Burden of Truth

Cass Leary Legal Thriller #1

by Robin James

To defend her client, she must dig up a town’s darkest secrets.

Defense attorney Cass Leary thought she’d escaped her hometown for good. But after leaving her high-paying job in Chicago, she decides to revisit her troubled past. When someone murders the beloved high school basketball coach and Cass steps in to defend the girl accused of the crime, she doesn’t expect the death threats that follow…

Confronting the town that shunned her as a child, she unearths secrets that some would kill to keep buried. And after her client confesses to the crime, Cass detects a widespread cover-up. If she doesn’t get to the bottom of it soon, the next fatalities may be the ones she loves…

Burden of Truth is the first book in series of high-stakes legal thrillers. If you like blood-pumping action, compelling characters, and twisted crime conspiracies, then you’ll love Robin James’s dark tale.

Buy Burden of Truth to enter this spine-chilling murder mystery today!

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

542 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 19, 2018

About the author

Robin James is an attorney and former law professor. She's worked on a wide range of civil, criminal and family law cases in her twenty-year legal career. She also spent over a decade as supervising attorney for a Michigan legal clinic assisting thousands of people who could not otherwise afford access to justice.

Robin now lives on a lake in southern Michigan with her husband, two children, and one lazy dog. Her favorite, pure Michigan writing spot is stretched out on the back of a pontoon watching the faster boats go by.

Join Robin James's Legal Thriller Newsletter to get updates on her latest releases and author news. http://robinjamesbooks.com/newsletter

Reviews

[➦Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: ➳ Burden of Truth


Author: ➳ Robin James

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ღ It has been hot minute me since I sat up to the wee hours to be so engaged in a book such as Murder suspend book. I had somewhat of load of names in the being, but I soon settle in well. Once that was settled I have enjoyed the plot development throughout,


➳The storylines is base in a small town in Michigan. Cass Leary left town ten years ago & never thought she come back.. There was Two hundred & fifty-two miles. The distance between her old life & her new life. See you know how those small town things go, she lived on the wrong side of town.

➳Some very things happen to Cass Leary in that fancy new life of her, so she return to that one place she thought was safe, that small town in Michigan she once called home. Now she had to rebuild her life again from scratch.

➳Now she is working as court-appointed attorney & lucky for her. She was hand the worst case imaginable. Larry Drazdowski was the town hero. He took the basketball team to the championship 8 times in the last 10 years, & someone murder him

➳I have to admit, I did not have any idea of who the killer was until the end of the book. Overall I would recommend this book. However, there were a few things that I didn't like. The story took a while to develop. Over course of this book there were moments where it seem like the author kinda lost her way from the subject at hand.. But then if you really thing about it , it was her just laying her ground work… it was just me being impatient…

➳This was great beginning to a new series. The author hit this first one out of the park

➳The characters Robin James introduced are very interesting & likeable. Well some of are. The feisty main character Cass Leary you’ll root for her up until the very end.

♥●•I loved the book. The twists in this story just added to the plot. I am looking forward to reading more from this author

Reading order

1. Burden of Truth
2. Silent Witness

➦📚 Hope you enjoy this read & also always keep in mind this is just my opinion & my honest review 💕


➦ 💕 I received an EXCLUSIVE copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of it. 💕
💕 . .**This has not influenced my review.* **


💕 ✎Paulette Review ❤💕

[Paul Ataua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cass Leary returns home after things turn bad in her high paid lawyer job in the city, and suddenly finds herself defending a girl who is accused of killing the adored basketball and athletics coach. I’m not sure what to say about this one. The story was developed well enough and the writing kept me there from beginning to end, but the story never really convinced and the courtroom parts lacked real drama. I feel three stars might have been more honest, but the four stars reflect the fact that it entertained and showed promise. I am open to reading another novel by this author in the future.

[Ted Tayler · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Brilliant"

I haven't read a book as good as this in months. A new author to me who smashes the legal thriller out of the park. Great characters; a complex story line that hooks you from the start and keeps you turning pages until the dramatic conclusion. Thank goodness there are more to come in this series.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s a funny thing when you sell your soul to the devil,” I said, staring at a point on the wall. “Everyone thinks they’ll be able to outsmart him when he comes to collect.”

Burden of Truth is a fantastic read. I was sucked in right from the beginning which was unexpected on my part. You think small towns don’t have their secrets? There sick shite? Well you are wrong and not is at all like it seems here.

Welcome to Delphi – Home of the Class B State Championship Men’s Basketball Team: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 – Go fighting Shamrocks!

I didn’t know that Shamrocks could fight – anyhoo moving on.

Cass Leary has come a long way from being from the eastside of Delphi where her family is at the bottom of the ladder and everyone makes her feel it. She has come back home from Chicago but that is a story for another time. But I am dying to know who and what Killian Thorne is to Cass Leary and thus versa)

Cass is a lawyer and she is just getting by and things are about to get worse, thanks to a murder case that she has to take. Aubrey Ames charged with murder of the beloved Coach D in Delphi. Did she do it or didn’t she? Who knows? I was on the fence about this one and that one twist where I thought she could have, I was wrong. That happens once in a blue moon.

You’ve got to have worked in this area of expertise to have written a legal thriller like this. This is extremely well written and there is never a boring moment in this book and I was on the edge of my seat trying to guess who the perp was but I didn’t see that one a coming.

Book 2 is next!

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

What a fantastic book! Every time I start a new series I’m hoping it’ll be one of those. You know? One of those series that you can’t wait to read the next one. I’m fairly certain this one of those. Great central character. She is a flawed but strong woman who’s had a lot of grief in her life. But she perseveres and comes out the hero. This review is taking too much time...I’m on to reading the next!

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book didn't start too badly, but it didn't take long for me to struggle with the story. Part of my problem was a lack of understanding of American 'small town' mentality. It also didn't help that the story just seemed to be going around in circles and not getting anywhere.
About a third of the way through the real story began to emerge and it became more interesting. I found the beginning of the court proceedings fairly uninspiring as they covered information that had already appeared earlier in the book, but it did improve and eventually became quite exciting towards the end.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Got me right from the first page. Cass Leary is a great character. I'm hooked. Onto the next book!

[Jultri · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5. Random pick from Scribd/Everand because I was in the mood for a legal thriller and I was hooked right from the start. Well-written by someone who is obviously quite familiar with the law (former attorney and law professor). Strong female lead in Cass Leary, big city attorney who has returned to her smalltown roots where she is reacquainted with smalltown prejudices. She gets assigned the undesirable job of defending a young girl accused of murdering the town's hero, Coach D, a man who was instrumental in the town's unprecedented success in high school basketball State Championships. While trying to uncover the dirty secrets of her home town, Cass herself is hiding her own secrets. I'm not necessarily fond of the ending but I am curious about the Killian Thorne connection.

Narration was generally good, but the little girl voice of Aubrey was a bit too much.

[Valleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were things I really liked about Burden of Truth and some I didn't.

Pros: The plot was interesting and the characters were well rounded. I loved the bond between Cass, her sister, and her brothers. The courtroom portions of the book were my favorite, and the ending of the book was totally unexpected! I feel Robin James has great potential.

Cons: The book definitely needed a bit more editing. For example, Aubrey’s hair is described as being in a bun, and then suddenly she's is playing with the end of her ponytail. There was over-emoting, with the protagonist's heart shattering more times than I can count. (I'm currently reading the second book in the series and Cass's heart is still shattering.😜)

[Nan Christine Borton-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cass Leary Series is off to a racing start

Cass Leary Series is off to a racing start. This is the 1st novel I’ve read by this author and I’m thrilled to have found another great legal thriller author to follow.
I try not to write any spoiler type reviews - so do t let the lack of details keep you from grabbing this book-I’m downloading the next one as I write this..it was that good.
Cass Leary & supporting characters were well developed and multidimensional as is the story.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

I did not see that ending! This book started a little slow for me but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. As with a first book in the series there’s a lot to learn but this one is worth it. I can’t wait to read the next one!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Thanks to a reader friend's rating of this book, decided to give it try. (Thanks Chele!). A new author for me, and after reading this one, I'll be back for more. I love a legal thriller, especially one where the story is engrossing enough you can't put it down or figure out how it's going to end. Great read. Now it's on to book 2.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is apparently the first book in a series…. A legalese who done it. I liked the characters, kept my interest from the beginning, and the ending was a bit of a surprise. Worth the read.

[Zenizole Gqada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is maybe the best book I’ve read this year.
It literally couldn’t drop it— 2days and I was done.

A young female attorney returns to her hometown of Delphi after an incident that nearly claimed her life in Chicago.

She comes from an unpopular family. Bottom of the hierarchy. The kind of family everyone has something negative to say about and the kind nobody wants to associate with.

Her mother passed away when she was quite young and her father an alcoholic— Wanting to have a better life and future, Cass Leary fought hard to get an education and later become an attorney but of course, the grass isn’t always greener on her other side which is why she has returned home.

Being home is not a smooth transition as not everyone is happy to see her back. She tries to mend broken ties with her estranged siblings Joe, Marty and Vangie.

I loved how Robin made every character so strong you could literally feel them and relate to them. Her bond with her siblings is something everyone who grew up with siblings can understand. She brilliantly portrays that “love— hate” relationship between siblings. That “Only I can mess with you, if anyone else tries— we deal with them”. I felt all the characters were gone quite compelling.

Having been home a few weeks, Cass struggles to find work (or rather clients) until a famous basketball coach is found murdered at a nearby park. The suspect, a nineteen year old girl.

Obviously no defence attorney in town wants to defend the person who could have killed Coach D as he is popularly known around the community— a man the society held with great regard, so guess who gets the case?

You guessed right! Cass Leary. And she faces everything that comes with head on. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions while reading this book. Nothing is as it seems and just when you think you’ve figured out what’s going on, Cass takes you on another bender of heightened emotions and confusion.

You will feel frustrated but you will also keep turning those pages and it will be worth it. I thoroughly loved it. I’m a sucker for procedural writing anyways.

[Marleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Burden of Truth's a captivating, although average legal read, deserving of a 3.5 stars rating. At the center of this story is the murder of a beloved basketball coach, and the small townspeople are too blinded by their adoration for this man, to face the truth of what happened, why it happened. This book was rather a light-weight, but enjoyable nonetheless. It's also noticeable that practically most of the characters, are depicted as flawed, and that was another check in the plus column. I look forward to the second book in this series.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating legal thriller. One of most engaging novels I have read recently. Read it in one sitting. Robin James writing about the legal system is refreshing.

[Claudia N. Oltean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taut Legal Thriller

“Burden of Truth” features Cass Leary, a dynamic woman who was a high-powered Chicago attorney until a near-death experience at the hands of dangerous men forced her to run. Her destination is a small town in Michigan, her hometown, as it turns out. It’s a place that holds bad memories and a broken family. On the positive side she reunites with her two brothers. She decides to put out her shingle and her first case is the court-appointed defense of a young girl for first-degree murder. The victim is a legend, the high school coach who led teams to multiple State Championships. He’s revered by generations of students and the whole, rather insular, community. In trying to mount a defense for her rather fragile client, Cass encounters one obstacle after another and outright hostility from most of the town. And, it turns out things are not what they seem. Author Robin James has written a legal thriller with plot twists and turns that kept me guessing. Equally her book brings to life family dramas, class conflicts, and the unique challenges young women can face in society. James’ telling of the trial was expertly done, and riveting. This is one of the best legal thrillers I’ve read. It’s book 1 in a series and I’m eager to dive into the rest. Highly recommend.

[Shelley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burden of Truth!

Cass has moved back home after a decade of being in Chicago working for a legal company there. But after a brief case is resolved, she gets handed a case that literally no one wants to touch, defending the person who killed their town’s beloved Coach.

But as Cass investigates, she has more questions than answers and when she finally uncovers the truth...it’s worse than she thought. So much intrigue, suspense and danger follows Cass as she investigates the murder to get the truth of what happened and to find justice!

I loved this story and as a past legal student, I found it riveting to see terms that I learnt at Law school put into theory but also how the case evolves and takes on a life of its own:) Thank you to Robin for my advanced copy for which I leave my honest review and I willingly will sign up for more books by Robin as this book was just sensational and I want to find out more about Killian and see what case Cass works next😀

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Law and Order: SVU, then this is the book for you! After things turn bad in her high-paid lawyer job in Chicago, Cass Leary decides to return to her hometown, where she finds herself defending a girl who is accused of murdering the high school basketball coach who everyone looks up to and adores. This book captivated my attention from start to finish, and I didn't want to put it down until I found out what was going to happen in the end. With the courtroom scenes, I felt like I was watching an episode of Law and Order: SVU rather than reading what was happening. I was able to predict some of the plot twists, but I was still interested in the story even though I was able to predict some of the things that happened. I am interested in what will happen next for Cass Leary in this series, and I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!

[Charlette · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Star * * * * * !!

I read this book in one day. Couldn't put it down. Sadly the subject matter is a true story that plaques cities and towns throughout the world but is mostly swept under the rug to protect the guilty. It's becomes a taboo subject when children speak of it and are threatened if they do by the very people who should protect them. It even happens in churches where we should feel safe to let our children go. The characters are colorful and the plot is like a rollercoaster ride. I grew up in a small southern town and could relate to their town and townspeople. Good first book in a series.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book and I got off to a bad start, with the reference to the main character (now a lawyer in Michigan) previously getting a Lexus and a personal driver when starting as an associate at a law firm in Chicago. (So many problems: associates aren’t given cars, we’re taking the El to work like everyone else, an uber budget would’ve been more realistic than a driver, and so on). Luckily, that had basically nothing to do with the story. It was an entertaining read.

[M Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written legal mystery

I was drawn to read this book due to the good reviews and because the author is from my home state of Michigan and the story takes place in southern Michigan. I am pleased that it is so well-written and that I didn’t figure out ahead of time all the twists of the story. I will definitely read her other books and recommened this one to anyone who enjoys legal mysteries. I couldn’t put it down.

[Perm Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is my personal 5 star rating system because I’m too lazy to write a review for every book.

5 stars -> OMFG. I couldn’t stop listening. I was engaged from beginning to end. The story & narrator was amazing. I 100% recommend this book & author. I was able to clearly follow each and every character.

4 stars -> It was pretty good. I would’ve rated 5 stars, But either the ending was lacking, I struggled to keep up with characters, or the story didn’t keep me fully engaged. The narrator was pretty good as well. I’m on the fence about recommending this book, It could go either way.

3 Stars -> It was boring at times & I missed chunks of the story. I most likely struggled to keep up with character developments. The only way I would recommend this book is if it was part of a series. The narrator was most likely average or just couldn’t fix a mediocre book.

2 Stars -> It was pretty horrible. I used it as background noise because I hadn’t had a chance to search for another book. The book either had a bad narrator, The character development was non existent, or the story was hot garbage. I would not recommend this book.

1 Star -> The absolute only reason I listened to this book was because i had no time to search for another one & I needed background noise. It was 1 step up from listening to the radio. I wouldn’t recommend this book to my worst enemy. Everything about this book was terrible. This is only recommended for people on death row and have absolutely nothing else to read.

[Clifton Rankin]

From time to time (well, okay, constantly) Amazon recommends books that “I might like” and last week, I decided to try one of their offers. “Burden of Truth” by Robin James is a Grishemesque novel about a lawyer in a small town who defends the alleged killer of the popular high school basketball coach, and is threatened on every side as she seeks to unearth the truth about the murder. The baggage from her own past complicates her task, and threatens her relationship with those closest to her. (328 pages)

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick audiobook and an enjoyable legal thriller about a beloved high school coach who was murdered. His previous female student is accused of the crime and even confesses to the crime, but did she do it?
The only thing I felt was lacking in the book was character development. I just felt like I needed more from the main characters.
I’m looking forward to seeing how this series progresses!

[Hold My Chapter ✨ Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love Robin Jame's legal thriller series. After reading the Mara Brent legal thriller series. I have jumped across to Cass Leary and definitely loved it just as much.
Great storyline, well written and thoroughly enjoyed the court case.
Had me in tears for a little bit, as there are some confronting testimonies during the trail.
Loved the characters, background given on the character and look forward to continuing the series.

[Amanda Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This starts out a little slower but picked up in the end. I ended up really liking the characters and the bond between Cass and her siblings.

The scenes in the courtroom might be my favourite parts. Though they were repetitive, especially earlier on.

I was hooked and didn't want to put it down, i'll definitely check out the next book in the series.

[Angie Boyter]

I threw in the towel at 20%. I kept going because of the high ratings, but I think the readers who like it simply have different tastes.
I was a bit surprised that none of my Goodreads friends who share my tastes have read it, but I think I know why. The book description stressed "legal thriller" , one of my favorite entertainment genres. I think it would be much more accurate to label it "soap opera" , and if you like that genre, it is a VERY GOOD ONE. It is simply not for me.

[John W. Dennehy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid book with interesting characters and a nice plot that moved along at a good pace. The author has put together a high-quality work, with professional editing. The book is well worth the price options to read it. Well done.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real good read from start to finish. Grabbed me at the beginning and did not let go of me even when I started figuring things out. Love it when the ending starts to come together but the journey to get there keeps me motivated to finish the book.