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Under Duress:
THE DEFENDANT CLAIMS HE HAD NO CHOICE. BRUNELLE CHOOSES NOT TO BELIEVE HIM.
Homicide prosecutor David Brunelle's latest case has an unexpected the victim is alive -- barely.
A wealthy plastic surgeon attempts to murder his business partner, sending him into a coma with a life-threatening gunshot wound. The surgeon calls 911 himself, then tells police he had no choice but to shoot the victim. He spins a tale of anonymous stalkers from the dark web and bone-chilling threats against his own family. A high-profile defense attorney takes the case and convinces an overly intellectual judge to allow the defendant to claim the legal theory of duress, a total defense -- to every crime except completed murder.
The best thing that could happen to Brunelle's case would be for the victim to die, thereby precluding the duress defense. It's an outcome Brunelle has to resist wishing for. Instead, he teams up with his favorite detective and his best co-counsel to dig into what really happened, and more importantly, why. Brunelle needs to convince the jury the defendant is lying. If he fails, the jury will wrongly acquit a would-be murderer for acting Under Duress.
STEPHEN PENNER IS AN AMAZON BESTSELLING AUTHOR WITH OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD
Under Duress is Book 18 in the top-rated legal thriller series featuring Seattle homicide D.A. David Brunelle and a recurring cast of cops, defense attorneys, and forensic experts. Each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone novel, but also follows the personal and professional growth of Brunelle and his friends and foes.
"David Brunelle may or may not win his case, but Stephen Penner has definitely created a winner here." --Amazon Reader Review
If you're looking for an authentic legal thriller with plenty of twists and turns, Under Duress is for you!
Homicide prosecutor David Brunelle's latest case has an unexpected the victim is alive -- barely.
A wealthy plastic surgeon attempts to murder his business partner, sending him into a coma with a life-threatening gunshot wound. The surgeon calls 911 himself, then tells police he had no choice but to shoot the victim. He spins a tale of anonymous stalkers from the dark web and bone-chilling threats against his own family. A high-profile defense attorney takes the case and convinces an overly intellectual judge to allow the defendant to claim the legal theory of duress, a total defense -- to every crime except completed murder.
The best thing that could happen to Brunelle's case would be for the victim to die, thereby precluding the duress defense. It's an outcome Brunelle has to resist wishing for. Instead, he teams up with his favorite detective and his best co-counsel to dig into what really happened, and more importantly, why. Brunelle needs to convince the jury the defendant is lying. If he fails, the jury will wrongly acquit a would-be murderer for acting Under Duress.
STEPHEN PENNER IS AN AMAZON BESTSELLING AUTHOR WITH OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD
Under Duress is Book 18 in the top-rated legal thriller series featuring Seattle homicide D.A. David Brunelle and a recurring cast of cops, defense attorneys, and forensic experts. Each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone novel, but also follows the personal and professional growth of Brunelle and his friends and foes.
"David Brunelle may or may not win his case, but Stephen Penner has definitely created a winner here." --Amazon Reader Review
If you're looking for an authentic legal thriller with plenty of twists and turns, Under Duress is for you!
- GenresThriller
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2025
181 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Penner
62 books164 followersStephen Penner is an author, artist, and attorney from Seattle, Washington. He has written more than 30 novels and specializes in courtroom thrillers known for their unexpected twists and candid portrayal of the justice system. He draws on his extensive experience as a criminal trial attorney to infuse his writing with realism and insight.
Stephen is the author of several top-rated legal thriller series. The DAVID BRUNELLE LEGAL THRILLERS feature Seattle homicide D.A. David Brunelle and a recurring cast of cops, defense attorneys, and forensic experts. The TALON WINTER LEGAL THRILLERS showcase tough-as-nails Tacoma criminal defense attorney Talon Winter and her closest allies. And the RAIN CITY LEGAL THRILLERS deliver the adventures of attorney Daniel Raine and his unlikely partner Rebecca Sommers. Stephen is also the author of the MAGGIE DEVEREAUX PARANORMAL MYSTERIES, recounting the exploits of an American graduate student in the magical Highlands of Scotland, and several other stand-alone works.
In his spare time, Stephen enjoys painting, drawing, and spending time with his family. For more information, visit his website www.stephenpenner.com.
Stephen is the author of several top-rated legal thriller series. The DAVID BRUNELLE LEGAL THRILLERS feature Seattle homicide D.A. David Brunelle and a recurring cast of cops, defense attorneys, and forensic experts. The TALON WINTER LEGAL THRILLERS showcase tough-as-nails Tacoma criminal defense attorney Talon Winter and her closest allies. And the RAIN CITY LEGAL THRILLERS deliver the adventures of attorney Daniel Raine and his unlikely partner Rebecca Sommers. Stephen is also the author of the MAGGIE DEVEREAUX PARANORMAL MYSTERIES, recounting the exploits of an American graduate student in the magical Highlands of Scotland, and several other stand-alone works.
In his spare time, Stephen enjoys painting, drawing, and spending time with his family. For more information, visit his website www.stephenpenner.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 4, 2025
Under Duress
I've enjoyed the whole Dave Brunelle series and the supporting fast of characters. I think this is the last in the series and what an excellent way to finish the series, I did not expect the motive.
I'm going to miss Dave Brunelle.
I've enjoyed the whole Dave Brunelle series and the supporting fast of characters. I think this is the last in the series and what an excellent way to finish the series, I did not expect the motive.
I'm going to miss Dave Brunelle.
January 13, 2026
Good story
This is an intriguing story where 1 doctor Shoots his partner and claims that he was forced to do it by Outside agitators who threaten to kill his son if he didn't . What actually happened between them you'll have to read it to find out it's an interesting tale.
This is an intriguing story where 1 doctor Shoots his partner and claims that he was forced to do it by Outside agitators who threaten to kill his son if he didn't . What actually happened between them you'll have to read it to find out it's an interesting tale.
February 1, 2026
I absolutely loved this book!
This was one of the best stories I’ve read for so long. The characters were convincing. The story line kept me up at night not wanting to put it down, and I loved the ending. Great book!
This was one of the best stories I’ve read for so long. The characters were convincing. The story line kept me up at night not wanting to put it down, and I loved the ending. Great book!
November 11, 2025
Great addition!
I really enjoyed this installment of the David Brunelle series. The plot was great and so were the characters. I did not expect the last twist.
I really enjoyed this installment of the David Brunelle series. The plot was great and so were the characters. I did not expect the last twist.
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November 18, 2025I can't believe he did it!
The way the story was told made it impossible to put this book away. A great legal thriller that I hope isn't the last from Mr Penner.
The way the story was told made it impossible to put this book away. A great legal thriller that I hope isn't the last from Mr Penner.
November 23, 2025
Interesting P!ot
This book held my interest from the start and it never let up. Great story line and with a surprise ending!
This book held my interest from the start and it never let up. Great story line and with a surprise ending!
January 5, 2026
Extremely lawyerly
I usually enjoy Stephen Penner books, but this one got so deep in the weeds, I lost interest. I’ll watch for the next one.
I usually enjoy Stephen Penner books, but this one got so deep in the weeds, I lost interest. I’ll watch for the next one.
January 20, 2026
**Decent entry, though a bit too tame**
I've been with Brunelle since the very beginning and I'm always happy to rejoin the fray. While this entry isn't as tense with the high-stakes courtroom drama that I've come to love in most of the previous books of the series, it doesn't mean I was all out bored with it. I appreciated the standardly solid stuff, like characters, interactions, and writing style. Now yes, main character Dave shockingly aggravated me a time or two this go-around, but he manages to course-correct to satisfying standards, at least in my eyes. I hate when characters don't grow.
Only reason I couldn't quite plop a fourth and fifth star on this one is essentially the non-compelling nature of the case. Not that it wasn't interesting, but...I just wasn't as intrigued. I also didn't care for author Stephen Penner's still-existent means of moving his story along utilizing time-jumps. As per usual, Dave's life outside of the courtroom is diminished to make up for it, which has always been a nuisance with this series. But at least his personal life is still there, I suppose, and not an insignificant thing.
Solid read and inclusion to the series, but fairly weak compared to previous entries. Still, if there be any more Dave Brunelle entries to come, I shall be there to join in.
Click me for random highlights/commentary.
I've been with Brunelle since the very beginning and I'm always happy to rejoin the fray. While this entry isn't as tense with the high-stakes courtroom drama that I've come to love in most of the previous books of the series, it doesn't mean I was all out bored with it. I appreciated the standardly solid stuff, like characters, interactions, and writing style. Now yes, main character Dave shockingly aggravated me a time or two this go-around, but he manages to course-correct to satisfying standards, at least in my eyes. I hate when characters don't grow.
Only reason I couldn't quite plop a fourth and fifth star on this one is essentially the non-compelling nature of the case. Not that it wasn't interesting, but...I just wasn't as intrigued. I also didn't care for author Stephen Penner's still-existent means of moving his story along utilizing time-jumps. As per usual, Dave's life outside of the courtroom is diminished to make up for it, which has always been a nuisance with this series. But at least his personal life is still there, I suppose, and not an insignificant thing.
Solid read and inclusion to the series, but fairly weak compared to previous entries. Still, if there be any more Dave Brunelle entries to come, I shall be there to join in.
Click me for random highlights/commentary.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews