Текила и синьо алиби

Solomon vs. Lord #2

by Paul Levine, Пол Ливайн

Когато се кръстосат любов и убийство, дори и двамата най-печени адвокати в Маями имат нужда от перфектно алиби!



Луксозна яхта се разбива на брега на Сънсет Кий — на борда й има сто хиляди долара и един труп. Адвокатите Стив Соломон и Виктория Лорд трябва да разкрият убиеца, дошъл в рая с цял кораб фамилни тайни. Ако успеят да се удържат и да не се хванат за гърлата в съда… и не само там!

„Бърза, комична и напрегната история за люти характери и тънко познаване на съдебната система отвътре. И всичко това на фона на страхотния пейзаж в Южна Флорида. Отдавна не съм чел роман, който толкова да ми хареса. Когато не се смеех с глас, си плюех на пръстите и препусках по страниците. Безспорно страхотна поредица!“

Джеймс Хол, „Профил на убиец!“

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Legal Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Humor

492 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2006

About the author

The Genius and the Tramp Fight Fascists in 1930's Hollywood

MIDNIGHT BURNING - September 2025
“Ingeniously pairs real-life friends Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin on a roller coaster ride to save America from a fascist threat within its borders.” – Jacqueline Winspear, author of the Maisie Dobbs series.

Award-winning author Paul Levine weaves historical figures into a gripping, true-to-life plot to overthrow the U.S. government in the sizzling thriller MIDNIGHT BURNING.

It's 1937 and clouds of war gather over Europe, and American fascists march at home. While the FBI chases suspected communists, Nazi agents plot an armed insurrection. When the world’s two most famous men–Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin–uncover the scheme, which includes the assassination of Hollywood’s biggest stars, they fight back with nothing but their ingenuity, raw courage, and the fierce resolve of Georgia Ann Robinson, LAPD’s first Black female officer.

Levine—praised by The New York Times for his “realistic, gritty, and fun” novels—delivers a breathtaking thriller laced with humor and a larger-than-life cast, including Charles Lindbergh, Douglas Fairbanks, William Randolph Hearst, and Joseph Goebbels.

"This could be Levine's masterpiece." - Lee Goldberg, New York Times #1 Bestselling Author

ORDER FROM AMAZON HERE.

ORDER FROM BARNES & NOBLE HERE.

ORDER FROM BOOKSHOP HERE.

**********************************************;
Jake Lassiter tackles high school football and becomes the most hated man in Miami in EARLY GRAVE, Paul Levine's sizzling legal thriller.

"An extraordinary hero stars in a legal tale as believable as it is riveting." - Kirkus Reviews

"Levine scores with this complex and witty legal thriller. This winner works even for those new to the series." - Publishers Weekly (★starred review★)

When his godson suffers a catastrophic injury in a high school football game, lawyer Jake Lassiter sues to abolish the sport and becomes Public Enemy Number One. The former NFL linebacker also battles CTE, the fatal brain disease caused by repetitive head injuries. His personal life, too, hits a rocky patch. He's in couple's therapy with fiancée Dr. Melissa Gold and vows to live long enough to fix his relationship and achieve justice for his godson.

"Grounded in reality, EARLY GRAVE is a novel with heartfelt emotion, flashes of humor, and high-octane excitement." - Franco Harris, NFL Hall of Fame Running Back

STILL GOING STRONG:

CHEATER’S GAME is a stand-alone entry in the Jake Lassiter series.

"Clever, funny and seriously on point when it comes to the inequities of society and the justice system, CHEATER'S GAME is top-notch stuff from Paul Levine. His Jake Lassiter is my kind of lawyer!" - Michael Connelly

You may ORDER HERE.

ALSO AVAILABLE: BUM DEAL.

“Fascinating, fully developed characters and smart, well-paced dialogue keep the pages turning. Levine manipulates the expectations of the reader as skillfully as Jake manipulates the expectations of the jury” — Publishers Weekly (★starred review★)

"Drop everything...Read it now...BUM DEAL is fantastic." - Lee Child

Reviews

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific read. Very entertaining.

[Kara Jorges · Rating 3 out of 5]

): This book is touted as “Hiaasen meets Grisham.” The only comparisons to Hiaasen that I could see are it’s location in the Florida Keys and a sense of humor. The only common ground with Grisham is that it’s about lawyers. Paul Levine has a writing style of his own, miles away from wacky, yet infused with good humor. Levine’s characters are the people that Grisham and Hiaasen, Dorsey, et al. have been sniggering at.

Steve Solomon was a difficult sell as the male romantic lead, embodying too many annoying traits that romance heroes never have: a proclivity for pithy tee-shirts, a Jimmy Buffet addiction, he owns an ancient Cadillac, and he’s a slimy criminal defense attorney. Victoria is the kind of female lead we’ve come to expect from male authors who like women: strong, stylish, intelligent, literate, beautiful, and successful. Plus, she’s got mother issues and other vulnerabilities, so she’s easy to like. So is Steve’s surrogate son, his nephew Bobby, a 12-year-old genius with a rapier wit. Victoria’s mother, the Queen, could have been a Park Avenue nightmare but instead came through with touching humanity. There were many more characters in a multitude of small roles: Steve’s ex-judge dad and his cronies; Lexy and Rexy, the calorie-counting opportunists; Delia Bustamante, the sexy Cuban restaurateur; Hal Griffin, Victoria’s surrogate uncle and millionaire developer; and his Adonislike son, Junior, a free diver and distance swimmer. These are people we get to know, even if the appearance they make is brief. All are delightfully well drawn, save Junior, who vacillates between being an all right, intelligent guy and a bimbo who can’t sit still in court.

What sets Levine apart from the writers he’s compared to is that this book is about the lawyers interacting with the people behind the story, and are set apart from the actual events themselves. It works, though, since the book has a different spin, which is to let Steve Solomon charm our socks off while getting us to like him in spite of everything there is not to like.

Though wrapped around a murder mystery, this book is about characters, which is never a bad thing. As Victoria and Steve go about figuring out who really killed Ben Stubbs in order to defend Hal Griffin, the fun is more in meeting the people along the way than in what’s going on. It bogs the book down a little bit, time seeming to drag every now and then, but a little shot of adrenaline could have perked things up. All in all, this was an entertaining South Florida murder mystery…but not a crime caper.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt my favorite Paul Levine novel to date. I was so engrossed into, "The Deep Blue Alibi", that it took me just under 48 hours to read. This second book in Levine's Solomon Vs. Lord series picks up where the first book left off and runs crazy from there. With two protagonists who get along like oil and water, they can't seem to function unless they are together. Victoria Lord has doubts about staying law partners or romantic partners with Steve Solomon. She believes a separation is badly needed. Out of nowhere it's Victoria's "Uncle Griff" and his large 40 ft. boat that come crashing onto the beach with a dead federal employee on board. Victoria's doesn't realize it but her life is about to get turned upside down. Hal Griffin the business partner of Victoria's long dead father had wanted to meet up with Victoria to discuss legal work before boat crash is now charged with murder. At first Steve and Victoria stay teamed up for Griff's defense. Steve fears when Victoria meets up with former beau "Junior" Griffin that sparks will fly once again for the couple. Junior is a Adonis built playboy who considers himself a "Coral Kisser" because of his environmental activism. Uncle Griff had been working on building a massive project off the coast that would contain a hotel and casino. Griff needed EPA's Ben Stubbs to sign off on the project before construction could go full tilt. However it was Stubbs who turned up with a spear shot through his body killing him while on board Griff's boat just before it crashed onto beach. Steve and Victoria must sort through the alibi's of a British born ship captain, a barge and tow contractor, a hot blooded restaurant owner, and a too good to be true Junior to save Uncle Griff. At times Steve and Victoria's relationship gets fractured trying to get to the truth. When Steve's car is run off a bridge almost killing him and nephew Bobby, Victoria knows Junior may not be the beau of her future. Coming in at more than 465 pages this plot is a high speed chase to find out who the killer is. The book was extremely difficult to put down. The story had me mesmerized. This yarn is loaded with some really odd ball supporting characters who provide a great deal of levity and wit. Again in both books of this series my favorite character was 12 year old Bobby Solomon. Nephew Bobby lives with Steve and is very unique being both autistic and a savant as well. Bobby does a lot of things incredibly well with a personality that rubs most people the wrong way. This amazing plot contains lobster pots of cash, several murders, Steve's irascible father, a disgraced prosecutor named "Pinky", a sheriff influenced by Jimmy Buffett, and Victoria's mother known as the Queen for a riotous ride through the Florida Keys. Giving, "The Deep Blue Alibi", five stars out of a possible five stars. I can't wait to jump into author Paul Levine's third Solomon Vs. Lord series book. Author Paul Levine is a master story teller without question. Do not miss this series. Start with the first book in this series, "Solomon Vs. Lord", then quickly run to get into, "The Deep Blue alibi".

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6 *

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this one on my kindle so I was somewhere between a quarter and halfway through and I became really annoyed because it seemed that this book centered around how many arguments Steve and Victoria could get into and the case was completely in the background. That annoyed feeling didn't go away. I decided that the only way I was going to get rid of that feeling was to get rid of this book. Didn't finish.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a lousy follow-up to its superior predecessor. I don't even really wanna talk about it much. This one went just ALLLLL over the place, completely bypassing the conclusion of the former book to establish some new stuff that I didn't like being forced to accept. After all the effort into making Solomon and Lord finally start to more tolerate one another, this book just....totally mishandles the entire thing. I don't wanna spoil it, but only one chapter in and I was already disappointed with that development.

Not to mention the fact that this time around, this story includes some outright STUPID scenes that I barely managed to trudge through. I won't say what, but come on, two perfectly smart lawyers inserting themselves into questionable situations to gain information on a case can work at times, but other times, it's downright ridiculous and unrealistic. Not that I require realism in my fictional reads, but I also don't like when books take radical, nonsensical turns for shock value. And it HAS to be shock value, because entertainment value was non-existent. So now it's just idiotic, out-of-place story moments that don't add to the story at all and actually take away from it. It makes the characters themselves unrealistic, since they're doing uncharacteristic things.

I just feel like this entire book just spits on the former in the series. I want to continue on, but now I kinda don't. I'm conflicted about it. So...we'll see what time decides.

[David Freas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I stopped reading Levine’s Lassiter books after only two because Jake Lassiter acted more like a pubescent teenager than an adult.

I almost gave up on this book because Steve Solomon was acting like Lassiter’s twin. Fortunately, Levine saved it by having Solomon grow up. And throughout most of the book Solomon and his partner, Victoria Lord, acted like bickering siblings than adult lawyers.

Levine also wasted too many words on women’s boobs and men’s penises.

Offsetting the frat boy writing is a complex, twisty mystery and two great characters in Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord.

I won’t give up on this series just yet but if Levine continues writing at this level, I will.

[Ramona Voight · Rating 2 out of 5]

This ISN'T a teenager's diary? Hmm. I don't know who is more unlikeable Steve "hump-a-rama" or Victoria "should I stay with my boyfriend or go with Junior who is SO HOT?" Whether we're driving around in the Cadillac or watching Victoria decide on the Jimmy Choo or Monolo Blahnik shoes, it's a snoozer, unless Billy, the autistic nephew is around, making anagrams with people's names, and he's delightful. Otherwise, a YA book would have more substance.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining but didn't like it as well as the first book. I hate it when someone can't listen to reason and is always doing what they are told not to do. The 3 books by this guy are all like that. Solomon is stupid - his girl friend is the only one with brains. I just want to smack him. I won't read anymore of these because the character is so annoying.

[Stan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is perhaps not as cute as it aspires to be. Over a real mystery is laid a layer of humor and offbeat characters. But it tends to slip from amusing witty banter to cartoonish silliness. Still I have to give some credit for Solomon's Law #7: "When meeting an ex-girlfriend you dumped, always assume she's armed."

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Paul Levine's second book in this series as well as the first--which is unusual. His writing is simply hiliarias and I literally laughed out loud... So good for the soul. It's a great book for the men in our life too. Fun to read and laugh together!

[Lana Kamennof-sine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Levine continues in fine form at creating depth of story, death of an individual associated with a plan to build a condo/resort on the water above a coral reef, with this book. Needless to say there are subplots aplenty including the appearance of characters from Victoria's childhood, her uncle & his hunky son, Solomon continuing to try & failing at personal communication & an appearance by a well known, and often referred to musician/singer.

[Cathy Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting sitting and fun

Paul Levin is the best! He writes a great mystery story and it is filled with great humor, wonderful food, fantastic escapades, beautiful clothes and wonderful people. I find his books very enjoyable and highly reccomenable

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the flirting and head-butting turns into a serious relationship, when days turn into months without a commitment, and the sex slows down ... that's the time when you need to take stock of where you stand.
Victoria Lord meets up with an Adonis from her past and Steve Solomon doesn't know how to handle it until he gets a bad concussion, and even then he's treading water.
If there is one thing we know about Steve it's that he doesn't understand women, hell, he's still trying to figure himself out.
And Victoria, who is basically a decent person, is desperately trying to deal with her attraction to 'Adonis' and simultaneously attempting to understand her relationship with Steve.
Unfortunately it means that what was previously amusing banter now turns into loaded conversations in which neither Victoria nor Steve can correctly translate what they are saying.
A concussion sees Steve professing his love for Victoria, but, given that he's seeing rainbows and unicorns everywhere, she's not putting much stock into his protestations.
It's a relationship heading for the rocks, and a series with a problem unless it can sort it out - the problem is that their flirting was fun to read but their rocky life together is too true to life to be of more than passing interest.
Oh, and there is a murder, Victoria's mother (The Queen) appears, as does her 'uncle' Harold 'Grif' Griffon - could the duo, who appear to be far too close, have been somehow involved in her father's suicide? Not to mention 'Adonis', Grif's son Junior. And a multi-million dollar far from eco-friendly development, bribes aplenty and hot-headed eco-warrior Delia Bustamene.
Yet another plot strand concerns Steve's disbarred father, the former Judge Herbert Solomon. Steve sets out to get his name cleared and Dad is not happy, not happy at all.
It's only when Victoria and Steve begin to see somewhat eye to eye that the book finally comes together - the final chapters almost make up for a lacklustre start and middle.

[Dave Agans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billed as "John Grisham meets Dave Barry." Solomon and Lord are a Florida courthouse Odd Couple: Solomon the sleazy, sloppy male defense lawyer and Lord the neat, by-the-book female prosecutor. Of course, romantic sparks fly. The mysteries here are excellent—serious plots with appropriate red herrings and surprise reveals. The humor comes from the sharp-witted repartee between (and seeming incompatibility of) the main characters, as well as the entertaining supporting cast. The characters are easy to like, and the books fun to read. I recommend reading them in order. They are all very good.

The Deep Blue Alibi - In book 2 of the series, Solomon and Lord tackle a "closed ship" mystery, where her uncle crashes his boat with no one else but a murdered body aboard. The nudist colony visit was especially funny. Story 5, craft 4, humor 4.

[Sharon Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time that I've listened to this book as an audiobook and I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. Paul Levine has created quirky characters who are often very comical. The reader of the audiobook, William Dufris, was excellent. He often used exaggerated intonations that were just hilarious. I always enjoy courtroom scenes and legal strategy, and this book entertained me in this regard as well. This is the second Solomon vs. Lord book that I've read and I look forward to reading more in the series. I really enjoy that these are light-hearted reads and not meant to be taken too seriously - just a lot of fun. I highly recommend this book - and especially the audiobook.

[Suzette Edwards · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yawn

Okay, I tried. Got a short ways in the book but Lord and Solomon just don't have what it takes to keep me interested. Steve is an immature man who seems to think with his head.., not the one that wears the hat. Victoria tolerates him because he is good in bed. That's a great basis for a relationship (?). That seems to be the focus of the story. The boat that ran aground, dead man and injured uncle are secondary. Secondary enough that I lost interest. On to something with some substance to it.

[Michelle S Monroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

This book is well written and easy to read. Characters are vivid and consistent, although sometimes predictable. The author weaves legal process within the story but without making it the focus of the book. There are plenty of Jimmy Buffett references to satisfy those of us who grew up in the Midwest and equate him with the carefree pirate lifestyle we enviously imagine everyone in Key West surely must lead.

[Yvonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

First Time

There's a first time for everything and this novel is the first of Paul Levine's that I have been unable to wrap my head around. I couldn't even like the childish bickering of the two adults. I ground it to be mind numbing. Better luck next time Paul. I don't think it's a bad story just not for me.

[Shalonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

These two lawyers crack me up. They love to hate each other, that's how I see them. They bump heads at every turn, but yet they work so well togther. Just when Steve thought he had the killer in his sights, he finds out he's wrong. He's not as smart as the thought he was. Now about that nude resort they visited.....

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read

Easy to read. Really entertaining, Solomon and Lord banter (different views on everything ). The saving grace is; they work better together, than apart. They are intent on winning the case, so they search for the facts. They end up in danger when they get close to the truth. Intresting families, good flow, great story.

[David Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is an OK read from Paul Levine, it is much like the others about Solomon and Lord with them not being particularly mature attorney types. Character descriptions are really good as is most of the dialogue. I wasn't buying into to the entire plot and twists and felt a little empty when I hit the final page.

[S. Glick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of Levines that I have read I enjoyed it it moves pretty well and is a read his bio after I was done reading it I could see where the life of an attorney and all the nuances that happened to an attorney came is he doing that makes the journey for myself as a reader much more pleasurable

[Lola · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit dissapointed with this book, i loved the first book and was expecting the same greatness. Sadly it didn't happen, i still love the characters though - especially steve. This book discouraged me from continuing with the series.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this author -Paul Levine understands how to make characters likeable, and he keeps the story moving at a brisk pace. He's never disappointed me, and I'm looking forward to reading his next work.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great sequel to the first! Victoria and Steve are back, this time with Vick wanting a separate legal practice and reconnecting with a former friend, which sparks Steve's jealousy.

One problem with this reading: it's pronounced "conk" not "conche". I don't know how no one caught that!

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this clever mystery about two lawyers—partners and lovers—who solve a murder case while defending a client. At the same time each investigates a secret in their respective parents' pasts and is startled by what he/she uncovers.

[Eulahtooles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opposites do attract


I just love the Solomon and Lord series. They are opposites and they are definitely after to each other. The book is fast paced and always keep you interested.

[Michelle Strommen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. I like the relationship between Lord and Solomon. This one seemed a little drawn out, but overall good story. The courtroom was great, I look forward to more cases with the two of them.

[Barbara Brechbill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't understand why Paul Levine isn't greatly popular. He has a brisk style, and so well-written. The stories flow well, the characters are well developed, and the humor is laugh-out-loud funny. This is only my second book, and it is just a perfect read on a plane or on a grey day.