how wording is everything when applied to the law. I read the First book and plan on reading the next in the series.

[Janet Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series.

I've read every word of the Davis/Steine books. I have book 4 and am hoarding it to read on a cold winter day. A. Turk is an attorney himself and his stories are accurate but exceedingly readable. Lawyers are known to talk too much and obfuscate. Yet he never does that. I've not found a paragraph I need to skip over. Thank you A. Turk and please keep writing. I promise I'll keep reading!

[Beverley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy from NetGalley. A legal thriller that is heavy on the legal and light on the thriller. You know that the law moves slowly because it takes so many pages to get from part to part. That said, it isn't a bad story, just very slow moving. Character, a lot of them and most of them are pretty flat.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book I've read of A.Turjs, the first being the predecessor in this series. I absolutely love his form of story telling. I love a medical murder mystery and he delivers EVERY. SINGLE. TIME! I loved how the story started and then brought us back full circle with a few details I had forgotten! Talk about story telling mastery piece. On to book 3

[Beth Peninger · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and A. Turk LLC. for this free reader's copy. In exchange I am providing an honest review.

A.Turk’s second book has, no exaggeration, 54 main characters. FIFTY-FOUR. I know this because they are listed in the front of the book. That list gave me a sense of foreboding. I got three chapters in and knew it was a book I couldn’t read or give time to. I gave book 1 two stars but was willing to give book 2 a chance. But I couldn’t. FIFTY-FOUR main characters, which means there are more characters – just not main ones. A. Turk self publishes and I’m pretty sure the reason why is because publishing houses have rejected his manuscripts based on too many main characters, among other reasons.
He needs an editor that isn’t his friend, someone tough and willing to challenge him. FIFTY-FOUR main characters. And then he needs to listen to that editor and make some necessary cuts/edits.

[Jay Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great courtroom drama, with detailed analysis of the characters involved. No character is a stereotype, with some approaching pure evil and others somewhat good, but all the characters are believable and their behavior consistent. Turk is very adept at providing just the right level of detail to convey his message. The story and its ending are groaningly realistic. The good guys don't always win, and evil sometimes prevails. Perverted and unusual sex are on display, but not graphic. The message is delivered in good taste, but still delivered. The courtroom action itself is spell-binding, and makes it impossible to break from reading. Give this book a read, you won't be disappointed.

[Philip Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Benjamin Davis series. After reading the first in the series “First do no Harm” I had to jump into the second book. Again we find lawyer Ben Davis in the courtroom, but in the role of a prosecutor, where the rules are different than those for a defense lawyer. With some of the same characters from the first book and the introduction of some new characters the battle of wits continues, lawyer against lawyer. A hell of a good plot in the vein of the first novel with excellent writing on display as the reader is introduced to some of the nuances of the courtroom and nothing like the typical TV drama. Fans of legal thrillers will certainly enjoy these five-star works by Mr. Turk. I am already looking forward to the next installment.

[Sherrie Howey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Benjamin Davis series but one need not have read his first book in order to read this book. This book involves a dental practice who hires a sleazy cosmetic surgeon in order to boost revenue. The book involves drugs, sex and major malpractice and a good portion of the book involves court room drama as did his first book "First do no harm". I do enjoy Ben, Morty and Sammie who were also the lead characters in the first book.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Ben Davis series, but you do not have to read them in order to enjoy them.
This legal thriller involves drugs, sex, and malpractice. The characters all seem very real (even if their behavior is outrageous). The law and legal process is explained in a way that provides the background necessary for the story but does not detract from story. There are several plot twists which keeps you guessing at how things will turn out.

[Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in the series “First Do No Harm” was interesting but I thought there were places where the story got bogged down in the details. “Second Degree,” which is the next book in the series was more tightly plotted and a gripping read. Good legal fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Patricia Moren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absorbing court room drama from "the pen" of A Turk. I enjoyed it as much as his first book "First do no harm" and am looking forward to the continuation of the Ben Davis series. A fascinating insight into US law, trial and jury system.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read the first one, as I got this from Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an honest review.
I liked it...The story was interesting and kept me reading. Look forward to more stories from this author!

[Joan M Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Winner

Great story telling. The plot is very good and the protagonists are in great form. The outcome is somber but sets the stage for more action.

[Su · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for he next book, looking forward to Amy Pierce getting her comeuppance! Great story telling.