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Conspiracy Theory: A Thriller
Not yet published
Expected 17 Nov 26Searching for a plot for his next legal thriller, D.C. area lawyer and novelist Michael Harris stumbles across a conspiracy theory that may have put his own life at risk.
Five years ago, Gloria Hale, the President's wife, was assassinated by a lone gunman, who was himself killed in a shoot out with a security guard while trying to escape. At the same time and hotel, a young lawyer, Marsha Hart, disappears in the chaos after the shooting, only to have her murdered body turn up a few days later, her murder never solved.
Michael Harris is a D. C. area lawyer with a second career as a novelist, but after a very successful debut, his subsequent legal thrillers have been less and less successful. With one more book due under his contract and desperate to revive his flagging career, Harris is stumbles across the voluminous research done by a recently deceased former Secret Service agent obsessed with proving that the First Lady's assassination was a conspiracy. Thinking he might be able to turn one of these wildly unlikely theories into his next book, Harris begins to look into the matter. He doesn't turn up anything but his inquiries might have set something into motion - leading to another murder, a fire destroying the original evidence, and an attempt assault of Harris himself. This might be a coincidence or Harris may well be the next target in an increasingly deadly conspiracy.
Five years ago, Gloria Hale, the President's wife, was assassinated by a lone gunman, who was himself killed in a shoot out with a security guard while trying to escape. At the same time and hotel, a young lawyer, Marsha Hart, disappears in the chaos after the shooting, only to have her murdered body turn up a few days later, her murder never solved.
Michael Harris is a D. C. area lawyer with a second career as a novelist, but after a very successful debut, his subsequent legal thrillers have been less and less successful. With one more book due under his contract and desperate to revive his flagging career, Harris is stumbles across the voluminous research done by a recently deceased former Secret Service agent obsessed with proving that the First Lady's assassination was a conspiracy. Thinking he might be able to turn one of these wildly unlikely theories into his next book, Harris begins to look into the matter. He doesn't turn up anything but his inquiries might have set something into motion - leading to another murder, a fire destroying the original evidence, and an attempt assault of Harris himself. This might be a coincidence or Harris may well be the next target in an increasingly deadly conspiracy.
272 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 17, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Life still drops breadcrumbs even after the sun goes down.
Phillip Margolin strikes a match in this one. He focuses on how present times twist situations into simmering pots of conspiracy theories. There's always a deep dark reason behind someone's actions even if it makes no sense to the inquiring mind. But this one seems to have grown legs.
Michael Harris is a well-known Washington, D.C. lawyer who sidelines as a New York Times recognized fiction novelist. But his latest novel just didn't have the zing of his first one. He's being pressured by the publishers for his third novel already. Michael is at a dead-end without any light at the end of the tunnel. No brilliant ideas. Not even a flicker.
His latest book signing is filled with empty chairs. Not a good sign. While a young man holds out his copy to be signed, he offers Michael a true lifeline. He states that his father recently passed away after working many years as a Secret Service Agent. His son found his father's attic filled with news clippings and photos of the assassination of the first lady five years ago. Every committee found that the killer worked alone. But not this particular agent......
The son invites Michael to peruse the agent's work. Shortly after, the agent's house burns to the ground with all the original documentation. Coincidence? Maybe or maybe not. Michael is not taking any chances. A friend recommends Dana Cutler, a private investigator with solid talents. She knows her way around intelligence and smart weapons as well.
The plot will thicken as Dana does her due diligence and realizes that Michael may be in danger himself now. Phillip Margolin leans heavily on this storyline and widens his scope. He's created one knotted pathway for Dana and Michael to follow. These people are not your average bread and butter perpetrators. They're hardcore and don't scare easily. And the stakes are high.
And just when we think we're out of the muck and mire of life, Margolin leads us down another dangerous avenue. He's not done yet with Conspiracy Theory. It's surprising to this reader and I wondered if there would be reader fatigue by hooking on another link to this storyline. You be the judge after hyperventilating throughout this one. Margolin dials in relentless behavior time after time. Believe me, this one should definitely get your attention from the first pages. Good, good stuff.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to the talented Phillip Margolin for the opportunity.
Phillip Margolin strikes a match in this one. He focuses on how present times twist situations into simmering pots of conspiracy theories. There's always a deep dark reason behind someone's actions even if it makes no sense to the inquiring mind. But this one seems to have grown legs.
Michael Harris is a well-known Washington, D.C. lawyer who sidelines as a New York Times recognized fiction novelist. But his latest novel just didn't have the zing of his first one. He's being pressured by the publishers for his third novel already. Michael is at a dead-end without any light at the end of the tunnel. No brilliant ideas. Not even a flicker.
His latest book signing is filled with empty chairs. Not a good sign. While a young man holds out his copy to be signed, he offers Michael a true lifeline. He states that his father recently passed away after working many years as a Secret Service Agent. His son found his father's attic filled with news clippings and photos of the assassination of the first lady five years ago. Every committee found that the killer worked alone. But not this particular agent......
The son invites Michael to peruse the agent's work. Shortly after, the agent's house burns to the ground with all the original documentation. Coincidence? Maybe or maybe not. Michael is not taking any chances. A friend recommends Dana Cutler, a private investigator with solid talents. She knows her way around intelligence and smart weapons as well.
The plot will thicken as Dana does her due diligence and realizes that Michael may be in danger himself now. Phillip Margolin leans heavily on this storyline and widens his scope. He's created one knotted pathway for Dana and Michael to follow. These people are not your average bread and butter perpetrators. They're hardcore and don't scare easily. And the stakes are high.
And just when we think we're out of the muck and mire of life, Margolin leads us down another dangerous avenue. He's not done yet with Conspiracy Theory. It's surprising to this reader and I wondered if there would be reader fatigue by hooking on another link to this storyline. You be the judge after hyperventilating throughout this one. Margolin dials in relentless behavior time after time. Believe me, this one should definitely get your attention from the first pages. Good, good stuff.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to the talented Phillip Margolin for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Phillip Margolin, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
I’ve long enjoyed Philip Margolin’s work, so I was eager to pick up this standalone legal thriller. It hooked me from the opening pages and before long I was neck deep into the story. Margolin quickly establishes the characters and stakes, then keeps tightening the screws until putting the book down becomes a challenge.
Michael Harris is a Washington, D.C.-area lawyer with a second career as a novelist. After his legal thrillers lose momentum, he’s desperate for an idea that will revive his career. Then he discovers the research of a recently deceased former Secret Service agent who was convinced that the assassination of the First Lady five years earlier was part of a conspiracy.
At first, Harris sees the material as inspiration for his next book. However, when his inquiries are followed by another murder, a fire that destroys key evidence, and an assault on Harris himself, the theory begins to feel dangerously real. Is it all coincidence—or has he become the next target? What began as a hunt for inspiration turns into a full-fledged conspiracy with powerful people tugging at the threads. Enter investigative journalist, Dana Cutler, who has her own take on what is going on. Harris seems like a cog in the wheel, but uncovering what really happened might do more than launch him to the top of the bestsellers' list, it could open up a nasty truth many thought buried.
Margolin excels at combining legal intrigue with strong investigative storytelling. The plot moves briskly, and the short chapters make it easy to promise yourself “just one more.” A web of storylines and perspectives gradually gathers momentum around the central conspiracy, with twists that kept me alert and turning pages well into the night.
Michael Harris and Dana Cutler make an engaging pair of protagonists. Harris’s backstory is established early, while readers familiar with Margolin’s earlier novels will recognize Dana. Both have room to show their personalities as the danger escalates, and the supporting cast adds texture without slowing the story down. This is something Margolin has done well, building on the foundation of his characters and taking them in many directions.
The conspiracy remains the novel’s driving force, and Margolin handles the growing uncertainty effectively. Each new revelation raises the stakes and makes the danger feel more immediate. There’s a lot happening, but the narrative stays focused and the pacing rarely lets up. This is what I love about these books, as they never allow the reader any rest, tossing them into many twists before all is revealed.
This is an absorbing, fast-moving thriller from an author who knows how to keep readers invested. Margolin blends legal suspense, investigation, and conspiracy into a story that pulled me in from the start and kept me guessing to the end. I’d happily read whatever he writes next.
Kudos, Mr. Margolin, for never letting things wane as you captivated my attention.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
I’ve long enjoyed Philip Margolin’s work, so I was eager to pick up this standalone legal thriller. It hooked me from the opening pages and before long I was neck deep into the story. Margolin quickly establishes the characters and stakes, then keeps tightening the screws until putting the book down becomes a challenge.
Michael Harris is a Washington, D.C.-area lawyer with a second career as a novelist. After his legal thrillers lose momentum, he’s desperate for an idea that will revive his career. Then he discovers the research of a recently deceased former Secret Service agent who was convinced that the assassination of the First Lady five years earlier was part of a conspiracy.
At first, Harris sees the material as inspiration for his next book. However, when his inquiries are followed by another murder, a fire that destroys key evidence, and an assault on Harris himself, the theory begins to feel dangerously real. Is it all coincidence—or has he become the next target? What began as a hunt for inspiration turns into a full-fledged conspiracy with powerful people tugging at the threads. Enter investigative journalist, Dana Cutler, who has her own take on what is going on. Harris seems like a cog in the wheel, but uncovering what really happened might do more than launch him to the top of the bestsellers' list, it could open up a nasty truth many thought buried.
Margolin excels at combining legal intrigue with strong investigative storytelling. The plot moves briskly, and the short chapters make it easy to promise yourself “just one more.” A web of storylines and perspectives gradually gathers momentum around the central conspiracy, with twists that kept me alert and turning pages well into the night.
Michael Harris and Dana Cutler make an engaging pair of protagonists. Harris’s backstory is established early, while readers familiar with Margolin’s earlier novels will recognize Dana. Both have room to show their personalities as the danger escalates, and the supporting cast adds texture without slowing the story down. This is something Margolin has done well, building on the foundation of his characters and taking them in many directions.
The conspiracy remains the novel’s driving force, and Margolin handles the growing uncertainty effectively. Each new revelation raises the stakes and makes the danger feel more immediate. There’s a lot happening, but the narrative stays focused and the pacing rarely lets up. This is what I love about these books, as they never allow the reader any rest, tossing them into many twists before all is revealed.
This is an absorbing, fast-moving thriller from an author who knows how to keep readers invested. Margolin blends legal suspense, investigation, and conspiracy into a story that pulled me in from the start and kept me guessing to the end. I’d happily read whatever he writes next.
Kudos, Mr. Margolin, for never letting things wane as you captivated my attention.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Conspiracy Theory was such a great read! I really enjoyed the combination of mystery, legal thriller, political intrigue, and suspense. The premise immediately pulled me in, and I loved watching Michael try to figure out what was really going on while the danger around him continued to grow.
The investigation kept me guessing, and there were plenty of twists and turns that made me want to keep reading to see where everything was going. I especially enjoyed the way the story mixed the legal and investigative elements with Michael’s perspective as a crime thriller writer. It gave the story a really interesting angle.
The pacing was another big win for me. There was always something happening, and the further I got into the book, the harder it was to put down. I definitely had that “okay, just one more chapter” feeling.
Overall, this was a suspenseful, engaging thriller with an intriguing premise, strong characters, and plenty of twists. A solid 4.5-star read for me, and definitely a book I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys mystery, legal thrillers, and political suspense. ❤️📚
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
The investigation kept me guessing, and there were plenty of twists and turns that made me want to keep reading to see where everything was going. I especially enjoyed the way the story mixed the legal and investigative elements with Michael’s perspective as a crime thriller writer. It gave the story a really interesting angle.
The pacing was another big win for me. There was always something happening, and the further I got into the book, the harder it was to put down. I definitely had that “okay, just one more chapter” feeling.
Overall, this was a suspenseful, engaging thriller with an intriguing premise, strong characters, and plenty of twists. A solid 4.5-star read for me, and definitely a book I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys mystery, legal thrillers, and political suspense. ❤️📚
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
October 1, 2026
This book was very entertaining and I didn’t wanna put it down. You follow Michael Harris a DC lawyer / Aurthor who meets a son of a former secret service agent and they uncover what looks to be a possible conspiracy theory about how a former 1st lady was assassinated. You follow Harris a detective Cutler as they work through this case to see what really happened all those years ago. This book is action packed and straight to the point. I almost wished there was more in depth when it came to the courtroom aspect but I greatly enjoyed it and plan on reading the authors back list. I was provided this from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Washington D.C. attorney and author is thrust into a deadly investigation in Conspiracy Theory. When attorney Michael Harris comes across research papers from a retired Secret Service agent involving the assassination of the First Lady five years ago, a long debunked conspiracy theory about the killing is resurrected when people Harris speaks to about the papers start turning up dead. He joins forces with PI Dana Cutler (longtime readers of the author will recognize the character) and Harris finds his life in danger. This is a straightforward police procedural, with Harris and Cutler assisting, that is all action, with every page furthering the plot. The dialogue is quick and basic, and the story moves along quickly. Nothing extraordinary here, but no black marks either. This is a “just the facts, ma’am” book. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for providing the copy of Conspiracy Theory by Phillip Margolin. I loved the premise of this book, but the writing and the characters never caught my interest. The story was complex, and I sometimes got the characters mixed up as well as the plot. Another reviewer said some of the characters appeared in other books, which might explain why they weren’t memorably described in this book. If you love police procedurals, this might be right up your alley! 3 stars
October 4, 2026
Margolin’s books always have such a variety of characters, and it really shines through! I’m always pleasantly surprised by how well it all comes together. Fantastic work again! His books deserve more recognition.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy
September 5, 2026
Five years ago: the First Lady was murdered by a sniper exiting a 5 star Washington hotel, while a young female associate lawyer named Marsha Hunt checked into the same hotel earlier in the evening. The next time Marsha was seen was when her body was recovered in Rock Creek Park three days later. The First Lady’s assassin was quickly found and died in a shoot-out. Marsha’s murder was unsolved.
Now: Michael Harris is also a DC lawyer, but by evening he’s a semi-successful thriller writer of the “Colin McDowell” legal thriller series. Book sales have been declining, but he is contractually obligated to deliver one more book in the contract. Unfortunately, he’s out of ideas. At a sparsely attended book signing, Michael is approached by the son of a recently deceased, conspiracy-obsessed member of the late First Lady’s Secret Service detail who is pitching Michael a possible idea. While cleaning out his dad’s house, Paul Faraday discovers a classic “murder room” complete with whiteboards, red strings, and newspaper clippings tacked up on the walls. Paul invites Michael to visit, and after Michael photographs the room and takes the late Secret Service agent’s journal, Paul is murdered and the house burns down.
As the conspiracy theory around the First Lady’s assassination grows again, the story also expands regarding the victim in the hotel. Another girl disappeared from a Minnesota hotel in the same way and her grieving ex-Marine father has found evidence of similar disappearances he can attribute to a serial killer.
Michael initially starts as the main protagonist, and he involves his new girlfriend Stacey, close friend and tabloid publisher Pat Gorman, and Pat’s private investigator Dana Cutler into his suspicions. Dana was featured in four of Margolin’s earlier legal thrillers, but “Conspiracy Theory” is a brilliant standalone.
On the law enforcement side, homicide detectives Dominic and Erica were put on the Marsha Hunt case three days after the First Lady was killed, so when a victim is dumped in the same spot that Marsha was found, they get re-involved in the events of five years ago. Keith Evans of the FBI is Dana’s inside contact.
And just as everything seemed to come to a close, the last quarter of the book (appropriately titled “Loose Ends”) keeps the suspense going. Margolin has such vivid characters and the book is action-packed until the end. I imagine Dana Cutler might return, but another story with Michael Harris would be equally wonderful. This was a binge read for me — 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Dana has emerald green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.
Now: Michael Harris is also a DC lawyer, but by evening he’s a semi-successful thriller writer of the “Colin McDowell” legal thriller series. Book sales have been declining, but he is contractually obligated to deliver one more book in the contract. Unfortunately, he’s out of ideas. At a sparsely attended book signing, Michael is approached by the son of a recently deceased, conspiracy-obsessed member of the late First Lady’s Secret Service detail who is pitching Michael a possible idea. While cleaning out his dad’s house, Paul Faraday discovers a classic “murder room” complete with whiteboards, red strings, and newspaper clippings tacked up on the walls. Paul invites Michael to visit, and after Michael photographs the room and takes the late Secret Service agent’s journal, Paul is murdered and the house burns down.
As the conspiracy theory around the First Lady’s assassination grows again, the story also expands regarding the victim in the hotel. Another girl disappeared from a Minnesota hotel in the same way and her grieving ex-Marine father has found evidence of similar disappearances he can attribute to a serial killer.
Michael initially starts as the main protagonist, and he involves his new girlfriend Stacey, close friend and tabloid publisher Pat Gorman, and Pat’s private investigator Dana Cutler into his suspicions. Dana was featured in four of Margolin’s earlier legal thrillers, but “Conspiracy Theory” is a brilliant standalone.
On the law enforcement side, homicide detectives Dominic and Erica were put on the Marsha Hunt case three days after the First Lady was killed, so when a victim is dumped in the same spot that Marsha was found, they get re-involved in the events of five years ago. Keith Evans of the FBI is Dana’s inside contact.
And just as everything seemed to come to a close, the last quarter of the book (appropriately titled “Loose Ends”) keeps the suspense going. Margolin has such vivid characters and the book is action-packed until the end. I imagine Dana Cutler might return, but another story with Michael Harris would be equally wonderful. This was a binge read for me — 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Dana has emerald green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: Conspiracy Theory
Author: Phillip Margolin
Genre: Mystery Thriller - Legal Thriller
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books
Pub Date: November 17, 2026
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages: 272
Story starts five years ago, when President Gordon Hale’s wife Gloria Hale was assassinated at the Excelsior Hotel where she was a guest speaker.
Diego Acosta is the lone gunman; his plan was for Gordan Hale to suffer as much as he did with loss of his wife Carla and their child Luis.
Acosta was killed in a shoot-out with a security guard while trying to escape.
Marsha Hart, a twenty-eight-year-old lawyer attending the presentation at the hotel disappeared after the shooting and her murdered body was found on a trail at Rock Creek Park.
Detective Erica O’Malley and Dominic Kosar were assigned the case, but her murder wasn’t solved.
Next we are introduced to Michael Harris a well-known Washington D.C. lawyer who is also a New York Times recognized fiction novelist. His first story with recurring character Colin McDowell “Death Case” was a hit. However, his latest novel just didn't have what readers were expecting. He's being pressured by the publishers for his third novel!!!
While at Lighthouse Books to do a read and signing of “Trial By Fire” which was attended by four fans. A young thirty something guy was one of the four and had a copy to be signed. He requested it to be signed to Paul Faraday. As they chatted, he tells Michael his father Ron Faraday recently passed but worked many years as a Secret Service Agent. In fact, he was assigned to protect the first lady the night she was killed.
Paul continues to tell him he found news clippings and photos of the assassination stored in his father’s attic. Investigation at the time found Diago Acosta worked alone. Based on his father’s collection from five years ago that may NOT be the case ......
Shortly after this discussion, Agent Ron Faraday's house burns to the ground with all the original documentation.
Hmm anyone doubt this is a Coincidence?
Michael is not taking any chance that fire was an accident and consults PI Dana Cutler. She is someone who knows her way around intelligence and smart weapons as well.
I am a fan of awesome legal thrillers as well as fun ones such as David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter! This was great!
Although it did get very complicated especially near the end and I was thankful for my Kindle/search’ feature so I could look up and be to reminded of ‘who was who’ – yep it was a wild ride.
I call myself a Phillip Margolin – especially love the Robin Lockwood series and am I anxiously waiting for Book #8 in that series!!
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 17, 2026.
Author: Phillip Margolin
Genre: Mystery Thriller - Legal Thriller
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books
Pub Date: November 17, 2026
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages: 272
Story starts five years ago, when President Gordon Hale’s wife Gloria Hale was assassinated at the Excelsior Hotel where she was a guest speaker.
Diego Acosta is the lone gunman; his plan was for Gordan Hale to suffer as much as he did with loss of his wife Carla and their child Luis.
Acosta was killed in a shoot-out with a security guard while trying to escape.
Marsha Hart, a twenty-eight-year-old lawyer attending the presentation at the hotel disappeared after the shooting and her murdered body was found on a trail at Rock Creek Park.
Detective Erica O’Malley and Dominic Kosar were assigned the case, but her murder wasn’t solved.
Next we are introduced to Michael Harris a well-known Washington D.C. lawyer who is also a New York Times recognized fiction novelist. His first story with recurring character Colin McDowell “Death Case” was a hit. However, his latest novel just didn't have what readers were expecting. He's being pressured by the publishers for his third novel!!!
While at Lighthouse Books to do a read and signing of “Trial By Fire” which was attended by four fans. A young thirty something guy was one of the four and had a copy to be signed. He requested it to be signed to Paul Faraday. As they chatted, he tells Michael his father Ron Faraday recently passed but worked many years as a Secret Service Agent. In fact, he was assigned to protect the first lady the night she was killed.
Paul continues to tell him he found news clippings and photos of the assassination stored in his father’s attic. Investigation at the time found Diago Acosta worked alone. Based on his father’s collection from five years ago that may NOT be the case ......
Shortly after this discussion, Agent Ron Faraday's house burns to the ground with all the original documentation.
Hmm anyone doubt this is a Coincidence?
Michael is not taking any chance that fire was an accident and consults PI Dana Cutler. She is someone who knows her way around intelligence and smart weapons as well.
I am a fan of awesome legal thrillers as well as fun ones such as David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter! This was great!
Although it did get very complicated especially near the end and I was thankful for my Kindle/search’ feature so I could look up and be to reminded of ‘who was who’ – yep it was a wild ride.
I call myself a Phillip Margolin – especially love the Robin Lockwood series and am I anxiously waiting for Book #8 in that series!!
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 17, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Gripping Legal, Political, and Serial-Killer Thriller: Five years ago, Gloria Hale, the President’s wife, was assassinated by a lone gunman who was then killed in a shootout with a security guard. On that same evening, a young associate attorney named Marsha Hunt checked into the same hotel. Three days later, her body was discovered in Rock Creek Park.
Coincidence—or were the two deaths somehow connected?
Michael Harris is a D.C.-area lawyer and novelist searching for a plot for his next legal thriller when he stumbles across a conspiracy theory surrounding the assassination. After the death of one of Hale’s former Secret Service agents, the agent’s son reveals that his father had spent years investigating the case. He had even created a classic “murder room,” complete with whiteboards, newspaper clippings, photographs, and red strings connecting the evidence. The agent had become convinced that the official story was wrong and that the assassination was part of a much larger conspiracy.
Intrigued, Michael decides to investigate the theory as research for his next novel. But the deeper he digs into the circumstances surrounding Hale’s death—and the seemingly unrelated murder of Marsha Hunt—the more dangerous his investigation becomes. Soon, Michael and those around him are being threatened, lending disturbing credibility to the very conspiracy he initially approached as nothing more than material for a book.
Conspiracy Theory works as a thriller on three different fronts: legal, political, and serial killer. Just when you think you understand where the story is going, another connection or plot twist changes the picture. The different storylines gradually begin to intersect, creating an increasingly complicated and suspenseful mystery.
A fast-moving thriller filled with secrets, danger, and enough twists to keep you questioning who is involved and just how far the conspiracy reaches.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this honest, personal, and unbiased review.
Coincidence—or were the two deaths somehow connected?
Michael Harris is a D.C.-area lawyer and novelist searching for a plot for his next legal thriller when he stumbles across a conspiracy theory surrounding the assassination. After the death of one of Hale’s former Secret Service agents, the agent’s son reveals that his father had spent years investigating the case. He had even created a classic “murder room,” complete with whiteboards, newspaper clippings, photographs, and red strings connecting the evidence. The agent had become convinced that the official story was wrong and that the assassination was part of a much larger conspiracy.
Intrigued, Michael decides to investigate the theory as research for his next novel. But the deeper he digs into the circumstances surrounding Hale’s death—and the seemingly unrelated murder of Marsha Hunt—the more dangerous his investigation becomes. Soon, Michael and those around him are being threatened, lending disturbing credibility to the very conspiracy he initially approached as nothing more than material for a book.
Conspiracy Theory works as a thriller on three different fronts: legal, political, and serial killer. Just when you think you understand where the story is going, another connection or plot twist changes the picture. The different storylines gradually begin to intersect, creating an increasingly complicated and suspenseful mystery.
A fast-moving thriller filled with secrets, danger, and enough twists to keep you questioning who is involved and just how far the conspiracy reaches.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this honest, personal, and unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When a lawyer who writes crime novels is handed information about a conspiracy to commit murder, he assumes it will provide the perfect backdrop for his next book. But what if the conspiracy is real—and what if he has just made himself a target?
Set in the aftermath of the assassination of the First Lady, Phillip Margolin’s legal thriller follows D.C.-area lawyer and novelist Michael Harris as his curiosity draws him into a dangerous investigation. What begins as possible material for a novel soon becomes a tense cat-and-mouse game, with Harris trying to determine whom he can trust and whether the people pursuing him know how much he has discovered.
Margolin creates an intriguing premise and maintains a steady sense of suspense as Harris moves through a world of political intrigue, hidden motives, and competing versions of the truth. The novel is especially effective when Harris’s professional instincts as a lawyer collide with his imagination as a crime novelist. He understands how a conspiracy might be constructed on the page—but that knowledge does not necessarily help him recognize one unfolding in real life.
The final reveal was disappointing after such an elaborate buildup. It did not feel as surprising or satisfying as the possibilities suggested by the conspiracy. At the same time, it was probably realistic. The truth behind a political assassination may be less dramatic than the theories surrounding it, and the resolution’s plausibility gives the ending a grounded quality, even if it falls short of the novel’s promise.
Despite that reservation, this is an absorbing legal thriller with a strong premise, brisk pacing, and plenty of uncertainty to keep the pages turning. Margolin delivers an engaging cat-and-mouse story that explores the dangerous space between a fictional conspiracy and a real one.
Set in the aftermath of the assassination of the First Lady, Phillip Margolin’s legal thriller follows D.C.-area lawyer and novelist Michael Harris as his curiosity draws him into a dangerous investigation. What begins as possible material for a novel soon becomes a tense cat-and-mouse game, with Harris trying to determine whom he can trust and whether the people pursuing him know how much he has discovered.
Margolin creates an intriguing premise and maintains a steady sense of suspense as Harris moves through a world of political intrigue, hidden motives, and competing versions of the truth. The novel is especially effective when Harris’s professional instincts as a lawyer collide with his imagination as a crime novelist. He understands how a conspiracy might be constructed on the page—but that knowledge does not necessarily help him recognize one unfolding in real life.
The final reveal was disappointing after such an elaborate buildup. It did not feel as surprising or satisfying as the possibilities suggested by the conspiracy. At the same time, it was probably realistic. The truth behind a political assassination may be less dramatic than the theories surrounding it, and the resolution’s plausibility gives the ending a grounded quality, even if it falls short of the novel’s promise.
Despite that reservation, this is an absorbing legal thriller with a strong premise, brisk pacing, and plenty of uncertainty to keep the pages turning. Margolin delivers an engaging cat-and-mouse story that explores the dangerous space between a fictional conspiracy and a real one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Despite that fact that I always notice the Phillip Margolin books (I love their covers), I think that the only one I have ever read was Executive Privilege and that was many years ago. I have assumed that I would like his books and was eager to rectify my past omissions by jumping into Conspiracy Theory. I did like it, but sadly, less than I had expected.
My biggest problem with the book is that I considered it to be falsely advertised. Reading the description, I expected the main character to be the author, Michael Harris. While he does come into the story from time to time, the main characters to me were the police officers investigating the case. After the fact, I found out that one of them, Dana Cutler, is the featured character in a series of books (four and counting) starting with the Executive Privilege book I read so long ago. Why isn’t she mentioned in the book’s description? Had I known she would be featured so predominantly, I might have reread Executive Privilege and/or some of the other three books featuring her, before jumping into Conspiracy Theory.
A smaller problem I had, and I will tread lightly here to avoid spoilers, is that .
In the end, I wish that Michael Harris was more a part of the story and that I had known to appreciate the involvement of Dana Cutler from her introduction. I did not engage with the story as much as I had hoped and will likely not remember much about it a year from now. I do recommend it for people who have read Margolin in the past more than I have.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read Conspiracy Theory. The above opinions are my own.
My biggest problem with the book is that I considered it to be falsely advertised. Reading the description, I expected the main character to be the author, Michael Harris. While he does come into the story from time to time, the main characters to me were the police officers investigating the case. After the fact, I found out that one of them, Dana Cutler, is the featured character in a series of books (four and counting) starting with the Executive Privilege book I read so long ago. Why isn’t she mentioned in the book’s description? Had I known she would be featured so predominantly, I might have reread Executive Privilege and/or some of the other three books featuring her, before jumping into Conspiracy Theory.
A smaller problem I had, and I will tread lightly here to avoid spoilers, is that .
In the end, I wish that Michael Harris was more a part of the story and that I had known to appreciate the involvement of Dana Cutler from her introduction. I did not engage with the story as much as I had hoped and will likely not remember much about it a year from now. I do recommend it for people who have read Margolin in the past more than I have.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read Conspiracy Theory. The above opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had not read a Phillip Margolin in my many years with the mystery/thriller genre. No real reason why – I just had not gotten around to it. So I took the time to see what the author with three series and almost 20 stand-alones had to say. Truthfully, I am almost always up for a legal thriller. This turned out to be not your average legal thriller with court room time, however.
Conspiracy Theory introduces us to Michael Harris, a lawyer who writes thrillers on the side and who sets off to find a new storyline and his next novel. A stranger approaches him and relates a conspiracy surrounding the assassination of the president’s wife 10 years ago, and then the stranger is murdered and all his papers burned in a house fire. Harris has photos, however, of the “evidence” and soon he is the target of an assassination himself. Apparently, some of Margolin’s other series characters come into this novel to help him look into the conspiracy idea and to keep him from being killed. It seems it would help to have read Margolin’s other series before Conspiracy Theory.
Right away, those involved in the conspiracy are shown to the reader, but another mystery (or two or three!) develops as the story goes on. The intrigue and suspense builds expertly throughout the novel. Margolin is brilliant at plot, that is certain. However, his characters are quite cardboard and stereotypical. As a thriller, I found it a quick and enjoyable read with continuous action. If you want a straight-forward thriller without the burden of too much character development, this is your book. Normally, I would prefer character, setting and plot to build the most complete novel. Sometimes though, a fun plot is enough.
My rating: 3.5 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review.
Conspiracy Theory will be published on Nov 17 2026.
Conspiracy Theory introduces us to Michael Harris, a lawyer who writes thrillers on the side and who sets off to find a new storyline and his next novel. A stranger approaches him and relates a conspiracy surrounding the assassination of the president’s wife 10 years ago, and then the stranger is murdered and all his papers burned in a house fire. Harris has photos, however, of the “evidence” and soon he is the target of an assassination himself. Apparently, some of Margolin’s other series characters come into this novel to help him look into the conspiracy idea and to keep him from being killed. It seems it would help to have read Margolin’s other series before Conspiracy Theory.
Right away, those involved in the conspiracy are shown to the reader, but another mystery (or two or three!) develops as the story goes on. The intrigue and suspense builds expertly throughout the novel. Margolin is brilliant at plot, that is certain. However, his characters are quite cardboard and stereotypical. As a thriller, I found it a quick and enjoyable read with continuous action. If you want a straight-forward thriller without the burden of too much character development, this is your book. Normally, I would prefer character, setting and plot to build the most complete novel. Sometimes though, a fun plot is enough.
My rating: 3.5 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review.
Conspiracy Theory will be published on Nov 17 2026.
September 11, 2026
I might as well just have a standard 5-Star review ready that I can just copy and paste each time after reading a Phillip Margolin book. He is that good! I have read this author for probably 30 years and have never been disappointed. Well, Conspiracy Theory would definitely have been worthy of the ol' copy and paste 5-star review for sure, if I had one! The premise here is interesting. Michael is a D.C. lawyer and frustrated writer. He had a highly successful debut, but nothing near as successful came after. He's facing a publishing deadline and no good ideas when he is approached by a stranger. The stranger wants Michael to look at his deceased father's notes. Turns out the father was a Secret Service agent working 5 years ago when a First Lady was assassinated. The culprit was supposedly caught, but the notes may suggest otherwise. This could be the story break that Michael has been looking for! He enlists the aid of investigator Dana Cutler. Yaaayyy!! Dana is a character featured in several other Margolin books, but this is still a standalone story. No need to read the others beforehand, although they are awesome as well! Anyway, together Michael and Dana stir up a huge hornet's nest of a conspiracy that puts them in the direct line of fire! Well done, Mr. Margolin, once again! You can definitely tell that the author is a former attorney, as the legal details are excellent! I look forward to more!!
Thank you to #NetGalley, Phillip Margolin and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to #NetGalley, Phillip Margolin and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Phillip Margolin takes us to DC in his latest thriller- an expertly crafted story with clear, suspenseful storytelling that will keep you hooked-where we meet Michael Harris, a lawyer and thriller author who is desperately searching for his next big plot since his most recent novel wasn't well received. We flash back five years earlier when the sitting president's wife is horrendously assassinated, and a shootout with an errant security guard happens. Harris meets with a guy whose late father was in the Secret Service on that case and developed a huge conspiracy murder wall due to his obsession. Harris investigates and takes some of the evidence to see if there's a thread. As Harris pulls the thread, things start to happen, and coincidental deaths, arson, and shadowy characters emerge. Is Harris in danger, and was there really a conspiracy to kill the First Lady of the United States? Margolin weaves a suspenseful, easy-to-follow plot with twists you'll never see coming. Grab a copy for your holiday reading!
Thank you to Phillip Margolin and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me the honor of reading this ARC freely in exchange for an honest review.
#ConspiracyTheory #PhillipMartin #StMartinsPress #libraryninja📚
Thank you to Phillip Margolin and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me the honor of reading this ARC freely in exchange for an honest review.
#ConspiracyTheory #PhillipMartin #StMartinsPress #libraryninja📚
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Five years after the first lady is assassinated, D.C. attorney and award-winning criminal thriller author, Michael Harris, begins a deep dive in to the circumstances and subsequent investigation of her death.
When his father died, the son of the secret service agent who was tasked with protecting the first lady, finds a room filled with books, magazines, news articles and pictures of the assassination. He goes to Harris with the info, believing that his father was convinced she was killed by a group and not the lone gunman that was,eventually arrested and convicted of the crime. He trusts Harris to investigate and write an article on the true story.
What follows is an intriguing and deeply disturbing revisiting of the crime, its original investigation and the players who were both central and bystanders to the death of the first lady.
Michael and his friends are thrown into a world of subterfuge, danger and suspicion as someone wants to keep him from writing anything on the assassination .
Good read with very strong characters and an intriguing story line.
When his father died, the son of the secret service agent who was tasked with protecting the first lady, finds a room filled with books, magazines, news articles and pictures of the assassination. He goes to Harris with the info, believing that his father was convinced she was killed by a group and not the lone gunman that was,eventually arrested and convicted of the crime. He trusts Harris to investigate and write an article on the true story.
What follows is an intriguing and deeply disturbing revisiting of the crime, its original investigation and the players who were both central and bystanders to the death of the first lady.
Michael and his friends are thrown into a world of subterfuge, danger and suspicion as someone wants to keep him from writing anything on the assassination .
Good read with very strong characters and an intriguing story line.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Imagine if the President's wife is murdered by a lone gunman in plain sight. Fast forward to a few later and you are a novelist searching for a story to base your latest fiction novel on and someone shares evidence that it may have been a conspiracy instead. This is a thrilling read with a serial killer, plots in the top echelon of government, and when you might think it is solved BAM. Readers are graced by the return best of Dana Cutler protagonist from three previous Margolin novels. If your genre is Suspense and Thrillers, this is a "must read". If you'd like to try out this genre, it's a great selection with which to start.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in return for an honest review.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Michael Harris is the lawyer and author at the center of “Conspiracy Theory”. As he is struggling to write his next book, a national tragedy drops in his lap. A man claims his dad discovered a conspiracy behind the killing of the First Lady.
This was a tight knit thriller. There are a lot of moving parts to this novel. All of it adds to some pretty big moments.
I really enjoyed this book and never found a dull moment. There were some repetitive moments or comments that kept it from being perfect, but it never took me out of it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
This was a tight knit thriller. There are a lot of moving parts to this novel. All of it adds to some pretty big moments.
I really enjoyed this book and never found a dull moment. There were some repetitive moments or comments that kept it from being perfect, but it never took me out of it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A thriller on three fronts; legal, serial killer and political - the plot twists keep unfolding.
Calvin Moss' teenage daughter has vanished. The First Lady is shot at a major hotel. Her murderer is killed as he fled by someone who was accidentally in the right place and the right time. People investigating the crimes are turning up dead.
Non-stop action and a character who has appeared in 2 previous novels over the past eighteen years. Phillip Margolin never disappoints.
I volunteered to read an ARC through net-galley
Calvin Moss' teenage daughter has vanished. The First Lady is shot at a major hotel. Her murderer is killed as he fled by someone who was accidentally in the right place and the right time. People investigating the crimes are turning up dead.
Non-stop action and a character who has appeared in 2 previous novels over the past eighteen years. Phillip Margolin never disappoints.
I volunteered to read an ARC through net-galley
September 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc
Conspiracy Theory was a fast-paced, entertaining read! While it might not have the massive "wow" factor or mind-bending twists of some top-tier thrillers, it kept me completely hooked. I literally flew through it in half a day because I just couldn't put it down. The clever plot twists added a great layer of suspense that made it an all-around fun, quick page-turner.
Conspiracy Theory was a fast-paced, entertaining read! While it might not have the massive "wow" factor or mind-bending twists of some top-tier thrillers, it kept me completely hooked. I literally flew through it in half a day because I just couldn't put it down. The clever plot twists added a great layer of suspense that made it an all-around fun, quick page-turner.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Enjoyable story as a mystery/action hero writer is going through a “slump” when he’s given a story idea about a conspiracy to murder the former First Lady. The more he looks into the information, the more evidence to support the theory appears. With additional ‘accidents’ and even deaths happening, a good tale unfolds. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Conspiracy Theory is a great Phillip Margolin mystery! Easy to read, lots of tangled plots, and then a great unraveling.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.
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