What do you think?
Rate this book
Habeas Corpus
Charlie Trust is a burned-out lawyer who never wants to see another case, but there’s still one client he can’t refuse. And the problem is, that client just might be a killer. In Malibu, everyone is watching. But nobody is telling the truth.
Los Angeles, 1992
After eight soul-crushing years working as a divorce lawyer in Virginia, Charlie Trust has left the law behind. Burned out, disenchanted, and done with clients forever, he’s living in a borrowed house on Malibu’s Carbon Beach. All he wants to do now is drink beer on the deck, watch the sun set into the Pacific, and wonder what comes next.
Then the riots tear through Los Angeles, and America’s paradise turns to ashes. The fires are still burning in Hollywood when Charlie’s neighbor comes knocking and brings a different kind of disaster to his door.
Martin Cole, Detective Harry Murphy on one of TV’s hottest cop shows, is a familiar face to most Americas. He’s also a man whose wife has gone missing, and two hot-shot detectives from LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division don’t think she walked away. They think Marty Cole killed her.
Marty pleads with Charlie to help him, and Charlie can’t say no. Pulled into a case he never wanted, Charlie is faced with a choice between loyalty and truth, and between Hollywood and reality. On Carbon Beach, where multimillion-dollar houses stand watch over the relentless surf, everyone has secrets worth killing for.
Caught between calculating detectives, ruthless Hollywood lawyers, and his own client’s deviousness, Charlie Trust learns that friendship can be the most dangerous weapon of all.
Set against the backdrop of Malibu in the uneasy spring of 1992, Habeas Corpus is the electrifying first installment of the Charlie Trust novels, a series that blends legal intrigue with California noir for fans of Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, and Scott Turow.
“Wow! This novel is the best legal thriller that I have read in years. It’s right up there with PRESUMED INNOCENT.” - Angela Norton, retired Texas prosecutor
“This is the best-of-the-best crime novel with a lawyer hero. Charlie Trust wrestles with the most difficult ethical issues that a lawyer faces in his search for justice. A great read!” - Michael Tigar, , legendary defense attorney and author of SENSING INJUSTICE
“Jake Needham is a smooth operator and his writing skills show that. He handles this change-of-pace novel with aplomb. This is a fun read that is cleverly plotted and well executed.” — George Easter writing in Deadly Pleasure Mystery Magazine
"If there's a living writer whose work makes me think of the great Raymond Chandler, it's Jake Needham. He’s a prose master in the same vein.” -- James David Audlin
Los Angeles, 1992
After eight soul-crushing years working as a divorce lawyer in Virginia, Charlie Trust has left the law behind. Burned out, disenchanted, and done with clients forever, he’s living in a borrowed house on Malibu’s Carbon Beach. All he wants to do now is drink beer on the deck, watch the sun set into the Pacific, and wonder what comes next.
Then the riots tear through Los Angeles, and America’s paradise turns to ashes. The fires are still burning in Hollywood when Charlie’s neighbor comes knocking and brings a different kind of disaster to his door.
Martin Cole, Detective Harry Murphy on one of TV’s hottest cop shows, is a familiar face to most Americas. He’s also a man whose wife has gone missing, and two hot-shot detectives from LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division don’t think she walked away. They think Marty Cole killed her.
Marty pleads with Charlie to help him, and Charlie can’t say no. Pulled into a case he never wanted, Charlie is faced with a choice between loyalty and truth, and between Hollywood and reality. On Carbon Beach, where multimillion-dollar houses stand watch over the relentless surf, everyone has secrets worth killing for.
Caught between calculating detectives, ruthless Hollywood lawyers, and his own client’s deviousness, Charlie Trust learns that friendship can be the most dangerous weapon of all.
Set against the backdrop of Malibu in the uneasy spring of 1992, Habeas Corpus is the electrifying first installment of the Charlie Trust novels, a series that blends legal intrigue with California noir for fans of Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, and Scott Turow.
“Wow! This novel is the best legal thriller that I have read in years. It’s right up there with PRESUMED INNOCENT.” - Angela Norton, retired Texas prosecutor
“This is the best-of-the-best crime novel with a lawyer hero. Charlie Trust wrestles with the most difficult ethical issues that a lawyer faces in his search for justice. A great read!” - Michael Tigar, , legendary defense attorney and author of SENSING INJUSTICE
“Jake Needham is a smooth operator and his writing skills show that. He handles this change-of-pace novel with aplomb. This is a fun read that is cleverly plotted and well executed.” — George Easter writing in Deadly Pleasure Mystery Magazine
"If there's a living writer whose work makes me think of the great Raymond Chandler, it's Jake Needham. He’s a prose master in the same vein.” -- James David Audlin
- GenresMystery
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2025
267 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Jake Needham
48 books394 followersJAKE NEEDHAM received the Barry Award at Bouchercon 2024, the world's largest convention of mystery readers, for BEST PAPERBACK MYSTERY OF 2024. He is a three-time Barry Award nominee, as well as a nominee for the International Thriller Writers' award for BEST PAPERBACK THRILLER OF THE YEAR.
Needham is an American screen and television writer who has lived in Thailand for over thirty years. He started writing crime novels when he realized he really didn't like movies and television all that much. Since then, he has published fifteen popular mysteries and thrillers in two different series — The Inspector Samuel Tay Novels, and the Jack Shepherd Novels — as well as the international bestseller, THE BIG MANGO.
"Jake Needham is Asia's most stylish and atmospheric writer of crime fiction," says the Singapore Straits Times. "Jake Needham is Michael Connelly with steamed rice," says the Bangkok Post.
Needham is an American screen and television writer who has lived in Thailand for over thirty years. He started writing crime novels when he realized he really didn't like movies and television all that much. Since then, he has published fifteen popular mysteries and thrillers in two different series — The Inspector Samuel Tay Novels, and the Jack Shepherd Novels — as well as the international bestseller, THE BIG MANGO.
"Jake Needham is Asia's most stylish and atmospheric writer of crime fiction," says the Singapore Straits Times. "Jake Needham is Michael Connelly with steamed rice," says the Bangkok Post.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 21, 2025
Hard Case Crime should have released this book, and maybe in ten years, or whatever, Charlie will call Jake to suggest a reissue and publish it again. Yes, folks, it’s that good and truly deserves a major release. The tone and feel of Michael Connelly’s latest protagonist are present, but this isn’t a story about a cop — it’s about a divorce lawyer. Sure, some elements are familiar from countless LA/California crime novels, but I’m willing to overlook that because a) the writing is excellent, b) the character is fully developed from the start (reminding me of the opening pages of "A Year with Edgar"—George V. Higgins), and c) even though I predicted the ending, I believe most people won’t—and despite guessing the conclusion, I still enjoyed the whole reading experience.
I’m a huge fan of Needham’s Tay series and appreciate how realistic Tay is as an investigator and detective. I was hesitant about a new character, especially a lawyer, since I didn’t connect as much with the Shepard series—no disrespect to their quality. Still, Charlie Trust is exactly what the crime community has needed for a long time—a fresh take on the classics, with a skilled hand guiding it to feel new.
Get on board and read. Or don’t. Charlie won’t tell you what to do, but he’ll surely argue for you if you pick a side.
I’m a huge fan of Needham’s Tay series and appreciate how realistic Tay is as an investigator and detective. I was hesitant about a new character, especially a lawyer, since I didn’t connect as much with the Shepard series—no disrespect to their quality. Still, Charlie Trust is exactly what the crime community has needed for a long time—a fresh take on the classics, with a skilled hand guiding it to feel new.
Get on board and read. Or don’t. Charlie won’t tell you what to do, but he’ll surely argue for you if you pick a side.
November 6, 2025
Another Great Needham Novel
As much as I enjoy the author's crime novels from Asia, this book has been my favorite! I love the new character and see a lot more stories brewing -- or at least I hope. Great work, Mr. Needham, I look forward to more!
As much as I enjoy the author's crime novels from Asia, this book has been my favorite! I love the new character and see a lot more stories brewing -- or at least I hope. Great work, Mr. Needham, I look forward to more!
November 9, 2025
While staying in a borrowed house on Malibu’s Carbon Beach, burned-out Virginia divorce lawyer Charlie Trust is all set to spend the next few months drinking beer and watching the sunset. Then a plea for help from a neighbour puts him in a difficult position. TV actor Martin Cole’s wife has gone missing, and the cops are suspicious. Marty considers Charlie to be his friend, someone he trusts, and that’s why he wants Charlie to represent him – even though Charlie knows almost nothing about criminal law. But as the police start the process of interviewing Marty and searching his house, Charlie wonders if there’s something else going on – something Marty isn’t telling him.
Set in Los Angeles, in 1992, this is the first book in a new series. Having read quite a few of Jake Needham’s books, I thought I knew what to expect but this is a bit different to his other work, almost to the point where it feels like he’s developed a different style of writing for a different kind of book. The story starts with the protagonist setting the scene, lazing his days away watching the ocean ebb and flow, where it’s not unusual to pass the time of day with crooner Dean Martin, or to see Farah Fawcett sunbathing on the patio.
And then we get the actor/neighbour who needs help, and for a while not much happens. But don’t get complacent because this is just Mr Needham’s way of lulling us into thinking we know what’s going on. The writing, as always is clever and witty, but there’s a creepy kind of tension that builds from this point onwards, as Charlie Trust tries to understand the role he’s taken on. The story becomes more complex as our hero is drawn into a plot that seems to change with every new day. I read the bulk of the novel over the last 24 hours and like all the best thrillers, couldn’t put it down. There’s a sharpness to the story that twists and turns, sucking you into thinking you know who the killer is, before the whole thing changes direction again.
As I’ve always said, Jake Needham writes a stonking good story, and this one may be his best yet. Nice one, Jake.
Set in Los Angeles, in 1992, this is the first book in a new series. Having read quite a few of Jake Needham’s books, I thought I knew what to expect but this is a bit different to his other work, almost to the point where it feels like he’s developed a different style of writing for a different kind of book. The story starts with the protagonist setting the scene, lazing his days away watching the ocean ebb and flow, where it’s not unusual to pass the time of day with crooner Dean Martin, or to see Farah Fawcett sunbathing on the patio.
And then we get the actor/neighbour who needs help, and for a while not much happens. But don’t get complacent because this is just Mr Needham’s way of lulling us into thinking we know what’s going on. The writing, as always is clever and witty, but there’s a creepy kind of tension that builds from this point onwards, as Charlie Trust tries to understand the role he’s taken on. The story becomes more complex as our hero is drawn into a plot that seems to change with every new day. I read the bulk of the novel over the last 24 hours and like all the best thrillers, couldn’t put it down. There’s a sharpness to the story that twists and turns, sucking you into thinking you know who the killer is, before the whole thing changes direction again.
As I’ve always said, Jake Needham writes a stonking good story, and this one may be his best yet. Nice one, Jake.
November 5, 2025
Jake Needham is such an interesting person, and such a talented author! I spent 7 years as a prosecutor and have always loved good legal thrillers, but I wasn't sure that Jake Needham could write one. Wow! This novel is the best legal thriller that I have read in years. I rank it right up there with PRESUMED INNOCENT, and if we could find a 30-something Harrison Ford to play Charlie, this would make a great movie.
The ending was totally unexpected, and that doesn't often happen to me, after 60+ years of reading every mystery novel I can find. Bravo, Mr. Needham! Well done!
I only review books that I really enjoy, that I deem worthy of recommendation, and this one went right to the top of my list. I did NOT receive a free ARC copy, I purchased it, and I'm very glad I did! I think any reader who likes mysteries will enjoy this book.
The ending was totally unexpected, and that doesn't often happen to me, after 60+ years of reading every mystery novel I can find. Bravo, Mr. Needham! Well done!
I only review books that I really enjoy, that I deem worthy of recommendation, and this one went right to the top of my list. I did NOT receive a free ARC copy, I purchased it, and I'm very glad I did! I think any reader who likes mysteries will enjoy this book.
November 11, 2025
a New Direction
Having read all the Jack Shepherd and Inspector Tay books I think Habeas Corpus is one of the best from Jake Needham. The plot and the writing reflect a new energy and enthusiasm for a new character in a new non-Asian location. The pace is relentless, the atmosphere of 1990s California is well done and the plot twists and turns as all good plots should. I look forward to reading more adventures of Charlie Trust,
Having read all the Jack Shepherd and Inspector Tay books I think Habeas Corpus is one of the best from Jake Needham. The plot and the writing reflect a new energy and enthusiasm for a new character in a new non-Asian location. The pace is relentless, the atmosphere of 1990s California is well done and the plot twists and turns as all good plots should. I look forward to reading more adventures of Charlie Trust,
December 31, 2025
Super good book! I finished all Jake Needham’s Jack Shepard novels so now I am beginning his Charlie Trust books. At this time there are only two but a third is to be released later this month. If you’ve never read any of his books and like thrillers, do yourself a favor and try one of his books. They are well written with great characters. The Charlie Trust books are all legal thrillers! Superb!
November 13, 2025
Jake Need Ham's Best Book Ever!
I've enjoyed every book written by Jake Needham in his Sam Tay & Jack Shepherd series. Habeas Corpus, featuring Charlie Trust, is his best book yet. The beach setting & characters caught my attention and the writing style/details were terrific! I finished this entertaining book in 2 days! Well done, Jake! When will book 2 be released?
I've enjoyed every book written by Jake Needham in his Sam Tay & Jack Shepherd series. Habeas Corpus, featuring Charlie Trust, is his best book yet. The beach setting & characters caught my attention and the writing style/details were terrific! I finished this entertaining book in 2 days! Well done, Jake! When will book 2 be released?
November 21, 2025
Wow! So excited to be introduced to Charlie Trust!
I've read all of Jake Needham's books and have enjoyed them so much.
And now we meet, Charlie Trust, an attorney who is reassessing what he's going to do next, after years of divorce law. He's on the beach in CA and ends up being ensnared in helping a friend whose wife has disappeared. Fast moving and surprises all around.
I've read all of Jake Needham's books and have enjoyed them so much.
And now we meet, Charlie Trust, an attorney who is reassessing what he's going to do next, after years of divorce law. He's on the beach in CA and ends up being ensnared in helping a friend whose wife has disappeared. Fast moving and surprises all around.
December 11, 2025
Very entertaining book. I really enjoyed it and finished it in a day. The characters were all very interesting and well written, I loved the setting (time and place), and I really didn’t see the end coming at all. It is about 50 pages too long in my opinion, but still very worth the read. I am looking forward to reading more from the author.
November 5, 2025
I thought the ending was weak
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the characters. It was an excellent first book in a new series by an author I’ve previously read. Never saw the ending coming.
November 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. A great surprise ending! The AI narration was surprisingly good and much better than I expected.
December 12, 2025
Enjoyed this story very much. Excellent ending.
December 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this novel. The author has a lot of style with characters, plotting, and wording of scenery.
Excellent. I love the surprise ending and am looking forward to "Contempt of Court."
Excellent. I love the surprise ending and am looking forward to "Contempt of Court."
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews