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Samantha Brinkman #3
Snap Judgment
In the third installment of Marcia Clark’s bestselling series, attorney Samantha Brinkman’s investigation into a family’s deadly secrets is compromised by a threat from her past. When the daughter of prominent civil litigator Graham Hutchins is found with her throat slashed, the woman’s spurned ex-boyfriend seems the likely suspect. But only days later, the young man dies in what appears to be a suicide. Or was it? Now authorities are faced with a possible new crime. And their person of interest is Hutchins. After all, avenging the death of his daughter is the perfect reason to kill. If he’s as innocent as he claims, only one lawyer has what it takes to prove his friend and colleague Samantha Brinkman. It’s Sam’s obligation to trust her new client. Yet the deeper she digs on his behalf, the more entangled she becomes in a thicket of family secrets, past betrayals, and multiple motives for murder. To win her case, she’s prepared to bend any law and cross any boundary that stands in her way. Sam has always played by her own rules, and it’s always worked…so far. But this case cuts so deep and so personal that one false move could cost her everything.
460 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2017
1037 people are currently reading
1259 people want to read
About the author
Marcia Clark
21 books1,313 followersMarcia Clark is a former LA, California deputy district attorney, who was the lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case. She wrote a bestselling nonfiction book about the trial, Without a Doubt, and is a frequent media commentator and columnist on legal issues. She lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
September 24, 2017
Not like her other books.
Had a hard time reading this book, but finished it. Filled with repeated interviews of same suspects and what to eat morning, noon and at night. Don't understand the emphasis on eating. There is a good plot, but it didn't move. Marcia Clark definitely made me think twice before buying her next book.
Had a hard time reading this book, but finished it. Filled with repeated interviews of same suspects and what to eat morning, noon and at night. Don't understand the emphasis on eating. There is a good plot, but it didn't move. Marcia Clark definitely made me think twice before buying her next book.
July 22, 2017
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Marcia Clark and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Marcia Clark is back with the third instalment of the Samantha Brinkman series, perhaps the best novel yet. After Alicia Hutchins is tired of her controlling boyfriend, Roan Sutton, she chooses to dump him to relieve herself of the burden. In an act of apparent retribution, naked selfies of Alicia appear online for all to see. This ‘revenge porn’ puts Alicia in a tailspin and her body is found a short time later. Might Roan have taken the next step and killed the young woman who sought to defy him? It would appear so, though the ante is raised yet again, after Roan’s body is discovered a short time later, hanging from the ceiling. Early conclusions point to suicide, but Alicia’s father, Graham, is being eyed by the police as the case could have a homicidal element. Enter Samantha Brinkman, whose criminal work has earned her quite the reputation. Brinkman agrees to take on the case, loving the price tag that goes along with it, and tries to delve even deeper into the investigation. Working alongside her investigator, Alex Medrano, Brinkman begins to peel back the layers of the case, unsure what they will find. Alicia seemed to have been a sheltered young woman who was finally coming out of her shell while interacting with other college students. Could Roan and his controlling ways have been used on other women before Alicia? Might the revenge porn angle be one that he has used before? As questions about the case continue to emerge, Brinkman is visited one night by a man with deep roots in the cartel community. He’s come to call in on a favour that Brinkman has promised him after she was caught breaking the law for another client. Brinkman has been ordered to find a witness who is in protective custody, ready to finger a member of this elusive man’s family. Unable to turn to Alex, who is unaware of Brinkman’s law breaking, she turns to her father, Dale Pearson. Together, they must grease the wheels to find this young woman, whose life story brings up more dirt than either could have imagined. Tales of abuse and molestation, with a handful of younger sisters still at home, Brinkman finds pity for the woman in custody and will do whatever she can to protect her from the death that awaits her once she has been outed by the cartel. Working these two major cases and a slew of other meat and potatoes, Brinkman has little time for herself. Trouble is, there is a time limit on both and patience is not a virtue anyone seems to have for the time being. A wonderfully crafted piece of work that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. Highly recommended for legal thriller fans and those who enjoy the fast-paced writing that makes Clark a master of the genre.
Whatever people seem to feel about Clark in her past life, she has shown that she has the ability to craft excellent legal thrillers that do not miss a beat. Filled with relatable storylines and themes that could easier pulled from the headlines, Clark pulls the reader in from the opening paragraphs and provides enough drama to keep them hooked until the very end. Samantha Brinkman is both a complex and easily relatable character. Not only is she a lawyer with a solid reputation, but she is keen on fighting for her clients and will leave no stone unturned. Her jaded past has not left her defeated, but fuels her to find the best in everyone, or at least to see past their outer layers. She remains determined to discover the whole story, even if it places her clients in an uncomfortable position. Surrounding herself with the likes of Alex and Michy, her office runs effectively and her caseload is anything but boring. A recently discovered father in Dale Pearson has helped her find someone in whom she can feel familial pride, though their relationship is anything but traditional parent-child. Clark injects secondary characters who keep the story moving forward and fuel interesting twists to keep the reader curious throughout. The story takes legal and personal turns that no only make for a great story but are plausible, permitting the reader to feel at home as they lose themselves in the book. Clark’s legal past and blunt delivery help create a story that has everything needed for a superior legal thriller. I cannot wait to see what else Clark has is store for her readers and where she will take Brinkman in the years to come. And the question that I have been asking for a while now, when will Rachel Knight ever make an appearance in Samantha’s life?
Kudos, Madam Clark for another wonderful novel. I am amazed at how thoroughly captivated I am by everything you write. I know you have a large following, and for good reason!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Marcia Clark is back with the third instalment of the Samantha Brinkman series, perhaps the best novel yet. After Alicia Hutchins is tired of her controlling boyfriend, Roan Sutton, she chooses to dump him to relieve herself of the burden. In an act of apparent retribution, naked selfies of Alicia appear online for all to see. This ‘revenge porn’ puts Alicia in a tailspin and her body is found a short time later. Might Roan have taken the next step and killed the young woman who sought to defy him? It would appear so, though the ante is raised yet again, after Roan’s body is discovered a short time later, hanging from the ceiling. Early conclusions point to suicide, but Alicia’s father, Graham, is being eyed by the police as the case could have a homicidal element. Enter Samantha Brinkman, whose criminal work has earned her quite the reputation. Brinkman agrees to take on the case, loving the price tag that goes along with it, and tries to delve even deeper into the investigation. Working alongside her investigator, Alex Medrano, Brinkman begins to peel back the layers of the case, unsure what they will find. Alicia seemed to have been a sheltered young woman who was finally coming out of her shell while interacting with other college students. Could Roan and his controlling ways have been used on other women before Alicia? Might the revenge porn angle be one that he has used before? As questions about the case continue to emerge, Brinkman is visited one night by a man with deep roots in the cartel community. He’s come to call in on a favour that Brinkman has promised him after she was caught breaking the law for another client. Brinkman has been ordered to find a witness who is in protective custody, ready to finger a member of this elusive man’s family. Unable to turn to Alex, who is unaware of Brinkman’s law breaking, she turns to her father, Dale Pearson. Together, they must grease the wheels to find this young woman, whose life story brings up more dirt than either could have imagined. Tales of abuse and molestation, with a handful of younger sisters still at home, Brinkman finds pity for the woman in custody and will do whatever she can to protect her from the death that awaits her once she has been outed by the cartel. Working these two major cases and a slew of other meat and potatoes, Brinkman has little time for herself. Trouble is, there is a time limit on both and patience is not a virtue anyone seems to have for the time being. A wonderfully crafted piece of work that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. Highly recommended for legal thriller fans and those who enjoy the fast-paced writing that makes Clark a master of the genre.
Whatever people seem to feel about Clark in her past life, she has shown that she has the ability to craft excellent legal thrillers that do not miss a beat. Filled with relatable storylines and themes that could easier pulled from the headlines, Clark pulls the reader in from the opening paragraphs and provides enough drama to keep them hooked until the very end. Samantha Brinkman is both a complex and easily relatable character. Not only is she a lawyer with a solid reputation, but she is keen on fighting for her clients and will leave no stone unturned. Her jaded past has not left her defeated, but fuels her to find the best in everyone, or at least to see past their outer layers. She remains determined to discover the whole story, even if it places her clients in an uncomfortable position. Surrounding herself with the likes of Alex and Michy, her office runs effectively and her caseload is anything but boring. A recently discovered father in Dale Pearson has helped her find someone in whom she can feel familial pride, though their relationship is anything but traditional parent-child. Clark injects secondary characters who keep the story moving forward and fuel interesting twists to keep the reader curious throughout. The story takes legal and personal turns that no only make for a great story but are plausible, permitting the reader to feel at home as they lose themselves in the book. Clark’s legal past and blunt delivery help create a story that has everything needed for a superior legal thriller. I cannot wait to see what else Clark has is store for her readers and where she will take Brinkman in the years to come. And the question that I have been asking for a while now, when will Rachel Knight ever make an appearance in Samantha’s life?
Kudos, Madam Clark for another wonderful novel. I am amazed at how thoroughly captivated I am by everything you write. I know you have a large following, and for good reason!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 22, 2017
A young woman sends a text to her boyfriend, breaking everything off with him. Days later, she is found dead with her throat cut. The most likely suspect ... the ex-boyfriend who is known to be controlling and needs anger management classes.
But then several days later, he is also found dead of a suicide. Or was it murder? The cops re-open the case .. this time looking at the woman's' father who had the most reason to want him dead.
Graham Hutchins turns to Samantha Brinkman when it becomes obvious he is the primary person of interest.
Already looking for alternative killers, digging into Hutchins' life, she finds much more than she bargained for. His is a family of secrets and lies and multiple motives for murder.
Samantha may be a lawyer, but she is willing to cross the line when she needs to. But this case is going to be really tricky. To make things even worse, she is confronted by a man from her past ... a man who blackmails Samantha.
Although third in this series, it's just fine as a stand alone. There are some things pointing back to a previous book, but not enough to take away the enjoyment of reading, if you haven't already.
This is a very well written addition to the series. Samantha and her team are realistic characters. I like how all the relationships work ... Samantha and her father, who is a detective. Samantha and her computer guru as her investigator. Samantha and her best friend who runs their office with an iron fist.. and a lot of humor.
I strongly recommend starting at the beginning so as to not miss those little gems that make the stories so much better.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
But then several days later, he is also found dead of a suicide. Or was it murder? The cops re-open the case .. this time looking at the woman's' father who had the most reason to want him dead.
Graham Hutchins turns to Samantha Brinkman when it becomes obvious he is the primary person of interest.
Already looking for alternative killers, digging into Hutchins' life, she finds much more than she bargained for. His is a family of secrets and lies and multiple motives for murder.
Samantha may be a lawyer, but she is willing to cross the line when she needs to. But this case is going to be really tricky. To make things even worse, she is confronted by a man from her past ... a man who blackmails Samantha.
Although third in this series, it's just fine as a stand alone. There are some things pointing back to a previous book, but not enough to take away the enjoyment of reading, if you haven't already.
This is a very well written addition to the series. Samantha and her team are realistic characters. I like how all the relationships work ... Samantha and her father, who is a detective. Samantha and her computer guru as her investigator. Samantha and her best friend who runs their office with an iron fist.. and a lot of humor.
I strongly recommend starting at the beginning so as to not miss those little gems that make the stories so much better.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 4, 2017
"The beauty of being a defense lawyer is that I don't have to prove anything. All I have to do is poke enough holes in the People's case to give the jury reasonable doubt."
Marcia Clark is no stranger to the world of high-profile legal battles. Her role as the lead prosecutor on the infamous OJ Simpson trial and countless others provides her with an intimate understanding of all the going ons of that world. For us readers, this wealth of knowledge has translated into some stellar works of fiction. I had the pleasure of reading the first few novels in her Rachel Knight series years ago. When her publisher offered me an advanced copy of her latest novel Snap Judgement, I was happy to oblige.
Alicia Hutchins is reveling in her newfound freedom. As a college freshman, she has finally escaped the limitations of her overprotective parents. But with this freedom comes the realization that she may not be ready to handle some of the things her parents desperately tried to shield her from. She's just ended things with her boyfriend Roan. Roan isn't happy. In an act of revenge, he posts nude photos of Alicia to a porn site. In a addition to the photos, he includes her address and an invitation to come and rape her. Alicia is soon murdered, and Roan is found dead of an apparent suicide.
Roan's mother is convinced that her son did not kill himself. Instead, she has accused Alicia's father, a prominent attorney, of killing Roan in retaliation. Enter Samantha Brinkman, an accomplished lawyer in her own right, who comes to the aid of her friend. While she is hesitant to take on another high-profile case, she's been struggling to keep up with her bills and knows Graham Hutchins has the money to compensate her nicely. Using her contacts with the police department and her brilliant investigator Alex, she seeks to find any means to prove Graham did not murder Roan.
Snap Judgement perfectly combines Marcia Clark's expertise of the criminal justice system with the affable wit that makes her writing a pure delight to read. I haven't read the previous two novels to feature Sam Brinkman. While I was never lost in this plot, I do think reading the other books would help to fill in the gaps in some of her history. Amongst the action and suspense, of which there is no shortage of, Clark truly shines by producing believable characters who each compliment each other. I was hooked with this book from start to finish and highly recommend it.
Marcia Clark is no stranger to the world of high-profile legal battles. Her role as the lead prosecutor on the infamous OJ Simpson trial and countless others provides her with an intimate understanding of all the going ons of that world. For us readers, this wealth of knowledge has translated into some stellar works of fiction. I had the pleasure of reading the first few novels in her Rachel Knight series years ago. When her publisher offered me an advanced copy of her latest novel Snap Judgement, I was happy to oblige.
Alicia Hutchins is reveling in her newfound freedom. As a college freshman, she has finally escaped the limitations of her overprotective parents. But with this freedom comes the realization that she may not be ready to handle some of the things her parents desperately tried to shield her from. She's just ended things with her boyfriend Roan. Roan isn't happy. In an act of revenge, he posts nude photos of Alicia to a porn site. In a addition to the photos, he includes her address and an invitation to come and rape her. Alicia is soon murdered, and Roan is found dead of an apparent suicide.
Roan's mother is convinced that her son did not kill himself. Instead, she has accused Alicia's father, a prominent attorney, of killing Roan in retaliation. Enter Samantha Brinkman, an accomplished lawyer in her own right, who comes to the aid of her friend. While she is hesitant to take on another high-profile case, she's been struggling to keep up with her bills and knows Graham Hutchins has the money to compensate her nicely. Using her contacts with the police department and her brilliant investigator Alex, she seeks to find any means to prove Graham did not murder Roan.
Snap Judgement perfectly combines Marcia Clark's expertise of the criminal justice system with the affable wit that makes her writing a pure delight to read. I haven't read the previous two novels to feature Sam Brinkman. While I was never lost in this plot, I do think reading the other books would help to fill in the gaps in some of her history. Amongst the action and suspense, of which there is no shortage of, Clark truly shines by producing believable characters who each compliment each other. I was hooked with this book from start to finish and highly recommend it.
July 7, 2017
Just like its two predecessors, I loved this book. So much, in fact, that I really hope the author reconsiders the three-book series and brings readers more tales about super-cool but flawed attorney Samantha Brinkman.
For those thinking about diving in, I will say the water will be more comfortable if you start at the beginning (Blood Defense followed by Moral Defense). I had no trouble following the goings-on in any of the books including this one, but I'm also sure I got far more out of each one just because I read the one that came before. And lest I forget, many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review (as was the case with the first two books as well).
This one begins as college freshman Alicia, daughter of well-known attorney Graham Hutchins, is murdered. Not long before that, she dumped her abusive boyfriend Roan - and apparently he retaliated by posting online extremely personal photos she'd taken of herself for his eyes only. Nothing screams payback more than a spurned lover, so it's not surprising that Roan is considered the prime suspect. But then Roan is found dead - an apparent suicide. His mother insists he was murdered, though, and the coroner's report is inconclusive. Alicia's father had every reason to avenge his beloved daughter's death, so he suddenly finds himself in the crosshairs of the police.
Samantha, better known as Sam, knows Graham; when he calls for help, she agrees despite not really wanting to get involved in the case (he's a well-heeled customer and she's having a tough time paying the bills, so she can't afford to say no). Soon enough, she and her tech-savvy, hunky investigator Alex are up to their eyeballs in pot-smoking college students, secret lives of the rich and famous and pulling out every trick in their bags (some legal, some not so much) to ferret out evidence sufficient to get their client off the hook. In fact, one of the most interesting components of this series is being privvy to the legal goings-on inside and outside a courtroom - told through the eyes of someone who knows (we all remember the infamous trial of former NFL star O.J. Simpson, at which the author was the lead prosecutor, don't we )?
As if that weren't enough, Sam gets a very unwelcome visit from a big-time gangster from her past (and from past books in this series). He's privy to one of Sam's big secrets, and he's not above calling in a chit now and again when it suits his purpose. This time, he wants Sam, with help from her police officer father Dale, to locate the only witness to a murder committed by one of his relatives. Sam is convinced that her success will mean certain death for the witness, who's set to spill the beans at that relative's trial. But if she refuses, it just as certainly will mean her own death - so saying no just isn't an option.
Can she juggle both cases and come out a winner (or at least still alive)? Everything is resolved in the end, but of course I won't reveal how it all plays out. Now, the only question for me to ask is can we have more of Samantha? Please?
For those thinking about diving in, I will say the water will be more comfortable if you start at the beginning (Blood Defense followed by Moral Defense). I had no trouble following the goings-on in any of the books including this one, but I'm also sure I got far more out of each one just because I read the one that came before. And lest I forget, many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review (as was the case with the first two books as well).
This one begins as college freshman Alicia, daughter of well-known attorney Graham Hutchins, is murdered. Not long before that, she dumped her abusive boyfriend Roan - and apparently he retaliated by posting online extremely personal photos she'd taken of herself for his eyes only. Nothing screams payback more than a spurned lover, so it's not surprising that Roan is considered the prime suspect. But then Roan is found dead - an apparent suicide. His mother insists he was murdered, though, and the coroner's report is inconclusive. Alicia's father had every reason to avenge his beloved daughter's death, so he suddenly finds himself in the crosshairs of the police.
Samantha, better known as Sam, knows Graham; when he calls for help, she agrees despite not really wanting to get involved in the case (he's a well-heeled customer and she's having a tough time paying the bills, so she can't afford to say no). Soon enough, she and her tech-savvy, hunky investigator Alex are up to their eyeballs in pot-smoking college students, secret lives of the rich and famous and pulling out every trick in their bags (some legal, some not so much) to ferret out evidence sufficient to get their client off the hook. In fact, one of the most interesting components of this series is being privvy to the legal goings-on inside and outside a courtroom - told through the eyes of someone who knows (we all remember the infamous trial of former NFL star O.J. Simpson, at which the author was the lead prosecutor, don't we )?
As if that weren't enough, Sam gets a very unwelcome visit from a big-time gangster from her past (and from past books in this series). He's privy to one of Sam's big secrets, and he's not above calling in a chit now and again when it suits his purpose. This time, he wants Sam, with help from her police officer father Dale, to locate the only witness to a murder committed by one of his relatives. Sam is convinced that her success will mean certain death for the witness, who's set to spill the beans at that relative's trial. But if she refuses, it just as certainly will mean her own death - so saying no just isn't an option.
Can she juggle both cases and come out a winner (or at least still alive)? Everything is resolved in the end, but of course I won't reveal how it all plays out. Now, the only question for me to ask is can we have more of Samantha? Please?
August 22, 2017
At 463 pages, Clark offers us a fairly lengthy legal thriller. Like most legal thrillers, the focus is on the resolution of the confusing puzzle rather than on a shootout or other physical battle. The best part of the novel is the relentlessness of the driving plot. It is not consumed with describing everything in poetic imagery but on Irving together the answer to a riddle by meeting again and again with witnesses and constantly brainstorming.
In it, Clark touches on issues such as online harassment, media involvement in criminal cases, revenge porn, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking.
It is a legal thriller without a Perry Mason courtroom scene of revealing cross-examination and the lawyer character is a bit ethically challenged. Not all of the story is realistic. And, at times, it slipped into chick-lit. But the plot moves forward aggressively enough that such issues can be forgiven in the interest of an exciting plot.
Thank you to Thomas and Merced for providing this ARC.
In it, Clark touches on issues such as online harassment, media involvement in criminal cases, revenge porn, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking.
It is a legal thriller without a Perry Mason courtroom scene of revealing cross-examination and the lawyer character is a bit ethically challenged. Not all of the story is realistic. And, at times, it slipped into chick-lit. But the plot moves forward aggressively enough that such issues can be forgiven in the interest of an exciting plot.
Thank you to Thomas and Merced for providing this ARC.
April 25, 2020
"I pretty much assume all my clients are guilty...Not that it matters. I'm here to fight for them regardless."
Samantha Brinkman, defense attorney, finally lands a paying client -- unlike the typical sleazeballs she's forced to represent. Her client, Graham Hutchins, is a corporate lawyer who just might have killed his daughter's boyfriend. The catch is that many believe that said boyfriend had murdered Graham's daughter.
This is one long and convoluted story full of all sorts of legal manuevering, but Sam always has a hard time following the strict letter of the law. Lots of red herrings, suspects, lies, coverups, secrets and criminal behavior abound as Sam juggles all of her caseload. It's hard to keep up with everything going on in this legal thriller, but it's very cleverly done as it all finally comes together with some very crazy revelations toward the end. Quite satisfying.
I've read the two previous books in this series and can't wait for another. I think it best to read them in order as there is backstory that helps to explain a great deal about the characters that I've grown attached to along the way. Sam is quite the piece of work -- hard to imagine that she hasn't been disbarred with all her shenanigans, but if you suspend disbelief, you can enjoy how driven and edgy she is. I also enjoy the wave that the author weaves in so many other current social issues and that Sam has a tender side with her empathy toward some of those victims. She's definitely a female Don Quixote, tilting at windmills, but continuing her quest in the name of her own personal definition of justice.
I recommend the series for anyone who enjoys complex legal suspense. And since it's written by a former prosecuting attorney and legal analyst, I think it rings true.
Samantha Brinkman, defense attorney, finally lands a paying client -- unlike the typical sleazeballs she's forced to represent. Her client, Graham Hutchins, is a corporate lawyer who just might have killed his daughter's boyfriend. The catch is that many believe that said boyfriend had murdered Graham's daughter.
This is one long and convoluted story full of all sorts of legal manuevering, but Sam always has a hard time following the strict letter of the law. Lots of red herrings, suspects, lies, coverups, secrets and criminal behavior abound as Sam juggles all of her caseload. It's hard to keep up with everything going on in this legal thriller, but it's very cleverly done as it all finally comes together with some very crazy revelations toward the end. Quite satisfying.
I've read the two previous books in this series and can't wait for another. I think it best to read them in order as there is backstory that helps to explain a great deal about the characters that I've grown attached to along the way. Sam is quite the piece of work -- hard to imagine that she hasn't been disbarred with all her shenanigans, but if you suspend disbelief, you can enjoy how driven and edgy she is. I also enjoy the wave that the author weaves in so many other current social issues and that Sam has a tender side with her empathy toward some of those victims. She's definitely a female Don Quixote, tilting at windmills, but continuing her quest in the name of her own personal definition of justice.
I recommend the series for anyone who enjoys complex legal suspense. And since it's written by a former prosecuting attorney and legal analyst, I think it rings true.
January 7, 2018
RATING: 2 STARS
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)
(Review Not on Blog)
I am too sad to review this one. I love the Rachel Knight series, and I have really tried with the Samantha Brinkman series. I have been generous in my reviews, rating and expectations. I read and finished this one only because I requested this and felt guilty. I did not like the plot, the main characters are blah and honestly as soon as I finished the ending I forgot what happened. I am not requesting the next book, unless it's Rachel Knight. It really feels like this is written by a different author.
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)
(Review Not on Blog)
I am too sad to review this one. I love the Rachel Knight series, and I have really tried with the Samantha Brinkman series. I have been generous in my reviews, rating and expectations. I read and finished this one only because I requested this and felt guilty. I did not like the plot, the main characters are blah and honestly as soon as I finished the ending I forgot what happened. I am not requesting the next book, unless it's Rachel Knight. It really feels like this is written by a different author.
April 8, 2018
I interviewed Marcia Clark on 10/1/2017 at Ladies of Intrigue, put on by Sisters in Crime Orange County, CA, chapter and I was happy to like this book so much. Love the character of defense attorney Samantha Brinkman. She's very much Marcia Clark, whom I spent time with at the event last Sunday (and she was on the show last April 2017 prior to her appearance at Literary Orange). I've admired Clark since I learned of her back in the fall of 1994 when the OJ trial aired. I had read part of the first of this series and for some reason didn't connect with it as I did this third book in the series. The woman knows how to plot--whoa! If anything, it was just a little long. I tend to stay away from big books as I have so much reading I have to do in a given week or month so as I was reading it I wished it were shorter.
November 27, 2018
This is a great series. Excellent narration by Angela Dawe (audible review)
I really enjoyed every bit of it. I like Samantha Brinkman's character a lot. She is strong, smart, and doesn't let anyone push her around.
There are a few stories going on throughout the book which I enjoyed. It is not full of filler nonsense and things are always happening. The story is well written and flows very well making it easy to follow along.
As for the narration it was very good. I like Angela Dawe a lot narrating this book. She did a great job. Reads with emotion and gives everyone their own voice.
FRFL with KU! Can't beat that deal!
I really enjoyed every bit of it. I like Samantha Brinkman's character a lot. She is strong, smart, and doesn't let anyone push her around.
There are a few stories going on throughout the book which I enjoyed. It is not full of filler nonsense and things are always happening. The story is well written and flows very well making it easy to follow along.
As for the narration it was very good. I like Angela Dawe a lot narrating this book. She did a great job. Reads with emotion and gives everyone their own voice.
FRFL with KU! Can't beat that deal!
October 17, 2017
Loved it and as always with Samantha Brickman's series I had a trouble putting the book down.
I really hope the series continue <3
I really hope the series continue <3
March 19, 2018
When the daughter of prominent civil litigator Graham Hutchins is found with her throat slashed, the woman's spurned ex-boyfriend seems the likely suspect. Only days later, however, the young man dies in what appears to be a suicide. Or was it? Now authorities are faced with a possible new crime – and their person of interest is Hutchins. After all, avenging the death of his daughter is the perfect reason to kill. If he's as innocent as he claims, only one lawyer has what it takes to prove it: his friend and colleague Samantha Brinkman. It's Sam's obligation to trust her new client; yet the deeper she digs on his behalf, the more entangled she becomes in a thicket of family secrets, past betrayals, and multiple motives for murder. To win her case, she's prepared to bend any law and cross any boundary that stands in her way. Sam has always played by her own rules, and it's always worked ... so far; however, this case cuts so deep and so personal that one false move could cost her everything. (Slightly edited description taken from the summary in Marcia Clark's website.)
At first, I gave this a three-star review. I thought the plot was convoluted and confusing.
Then I upped my rating to a four-star review, because, despite my qualms about the plot, I thought the book was interesting, and I thought I was unfairly critical, because I sort of compare all crime novels to those of Michael Connelly, whom I think is the best crime novelist out there and has been almost from the start, so like I said I upped my rating to a four-star review.
Then I rethought my rating and brought my rating down again to a three-star review, because I think the book's merits should stand on their own and not be compared to an iconic writer like Michael Connelly.
Then I decided I really didn't like the book, so I downgraded it to a two-star review. And that's where I have left it. For now.
At first, I gave this a three-star review. I thought the plot was convoluted and confusing.
Then I upped my rating to a four-star review, because, despite my qualms about the plot, I thought the book was interesting, and I thought I was unfairly critical, because I sort of compare all crime novels to those of Michael Connelly, whom I think is the best crime novelist out there and has been almost from the start, so like I said I upped my rating to a four-star review.
Then I rethought my rating and brought my rating down again to a three-star review, because I think the book's merits should stand on their own and not be compared to an iconic writer like Michael Connelly.
Then I decided I really didn't like the book, so I downgraded it to a two-star review. And that's where I have left it. For now.
July 7, 2017
I really enjoy Marcia Clark and the Samantha Brinkman series, so I was stalking Netgalley and Edelweiss hoping to snag an advance copy. Thanks to the publisher for granting one to me!
I'd love to say that I LOVED this book but for me it was an okay read. The story lines were absolutely captivating, from the murder of a young college co-ed to the death of her estranged exboyfriend that looks like a suicide but isn't, to a the B story about a girl who'd run away from home, witnessed a murder and was under witness protection until she agreed to testify in the case.
Clark has this habit, one that I picked up on in her first novels that seems to have gotten better but it's still a problem-- she wants us to know that she knows a lot of stuff. If there is a way to insert a lot of legal maneuvering to make a story last longer, it's in this book. The middles just.... drag. On and on. To the point where I was at 87% and nearly out of my mind-- this book is almost over and I have ZERO ANSWERS.
And then the end comes and it's pat and concise with a pretty bow, after the drama of the previous 90%. Not saying this book isn't a good read, but as always the book could be shorter and just as good or better.
Still LOVE Samantha and Michy and especially Alex. I also love the fleeting glimpses into the not-s0-glamorous life of an attorney and how the line between legal and illegal can be super thin. Samantha navigates it expertly, like a tightrope.
Here's to the next Brinkman novel!
I'd love to say that I LOVED this book but for me it was an okay read. The story lines were absolutely captivating, from the murder of a young college co-ed to the death of her estranged exboyfriend that looks like a suicide but isn't, to a the B story about a girl who'd run away from home, witnessed a murder and was under witness protection until she agreed to testify in the case.
Clark has this habit, one that I picked up on in her first novels that seems to have gotten better but it's still a problem-- she wants us to know that she knows a lot of stuff. If there is a way to insert a lot of legal maneuvering to make a story last longer, it's in this book. The middles just.... drag. On and on. To the point where I was at 87% and nearly out of my mind-- this book is almost over and I have ZERO ANSWERS.
And then the end comes and it's pat and concise with a pretty bow, after the drama of the previous 90%. Not saying this book isn't a good read, but as always the book could be shorter and just as good or better.
Still LOVE Samantha and Michy and especially Alex. I also love the fleeting glimpses into the not-s0-glamorous life of an attorney and how the line between legal and illegal can be super thin. Samantha navigates it expertly, like a tightrope.
Here's to the next Brinkman novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2017
This is the third of three in Clark’s series featuring criminal defense attorney Samantha Brinkman. Samantha is not my favorite female protagonist. A damaged soul due to a childhood history of abuse, I have empathy for her but her professional ethics…and those of people around her…are quite sketchy.
There are two storylines. The first about the deaths of two college students is multi layered, with twists revealed as the novel progresses. The second involving a criminal known to Samantha from her past is a bit of an intrusion and I think dragged the pace of the book.
For those who like a good mystery/legal thriller albeit without the courtroom scenes, this will make an enjoyable read.
There are two storylines. The first about the deaths of two college students is multi layered, with twists revealed as the novel progresses. The second involving a criminal known to Samantha from her past is a bit of an intrusion and I think dragged the pace of the book.
For those who like a good mystery/legal thriller albeit without the courtroom scenes, this will make an enjoyable read.
January 13, 2018
The first two novels in the series were pretty good-sadly I could not say the same for this one. The over all story was just not there-it made no sense and the secondary story was just as bad and was not needed. I was also tired of the food reference and I was tired of the main characters which is not good. I also thought at time there was too much going on in a single page of the novel-it was frenzied. I do npt see my self reading another one in this series
July 14, 2024
Who knew LA was freezing cold in the winter? This book has two non- intersecting murder storied going on - one involving a USC coed and the other a vicious gang. For me, I would have preferred only one story to focus on. I have previously read the author's books, but this will be my last one as I was bogged down in both stories.
June 18, 2017
Samantha Brinkman is an interesting character. She is very likeable, even though she goes outside the law to get what she wants/needs. I basically liked Snap Judgment, but it was too long. It dragged somewhat for me in the middle.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
November 23, 2020
Much like the previous installment - - too much going on. Granted I primarily listened as background but wasn’t drawn in by the main case and could have done without the subplot.
August 14, 2020
Title: Snap Judgment
Author: Marcia Clark
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Series: Samantha Brinkman Book 3
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Snap Judgment" by Marcia Clark
My Speculation:
We now have another book 3 'Snap Judgment' delivered to us well-written by this author in the Samantha Brinkman series. There will be some fascinating characters as we have Samantha, her legal staff, Michelle Fusco [Michy], Alex Medrano. Let's not leave out Sam's father, Dale Pearson, who was an LAPD Detective and other supporting intriguing cast that give us one heck of a good read. As we read in this series, there will be a who-dun-it as Sam represents a client who was the father of a murder victim, and working for a drug lord, a mobster who has 'something on her.'
Be ready for a little bit of it all as Sam dives into a case full of 'family secrets, past betrayals, ad multiple motives for murder.' It was a sheer delight seeing how this lawyer will 'maneuver around and turn the facts to her advantage.' One thing I did notice from the series was that this lawyer loved 'Patron Silver.' Ha Ha! Also, be ready for another long read that will keep you reading for a minute. Still, if one can hang in there, you will get a good read where this lawyer, Sam, will stay within the law. Where you get some twisting and a little implausible turn, but in the end, quite a satisfying story.
November 4, 2017
Attorney Samantha Brinkman barely makes ends meet in her law firm made up of two employees Michy, office manager and Alex, investigator. She may have a paying customer, litigator Graham Hutchins, whose daughter was found with her throat slit. The obvious suspect is the boyfriend she broke up with and he is found hanging in his apartment. Is it suicide or did Graham off the boyfriend for killing the daughter? Samantha goes about setting up a possible defense for Graham. She's also dealing with payback as a tough guy she messed with previously demands that she locate a missing witness.
I like the Samantha Brinkman character. She's in trouble with the wrong crowd because she dealt out her own justice in a previous book. That storyline continues and I'm not sure it's finished yet. Marcia Clark shows her experience as a former prosecutor as she incorporates great observations and questions of potential witnesses and suspects in her books. She wraps up the murders skillfully. It did take her a while to get there.
I like the Samantha Brinkman character. She's in trouble with the wrong crowd because she dealt out her own justice in a previous book. That storyline continues and I'm not sure it's finished yet. Marcia Clark shows her experience as a former prosecutor as she incorporates great observations and questions of potential witnesses and suspects in her books. She wraps up the murders skillfully. It did take her a while to get there.
August 27, 2017
After Alicia broke up with her boyfriend, he posted naked selfies of her on a revenge porn site---with a note that she was into rape fantasies. Days later, she was found dead, her throat slashed. The ex is obviously a suspect but wasn't arrested...and later, he's found dead (suicide via hanging). Except maybe it WASN'T a suicide. Maybe Alicia's father did it.
This is the third Samantha Brinkman novel and my favorite of the three (a high bar; all are excellent). I love that, though she is...we'll go with "morally ambiguous," she uses her powers for good. So while yes, she may use very sketchy means, bad people get punished. (Team Sam.)
I recommend binging the series, as I did, but now I miss her. But I think there will be another one (and hopefully soon).
Highly recommended.
This is the third Samantha Brinkman novel and my favorite of the three (a high bar; all are excellent). I love that, though she is...we'll go with "morally ambiguous," she uses her powers for good. So while yes, she may use very sketchy means, bad people get punished. (Team Sam.)
I recommend binging the series, as I did, but now I miss her. But I think there will be another one (and hopefully soon).
Highly recommended.
May 17, 2020
I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed reading Marcia Clark books until the #4 Sam Brinkman book came out and, after I'd read that, I realised I had never actually read #3. Now, the point in that comment is that you don't have to read all the books in the series, you can read them as stand alone and even in the 'wrong' order. Yes, it has the same characters and you enjoy their lives develop but you don't feel you're missing something if you haven' tread the previous books. Sam is a lawyer, works with her friend Michy and investigation guy Alex. Her dad, Dale, is also part of the cast. In this book the daughter of one of her male colleagues is murdered. And then her controlling boyfriend commits suicide. Not much of a story. Is everything as it seems??
October 13, 2017
Sam has a problem client - or two. Two brothers in fact - nasty pieces of work, want her to find out why and who ensured that their brother, also her client, got put in the wrong jail section. and thus got killed by the presiding gang - their gang's enemies. And they were getting nastier at each meeting.
In the meantime, Sam is trying to earn a living. And helping a family who were being systematically abused by the step-father. As was typical. Too much work and not enough time or resources or money.
This is an excellent series written by a lawyer so you know the legalities are pretty much accurate (for US law).
A must read series for fans of John Grisham in my opinion.
In the meantime, Sam is trying to earn a living. And helping a family who were being systematically abused by the step-father. As was typical. Too much work and not enough time or resources or money.
This is an excellent series written by a lawyer so you know the legalities are pretty much accurate (for US law).
A must read series for fans of John Grisham in my opinion.
September 8, 2017
Different
This was a different type of murder mystery, from the starving attorney's point of view. It was a Goodreads Kindle free giveaway which, frankly seemed rather repetitious. There was a ton of interviewing, eating and drinking. Most attorney's would not have time for that many out of the office calls. The solutions to the deaths were surprising but the whole story didn't entertain too well.
This was a different type of murder mystery, from the starving attorney's point of view. It was a Goodreads Kindle free giveaway which, frankly seemed rather repetitious. There was a ton of interviewing, eating and drinking. Most attorney's would not have time for that many out of the office calls. The solutions to the deaths were surprising but the whole story didn't entertain too well.
December 19, 2017
When the daughter of prominent civil litigator Graham Hutchins is found with her throat slashed, the woman’s spurned ex-boyfriend seems the likely suspect. But only days later, the young man dies in what appears to be a suicide. Or was it? Now authorities are faced with a possible new crime. And their person of interest is Hutchins. After all, avenging the death of his daughter is the perfect reason to kill. If he’s as innocent as he claims, only one lawyer has what it takes to prove it: his friend and colleague Samantha Brinkman.
It’s Sam’s obligation to trust her new client. Yet the deeper she digs on his behalf, the more entangled she becomes in a thicket of family secrets, past betrayals, and multiple motives for murder. To win her case, she’s prepared to bend any law and cross any boundary that stands in her way. Sam has always played by her own rules, and it’s always worked…so far. But this case cuts so deep and so personal that one false move could cost her everything.
My Thoughts: Samantha Brinkman hits the ground running on a typical day of lawyering in Snap Judgment. A young woman has been found with her throat slashed, and her father, Graham Hutchins, a prominent lawyer, is devastated.
A student at USC, Alicia seems to have no enemies or any dark secrets that would lead to her murder. As Sam and her team, which includes her “hacker” investigator Alex, zero in on the group of students that were part of Alicia’s “tribe,” there are numerous questions raised about each of them, at one point or another. And when Alicia’s ex-boyfriend Roan, whom everyone believes killed her, turned up dead by hanging, it looked like a suicide. But there are doubts about that. There are some indications he might have been murdered. Suddenly Graham Hutchins becomes a person of interest.
The best part about this series is how the reader gets to watch Sam maneuver around and turn the facts to her advantage, preparing for creating a reasonable doubt should a case end up before a jury.
Meanwhile, a horrible mobster from Samantha’s past, who has “something on her,” shows up to collect. What he wants from her goes against everything she believes in, and might involve revealing the whereabouts of a young woman. Can she turn his plans upside down and create her own scenario for his target?
All the red herrings and twisted possibilities led to a very satisfying and surprising denouement, and now I can’t wait to see what Sam will do next. 5 stars.
It’s Sam’s obligation to trust her new client. Yet the deeper she digs on his behalf, the more entangled she becomes in a thicket of family secrets, past betrayals, and multiple motives for murder. To win her case, she’s prepared to bend any law and cross any boundary that stands in her way. Sam has always played by her own rules, and it’s always worked…so far. But this case cuts so deep and so personal that one false move could cost her everything.
My Thoughts: Samantha Brinkman hits the ground running on a typical day of lawyering in Snap Judgment. A young woman has been found with her throat slashed, and her father, Graham Hutchins, a prominent lawyer, is devastated.
A student at USC, Alicia seems to have no enemies or any dark secrets that would lead to her murder. As Sam and her team, which includes her “hacker” investigator Alex, zero in on the group of students that were part of Alicia’s “tribe,” there are numerous questions raised about each of them, at one point or another. And when Alicia’s ex-boyfriend Roan, whom everyone believes killed her, turned up dead by hanging, it looked like a suicide. But there are doubts about that. There are some indications he might have been murdered. Suddenly Graham Hutchins becomes a person of interest.
The best part about this series is how the reader gets to watch Sam maneuver around and turn the facts to her advantage, preparing for creating a reasonable doubt should a case end up before a jury.
Meanwhile, a horrible mobster from Samantha’s past, who has “something on her,” shows up to collect. What he wants from her goes against everything she believes in, and might involve revealing the whereabouts of a young woman. Can she turn his plans upside down and create her own scenario for his target?
All the red herrings and twisted possibilities led to a very satisfying and surprising denouement, and now I can’t wait to see what Sam will do next. 5 stars.
May 12, 2020
I have been listening to this books after I got it free on audio and now I want to go and read the rest of the series. If you like crime and legal books you will enjoy this and I didn’t pick the ending
January 2, 2025
Love books by Marcia Clark.
August 29, 2017
Third in a series about Sam Brinkman, our criminal defense attorney with a difficult childhood and a penchant for high profile cases and troubling former clients. The high profile case involves the death of a freshman USC daughter of a frequent Court TV sparring partner; not quite a friend but more than an acquaintance. As the sordid details of her last several days come into focus, and her sleazy boyfriend seems the likely perpetrator of her death, he turns up dead. Soon her fellow attorney is a person of interest in the death of the boyfriend. Author Marcia Clark does an excellent job of creating a first class mystery complete with police and legal aspects designed to keep readers glued to their books. I admit to finding the B-story less than compelling, as I have throughout the 3 books. The overarching mysteries have more than made up for the lesser tales. But honestly, I wish they'd disappear, they are just distractions. Nonetheless, these are great books that I truly enjoy. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
June 27, 2017
This is the third book in Marcia Clark's series about defence attorney Samantha Brinkman who is a refreshing character in the mystery/thriller genre with a legal twist, but Clark doesn't bore the reader with long courtroom procedings.
Clark's writing style is really pleasant, and the plot develops logically but with realistic twists and turns along the way, which makes the series - including this book - a really pleasant and interesting read. Sometimes certain elements in a book can be really annoying, and in this one, Clark goes into unnecessary degrees of detail about food - which takeout or which restaurants/bars/brewpubs Brinkman visits or buys food from. An interesting fact when her little law firm always seems to short of money... Maybe it's just me...
The cast of characters is a little black and white with regard to good and bad guys, but not in a way that makes the plot and subplot uninteresting.
Well, I was very well entertained by this third installation in the Brinkman series and will definitely be back for more.
[An ARC of the book was generously provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
Clark's writing style is really pleasant, and the plot develops logically but with realistic twists and turns along the way, which makes the series - including this book - a really pleasant and interesting read. Sometimes certain elements in a book can be really annoying, and in this one, Clark goes into unnecessary degrees of detail about food - which takeout or which restaurants/bars/brewpubs Brinkman visits or buys food from. An interesting fact when her little law firm always seems to short of money... Maybe it's just me...
The cast of characters is a little black and white with regard to good and bad guys, but not in a way that makes the plot and subplot uninteresting.
Well, I was very well entertained by this third installation in the Brinkman series and will definitely be back for more.
[An ARC of the book was generously provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
September 27, 2017
Ok. Vacation read but too many bizarre & convenient coincidences
The first book in the series was better than books 2 and 3. Samantha Brinkman is in danger of becoming the stereotypical wisecracking, gum snapping, 'fiercely independent' renegade. As in, 'no, your honor, YOU'RE out of order'. With the convenient, gorgeous bad-boy genius hacker, too, of course. Far, far too much print spent relentlessly rehashing, in detail, her own suffering at the hands of a pedophile. I kept thinking, can we just get on with the story??? The last straws were (1) there's a valuable witness in Witness Protection, undetected by even the vast resources of the current Drug Cartel Lords - yet not only does Samantha find this hidden witness, the FBI falls for Samantha's fabricated story that she needs to find this witness because the witness's sister wants to talk to her. And the FBI says "oh, okay, no prob!" Not only that, they let Samantha spirit this witness away and the FBI guys end up looking like Keystone Cops. Please!!!! And (2) The Whole rest of the book (there are two separate stories) has so many characters and strange interactions and bizarre coincidences it just beggars belief. Not sure I'll try another.
The first book in the series was better than books 2 and 3. Samantha Brinkman is in danger of becoming the stereotypical wisecracking, gum snapping, 'fiercely independent' renegade. As in, 'no, your honor, YOU'RE out of order'. With the convenient, gorgeous bad-boy genius hacker, too, of course. Far, far too much print spent relentlessly rehashing, in detail, her own suffering at the hands of a pedophile. I kept thinking, can we just get on with the story??? The last straws were (1) there's a valuable witness in Witness Protection, undetected by even the vast resources of the current Drug Cartel Lords - yet not only does Samantha find this hidden witness, the FBI falls for Samantha's fabricated story that she needs to find this witness because the witness's sister wants to talk to her. And the FBI says "oh, okay, no prob!" Not only that, they let Samantha spirit this witness away and the FBI guys end up looking like Keystone Cops. Please!!!! And (2) The Whole rest of the book (there are two separate stories) has so many characters and strange interactions and bizarre coincidences it just beggars belief. Not sure I'll try another.
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