The Advocate's Trigger: Legal Suspense Murder Mystery

The Advocate #20

by Teresa Burrell

A routine transfer. A missing child. A system that failed at the worst possible moment.

Juvenile court attorney Sabre Brown has seen the cracks before—but never like this.

When thirteen-year-old Mateo Alvarez vanishes during transport, the case immediately unravels. The details don’t line up. The driver’s story doesn’t hold. And the clock is already ticking.

The answers seem obvious. A drugged-out mother. A missing gang-affiliated father. Either one could be responsible—and both have something to hide. As Sabre and her investigator, JP Torn, dig deeper, every lead twists into something darker. What looks like a failure of the system begins to feel like something far more deliberate.

Someone was watching. Waiting. And ready to act.

What started as a single disappearance spiral into a dangerous scheme fueled by drugs, connections, manipulation, and control.

And when the people behind it realize Sabre and JP are getting close, they stop hiding—and start hunting.

Now, this case isn’t just about justice. It’s about survival. Because this case won’t just test Sabre…it might be the one that breaks her.

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 19, 2026

About the author

Teresa Burrell maintained a private law practice where her work focused on abused minors. She has received several awards for her countless hours of pro bono work with children and their families. Burrell has also enjoyed a satisfying career as a teacher, working with children of all ages with diverse backgrounds and special needs. Now in semi-retirement, Burrell continues to educate groups about social issues impacting children and write novels, many of which are inspired by actual cases.

She has written 22 mystery novels: 17 in The Advocate Series, 4 in the Tuper Mystery Series, and one standalone, co-authored with LJ Sellers.

Reviews

[Bonnie]

Good series especially if you like police procedurals and courtroom drama

[Mary]

Excellent story

Perhaps the best story yet in the Advocate series. The Advocate’s trigger is a wild ride as one kid is abducted and beaten close to death. Two mysteries coalesce into a police chase with many moving parts. If you like a good mystery you will like this one.

[Julie Howard]

I enjoyed this book The author is working her way through the alphabet and with Book T, the series still continues to entertain this reader. If this is your first book in the series then I just have to ask where have you been? Because you have been missing out on an incredible series.

The author is a master of making complex cases seem so simple and can weave two cases through the story at once, without losing the spark from either case or the heart and compassion. In this story Sabre has two young clients to fight for and while I had work out what was going on long before Sabre, I was still in for a surprised. I love the characters and can't help but feel that if I was every in trouble it would be Sabre, JP and the gang I would want championing on my side. Sabre doesn't put in an appearance in front of the court this time round, as to busy trying to keep her young charges safe but that works because it is just as gripping. I can't wait for the next book.

A routine transportation goes wrong when a teenage boy doesn't arrive at his destination. It's a race against time to find him but with the regular drive out of action it seems the disappearance might have been more targeted than opportunity. Sabre finds herself questioning the system that she works for and how it could let the boy down. At the same time a home invasion leaves a man dead, a man that had very strong feeling about another one of Sabre's clients. With the police wanting to question him, Sabre finds herself with two boys that need protecting but by doing so is Sabre and JP putting themselves in danger.
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Denise Zendel]

The single disappearance of a young boy launches juvenile court attorney and child advocate Sabre Brown on a life altering journey. Thirteen-year-old Mateo Alvarez vanishes during transport; the details don’t line up, nobody’s story makes sense, and the clock is ticking. The parents could be responsible, or maybe it’s something worse.

This series keeps getting better and better for me. This plot kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering whether Sabre would survive this case, and how she would protect her charges. I also appreciate Sabre’s relationship with her partner and investigator, JP. He’s a brilliant, funny, laconic cowboy who would take a bullet for Sabre, no questions. And she loves him with an equal intensity. There is a good mix of mystery and day-to-day life, and the author is an attorney and child advocate, so the court procedures and back-and-forth between the attorneys ring true. This was a grittier plot than usual, with more action than normal, but it gripped me all the way through and had a satisfying ending.

The story did give me agita – no spoilers, but Sabre and her family are threatened on a real, immediate, personal level, and that put me on edge. I am so attached to the characters, though, that I had to keep reading because I wanted to know how it all came out. And I’m glad I did. While the ending is explosive, I had peace seeing how Sabre and JP’s bond was strengthened. I’m eagerly awaiting the next entry in the series.

[Big Time Book Junkie]

I love this entire series so very much, but The Advocate's Trigger was really something else! To think that a child being transported could go missing is a horrible thought and then of course, the reader is thinking WHY would a child go missing?

Having a child removed from their parents by a state agency due to neglect or whatever reason is nightmare enough for a parent and then to think something like that could happen...wow! I was on the edge of my seat hoping the boy would be okay and that they'd figure out quickly what had happened.

The author's legal background is always evident and I love that because I learn something new in each book. Sabre is such a wonderful main character ~ she is a badass child advocate that wants the very best outcome possible for the children she represents and I so love that about her.

This is definitely a must-read addition to this series and if you haven't yet started this series, please pick up book 1 soon! You will find yourself one-clicking like you were eating Lay's potato chips. You can't eat just one - LOL.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC at my request. All thoughts, as always, are my own and happily shared.

[Dianne Jensen]

Another great book in the Advocate's series by Teresa Burrell, THE ADVOCATE'S TRIGGER. Her mysteries, most of which are inspired by true events, involve parallel story lines. The easy to read Advocate's series are those "hard to put down" kind of books. With descriptions that give you the clear picture, they do not have too many characters, making it hard to figure out who you're reading about, or so many story lines you have trouble following it all. If you haven't started reading Teresa Burrell's The Advocate's series, you're missing out.

[Carolyn Silberman]

As usual, The Advocate's Trigger is a must read. Teresa Burrell just keeps the reader wanting more and never lets you down. This book is slightly different though. You are pretty sure you know how this story goes and will end, but then once again the twist and turns surprise you. The end however, has the main character upset and doubting herself making you want the next book released now.
Don't miss out on The Advocate's Trigger especially if you like mystery at it's best.

[Gretchen Rooker]

suspenseful to the end

I read all 20 of the series over the last 8 months. It’s intriguing how each plot focuses on a different aspect of the juvenile advocacy legal system. The author is a master at weaving together situations that initially seem unrelated. I thought this book was excellent. However, #19 was my favorite in the series. I look forward to book #21, but I know I have to wait.

[Nancy]

As I said in my status update, I usually really enjoy this series. This book is tedious. It feels phoned in. Very repetitive, including a whole scenario from chapter 33 that is repeated in chapter 52. In addition, all these smart people could not figure out what was obvious to me. There was almost no tension or action.

[Beth Agejew]

Once again, Teresa Burrell has written a page-turning thriller. I absolutely love the way she weaves the pieces of a story into a cohesive tale. If you are a fan of mystery and suspense, you will thoroughly enjoy this one.

[Julie R]

I've read the entire Advocate series. I've enjoyed all of the books, but this was my favorite. There are a few bad guys 2 young teenage boys who end up in the middle of 2 crimes committed by adults and their greed and need for revenge. I love the main characters in this series.

[Karen Bowen]

Another great story by Teresa.

I've read the entire Advocate series and recommended it to many friends. I waa curious about the title and liked how it was woven into the story. It had a satisfying ending. I look forward to the next book.

[Sheri L]

I love how Teresa Burrell takes a complicated situation (children in the legal system) and makes it feel personal and exciting. I sit, waiting for the next book, and plan to consume it in no time! Love her work!

[Patricia Moser]

amazing ride

wow what a book. couldn’t put it down. finished it too quickly. i’m addicted to this series. so well written

[Janie Livingston]

Trigger

Great,fast moving, novel! We see some old friends returning and plenty of action! Sabre needs all the help JP and his team can give qtqo solve this mystery!

[Denise Bowman]

As usual, Burrell grabbed my attention and I couldn't stop reading until I finished the book! Gotta keep these books coming!

[Cheryl Tabor]

Grinding suspenseful read. Worth every page turned. This book does not dissapoint.

[SPENCER CLEANERS]

trigger

Always great stories. Very exciting plot. The ending could have gone either way.I hope there are more adventures to follow.

[Hattie Hambrick]

Excellent

This was one of the most thrilling Advocate stories. It had lots og twists and turns. A great read. Highly recommend.

[Jenna]

Just okay. It felt pretty clear from the start what happened and why.

[Marie Price]

Trigger obsessed?

Once again I was completely involved in this case and kept trying to find out "who" instigated it. Burrell knows how to grab and keep the reader's attention!

[Valerie Wade]

Love this series. Sabre and JP to the rescue!!!

[Mr S]

The Advocates Trigger

What a fantastic read, Teresa is an amazing author and I have loved reading the whole of her Advocate series.