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Robin Lockwood #3
A Reasonable Doubt
A magician linked to three murders and suspicious deaths years ago disappears in the middle of his new act in New York Times bestseller Phillip Margolin’s latest thriller featuring Robin Lockwood
Robin Lockwood is a young criminal defense attorney and partner in a prominent law firm in Portland, Oregon. A former MMA fighter and Yale Law graduate, she joined the firm of legal legend Regina Barrister not long before Regina was forced into retirement by early onset Alzheimer’s.
One of Regina’s former clients, Robert Chesterfield, shows up in the law office with an odd request―he’s seeking help from his old attorney in acquiring patent protection for an illusion. Chesterfield is a professional magician of some reknown and he has a major new trick he’s about to debut. This is out of the scope of the law firm’s expertise, but when Robin Lockwood looks into his previous relationship with the firm, she learns that twenty years ago he was arrested for two murders, one attempted murder, and was involved in the potentially suspicious death of his very rich wife. At the time, Regina Barrister defended him with ease, after which he resumed his career as a magician in Las Vegas.
Now, decades later, he debuts his new trick―only to disappear at the end. He’s a man with more than one dark past and many enemies―is his disappearance tied to one of the many people who have good reason to hate him? Was he killed and his body disposed of, or did he use his considerable skills to engineer his own disappearance?
Robin Lockwood must unravel the tangled skein of murder and bloody mischief to learn how it all ties together.
Robin Lockwood is a young criminal defense attorney and partner in a prominent law firm in Portland, Oregon. A former MMA fighter and Yale Law graduate, she joined the firm of legal legend Regina Barrister not long before Regina was forced into retirement by early onset Alzheimer’s.
One of Regina’s former clients, Robert Chesterfield, shows up in the law office with an odd request―he’s seeking help from his old attorney in acquiring patent protection for an illusion. Chesterfield is a professional magician of some reknown and he has a major new trick he’s about to debut. This is out of the scope of the law firm’s expertise, but when Robin Lockwood looks into his previous relationship with the firm, she learns that twenty years ago he was arrested for two murders, one attempted murder, and was involved in the potentially suspicious death of his very rich wife. At the time, Regina Barrister defended him with ease, after which he resumed his career as a magician in Las Vegas.
Now, decades later, he debuts his new trick―only to disappear at the end. He’s a man with more than one dark past and many enemies―is his disappearance tied to one of the many people who have good reason to hate him? Was he killed and his body disposed of, or did he use his considerable skills to engineer his own disappearance?
Robin Lockwood must unravel the tangled skein of murder and bloody mischief to learn how it all ties together.
292 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 497 reviews
June 21, 2020
2.5*
I’ve always been a huge fan of Phillip Margolin. In fact I’ve read ever book he’s released. Sadly, I have to say this was my least favorite. So remotely different it felt like a different author.
A magician walks into Robin Lockwood’s law firm. He’s looking for one of the founding partners who gave him some legal help in the past. He needs help with a patenting one of his magic tricks. Soon... that will be the least of the magic mans’ problems.
Since I have been enjoying this author’s work over the years, I will likely be back to pick up his next release. Hoping this is just a case of a one off.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC to read and review.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Phillip Margolin. In fact I’ve read ever book he’s released. Sadly, I have to say this was my least favorite. So remotely different it felt like a different author.
A magician walks into Robin Lockwood’s law firm. He’s looking for one of the founding partners who gave him some legal help in the past. He needs help with a patenting one of his magic tricks. Soon... that will be the least of the magic mans’ problems.
Since I have been enjoying this author’s work over the years, I will likely be back to pick up his next release. Hoping this is just a case of a one off.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC to read and review.
April 17, 2020
A Reasonable Doubt by Phillip Margolin is the third installment in the legal thriller Robin Lockwood series. Each book of this series really could be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel with each having the case involved wrapped up by the end. There is some character development that carries over from book to book however with all the main characters.
In the first book of the series readers were introduced to Robin Lockwood who had been just beginning as an assistant attorney and now she is back tackling her own cases after working with her mentor Regina Barrister. Now Robin is in her office when magician Robert Chesterfield walks in actually looking for Regina who had defended him 20 years before but instead offers to higher Robin. Robin questions whether she can help him but before she knows it she gets pulled into the magician’s life.
I’m counting this as another winner in the Robin Lockwood series from Phillip Margolin. The story still had that wonderful balance between investigating and court room scenes along now with what I found as a really interesting new case with it involving a magician and that world surrounding the stage and magic. Definitely still look forward to what ever will come next in this series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In the first book of the series readers were introduced to Robin Lockwood who had been just beginning as an assistant attorney and now she is back tackling her own cases after working with her mentor Regina Barrister. Now Robin is in her office when magician Robert Chesterfield walks in actually looking for Regina who had defended him 20 years before but instead offers to higher Robin. Robin questions whether she can help him but before she knows it she gets pulled into the magician’s life.
I’m counting this as another winner in the Robin Lockwood series from Phillip Margolin. The story still had that wonderful balance between investigating and court room scenes along now with what I found as a really interesting new case with it involving a magician and that world surrounding the stage and magic. Definitely still look forward to what ever will come next in this series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 6, 2020
Phillip Margolin returns with another great book in his new Robin Lockwood series, where sleight of hand is not the only trick on offer. With a wonderful story, set over many years, the plot thickens as the smoke gets in the reader’s eyes. Magic can be as deceptive as it is deceitful, which defence attorney Robin Lockwood learns when she is visited by a potential client one day. Robert Chesterfield enters the firm’s offices, looking for one of Lockwood’s fellow partners, who’s completed some legal work for him years before. As Chesterfield explains that he is a magician seeking to patent one of his dazzling tricks, Lockwood is sure that she cannot help, but wants to check a few things out before giving him a final response. She discovers that Chesterfield has a long history of butting heads with the law, having been a suspect in the murders of a number of people over the years. With this long list of people who had him in their sights, Chesterfield is by no means the most popular man around these parts of Oregon, or anywhere in the sensational magic community. When Chesterfield is performing one of his dazzling illusions in Las Vegas, before a large crowd of those who disliked him, something goes horribly wrong and he is discovered stabbed in the compartment. Lockwood is as baffled as anyone else, but is sure that the killer’s rage is fuelled by something that’s happened in the past. When a fellow magician is fingered for the crime, Lockwood agrees to defend him, using her time to piece together some of the past murders and skirmishes attributed to Robert Chesterfield, pulling back the curtain on some of the investigative reasoning. Might the killer have had a long-held grudge they wanted to exact, or is this all a bunch of smoke and mirrors, so a fellow magician could rise to prominence? Margolin weaves this tale to keep the reader enthralled as the story’s momentum picks up with each page turn. Recommended to those who have come to love Phillip Margolin’s legal thrillers, as well as the reader who enjoys the magic of a well-developed story.
I knew that I would be in for a treat when I got my hands on this book, though I was not sure how Margolin’s use of magic would be such a force throughout the plot. He paces the story over the present and not so distant past to weave a great backstory together, only to dismantle it in the latter portion of the book, as the killer of the famed Robert Chesterfield comes to light. Robin Lockwood takes centre stage in the story, though her protagonist role is more one of learner than active defence attorney through most of the story. Her backstory is kept on the shelf, but there are moments of development of her character, mostly in the form of personal connections than stunning reveals. The story centres around the eventual murder victim and how he created a persona of unliked and ungrateful, offering up a handful of solid suspects to his eventual murder. While the crime took place in the latter portion of the book, the build-up is thorough and leaves the reader wondering. Perhaps the only folly of this piece is that the criminal defence is quite compacted, as Robin Lockwood rushes to tie up loose ends throughout the latter chapters, rather than be forced to work herself out of a corner and pull her own rabbit out of a hat to save the client who’s hired her. All that being said, Phillip Margolin solidified her mastery of the art for me here with another wonderful book. I can only hope others will take the time to enjoy it as well.
Kudos, Mr. Margolin, for another legal winner. I am pleased to see all the tricks you used to pull the reader into the middle of this wonderful novel.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I knew that I would be in for a treat when I got my hands on this book, though I was not sure how Margolin’s use of magic would be such a force throughout the plot. He paces the story over the present and not so distant past to weave a great backstory together, only to dismantle it in the latter portion of the book, as the killer of the famed Robert Chesterfield comes to light. Robin Lockwood takes centre stage in the story, though her protagonist role is more one of learner than active defence attorney through most of the story. Her backstory is kept on the shelf, but there are moments of development of her character, mostly in the form of personal connections than stunning reveals. The story centres around the eventual murder victim and how he created a persona of unliked and ungrateful, offering up a handful of solid suspects to his eventual murder. While the crime took place in the latter portion of the book, the build-up is thorough and leaves the reader wondering. Perhaps the only folly of this piece is that the criminal defence is quite compacted, as Robin Lockwood rushes to tie up loose ends throughout the latter chapters, rather than be forced to work herself out of a corner and pull her own rabbit out of a hat to save the client who’s hired her. All that being said, Phillip Margolin solidified her mastery of the art for me here with another wonderful book. I can only hope others will take the time to enjoy it as well.
Kudos, Mr. Margolin, for another legal winner. I am pleased to see all the tricks you used to pull the reader into the middle of this wonderful novel.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
March 30, 2020
A decent end for a story long on repetition and short on an interesting, well organized plot. Thanks to the end, 5 of 10 stars.
March 12, 2020
This is the third book in the Robin Lockwood series, but it can be read as a standalone. However, I suggest that you not read the Prologue of this book because it gives away a key event. I have no idea why the author did something so stupid. Robin is a criminal defense lawyer, having joined the small Portland, Oregon firm just as its former partner Regina Barrister was forced to retire due to Alzheimer’s. Robin is also a former UFC fighter and always right about everything. I am not crazy about her perfection and I wish that Regina had remained the protagonist of the books.
In 1998, Regina successfully defended the illusionist Robert Chesterfield when he was accused of several murders. In 2020 he hires Robin to represent him with respect to the patent of a new illusion, “The Chamber of Death” which he hopes will be lucrative enough to erase his gambling debts. New crimes ensue. I liked this mystery that has sort of a cozy Agatha Christie feel to it with all of the suspects coming from a closed circle. Even the choice of murder weapon, poisoned chocolates, seems out of the past. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
In 1998, Regina successfully defended the illusionist Robert Chesterfield when he was accused of several murders. In 2020 he hires Robin to represent him with respect to the patent of a new illusion, “The Chamber of Death” which he hopes will be lucrative enough to erase his gambling debts. New crimes ensue. I liked this mystery that has sort of a cozy Agatha Christie feel to it with all of the suspects coming from a closed circle. Even the choice of murder weapon, poisoned chocolates, seems out of the past. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
March 6, 2020
It has been a while since I read a Phillip Margolin book and I was excited when I was approved to read A Reasonable Doubt. Little did I realise that this was the 3rd book in a series. For the most part I followed the story ok but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the earlier books.
Robin Lockwood is a very different character. She is a lawyer in a relationship with one of her colleagues. She is also an ex MMA fighter. When a former client of her former boss Regina asks for help she starts looking into his shady past. Robert Chesterfield has a colourful past and is now working as a magician.
The story jumps around in time telling Roberts story as well as Regina's This was a little confusing at times,
Thanks to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Robin Lockwood is a very different character. She is a lawyer in a relationship with one of her colleagues. She is also an ex MMA fighter. When a former client of her former boss Regina asks for help she starts looking into his shady past. Robert Chesterfield has a colourful past and is now working as a magician.
The story jumps around in time telling Roberts story as well as Regina's This was a little confusing at times,
Thanks to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
January 29, 2020
"A Reasonable Doubt" is the third novel in Margolin's Robin Lockwood legal thriller series. Robin is a young Perry Mason type criminal defense lawyer in a firm with a retired mentor Regina known as "the Sorceress" for how she won unwinnable cases. Robin is also a former MMA fighter who fought during law school. And she's dating her investigator. In this novel, we enter that sacred realm where law interacts with magic or more specifically a magician who somehow finds himself charged with murder. Magic tricks add an exciting element to the story. This is a quick-turning novel that can be finished in quite a short time. And light enough for a beach or airline read. Nevertheless, not quite a favorite.
May 5, 2020
Great addition to 1 of my favorite series! This is 1 where I don’t even need to read the description first! Actually when I went back & read my reviews for the first 2, I was surprised at exactly how perfectly they fit this book too! So all I’ll add is that the characters keep getting better so please start with the first!😊
March 30, 2020
Magician Robert Chestfield appears in Robin Lockwood's office looking for help in acquiring a patent for a new illusion he has created. She's not sure she can help , but promises to look into it. What she finds is that Chestfield, once charged with two murders and an attempted murder, was defended by a former colleague of Robins ... Regina Barrister.
The story takes place in back and forth fashion, so the reader gets detailed information about that time 2o years before, Regina did successfully defend him, and Chestfield went on about his life.
Now, 20 years later, he debuts his new trick ... disappears from a coffin ...and never reappears.
Is his disappearance tied to one of the many people who have good reason to hate him? Was he killed and his body disposed of, or did he use his considerable skills to engineer his own disappearance?
There are many with reason to want the man dead ... including his former wife and present wife... collectors for a Las Vegas casino where Chestfield owes a large amount of money ... another professional magician whose most popular illusion was outed by Chestfield ..... a man who was embezzled by Chestfield and was never charged ... the daughter of his first wife after her mother died under suspicious circumstances .. the list goes on and on. This was not a well-liked man.
A bit different from this author's earlier books, nonetheless, the plot was tightly woven with a story within a story. The man characters are skillfully drawn ... with most of the spotlight on Regina and Chestfield. Robin plays a minor part until closer to the end. The suspects are many and varied and they all bear watching very closely.
Many thanks to the author / St Martin's Press / Minotaur Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction/legal thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 16, 2020
First part of the book seems to be a legal thriller then it became a cozy mystery of sort. I love how convenient it was that "all suspects" who hated the magician bought front row seats to watch his show. The last part was so bad and cheesy I don’t know if I want to read another Robin Lockwood.
May 5, 2020
3.5 stars. A magician, Robert Chesterfield, came into Robin Lockwood's law office to ask her to represent him in filing for a patent for his new Chamber of Death magic illusion. Chesterfield had been represented bu the firm many years ago for a charge of murder. The story recounts the case against him back then and then currently.
A few scenes of good courtroom drama. Chesterfield is a despicable character. Everyone hated him so there are plenty of suspects who wanted him dead, making the mystery a real whodunit. I didn't guess the killer. The ending is full of action with Robin displaying her MMA fighting skills. A lot of the story focused on Chesterfield and I personally wanted to see more of the focus on Robin. However, the story was lively.
A few scenes of good courtroom drama. Chesterfield is a despicable character. Everyone hated him so there are plenty of suspects who wanted him dead, making the mystery a real whodunit. I didn't guess the killer. The ending is full of action with Robin displaying her MMA fighting skills. A lot of the story focused on Chesterfield and I personally wanted to see more of the focus on Robin. However, the story was lively.
July 26, 2021
A Reasonable Doubt
by Phillip Margolin
Well, of COURSE, this is the 3rd book in a legal series for an attorney named Robin Lockwood. I read it as a standalone and it worked out ok. The standard formula of enough character development that new jump-on readers can figure out the players, but you really come for the action.
Lockwood is a tough attorney that thinks she is a one-woman swat team to the displeasure of her live-in boyfriend and investigator. But the plot is fairly intricate with several twists and turns and a time gap that has to be filled in. Magic is the focus of some of the characters and Margolin uses the foundation of arrest, smoke, and mirrors to hide the culprit until the very end. As our suspects are murdered off, it is only then that Magonlin begins to blow away the smoke and show the real villain.
Some of the MAGIC of this compact book is its well-developed story, the rest is the thread of magic throughout the book. The unlikeableness of the main murder victim offers no shortage of suspects and the fact that the death mimics the dead guy's previous disappearance is certainly a Kudo to the author. Finally, I liked how this book jumped into the plot, did what it needed, and then jumped out. I assume that Ms. Lockwood moved on to the rest of her day!
4 stars
Happy Reading!
by Phillip Margolin
Well, of COURSE, this is the 3rd book in a legal series for an attorney named Robin Lockwood. I read it as a standalone and it worked out ok. The standard formula of enough character development that new jump-on readers can figure out the players, but you really come for the action.
Lockwood is a tough attorney that thinks she is a one-woman swat team to the displeasure of her live-in boyfriend and investigator. But the plot is fairly intricate with several twists and turns and a time gap that has to be filled in. Magic is the focus of some of the characters and Margolin uses the foundation of arrest, smoke, and mirrors to hide the culprit until the very end. As our suspects are murdered off, it is only then that Magonlin begins to blow away the smoke and show the real villain.
Some of the MAGIC of this compact book is its well-developed story, the rest is the thread of magic throughout the book. The unlikeableness of the main murder victim offers no shortage of suspects and the fact that the death mimics the dead guy's previous disappearance is certainly a Kudo to the author. Finally, I liked how this book jumped into the plot, did what it needed, and then jumped out. I assume that Ms. Lockwood moved on to the rest of her day!
4 stars
Happy Reading!
April 3, 2020
I like this author. I've read many of his books. He does his characters justice. They are detailed and they feel natural with dialogue and actions. I love when that goes hand in hand.
Even though I enjoy Margolin's descriptive writing, sadly, this was barely 3 stars. It was mostly the story. Some of this was predictable and repetitive. Overall, I liked this but it wasn't my favorite.
Even though I enjoy Margolin's descriptive writing, sadly, this was barely 3 stars. It was mostly the story. Some of this was predictable and repetitive. Overall, I liked this but it wasn't my favorite.
April 16, 2020
This is the third book in a legal thriller series featuring lawyer Robin Lockwood, but it is fine as a standalone.
Robin Lockwood is a young partner in a small law firm in Portland, Oregon handling criminal matters. As the book opens she is hired by Robert Chesterfield, a man who previously used Robin’s now-retired mentor, Regina Barrister, for his criminal matters. The reason he needs criminal defense relatively frequently is because the dead bodies of his enemies tend to pile up around him.
There has never been enough evidence to convict Chesterfield for these deaths without a reasonable doubt. Not only has he engaged talented lawyers, but Chesterfield is a magician, and knows how to manipulate perceptions of reality in his favor.
He tries to employ Robin to get him a patent for his latest illusion, “The Chamber of Death,” but Robin refuses; her firm does not specialize in patent law but criminal law. He asks her to keep the retainer, because he may yet need her anyway.
Chesterfield invites Robin to see his debut of The Chamber of Death, and disappears after the trick. But that isn’t the only mystery he is part of, and before long, the retainer comes in handy.
As Robin searches for answers, her own life is in danger, and it clear that the ability to cheat death for some may translate into actual mortality for others.
Evalution: There are too many characters to follow, and a number of subplots that are not resolved. My main objection however was to the stilted dialogue - it seemed clunky and lifeless to me. Magic fans might appreciate the story, however; you do get to learn some tricks of the trade.
Robin Lockwood is a young partner in a small law firm in Portland, Oregon handling criminal matters. As the book opens she is hired by Robert Chesterfield, a man who previously used Robin’s now-retired mentor, Regina Barrister, for his criminal matters. The reason he needs criminal defense relatively frequently is because the dead bodies of his enemies tend to pile up around him.
There has never been enough evidence to convict Chesterfield for these deaths without a reasonable doubt. Not only has he engaged talented lawyers, but Chesterfield is a magician, and knows how to manipulate perceptions of reality in his favor.
He tries to employ Robin to get him a patent for his latest illusion, “The Chamber of Death,” but Robin refuses; her firm does not specialize in patent law but criminal law. He asks her to keep the retainer, because he may yet need her anyway.
Chesterfield invites Robin to see his debut of The Chamber of Death, and disappears after the trick. But that isn’t the only mystery he is part of, and before long, the retainer comes in handy.
As Robin searches for answers, her own life is in danger, and it clear that the ability to cheat death for some may translate into actual mortality for others.
Evalution: There are too many characters to follow, and a number of subplots that are not resolved. My main objection however was to the stilted dialogue - it seemed clunky and lifeless to me. Magic fans might appreciate the story, however; you do get to learn some tricks of the trade.
June 29, 2020
This is the third book in Phillip Margolin’s Robin Lockwood series. Robin Lockwood is a bright, young criminal defense attorney in Portland, Oregon. She is one tough cookie. Not only does she put up a good fight in court...In college she also fought in a ring...(think UFC!) Her mentor and retired lawyer Regina Barrister handled a case for magician Robert Chesterfield in the 1990’s. He was accused of poisoning two individuals and possibly having a hand in his wife’s death. After staging a convincing disappearing act he is back with a whole new set of legal troubles....this time with Robin Lockwood taking the lead. I’m enjoying this series very much! This was probably my least favorite of the three so far....Chesterfield was a scumbag and I just didn’t really connect with the amount of magic that is referenced in the book. {Although, I live in Las Vegas...not a huge fan of the whole magician “act”} This is definitely a promising series!
3-stars! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
3-stars! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
November 5, 2020
I've enjoyed the Robin Lockwood books, but this was the best one yet. A legal thriller combined with magic!
Magician Robert Chesterfield, linked to three murders and suspicious deaths years ago, disappears while debuting a new act to a private audience at his home. Thought to be dead, he reappears to perform the same act on the magic circuit. The act, named the Chamber of Death, calls for the magician to escape a locked coffin filled with deadly snakes and scorpions only this time he doesn't because he's been stabbed through the heart.
Figuring out who killed Chesterfield presents a challenge as almost everyone at the show has an axe to grind with the magician. Margolin does a masterful job of weaving the magician's past with the present to reveal a most unexpected killer.
Magician Robert Chesterfield, linked to three murders and suspicious deaths years ago, disappears while debuting a new act to a private audience at his home. Thought to be dead, he reappears to perform the same act on the magic circuit. The act, named the Chamber of Death, calls for the magician to escape a locked coffin filled with deadly snakes and scorpions only this time he doesn't because he's been stabbed through the heart.
Figuring out who killed Chesterfield presents a challenge as almost everyone at the show has an axe to grind with the magician. Margolin does a masterful job of weaving the magician's past with the present to reveal a most unexpected killer.
July 23, 2025
4 Stars. The first two in the Robin Lockwood series were closer to five. But it's still good! It's about magic, Las Vegas style, although the show and murder take place in Oregon. I enjoy magic and once saw Canadian Doug Henning on Broadway. Awesome, although I didn't vote for him when he and his Natural Law Party of Canada ran years later in my federal riding. Unlike illusionism, secret ballots are real. Robert Chesterfield had been a client of Regina Barrister, the founder of the criminal law firm for which Lockwood is now a partner. [Note Canadians say Re-j(eye)-na as in Regina, Saskatchewan, but on audio it was Re-j[ee],na.] She is now retired with the onset of dementia but still plays a role. She had successfully defended Chesterfield on a poisoned box of chocolates murder charge years ago, and he wants the firm and Lockwood to help him patent his new trick, the Chamber of Death. It features him disappearing from a coffin full of snakes and scorpions! How did his three lovely stage assistants at the Portland preview-for-Las Vegas not see see what happened before he was found truly dead in the coffin? Lockwood defends the accused in a dramatic fashion. (Jul2025)
April 19, 2020
Margolin is usually an excellent writer, but not this time. The beginning of the book is boring and cliche ridden. The finish is better but still quite cliche heavy. This book feels as if it were a script for the Lifetime Movie Network. It just never jelled. I am sure Margolin will have better days in the future.
March 3, 2020
Thank you, Minotaur Books, for my copy of A Reasonable Doubt in exchange for my honest review. This title publishes March 10, 2020.
This was my second book by Margolin and the second in this series, featuring badass female protagonist, Robin Lockwood. This was the third book in the Lockwood series but could easily be read as a standalone, I had only read book 2 beforehand and even then was totally fine not having read the first book. I have now purchased the first book in this series and look forward to reading how it all started.
A fun and engaging read, this book has all the ingredients for the perfect binge: interesting characters and a plot filled with suspense and mystery. Dubbed a legal thriller, A Reasonable Doubt follows Robin Lockwood on her chase to find a killer who’s most recent crimes were copycats of ones committed many years prior. A cat and mouse chase that will have you guessing until the end.
Margolin’s fluid writing in conjunction with short chapters made this a quick read for me. The storyline jumps around a bit more than what I’d usually prefer but once it all comes together you will appreciate the story as a whole.
Robin Lockwood continues to be one of my favourite female leads and I look forward (and hoping) to see where Margolin takes her next.
This was my second book by Margolin and the second in this series, featuring badass female protagonist, Robin Lockwood. This was the third book in the Lockwood series but could easily be read as a standalone, I had only read book 2 beforehand and even then was totally fine not having read the first book. I have now purchased the first book in this series and look forward to reading how it all started.
A fun and engaging read, this book has all the ingredients for the perfect binge: interesting characters and a plot filled with suspense and mystery. Dubbed a legal thriller, A Reasonable Doubt follows Robin Lockwood on her chase to find a killer who’s most recent crimes were copycats of ones committed many years prior. A cat and mouse chase that will have you guessing until the end.
Margolin’s fluid writing in conjunction with short chapters made this a quick read for me. The storyline jumps around a bit more than what I’d usually prefer but once it all comes together you will appreciate the story as a whole.
Robin Lockwood continues to be one of my favourite female leads and I look forward (and hoping) to see where Margolin takes her next.
March 18, 2020
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Marla Warren
With this third installment in his Robin Lockwood series, Phillip Margolin yet again presents an exciting mystery full of engaging suspects, unique twists and reveals, and both the brilliant Robin Lockwood and her still-full-of-surprises mentor Regina Barrister. While this is referred to as the Robin Lockwood “series,” in truth all three books also work as stand-alone novels. Reading the series gives you extra background on the main characters, but each book, The Third Victim, The Perfect Alibi, and A Reasonable Doubt, has a self-contained mystery. A solution is reached in each book, and the next book starts an entirely new mystery, so it is easy for a reader to begin at any point.
Robin Lockwood is a senior partner in a well-respected law firm and a highly skilled criminal defense attorney, who also was a Mixed Martial Arts fighter while she was in law school at Yale. Those looking for books with a female character who is written with a perfect balance of brain and brawn, need look no further. Robin is talented, and confident in her abilities, but she is also modest and well-liked in her professional circles.
In A Reasonable Doubt, Robin meets with a client who is actually looking for Robin’s former boss, and mentor, Regina Barrister, but upon finding that she has retired, he seeks Robin’s help with a unique situation. He wants to patent a magic trick. The client is well known magician Robert Chesterfield, who Regina had successfully defended against murder charges almost 20 years earlier. The first third of the book revisits that shocking story as Regina recounts all the details for Robin.
Though unable to patent his trick (The Chamber of Death), Chesterfield debuts it in front of a crowd, with unbelievable results. Though no longer serving as Chesterfield’s lawyer, Robin is tangled up in the case and must help put all the pieces together, sorting through Chesterfield’s long list of enemies, from mobsters to other magicians.
Perhaps best categorised as a legal-thriller or as mystery-suspense, A Reasonable Doubt does not go down the gory, dark path that some thrillers do. It is instead the kind of mystery put together with surgical precision. Full of thrills and excitement, the Robin Lockwood books from Phillip Margolin are perfect for those who loved Angie Kim’s Miracle Creek or Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent.
The surprises never end, making this a true page-turner, in every sense of the word, form beginning to end! Each Robin Lockwood book presents a truly unique case, which has obviously been created by (and solved by) a masterful hand.
As a side note, the audio-versions of all three of the Robin Lockwood books are read by Therese Plummer, who does a fantastic job.
With this third installment in his Robin Lockwood series, Phillip Margolin yet again presents an exciting mystery full of engaging suspects, unique twists and reveals, and both the brilliant Robin Lockwood and her still-full-of-surprises mentor Regina Barrister. While this is referred to as the Robin Lockwood “series,” in truth all three books also work as stand-alone novels. Reading the series gives you extra background on the main characters, but each book, The Third Victim, The Perfect Alibi, and A Reasonable Doubt, has a self-contained mystery. A solution is reached in each book, and the next book starts an entirely new mystery, so it is easy for a reader to begin at any point.
Robin Lockwood is a senior partner in a well-respected law firm and a highly skilled criminal defense attorney, who also was a Mixed Martial Arts fighter while she was in law school at Yale. Those looking for books with a female character who is written with a perfect balance of brain and brawn, need look no further. Robin is talented, and confident in her abilities, but she is also modest and well-liked in her professional circles.
In A Reasonable Doubt, Robin meets with a client who is actually looking for Robin’s former boss, and mentor, Regina Barrister, but upon finding that she has retired, he seeks Robin’s help with a unique situation. He wants to patent a magic trick. The client is well known magician Robert Chesterfield, who Regina had successfully defended against murder charges almost 20 years earlier. The first third of the book revisits that shocking story as Regina recounts all the details for Robin.
Though unable to patent his trick (The Chamber of Death), Chesterfield debuts it in front of a crowd, with unbelievable results. Though no longer serving as Chesterfield’s lawyer, Robin is tangled up in the case and must help put all the pieces together, sorting through Chesterfield’s long list of enemies, from mobsters to other magicians.
Perhaps best categorised as a legal-thriller or as mystery-suspense, A Reasonable Doubt does not go down the gory, dark path that some thrillers do. It is instead the kind of mystery put together with surgical precision. Full of thrills and excitement, the Robin Lockwood books from Phillip Margolin are perfect for those who loved Angie Kim’s Miracle Creek or Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent.
The surprises never end, making this a true page-turner, in every sense of the word, form beginning to end! Each Robin Lockwood book presents a truly unique case, which has obviously been created by (and solved by) a masterful hand.
As a side note, the audio-versions of all three of the Robin Lockwood books are read by Therese Plummer, who does a fantastic job.
March 1, 2020
I have loved Margolin's previous novels and I love magic so this seemed to be a perfect fit! I did not realize, however, when I requested it that it was number 3 in a series of Robin Lockwood books. That was my mistake. While I enjoyed the storyline, there was so much action (always a good thing) and so much dialogue that I didn't get to know the characters well enough to really care about any of them. I do love a good book that has introspection so I feel connected to someone. So yes, it was a great plot and did keep me guessing, I just wasn't the best audience as I wish I'd read the previous two first. That being said, Margolin is still one of my favorites!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
April 25, 2020
I like this series, but it left me a little flat. I wanted to know where he was! But he was not a likeable character.
October 20, 2021
DNF. Is this for millennials?
February 14, 2020
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview A Reasonable Doubt by Phillip Margolin. This is a series book, and I have read others with these lead characters. This book does stand on its own as well. A thriller, however, Margolin takes the reader into the legal space without too much jargon.
Returning is Regina Barrister and Robin Lockwood - strong female leads with interesting back stories.
Murder, mayhem, mystery - very good read - 3.5 stars.
Returning is Regina Barrister and Robin Lockwood - strong female leads with interesting back stories.
Murder, mayhem, mystery - very good read - 3.5 stars.
September 1, 2020
Holy cow. I started this book today at noon and just finished it at 8:30. Every time I put it down to do something else...bake cookies, check the garden...I came right back and dived back into it.
Robin is a terrific character. I did figure out who the murdered was but it was fun getting there and seeing how Robin got there, too.
This is a wonderful series!!!!
Robin is a terrific character. I did figure out who the murdered was but it was fun getting there and seeing how Robin got there, too.
This is a wonderful series!!!!
October 9, 2020
I’m a huge fan of this series but this was my least favorite so far. Still a good read but not quite to the bar of the first two books. This one had a lot of characters and it was hard to keep track of all the new names which don’t seem like they will stick around. I’m looking forward to book 4.
June 7, 2024
Definitely went thru a reading pause in the middle of this book 🫠 it was a good book I did like it & the connections to the past. 2.5 stars
October 5, 2020
If I could give this book no stars, I would.
Margolin is probably the worst author I have ever read. If I didn't have severe ocd that promoted me to finish books/series I wouldn't have made it even halfway through the first. But alas I was not so lucky. In the acknowledgements, Margolin thanks his editor, saying, "she always steers [him] in the right direction and is never wrong". She was wrong in not burning this pile of trash and probably everything he has written before and since. He is repetative, mysoginistic, condescending, and annoying. She is either horrible at her job for not seeing it, and at the very least, insisting there was not enough substance beyond a short story narrative, or she has no balls and couldnt tell her the publisher or author the truth. Trash author, trash books. I beg you not to pick up anything with this man's name on it. You'll thank me later.
Margolin is probably the worst author I have ever read. If I didn't have severe ocd that promoted me to finish books/series I wouldn't have made it even halfway through the first. But alas I was not so lucky. In the acknowledgements, Margolin thanks his editor, saying, "she always steers [him] in the right direction and is never wrong". She was wrong in not burning this pile of trash and probably everything he has written before and since. He is repetative, mysoginistic, condescending, and annoying. She is either horrible at her job for not seeing it, and at the very least, insisting there was not enough substance beyond a short story narrative, or she has no balls and couldnt tell her the publisher or author the truth. Trash author, trash books. I beg you not to pick up anything with this man's name on it. You'll thank me later.
March 10, 2020
A young lawyer in Portland, Oregon is asked to represent a magician and is murdered soon thereafter. Because of her own interest in magic, she is intrigued by the case. The characters are fairly one-sided and not very interesting and the dialogue is mundane. The development of the actual murderer is clever but there were too far too many characters introduced than was necessary.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to its publication.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to its publication.
April 2, 2022
A Reasonable Doubt by Phillip Margolin is the third installment in the legal thriller Robin Lockwood series, but can be read as a standalone story. Robin Lockwood is a young criminal defense attorney and partner in a prominent law firm in Portland, Oregon. She is also a former MMA fighter and can take care of herself. Regina Barrister was her mentor and boss, but was forced to retire with the onset of Alzheimer’s. Robert Chesterfield, one of Regina's former clients shows up looking for her assistance to acquire a patent for a magic illusion. Robin talks to Regina about Robert, and finds out the story behind his past case. When he performs his new trick, he disappears and can not be found. Did he run? Is he dead? Does any of what is happening now have anything to do with the deaths from twenty years ago?
The story is old in two timelines as we find out what happened twenty years, which is when the legal scenes take place. The present story unfolds with Robin and her investigator trying to sort our what happened to Robert during his illusion. Robert is not well liked and there are many people who would want him dead, many from the old case, but also another magician and some questionable investors. This book was not so much a legal thriller, like the previous two books, but a mystery. The two main characters, Robin and Chesterfield were well developed and I was rooting for Robin to solve the mystery and take down the bad guy. Although I did enjoy this story, I hope the next book goes back to a more legal thriller theme. I am enjoying Thérèse Plummer's narration of this series. She continues to do an amazing job. Her voices, expression and pacing made this book a wonderful listening experience.
The story is old in two timelines as we find out what happened twenty years, which is when the legal scenes take place. The present story unfolds with Robin and her investigator trying to sort our what happened to Robert during his illusion. Robert is not well liked and there are many people who would want him dead, many from the old case, but also another magician and some questionable investors. This book was not so much a legal thriller, like the previous two books, but a mystery. The two main characters, Robin and Chesterfield were well developed and I was rooting for Robin to solve the mystery and take down the bad guy. Although I did enjoy this story, I hope the next book goes back to a more legal thriller theme. I am enjoying Thérèse Plummer's narration of this series. She continues to do an amazing job. Her voices, expression and pacing made this book a wonderful listening experience.
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