Northfall

by Brian Lutterman

Genres: Thriller

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Brian Lutterman is the author of the mystery-thrillers Bound to Die, a Minnesota Book Award runner-up, and Poised to Kill, described by the Midwest Book Review as “. . .a masterfully woven tale of tycoons and terrorists.” Lutterman, a former trial lawyer and corporate attorney, writes cutting-edge corporate thrillers, bringing to life the genre’s outsized conflicts and characters. A graduate of the University of Minnesota and Georgetown University Law Center, he lives with his family in the Twin Cities. He can be found on the web at: www.brianlutterman.com

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Lutterman’s thriller storytelling maintains a pulse that will keep readers guessing.

Read full review in the 2022 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Northfall, Brian Lutterman returns to the world of Pen Wilkinson, a paraplegic attorney who doesn't let anything slow her down in her pursuit of justice.

"When a friend invites you to breakfast, you don't expect to be sucked into a vortex of evil. But, having encountered evil on several occasions in recent years, I can tell you that the experience, pretty much by definition, is like Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition: nobody expects it."

Here, Pen is trying to steer clear of the freelance investigations that have previously put her in harm's way. While her boyfriend, James, had reluctantly accepted that she was going to get involved in dangerous projects, Pen knows it would be better for her to back away from them. She's anticipating returning to federal prosecution, awaiting final word on whether a position will open up for her.

Then Luke Reilly contacts her, asking her to look into the murder of a homeless man. Luke is on the board of the homeless shelter that had helped the dead man, Roger, and his girlfriend, Nella, and he fears that the police investigation is going nowhere fast. He appeals to Pen's sense of justice, to the fact that the police really aren't going to try that hard to seek resolution for Roger. And just like that, we hear the sucking sound of the vortex, pulling Pen in. But she's definitely NOT investigating.

What does billionaire Jake Conover have to do with Roger? That's something Pen would love to know, but Jake Conover is nowhere to be found. A photo of Jake with an older man, talking to a homeless woman, is Pen's only real lead. He turns out to be the elusive Leo Hurt. Who is he, really? How does he know Jake? What is his connection to all of this? And why is Jake's sister Chloe so determined to buy his company right now, and how far will she go to achieve her goal?

Lutterman gives us family tension, murders both old and new that cry for resolution, international bad guys, and people who are not what they seem. Pen finds herself with new questions at every corner, and she definitely finds herself at risk of bodily harm more than once. The tension is high and the action keeps on coming, right up until the end. This one had me biting my nails, reading as fast as I could to see what happened next!

So. Was this Pen's last investigation? Will she return to the relative safety of a desk job? You'll have to get the book and find out. If you love a good thriller, grab it and get to reading. You won't be disappointed!

[DianaRaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

NORTHFALL is the sixth installment in the Pen Wilkenson series by Brian Lutterman. The writing style of Mr. Lutterman is captivating and compelling, making it easy to fly through the pages, feeling like your very life depended on it.

Once a personal injury litigation attorney with a promising career, Penn has discovered how something like a wheelchair changes people's perception of a person. 

NORTHFALL opens with Pen Wilkenson waiting to hear if she gets her old job back. While waiting, an old friend asks her to look into the murder of a homeless person. Before she ends her investigation she will uncover a twenty year old cold case, discover big businesses seem to want more. Just to make things a little more juicy, Penn will find the mob, cartels, even foreign and domestic criminal groups joining up into one conglomeration to get what they want. Get ready, these groups fight dirty and there are always surprises to confront.

If you are a fan of suspenseful thrillers with many twists and inner plots will many twists and inner plots hostage to the end, then you are most certainly going to like the Pen Wilkinson Series. I highly recommend it.

I did receive a review copy from the author and the above is my freely given and honest review.

[Chris Moray St Germain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so glad to be chosen to be an Advance Reader for Brian Lutterman’s latest Pen Wilkerson novel, “Northfall.” The consummate corporate legal thriller story-teller has done it again! As always, Pen is an engaging protagonist, a cross between Agatha Christie and Ironsides – a female lawyer/investigator who brings wisdom, kindness, intuition and fearlessness to her investigation and remarkable physically agility despite her wheelchair. The book is a fast, exciting read that never lets up til the very end. And the juxtaposition of billionaires and homeless characters in this novel is nothing short of who-dunnit genius! Throughout the twists and turns of the plot, I always felt the author was teaching me something new, which is essential for me to give a novel five stars. PS you might learn how to get out of zip-tie handcuffs if you read closely.

[LuAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping tale-the kind you can't put down. Lutterman's main character, Pen Wilkinson is a woman who does not let paraplegia slow her down. She is a sharp, fearless defender of the innocent and a
woman with curiosity and determination that is unmatched. This story has twists and turns that will keep you reading. It is a well written, fascinating novel.

It is also the sixth in a series featuring Pen. Each book is different and original. You do not need to
have read the earlier novels to enjoy this one but you will want to!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Pen Wilkinson sets out to solve the brutal murder of a homeless man, she plunges into a world of corporate greed and international cartels. This is the sixth installment in the series featuring the charismatic paraplegic attorney who is hoping to resume her interrupted legal career. Tension builds slowly – deftly setting the scene – and expands into a rapid page-turner filled with plot twists and red herrings. Highly recommended.

I received an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mcarl99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believable thriller is how I have described Brian Lutterman's series that features Pen Wilkinson. I like the pace of the story with enough depth and description of scene details to give me a great mental image of what is transpiring in the scene. Swift changes in events keep the story interesting and moving along to a great ending. Right to the final pages the story continues to unfold...yes I like that!
"I have been provided with an advance copy of this book for the purpose of providing an honest review."

[karin whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book from ARC and here is my review. I was intrigued by the characters as well as the story line.
The characters are different, you have homeless millionaires, street dwellers, disabled investigators and corporate crime. I was pleased that this was a series yet it could be read like standalone novel. For some reason I kept thinking "Blue Bloods" as I read this story. Pen Wilkenson is a character to read, a truly outstanding novel.

[Thekla Madsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been provided with an advance copy of this book for the purpose of providing an honest review. Pen Wilkinson is a fresh personality as far as investigators go and Brian Lutterman expertly guides the reader through both familiar Minnesota landscapes and the not-so-familiar environments of the homeless populations that live in the shadows of the cities as Pen explores her latest mystery in Northfall.

[Rob Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pen Wilkinson is back in another nail-biter. Pen, wheelchair-bound because of an automobile accident, finds common cause in the brutal murder of a homeless, wheelchair-confined man. Her investigation uncovers a link between the murder, a missing billionaire and a corporate espionage plot that puts Pen in a deep hole; a hole that looks and feels very much like her own grave.
You won't want to miss this bone-chilling thriller, the best yet from this award winning author.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penn is asked to look into the death of a homeless man, Roger Campbell. Luke asks her to see if she can get any information from Roger's girlfriend, Nella, because she was there when he was murdered. They also roughed her up. Little did Penn know that is 'little favor' could turn out to be a big mess that involves some very important and dangerous people. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this mystery. Pen Wilkerson is a lawyer who is waiting to be reinstated. When a homeless man is murdered, she is asked to look into it. This story is suspenseful and interesting. The characters were relatable and the plot was fast moving, the way I like mysteries. I would highly recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book from the author and this is my honest review.

[Marveen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are there mysteries to solve where Minnesota nice prevails? Pen thought she was only investigating the mysterious death of a homeless person. Instead she started unravelling the complexities of dysfunctional family dynamics. Lots of twists and turns which I love. Not all the conspirators are unveiled until the end. I was given an advance copy but would have sought this book out to read anyway.

[Trishaann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great mystery thriller in the Pen Wilkenson series. I think this series just keeps getting better.
The books could be read as stand alone or as part of the series.
Pen is a strong and engaging character paired with a fast paced mystery that kept me up way past my bedtime!

[Jim Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent mystery-thriller with a well written storyline and a strong female paraplegic attorney as the main character. Contains plenty of action, lots of suspense, and several twists. A page turning read by a highly acclaimed Minnesota author. Highly recommended book and series.

[Jennifer Rosenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was interesting how you kept trying to figure out who’s the bad guys versus the good guys.

[Dante · Rating 3 out of 5]

The elaborate story was an exciting read until the very end, which was too abrupt.

[Chris Norbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

The "inventor" of the corporate thriller is back with another intricately plotted story featuring the indomitable Pen Wilkinson, a lawyer who's confined to a wheelchair yet manages to work past her paraplegia to stop the bad guys and solve the crime.

An attorney himself, Lutterman brings authenticity to Pen's character as she navigates and negotiates the legal system, the police, the FBI, and other lawyers to get the information she needs to make progress on her case.

The pace steadily builds along with the tension from page one, and there are so many suspects to choose from that Pen seems to have an unsolvable crime on her hands. Yet, with timely info gathered from many characters, she pieces together the clues and leads the police and FBI to the killer.

The ending has several twists and turns that kept me turning pages, especially the final twist that reveals why the Conover family had the antagonistic relationships they did going back decades.