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David Brunelle Legal Thriller #18
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!
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2025
About the author
Stephen Penner
77 books169 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
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.
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.
June 5, 2026
Fantastic attention to detail. You can tell they care about quality.
April 13, 2026
Under Duress, is the eighteenth book in the David Brunelle legal thriller series by Stephen Penner. In this book, homicide prosecutor David Brunelle faces a procedural paradox, he is handling a murder case where the victim is still breathing.
The case seems straightforward but chilling. A wealthy plastic surgeon shoots his business partner, leaving him in a coma with a life-threatening wound. The surgeon doesn’t flee; instead, he calls 911 and weaves a terrifying narrative of anonymous stalkers from the dark web who are making threats against his family. He claims he was forced to pull the trigger to save his own loved ones.
The judge gives the defense attorney’s case a lift by allowing the duress defense. In many jurisdictions, “Duress” is a total defense to almost any crime, except for a completed murder. Because the victim is still alive, though barely, the surgeon can legally argue that he was coerced into the shooting. This creates an irony for David Brunelle. If the victim dies, the charge becomes murder, and the duress defense is instantly invalidated. Brunelle finds himself in the uncomfortable position of having to “resist wishing” for the victim’s death to make his own job easier.
Instead of waiting for a tragedy to simplify the law, Brunelle teams up with his favourite detective and top-tier co-counsel to peel back the layers of the surgeon’s story. They must move beyond the what and uncover the why. Brunelle must prove to a jury that the surgeon’s tale of dark-web stalkers is a calculated lie. If he can’t break the defendant’s narrative, then a “would-be murderer” could walk free, legally excused for his actions because the jury believed he was acting Under Duress.
This is an intriguing plot and once again Stephen Penner’s legal experience shows as he deals with this legal grey area. The tension builds with the looming death of the coma-stricken business partner that acts as a ticking clock.
Under Duress is an intriguing, fast-paced procedural thriller where ethics are tested just as much as legal knowledge. It’s a compelling look at how a clever defense can twist the truth, and the monumental effort required to straighten it back out.
In this case, a man’s survival is the very thing that might let his attacker go free.”
A good read in a very entertaining legal series.
The case seems straightforward but chilling. A wealthy plastic surgeon shoots his business partner, leaving him in a coma with a life-threatening wound. The surgeon doesn’t flee; instead, he calls 911 and weaves a terrifying narrative of anonymous stalkers from the dark web who are making threats against his family. He claims he was forced to pull the trigger to save his own loved ones.
The judge gives the defense attorney’s case a lift by allowing the duress defense. In many jurisdictions, “Duress” is a total defense to almost any crime, except for a completed murder. Because the victim is still alive, though barely, the surgeon can legally argue that he was coerced into the shooting. This creates an irony for David Brunelle. If the victim dies, the charge becomes murder, and the duress defense is instantly invalidated. Brunelle finds himself in the uncomfortable position of having to “resist wishing” for the victim’s death to make his own job easier.
Instead of waiting for a tragedy to simplify the law, Brunelle teams up with his favourite detective and top-tier co-counsel to peel back the layers of the surgeon’s story. They must move beyond the what and uncover the why. Brunelle must prove to a jury that the surgeon’s tale of dark-web stalkers is a calculated lie. If he can’t break the defendant’s narrative, then a “would-be murderer” could walk free, legally excused for his actions because the jury believed he was acting Under Duress.
This is an intriguing plot and once again Stephen Penner’s legal experience shows as he deals with this legal grey area. The tension builds with the looming death of the coma-stricken business partner that acts as a ticking clock.
Under Duress is an intriguing, fast-paced procedural thriller where ethics are tested just as much as legal knowledge. It’s a compelling look at how a clever defense can twist the truth, and the monumental effort required to straighten it back out.
In this case, a man’s survival is the very thing that might let his attacker go free.”
A good read in a very entertaining legal series.
April 10, 2026
there were 2 plastic surgeons, partners. one shot the other one in the back of the head and confessed but he said he was told to kill him or they would kill his family. he said he deleted all the emails like they told him to
so david brunelle is prosecuting the case. the dr hired a rich lawyer who is using the under duress excuse but its not allowed in murder. but the man is in a coma
his girlfriend is making a bet with him about the reason why he was killed, and if she wins they have to get engaged (he really doesnt want to). he just moved in with her and its a longer commute for him which hes still not used to
she lost the bet but he asked her to marry him at the end of the trial and she said yes
they found a man who sold a program that deletes things on the computer. the police tech couldnt find the emails the man claimed told him to kill his partner or they would kill his son
but the man who sold the program found some files, but didnt tell anyone. the lawyer found it when they looked at the laptop between witnesses. the man who was shot was looking at porn and the other partner was going to tell his wife. so he shot him
his wife was going to take him off life support after the trial where he was found guilty so he can be charged for murder , not just attempted which he was convicted of
so david brunelle is prosecuting the case. the dr hired a rich lawyer who is using the under duress excuse but its not allowed in murder. but the man is in a coma
his girlfriend is making a bet with him about the reason why he was killed, and if she wins they have to get engaged (he really doesnt want to). he just moved in with her and its a longer commute for him which hes still not used to
she lost the bet but he asked her to marry him at the end of the trial and she said yes
they found a man who sold a program that deletes things on the computer. the police tech couldnt find the emails the man claimed told him to kill his partner or they would kill his son
but the man who sold the program found some files, but didnt tell anyone. the lawyer found it when they looked at the laptop between witnesses. the man who was shot was looking at porn and the other partner was going to tell his wife. so he shot him
his wife was going to take him off life support after the trial where he was found guilty so he can be charged for murder , not just attempted which he was convicted of
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2026
Plastic surgeon William Grunwald shoots his partner. Harrison Jacoby, in the head, leaving him in a coma. He claims that he felt forced to do so by some blackmailers who threatened to kill his son if he didn't kill his partner. Grunwald also has deleted all evidence of the correspondence with the blackmailers from his computer, in accordance, he says, with their instructions.
With the defendant's laptop scrubbed clean, police and prosecutor David Brunelle wonder how they can test Grunwald's claims. Brunelle finds one possible lead----a piece of paper in the victim's pocket with the words "1900 Owl RD" scribbled on it. He hopes this clue will point them in the direction of the truth. Meanwhile, he has some big decisions to make in his personal life.
This installment in the series is a page-turner with an exciting climax in the courtroom.
With the defendant's laptop scrubbed clean, police and prosecutor David Brunelle wonder how they can test Grunwald's claims. Brunelle finds one possible lead----a piece of paper in the victim's pocket with the words "1900 Owl RD" scribbled on it. He hopes this clue will point them in the direction of the truth. Meanwhile, he has some big decisions to make in his personal life.
This installment in the series is a page-turner with an exciting climax in the courtroom.
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!
March 10, 2026
Good Reading
I was skeptical when I first began reading this book but it didn't take long to realize this is a very good read!
I hope if others feel the same as they begin to read this book that they also give it a chance as I did.....because it's a fantastic read!!!
I was skeptical when I first began reading this book but it didn't take long to realize this is a very good read!
I hope if others feel the same as they begin to read this book that they also give it a chance as I did.....because it's a fantastic read!!!
May 8, 2026
Under duress
Typical lawyer story where he goes from defeat to victory in one fell swoop by virtue of a single question or simple turn of events. Could have explained more in the end but he probably wasn't getting paid by the word. Good tale!
Typical lawyer story where he goes from defeat to victory in one fell swoop by virtue of a single question or simple turn of events. Could have explained more in the end but he probably wasn't getting paid by the word. Good tale!
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.
Read
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!
June 4, 2026
Definitely enjoying this series
June 19, 2026
I thought this was a good read until the fast ending. It was too story book in a number of places. The motive for attempted murder was strange as well.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews