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Atlanta Murder Squad #3
To Kill A Lawyer
Who would ruin a good party by stabbing a lawyer in the back?
Jim Walker is a lawyer. One of the best. The type who doesn’t need to practice much law to make a client’s problems disappear. A fixer who enjoys the finer things in life—until someone fixes Jim for good at a posh party in one of Atlanta’s swankiest mansions.
With his newly-formed murder squad now up and running, Chance Meridian quickly learns that Jim Walker knew too many secrets about too many people. People with everything to lose should the truth get out. And while all the guests at the party proclaim their innocence, that math doesn’t add up. Faced with a murderer who may have orchestrated the perfect crime, Chance must outwit the killer before the clock strikes twelve on another victim.
A standalone thriller in the best-selling Atlanta Murder Squad series, To Kill A Lawyer is a diabolical mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Jim Walker is a lawyer. One of the best. The type who doesn’t need to practice much law to make a client’s problems disappear. A fixer who enjoys the finer things in life—until someone fixes Jim for good at a posh party in one of Atlanta’s swankiest mansions.
With his newly-formed murder squad now up and running, Chance Meridian quickly learns that Jim Walker knew too many secrets about too many people. People with everything to lose should the truth get out. And while all the guests at the party proclaim their innocence, that math doesn’t add up. Faced with a murderer who may have orchestrated the perfect crime, Chance must outwit the killer before the clock strikes twelve on another victim.
A standalone thriller in the best-selling Atlanta Murder Squad series, To Kill A Lawyer is a diabolical mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
- GenresFiction
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2021
33 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Lance McMillian
8 books44 followersLance McMillian is a recovering lawyer who gave up the courtroom for the classroom. For over a decade, Lance has taught Constitutional Law to future lawyers at Atlanta's John Marshall Law School. Now he writes books. The Murder of Sara Barton is his debut novel.
Being a great writer first requires being a great reader. Lance loves taut legal thrillers, heart-pounding crime fiction, and captivating murder mysteries. His literary inspirations include Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, John Grisham, Scott Turow, Michael Connelly, Erle Stanley Gardner, Ross Macdonald, Walker Percy, Agatha Christie, and, of course, Harper Lee.
Lance's writing career began as a weekly columnist for The Daily Tar Heel while an undergraduate at UNC. As a UGA law student, he also contributed columns to The Red and Black. In the academic realm, his scholarly work about lawyers and pop culture has appeared in leading law journals. The American Bar Association chose him to write a book chapter in its acclaimed project Lawyers in Your Living Room: Law on Television, which included chapters by actors Sam Waterston and James Woods.
But if Lance is being honest, writing novels is the most fun.
Being a great writer first requires being a great reader. Lance loves taut legal thrillers, heart-pounding crime fiction, and captivating murder mysteries. His literary inspirations include Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, John Grisham, Scott Turow, Michael Connelly, Erle Stanley Gardner, Ross Macdonald, Walker Percy, Agatha Christie, and, of course, Harper Lee.
Lance's writing career began as a weekly columnist for The Daily Tar Heel while an undergraduate at UNC. As a UGA law student, he also contributed columns to The Red and Black. In the academic realm, his scholarly work about lawyers and pop culture has appeared in leading law journals. The American Bar Association chose him to write a book chapter in its acclaimed project Lawyers in Your Living Room: Law on Television, which included chapters by actors Sam Waterston and James Woods.
But if Lance is being honest, writing novels is the most fun.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 2, 2023
The new narrator, George Newbern, who replaced the original narrator, Christopher Lane, for books 3 and 4 absolutely changes the tone and flavor from the first 2 books. It is much more difficult to relate to the main character and if there is a 5th book narrated by George Newbern, I will not read it. George might be a good narrator, but with this series, he does not give it the credit it deserves.
September 21, 2021
This is the third book in the series and I have read all of them as fast as I could. I love the main character and his backstory as well as the growth he has shown over the course of the books.
This book was different than the other two in style. It was like being in the mansion of the board game Clue after a murder has happened and watching the investigation take place. The suspects were introduced and, of course, every one of them had something quirky about them, adding an additional layer of mystery.
I really liked the strong character development and throughout the book an truly had no idea who committed the murder. Clues were dropped as scenes played out among the characters, but none enough to lead to a definite person as the murderer. Exactly how I love murder mysteries! I never want to be able to guess with a fair amount of certainty who committed the crime until the final reveal by the author.
The other characters, the non-suspects, being members of the "Murder Squad" that is the main "character" in all of the books, had great interactions and their own little specialties to add to the team.
I liked the pace that the author used to reveal the characters and the storyline, the sole privilege of the author, so I will refrain from naming or describing characters or plot points out of respect for the author.
I found the story line carried at just the right pace. While it was not a book that I could not put down, I certainly looked forward to every opportunity I had to spend with this book. I very much hope that the series will continue!
While you could read this book as a standalone, I would recommend starting with book one and reading them in order. You will understand the characters and their history and how it has impacted them going forward. There was definite critical growth with some of the key characters and it is important to see that progression.
So go out and get the series and enjoy it yourself!
This book was different than the other two in style. It was like being in the mansion of the board game Clue after a murder has happened and watching the investigation take place. The suspects were introduced and, of course, every one of them had something quirky about them, adding an additional layer of mystery.
I really liked the strong character development and throughout the book an truly had no idea who committed the murder. Clues were dropped as scenes played out among the characters, but none enough to lead to a definite person as the murderer. Exactly how I love murder mysteries! I never want to be able to guess with a fair amount of certainty who committed the crime until the final reveal by the author.
The other characters, the non-suspects, being members of the "Murder Squad" that is the main "character" in all of the books, had great interactions and their own little specialties to add to the team.
I liked the pace that the author used to reveal the characters and the storyline, the sole privilege of the author, so I will refrain from naming or describing characters or plot points out of respect for the author.
I found the story line carried at just the right pace. While it was not a book that I could not put down, I certainly looked forward to every opportunity I had to spend with this book. I very much hope that the series will continue!
While you could read this book as a standalone, I would recommend starting with book one and reading them in order. You will understand the characters and their history and how it has impacted them going forward. There was definite critical growth with some of the key characters and it is important to see that progression.
So go out and get the series and enjoy it yourself!
October 4, 2023
This third book in The Atlanta Murder Squad series was a letdown for a couple of reasons. The first is that the narrator has changed to someone other than the fabulous Christopher Lane who narrated the first two books. The new narrator sounds like Gomer Pyle is reading the book. He doesn't have a good voice for Chance or Scott and I often could not tell who was speaking between those two men. He sometimes is narrating in Oliver Twist's voice but it comes out as Gustav's voice. When he is supposed to be somber or serious, he sounds jovial. This narrator was simply the wrong choice.
Secondly, the mystery was not a very good one, and the suspects, while interesting, were written in such a way that I had a hard time taking them seriously. I also don't care for the character of Kate and wish there had been less focus on her.
One thing I had loved from the two previous books that was missing in this one is the deepness of Chance. He knows he is a flawed human and he was retrospective in such a real way. I wished for him to spend a little time reflecting upon his sinful nature and how he tries to combat the darkness. I also missed the quoting from the Bible that he did in the first two books as one of his coping mechanisms.
I'm not sure I want to move on to the fourth book. If I do, I will read it rather than listen to that narrator on Audible.
Secondly, the mystery was not a very good one, and the suspects, while interesting, were written in such a way that I had a hard time taking them seriously. I also don't care for the character of Kate and wish there had been less focus on her.
One thing I had loved from the two previous books that was missing in this one is the deepness of Chance. He knows he is a flawed human and he was retrospective in such a real way. I wished for him to spend a little time reflecting upon his sinful nature and how he tries to combat the darkness. I also missed the quoting from the Bible that he did in the first two books as one of his coping mechanisms.
I'm not sure I want to move on to the fourth book. If I do, I will read it rather than listen to that narrator on Audible.
December 29, 2025
If you’re a romance thriller reader, this book is recommended for you
The story was good but it lost some energy. I wondered what compelled the author to marry Chance and turn the thriller into a romance. What’s her purpose in the story because she’s not connected with the Squad. I, as a reader, can’t relate to her because there’s was no history of a relationship between them that would lead readers into this marriage. Author wrote her in and in less than 2 weeks, they’re married. I just trying to comprehend what she brings to the story. It throws me off, because I had to skip so many pages and chapters with her in it. I don’t read romance, I’m strictly a drama, thriller, mystery and action reader. I don’t understand the concept of the marriage and it distracts me from enjoying the book because romance is not my genre. I feel if Chance had went to that party with Cate, he would’ve been more observant and attentive to what was happening around him. By him taking Cate, he was distracted. He was trying to entertain her and be attentive to her. He would’ve been able to move around more freely.
The story was good but it lost some energy. I wondered what compelled the author to marry Chance and turn the thriller into a romance. What’s her purpose in the story because she’s not connected with the Squad. I, as a reader, can’t relate to her because there’s was no history of a relationship between them that would lead readers into this marriage. Author wrote her in and in less than 2 weeks, they’re married. I just trying to comprehend what she brings to the story. It throws me off, because I had to skip so many pages and chapters with her in it. I don’t read romance, I’m strictly a drama, thriller, mystery and action reader. I don’t understand the concept of the marriage and it distracts me from enjoying the book because romance is not my genre. I feel if Chance had went to that party with Cate, he would’ve been more observant and attentive to what was happening around him. By him taking Cate, he was distracted. He was trying to entertain her and be attentive to her. He would’ve been able to move around more freely.
October 31, 2023
The story is suspenseful and thrilling with some drama. This is a murder mystery with the protagonist trying to catch the murderer out of the pool of suspects. The murder itself will intrigue its readers with the classic locked room mystery surrounding the case. The way the author has incorporated the protagonist’s personal life with the ongoing investigation will be appreciated by the readers. Furthermore, the inner ramblings of the protagonist will make the readers chuckle at various points. The twists and turns with the suspense will keep the readers hooked till the very end. This is a highly recommended book for readers who like this genre.
Personal Take:
I like reading this series. This was a classic locked room murder mystery with complicated characters and I loved how the protagonist was trying to uncover the secrets which every character was hiding. It was fun and full of twists.
September 9, 2021
Really good story. At a party, a lawyer is murdered , the room is locked from the inside. The guests are all suspects and a real quirky group. Chance and his elite group of detectives are asked by the Governor (his good friend ) to solve this case. The guests are not normal people, they all have their own agendas and problems. It's interesting how all the details and clues are broken down .
Really enjoyed this story.
Really enjoyed this story.
May 8, 2023
I liked the story taking place in Atlanta
I’m not a huge ‘who done it’ fan but was reading this for my book club discussion. The fact that the story takes place in my hometown had me hooked.
The plot was interesting with a while cast of suspects.
Other than to show his soft side, I’m not sure what the role of Cate was supposed to be in this book. Perhaps in other books in the series, having her around clear.
Overall an good read.
I’m not a huge ‘who done it’ fan but was reading this for my book club discussion. The fact that the story takes place in my hometown had me hooked.
The plot was interesting with a while cast of suspects.
Other than to show his soft side, I’m not sure what the role of Cate was supposed to be in this book. Perhaps in other books in the series, having her around clear.
Overall an good read.
July 3, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I liked it more than the 2nd in this series (mostly because the narration was less intrusive) but not quite as well as the first book in the series. The mystery was not overly deep but there were enough twists of available information to the reader that kept it intriguing. I definitely did not want to put this one down!
January 10, 2024
The thin man revisited?
The murder squad works well and figures things out, they have great working relationships. My only question is ------ If the victim is found face down with a knife in his back, why does the cover show a victim laying on his back with a knife next to him on the floor?
The murder squad works well and figures things out, they have great working relationships. My only question is ------ If the victim is found face down with a knife in his back, why does the cover show a victim laying on his back with a knife next to him on the floor?
September 1, 2022
So far my favorite of Lance McMillian’s Murder Squad series! With its gambit of eccentric characters, “To Kill a Lawyer” leaves you on the edge of your seat trying to guess the killer. 5 stars for pure entertainment value!
October 26, 2025
I’ve Enjoyed This Series
I enjoy this series very much. Especially living in the Atlanta area, it’s nice to read about certain landmarks and areas. And the banter between the Murder Squad is always entertaining.
I enjoy this series very much. Especially living in the Atlanta area, it’s nice to read about certain landmarks and areas. And the banter between the Murder Squad is always entertaining.
September 8, 2021
Outstanding
Loved the characters and the clever plot twists. I also loved the locale - I live in atlanta Highly recommend
Loved the characters and the clever plot twists. I also loved the locale - I live in atlanta Highly recommend
February 19, 2022
Great Read
This book is a modern good old fashion mystery. A fun faced paced read that is difficult to put down.
This book is a modern good old fashion mystery. A fun faced paced read that is difficult to put down.
January 8, 2023
Another great read (listen) from this author. Story was excellent. Was sceptical at first due to change of narrator but George Newbern was excellent. Audio version highly recommended.
February 22, 2023
This is an author writes books that both entertain you but also have you begging for. I look forward to reading more of this authors books.
May 6, 2024
Enjoying the series. Sort of like the old game of "clue".
August 23, 2024
Engaging read with light humour. I enjoyed everything about this book. A very satisfying read. A perfect relaxing read.
December 23, 2022
What an amazing series. That’s all folks. Just get it and read it. You will not be sorry.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews