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Daniel Pike #2

Court of Killers

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The court of public opinion found her guilty. But one attorney resolved to change the verdict…

Attorney Daniel Pike knows the dire consequences of crossing the government. So when rising political star Camila Perez faces charges in a gruesome quadruple homicide, his instincts sense a frame by powerful rivals. But Dan and the Last Chance Lawyers may have a hopeless case when the police discover damning evidence scrawled at the crime scene in blood...

Sorting through incriminating clues in the horrifying murders, Dan pieces together a dark conspiracy. But just when it seems he might have a rebuttal, a social media leak sparks a nationwide outcry for conviction.

Can Dan foil the vicious scheme before Perez and her career go up in flames??

Court of Killers is a standout book in the gripping Daniel Pike legal thriller series. If you like intricately plotted suspense, gritty courtroom drama and surprising twists and turns, then you’ll love William Bernhardt’s captivating novel.

Buy Court of Killers to watch a determined lawyer unmask a murderer today!

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2019

917 people are currently reading
582 people want to read

About the author

William Bernhardt

99 books517 followers
William Bernhardt is the author of over sixty books, including the bestselling Daniel Pike and Ben Kincaid legal thrillers, the historical novels Challengers of the Dust and Nemesis, three books of poetry, and the ten Red Sneaker books on fiction writing.

In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring writers. The Center hosts an annual writers conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. More than three dozen of Bernhardt’s students have subsequently published with major houses. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.

Bernhardt has received the Southern Writers Guild’s Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (University of Pennsylvania) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (Oklahoma State), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." He has been nominated for the Oklahoma Book Award eighteen times in three different categories, and has won the award twice. Library Journal called him “the master of the courtroom drama.” The Vancouver Sun called him “the American equivalent of P.G. Wodehouse and John Mortimer.”

In addition to his novels and poetry, he has written plays, a musical (book and score), humor, children stories, biography, and puzzles. He has edited two anthologies (Legal Briefs and Natural Suspect) as fundraisers for The Nature Conservancy and the Children’s Legal Defense Fund. OSU named him “Oklahoma’s Renaissance Man.”

In his spare time, he has enjoyed surfing, digging for dinosaurs, trekking through the Himalayas, paragliding, scuba diving, caving, zip-lining over the canopy of the Costa Rican rain forest, and jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet. In 2013, he became a Jeopardy! champion winning over $20,000.

When Bernhardt delivered the keynote address at the San Francisco Writers Conference, chairman Michael Larsen noted that in addition to penning novels, Bernhardt can “write a sonnet, play a sonata, plant a garden, try a lawsuit, teach a class, cook a gourmet meal, beat you at Scrabble, and work the New York Times crossword in under five minutes.”

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5 stars
999 (45%)
4 stars
798 (36%)
3 stars
298 (13%)
2 stars
60 (2%)
1 star
27 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Matt.
4,924 reviews13.1k followers
September 16, 2019
The latest novel from William Bernhardt is sure to intrigue many, as he mixes a strong legal thriller with some underlying societal issues. Daniel Pike is happy to still be working with his ensemble of legal minds. When a new case comes to the firm, Pike’s faceless superior presents it as campaign finance issue that has plagued the mayor of St. Petersburg. Armed with his legal toolbox, Pike and his associate make their way to the office of Camilla Pérez, who feels that she is being targeted by the alt-right for her views. What begins as a financial matter soon goes south when the police show up to arrest her for murder. It would appear that four men with loose connections to Pérez were found in an industrial oven of a bakery she owns. The evidence is piling up, but Pike is not afraid of this, sure that there is an explanation. While preparing the case for trial, Pike is the target of a few close encounters by someone behind the wheel, with threats uttered and warnings offered. He’s also set to face off against the one member of the D.A.’s office not afraid to cross swords with him, making this a case that few will want to miss. With a judge set in his ways about a woman’s place, the case moves forward, a powerful man hiding in the background and pulling the strings. Pike will have to use all his efforts to show that Mayor Pérez is not only innocent, but the victim of a smear campaign, both political and sexual in nature. In a courtroom setting that keeps the reader guessing until the jury comes forth with a verdict, the reader is set to see how Bernhardt can develop a case with ease. Recommended to those who love William Bernhardt’s writing, as well as the reader who finds solace in courtroom/legal thrillers.

I have long been a fan of William Bernhardt and his work. I remember binge reading much of his Ben Kincaid series one summer and cannot get enough of his work, when he is not busy teaching the next generation of fiction writers with his various seminars. Daniel Pike is again in the middle of a trying case, but he is ready for whatever is tossed before him. His life seems to be better grounded than in the debut novel, though it is his prowess in the courtroom that keeps the reader intrigued throughout. There are certainly strong personal development moments throughout, but Pike is a man on a mission and nothing will stand in his way of success. Other characters on both sides of the legal argument make a great impact throughout this novel, including those who would see Camilla Pérez suffer for being a strong woman. Bernhardt is able to convey many themes through the characters he’s chosen, which the reader will discover when when take the time to read the book attentively. The story is decent and the development of the plot keeps the reader wanting to know a little more. The true version of events is there for all to see, but it takes a highly attentive reader to piece things together before the sound of the final gavel. I am eager to see what is to come with the third novel, something Bernhardt promises is set for release in November 2019.

Kudos, Mr. Bernhardt, for a great piece. I am eager to see what else you have in store for your fans, a group that is surely growing with each strong book you release.

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/...
Profile Image for Ray Jamiolkowski.
62 reviews
January 18, 2020
Even Better than Ben

I loved the Ben Kincaid series and all of the characters, but Daniel Pike and the team are even better, the story lines stronger and the research is outstanding. Bravo!
Profile Image for Valleri.
1,023 reviews48 followers
June 16, 2021
Are you in dire need of legal assistance? Call Mr. K and the Last Chance Lawyers!!

Like I mentioned in my review of The Last Chance Lawyer, I've long been a fan of Mr. Bernhardt's writing and I'm finding this series just as enjoyable as I did the Ben Kincaid series. Fair warning, though: Court of Killers has some gruesome descriptions in it. And, as in the first book, this one has some left-leaning societal issues.

Hands down, my favorite character in this book was Gloria Culpepper, who was a witness for the defense. Go, Gloria!!! (Maybe that's partly because she reminds me a wee bit of myself.😂) On the other hand, my least favorite character was Judge Hayes, just as it was supposed to be. What a misogynistic dinosaur!

I love the humor Mr. Bernhardt includes in his books - and it's interesting to see how the members of the Last Chance Lawyers team are developing. I'm eager to get my hands on Trial by Blood!!

Profile Image for Cindy B. .
3,899 reviews219 followers
November 10, 2020
Nicely plotted, clearly narrated by author. Pronoun changes (mid sentence - consistent throughout series — sloppy editing or ??) do distract from reading enjoyment. Without these 4 stars.
87 reviews
January 6, 2020
Book was a continuation of Book 1. Reading both books have been thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining.
Profile Image for Ellen Behrens.
Author 9 books21 followers
June 8, 2023
About a third of the way through this novel I hunted down my review of the first Daniel Pike Legal Thriller ("The Last Chance Lawyer") to see why I'd bought this one. I loved the first book in this series, but really had to tough it through this one.

Pike's a little more likeable in this book and it's nice to see Bernhardt write the character's efforts to improve himself, but he seemed less able to make those careful observations pay (which is what this character's special skill is supposed to be); if I can figure out who dunnit way before the "surprise" reveal, then the author is missing something.

I won't give anything away here, but I will pick at something else that bothered me and cost this book a higher rating. The central crime involves a bakery oven. This is important and is mentioned many times, but in all those mentions it's never described. How big was this oven? How was it configured? (Important for buying into the premise of the crime.) I kept waiting for there to be a bit more information, but there wasn't, so I could never really picture in my head the crime unfolding. It's a horrific crime, and Bernhardt doesn't shy away from sharing the ghastly descriptions of the aftermath, but the essential information is lacking.

Sadly, that's true for much of the rest of the book as well. We have pages and pages of dialogue--but the characters aren't identified and I often had to re-read sections to figure out I was supposed to assume "He" meant Pike, even when the male character previously referenced wasn't Pike.

Characters had conversations in vacuums -- a little atmosphere around the dialogue always helps create a more believable scene.

Bernhardt knows all this, which tells me this book was quickly written and sloppily edited (or sloppily written, if we want to place the blame on the author instead of the overworked, underpaid editor).

While these seem like technical flaws, they're problems that leave a reader trying to imagine the scene--never a good thing, as it means we have to work at suspending our disbelief, we have to concentrate on being absorbed by the story, which never happened to me as I read this book.

What's really unfortunate is these books are written in such a way that this book tells you how things were resolved in the earlier book; the third book reveals how things turned out in the second book (I've started the third in the series, so I can see the pattern). So... note to potential readers: don't read these out of order unless you want the endings spoiled.
Profile Image for Sharon.
1,914 reviews
October 5, 2021
Though I didn't really know what to expect, I'll say this was a very different lawyer book. Daniel Pike, attorney at law is employed by Mr K, whom he doesn't know but takes cases from. Very, very special, potentially unwinnable cases.

His latest case, Camilla Perez, mayor of St. Petersburg, owner of bakery where murder takes place along with old flame of deceased. Pretty damning, yes? Coupled with the obvious dislike some citizens hold Camilla in, it's going to be a tough case to win. It's a very public, horrible murder, not just one but four bodies baked in a huge bakery oven. Disgusting, you bet. The fact that there's a string to Camilla for at least 3 of the four is extremely damning and then prosecution wants the death penalty for her.

So it's not looking good for Daniel, not at all. When he gets Camilla out on bail the threats start. Not only to Camilla but to Daniel as well with real physical danger.

You gotta wonder why he continues but he does.

I was disturbed by the violence in this story and found myself flipping past some of the description.

My first and maybe my last Daniel Pike.
20 reviews
July 26, 2024
It’s fine. Campy. Definitely reached the realm of unbelievable, but I suppose that’s necessary to keep the excitement going? It’s kinda like watching CSI - you start to roll your eyes at just how lucky and smart the leads are.

I am not a fan of the main character Dan Pike, he comes off as a total know it all douchebag. The side characters are fine but fairly one-dimensional. I do very much like that the author goes above and beyond to highlight female inequality and other social issues. That said…. Is that what all his books are going to be riding on?

I do think I’ll read more of this series - more as a popcorn read than for quality. They are fast, predictable, and entertaining for now.
Profile Image for Judi Haley.
1,373 reviews6 followers
April 8, 2021
I love this series. This is the 2nd. Daniel Pike is one of 4 partners at the Last Chance Legal firm. It is run by a man only known by Mr. K. They have never meet him, just video and get their assignments. All 4 of each of the partners has their own speciality and Dan is the one that tries the cases.

This one, Dan is defending the Mayor. She has been accused of murdering 4 men. Great courtroom drama, which I love. I love the way Dan always figures it out. I didn’t.

Don’t miss this one if you like action, laughs and a great courtroom drama.
Profile Image for Helen.
1,205 reviews
August 26, 2024
Somebody is trying to frame the mayor of St. Petersburg for murder but Daniel Pike is on the case.
The story is fast-paced and the courtroom drama was interesting, as I would expect it to be since William Bernhardt is a lawyer.

However, the set up, which continues in book 3, is comic-bookish. On the good side, you have Pike's boss, a super rich guy who doesn't reveal his name or face. On the evil side, you have a super rich guy who would like to run the town and hates Pike for getting in his way. He sends bad guys to beat up and threaten Pike.
10 reviews
March 23, 2021
This was a great legal thriller, much like the first book in the Dan Pike series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story - it kept me wondering how Dan and his colleagues could possibly get the jury to say “not guilty”. But what did keep bothering me were all the typo’s and grammar error distractions throughout the book. I���m not sure if someone actually proofread it before it was published. I still give the book five stars though - loved the story.
Profile Image for Grace George.
58 reviews
December 4, 2025
Probably appreciated this one less after the the stars in my eyes were still shining for the first one. Appreciated how there’s elements carried forward from the first book but how the case is completely different and a bit more complex since you know the characters. Many new words learnt in these two books. Think I’ll give it a rest before picking up the third to make sure I treasure it for what it is
6,296 reviews82 followers
August 7, 2020
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

A book that takes place in modern times, but has an attitude stuck in 1972.

A defense lawyer, who doesn't even pretend to care whether he releases killers, is on the the case of a liberal politician, much like AOC, only from Florida. Of course, she's been framed.

Good for a flashback.
4 reviews
July 10, 2022
Unpredictable!

This series is really taking me into the lives of intensely different lawyers put together for justice. This second book in the series is wild. I had no idea where it was going it was even wacky at times but the courtroom and events after were a phenomenal fun ending! Unfortunately I now have to start book three this series is addicting!
Profile Image for Michael Gierlach.
186 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2023
It was an entertaining read, but the real bad guy was obvious even to me by page 40, and there was at least one sloppy (for an experienced author) moment where a character was included that shouldn’t have been in the scene based on the previous chapter. I enjoy this author but it wasn’t one of his better efforts, IMO.
Profile Image for Quentin Feduchin.
413 reviews12 followers
February 4, 2021
I read the first last year, it seemed pretty good so I bought the second, "Daniel Pike #2".
Pretty good mystery following horrible murders; I think each author tries to "up the anti" on the last one..
It's about a city mayor, a woman, lots of male chauvinism, unfair stuff to oust the female power figure, unfair court case, all the good stuff.
You'll enjoy it.
35 reviews
August 22, 2021
Another spell binding legal story

I had no idea who was the guilty party, til the end. Well told, exciting and it felt like I was in the courtroom. A great read for courtroom traffics.
Profile Image for ChristyT  .
140 reviews5 followers
August 23, 2021
What a complete pile of nonsensical gibberish. Aside from the political leanings of the author which he feels the need to mention and generally can destroy a book for me, the premise is off the wall ridiculous, the characters are totally undeveloped and the supposedly witty repartee is tedious.
47 reviews
November 7, 2021
It did have you.......

Half way through the book , I really thought Camila did have something do with the murders, and had someone to help her. All the cards was stacked against her. A 👍 book.
62 reviews
November 20, 2021
Superb!

What a great book. I loved the court room drama, great dialogue, and characters that are believable. Terrific ending. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!


3 reviews
August 11, 2022
Good read

It was an enjoyable read. Not sure that more people weren't held accountable I would recommend it. I'm sure my granddaughter will like it, she enjoys reading as well as her Grammy.
Profile Image for Pamela Ciccolini .
255 reviews11 followers
August 17, 2023
I do enjoy the main character Daniel Pike and the court scenes are interesting. This story line was a bit far fetched for me but because of the likable lead Attorney and main character along with the court scenes, it moved fast and kept my interest
Profile Image for Tricia Gardella.
Author 61 books23 followers
August 28, 2023
Great read.

I think what I’m enjoying most about William Bernhardt’s Daniel Pike series is how Bernhardt builds around a theme—this time women’s rights. Lots of food for thought. Well written, smooth flowing and engaging.
58 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2024
good story

Not bad, but, a little too many extreme crimes being investigated by too many crooked people. Or people committing crimes against high profile citizens and nothing being done about it.
25 reviews3 followers
August 24, 2025
Interesting; thoroughly researched; characters with ' human' instead of ' super' human qualities. The compelling motion of the novel keeps every page turning and fresh. I'm very glad to have a new, go-to author
31 reviews
September 28, 2025
Second book in the Last Chance Lawyers series. Not as good as the first one, The client this time is not really without other resources, as she is mayor. The villain, when revealed, is not really believable. But I’ll keep reading the series, to see what comes in the next book.
1,216 reviews3 followers
Read
April 23, 2020
Listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. I’m a huge fan of the Ben Kincaid series...I think Mr. Bernhardt has another winner on his hands.
555 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2020
Snuck in another ‘lawyer/courtroom’ book. Enjoyed him defending a feisty woman mayor. Set up next book in epilogue, interesting.
1 review
Read
January 12, 2021
A real "page" turner.

I can't wait to read more about Daniel Pike and anything written by William Bernhardt. A very enjoyable and mysterious read
40 reviews2 followers
May 14, 2021
Easy read, doesn’t make you think too hard and a fun cast if characters
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews

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