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In His Defense
When justice fails, only monsters remain.
Cassian Addario is a defense attorney feared by prosecutors and criminals alike. A man as lethal in the courtroom as he is in the shadows. Cassian lives by his own the guilty walk only once. If the law won’t stop them, he will. He’s cold, calculating, and untouchable…until he crosses paths with Kai Serrona.
Kai is a sharp‑tongued major crimes detective with a hacker’s mind and a heart that refuses to stop caring. The system has burned him before, but he still fights for the truth. When one of Cassian’s clients turns up dead and linked to the crime lord who destroyed Kai’s family, the two men are thrown onto the same trail…and straight into each other’s fire.
As Cassian and Kai hunt a dangerous syndicate that preys on the vulnerable, every step closer to the truth pushes them deeper into a web of corruption, betrayal, and bloodshed… and deeper into each other’s arms. But loving a man who kills for justice, and protecting one who still believes in it, may be the most dangerous choice either of them has ever made.
WARNING - In His Defense is a 137,000-word romance with dark undertones that includes a possessive psychopath, a detective who swears the psychopath was put on this earth to frustrate him, and enough gratuitous violence, torture, and sex to make anyone question their own morality. There is murder and mayhem, and a black hat hacker who tries so hard to be good, with dark humor and wicked side characters to offer their support. This is book 1 in the His series, where every couple gets their bloody HEA with no cliffhangers.
Cassian Addario is a defense attorney feared by prosecutors and criminals alike. A man as lethal in the courtroom as he is in the shadows. Cassian lives by his own the guilty walk only once. If the law won’t stop them, he will. He’s cold, calculating, and untouchable…until he crosses paths with Kai Serrona.
Kai is a sharp‑tongued major crimes detective with a hacker’s mind and a heart that refuses to stop caring. The system has burned him before, but he still fights for the truth. When one of Cassian’s clients turns up dead and linked to the crime lord who destroyed Kai’s family, the two men are thrown onto the same trail…and straight into each other’s fire.
As Cassian and Kai hunt a dangerous syndicate that preys on the vulnerable, every step closer to the truth pushes them deeper into a web of corruption, betrayal, and bloodshed… and deeper into each other’s arms. But loving a man who kills for justice, and protecting one who still believes in it, may be the most dangerous choice either of them has ever made.
WARNING - In His Defense is a 137,000-word romance with dark undertones that includes a possessive psychopath, a detective who swears the psychopath was put on this earth to frustrate him, and enough gratuitous violence, torture, and sex to make anyone question their own morality. There is murder and mayhem, and a black hat hacker who tries so hard to be good, with dark humor and wicked side characters to offer their support. This is book 1 in the His series, where every couple gets their bloody HEA with no cliffhangers.
- GenresM M Romance
489 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 6, 2026
15 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 15, 2026
"His life, he realized with a chilling clarity, might very well depend on the whims of this man who stood over him. And yet, despite the logical terror, a strange, electric current ran through him. It wasn’t just fear that made his heart pound. It was something else. Something far more dangerous, far more complicated."
In His Defense is the debut MM dark romance book by new-to-me author River Frost and I absolutely INHALED it! It is the first book in the author's His series of linked standalone books, with dark themes and an HEA. This is Cassian and Kai's story.
Cassian is a poised and polished criminal defence lawyer, and the adopted son of a mafia boss. He's also a psychopath with his own brand of justice for his clients who manage to avoid punishment, either due to his fancy legal work or the failure of the court system. Kai is a dedicated cop, with his own set of personal demons, who is constantly locking horns with Cassian in the court room, and every time their paths cross sparks fly.
Loved Cassian and Kai, and the side characters were fabulous too. Great story and lots of spice to go with it! Check your TWs because there are red flags and dark themes aplenty!
What To Expect:
🖤MM romance
🖤Dark themes
🖤Opposites attract
🖤Lawyer/cop
🖤Mine
🖤Touch him and die
🖤Violence
🖤Forbidden
🖤All the spice
🖤HEA
Can't wait for Nico's story in In His Blood.
4.5 stars rounded up
In His Defense is the debut MM dark romance book by new-to-me author River Frost and I absolutely INHALED it! It is the first book in the author's His series of linked standalone books, with dark themes and an HEA. This is Cassian and Kai's story.
Cassian is a poised and polished criminal defence lawyer, and the adopted son of a mafia boss. He's also a psychopath with his own brand of justice for his clients who manage to avoid punishment, either due to his fancy legal work or the failure of the court system. Kai is a dedicated cop, with his own set of personal demons, who is constantly locking horns with Cassian in the court room, and every time their paths cross sparks fly.
Loved Cassian and Kai, and the side characters were fabulous too. Great story and lots of spice to go with it! Check your TWs because there are red flags and dark themes aplenty!
What To Expect:
🖤MM romance
🖤Dark themes
🖤Opposites attract
🖤Lawyer/cop
🖤Mine
🖤Touch him and die
🖤Violence
🖤Forbidden
🖤All the spice
🖤HEA
Can't wait for Nico's story in In His Blood.
4.5 stars rounded up
January 24, 2026
This was really good! I do love a psychopath x detective mash up 😈 Absolutely adored Cassian and Kai together, especially the scene where Cassian made Kai ragu - Kai's favorite dish - after eavesdropping on Kai and Ethan months ago. That got me in the feels ❤
This book is very plot heavy, but it didn't bothered me at all. Loved the side characters, will be interesting to see where Nico's story will go.
This book is very plot heavy, but it didn't bothered me at all. Loved the side characters, will be interesting to see where Nico's story will go.
January 4, 2026
This is my first book I’ve read by River and I am so happy I picked it up!
Cassian is a defense attorney and Kai is detective and as you can guess don’t really get along, but there’s always been something just bubbling under the surface of this dislike they have for each other. They sense it and so does everyone around each other!
When things get bad with a case Kai isn’t supposed to be working on Cass is right there to save the day…literally. These two had so me serious chemistry. One top of their banter and possessiveness there was a mutual understanding of each other once they truly got to know one another.
I absolutely love a good plot with my smut and this definitely had me on the edge of my seat. Tons of action a long with spice and a surprisingly beautiful found family aspect that was one of my favorite things!
I can’t wait to read the rest of this series, pretty sure I’m gonna need a book for ALL the side characters!
Cassian is a defense attorney and Kai is detective and as you can guess don’t really get along, but there’s always been something just bubbling under the surface of this dislike they have for each other. They sense it and so does everyone around each other!
When things get bad with a case Kai isn’t supposed to be working on Cass is right there to save the day…literally. These two had so me serious chemistry. One top of their banter and possessiveness there was a mutual understanding of each other once they truly got to know one another.
I absolutely love a good plot with my smut and this definitely had me on the edge of my seat. Tons of action a long with spice and a surprisingly beautiful found family aspect that was one of my favorite things!
I can’t wait to read the rest of this series, pretty sure I’m gonna need a book for ALL the side characters!
January 24, 2026
*3.5 stars*
I honestly thought this would be darker and grittier.
Overall still enjoyable.
I honestly thought this would be darker and grittier.
Overall still enjoyable.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a Dark Romance so make sure you check the TWs before heading in 🖤🖤
🌶🌶🌶
Kai is a Detective taking after his father who was lost on the job. He frequently has to interact with Cassian who is a defense attorney...if your not super familiar with law Cassian defends the guys Kai is trying to put away...and I'm sure your like man...not good..but what Kai doesn't know is that Cassian may defend these people but if the justice system fails...Cassian is right there to take out the garbage...permanently. So Cassian is an attorney by day but Vigilante by night. Cassian also has means Kai doesn't, coming from a mob family with dark ties of their own, so there is alot going on that Kai isn't aware of.
Cassian and Kai find out that they are actually on the same side when they join forces to take down a Tr@fficking ring. These two have alot to over come trust wise but ultimately realize they have a "Your darkness matches mine" bond that they build off of.
This is a very plot based story so you get alot of information going through it which is why this baby is THIICC. So for all you crime junkies this one would be right up your alley! This is a great world to build off and seeing this is going to be a series has me intrigued! Can't wait to see where we go!
🌶🌶🌶
Kai is a Detective taking after his father who was lost on the job. He frequently has to interact with Cassian who is a defense attorney...if your not super familiar with law Cassian defends the guys Kai is trying to put away...and I'm sure your like man...not good..but what Kai doesn't know is that Cassian may defend these people but if the justice system fails...Cassian is right there to take out the garbage...permanently. So Cassian is an attorney by day but Vigilante by night. Cassian also has means Kai doesn't, coming from a mob family with dark ties of their own, so there is alot going on that Kai isn't aware of.
Cassian and Kai find out that they are actually on the same side when they join forces to take down a Tr@fficking ring. These two have alot to over come trust wise but ultimately realize they have a "Your darkness matches mine" bond that they build off of.
This is a very plot based story so you get alot of information going through it which is why this baby is THIICC. So for all you crime junkies this one would be right up your alley! This is a great world to build off and seeing this is going to be a series has me intrigued! Can't wait to see where we go!
January 4, 2026
This was such a good read! I had fun getting to know Kai and Cassian. Kai comes off as a by the book detective but you can tell he has a story that may make this not completely true and Cassian loves attempting to pull this other side out of Kai. Both men have a difficult story that helps them understand and connect with one another and I enjoyed seeing their dynamic change and relationship develop. Cassian was intense but cared for Kai and made sure he knew it. He noted the little things that made Kai happy and implemented them while Kai was the steady force Cassian needed. The side characters were great! Ethan and Nico were so much fun and I’m excited to see more of them. I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series.
🖤ARC REVIEW❤️
☑️ Trigger Warnings.
🖤ARC REVIEW❤️
☑️ Trigger Warnings.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, I couldn’t put this book down!
I fell in love with this story right away.
Kai, he is a detective. He is very hurt over losing his father, and looking for answers.
Cassian is a defense attorney and Kai can’t stand him.
After Kai made a bad call, Cassian saves him. The chemistry, connection between the two was 🔥
This book had me invested and I didn’t want it to end.
I can not wait for the next book, I loved all the side characters, but Nico was perfection. Can’t wait for his book🖤
If you like these tropes then this book is for you, you won’t regret it:
🩸MM Romance
🩸Serial Unaliver
🩸Enemies to Lovers
🩸Possessive MC
🩸Lawyer / Detective
🩸Touch Him & ☠️
🩸Psychopath
I fell in love with this story right away.
Kai, he is a detective. He is very hurt over losing his father, and looking for answers.
Cassian is a defense attorney and Kai can’t stand him.
After Kai made a bad call, Cassian saves him. The chemistry, connection between the two was 🔥
This book had me invested and I didn’t want it to end.
I can not wait for the next book, I loved all the side characters, but Nico was perfection. Can’t wait for his book🖤
If you like these tropes then this book is for you, you won’t regret it:
🩸MM Romance
🩸Serial Unaliver
🩸Enemies to Lovers
🩸Possessive MC
🩸Lawyer / Detective
🩸Touch Him & ☠️
🩸Psychopath
January 13, 2026
4.5 because of the intensity of their attraction, omg🔥🔥🔥🔥hot hot hot
Cas, the dark and brooding gosh, I love how honest he is with himself because yes, I'm obsessed, and you're not going anywhere....that's the vibe I wanna be on.
And I love Nico omg, he's like a burst of fresh tornado, his humor >>>>>
Kai, my complicated Kai, I feel like he tries too hard to be good, and the fact that he's gotten his ass beaten up alot just says how the idea of him being a detective just doesn't feel right. anyway, he and Cas complimented each other. definitely a good read
Cas, the dark and brooding gosh, I love how honest he is with himself because yes, I'm obsessed, and you're not going anywhere....that's the vibe I wanna be on.
And I love Nico omg, he's like a burst of fresh tornado, his humor >>>>>
Kai, my complicated Kai, I feel like he tries too hard to be good, and the fact that he's gotten his ass beaten up alot just says how the idea of him being a detective just doesn't feel right. anyway, he and Cas complimented each other. definitely a good read
January 11, 2026
A GOOD READ FROM A NEW AUTHOR!
I loved the push and pull between Cassian and Kai. Cassian is a defense attorney, and Kai is a detective, and these two clash and are so firery. Cassian has a bit of a dark hobby, we will say, and Kai has a sharp hacker mind. This was such an interesting and complex read. I LOVED SO MUCH!! So looking forward to more from this author.
I loved the push and pull between Cassian and Kai. Cassian is a defense attorney, and Kai is a detective, and these two clash and are so firery. Cassian has a bit of a dark hobby, we will say, and Kai has a sharp hacker mind. This was such an interesting and complex read. I LOVED SO MUCH!! So looking forward to more from this author.
January 27, 2026
In His Defence
I really enjoyed Kai and Cassian’s story, there instant attraction which turned into love despite many challenges along the way was a great read. I can’t wait for Nico’s story and hope we get to hear what happened to Jax as well. This book gets a well deserved 5 Stars and I highly recommend it.
I really enjoyed Kai and Cassian’s story, there instant attraction which turned into love despite many challenges along the way was a great read. I can’t wait for Nico’s story and hope we get to hear what happened to Jax as well. This book gets a well deserved 5 Stars and I highly recommend it.
January 30, 2026
I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers and Hurt/Comfort and this did not disappoint. Kia and Cassian were so good. Kia a Major Crimes Detective, who struggles with his idea of right and wrong. Cassian a Defense Lawyer who has his own form of justice. An unlikely pair, but sooo good together! Their chemistry was sooo good! I tend to struggle with 3rd person POV but this was a pleasure to read. I can't wait for more from River!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews