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Julia Geary #2
The Least Among Us: A Novel
Searing social commentary meets chilling suspense as public defender Julia Geary takes a case destined to rock her small town to the core, for fans of Attica Locke.
Public defender Julia Geary’s star is rising, and now she’s got her first murder case defending local denizen Ray Belmar in the death of a homeless man. But Julia’s professional and personal challenges are mounting. First, she’s assigned an intern whose arrogance is insufferable. Then, her widowed mother-in-law, whose home Julia and her son Calvin share, announces her plans to re-marry, meaning they’ll have to find a new place to live. And to top things off, Julia’s boss removes her from the case, saying that she’s lost perspective, replacing her with an attorney who advises Ray to plead guilty.
Julia can’t shake the suspicion that the murder, and the subsequent killing of a homeless woman, is linked to the death of a state legislator who had been crusading for political reform. With the help of Duck Creek’s homeless community and her old friend, Sheriff’s Deputy Wayne Peterson, she launches her investigation—but then the anonymous threats start pouring in.
Just as Julia begins to uncover the ways the system is shockingly stacked against those on the fringes of society, she makes an even more damning discovery. Someone close to her is harboring a dark they are desperate to protect—even if that means silencing Julia once and for all.
Public defender Julia Geary’s star is rising, and now she’s got her first murder case defending local denizen Ray Belmar in the death of a homeless man. But Julia’s professional and personal challenges are mounting. First, she’s assigned an intern whose arrogance is insufferable. Then, her widowed mother-in-law, whose home Julia and her son Calvin share, announces her plans to re-marry, meaning they’ll have to find a new place to live. And to top things off, Julia’s boss removes her from the case, saying that she’s lost perspective, replacing her with an attorney who advises Ray to plead guilty.
Julia can’t shake the suspicion that the murder, and the subsequent killing of a homeless woman, is linked to the death of a state legislator who had been crusading for political reform. With the help of Duck Creek’s homeless community and her old friend, Sheriff’s Deputy Wayne Peterson, she launches her investigation—but then the anonymous threats start pouring in.
Just as Julia begins to uncover the ways the system is shockingly stacked against those on the fringes of society, she makes an even more damning discovery. Someone close to her is harboring a dark they are desperate to protect—even if that means silencing Julia once and for all.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 6, 2022
36 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Gwen Florio
16 books156 followersGwen Florio is the author of the Lola Wicks crime series ("gutsy," says the New York Times) as well as SILENT HEARTS (Atria, 2018), a standalone set in Afghanistan. A new crime series starts in November 2020 with the publication of Best Laid Plans (Severn House). Her first novel, MONTANA, won the Pinckley Prize for debut crime fiction, and a High Plains Book Award. Florio is a veteran journalist who has covered stories ranging from the mass shooting at Columbine High School and the Oklahoma City bombing trials, to the glitz of the Miss America pageant and the more practical Miss Navajo contest, whose participants slaughter a sheep. She's reported from Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, among other countries, as well as Lost Springs, Wyo. (population three). She lives in Missoula, Montana. She is represented by Richard Curtis,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 25, 2022
Public defender Julia Guery is assigned her first murder case when Ray Belmar is accused of killing a homeless person. Ray is known to drink too much, a habit that has gotten him into some petty scrapes over the years, but Julia can’t see him as a murderer. Also, a liberal state legislator supposedly fell off the wagon and had a tragic accident, but Julia wonders if something less savory was in play and if there could be any connection to Ray’s current woes. She asks for help from the homeless community and a police officer she knows because of her work in the courthouse. In her efforts to help Ray, she quickly starts receiving threatening notes.
This is such a well-done, page-turning mystery. I like the character of Julia a lot. She could be making more money as a prosecutor but believes that the poor need the best help they can get—sometimes their crime is not being able to pay the ticket for a minor incident. She could use the money since, after her husband was killed by an IED in Iraq, she is a single mother, and now that her mother has found love, Julia needs to find a new place to live.
Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES DECEMBER 6, 2022.
This is such a well-done, page-turning mystery. I like the character of Julia a lot. She could be making more money as a prosecutor but believes that the poor need the best help they can get—sometimes their crime is not being able to pay the ticket for a minor incident. She could use the money since, after her husband was killed by an IED in Iraq, she is a single mother, and now that her mother has found love, Julia needs to find a new place to live.
Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES DECEMBER 6, 2022.
December 11, 2022
Gwen Florio returns following The Truth of It All with her popular Julia Geary series—THE LEAST AMONG US.
The dynamic public defender gets caught in the middle of her first murder case—from the homeless, corruption, politics, and dark secrets in her fight for justice in this riveting legal suspense crime thriller.
Julia gets her first murder case defending a man, Ray Belmar she has represented many times. He may be many things, but she knows he is not a murderer. He is accused of murdering a homeless man.
Julia has a lot going on in her personal life, and her professional life is getting more complex. Her husband was killed in Iraq, and she has been living with her mother-in-law and is getting married, so now she needs a new place to live.
Her dating life (Dom, the Duck Creek Principal) and the only man she had dated since Michael's death has come to a halt when his daughter walked in on them, and the mother wants custody. It was hard to fit in dating when she also has a young son.
Plus, she has a new intern she is not wild about, Marie St. Clair. However, before the book ends, she may change her mind about her.
Julia had not seen a homicide case in the five years she had worked in the Public Defender's office. And to top things off, Julia’s boss removes her from the case, saying that she’s lost perspective, replacing her with an attorney who advises Ray to plead guilty.
She is tenacious and must solve this case. Something sinister is going on, but she needs to do more digging. Then another killing of a homeless woman linked to a state legislator's death.
She starts asking questions in the homeless community down by the river and the help of a friend, Sherriff Deputy Wayne Peterson; however, when she gets too close to discovering the truth, there are threats. Someone wants to silence her. Someone is using Ray to cover their tracks.
I love Julia! She is smart, sassy, witty, and tough! I love that she is flawed and the balance between her personal and professional life. I also enjoyed the supporting characters.
This was my first book by the author, and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style and the series. I quickly purchased the first book in the series to catch up. However, it can be read as a standalone. I love legal crime thrillers and my favorite genre.
If you enjoy strong women, explosive secrets, gripping crime investigations, legal suspense, and stories ripped from the headlines, this is for you!
Fans of Aime Austin's Casey Cort Series and John Lescroart (two of my favorites) will enjoy this series.
Thank you to #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Dec 6, 2022
Dec 2022 Must-Read Books
The dynamic public defender gets caught in the middle of her first murder case—from the homeless, corruption, politics, and dark secrets in her fight for justice in this riveting legal suspense crime thriller.
Julia gets her first murder case defending a man, Ray Belmar she has represented many times. He may be many things, but she knows he is not a murderer. He is accused of murdering a homeless man.
Julia has a lot going on in her personal life, and her professional life is getting more complex. Her husband was killed in Iraq, and she has been living with her mother-in-law and is getting married, so now she needs a new place to live.
Her dating life (Dom, the Duck Creek Principal) and the only man she had dated since Michael's death has come to a halt when his daughter walked in on them, and the mother wants custody. It was hard to fit in dating when she also has a young son.
Plus, she has a new intern she is not wild about, Marie St. Clair. However, before the book ends, she may change her mind about her.
Julia had not seen a homicide case in the five years she had worked in the Public Defender's office. And to top things off, Julia’s boss removes her from the case, saying that she’s lost perspective, replacing her with an attorney who advises Ray to plead guilty.
She is tenacious and must solve this case. Something sinister is going on, but she needs to do more digging. Then another killing of a homeless woman linked to a state legislator's death.
She starts asking questions in the homeless community down by the river and the help of a friend, Sherriff Deputy Wayne Peterson; however, when she gets too close to discovering the truth, there are threats. Someone wants to silence her. Someone is using Ray to cover their tracks.
I love Julia! She is smart, sassy, witty, and tough! I love that she is flawed and the balance between her personal and professional life. I also enjoyed the supporting characters.
This was my first book by the author, and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style and the series. I quickly purchased the first book in the series to catch up. However, it can be read as a standalone. I love legal crime thrillers and my favorite genre.
If you enjoy strong women, explosive secrets, gripping crime investigations, legal suspense, and stories ripped from the headlines, this is for you!
Fans of Aime Austin's Casey Cort Series and John Lescroart (two of my favorites) will enjoy this series.
Thank you to #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog Preview Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Dec 6, 2022
Dec 2022 Must-Read Books
December 23, 2022
Great story! Could have used better editing/proofreading, mostly in the early part of the book.
November 13, 2023
Public defender Julia Geary faces a rising tide of challenges as she takes on her first murder case involving local resident Ray Belmar. Battling an insufferable intern, navigating personal upheavals, and being removed from the case by her boss, Julia suspects a connection between the murder, the death of a homeless woman, and a state legislator's demise. As she delves into the unsettling realities faced by society's fringes, Julia uncovers a shocking revelation while grappling with anonymous threats that escalate her quest for justice into a perilous struggle against those desperate to protect dark secrets.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2023
Julia’s character is complex and driven to support the less fortunate. Murders abound and keep you guessing , who did it!
January 6, 2024
A very well-written book - excellent descriptions of time, place, and dramatic scenes of crime. The group of diverse characters and the politics involved throughout make it recommendable! A well thought out plot that's fast-paced. Kudos!
January 8, 2023
Searing social commentary meets chilling suspense as public defender Julia Geary takes a case destined to rock her small town to the core, for fans of Attica Locke.
Public defender Julia Geary’s star is rising, and now she’s got her first murder case defending local denizen Ray Belmar in the death of a homeless man. But Julia’s professional and personal challenges are mounting. First, she’s assigned an intern whose arrogance is insufferable. Then, her widowed mother-in-law, whose home Julia and her son Calvin share, announces her plans to re-marry, meaning they’ll have to find a new place to live. And to top things off, Julia’s boss removes her from the case, saying that she’s lost perspective, replacing her with an attorney who advises Ray to plead guilty.
Julia can’t shake the suspicion that the murder, and the subsequent killing of a homeless woman, is linked to the death of a state legislator who had been crusading for political reform. With the help of Duck Creek’s homeless community and her old friend, Sheriff’s Deputy Wayne Peterson, she launches her investigation—but then the anonymous threats start pouring in.
Just as Julia begins to uncover the ways the system is shockingly stacked against those on the fringes of society, she makes an even more damning discovery. Someone close to her is harboring a dark they are desperate to protect—even if that means silencing Julia once and for all.
Public defender Julia Geary’s star is rising, and now she’s got her first murder case defending local denizen Ray Belmar in the death of a homeless man. But Julia’s professional and personal challenges are mounting. First, she’s assigned an intern whose arrogance is insufferable. Then, her widowed mother-in-law, whose home Julia and her son Calvin share, announces her plans to re-marry, meaning they’ll have to find a new place to live. And to top things off, Julia’s boss removes her from the case, saying that she’s lost perspective, replacing her with an attorney who advises Ray to plead guilty.
Julia can’t shake the suspicion that the murder, and the subsequent killing of a homeless woman, is linked to the death of a state legislator who had been crusading for political reform. With the help of Duck Creek’s homeless community and her old friend, Sheriff’s Deputy Wayne Peterson, she launches her investigation—but then the anonymous threats start pouring in.
Just as Julia begins to uncover the ways the system is shockingly stacked against those on the fringes of society, she makes an even more damning discovery. Someone close to her is harboring a dark they are desperate to protect—even if that means silencing Julia once and for all.
October 7, 2025
2.5
Yeah…the second time around was any better. Julia was the most annoying FMC!! Her head was so thick, nothing, and I mean NOTHING was getting through it. Again as a public defender she was so judgmental and didn’t even bother trying to see where the people she was assigned to defend was coming from.
The entire story was just irritating. Throughout the entirety of the book, until the “big reveal” 🙄 (seen that coming from a mile away) People kept giving each other the run around and it wasn’t as mysterious as it’s painted out to be; just quite infuriating to say the least. Everybody talking/not talking in circles. One little crumb here without actually saying it outright and one little crumb there.
Also, the way Julia would use Marie to get her out of her hair, even when the information she would come back with was useful. Then she wouldn’t be forthcoming in what she was doing or which lead she was pursing because of that same information she got from Marie. She treated her as if she forgot where she also started as an intern and how far she’s gone (albeit not far with how long it takes for her to figure things out). Can’t say I was surprised…
I have to say the ending was good but then when Dom showed her the surprise she again was on my s*** list.
Yeah…the second time around was any better. Julia was the most annoying FMC!! Her head was so thick, nothing, and I mean NOTHING was getting through it. Again as a public defender she was so judgmental and didn’t even bother trying to see where the people she was assigned to defend was coming from.
The entire story was just irritating. Throughout the entirety of the book, until the “big reveal” 🙄 (seen that coming from a mile away) People kept giving each other the run around and it wasn’t as mysterious as it’s painted out to be; just quite infuriating to say the least. Everybody talking/not talking in circles. One little crumb here without actually saying it outright and one little crumb there.
Also, the way Julia would use Marie to get her out of her hair, even when the information she would come back with was useful. Then she wouldn’t be forthcoming in what she was doing or which lead she was pursing because of that same information she got from Marie. She treated her as if she forgot where she also started as an intern and how far she’s gone (albeit not far with how long it takes for her to figure things out). Can’t say I was surprised…
I have to say the ending was good but then when Dom showed her the surprise she again was on my s*** list.
November 30, 2022
Julia, a clever public defender and a loving mom, finds her world pulled sideways when her client Ray is arrested for murder, her mother in law announces she's getting married and Julia must move, Marie shows up to work as her intern, and Ed, her romantic interest announces they must split due to his teen daughter. Oh, and a beloved legislator has died and her sister believes it was murder. Julia finds herself exploring the unhoused community where Ray lived for answers not only to his case but to other questions as well. This unfolds over a period of weeks and Florio keeps up the tension, especially once it's clear that someone - but who- is stalking Julia. Who can she trust? Julia has grown since the first book (this one works fine as a standalone as the last was in many ways about her grief at her husband's death). Yes she works both sides of the aisle here and steps further into investigating than a public defender would even have time to do but it's an interesting look at darkness in a small town. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers from me.
October 3, 2023
Great series! Loved the characters but the climax in both of the books in this series are spectacular? Julia is renting a new house near work where a state legislator was killed or killed herself. The rent was cheap, it worked for her son as well but they had to take the dog of the house. Julia had several scares from a stalker which she shared with her friend in the sheriffs dept, Wayne. He helped with alarm system and cameras. Other people were being killed in town as well but to many they were indigents. A client of Julie’s as a public defender was charged with their murders. Lots of fun figuring this one out. Looking forward to the next novel in the series!
December 5, 2022
Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.
While Gwen Florio isn't a new author, this is the first of her books I've read and it was a really solid book to start with. This book had a lot to say about the way the legal system treats indigent populations, and it delivered with a taut and genuinely frightening story as public defender Julia Geary refuses to be cowed by the threats she receives in pursuit of truth and actual justice. I'd definitely read more books featuring this character!
While Gwen Florio isn't a new author, this is the first of her books I've read and it was a really solid book to start with. This book had a lot to say about the way the legal system treats indigent populations, and it delivered with a taut and genuinely frightening story as public defender Julia Geary refuses to be cowed by the threats she receives in pursuit of truth and actual justice. I'd definitely read more books featuring this character!
January 1, 2023
Started out strong, turned into a convoluted mess. The main character who is supposed to be an educated public defender presents as a ditzy airhead who can’t draw a line between a and b and the plot is about as thin as a piece of paper. The books’ redeeming factor is the observations on the plight of the homeless and the cycle of poverty and hopelessness that becomes impossible to escape.
December 28, 2022
DNF 9%
While I was hoping for a legal thriller, what I've got so far is an annoying protagonist and her litany of grievances and personal dramas. I've been given no reason why I should care about how unfair her life is. And no reason to care about the client she's decided to defend.
While I was hoping for a legal thriller, what I've got so far is an annoying protagonist and her litany of grievances and personal dramas. I've been given no reason why I should care about how unfair her life is. And no reason to care about the client she's decided to defend.
January 29, 2023
Good not great detective story in a small town where public defender is main character - single mom tries to uncover the real story when one of her wiseguy regular defendants is charged with multiple murders. It ends up becoming personal. Realistically a 3.5
February 3, 2023
Julie, young public defender lawyer with son, Calvin has moved out of her dead husband’s mothers home. Tries to understand and solve the rash of homeless people dying suddenly and confronts evil in her own law enforcement community.
Second in a series, interesting with unique situations.
Second in a series, interesting with unique situations.
February 18, 2023
Ok for a fast read
The main character, Julia, was made out as an idiot with no common sense.
If not for that, would have maybe given better rating.
Just didn’t seem to be professional as a defense attorney
The main character, Julia, was made out as an idiot with no common sense.
If not for that, would have maybe given better rating.
Just didn’t seem to be professional as a defense attorney
July 6, 2024
Homeless people are being murdered and nobody can figure out how or why. Defense attorney Julia Geary is saddled with an intern with a smart-ass attitude that covers a true grit and honesty. They'll figure it out.
December 15, 2022
Good suspense.
Read
February 20, 2023Really like this author- this is 2nd book of this series. hope for more.
March 3, 2023
When I first started reading this book I wasn't sure if I liked it. But as I got further into it, I liked it more and more. It ended up being a good solid read.
March 16, 2023
Kind of slow paved but great ending.
April 29, 2023
I really enjoyed the relationships among the characters even the unsavory ones. The book had a nice pace.
May 17, 2023
A surprisingly strong story (and mystery), interwoven with humanity for the homeless and the difficulty of housing them. I liked the main character, a defense lawyer, and will read more of these.
August 16, 2023
An engaging read. I liked the strong female characters.
September 13, 2023
This book took forever to get anywhere. All of that for basically a fight club in a jail. Come on.
September 25, 2024
Social Commentary on how homeless are perceived.
January 30, 2025
2nd book I've read from this author. I'll continue to read more. She has a decent style, nothing too outlandish or violent.
October 27, 2025
Quick and easy read! Enjoyed the main character as she tried to solve the corruption in the legal system!
July 11, 2023
Very current considering the houseless folks in our neighborhood and the first sanctioned houseless camp being built nearby.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews