Her Kind of Case: A Lee Isaacs, Esq. Novel

by Jeanne Winer

"...Everything about the book feels just right."
Booklist, Starred Review

"... filled with witty dialogue, believable characters, and quick pacing..."
Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Highly recommended for those who love emotion-filled legal dramas."
Library Journal, Starred Review

Her Kind of Case is a legal drama that centers on Lee Isaacs, a female defense attorney on the cusp of turning 60, who, out of curiosity, determination, and desire for a big, even impossible, professional challenge, chooses to take on a tough murder case in which a largely uncooperative young man is accused of helping kill a gay gang member.

This beautifully-written novel, which has earned starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, is built around not only a gradually resolving mystery, but by fully fleshed-out characters, particularly the strong-willed and sharp-witted Lee. It is a breath of fresh air to see someone of Lee's standing achieve career and personal success as an older single woman who grieves the recent loss of her husband, but continues her daily routine of law and karate, fighting tooth and nail to prove her client not guilty.

( The author, Jeanne Winer, is herself a longtime defense attorney in Boulder, Colorado, and a black-belt karate expert.)

Genres: Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, LGBT, Thriller

320 pages, Hardcover

First published August 15, 2018

Reviews

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and Bancroft Press for allowing me to read and review this book. Published August 15, 2018.

There are not many books that get a 5 star rating from me. However this book rose right to the top. I had to often remind myself that this book is fiction. In story and character it ranked right up there with the true crime books that I often read.

Lee Isaacs is a defense attorney. She takes on the case of one young man who is accused of helping skinheads kill a gay man. Her client, Jeremy refuses to talk to her, but he has confessed to the crime. Lee must use all her experience and vices to fester out what really happened, who is really to blame, and why her client refuses to help defend himself.

This is my first read by Winer, who is a retired criminal attorney herself. Writing to her own experience is indeed much to the readers delight. This novel was tight, succinct, and a definite page turner. There was belief in the characters, a couple of laugh out loud moments, and building suspense as the book developed. It is well worth the time to read.

[Joni Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed this for the Library Journal. Loved it!! Highly recommend!!

[Diane Yannick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost gave this book a 5 but I’m trying to save my 5’s for books that knock my socks off and one of them is still halfway on. That said, I loved Lee Isaacs and Jeanne Winer’s writing style. She let us see Lee’s insecurities as well as her expertise. She knew how to reveal character traits with precision yet subtleness. This allowed me to embrace not only Lee but Carla, Phil and Jeremy.

Being rejected by his parents for being gay, Jeremy ends up in bad company. The need to find his tribe and survive makes Jeremy a vulnerable target. Once he saw no value in his life, the court system held no power over him. Lee had her work cut out but she moved ahead one careful decision at a time.

I can seldom pick a mystery for my book club because once you know the outcome, what’s left to talk about? I will make an exception here because the characters, sharp writing and the social commentary deserve discussion.
I’m in for more Lee Isaac books, Jeanne Winer. Just in case you were wondering. Thanks Book Browse for the great book.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect legal mystery. Loved the characters, and I loved the writing style. I will certainly read the author's other book, and hope that we see more of Lee Isaacs, Esq. in the future.

[Mary Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great legal thriller with female criminal defense lawyer who is complex, funny, ambitious and about to turn 60. Fun to see a somewhat older woman be able to keep being cool and effective as she takes on a seemingly impossible-to-win case, just as we have seen older guys do the same in endless thrillers.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. What a treat to find great characters, an intriguing plot with twists and turns, and then an author who knows how to immediately grab the reader and take them on the adventure. So well written, with great dialogue,, and I was anxious all the way to the last chapter, not knowing which way the book was going to end.

Definitely a great 2nd novel by the author, and highly recommended.

[Kristin Marra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel defines page-turner. Lee Isaacs is a seasoned defense attorney who can kick butt both in and out of the courtroom. But she’s also wounded with the figurative and literal scars to prove it. This novel has so much insight into the struggles and triumphs of being a defense. And it’s a portrait of the moral qualms all defense attorneys suffer when defending someone accused of a despicable crime. Looking forward to Jeanne Winer’s next novel.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this well written legal tale and loved the characters. The protagonist shares many similarities with the author who is herself a retired attorney and marshal arts aficionado. I usually prefer reading nonfiction but this novel has the ring of reality. An interesting and fun read, made even more fun with mentions of various places and commercial establishments in the Boulder-Denver area.

[Diane Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! A heartbreaking, inspirational, page-turning legal thriller. The protagonist a, former public defender, faces the dark conundrum of an LGBT hate crime and her ethical belief in the right of every accused person to receive a vigorous defense. Winer had me twisting and twisting until the end.

[Gulshan B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read, a gripping story, deep characterizations and believable events make this book head-and-shoulder above other courtroom dramas.

Lee is a criminal defense attorney, about eight months away from her 60th birthday, in regular touch with her 80-yr old father, a crack 5-time Black Belt holder, and a little bit of a general misanthrope. She has no hang ups about pretty much anything, is scared of precious little, has no misgivings - well maybe a few, and is the best at her job. She is not just feared by her opponents but actually trusted and respected even more then she’s feared.

So when Jeremy’s case lands up on her doorstep, actually his aunt Peggy does the landing (!), she takes up the challenge she knows it is bound to be. Her kind of case.

And you join her in her journey to get justice for this 17-y/o boy who may or may not be culpable in a hate crime.

She does an amazing job, and you take delight in seeing her navigate the courtroom, the evidence, the law and her life and friends. Time and again the author reminds you that the story is not of Jeremy or his case, but it’s about Lee. Over time, you see her as a friend, and begin wishing she wins.

The most impressive parts are her conversations with Jeremy. Some are surprisingly naive, while others equally surprisingly profound. And all along you marvel at Lee, her personality, her warmth, her compassion, her patience, her understanding, her strength, her raw intelligence and her legal acumen.

By the end of the book, I felt I was about to bid goodbye to a close and dear friend, and wished the book would last a little longer. Alas that didn’t happen, but I turned the last page knowing I was happier having read this tale of kindness, innocence and faith.

It won’t change my life, but it sure gave me reason to try and do so myself.

[Verna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Jeanne Winer's Her Kind of Case and now I don't know what to do with myself. You know how it is when you read a really good book and you just want to keep hanging out with those characters in that place, and you know you might have to read a less-than-wonderful book before you get to another really good one, and you hope like hell that the author is hard at work on her next book in this series. And any next book at all.

I love this book for its details that make the story so alive. I love the details about preparing for a criminal trial and pleading for a client. Jeanne spent 35 years as criminal defense lawyer in Boulder, and she's a brilliant writer, weaving legal explanations with a story that is compelling, even the parts that are uncomfortable to read.

The characters in Her Kind of Case are real, and they drew me in, even the ones I didn't like. The lead character, Lee Isaacs, starts as a tightly folded origami that gradually opens into a lovely and intricate figure. She's difficult, compassionate, contrary, and ultimately open for whatever her life holds next.

My hope is that what Jeanne Winer's life holds next is a whole slew of more Lee Isaacs stories.

"In some realms, the truth might set you free, but in others it just made the people around you uncomfortable." From Her Kind of Case

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Lee is a lawyer. She was married to a man who died climbing a mountain. He was gay until her met Lee. She has two gay friends who were her husband's friend that care for her. She is conflicted because she will soon turn 60. She is questioning whether she should retire or continue working. She is hired by an aunt to represent her nephew, Jeremy. He was raised by an extremely religious preacher who believes homosexuality is evil. When he finds Jeremy kissing a boy, he throws him out of the house with nothing. Jeremy is taken in by skin heads who hate gays, blacks, etc. When the skin heads kills a gay man, Jeremy is arrested and put on trial. Lee defends him with he help of her friends.
I hope this is the first in a series. I love the character of Lee and want to know more about her.

[Edward Nugent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced page turner. Super criminal defense lawyer, Lee Isaacs finds a way to crack and win the impossible case. It has all the elements of a good who-done-it, only the question is who didn't do it.
As someone who was a criminal defense lawyer for thirty-six years, I can vouch for the accuracy of the drama and it's attendant toll on the lawyer.
I'm sure we'll be seeing more of Lee Isaacs.

[Johanna DeBiase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lee Isaacs is one of the preeminent criminal defense attorneys in the Boulder-Denver area. She’s turning sixty and dreadfully searches her reflection for new wrinkles and gray hairs. But Isaacs is by no means a depressed geriatric. She’s a master in Tae Kwon Do with a fifth-degree black belt and basically afraid of no one. She loves her work and works hard, but she recently lost a high-profile murder case and worries that she might be losing her savvy. She needs a new case to redeem her dignity. The new client Isaacs chooses to take on seems at first glance beyond redemption. A skinhead teenage boy confesses to participating in a “boot party,” where he and his “brothers” kick a gay man to death. Additionally, the boy she is hired to defend has no desire to defend himself. It all seems very much like a lost cause. Things become further morally complex when we learn that Isaacs’s husband was bisexual. A mountain climber, he died in an avalanche five years earlier. His two gay best friends and fellow climbers, swore to watch over her, and are now her best friends. Needless to say, they are not happy to hear she is taking on this much publicized case. As one expects in a courtroom drama, the case is not as open and shut as it seems. As Isaacs and her sassy investigator, Carla, speak with witnesses and unveil evidence, the reader’s presumptions are challenged with each twist and turn of the narrative. In the end, there is only one result, guilty or not guilty. A young man’s life and Isaacs’s career all ride on this result, making this a compulsive read. While the book might take a few chapters to truly get rolling while we gain more insight into Isaacs’s character, once we’re in the courtroom we are bound to stay close to Isaacs to see what fearless move she’s going to make next.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read “Her Kind of Case” as part of the Bookbrowse online book club. So the circumstances had me really pulling for author Jeanne Winer, formerly an attorney-now-author writing about what she knows best: court proceedings. First the good. I thoroughly warmed to protagonist Lee Isaccs, an uber successful criminal defense attorney living in Boulder, CO. Lee has been running full-tilt through her nearly 60 years, achieving success in her profession as well as her passion as a master in Tae Kwon Do, fifth-degree black belt. But after years of smooth and exciting sailing, she has started to hit a few speed bumps: a rare loss in the court room and more than her fair share of aches and pains from the dojo where she spars with other Tae Kwon Do enthusiasts. The most painful was the death of her spouse several years earlier. All these events make up the jagged runway leading to Lee’s 60th birthday.

Lee decides to take one last case before making some hard decisions about her life. The case looks to be a sure loser involving the savage murder of a young homosexual. This leads to another positive, which is how Winer deals with social issues, especially around LGBT. From the jacket flap, we understand that author Winer is a long-time political activist in LGBT issues and she has leveraged this advocacy into the plot as well.

Now the tough part. For me, the novel really lost momentum about two thirds of the way. The first third, we learned about Lee, the second third introduces her supporting characters and facts about the case and the last part moves heavily into the court room where the pace slowed, the dialogue became stiff and the action bogged down. I really did have to push through the last 100 pages. That said, if Winer decides to build a series featuring Lee Isaccs, I would definitely be down to read the next.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Kind of Case is my kind of book. The story is built around a slowly resolving mystery that captures the reader's attention and won't let go, but there's more to it than a good courtroom drama. It is a joy to see Lee Isaacs' personal story unfold.

Lee is an older single woman who has achieved career and personal success. She's still mourning the death of her husband, but she fights the good fight each and every day: taking on cases that interest her and doing her best to win them, going to the dojo to keep her skill in martial arts honed, and staying in touch with an interesting and supportive group of a few friends.

Lee is an introvert and very self-contained, and that black belt in martial arts means that she's used to pain and not showing it-- a very useful tool in the courtroom. Her dry sense of humor is delightful. Yes, the story is a very good one, but she is the real reason why I had to keep turning those pages. Lee brings readers right into the heart of what it means to be the type of lawyer that all those bad jokes are not about.

Her Kind of Case does involve social issues that confront us today, and one of the best things about the book is how the author treats the character of Jeremy, the teenage boy accused of the murder of a young gay man. Not only do readers' opinions of the boy change as the story progresses, but so do the attitudes of the characters around him. When I finished reading Jeanne Winer's book, the first thought in my mind was, "I hope she's writing another. I want to see more of Lee Isaacs!"

[TrixM · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cuppa

The writing was fine, and if you want a pretty blow-by-blow courtroom procedural, this would be right up your alley. Unfortunately, it wasn't anywhere near mine. There was very little suspense and quite a lot of exposition on points of law.

I frankly didn't like any of the characters - my next resort if the plot doesn't appeal. Really, the only thing that appealed was the examination of how grief can affect us individually. And the fact the story wasn't about 20/30-somethings, but was still contemporary in focus (not a tedious nostalgia-fest).

The main protagonist is straight. She has a couple of gay friends, and another character who is offstage the entire book is also queer. Gayness also has bearing on the crime at the centre of the story, with a couple of a (well-telegraphed) twists. Most of the plot is centred around gay and bisexual men, which is obviously fine - but the author's identity may imply to some that the book would involve relationships between women. Which it doesn't, beyond a tentative friendship.

In sum, it had too much legalese, too little actual suspense, and characters I didn't much like (I'm sure others would love them) for me to enjoy, unfortunately. The prose was fine, but dragged in parts.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Kind of Case is both a character study and a courtroom drama, and succeeds on both fronts. Criminal defense attorney Lee Isaacs is fast approaching 60 and concerned, based on a recent bad legal result, that she is losing her mojo. She's intense, a legal perfectionist, a Tae Kwon Do black belt, something of a lonerand a very funny lady. Author Jeanne Winer does an excellent job of drawing her character and keeping her interesting and growing. On the courtroom front, Lee takes on the defense of a 17-year-old who has confessed to participating with a group of Denver area Neo-Nazis in the brutal murder of a gay man. Lee has reason to believe he has not told the truth. The story of the trial is quite procedural -- lots of legal detail and attention to the way arguments are developed, but still interesting and with a number of unforeseen twists. Lee has some interesting help in her work; these subordinate characters are also well-drawn and add to the story. This is not a flashy book, but it is a well-written and very entertaining read.

I received a copy of this book from Bookbrowse.com in return for participating in an on-line book discussion.

[Virginia Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot of this book involves a legal drama where a young man may have participated in a hate crime because he became trapped into living with a group of skin heads.

I read it because I became intrigued after reading an on line book review. I guess I failed to notice the part of the review that would have alerted me to the fact that the author is a part of the LGBT community and several of the characters in the book are gay; but despite the fact that I object to people trying to force their social agenda down my throat, I was comfortable reading this book.

This is not the type of book that I would usually choose to read, but I saw a review of it on line and decided to try it. Thankfully, it turned out to be an enjoyable read – something like a book by John Grisham but, in my opinion, less about legalese and more about character development.
I think the plot moved very quickly and it kept me interested in what was going to happen next.

[V.S. Kemanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one unputdownable read with great characters, my favorite being the protagonist, Lee Isaacs. Lee is a seasoned defense attorney soon to turn 60, starting to question whether she’s lost her mojo. Should she take on a murder case against a teen accused of a horrendous hate crime? The prosecutor thinks he has the case locked up, and Lee takes on the challenge, knowing she has to be at the top of her game.

The novel has the ring of realism without the boring parts. The writing is tight, with wry humor, witty dialog, and big doses of spirit, drama, and pathos found in the world of criminal defense. Characters come alive on these pages. They are relatable and authentic. Relationships are realistic and touching, especially Lee’s relationships with her client Jeremy and with her father, who we get to know only through nightly long-distance phone conversations. The gradual unfolding of Jeremy’s secrets and progression of the criminal case are masterfully drawn. Highly recommended.

[BookBrowse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm excited that this is the first novel in a series. I hadn't had enough of Lee by the end of Her Kind of Case, and the author foreshadows possible future developments in her life. I sincerely look forward to Winer's next entry. This is a great, fast read for those who enjoy an entertaining law drama, and the weightier themes make it a good book group selection.
-Kim Kovacs

Read the full review at: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/review...

[Elenie Opffer]

A sure fire page turner! Suspense, laughter and self reflection-- lots to engage you in this book. Great characters and settings. I felt like I was back in Boulder rooting for the defense team. It's refreshing to have strong, well-rounded middle-aged female protagonists in crime fiction, and I sure wouldn't want to spar with Lee Isaacs!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars rounded up. This is a legal/family drama, not a thriller or mystery. The pace is fairly slow, as the plot is filled with lots of details. The story and characters were interesting enough to keep me invested in learning the outcome, so I'll bump it up to 3 stars. Don't go into this expecting lots of action-adventure, though.

[Connie]

4 stars! A page turner! Great, well written legal story set in Boulder, CO. I loved the main character, Lee Issacs, an almost sixty, criminal defense attorney. Lee is approached by a young, seventeen year old boy’s aunt to defend him after he’s accused of helping a group of skinhheads murder a gay man.
Highly recommended

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not many mysteries I’ve read focus on lawyers, but Jeanne Winer’s latest work makes looking for more of them appealing. Lee Isaacs, the main character in “Her Kind of Case” (Bancroft Press), is a tough lawyer, but an interesting and vulnerable human being.
See the rest of my review at http://www.thereportergroup.org/Artic...

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The main character is compelling: a smart, experienced female attorney who is human and realistic. But the author has smartly made Jeremy, the troubled kid she defends, the one who draws our sympathy. We're not sure what to think of him in the beginning, but then we end up rooting for him and for his savvy, self-possessed 'almost sixty' lawyer.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a fun read. I read the whole book in 3 days. I had to resist reading ahead to find out what happens. The reader can not help rooting for the defense! Be a great airplane book - the flight would go really quickly! BRAVO!

[Sharalynne Pasztor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book from Bookbrowse . It's a well written legal thriller about an aging attorney representing a 17 year old gay male accused of murder. So many people gave this book 5 stars but I found it really predictable.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I knew the ending pretty quickly, getting there was a thrill. Winer made me care about her characters from the beginning. I hope this is the first in a series. I'm ready for the next installment.

[Renae · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a voice that compels the reader to continually come back, this author writes with wit and intrigue. Character development is intriguing and surprisingly revealing. I want a series on the character and lawyer of Lee. Thank you so much for writing Ms. Winer!