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Mason Pierce #2
The Cinderblock Associate
Nine men dead in a construction accident. A vicious battle to place the blame.
Mason Pierce has landed a big industrial client that has his career skyrocketing at the Firm. For his first assignment, the client pulls Mason into a high-stakes case over the death of a beloved community member who was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning on a worksite, and orders Mason to try the case because it wasn’t his company’s fault.
Except everyone says that it was.
With little time until trial, Mason dives in to figure out what caused the mass CO poisoning. As he investigates, Mason faces a ruthless co-defendant looking to hang responsibility for the death on Mason’s client, a cool plaintiff’s attorney happy to let him do it, and the victim’s family, which holds a treasured place in town and with Mason himself.
As Mason searches for a strategy, he begins to suspect that there is far more in play than liability for the death of one man—and that not everyone in his Firm is trying to help him. Hidden deals, unexplained accidents, and secret agendas converge to obstruct Mason as he tries to reverse the momentum of a case relentlessly headed south. And when the unthinkable happens to a loved one, Mason is pulled away from the case, which just might be the point.
Helped by a trusted co-worker, a grieving cousin, and an inscrutable mechanic, Mason scrambles to find a solution for his client’s case and his family’s danger. Fighting known enemies in the courtroom and unknown enemies outside it, Mason must find a way to win at all costs while keeping his family from paying the price.
Mason Pierce has landed a big industrial client that has his career skyrocketing at the Firm. For his first assignment, the client pulls Mason into a high-stakes case over the death of a beloved community member who was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning on a worksite, and orders Mason to try the case because it wasn’t his company’s fault.
Except everyone says that it was.
With little time until trial, Mason dives in to figure out what caused the mass CO poisoning. As he investigates, Mason faces a ruthless co-defendant looking to hang responsibility for the death on Mason’s client, a cool plaintiff’s attorney happy to let him do it, and the victim’s family, which holds a treasured place in town and with Mason himself.
As Mason searches for a strategy, he begins to suspect that there is far more in play than liability for the death of one man—and that not everyone in his Firm is trying to help him. Hidden deals, unexplained accidents, and secret agendas converge to obstruct Mason as he tries to reverse the momentum of a case relentlessly headed south. And when the unthinkable happens to a loved one, Mason is pulled away from the case, which just might be the point.
Helped by a trusted co-worker, a grieving cousin, and an inscrutable mechanic, Mason scrambles to find a solution for his client’s case and his family’s danger. Fighting known enemies in the courtroom and unknown enemies outside it, Mason must find a way to win at all costs while keeping his family from paying the price.
458 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2026
About the author
Michael Stagg
11 books365 followersMichael Stagg has been a trial lawyer for more than twenty-five years. He has tried cases to juries and he's won and he's lost and he's argued about it in the court of appeals after. He still practices law so he's writing the Nate Shepherd series under a pen name.
Michael and his wife live in the Midwest. Their sons are grown so time that used to be spent at football games and band concerts now goes to writing. He enjoys sports of all sorts, reading, and grilling, with the order depending on the day.
For more information about Michael and his books, sign up for his newsletter at michaelstagg.com/newsletter/ or go to michaelstagg.com.
Nate Shepherd Legal Thrillers - Reading Order
Lethal Defense
True Intent
Blind Conviction
False Oath
Michael and his wife live in the Midwest. Their sons are grown so time that used to be spent at football games and band concerts now goes to writing. He enjoys sports of all sorts, reading, and grilling, with the order depending on the day.
For more information about Michael and his books, sign up for his newsletter at michaelstagg.com/newsletter/ or go to michaelstagg.com.
Nate Shepherd Legal Thrillers - Reading Order
Lethal Defense
True Intent
Blind Conviction
False Oath
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
November 8, 2026
good read, fast read
I couldn’t put it down! I like Staggs’ work as much as Grisham’s. Quite the plot twist, I love it.
I couldn’t put it down! I like Staggs’ work as much as Grisham’s. Quite the plot twist, I love it.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review