Mission Hill

Abby Endicott #1

by Pamela Wechsler

Abby Endicott is chief of the District Attorney’s homicide unit in Boston, where she investigates and prosecutes the city’s most dangerous killers. A member of Beacon Hill’s elite, and a graduate of the Winsor school and then Harvard Law, the prosecutor’s office is not the prestigious job that would have been expected of her. She has been known to change into an evening gown amidst bodies in the morgue. She loves her job, and is committed to it, refusing all pressure to quit from her upper-crust parents or threats from the city’s most ruthless killers. But among Abby’s many secrets is her longtime affair with fellow prosecutor Tim Mooney, a married father of one.

One night, Abby is awakened very late by a phone call from her favorite detective, who reports that there has been a horrific murder but is vague about the specifics. When she arrives at the crime scene and discovers the identity of the victim, Abby knows the terror and tragedy are only beginning.

In Mission Hill, debut novelist Pamela Wechsler delivers a gripping and very human portrayal of a woman who will stop at nothing to find the truth, even if it challenges everything she believes about justice.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook, Legal

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2016

About the author

PAMELA WECHSLER spent over fifteen years working as a criminal prosecutor at the local, state and federal levels. She has served as an assistant district attorney and assistant attorney general in Boston, and she was a trial attorney for the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.. She has investigated and prosecuted a wide variety of crimes, including: murder, witness intimidation, sexual assault, drug trafficking, stock market manipulation, and political corruption.

Pam moved to Los Angeles to work as a legal consultant and writer and producer for network television shows. Her credits include: Doubt; Law and Order; Law and Order: Criminal Intent; Law and Order: Trial by Jury; Conviction; and Canterbury's Law.

Pam grew up in the Boston area and is a graduate of Tufts and Boston University School of Law. She is now the author of Mission Hill, The Graves, and The Fens (coming in May 2018). Currently, she is a writer and producer of the CBS drama Bull.

Reviews

[Mackey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have gone back and forth about my feelings toward this book. On one hand I really liked it! I sailed through it in fact. The storyline was great, the characters, as you would expect from Pamela Wechsler are terrific. Based on those two things alone I would have given Mission Hill 4stars instead of three. However..... the primary character, Abby Endicott, is annoying as hell. She is great at her job, is "politically correct" - sort of - but she is part of the 1% who chooses to lower herself by working in the DA's office. We literally have to know the label on every single item of clothing/shoes she puts on and the designer/artist for all of her jewelry/art. Seriously. It was extremely off-putting...no, annoying.
Wechsler was the producer for some of my favorite legal shows on television and I have to hope that after this debut book she will get past the fascination with labels. If not, I won't continue the series. Otherwise the writing is great - LOL!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby Endicott is a prosecutor that is the chief of the District Attorney’s homicide unit in Boston. When she gets a call of a homicide she arrives at the scene to find that the victim is fellow prosecutor Tim Mooney. Abby and Tim have been close for years, close enough that the two had been having a secret affair even after Tim had married.

Finding that Tim's latest case that the trial was about to start for was for a man that had been involved in Abby's best friend from high school being murdered Abby insists that she be put on the case to finally get a conviction. Sure that the defendant is also involved in Tim's murder Abby puts everything into the case so the defendant will not get away with murder again.

Mission HIll seems to be the first book in a new series by Pamela Wechsler featuring Abby Endicott.
Abby is one of those somewhat flawed characters as she has all kinds of hangs up herself but she is a strong person when it comes to her job and making sure justice is served.

I was a bit back and forth on whether I liked Abby herself or not. She's from a rich family and regularly listing how much she spends on this or that. She has affairs with married men all the while having a loving boyfriend that she doesn't seem too attached to. And she's a bit closed off citing things like anxiety and trust issues but the saving grace was she was good with her job and working at this low paying position against the wishes of her rich family which made her a bit more likable in my opinion.

At the end of this read Abby had grown on me and being a sucker for a good legal/courtroom thriller I'd definitely check out where this series heads in any future books.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[CL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Endicott has just been given a case for the District Attorney's office that was her murdered co-worker's that until recently she had been having an affair with. She has a past with the defendant but she hopes that will not make the judge allow her to prosecute the case. To make matters worse her dad is still trying to get her to quit her job and go to work in a friend's law firm or he is threatening to cut her off and then she will be forced to live her life style based on her salary and she will not be able to do that. Her boyfriend wants a commitment and now he has met her father. The defendant escapes and vows to get even with her so she is under protective detail. All clues keep leading back to a construction scandal and her boss may be at the center of it and the FBI wants her to wear a wire to try and find out. Page turner from the first page. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mission Hill is the first book in a new series about Abby Endicott, a district attorney in Boston prosecuting homicide cases. It's also Pamela Wechsler's debut novel and very well written. The author's extensive experience of working within the legal system is obvious. Mission Hill is quite an intense legal thriller with a plot that becomes more and more complex involving murder, gangs, betrayal, and corruption, and it's all very, very personal for Abby. It was a genuine page turner and I really enjoyed it.
I'm a bit torn about my feelings about Abby. I guess she's kind of the perfect flawed character. She's incredibly determined when it comes to her job and getting justice for victims. She also seems to be oblivious and totally comfortable when it comes to telling lies or maybe just hiding some facts. She does it to everyone, her boy-friend, her family, her colleagues. But there is also a very vulnerable side to her, and at times, she has quite a good dry sense of humor. So all in all, she's very intriguing.
I am looking forward to reading more about Abby, her complicated relationships with her family and the men in her life as well as the cases she is working on.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for my ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Alisha Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what the hell happened with Mission Hill. When I first started (and got to page 50), I loved it. I kept thinking about how I haven't read a mystery series in a while and definitely not one that has an ADA as the MC, and how YAY!, it was going to be so good! Then, I went to bed. When I woke up the next morning and continued to read, I wasn't liking this book all that much. Which just goes to show you that when there's a choice between reading and sleeping, I should ALWAYS pick reading.

I think what happened with Mission Hill is that I started to dislike Abby (the ADA). She starts out all cool and chill and then you're just like "No. You're a spoiled rich girl that likes to sleep with married men." She lost me. Not only does she sleep with her married colleague, she then mentions how there's sexual tension between her and another colleague...who's also married. And she's not that into her current amazing boyfriend...probably because he's not married. Yeah, I'm sorry, you're just a jerk.

Mission Hill was also filled to brim with detail. And not in a good way. I like details, most of the time. When done right, they give you a fuller reading experience. When done wrong, they make you want to throw books against the wall. Seriously, this book is so padded with superfluous detail. One extra, completely unimportant character is mentioned? Well, get ready to know the inner dealings of every case they worked and how the building Abby's passing is functioning because someone, who knew someone, who knew someone, prosecuted a case and who cares? Cause I sure don't. Some details are necessary. A description of what shoes the rich MC wears or what everyone is eating during a meal is not necessary.

And then to add insult to injury, Mission Hill was predictable. I called the killer the minute this person popped up on the radar. GAH! I HATE predictable mysteries. The point of a whodunit is to figure out whodunit, sure. But not at the beginning of the book! That makes it a mystery book fail! And when I wasn't guessing who killed everybody, I was busy being bored. Oh my God, so bored! Another mystery book fail bigger than predictability? Boredom.

So, overall, Mission Hill was hugely disappointing. The main character was aggravating, all of the other characters (with exception of the awesome boyfriend) were boring, a lot of the details were unnecessary, and the book as a whole was just meh. I say, don't bother.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Sentence: I’m in bed, silently reciting their names.

Prosecution attorney Abby Endicott learns a colleague has been killed execution-style by gangbanger Orlando Jones. Abbie takes on the case, in part as she blames him for the murder of her friend many years ago. If she loses, not only does he walk, but she could lose her license to practice law.
Pamela Wechler’s legal and screenwriting background are apparent from the first paragraph. She certainly knows who to capture the reader’s attention, as well as touching one’s emotions. Yet the explanation makes sense, as do the geographic references.

Our introduction into Abby’s background is handled early and quickly. The relationship between Abby and her lover, Ty, is a nice counterpoint to the case. That it’s not a perfect relationship is a refreshing change.

Wechler’s voice is crisp and real—“The sleek, high-tech building offers one-stop shopping; it houses the homicide unit, the crime lab, the ballistics lab, the identification unit, and the fugitive squad. It’s a kind of like a Neiman Marcus for prosecutors.” For those who know, or even want to visit, Boston, Wechler describes the city very well, good and bad, as well as its politics, and the project known as “The Big Dig.”

There are interesting details about which one wouldn’t normally think—“A hospital emergency is a cheater’s purgatory. Spouses and girlfriends rush to be by their man’s side, only to discover that he has another significant other—or others. There’s nothing that a bed-bound patient can do to prevent the encounters.” The author’s wry humor helps offset the drama nicely—“A dirty mop and bucket are in the corner, next to an overflowing trash barrel. The order of grease is so strong I feel like I need to go to Elizabeth Grady and have my pores extracted. I was hungry when I walked in here. I’d planned to get a burger and a bag of fries for the road. Now I’m seriously considering becoming a vegetarian.” However, fewer product placements wouldn’t have gone amiss.

There is a very good escalation in the seriousness of the plot, but it also goes a bit over the top. For being a legal mystery, there could have been time spent in the courtroom.

“Mission Hill” does have some weaknesses, but it’s a very credible first effort. It will be interesting to see how the series progresses.

MISSION HILL (Legal Thriller-Abby Endicott-Boston-Cont) - Good
Wechsler, Pamela – 1st in series
Minotaur Books – Mar 2017

[Tricia]

Enjoyed having my husband read this book to me. we learned about this author as we listen to an interview by Vic mikunis on the book Nook on wyso that's where you're driving to Yellow Springs one day. We hope to read the next two in the series as well. it is the first novel my husband has read since high school

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich girl Abby Endicott has chosen to work as an ADA in Boston rather than make mega-bucks in private law. The homicide cases she has prosecuted haunt her. She is wealthy so does not need the money though her parents threaten to remove her allowance if she does not toe their line. Abby is not always likable but she is motivated by the need to see justice done and is willing to go out of her way to achieve that end.

In the very beginning her friend and one-time-lover is murdered as he is about to begin a murder trial. Was he killed by the man on trial’s friends or for another reason entirely? Abby takes over the case, seeks justice and in her quest she also uncovers more than she expected – enough to be life threatening to more than one person in the story.

As a debut novel I found this story well written. It kept me interested from beginning to end. It introduced a number of characters that will no doubt return in future books in the series. I look forward to finding out how Abby will move forward as a person and as a lawyer in future books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press for the copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abby Endicott is the chief prosecutor in the Boston District Attorney’s homicide unit where she takes on some of the most dangerous and difficult cases. Abby is deeply committed to what can be a very perilous job, despite her family’s wealth and their desire that she find safer and more respectable employment. But Abby is tough and rebellious, both in her work and personal life and is determined to confront and deal with the potential danger. This desire leads her to some decisions and actions that are questionable and not entirely honorable and upright, but that she feels are necessary to bring justice to innocent victims. Pamela Wechsler has extensive experience as a criminal prosecutor, and that experience provides a very informed view of the cases and issues faced by a prosecutor. Her experience as a TV writer is evident in the tight and intense plotting. I look forward to reading more about Abby Endicott and the intriguing cast of characters in her life.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

[Dlmrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC

[Cassy Schraft · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received Mission Hill by Pamela Wechsler as a Goodreads Giveaway winner. This is the first book I have read by this author.

Mission Hill is the first book in a series about prosecutor, Abby Endicott, a young woman hailing from an affluent family who does not understand her passion for working as part of the homicide unit for the District Attorney in the city of Boston. When Abby responds to a call for a homicide one night, she does not expect the victim to be a member of her unit, a close friend and former lover. Now tasked with picking up the case he was working on and about to take to trial, Abby finds the defendant in the case is someone from her past who never paid for the crime he committed, and Abby's gut instinct is that he is somehow involved in her friend's death, too.

I found Mission Hill to be an exciting and fast paced book. Wechsler wastes no time plunging into the story and keeping things moving. She is attentive to detail without getting too hung up on the small aspects and her professional experience lends itself well to her storytelling. The majority of her characters are dynamic, although some fell a little flat to me, and at times the main character of Abby was unlikable and rubbed me the wrong way, as if she were acting immature for her age. I also felt Abby's relationship with her boyfriend, Ty, as well as her family members, were somewhat under developed and, for the amount of the book that is dedicated to keeping that balance between her personal life as well as her work endeavors, would have hoped that these relationships would be given more depth. Thankfully, these shortcomings detract very little from the novel and it is still an enjoyable read despite this.

Overall this was an entertaining book to read and turned to be a quick read; I would definitely be interested in reading the sequel. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy mysteries and legal thrillers. Those who enjoy reading about the intricacies of crime, detective work, and prosecution may find this book not quite up to their standards. I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 star rating for having quality writing, knowledge on the subject, engaging storytelling, and overall flow and for lacking depth in certain critical characters and the character's relationships.

[Amy Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was good, with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. My issue is with the main character. I wanted to like her, but there was so much to not like. The major issue I have is her being a high level prosecutor, yet she is knowingly dating a drug dealer? She clearly knows it's not acceptable, as she purposely keeps him away from her boss during a party so it can't come back negatively on him to be associated with him. However, she herself is fine with being associated with him? She is upset about the death of a fellow prosecutor who she happens to have been previously dating, despite the fact he is married. Yet, during the short course of figuring out the killer, she also mentions she is attracted to another married coworker. All, while having a boyfriend at home. She also has the annoying habit of mentioning labels from her clothing. Honestly I couldn't care less about the brand of clothing someone is wearing. I don't expect characters to be without flaws, but I do expect someone of her high level in her profession to make better personal choices. I did enjoy the story though, but it was tough to get through without wanting to yell at the main character.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Endicott is the chief of the homicide unit of the Boston homicide unit. She has built up a solid reputation as a prosecutor . Being head of her department means she gets to handle cases involving some of the city's most dangerous felons. She has many friends in the department and the police department who are so important in working her cases.
Besides working some pretty difficult cases, she is about to be asked to handle a case which involves one of her closest associates and special friends....Tim Mooney. Mooney was a fellow prosecutor and was one of her 'special ' friends. He was shot in the head at close range and it certainly looks like it must be related to his case against Orlando Jones. Abby will be given Tim's case and will be working with her favorite detective Kevin Farnsworth.
And so starts Pamela Wechsler's first book in the 'Abby Endicott' series. The author was a criminal prosecutor in the Boston area before she moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a legal consultant and worked on a number of TV shows, such as several episodes of the "Law & Order " series and the new hit "Bull". I want to throw out a special thanks to Molly Weston for her recommendation. ''Mysteryheel.blogspot.com" is a special website for mystery lovers.

[Stephen Dorneman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the writing is clear enough, with authentic courtroom details and a Boston setting done perfectly, I can't recommend this mystery -- primarily due to the pacing. For the first one hundred plus pages, over one-third of the book, all the action takes place off-stage. Meanwhile, what we get instead is far too many details of what the protagonist eats, wears, and decorates her condo with, plus numerous shallow dives into how she feels about her life, her rich family, and who she's slept with, but without any real understanding behind those feelings and remembrances. The interesting second half plot twists and action-packed finale come too late to make up for all the lost ground. Wechsler shows promise, but so far, a promise unfulfilled.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, a rich lady becomes a DA in Boston against her family's wishes. Her best friend/lover gets killed in a horrific murder, and she's desperately trying to prosecute a powerful gang member who killed her childhood friend. Oh, and her boyfriend keeps pushing for some commitment, but... who has time for emotional vulnerability? Plus her boss might be corrupt, the FBI keeps bothering her, and she keeps having to deal with annoying attempts on her life.

I actually liked this novel just fine, except for the setting. Man, I hate books set in Boston. If the Big Dig and bribing of blueboods are a major plotpoints, I'm over it.

So, I'll give this three stars, an "okay." Set anywhere else? It probably would have jumped to four.

[L.E. Fidler · Rating 3 out of 5]

sigh.

so, i've read these out of order it seems, but this is the first in the abby endicott series.

the story is okay - it definitely picks up AFTER abby gets hit in the head by a thrown desk (no, seriously, it does). but to me, it's a little like when dan brown mentions all the leather shoes that robert langdon admires...the references to high-end clothing only serves to point out how wealthy the writer is or wants to be or whatever but never ever add anything to the plot.

i don't care how much money abby comes from; she uses the word "bubkes" too much.

there.

i said it.

also, she needs to attend AA meeting on the reg and she needs to fish or cut bait with ty.

done.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 Stars*
Crime novels are not my usual read, so this was a little left field for me. I basically read the whole book in one sitting this morning. I couldn't stop. The entire book is one big crescendo of intensity until the end. It's apparent that the author is well versed and knows her stuff, which I respect. Without giving anything away, there were hints at the ending that I suspected, and I was right, but nothing could stop me from finishing this. As a reader, get ready for a lot to be thrown at you and be ready to keep up with this fast-paced novel. I withhold .5 stars as I saw the end coming, but isn't one of the goals to ensnare the reader? Mission accomplished.

[Susan Sarabasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the third book in this series. Enjoyed it except for episodes of graphic violence which I could skim over. So I took the first two books out of the library. Alas the first book is packed with awful, bloody, gorey scenes and flashbacks. So much so that skimming over those scenes essentially flies me through the book.
Also her relationship with Kevin, a partner in investigations, is way more developed than her relationship with her live-in boyfriend. Her family is dysfunctional at best and annoyingly upper class snobs as well.
Sometimes I think Kevin should be the main character as he does more thinking and fact finding than she.
I will try the second book but warily.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is nothing WRONG with this book, but it just didn't feel like anything special. I checked out the ebook from my library 3 times and tried to read it. Every time I tried it was supplanted by another book with a more intriguing premise or writing which immediately caught my attention. I finally skimmed it and happily moved back to the book I really wanted to read (in this case, Florence Adler Swims Forever).

I have concluded that straight legal/cop murder mysteries aren't my thing unless there is something really unique about them. There are just too many other books out that to read. So many books, not enough time . . .

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first novel in the Abby Endicott series. She is the chief of the Boston DAs homicide unit. Abby receives a call out one night and discovers the victim is a fellow prosecutor with whom she has had a long term affair. He had completed jury selection for a high profile murder and was to give open arguments the next day. Abby took over the case although she has had a long adversarial relationship with the defendant. We learn much about Abby as well as the people in the DAs office. It is an interesting read.

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh..

The best thing about this book is the location. I grew up in the suburbs of Boston, but went to college & worked in the city. Since I moved south many moons ago, the references to Boston landmarks were nostalgic for me. The main character was annoying. ($15,000 a MONTH?!?!). The plot wandered in the beginning; characters were mentioned randomly and THEN put into context. I felt like I’d missed something. I was excited to find this series because of the Boston connection & my love of detective stories , but I’m not sure I’ll read the other books.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would in the beginning. I didn't connect to the main female character who is not high on the liability chart,  but the plot turned out to be intriguing and got more interesting as it went along.

Mission Hill is a legal/crime thriller and since these days I'm curious about how author's research ideas for their books, I was curious about how this author was able to realistically portray the story. Interesting fact, turns out she has a legal background and is a writer  for the series law and order. 

Overall a solid read.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an impressive debut novel and I will certainly search out more by this author. Although I have not been to Boston, the author is skilled enough to bring a sense of clarity to the setting. The plot is complicated enough to keep you guessing and the characters are well-developed enough to seem like real humans. This is thoroughly worth the time if you like mysteries, procedurals, and courtroom drama.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela Wechsler
Mission Hill [x] Completed
Review: Book 1 of 3
5☆ Three words sum up the first book in the series by Pamela Wechsler; Murder, Mystery & Mayhem. Mission Hill keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Full of twists & turns, I never saw it coming. (No spoilers) There are no lulls in this book. Couldn't put it down. Abby Endicott, Wechsler's protagonist is a gutsy lady. She doesn't back down even when danger stares her in the face. A definite must read.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! This was a great book to read on my Kindle. I could stop and pick up the story days later. The courtroom scenes are well done and the gritty, seamier side of Boston well presented. I like the character, Abby Endicott and have already ordered the next one in the series. This one had me guessing as to the murderer till the end.
Recommended.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summer legal mystery/thriller reading. I figured out the villain well before the reveal (never a good sign; I'm usually not bright that way), and the book overall reads a bit like a TV script - this then made sense when I read the author's bio and the part where she's a former criminal prosecutor now writing for TV in L.A., including for Law & Order, etc.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character, Abby, was not likable in my opinion. She seemed to make everything about her - she wanted to appear a tough woman, take no prisoners - but she was insecure in relationships. Ty and her relationship is rocky at best. The murder mystery was average in that you could tell what was going to happen by the series of incidents with Orlando.

[Jim Duff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the Boston landmarks. The story had too many rich girl shopping references for my liking. Especially pissed when she gives shoes to a homeless woman but tells you the brand. Really. Take out the shopping poem and you have a tight mystery.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Boston, after a coworker (friend, past romantic partner) has been murdered, Abby takes over his current case. Despite pressure from her wealthy family, Abby continues to work in a dangerous profession.

[Tweets66 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast paced and interesting book. The leagalize was kept to a minimum for those who aren't well versed in it. I enjoyed this book and read it over 2 days.