Two Lost Boys

Janet Moodie #1

by L.F. Robertson

Janet Moodie has spent years as a death row appeals attorney. Overworked and recently widowed, she's had her fill of hopeless cases and is determined that this will be her last. Her client is Marion 'Andy' Hardy, convicted along with his brother Emory of the rape and murder of two women. But Emory received a life sentence while Andy got the death penalty, labeled the ringleader despite his low IQ and Emory's dominant personality.

Convinced that Andy's previous lawyers missed mitigating evidence that would have kept him off death row, Janet investigates Andy's past. She discovers a sordid and damaged upbringing, a series of errors on the part of his previous counsel, and most worrying of all, the possibility that there is far more to the murders than was first thought. Andy may be guilty, but does he deserve to die?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Novels, Adult Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

399 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2017

About the author

L.F. Robertson is a practising defense attorney who for the last two decades has handled only death penalty appeals.

Linda is the co-author of The
Complete Idiots Guide to Unsolved Mysteries, and a contributor to the forensic handbooks How to Try a Murder and Irrefutable Evidence. She has had short stories published in the anthologies My Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: the Hidden Years and Sherlock Holmes: The American Years.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Andy Hardy's appeal comes up, Janet Moodie catches the case. Andy is on death row for raping and murdering two women with his brother, Emory. Can Janet get Andy's sentence reduced to life? And what hold does the Hardy boys' mother have over them?

Recently, the people at Titan hit me up to read Forever and a Death. I said I would and added that I'd take anything else they wanted to send my way. This showed up not too long after and I'm glad I'm kind of a book mooch.

Two Lost Boys is a legal thriller but it's also an exploration into family secrets and how people become who they are. As Janet mines Andy's past, she unearths more and more dark secrets Ma Hardy would prefer to keep hidden. I saw some of the twists coming but I was still pleasantly surprised in places.

Janet Moodie is far from the usual thriller heroine. She's middle aged and a widow, living with her dog after her husband's suicide years before. She's not Wonder Woman but she gets things done. I liked her right away.

Since the case hinges on Andy being mentally disabled and not deserving of the death penalty, lots and lots of dirty laundry gets aired. Andy seems less like a criminal than an unwitting dupe and the worst person in the Hardy family sure isn't him. After the thirty percent mark, the book had its fangs buried in my brain stem and I couldn't get it out of my mind.

Even though legal thrillers are normally as welcome as a fart in an elevator on my bookshelf, I really enjoyed this one. Four out of five stars.

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Excellent legal thriller authored by a practicing defense attorney who specializes in death penalty appeals. This is her first novel. GREAT debut novel. It reads like it should be non-fiction - it is that good.
Two brothers are convicted of murder - multiple murders. Emery is given life in prison, Andy the death penalty. This where attorney Janet Moodie comes in - asking why only one brother was given the death sentence. Did Andy get satisfactory counsel and a fair trial? What does his mother have to do with this crime - anything? Why did his brother get life and not the death penalty? Janet Moodie does what she does best - appeals Andy's death sentence.
Great look at the appeals process for a prisoner on death row. Andy may be guilty of this crime, but does he deserve to be on death row and not sentenced, like his brother, to life in prison?
Reading this book in two days, I became absorbed in the life of the Hardy brothers, as immersed in the moving narrative as one gets in watching a cold case presented on television. No commercials here, just great story telling.

[Jeanette]

No review. This is way too slow and filled with lawyer analysis for me. Also this prime protagonist lawyer is a virtue signaling judgmental dour figure and lacking any character depth. These are not for me.

I tend to want to give her a reusable grocery bag that she needs to launder daily.

She at one point takes a single french fry from another's plate at a business lunch and dithers in thought for how much exercise it will take if she eats it. That finished me. I couldn't stay in this mindset for 200 or 300 more pages.

[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I went to pick up my holds at the library last week this book was in the batch, I didn't remember reserving it, but must have at some point. Around page 130 I almost gave it up, the book moves very slow, but I kept going. Now that I'm done I sort of wished I would have given it up, the slow pace continued and you can guess what happened with all of these people. Did it make me feel sorry for Andy, yes in a way, but not enought to really care in the end.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

More of a legal procedural than a legal thriller, this book reads pretty dry.

With due acknowledgement that the author is a lawyer and certainly knows of her craft, and thus clearly tried to make a point of realism in that, in the real world, nothing starts and finishes cleanly, still this book just didn't really go anywhere. I guess it proves that sometimes reality isn't all that thrilling. Neither is procedure for that matter.

A pretty challenging setup, actually: an appeals lawyer who comes in years after the crime and tries to find a way to prevent her death-row client from being executed. For entertainment purposes anyway, it seemed to me that the challenge was just too great. Two Lost Boys seems to basically consist of lawyers traveling to various places to interview people, then a whole lot of (sometimes condescending?) descriptions of people and places. Then a whole lot of not much else.

There is a back-story reveal that has interest, but in the end it was somewhat telegraphed and a bit of too little too late.

Two Lost Boys was, for me, just that. Lost. And a two.

Two Stars

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a bound ARC and this is my honest review. Overall the story is pretty compelling. Very quick read about family secrets, the prison system and the appellate processes. The prose is terse, the narrator's backstory is a mystery until the end of the book. I would give this a higher rating but it seemed like something was missing. It just needed a couple of more chapters to tie it up better.

[Tina Heller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable. I kept waiting for something to happen. Not enough character development for me. No real surprises. Could have been improved.

[Janel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve noticed a rise in the publication of legal mysteries/thrillers and Two Lost Boys is worthy of a top spot in this crime fiction subgenre! I read this stunning debut in one day, I’d read several chapters then put the book down, only to find I kept thinking about it, so I return to the cliché – make sure your schedule is clear before picking up this book as it’s a captivating story that begs to read in one sitting.

L. F. Robertson is a practicing death row lawyer and that is evident in her writing; Janet Moodie takes on the case of Marion ‘Andy’ Hardy, her role is not to overturn the conviction but to file a habeas corpus petition to reduce Andy’s sentence from the death penalty to life without parole. As Janet investigates the previous proceedings and unravels the layers of Andy’s upbringing, she realises things are more complex than she first thought. Robertson does an amazing job detailing the role of a death row appeals attorney, the description of Janet’s work – going through old case files, interviewing people involved in the case, meeting with Andy, trying to piece this puzzle together – was so intriguing. It was so detailed and well thought-out, I honestly believe this could have been a real case.

The novel isn’t fast-paced but it doesn’t need to be – the depth of the plot is fascinating and the characters are extremely well developed. Robertson has written a thought-provoking novel, with an ending that ensures you’ll stay thinking about this book long after you’ve finished it. Robertson uses no gimmicks, she simply details Janet’s work on the case and I found this to be thoroughly engaging. This novel almost has a solemn tone to it, and it worked really well given the dark nature of the case. If you like your novels with every question answered, then this probably isn’t the book for you but if you have an interest in legal proceedings/the work of a death row lawyer and what makes a murderer, you need to read this book. 5 out of 5 stars, a stunning debut.

*My thanks to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book*

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read very much like a true crime novel. Or a biography of an appellate lawyer. I often forgot it was a novel and envisioned the lawyer in my mind a lot. She unravels pieces of a case to try and get a convicted murderer off death row. She thoroughly believes he was not the ring leader and didn’t have the mental capacity to remain on death row. I loved every minute of this and will look for more.

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legal mysteries aren't my usual forte, but I really enjoyed this book a lot. The fact that it isn't so much focused on proving the guilt or innocence of someone, but instead about trying to prove that the person on death row received a fair trial is something novel and rather entertaining.

This is the authors first book, but I do hope there is more to come. I've grown rather fond of the lead character and want to see if there are any other tales.

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointing read but since it only cost me $7.99 on my Kindle, I suppose I got my money's worth.
There are no resolutions in this book so if you're looking for a story about two young men from an extremely dysfunctional family who end up in prison, one on death row and one with a life sentence and want to know which one was responsible for the murders, don't read this book.
Perhaps this first time author will get better over time.
Not recommended!

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janet Moodie is a death row appeals attorney. Her latest client Marion 'Andy' Hardy is certainly guilty, but does he deserve to die? Janet believes he was not given a fair trial and that his previous attorney failed to defend him properly. Janet has one year to present enough evidence to the court that Andy, though he participated in the crime, was incapable of planning and executing such well orchestrated murders. I enjoyed this side of the novel, I thought the technicality/processes were fascinating and I got an interesting insight into death row practices. I have always wondered about how it works and this novel is clear on procedure and rules surrounding death row inmates. The other side of the novel focuses on Andy's past.

Andy was tried for the kidnapping and rape of a young woman, as well as the murder of two other women, alongside his brother Emory. Though it is clear that he is not truly capable of organising the whole crime, Andy was tried as the ringleader and received the death penalty. No one turned up to defend Andy, his own mother failed to appear for trial. Emory got a deal that if he turns on Andy, he doesn't have to die, and he took it happily. Janet is the only person who seems to care if Andy was actually taking part or if he was just following his brother's lead. Over the course of Two Lost Boys, Robertson delves into Andy's history, his family, his abuse and how far his family will go to protect each other.

Janet Moodie is a tortured soul. Her husband violently committed suicide one day with no warning. Janet can't believe he didn't tell her about his suffering and that she didn't see it herself. It has been 6 years and the pain is still fresh, worst still their son Gavin won't have anything to do with Janet because of the whole incident. Janet has thrown herself into her work protecting those who may be silently suffering, but can Andy's case help her move on from all the pain?

I thought the narrative surrounding Janet and Andy was good. I was not particularly gripped by the plot or characters though. I didn't rush to the end to find out what was really going on. I really appreciated Robertson's descriptive, honest and homely writing. She has opted to show a side of American law that I have rarely seen explored and I was fascinated by that. Robertson discussing the taboo subject of 'degrees of guilt' is a big step forward. I have always hated the assumption that if someone is found guilty then in everyone's eyes they are wholly guilty, no matter the circumstances. The tone of the novel tells us that guilt is guilt, he deserves to die, but Robertson is an attorney herself and she shows understanding and empathy.

The element I disliked the most about this novel is definitely the atmosphere. It is so intense and bitter, there was very little to cut through it. Janet and Dave, the private investigator assigned to the case, was a pretty good dynamic that brought about some much needed humour but there wasn't enough for me. I thought the themes that Robertson explored were important, family, grief, appeals for mercy and guilt. Robertson has certain met some intriguing people in her life and you can see it here. The characters are varied and all mesh well into the overall plot. I would have like a few more multi-dimensional characters but Janet and Andy were well written and kept me on my toes.

Overall I have given Two Lost Boys 3.5/5 stars as it is a good novel with some brilliant content and concepts. Robertson is a very talented writer and I felt that her detailed approach to this was an interesting change of pace. I am used to the intensity of Grisham or Baldacci but Robertson was unique and I appreciate her for that. I thought the plot was slightly standard which is where this novel lost its impact on me. Janet was an excellent character and Andy's struggle is real but other than that the only outstanding features were Robertson's writing and her legal insights.

[Dee-Cee It's all about the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Lost Boys was a completely different book for me, I don’t think I’ve actually ever read a book like this before. I read a lot of crime books, which I love but Two Lost Boys isn’t about the crime as it happens, as the crime actually happened 15 years earlier. It’s more about the legal side of a man sitting on death row, he’s been convicted of the crime but it’s time for appeal and that’s where this makes the book different, we’re not trying to catch a killer but trying to find out if he deserves to die.

Two Lost Boys see’s Janet Moodie, a widow and a death row appeals attorney take on the case of Andy Hardy, she vows this will be her last case and what a case it turns out to be. Nothing is as it seems and Janet has a long way to go before the case will come to an end.

The detail and description throughout the book was brilliant, maybe sometimes a little confusing for my little brain but I know nothing about the law and to start with I thought that as Janet investigated every little detail from the very beginning of Andy’s life, it was a waste of time but I was amazed at how much could be learned from those tiny details.

This isn’t a fast paced book, and it’s a long case but from the beginning I was intrigued and as the story goes along it pulls you in. Full of surprises and characters that are well-developed, Two Lost Boys was an enjoyable, slightly uncomfortable read, I say uncomfortable as in the subject matter obviously isn’t nice but it’s written in a way that really has you thinking about the story and what the outcome will be.

I will admit that the ending wasn’t what I was expecting at all, I wont go into detail as I don’t want to give anything away at all. Some may love it and same may not. I’m still in two minds about it.

All in all this was a thoroughly good read and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Chloe Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

All reviews can be found at https://thereadinglodge.wordpress.com/

Two Lost Boys is the debut novel of L. F. Robertson: a gripping, legal thriller that follows Janet Moodie as she attempts to see justice in the sentencing of Andy Hardy. With the help of colleagues, professionals, and those that knew Andy, Janet hopes to overturn the death penalty signed off on Andy’s life believing that there is more to Andy and his part in the murders than meets the eye.

Two Lost Boys is unique, and different, in that I have never really read a legal thriller where the lawyers are intent on overturning a ruling previously made. The death penalty is a big deal and, you would think, that there wouldn’t be much reasoning for trying to change the outcome. However, as you begin to progress through the novel and learn about Andy – the upbringing that he has had, the damaged past, the low IQ alongside some form of possible mental disability – you begin to feel sympathy towards Andy and understand his plight. Andy comes across as someone quite quiet, someone who is meticulous and orderly, and considerate of those around him. Not once did I, personally, believe that Andy was a man capable of having killed those women but, and this is the point that Moodie and her team are attempting to highlight, I could see him being coerced into it.

Robertson does a brilliant job at transferring emotions onto certain characters, causing the reader to really understand who is and isn’t at fault. As the evidence builds up, it becomes hard not to see the signs and, with the help of Moodie and her team, you begin to see how this information can be used to help Andy and his case. The legal jargon used within the novel is simplified and easily understandable thanks to Robertson’s writing. The characters frequently come across side-characters who, like me, may not understand the American justice system and how Moodie and her team gathering this information could help Andy. Through these explanations it becomes easy to see how complicated the system is and how, from Andy’s previous case, evidence can be twisted to suit the needs of the court and the case they are proceeding with.

It was clear to see that this was Robertson’s first novel, with a couple of simple errors in the writing style where words or phrases were repeated. However, that in know way affected the way that I read, or rated, the novel as the narrative, the terminology, and the characters were all brilliantly written. There was a lot of depth to the characters, especially Andy, as I could clearly see the angle that they were going for in his retrial and, from the get-go, it was obvious that he was slower and had some sort of mental disability that affected him. I connected really well with all of the characters, and even felt distanced and aloof with the characters that Moodie similarly felt towards. I loved the direction that Two Lost Boys took and the different threads of the investigation, narrative, and the Hardy family’s lives. There is a lot going on in this novel, and a lot of backstory that is rehashed in order to understand Andy and his cause and Robertson brings this into the novel in a way that doesn’t bog you down or feel like you’re floundering around in too much information.

Two Lost Boys is a brilliantly, unique legal thriller and is one I would recommend for anyone looking for something with emotion and a lot of different paths leading to the present day.

[Jeanine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a three star hovering on four star read. I enjoyed every word and was pulled into the world of attorneys and death row convicts, criminals and their dysfunctional families. I was entertained and when I retold a little of the plot to a friend, I realized the story was bigger and badder than I had,at first, realized. But it all fell just a little flat ,not much, just a little. It was believable and read like nonfiction. It was compelling, and I felt like I learned more about prison and the criminal justice system and the people who work for it.

[Rob Turck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent

[Denise · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t get through this so I stopped trying. Unlikeable characters, very slow moving story, and boring. I skimmed to the end and it was pointless.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unanswered questions at the end

[Marley Gieseler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would only recommend for people who want to know what it’s like to be a death row appeal attorney. Otherwise, a pretty dull, predictable story. No, I don’t enjoy reading about a main characters shopping list and what she eats for every meal…

[Katie Wray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not enough shock factor. Too predictable from early on. I enjoy legal thrillers but this wasn’t a favorite.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The IDEA of the story was interesting, and it's what drew me to the book. Two brothers are convicted of kidnapping and murdering two women, raping a third who got away. One brother gets life in prison, one gets the death penalty. A team of lawyers are working to get the death penalty dropped. It all sounds pretty good.

However, the book is written by a lawyer, and you can definitely tell that in the first third of the book. There were some instances where I didn't know what the hell was going on because the author was throwing around legal jargon. IMHO, books need to be described in layperson terms, so a greater amount of people can enjoy the book.

Second, there were many side stories that I felt just weren't necessary and didn't add anything to the plot. Jim, the 'main' lawyer, wasn't readily available for the team, and it was referenced frequently throughout the book. But in terms of the plot, so what? Why not leave him out and make Janet the main lawyer? Janet's husband committed suicide-again, it's tragic, but it didn't add anything to the story. And why were Janet's other cases even talked about? She was defending a guy named Arturo, a gang member who was in prison for a drive by. I kept expecting him to be woven into the plot, but it was just a 3-4 page blurb about what he did and why he was in prison, then we never hear about him again.

I also felt like the ending was just kind of blah. Nothing is ever resolved, and it's like Janet is wiping her hands of the whole damned thing.

To end, the premise was interesting, but I don't think I will be reading anything by this author again.

[Meggy Chocolate'n'Waffles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legal thriller. The name has a stern sound to it. The name of the genre lures you into thinking you are in for info-dumping, incomprehensible legalese, court drama that doesn't have the same impact on a page than on a TV screen, and a bunch of sharks fighting to win. When the words “legal thriller” leave my lips, I can see the other party in the conversation pinch their lips together. Why doesn't she reads Kinsella instead so we can chat about something good?

But legal thrillers can be good! Legal thrillers don't have to scare you to die a slow and boring death trying to remember which article states that any breach into the forensic process can open the door to the evidence being denied in court.

Did I lose you here? I'm confident the author can win you back!!!

My point is yes, law is a heavy subject and people dealing with it on a daily basis have huge brains (and often the equally huge ego) but law is all around us and we don't even notice it. Contracts, family inheritance, everything is law. I'm quoting a teacher here, but he was right. We don't notice it until we're thrown into its arms and into the system.

That's what happened to Andy.

Andy was sentenced to death penalty and has been waiting for a very long time. I won't get into the details because the books does it very well and makes the very complicated maze of procedures understandable to everyone. I mean it. It might even start your love for legal cases! This is why I loved this story so much.

You don't get to meet a lot of sharks with Hugo Boss costumes (yes, I'm referencing to Suits here, corporate law is known for it, and so often used to represent lawyers in general.) No, you get to meet the hands which handle many cases, millions of files, billions of pieces of information. Little eyes that go over everything that happened during the cases, verifying every statement, checking all procedures, going back to the places to question people years later, looking for things that don't add up, for anything that would make a difference and take down the sword hanging over a man's head.

It is a long and painful process. No big bombs that save the world last minute. It's an ant's work, the kind of things I love. Digging into people's past, digging into paperwork, digging for the missing clues, digging for life.

I absolutely loved starting the book with the suspect already on death row and the case closed for years. It means stepping backwards, one foot after another, into traces that time has erased, destroyed, changed, or simply smothered.

People may bitch about lawyers, but we do good once in a while.

Now, if I managed to bore you, rest assured, the author is more skilled than I am and managed to put this all into very good hands: whose of Janet Moodie! Smart, seasoned, bright and burdened by her own demons, she takes on this special case and exerts her clever ways to shed light on a case deemed doomed from the very start.

Andy and his brother were found guilty of kidnapping, raping, and killing young women. Not the easiest scenario! But each brother received a different deal of cards and if his little brother got prison for life, Andy received the heaviest sentence. Same crimes, different decisions? A lot of details are taken into account for a judge and a jury to make a decision, as long as those details make it to the courtroom. I was intrigued. I was going for all scenarios (thank you Law&Order for the hours of precious advice.) But when Janet came upon things that did not add up, I knew I was in for my favorite work, digging secrets and revealing the truth, and preparing myself for surprises!

There's a weird feeling about fighting to get man out of death row but not out of prison, especially when you start wondering if he really has something do to with those girls. A nasty feeling that something was wrong kept me awake and reading until far into the night. I must thank the author for masterfully intertwining a personal and simple life with an intricate and intriguing case thanks to a compelling writing that made everything all sound so real, professional, and enveloped in secrecy.

Getting to know Janet was fantastic, she's the kind of lawyers who don't work for the limelight, for the press coverage, she is a woman with principles and doing her best at life.

I had issues figuring out every other character, and I adored this! I tried to read into actions, little comments, anything that would help me make an opinion on them. Facing fascinating and very different characters through an old case is one of the best things. You need to make assumptions and interpret. I was on my toes, and while the pace is steady and hindered by all the paperwork, I did feel the clock ticking and felt the need to hurry and discover the truth, good or bad.

My only niggle is with the ending, which was a bit rushed and very abrupt for me! I had no idea how this would end, but I felt abandoned by the side of the road, a little confused!

Two Little Boy is one of the best and original legal thrillers I have read, you can dive in and truly follow an investigation from a point of view you barely ever see without ever feeling lost thanks to the amazing way the author balances the investigation, legalese, life, and events, to create a riveting plot out of a cold case!

I received a copy of this book from Titan Books and Philippa Ward who invited me to partake in this blog tour. This unbiased review is my thank you to them and the author.

[Su · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book. It certainly did not live up to the stellar recommendations that had made me choose to read it. It was stated it would grip the reader on the first page. Not this reader. It also was touted as suspense at its finest. Um...no. And to refer to it as a legal thriller was a no go for me. There were no thrills. Very disappointing.

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book so much, it is dark, moody, and shows another side to the consequences of a death penalty county. It also explores the life of attorney Janet Moodie, who has taken on this case, as she has other death row cases, as they tend to be paper based . This means that her hiding place, in Corbin's Landing, remains just that. She can work from there and have minimal contact with the outside world following the sudden , and unexplainable death of her husband. Whilst she has retreated there, her son has left for Australia, a different kind of fleeing although both find that grief is not easily left behind them.

For the case of brothers , Marion (known as Andy, or Ron) and Emory Hardy, however, she is duped into what she thinks will be a straight forward appeal to look into why one of the brothers, and not both, was placed on death row.

A cursory glance into the case files left behind by the know deceased defender of Andy, shows that he never really stood a chance of having anything other than the death sentence thrown at him. There was evidence missed, incidents omitted and a obvious lack of character witnesses. This is supported when Janet meets him, he does not seem quite as intelligent as you would believe someone would need to be to kidnap 3 women, murder two of them and bury them in the family property whilst keeping that from their mother, and then drive off and let the third one go. Something does not add up.

Emory pleaded down to life in jail as he blames Andy for planning, executing and carrying out the plans, and is not inclined to change his point of view.

Their mother is a masterpiece on monstrosity, her main concern on her sons being arrested for these crimes was how she could afford to move from the property. She has not even provided Andy with a character statement.

Something very clearly does not add up, one brother has had a decent defence made for him but the other has been let down, it appears, from his family, society and the legal system at large.

But how will Janet begin to re-examine every single part of a case that is now 15 years cold?

This gripping and engaging legal thriller will look at how these two lost boys were wilfully left behind by all the societal systems which should have been in place to keep them safe.

However, does that mean one or either are actually guilty of the crimes they have been convicted of?

I would thoroughly recommend reading 'Two Lost Boys' to find out!

[Sam (Clues and Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When my good friend Janel over at Keeper of Pages read this Two Lost Boys, by L.F Robertson, a while back, I knew I had to add it to my TBR pile. I am a huge fan of legal mystery/thrillers and have a special interest to those plots surrounding death row. I think it has something to do with how ominous and how severe these stories are; there are no second chances, it truly is life and death. Also, there is something about a story that calls to question where you fall on the line. Would you support such a system? Are you against it? What would you do if you were in this line of work. It is absolutely mind boggling to begin to think about it.

The story opens with the introduction of our protagonist, Janet Moodie, who is a death row appeals attorney. Her newest client, Andy Handy, was convicted (along with his brother, Emory) for the rape and murder of two women. Emory, after a slick deal, received life in prison and Andy got the death penalty even though he has a lower IQ and lacks the dominant personality. Using missed mitigating evidence, Janet discovers a series of errors and learns there is potentially much more to the murders than what was first thought. Andy may be guilty of something, but does he deserve to die?

The fact that L.F Robertson is a practicing death row lawyer added such a relevant angle to the story; it all felt extremely real and detailed. Similar to when I watch Grey’s Anatomy and feel as if I am a surgeon, I left this story feeling the same intensity that I was a death row attorney. She does a brilliant job at inviting the reader into Janet Moodie’s shoes. Moodie is a straight shooter; some would say emotionless but I would say to the point. She is calculated and calm; the story was portrayed as such. Robertson lays down the facts and lets the reader handle the emotions.

This novel is not your typical fast paced thriller, but instead relies on an intricate story to captivate their reader. I couldn’t put this one down and the pace became irrelevant to me, which is very rare.

I feel like fans of any legal thrillers or even those who like Jodi Picoult would love Two Lost Boys. 3.5 stars.

[Mary Jarwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.

A debut novel which follows the final case for Janet Moodie, a death row appeals attorney who is looking to reduce the sentence of a man who raped and killed two women. Living a secluded life in the country with her dog for company, this case will leave her searching for answers to questions that were never asked and looking into a family that have more to hide than most.
This book intrigued me from the beginning. Most of the crime books I read are detectives investigating in scenarios where they have unlimited resources available to them. Janet has a computer and the help from a friend Dave, an investigator hired by the same lawyer as Janet to do any leg work. Together they sift through old witness reports and try to find people who are still alive to re-interview and see if they can bring forward new evidence that was missed. And they do all of this for Andy. A man with a death sentence for a crime he committed with his brother, Emory, who was charged with the same crime however he only got life in prison. From the beginning Janet realises that Andy could not have been the ringleader that the police have made him out to be; with a low IQ coupled with Emory’s dominant personality he was simply dragged along for the ride. Or was he? Janet’s search into their upbringing and family brings about a change of events that shaped those fateful nights.
One of the things I loved about this novel was that it looked into what makes a person, and are people born evil? It is clear from Janet and Dave’s research and interview’s that Andy is not a “bad” person, his circumstances and experiences moulded him. The same can be said for Emory although his actions, as we learn, a far more deadly than we are first led to believe. This of course does not excuse their actions, which Janet states clearly throughout, but it is something that needs to be taken into consideration when trying people for certain crimes.
Another positive for me was the pacing of the novel. In some paragraphs and pages nothing happens because nothing can be done at that point of the appeal. Time passes within the novel giving a sense of realism into the justice system and how quickly -or slowly might be more appropriate- appeals are processed. Most crime books conclude a few days later in a blazing shoot out leaving one of the main characters worrying about the other. Not this one. The ending was calm and ordered as the novel had been up to that point.
There was no love interest within this novel. Janet is a recent widow and is trying to piece her life together again. This meant that the focus was completely on the case and how Janet is coping and the different actions that need to be taken within her life while trying to help others. Having so much focus on the case meant that I learnt new things about the American justice system and the different processes that take place in an appeal without being distracted by the characters feelings towards one another. It was very well done.
To conclude, I loved the novel. It is a breath of fresh air in what can be a very repetitive genre. The conclusion was everything I had hoped it would be after reading it and the only ending that could have taken place.
This book is available to buy now.

[Ryan H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult review for me. One, because this is the first legal drama I've ever read. Two, because I want to give credit to the author for filling me with emotions, while also acknowledging the faults here and there.

I don't know if the slow pace of this book is simply due to the fact it's a legal drama or not, but this book is super slow paced. I nearly gave up on it after 150 pages or so because it seemed like we were just repeating scene after scene. The same thing over and over again. The first real thing that caught my attention and really drew me into the drama of the case didn't happen until 100 pages after that at 250 pages in. From that point on, about every 50 pages gave us another small tidbit of something about the case that kept me intrigued enough to want to finish it out. In the end however, I didn't feel like Mrs. Moodie really grew much in this year long telling of her life. I felt as if she was pretty much the same when the story began as when it ended. I guess that's how life works sometimes though.

[alexander shay · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is very obvious this book is written by a lawyer and not a writer. There are "pokes" throughout the book of the characters making fun of how badly represented real legal things are in TV, and obviously an effort to keep them realistic in the book. While I appreciate the effort, it also made for no actual plot structure. There was no rising action, no climax, and not even really an ending. The characters are bland, the dialogue is awful (and mostly filler), the things that are supposed to be plot twists are extremely cliche, and the main character has been so stereotypically feminized I couldn't stand it--she loves cooking and growing her own food (and somehow has the time to do so while being a single person and a working lawyer??) and prefers the men around her do most of the heavy lifting (literally and metaphorically). The book felt like it wandered around with no real purpose, and it ends without really having changed all that much from the beginning. Definitely one book where an ambiguous ending does not work.

[Amy Thorleifson · Rating 4 out of 5]

With twenty years of experience as a death row appeals attorney, the author clearly writes from what she know.
Janet Moodie is a death row appeals attorney who still grieving the loss of her husband who was also an attorney. Having retreated to a fairly isolated small community, she is called upon to work on the appeal for Andy Hardy who has been convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of two women. But his brother and co-defendant received only a life sentence. With a thorough knowledge of the process required for an appeal, each step is one more revelation about the case and the weaknesses inherent in the legal process.
While no happy ending is possible, this is an informative and intriguing story of justice denied.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This legal procedural/kinda thriller was involved and interesting. The main character lawyer, Janet is relatable, easy to like and smart. The reader can tell that the author has real experience practicing law and knowledge of capital cases. I liked how realistic the book was as far as the timeline of how slow court cases really move. The author shows some of the factors that can influence how a person ends up in prison and what happens once they're in the system. This comes through in the realistic, matter-of-fact style of writing and not in a preachy way.
Can't wait to read this author's second book!