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An unreliable witness...

Prosecutor Jessie Black has an airtight case against Tyrone Nash, a gang thug who shot a man behind a bar in West Philly. But what should be an easy trial turns complicated when Nash somehow intimidates her eyewitness, and he recants his testimony on the eve of the trial. Now Jessie's only move to stop the killer from walking is to call a witness she had hoped to avoid—Reggie Tuck, a smooth-talking jailhouse snitch who claims Nash confessed to him during a short time they shared a cell. Worse, there are other people with an interest in the trial—people intent on silencing Reggie's big mouth, permanently.


A courthouse under siege...

Soon Jessie and Reggie find themselves trapped in a courthouse taken hostage by armed assailants. She must find a way to keep both Reggie and herself alive long enough to learn who they are, and how to stop them. But is Reggie Tuck's life worth protecting at the risk of her own?

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2014

1295 people are currently reading
140 people want to read

About the author

Larry A. Winters

31 books118 followers

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5 stars
820 (51%)
4 stars
498 (31%)
3 stars
203 (12%)
2 stars
39 (2%)
1 star
21 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
1,116 reviews23 followers
October 10, 2018
I am loving this series! Prosecutor Jessie Black ends up fighting for her life when the courthouse comes under siege by a group of armed men. Stuck in the stairwell in between floors she and her fellow hostages have to figure a way out without getting killed. Her star witness, Reggie Tuck, a snitch and the person she was relying on to help her convict the bad guy might know more than what he's saying. In the meantime, the detective Jessie's been seeing is trying his best to get to her but his superiors aren't listening to anything he's telling them, heightening his fears of Jessie being killed.

This had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down! I love the characters. Jessie is as tough as they come on the surface but has a more vulnerable side underneath. Leary, her beau, says he isn't looking for anything permanent but when Jessie's life is on the line he realizes just how much she means to him. He'll go to any lengths to save her, even putting his career in the line in the process. Definitely recommend. This can be read as a standalone but the series has me hooked!
16 reviews1 follower
April 23, 2018
Not a legal thriller .

Read this one because I enjoyed first one. This one wasn't much legal thriller and very little of the sassy jessie. Would have be ok but the story was weak , silly unbelievable parts. Not sure why all the good reviews.
Profile Image for Enrico Tassinari.
131 reviews1 follower
March 7, 2024
Oh, c'mon!! This is hardly acceptable as a first draft of a plot. One of the most inconsistent novel ever read. Almost 80% of characters' actions is stupid, incoherent and inexpicable. The events in the building are farfetched. Overall very few decisions taken make sense. I liked the ideas behind the first novel and some ideas seemed good here too (thus 2 stars), but this novel is really really bad.
Profile Image for Dosha (Bluestocking7) Beard.
654 reviews48 followers
August 8, 2024
I went through this quickly while knitting a short shawl. It was okay but not very believable so I was a bit disappointed. I was not able to warm up to the characters either, so that didn’t help. I am interested in the main character so I will continue with at least one more book in this series.
2,129 reviews25 followers
January 26, 2016
Jessie Black is the DA in the case against Tyrone Nash. She is forced to rely on the testimony of jail house snitch Reggie Tuck when her eye witness is somehow intimidated and suddenly has memory issues. On opening day of the trial armed men infiltrate the court house and they are after Reggie. Now Reggie, Jessie and other visitors and witnesses are trapped in a locked down facility with armed men. Who are they and why do they want Reggie? Is it to stop him testifying in the Nash case or is something else going on. There are all sorts,of twists and turns, betrayals and suspense in this book. If you are looking for a good legal thriller this is it.


Profile Image for Roger John Jones.
159 reviews4 followers
June 2, 2017
Stupid

The hero and heroine are brilliant. Everyone else is stupid. Guns kill everyone with a single shot but miss our heroine over and over again. Time is wasted as our hero drives around instead of using the phone. Very unsatisfying. I like the first book of the series. This one not so much.
193 reviews4 followers
April 3, 2021
Winters was a new author for me but, after reading the prequel and first of this legal thriller series, I’ve bought the rest of his books about the caring and strong, Jessie Black. I’ve enjoyed seeing her work with Mark Leary again in Informant, generally trusting each other’s instincts. However, it’s not essential to have read the earlier books, as each is a stand-alone story. As before, there were many twists and turns neither Jessie nor I had anticipated. Just because she deals with criminals every day, doesn’t mean she’s able to handle a life-or-death situation.
157 reviews
April 13, 2022
Many things to like in this novel. Again quite a few interesting and believable characters.

A special prop goes to the charming conman. He was well-drawn and very interesting.

One thing I didn't like was the method used to clear the jammed stairwells. It seemed totally unbelievable to me. A winch truck pulling something down a stairwell for 6 floors? Stairwells wind around, a winch would not work.

Lots of little details were presented and many ended up having implications later (e.g. a hidden gun).
Profile Image for Mary.
505 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2024
Book 2 of the Jesse Black series. I listened to this audiobook. The writing was good, the characters were well-developed and the narration was also good. That being said, the action was swift and suspenseful initially but built to the point of being ridiculous. The takeover of the courthouse was implausible and Jessie went from being a good attorney to Wonder woman - super human and bullet proof. What could have been a really good legal thriller was married by too much over the top "thrill" and not enough "legal".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Doris.
273 reviews2 followers
September 12, 2019
First book I've read by this author. Fast pased and had to keep reading to see what happened next. Somethings maybe a tad far fetched, but it worked. Action packed. For anyone who has ever been in or has seen a court house and court room on tv you can picture this story unfolding. Missed the 1st one in this series but it didn't hinder understanding the charactes. Looking forward to the next book to see how the characters continue developing.
Profile Image for Kathy.
1,458 reviews26 followers
November 13, 2020
Much of my "like" of this book is because of Xe Sands as the narrator. She does a great job of telling a story, even when some of it starts to strain credulity. There are several scenes that are pretty far-fetched, but they certainly kept the pace of the book at a rapid speed. Overall, it's an interesting premise for a thriller/police-procedural (are the bad guys really bad guys? It will keep you wondering).
Profile Image for Brenda Whiteside.
Author 24 books310 followers
July 25, 2023
Another fun read by Larry Winters. Jessie's personality stays true to form. Reggie Tuck steals the show in this book. The entire scenario was just a touch difficult to suspend belief, but because of the characterizations and the twisty plot, I was able to accept it. The only thing that had me scratching my head was a timeline issue for Detective Leary who's outside the courthouse and trying to find a way to help. But that's a sidebar. Overall, this is another good entertaining novel.
Profile Image for Katie.
254 reviews2 followers
June 22, 2017
A good, quick and easy 4 star read.

I really like the characters in this series, but I wish the author had gone deeper. It's fast paced but it lacks an accompanying complexity that keeps it from being great. That being said, I can't wait until there's an audiobook version for book 3!
68 reviews
January 29, 2018
A courthouse turns into The other twists in the plot are similarly interesting but not sensible.
8 reviews1 follower
September 29, 2018
I enjoyed the book even though it wasn't a legal story at all. The character I thought was great was Reggie Tuck, and for a supposed con man, he was a pretty kind person...well, he could have left Jessie with the psycho who was set to kill her. I thought the story line was weak in some places, but nevertheless, it was entertaining. I liked the first Jessie Black story better.
189 reviews2 followers
June 30, 2020
Great read!

Lots of excitement. Two main characters that are continued from the first book. Very well developed and believable. Strong female lead. Dialogue flows freely and smoothly. Pulls you in quickly. Lots of twists and turns. No profanity or sexual situations I will recommend this book to anyone.
14 reviews
November 24, 2022
Mis titled.

If you are looking for a legal story, this is not one. The story took place in a court house. That's the legal part. And the amount of action that takes place in less than 12 hours stretches credibility. Story itself has many incredible scenarios that are difficult to believe. Good fiction should be believable, not have the action force fit to make a story.
Profile Image for Kevin.
894 reviews41 followers
December 16, 2023
Brilliant

This is such a unique, and brilliantly crafted book, the plot is true, who can you trust, whether within private professional corporations, public sector jobs.

The con artist in the plot, is what is known as honour among thieves, trying to do something for the future generations than steep misery on people who are living hand to mouth.
1,852 reviews18 followers
November 23, 2024
Read this story for its fast paced action. More gruesome and violent than most Jesse Black stories. As a result there is little law and legal procedure. There is lots of police action with many different roles contributing. Also criminals involved in many schemes, one much more elaborate than expected.
Profile Image for deryl taylor.
54 reviews23 followers
June 14, 2017
Getting better and better

A 5 Star rating for sure! Each book in the series gets better with its suspense, mystery, twist, turns and thrillers! I'm really enjoying the series so much I can't seem to put the book down! Read the series. I don't want it to end!
245 reviews5 followers
February 4, 2019
Not as good as Burnout.

A whole book of hostage stand off was too boring with a lot of useless killing. However, I guess I will give Mr. Winters another chance by reading the next book in the series because the first book was so good.
352 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2019
A must read crime thriller

There are lots and lots of twists and turns in this crime suspense novel. It is one of the best of this genre that I have read in a long time. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Lisa Williams.
6 reviews
October 8, 2019
Another awesome legal thriller!!!!!

Finished this book in 3 days...it would have been less but I have 2 year old twin boys....I was so into this book from the very beginning. Great storyline, love the humor as well.
174 reviews2 followers
July 14, 2020
Jessie Black the prosecutor is in danger again. This is the most exciting of the three books so far. Constant excitement on every page that leaves you wondering what else could happen. It all finally comes together leaving you breathless.
Profile Image for Maggie.
3,094 reviews8 followers
April 11, 2021
These are billed as legal thrillers This one is set in the court house but there is zero court action in it. This was an average read I will continue with the series but think the title is very misleading
Profile Image for Loretta Gabriel.
867 reviews6 followers
July 2, 2021
A real good thriller.

The author has written a very intriguing and suspenseful story about the adventures of an assistant DA as she tries to convert a criminal by using another criminal. Plenty of action and suspenseful.
1,086 reviews5 followers
April 22, 2022
Jesse Black had an easy case until her star witness recanted his testimony. Her next witness, a jailhouse snitch made her uneasy. An attempt on his life and invasion of the courthouse, with the help of police made this an interesting read. I rate this a 4.8
711 reviews1 follower
June 13, 2023
Garbage. This book does not glamorise cold blooded murder it treats it like nothing out of the ordinary - a cup of tea or cigarette on a busy day Is life really so disposable.? The approach doesn't enhance the book or the story. Pathetic.
11 reviews
August 15, 2023
Good Read

Now this was the best Jessie Black book so far. The characters were really cool, but the best part was Reggie Tuck. Even though I shouldn’t have been, the window scene had me laughing til I cried. Jessie (and I) needed that humor.
19 reviews
September 17, 2023
intense

Definitely held my interest, so much I didn’t want to put my book down.
For sure a page turner. Every chapter kept you wanting to read on. You just have to know what’s going to happen next?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews