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Fresh Start
A secret family legacy becomes a ticking time bomb ...
Skyscraper developer, Quincy Witherman, has continued his family's two-hundred-year practice of hiding assets in Switzerland. Now, needing protection from his creditors, he hires Kansas City bankruptcy lawyer Josephina Jillian Jones – 3J – but fails to disclose the Swiss assets to 3J, his bankers, the IRS, and the bankruptcy court ... all felonies.
3J knows in her gut that something is wrong. So does Witherman's banker, Stacy Milnes.
Will anyone catch him?
Skyscraper developer, Quincy Witherman, has continued his family's two-hundred-year practice of hiding assets in Switzerland. Now, needing protection from his creditors, he hires Kansas City bankruptcy lawyer Josephina Jillian Jones – 3J – but fails to disclose the Swiss assets to 3J, his bankers, the IRS, and the bankruptcy court ... all felonies.
3J knows in her gut that something is wrong. So does Witherman's banker, Stacy Milnes.
Will anyone catch him?
420 pages, Paperback
Published July 26, 2021
16 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Mark Shaiken
9 books35 followersMark lives with his wife Loren and their dog Emily in Denver, Colorado. He schooled at Haverford College and Washburn University, and practiced commercial bankruptcy law for almost forty years before moving on in 2019 to write, volunteer, travel, and play music. He is the author of the following books in his award-winning 3J Legal Thriller Series, all set in Kansas City, with a backdrop of Jazz, BBQ and history: Cram Down, Unfair Discrimination, Automatic Stay, and Fresh Start. He is also the author of And . . Just Like That - essays on a life before, during, and after the law (a memoir of a not famous lawyer). Connect with Mark at http://markshaikenauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 27, 2021
This is the first of an intended series with Josephina Jillian Jones, the first Afro-America bankruptcy lawyer in Kansas City. Mark Shaiken, a former corporate bankruptcy attorney has previously published nonfiction books, but this is his first legal thriller. Whilst a developer hiding financial assets in Switzerland is an unusual and perhaps unenticing hook for most readers, it seemed intriguing enough to deserve a review. Told from the perspective of three characters, this is no average law mystery but a most engaging nuanced joy of a read. Highly recommended for those who like a more psychologically involved read with a tantalising vibe of who is the real criminal. So, motivation is an interesting underlying motif and there is even a left field Spockian reference. This is no dry bankruptcy story but a delightfully enchanting five-star rated read. With much thanks to Independently Published and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes.
July 26, 2021
I am so pleased that I stumbled upon this title on Twitter. Fresh Start (A 3J Mystery 1) is the story of Mr. Quincy Gunn Witherman, a commercial real estate mogul. Quincy modestly resides in Kansas City, Missouri. The author describes the Midwestern city, including interesting facts and history of the area throughout the book. The story will include entities in St. Louis, Houston, NY, S. Africa, London and Philadelphia,
Quincy has a 200 year family tree built in real estate, wealth, debt, death, loss, and hiding assets in Switzerland.
Quicy builds, (and is the holding company and management company) for reknowned skyscrapers in major cities for retail office space. The primary agent bank in his group of lenders has just excersized a contract clause demanding payment of $30 million on his current project. In light of this, Quincy hires the law firm Greene Madison to begin Chapter 11 bankruptcy procedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri. Josephina Jillian Jones (3J), the first African American bankruptcy attorney practicing at Greene Madison LLAP law firm, with her partner Bill Pascale, will represent Quincy. 3J has doubts about Quincy from day one.
The book is an intricate look at banking, terms, clauses, loan structure and payouts, interest, default payment, appraisals, collections, debt restructure, relief measures, debtors and creditors. It is the story of Quincy's complicated bankruptcy case. There are clients, lawyers, and judges. The story is action packed with secrets, lies, criminal activity and legal dilemmas. Did Quincy hide money in a Swiss bank, will he get caught? Will the banks get paid or end up owning and managing office buildings? Will the law prevail? Will justice be done?
First Commercial Bank in St. Louis, MO. Is the agent bank where Stacy Milne is head of the bank’s special asset group. She is an unpleasant, acidic, direct, unlikable person. She's convinced Quincy's hiding money and will stop at nothing to catch him.
Federal Judge Robertson, presiding over his first bankruptcy case, will ultimately decide the fate of both the debtor and creditor.
I have an accounting background and once worked at a small law firm, so the topics were ideal for me. I have zero knowledge of commercial bank loans, so I learned lots. The explanations and terms were explained quite clearly and I think anyone who enjoys a suspenseful legal mystery will love this one. I could hardly put the book down. It was full of intrigue. I highly recommend.
I haven't read Mark Shaiken before. The title makes me believe this is the start of a new series and I can't wait to read the next one!
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance digital copy, this review is my voluntary opinion.
Quincy has a 200 year family tree built in real estate, wealth, debt, death, loss, and hiding assets in Switzerland.
Quicy builds, (and is the holding company and management company) for reknowned skyscrapers in major cities for retail office space. The primary agent bank in his group of lenders has just excersized a contract clause demanding payment of $30 million on his current project. In light of this, Quincy hires the law firm Greene Madison to begin Chapter 11 bankruptcy procedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri. Josephina Jillian Jones (3J), the first African American bankruptcy attorney practicing at Greene Madison LLAP law firm, with her partner Bill Pascale, will represent Quincy. 3J has doubts about Quincy from day one.
The book is an intricate look at banking, terms, clauses, loan structure and payouts, interest, default payment, appraisals, collections, debt restructure, relief measures, debtors and creditors. It is the story of Quincy's complicated bankruptcy case. There are clients, lawyers, and judges. The story is action packed with secrets, lies, criminal activity and legal dilemmas. Did Quincy hide money in a Swiss bank, will he get caught? Will the banks get paid or end up owning and managing office buildings? Will the law prevail? Will justice be done?
First Commercial Bank in St. Louis, MO. Is the agent bank where Stacy Milne is head of the bank’s special asset group. She is an unpleasant, acidic, direct, unlikable person. She's convinced Quincy's hiding money and will stop at nothing to catch him.
Federal Judge Robertson, presiding over his first bankruptcy case, will ultimately decide the fate of both the debtor and creditor.
I have an accounting background and once worked at a small law firm, so the topics were ideal for me. I have zero knowledge of commercial bank loans, so I learned lots. The explanations and terms were explained quite clearly and I think anyone who enjoys a suspenseful legal mystery will love this one. I could hardly put the book down. It was full of intrigue. I highly recommend.
I haven't read Mark Shaiken before. The title makes me believe this is the start of a new series and I can't wait to read the next one!
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance digital copy, this review is my voluntary opinion.
November 15, 2024
Josephina Jillian Jones, known to all as 3J, is a black, female bankruptcy lawyer in Kansas City. Centering around 3J, author Mark Shaiken shakes up the legal thriller scene as he approaches “Fresh Start” from a sobering perspective.
As a bankruptcy lawyer, 3J is no stranger to tricky cases. Always requesting complete honesty and transparency from her clients, she’s not getting a good feeling from her most recent case of Quincy Gunn Witherman. Quincy has a checkered history. Going as far back as his namesake Gunnther Witherman, Gunn to his friends, who died in a debtor’s prison. Vowing distrust in all banks, Quincy faces bankruptcy in the face of Stacy Milnes’ desires.
Stacy Milnes is an abrasive and cold banker. As the first female senior special assets group (SAG) leader she has had to face an uphill battle. Leaning into the banker stereotype, Milnes fits the role well. Conversely, 3J is a levelheaded, hardworking, first black female partner of her law firm. I loved the dichotomy of these two strong women and the difference in personality, attitude, and approach to their work that Shaiken portrayed on the page. Especially as both 3J and Milnes find themselves in masculine fields, the rendering of their characters to the page lent well to the reality us women often face. Learning from the culture and men around us, working hard to get where they’re at, Shaiken approaches each woman with a deep understanding of females in these workplaces.
Shaiken uses his own experiences as a bankruptcy lawyer to educate, inform, and entertain his readers. From the personalities encountered on both sides of the legal table, to the drama playing across the pages both inside and outside of the courtroom, “Fresh Start” brings a fresh perspective to the lives of bankruptcy lawyers and the individuals they work with. As a banker and female in a male dominated profession, I found Shaiken’s portrayal of 3J and perception of SAG leader, Stacy Milnes, to be rather spot on. As a society, our work can become our identity, the various cultures surrounding us can overwhelm our perceptions of the world, and history is ever present. Shaiken captured the nuances, perspectives, and realities so eloquently as he shifted amongst the bank group, Stacy Milnes, Quincy Witherman, and 3J herself.
As the characters’ plights played out across the pages, the secrets were slowly unraveled, and the court interjected as necessary. Peppering this read with “debtor recalls” we are given exclusive access into the mind of Quincy as he gets deeper into his bankruptcy legal battle. History, the beauty of Kansas City, and the intricacies of the law play out wonderfully across the page as we become ever more ensconced in 3J’s charm, intrigue, and intelligence.
As a bankruptcy lawyer, 3J is no stranger to tricky cases. Always requesting complete honesty and transparency from her clients, she’s not getting a good feeling from her most recent case of Quincy Gunn Witherman. Quincy has a checkered history. Going as far back as his namesake Gunnther Witherman, Gunn to his friends, who died in a debtor’s prison. Vowing distrust in all banks, Quincy faces bankruptcy in the face of Stacy Milnes’ desires.
Stacy Milnes is an abrasive and cold banker. As the first female senior special assets group (SAG) leader she has had to face an uphill battle. Leaning into the banker stereotype, Milnes fits the role well. Conversely, 3J is a levelheaded, hardworking, first black female partner of her law firm. I loved the dichotomy of these two strong women and the difference in personality, attitude, and approach to their work that Shaiken portrayed on the page. Especially as both 3J and Milnes find themselves in masculine fields, the rendering of their characters to the page lent well to the reality us women often face. Learning from the culture and men around us, working hard to get where they’re at, Shaiken approaches each woman with a deep understanding of females in these workplaces.
Shaiken uses his own experiences as a bankruptcy lawyer to educate, inform, and entertain his readers. From the personalities encountered on both sides of the legal table, to the drama playing across the pages both inside and outside of the courtroom, “Fresh Start” brings a fresh perspective to the lives of bankruptcy lawyers and the individuals they work with. As a banker and female in a male dominated profession, I found Shaiken’s portrayal of 3J and perception of SAG leader, Stacy Milnes, to be rather spot on. As a society, our work can become our identity, the various cultures surrounding us can overwhelm our perceptions of the world, and history is ever present. Shaiken captured the nuances, perspectives, and realities so eloquently as he shifted amongst the bank group, Stacy Milnes, Quincy Witherman, and 3J herself.
As the characters’ plights played out across the pages, the secrets were slowly unraveled, and the court interjected as necessary. Peppering this read with “debtor recalls” we are given exclusive access into the mind of Quincy as he gets deeper into his bankruptcy legal battle. History, the beauty of Kansas City, and the intricacies of the law play out wonderfully across the page as we become ever more ensconced in 3J’s charm, intrigue, and intelligence.
January 30, 2022
A Five-Star Transactional Novel
For readers who savor a complex story with careful attention to detail, Fresh Start hits the target. Mark Shaiken’s characters address bankruptcy procedures from multiple perspectives—the bankers, the borrower, their legal representation, and the officiating judge. The author showcases his extensive knowledge about the subject while telling a story in which both sides commit morally and legally ambiguous practices. I enjoyed this fictional account as a means of learning about the topic.
For readers who savor a complex story with careful attention to detail, Fresh Start hits the target. Mark Shaiken’s characters address bankruptcy procedures from multiple perspectives—the bankers, the borrower, their legal representation, and the officiating judge. The author showcases his extensive knowledge about the subject while telling a story in which both sides commit morally and legally ambiguous practices. I enjoyed this fictional account as a means of learning about the topic.
November 20, 2022
Thouroughly enjoyed this fast paced white collar crime novel. The book followed very logical processes without ever being obvious where the conclusions would lead. A few good red herrings thrown in the way and made typically very dull procedures in court proceedings come to life on the pages.
The main characters are well fleshed out and the reader ultimately gets to decide for ourselves how we feel about the outcome on each and whether the rights or wrongs of each character is the right ending.
The main characters are well fleshed out and the reader ultimately gets to decide for ourselves how we feel about the outcome on each and whether the rights or wrongs of each character is the right ending.
September 8, 2021
Excellent read!
Excellent read! Terrific character development for all the players. A detailed dive into the inner workings of bankruptcy, criminal behavior and investigative processes. I really enjoyed the historical aspects of the novel too. A must read for those who like legal genre.
Excellent read! Terrific character development for all the players. A detailed dive into the inner workings of bankruptcy, criminal behavior and investigative processes. I really enjoyed the historical aspects of the novel too. A must read for those who like legal genre.
May 13, 2022
Who would have thought that bankruptcy law could be a page turner?
I was a little dismayed with the large number of characters introduced in the book, as some novels have too many characters for my brain to keep track of. Somehow, Mark had these more minor characters come and go, but I always knew who they were.
I was a little dismayed with the large number of characters introduced in the book, as some novels have too many characters for my brain to keep track of. Somehow, Mark had these more minor characters come and go, but I always knew who they were.
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July 26, 2021I am the author
October 24, 2021
A most unusual 'courtroom thriller' type of book. Anyone in the real-estate or development fields should be able to overlook the few self-published-author glitches and really enjoy this book. Will definitely read whatever the author puts out next.
December 17, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. Crisp, face-paced dialogue, and much intrigue as to the fate of the criminal client that adorable 3J has unwittingly signed on to represent: he is definitely a dislikeable co-protagonist. Read this in one evening (albeit a long one :})
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews