Early Grave

Jake Lassiter #14

by Paul Levine

WINNER: PenCraft "Book of the Year"
WINNER: Best Thrillers "Best Legal Thriller of the Year"

When his godson suffers a catastrophic injury in a high school football game, lawyer Jake Lassiter sues to abolish the sport and becomes Public Enemy Number One. At the same time, the former NFL linebacker battles CTE, the fatal brain disease caused by repetitive head injuries. Complicating Lassiter’s lawsuit and his health, his personal life hits a rocky patch. He’s in couple’s therapy with fiancée Dr. Melissa Gold and vows to live long enough to fix his relationship and achieve justice for his godson.

"Levine scores with this complex and witty legal thriller. This winner works even for those new to the series." - Publishers Weekly (★starred review★)

Amazon #1 Bestselling Author Paul Levine builds tension with a furious pace, leading to the “seismic courtroom battles and pyrotechnics” (Booklist) for which he is known.

THE LAST LASSITER: "Early Grave" is the final novel of the series that began with the international bestseller To Speak for the Dead in 1990. All the "Lassiters" are stand-alones that may be enjoyed in any order, and all are Kindle Unlimited titles.

Genres: Fiction, Legal Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Legal

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2023

About the author

The Genius and the Tramp Fight Fascists in 1930's Hollywood

MIDNIGHT BURNING - September 2025
“Ingeniously pairs real-life friends Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin on a roller coaster ride to save America from a fascist threat within its borders.” – Jacqueline Winspear, author of the Maisie Dobbs series.

Award-winning author Paul Levine weaves historical figures into a gripping, true-to-life plot to overthrow the U.S. government in the sizzling thriller MIDNIGHT BURNING.

It's 1937 and clouds of war gather over Europe, and American fascists march at home. While the FBI chases suspected communists, Nazi agents plot an armed insurrection. When the world’s two most famous men–Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin–uncover the scheme, which includes the assassination of Hollywood’s biggest stars, they fight back with nothing but their ingenuity, raw courage, and the fierce resolve of Georgia Ann Robinson, LAPD’s first Black female officer.

Levine—praised by The New York Times for his “realistic, gritty, and fun” novels—delivers a breathtaking thriller laced with humor and a larger-than-life cast, including Charles Lindbergh, Douglas Fairbanks, William Randolph Hearst, and Joseph Goebbels.

"This could be Levine's masterpiece." - Lee Goldberg, New York Times #1 Bestselling Author

ORDER FROM AMAZON HERE.

ORDER FROM BARNES & NOBLE HERE.

ORDER FROM BOOKSHOP HERE.

**********************************************;
Jake Lassiter tackles high school football and becomes the most hated man in Miami in EARLY GRAVE, Paul Levine's sizzling legal thriller.

"An extraordinary hero stars in a legal tale as believable as it is riveting." - Kirkus Reviews

"Levine scores with this complex and witty legal thriller. This winner works even for those new to the series." - Publishers Weekly (★starred review★)

When his godson suffers a catastrophic injury in a high school football game, lawyer Jake Lassiter sues to abolish the sport and becomes Public Enemy Number One. The former NFL linebacker also battles CTE, the fatal brain disease caused by repetitive head injuries. His personal life, too, hits a rocky patch. He's in couple's therapy with fiancée Dr. Melissa Gold and vows to live long enough to fix his relationship and achieve justice for his godson.

"Grounded in reality, EARLY GRAVE is a novel with heartfelt emotion, flashes of humor, and high-octane excitement." - Franco Harris, NFL Hall of Fame Running Back

STILL GOING STRONG:

CHEATER’S GAME is a stand-alone entry in the Jake Lassiter series.

"Clever, funny and seriously on point when it comes to the inequities of society and the justice system, CHEATER'S GAME is top-notch stuff from Paul Levine. His Jake Lassiter is my kind of lawyer!" - Michael Connelly

You may ORDER HERE.

ALSO AVAILABLE: BUM DEAL.

“Fascinating, fully developed characters and smart, well-paced dialogue keep the pages turning. Levine manipulates the expectations of the reader as skillfully as Jake manipulates the expectations of the jury” — Publishers Weekly (★starred review★)

"Drop everything...Read it now...BUM DEAL is fantastic." - Lee Child

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the publication of Early Grave, Paul Levine (reportedly) wraps up his 14-book Jake Lassiter legal thriller series with a very entertaining story. The legal drama, both inside and outside the courtroom, is skillfully plotted and suspenseful. The personal and societal stakes are high. And Jake approaches it all with his trademark irreverent humor that masks an underlying seriousness of purpose.

If this is indeed the end of the series, the conclusion is appropriate, as it combines football and the law, Jake’s two professional interests. For those unfamiliar with the series, after a largely undistinguished career with the Miami Dolphins, Jake went to law school and became a criminal defense lawyer. Now he is suffering from symptoms of CTE, a progressive and fatal disease associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries. His fiancée, Dr. Melissa Gold, has persuaded him to give up the stress of his criminal practice. So, as he puts it, “After decades plying my trade in the courtrooms of the sadly misnamed Justice Building, I gave up my solo practice and took a nine-to-five job with the Florida Bar, prosecuting wayward shysters. Doctor’s orders. Fiancée’s orders. Yeah, one and the same.”

But when his godson Rod, the son of his former teammate and longtime friend Langston “Tank” Pittman, suffers a catastrophic head injury in a high school football game, Jake can’t ignore it, stress or no stress. And with his own medical condition in mind, as well as his knowledge of numerous teammates and other NFL players who developed CTE and died young, Jake decides to go big. He files a lawsuit seeking damages from the coach and the school for gross negligence. Most legal observers think it’s an uphill battle. But what really causes an uproar is the lawsuit’s second claim, in which Jake asks for an injunction against the Florida High School Athletic Association. He wants the court to shut down high school football until the FHSAA can prove it’s made the sport safe. This makes Jake the most hated man in Florida. As a retired judge tells him, high school football is Florida’s official religion.

Jake finds himself up against a white-shoe megafirm that staffs the case with numerous lawyers and will pull out all the stops—legal and illegal—to win. Although the firm officially represents the named defendants, Jake learns that the real client is a shadowy business organization of NFL sponsors known as “The Consortium.” It’s a real David and Goliath situation, but Jake is a creative and persistent lawyer with well-developed street smarts and courtroom skills. He’s determined to get justice for Rod and his family while also tossing a monkey wrench into the big-money football machine that is doing next to nothing to keep young players safe.

With his health deteriorating, Jake sees the lawsuit as his “legacy” case, his chance to make a difference. “Life … is a raging river tumbling over jagged rocks, most of which are never seen. There are no signs warning of broken bones or broken promises or broken hearts. Some of us get knocked off our flimsy rafts. Others cling to the straps with utter desperation. Either way, the journey’s end is the same. the river surges toward a roaring falls, unforgiving and unsurvivable.” But if the journey is ending for Jake, maybe he can make it a little smoother for Rod and others like him.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific conclusion to the Jake Lassiter series!

[David Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing like being late to the party...

This is the stated last of the Jake Lassiter series but it's the first one I've read. Now I know what all the praise is about. Dang, this was a great courtroom drama story and so much more. The story revolves around a critical injury Jake's godson acquired while playing high school football. So, using his years of experience and some good humor thrown in along the way, Jake files a lawsuit that will hopefully restrict the use of some plays used in a game or at the very least create the situation in which football programs be put on hold until safer rules and equipment be implemented. (I'm writing this with the NFL's playoff game on the TV in the background, the irony is not lost on me) The intrigue, action and suspense gradually intensifies as the story builds leading to the final, explosive courtroom battle and a highly gratifying conclusion.

With its timely, topical themes of the inherent dangers of playing football as well as the lengths those who financially benefit from the game will go to to ensure its continued success, this story has everything I look for in a legal thriller. Well drawn villains as well as characters I can emotionally connect with are essential to draw me in and this story has that and more. I also love a book that is part of a series but doesn't require you to have read all the previous books to be able to identify with and understand the protagonist and this one does just fine as a stand-alone. It's my understanding that all the books in this series are similar in that way and I now look forward to reading them but not necessarily in order.

Thank you to the author and Saichek Publicity for the gifted copy and introducing me to this series.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in Paul Levine’s Jake Lassiter series finds the defense attorney engaging in a battle that is decidedly personal. Long before Jake’s law career, he was a star linebacker for the Miami Dolphins, where he was part of “the perfect season” – an undefeated record punctuated by a Super Bowl win. But with six of his teammates dead from CTE, and Jake himself struggling with the fatal disease, his time as a player now seems far from perfect.

When his godson, Rod, suffers a critical football injury, Jake decides to go on the offensive. He files an ambitious lawsuit to abolish tackle football in high schools – or at least make them drastically safer. The initial result is a media storm in which Jake is publicly villainized. In the following days and weeks, uninvited visitors to Jake’s home and Rod’s hospital room make clear that this is just the start of a very dangerous game.

As usual, Levine infuses Early Grave with plenty of dark humor. The jokes – which often exist only in Jake’s head – land early and often. But it’s all part of a sophisticated vehicle through which Levine explores whether parents, players, coaches, schools or others should be held accountable for crippling injuries. Given such sobering subject matter, it’s a miracle that the book is such a joy to read. Part of the reason is the crackling, zinger-laden dialogue that references everything from British royal history to case law. This is juxtaposed throughout with excerpts from contracts, statistics and waivers that hold an unflattering mirror to youth sports. On top of all that, readers can look forward to a brilliant literary headfake regarding Jake's future that would be the envy of Dolphins great Larry Csonka.



Early Grave may be the last planned installment in the Jake Lassiter series, but thanks to just enough backstory, the book can easily be devoured by first-time fans as a gateway to Levine’s other work.

[Jonathan Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Jack Lassiter. Good legal thriller regarding football.

[Paula Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed reading this book. It started out a little slow, but it picked up speed quickly and when it did, I was hooked. It was to the point I could not put the book away. Very good. I would definitely recommend this book.

I won this book in a Goodreads book giveaway!

[Donna ~ The Romance Cover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cannot be the end of this series.
Seriously, once I'd read the last word, I went to see when the next one would be out, and to my shock and horror, every post says this is the end! Please say it is not so!
Paul Levine, seriously, you cannot leave me hanging...surely there is more to come. Pretty please with a cherry on top!

[Dean Neidholt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining read with Lassiter and some dubious characters..the story also explores football and brain injuries and long term effects..The story is wrapped around Jake Lassiter's godson who is injured severely in a high school football game. The ending was really unexpected..very nice read

[Hobart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader along with a Q&A with the author about the book.
---
WHAT'S EARLY GRAVE ABOUT?
Jake and his former teammate Tank are at a High School Football game—Tank's son, Rod (also Jake's godson), is making his debut and the two older men are beyond excited. On the opening play, Rod takes a hard hit, and Jake (who suffers from CTE) is concerned that the concussion protocol isn't being followed, but before they can do anything, play resumes and Rod takes another hit—one he does not get up from.

The two men rush to the field and help the medical professionals until Rod can be taken to a hospital. Rod's moment of glory has been turned into the worst day of their lives—and it'll be worse when Tank's wife/Rod's mother is informed (no one had told her that Rod was playing football). He's going to live, but it's impossible to say whether he'll walk again—or be able to do much at all.

Jake wants blood—so he sues the school, certain he can get around the waiver Tank signed, and seeks an injunction from the court to suspend High School contact football games until it can be proven that all schools have taken steps to ensure the game is safer.

TACKLING FOOTBALL
No one can blame Jake for the first part of his suit—although many doubt he'll be able to get around the waiver (Victoria Lord gives him some help on that). But the second part feels like career suicide—he becomes a laughing stock in town, on local radio, in the legal community, and on social media.

I need to stop for a minute and talk about the social media parts—throughout the book, there'll be news updates on the case which triggers Twitter responses (possibly other sites, but they feel like tweets to me). They are hilarious, in a funny-'cuz-it's-true way. This is precisely how the Internet would respond to a lawyer doing this. Levine did a great job on this front.

On a more serious front—if Jake pulls off a miracle here, that will suggest there's something wrong with the game. If people aren't being careful enough at the local level, what about college? What about the NFL? Powerful groups and people don't want this to come anywhere near a courthouse, there's just too much to lose. Jake finds himself, his associates, and his clients the target of many less-than-ethical endeavors to keep the case from progressing.

The legal aspects of this case are hard enough, but when you throw in the threats, intimidation, and money flying around to stop it? Things get even uglier.

COUNSELING
Jake and Melissa are in counseling—she's discovered he's been hiding medical issues, and who knows what else, from her. The trust is broken and she's concerned about their future. Their engagement may be on the rocks. Melissa doesn't have much to do in the primary story, so this is the main interaction we get with her. Through their counseling sessions, we get to see a lot of introspection and some flashbacks to Jake's childhood.

I don't know that they add a lot to the story, but these scenes do a great job of exploring parts of Jake's character we probably wouldn't be able to see otherwise—once he stops joking around defensively, that is.

IS THIS THE END?
Given Lassiter's health, readers had to expect that he couldn't keep going forever—I even asked about that back in 2020 when Levine participated in a Q&A, he said,

Lassiter told me he retired after “Bum Deal” in 2018. But when his beloved nephew Kip gets indicted for taking other kids’ SAT exams as an imposter, well, what choice did he have but to get back in the courtroom? [that'd be Cheater's Game] I suspect Jake has one more case in him.

This might be that one more case—it's being marketed as the last book in the series, anyway. Early Grave certainly feels like it's the end—in several ways.

Still, since at least the days of Holmes and The Reichenbach Falls, we all know that authors have a tendency to change their minds about ending things. I'm not sure I'd close the book on this series, you never know what Levine might do. If nothing else, there's room for books between the previously published adventures.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT EARLY GRAVE?
It's probably just as dangerous for an author like Levine to mess around with something like Football as it is for an author to mess with a character's pet dog or cat. There are some things you just don't threaten. But Levine (and Lassiter) dance along that nasty third rail with aplomb and panache—throw in some good personal plot lines and some ominous actions from the other side and you've got yourself the makings of a solid thriller.

Like with most legal thrillers, the best parts of this novel happen in the courtroom—the reader is treated to great tension, some genuine comedy, and some clever reveals. The lawyers, legal assistants (for the defense), and the judge are just what's needed for Levine to make this aspect of the novel really sing.

Jake's a long-established maverick—and he acts like one with witnesses, his opposition, even his clients, and the law. All while dealing with his own ongoing medical issues—you have to wonder at times if Jake should've had a second chair just in case he doesn't survive until the verdict is pronounced. But it's that maverick nature that's got him this far in life—and this far in the series, so you know that's exactly what the readers want.

The conclusion to the case is satisfying—maybe a little credulity-stretching, but at that point, who cares? What happens after that shows Levine's intentions for the character in pretty definite terms (with a little wiggle room, all that someone like Jake Lassiter needs). The whole thing is about as satisfying as you could want.

My only regret is that I haven't managed to go back to the beginning so that I can feel the cumulative weight of this series coming to an end. That said, these books are designed to be read as stand-alones, and there's no reason this couldn't be the first installment that someone picks up.

Disclaimer: I received this novel from Saichek Publicity in exchange for this post and my honest opinion.

[Thomas Begley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant End to a Wonderful Series

Early grave is appointed to a wonderful series. The Jake Lassiter books initially started as lighthearted tales about a washed up football player, turned lawyer. Over the years, the stories of taking on a bit more serious tone, but increasingly heartfelt. It is sad to see this series end, but Paul Levine did a great job in doing so. I recommend anyone read this series and this book in particular.

[Gregory Van Den Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading this series by Mr. Levine. Jake Lassiter was a former football who ended his career with the Miami Dolphins and became a lawyer. The cases he chooses to pursue are ones that seem to be longshot winners. What we have is David vs. Goliath. This story is about how his godson Rodrigo is severely injured on the football field. Jake decides to sue the coach and the school for negligence. While at the same time, he adds to the lawsuit a temporary prohibition of tackle football. One should note he is suffering from CTE. This injury is caused by suffering concussions playing football. The prognosis for Jake is not good. Back to lawsuit. He does not want to abolish football altogether but desires to create a safer environment for high school football players. Mr. Levine's books are written and entertaining. Even though many of the scenarios are far fetched, they are in the believable range. The courtroom drama is very believable. What I enjoy the most about the story is the issues Mr. Levine focuses upon in the story. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to downgrade my rating, due to one-sided mention of Joe Paterno

Overall a good story, good characters, funny.

But I found the oft repeated praise of the late head football Coach Joe Paterno of Penn State University a big turn off. Less would’ve been more, in my opinion.

I’m not questioning Paterno’s coaching ability — his win record is unimpeachable. However, he didn’t do enough to protect children that were entering / accessing the football facilities from a serious sexual predator for the later part of his career.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bittersweet reunion with the wonderful Jake Lassiter

I had no idea there would be another Lassiter book. The dude is still to this day one of my favorite lawyers to read, so imagine my delight when I saw this latest entry available on my Kindle. That is, until I saw the title. And then that's when I remembered. Given the circumstances of the last few books in the series, I'd be lying if I said that this latest book's title didn't immediately worry me.

Early Grave? WHOSE early grave? "Is Paul Levine really gonna kill off Jake Lassiter?" I remember asking myself. Do I even wanna know? Should I even bother reading? Can there possibly be a way he can survive his rather grave condition? Will this truly be his last hurrah? This being a non-spoiler review, I will not answer such pressing questions. One will just have to read the story themselves or dive into other reviews to find that out, 'cause you ain't getting it from me.

At any rate, I said this was a bittersweet reunion and I meant it. On the one hand, I was totally floored to be in Lassiter territory again (along with brief cameos by Solomon and Lord). I loved being back and catching up with his personal life. The high points. The low points. And everything in between. I found it mildly disappointing that Kip was barely mentioned (though I'm glad he wasn't completely ignored). The characters, writing, and pace are still top-notch Levine territory, and I was glad for it. It felt like old times, made me want to dive into this series all over again.

But on the other hand, OUTSIDE of Jake's personal life, I didn't find the story too spectacular. The legal plot was certainly interesting, emotional, dramatic, and often comical in the areas where they counted; I'm not saying they weren't well-executed. But overall, I found it all to be a little on the bland side. I love courtroom brawls as Lassiter has certainly provided me in past books, but this case was simply too ineffective in providing me that. While sure, it revealed the dirty side of lawyering, even in its fanciful presentation, but I was hoping for far more courtroom OOMPH than what I got.

All in all, though, I mostly enjoyed myself as I usually do with Lassiter books. The case itself may not have been my cup of tea, but like I said before, it was still very smartly written and still managed to keep my attention the whole way through, especially since Jake's personal life was well-mixed into the entire thing. Am I crazy about the book's finale? Nah. There's so much left up in the air and loose ends to boot (much like how many previous Lassiter books have been). But I guess if Paul Levine wants to call this the final Jake Lassiter book, then I have no choice but to deal with it. Oh well. Ain't like I haven't done it before.

Click here for my random thoughts and highlights.

[Clwseattle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Jake. One of my most favorite authors painted him into a corner with the rising symptoms of fatal CTE from concussions in his ne'er do well football career. I will surely miss Jake Lassiter.

Early Grave tackles some tough issues about corporate sports that reaches all the way down to high school. Most of it is appalling. It also touches on legal winning at all costs, relationships, deep friendship, and the strength of the human spirit.

Jakes come out of active legal retirement when his God son is seriously injured playing football. There are discrepancies in what Jake saw and what the coach claimed. The case becomes interesting with thugs following Jake, various characters working to discredit him and a smug legal opponent, who does anything to win. Jake has thoughts about that.

"Honest people don't need to put their hand on a bible to tell the truth, and dishonest people could swear on their mothers' lives and still lie."

The section quotes in Early Grave are profound and on point. The “Twittersphere" comments are the pure, hilariously ugliness of anonymity.

Jake is a man of grit and integrity who knows himself and accepts his foibles. He's irreverent, loyal, cocky, loving and an unsung philosopher.

"Life, I would later learn, is a raging river tumbling over jagged rocks, most of which are never seen. There are no signs warning of broken bones or broken promises or broken hearts. Some of us will get knocked off our flimsy rafts. Others cling to the straps with utter depression. Either way, the journey's end is the same. The river surges toward a roaring falls, unforgiving and unsurvivable."

It's sad that such a terrific and fun series is over. The ending left me hoping that it's not the end of Jake, that he'll make smart mouth appearances with Solomon and Lord.

5 Stars and a huge thank you to Paul Levine for giving me twenty-eight years of engrossing entertainment with Jake Lassiter.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been my pleasure to read all of Paul Levine's novels, especially his Jake Lassiter books, of which there have been many. And unlike some writers, every Lassiter mystery is enthralling, witty, and raucous. Paul Levine started this fantastic series with To Speak For The Dead and has now concluded it with Early Grave.
Jake Lassiter, formerly of the Miami Dolphins, became a rough-and-tumble everyman's lawyer after his career petered out in the N.F.L. Killers, drug dealers, extortionists, you name it, and Jake defended them. All the while having a romantic time with the ladies and even taking over guardianship of his nephew, Kip. Now Jake is old and in mediocre health. One night he watches his friend's son playing high school football and takes a vicious hit. The coach sends him back in, and therein lies the problem. The player seems paralyzed and grievously injured. Jake sees this and decides that high school football is too dangerous and contributes to Chronic Traumatic encephalopathy, the illness that can lead to severe diseases and strokes. Jake decides to file suit to stop football from playing in Florida until safety reforms are integrated. What follows is a topical and necessary examination of America's most popular sport, centered around realistic, sympathetic, and greedy people who stand to lose financially if Jake and his legal team pull off a miracle.
Paul Levine provides a well-written, logical and entertaining novel that shines a bright light on Jake and all that has been endearing to his readers over the past 32 years.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting end to the Jake Lassiter series. Ex-pro-football-player-turned-lawyer Jake Lassiter is suffering symptoms of CTE. His godson is paralyzed during a high school football game and Jake takes on the daunting task of seeking an injunction against HS tackle football until it can be proven safe. People hate him for interfering with the American religion of violent sports. I loved one critic who played football with Pop Warner and posted, “my brain is fine even after suffering five caucasians.”

I looked up the Florida parental release form to see if the book was correct in what it says. Indeed, the form the parents have to sign says “BY SIGNING THIS FORM, YOU ARE GIVING UP YOUR CHILD’S/WARD’S RIGHT AND YOUR RIGHT TO RECOVER FROM YOUR CHILD’S/WARD’S SCHOOL, THE SCHOOLS AGAINST WHICH IT COMPETES, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE CONTEST OFFICIALS, AND FHSAA IN A LAWSUIT FOR ANY PERSONAL INJURY, INCLUDING DEATH, TO YOUR CHILD/WARD OR ANY PROPOERTY DAMAGE THAT RESULTS FROM THE RISKS THAT ARE A NATURAL PART OF THE ACTIVITY.” In other words, your kid may die but you aren’t going to sue anybody for negligent equipment or coaching.

Excellent ending. I’ll miss this series.

[Marie Lutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book in which Paul Levine kills off Jake (although authors have resurrected their heroes before).

After Jake’s godson is seriously injured in a high school football incident, Jake files a lawsuit seeking damages for the kid’s injuries while also trying to make high school football safer. The godson has an incredibly loving girlfriend who not only sticks by him but who has the defective helmet that more than anything else rescues Jake’s case. In the meantime Jake and his saintly (not very well characterized or believable) fiancée undertake premarital therapy with a woman who keeps throwing out boring platitudes that are a significant challenge to the reader’s patience.

Jake is quite ill throughout all this (with atrial fibrillation and possible brain damage among other things), yet his attitude toward his health is somewhat cavalier. The legal arguments and courtroom scenes are pretty good. A lot of the other parts of the plot are just OK. Interspersing Jake’s serious symptoms with everything else that is going on is a tricky way to tell a story and it doesn’t really come off.

As for Jake’s demise, it was a little sad, but not that moving, actually.

[Shomeret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lassiter went to a high school football game because his godson, Rod, was on the team. Rod was seriously injured and ended up in the hospital. Lassiter was bothered by the lack of a physician on the field when Rod was injured.

So he filed a lawsuit to temporarily enjoin high school football games until it could be determined that they were safe. The definition of enjoin that I am using in this context is "to prohibit by judicial order" which is a quote from Merriam-Webster.

The resolution wasn't surprising to me, but I still found it moving. I will give Early Grave four stars on Goodreads.

For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...

[Rudy Labrado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dejavu ...

I liked the exposure or bringing to the forefront that CTE has become a fact to be dealt with. I am a former high school footballer, competitor in the 'PITS', and personally experienced the ever present sensation of a 'bell ringing' as I looked out the ear hole of my helmet !!!

I would encourage all of my associates (teammates) to engross themselves in Jake Lassiter's sometime fictional yet hilarious tales !!!

Kudos to Paul Levine ,who so well presented the 'Word'. I much admire !!!!

Having 77 years of life experience I can personally relate some of the strange decisions I have made in life perhaps to some of those 'hat on hat' experiences!!!

Job well done 'Sir Levine'!!!

Rudy Labrado

[Vickie Sarmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love “Underdog” Legal Thrillers

Football - is it dangerous? Does it cause CTE, which football players have actually died from? Football is a tough game even for the NFL,but what about the way it’s played on a high school field. Jake Lassiter’s godson, Rod, was gravely injured on the field. He might not ever walk again. Was it coach negligence? Could Jake proof that it was coach negligence? Would he be able to prove this in court? Could he overtake his adversary, who had no scruples to win a case - either legally or illegally? I enjoyed the book very much, but wasn’t particularly fond of the ending. The plot and the characters were great. Wonder if there will be another book… has me guessing!

[Nyflgal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my…the finale? If it is, it ended the way Jake would have wanted, though I will sad to not be able to enjoy this character & series more.
My one hope is that there is the ability to write a prequel to this book showing the chars dealing with the passing of Granny & Doc.

I also have one criticism, Paul neglects to mention nephew Kip when listing the most important people in his life, perhaps in an updated version. I also think some mention of Kip’s successful trial in previous book should have been mentioned as a reasoning in considering taking on this case.

Anyone care to comment…?

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did a great job with character development, witty dialogue, and a story that not only entertains but enlightens the reader. The sport of football is on trial - from Pop Warner leagues to the NFL, due to the inherent long and short term health risks involved in playing the sport. This is the main theme of the book but don't let this keep you from reading this thought provoking and gripping tale of a former Penn State and NFL player, turned lawyer that goes toe-to-toe with the best lawyers money can buy. Lots of surprises to keep you reading.

[Susan Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Early Grave

This legal thriller gives insight into how far corporate law will go to win a case.
Jake’s godson, a thin former track athlete is persuaded to play high school football.
Given a helmet too big for his head he is pitted against a big solid player who decks him and he lands without his helmet.
Suffering concussion he is left on the field and sustains a spinal fracture inflicted by the same opposing player.
Jake takes on his case to prove negligence by the coach.
Enjoyable read. It seems this will be the last Jake Lassiter for which i am sad.

[Harold Kasselman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake Lassiter is guilt ridden because his godson has sustained a catastrophic football injury. Jake had encouraged the boy to play. The event is so overwhelming that Jake risks his health to leave a cushy legal job to undertake a David and Goliath lawsuit against the consortium that supports football at all levels. The dialogue is hilarious at times and heartbreaking at others. His godson and his parents have everything riding on Jake, and he feels the pressure, but he is up to the task-even if it kills him? You will enjoy the legal machinations and the action. A great read.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

And So It Ends

I have absolutely loved this series and hate to see it conclude. Jake has his flaws but at heart is a good man and loyal friend. This case reflects my own feelings about contact football so it really spoke to me. It raises very relevant issues as we see more cases of CTE from repetitive concussions.
It will be interesting to see if the author spins off any of the characters into a new series.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I've only read three of the Jake Lassiter series books but this made me laugh and cry. It kept me on the edge of my seat to learn what would happen next. I'm definitely going to read the previous books because the character is so lovable. Having lived in Miami not far from Coconut Grove, I love the author's references and humor about life in the area.

I highly recommend this book.

[Keith Withers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly riveting book

From start to finish this book has all of the guts and glory of a real stand up, knock'em down sort of fight. From the tenacity of Jake Lassiter to the heartfelt support of his female companion, Melissa, the support of his old playing partner and wife, the determination of Rod, the 'real fall guy's of the whole scenario, this was an absolute pleasure to read. I highly recommend it to all readers.

[Thomas R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Early Grave

The latest book in the Jake Lassiter series is one of the best. Lassiter is part Spenser, part Perry Mason and part Matlock. The author tackles the issue of safety in today's Football world. The author understands how Football in America is a multi Billion Dollar enterprise and making the game less violent would cost the owners Billions of dollars. The dialog is awesome and the ending is great.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hitting the Upright

Perhaps the best author's effort to understand the main character's emotional response to life issues. Main character's premonition of finality seen through the impossibility of no more football playing in courtroom protocol is very compelling/unique. Readers perhaps will be challenged to rethink those dogmas guiding them before they cause irreversible events.

[Michael Brudny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. My second Paul Levine/Jake Lassiter book (the other was Cheaters Game), and both were excellent. I like legal thrillers with some humor included and Lassiter provides this in spades. All the characters were memorable, including the Judge, Jake's client Rod, opposing counsel, etc. The fact that football, and the dangers involved in the game, made the book even better. Will need to try some more Jake Lassiter books.