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The Lawyer Lifeguard
Are you the lawyer who got blown up with his girlfriend?
Defense lawyer Brian Lord survived the car bomb that killed his fiancée. Out of work and out of his mind, he takes on a lifeguard job at the beach. But there's one wave he'll never see coming....
BookShots
LIGHTNING-FAST STORIES BY JAMES PATTERSON
- Novels you can devour in a few hours
- Impossible to stop reading
- All original content from James Patterson
Defense lawyer Brian Lord survived the car bomb that killed his fiancée. Out of work and out of his mind, he takes on a lifeguard job at the beach. But there's one wave he'll never see coming....
BookShots
LIGHTNING-FAST STORIES BY JAMES PATTERSON
- Novels you can devour in a few hours
- Impossible to stop reading
- All original content from James Patterson
Audible Audio
First published June 6, 2017
1604 people are currently reading
1837 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
955 books355k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
December 31, 2024
As my reading year comes to a close, I chose to re-read this piece and present my original review below:
In an attempt to try something different, I’ve decided to read a number of BookShots (or as many as I can handle until I go mad), those short stories thrillers that James Patterson began overseeing a few years ago. With piles of them at my disposal and more coming out each day, there is never a lack of them to pique my interest. Adding Doug Allyn to the mix will allow me to start the year with a new collaboration team and hopefully lead to many new and wonderful discoveries.
Brian Lord has returned to his childhood community of Port Vale, where he is hiding from a recent traumatic event. It has only been a few days since his fiancée was blown up in a car bombing and Lord is one of the prime suspects. A former Assistant District Attorney, Lord is now working on the other side of the aisle, defending clients who surely have checkered pasts.
After a heroic rescue at the beach, where Lord briefly returns to playing the role of his teenage job as a lifeguard, he is no longer able to hide from the spotlight and must answer questions surrounding the fatal explosion. Might one of Lord’s past clients have had a beef with his work, or seek to quiet a snitch from proceeding with their case?
After being terminated for conduct deemed problematic with his current firm, Lord is out on his own, still with a handful of clients that no one else wants to touch.He’s happy to work with the authorities to find the person responsible for the bombing, but must also protect some of his own clients, both from self-incrimination and sleazy former spouses. In the meantime, Lord seeks to return to his job as a lifeguard, tired of the three-piece suits that muzzled him for so long. There, he meets an old friend and they take quite the walk down memory lane, revisiting unfinished business. Now, it is time for Lord to find the bomber before he, too, is killed, forever silencing this maverick legal mind.
Patterson and Allyn craft a decent story that entertains for the duration of the piece. BookShot fans can praise this as one of the better stories in the ever-growing collection that seems to have no end. Hey, at least I will have fodder for the entire month!
I have a love/hate relationship with James Patterson and these Bookshots, though this does seem to be a decent piece of work, which allows Allyn to shine. The premise is good and the piece seems to flow effectively, based on the large number of characters who add their own flavour to the narrative. Brian Lord receives a decent backstory, as well as some redeeming characteristics as the story progresses, which allows the reader to build a bond with him throughout. He is not, however, the world’s more endearing lawyer, nor does he come across as one that I would want to read about for a full-length piece. Patterson and Allyn develop him just enough to forge a connection and pepper in some interesting secondary characters to keep the story interesting. Forcing Lord to process his feeling for his decently deceased fiancée alongside a teenage love interest allows the reader to see some of his more vulnerable aspects, though there is little time to truly tap into his sentiments for either woman. The array of other characters are interesting and serve their purpose, though I am not seeking anything too detailed or to have them grace the pages of another BookShot. The story in general has some strengths, as Lord wrestles with his life and work, while also trying to synthesise the recent bombing. Things move along effectively, and come to a head as Lord must make a decision about his life, with a lukewarm epiphany on which the reader can grasp. The story served its purpose and was entertaining, which is surely the premise of all BookShots, even those who test the waters ahead of new Patterson series.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Allyn, for presenting this well-developed piece I would read more of your collaborative work in BookShot form and will keep my eyes open for anything coming down the pipeline.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
In an attempt to try something different, I’ve decided to read a number of BookShots (or as many as I can handle until I go mad), those short stories thrillers that James Patterson began overseeing a few years ago. With piles of them at my disposal and more coming out each day, there is never a lack of them to pique my interest. Adding Doug Allyn to the mix will allow me to start the year with a new collaboration team and hopefully lead to many new and wonderful discoveries.
Brian Lord has returned to his childhood community of Port Vale, where he is hiding from a recent traumatic event. It has only been a few days since his fiancée was blown up in a car bombing and Lord is one of the prime suspects. A former Assistant District Attorney, Lord is now working on the other side of the aisle, defending clients who surely have checkered pasts.
After a heroic rescue at the beach, where Lord briefly returns to playing the role of his teenage job as a lifeguard, he is no longer able to hide from the spotlight and must answer questions surrounding the fatal explosion. Might one of Lord’s past clients have had a beef with his work, or seek to quiet a snitch from proceeding with their case?
After being terminated for conduct deemed problematic with his current firm, Lord is out on his own, still with a handful of clients that no one else wants to touch.He’s happy to work with the authorities to find the person responsible for the bombing, but must also protect some of his own clients, both from self-incrimination and sleazy former spouses. In the meantime, Lord seeks to return to his job as a lifeguard, tired of the three-piece suits that muzzled him for so long. There, he meets an old friend and they take quite the walk down memory lane, revisiting unfinished business. Now, it is time for Lord to find the bomber before he, too, is killed, forever silencing this maverick legal mind.
Patterson and Allyn craft a decent story that entertains for the duration of the piece. BookShot fans can praise this as one of the better stories in the ever-growing collection that seems to have no end. Hey, at least I will have fodder for the entire month!
I have a love/hate relationship with James Patterson and these Bookshots, though this does seem to be a decent piece of work, which allows Allyn to shine. The premise is good and the piece seems to flow effectively, based on the large number of characters who add their own flavour to the narrative. Brian Lord receives a decent backstory, as well as some redeeming characteristics as the story progresses, which allows the reader to build a bond with him throughout. He is not, however, the world’s more endearing lawyer, nor does he come across as one that I would want to read about for a full-length piece. Patterson and Allyn develop him just enough to forge a connection and pepper in some interesting secondary characters to keep the story interesting. Forcing Lord to process his feeling for his decently deceased fiancée alongside a teenage love interest allows the reader to see some of his more vulnerable aspects, though there is little time to truly tap into his sentiments for either woman. The array of other characters are interesting and serve their purpose, though I am not seeking anything too detailed or to have them grace the pages of another BookShot. The story in general has some strengths, as Lord wrestles with his life and work, while also trying to synthesise the recent bombing. Things move along effectively, and come to a head as Lord must make a decision about his life, with a lukewarm epiphany on which the reader can grasp. The story served its purpose and was entertaining, which is surely the premise of all BookShots, even those who test the waters ahead of new Patterson series.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Allyn, for presenting this well-developed piece I would read more of your collaborative work in BookShot form and will keep my eyes open for anything coming down the pipeline.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 5, 2017
Lately for every 2 crappy JP books there’s one good one. This is one of the good ones.
June 2, 2018
Are you the lawyer who got blown up with his girlfriend? Defense lawyer Brian Lord survived he car bomb that killed his fiancee'. Out of work and out of his mind, he takes on a lifeguard job at the beach. He meets up with a girlfriend from his youth, and he takes lifeguard test with her and she pushes him to the max. She expresses her like of him back to their younger days. Lightning fast stories by James Patterson...Ones you can devour in a few hours. All original content by James Patterson.
Not exceptional but it didn't make me wish I hadn't read it. There are definitely twists and turns in this book, most parts unbelievable. For the most part, worth my time. You have to love a story with an assumed happy ending. People seem to have a love don't love relationship with bookshots. I've read several, and some are really good, and some not so good. There are a lot of characters in this one, probably more than are needed.
Not exceptional but it didn't make me wish I hadn't read it. There are definitely twists and turns in this book, most parts unbelievable. For the most part, worth my time. You have to love a story with an assumed happy ending. People seem to have a love don't love relationship with bookshots. I've read several, and some are really good, and some not so good. There are a lot of characters in this one, probably more than are needed.
August 13, 2018
3.5 stars
June 15, 2017
The Lawyer Lifeguard
This was an alright story but something seemed to be missing. I'm thinking it would have been so much better as a full length novel. There was just too much missing from the story.
This was an alright story but something seemed to be missing. I'm thinking it would have been so much better as a full length novel. There was just too much missing from the story.
June 9, 2017
Fast and furious. Everything a summer novel should have. All the things I love in a summer read. One note, it was a little to short. Hope there is a sequel.
March 27, 2019
This was a pretty good story, I liked the main character, and there was a twist near the end I didn’t see coming. All in all for a book shot, pretty good. I still did feel the story was rushed, and could’ve made a better full length book with more detail. But it was definitely a quick easy read.
April 26, 2019
Read this in about an hour if not less. Lots crammed in to not many pages. Lots of twists, turns and mystery. Great characters, great storyline and overall a great book. First James Patterson book I've read and won't be the last x
May 12, 2020
Try as I did, I can't get through this book. In less than 100 pp it gets repetitive. Maybe that is deliberate.
May 6, 2022
You never know anyone until you know them. This is the story in The Lawyer Lifeguard by James Patterson and Doug Allyn. Defence lawyer Brian Lord survived the car bomb that killed his fiancée, but he was terminated from his law firm for problematic conduct.
According to the law firm, his fiancee's death was his fault, where they both work. She had worked there for years, and nothing had happened to her until he joined it. He is shown the door, but he asks to be allowed to retain a handful of clients that no one else wants to touch. He’s happy to work with the authorities to find the person responsible for the bombing but must also protect some of his clients, both from self-incrimination and sleazy former spouses.
While trying to know who the bomber was, he stumbles on information that the bombing was not accidental. His fiancee was involved with characters of questionable character. He meets an old friend, and they take quite the walk down memory lane, revisiting unfinished business. Now, it is time for Lord to find the bomber before he is killed, forever silencing this maverick legal mind.
According to the law firm, his fiancee's death was his fault, where they both work. She had worked there for years, and nothing had happened to her until he joined it. He is shown the door, but he asks to be allowed to retain a handful of clients that no one else wants to touch. He’s happy to work with the authorities to find the person responsible for the bombing but must also protect some of his clients, both from self-incrimination and sleazy former spouses.
While trying to know who the bomber was, he stumbles on information that the bombing was not accidental. His fiancee was involved with characters of questionable character. He meets an old friend, and they take quite the walk down memory lane, revisiting unfinished business. Now, it is time for Lord to find the bomber before he is killed, forever silencing this maverick legal mind.
December 3, 2017
I love James Patterson books, and I'm happy to have found these "Bookshots" books that he writes. All of them are under 150 pages so they're good for a quick read.
Brian Lord is an attorney whose fiancee has had an unfortunate incident occur prior to the book's beginning. Brian can't remember everything that happened so he sets out to find out. What I love about this book is that it is short, easy to get through, and it is plot driven. While I do love character driven books too, plot driven books are easier for me to get into. Normally I either love the characters, am neutral, or hate them because I find nothing about them lovable. I'd have to say that I liked the characters but didn't LOVE them. I hated none. So the plot with its twists is what piqued my interest.
Recommendation: Easy, short, and a quick mystery...so of course! Read it!
Brian Lord is an attorney whose fiancee has had an unfortunate incident occur prior to the book's beginning. Brian can't remember everything that happened so he sets out to find out. What I love about this book is that it is short, easy to get through, and it is plot driven. While I do love character driven books too, plot driven books are easier for me to get into. Normally I either love the characters, am neutral, or hate them because I find nothing about them lovable. I'd have to say that I liked the characters but didn't LOVE them. I hated none. So the plot with its twists is what piqued my interest.
Recommendation: Easy, short, and a quick mystery...so of course! Read it!
February 3, 2019
I got the Sunday crossword done early so I had an hour to kill & I downloaded the "Bookshot" as a eBook from our library & was pleasantly surprised...great characters & a very good story that was a real page-turner...a fired Detroit "White-shoe" firm lawyer returns to his Michigan resort hometown where he discovers his big city problems have followed him to his friends & town...He attempts to go back to a better time when he was a lifeguard on the town's beaches...This could've been a decent Patterson thriller, just on the characters alone so there was a minor emptiness upon completion...I want more!...Good Stuff!!!
August 29, 2019
2018 novella written by James Patterson with Doug Allyn. Lawyer Brian Lord survives a car bombing and while recovering at his home in a beach community takes his old high school job as a lifeguard. Far-fetched but pleasant read is going well until the climax arrives and abruptly throws everything, including new characters and plot elements and the kitchen sink, together for the finale.
Thriller - Novella in the Murder in Paradise anthology. Defense lawyer Brian Lord survived the car bomb that killed his fiancée. Out of work and out of his mind, he takes on a lifeguard job at the beach. But there's one wave he'll never see coming.
Thriller - Novella in the Murder in Paradise anthology. Defense lawyer Brian Lord survived the car bomb that killed his fiancée. Out of work and out of his mind, he takes on a lifeguard job at the beach. But there's one wave he'll never see coming.
August 19, 2018
Another little hit. A lawyer caught up in a mob. A fiancee he thinks is dead. And his life turned upside. No one he can trust but family. Keeps you in suspense. Loaded with action.
September 7, 2018
Another great James Patterson bookshot
Loved this one as well. Wish it was a full novel so it would have lasted longer and we could have looked deeper into the story.
Loved this one as well. Wish it was a full novel so it would have lasted longer and we could have looked deeper into the story.
May 14, 2020
Good start that fell off. Could not finish.
June 26, 2025
finished 26th june 2025 good read three stars i liked it no more no less kindle library loaner have read many from patterson many from patterson/another. entertaining story.
November 9, 2017
A quick and entertaining story about a lawyer down on the practice of law...how original. Yet this one is tolerable because the protagonist is a beach bum who resurrects his long lost love interest from his youth and is busy fighting the mob. At least the cops (females) were realistic...
March 22, 2021
A quick mystery with a sweet ending.
August 10, 2017
Another Patterson Writing Team Bookshout installment that I'm up in the air about. Thought I'd really like the character but it just was too out of reach of a parallel to achieve, unlike a very similar niche that was a blockbuster of a well known lawyer that was driven around to his clients in an American Luxury car, this Lifeguard Lawyer, doesn't seem to have a whole lot of room in the future to pick up more cases... where would next case come from? The next towel?
September 18, 2022
Short story.... mystery.... good!
July 23, 2017
One of the better recent Bookshots (in my opinion), although once again a little disappointed with the ending. These books are pretty good for building suspense unfortunately with the shortened style that these books take the climax usually feels a little rushed.
July 15, 2017
Disapppointing
I love James Patterson's books but wasn't thrilled with the co author on this one. Poor continuity, verbiage sounded hokey, and lack of character development. Chief Paquette was the most interesting character. I could see her being involved in other small town murder stories/mysteries.
I love James Patterson's books but wasn't thrilled with the co author on this one. Poor continuity, verbiage sounded hokey, and lack of character development. Chief Paquette was the most interesting character. I could see her being involved in other small town murder stories/mysteries.
July 6, 2017
I think the biggest problem with this book is that they threw the whole conclusion at you way to fast. It probably could have made a half decent full length story. Will be interesting to see if they write another book.
June 6, 2017
It was a decent fluff read for the beach.
I liked Brian's character.
SPOILER::
I kinda wish Brian would have given up Serena to the feds in the end. But I guess he wanted to start fresh with a clean conscience.
I liked Brian's character.
SPOILER::
I kinda wish Brian would have given up Serena to the feds in the end. But I guess he wanted to start fresh with a clean conscience.
June 19, 2017
Predictable and on the boring side. Cgaracters undeveloped and uninteresting. Might be ok for teenagers for summer reading. I usually like the bookshots, just not this one
November 9, 2018
It was an interesting, short, quick read.
March 9, 2022
Defense lawyer Brian Lord is having a bad week. He barely survived the car bomb that killed his fiancée, and his boss at an upscale law firm decides one of Brian's "low brow" clients probably caused the bombing, so having him around is bad for their "optics."
Out of work, Brian decides to use his old lifeguard skills and quickly gets a job as a lifeguard, thanks to an old connection from high school. He still has some clients he has to deal with, and the police suspect him in the bombing, but in general, things aren't so bad as the old saying goes, "Life's a Beach."
Sadly trouble follows Brian around, so the rest of this is paint by the numbers Patterson. There's no co-author so his voice comes in true but this was predictable but still enjoyable.
Out of work, Brian decides to use his old lifeguard skills and quickly gets a job as a lifeguard, thanks to an old connection from high school. He still has some clients he has to deal with, and the police suspect him in the bombing, but in general, things aren't so bad as the old saying goes, "Life's a Beach."
Sadly trouble follows Brian around, so the rest of this is paint by the numbers Patterson. There's no co-author so his voice comes in true but this was predictable but still enjoyable.
September 2, 2018
Don't feck with lifeguards who happen to be lawyers...
Brian Lord and his fiancee are enjoying a gorgeous afternoon until it turns ugly when a car bomb kills Brian's fiancee, Serena Rossi. Somehow Brian manages to escape and save a drowning dog on the beach and unceremoniously pass out. Brian subsequently wakes up in the hospital hoping the ordeal was all a bad dream only to find out it, unfortunately, is not.
Brian believes he was the target of the bomb and is guilty of Serena's death. Brian's law firm fires him, blaming him for Serena's death as well. Serena, a paralegal at the firm, brought Brian into the firm and his services are no longer needed. Brian is able to keep his clients and continue his law practice-solo but decides to take a breather and figure out his next move. What Brian doesn't know is that he is caught up in the middle of something that will lead him back to his old job as a lifeguard and the one that got away.
Enjoyable, quick read.
Brian Lord and his fiancee are enjoying a gorgeous afternoon until it turns ugly when a car bomb kills Brian's fiancee, Serena Rossi. Somehow Brian manages to escape and save a drowning dog on the beach and unceremoniously pass out. Brian subsequently wakes up in the hospital hoping the ordeal was all a bad dream only to find out it, unfortunately, is not.
Brian believes he was the target of the bomb and is guilty of Serena's death. Brian's law firm fires him, blaming him for Serena's death as well. Serena, a paralegal at the firm, brought Brian into the firm and his services are no longer needed. Brian is able to keep his clients and continue his law practice-solo but decides to take a breather and figure out his next move. What Brian doesn't know is that he is caught up in the middle of something that will lead him back to his old job as a lifeguard and the one that got away.
Enjoyable, quick read.
January 30, 2020
Brian is a survivor a car explosion, his girlfriend was killed. Distraught and depressed, Brian goes to the beach with every intention of killing himself. But he sees a dog with a ball in his mall and drowning. Brian's instinct kicks in and he saves his dog. And of course everyone on the beach is recording the moment on their cell phones - which quickly goes viral. 📚
And just when Brian thought his life was bad, apparently the karma gods took it as a challenge and made his life even worse. 📚
The police question him about the car bomb that killed his fiance, he gets fired from his job, and it just keeps getting worse. 📚
There are unexpected twists, so I just could not put the book down. 📚
Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews