What do you think?
Rate this book
Robin Lockwood #7
Betrayal: A Robin Lockwood Novel
In Phillip Margolin's Betrayal, attorney Robin Lockwood finds herself defending her old nemesis in a multiple murder case with too many suspects, where success might cost her own life.
Robin Lockwood is now a prominent defense attorney in Portland, Oregon but a decade ago, she was a ranked and rising MMA fighter. Her career came to a quick end when she was knocked out and concussed in the first round by Mandy Kerrigan, a much more talented fighter.
Now the situation couldn't be more different, with Kerrigan on her last legs, her career nearly over, arrested for the quadruple murder of the entire Finch family...and Kerrigan's only possible friend is the attorney she beat so many years ago.
For Robin, it's no simple Margaret Finch was a lawyer working for vicious Russian mobsters, and was in the cross-hairs of both the mobsters and the widower of a woman a client killed; her husband Nathan Finch was deeply in debt to a bookie who threatened his life; her son Ryan was the one who sold Kerrigan illegal performance enhancing drugs and was beaten severely by her when Kerrigan failed her drug test. To complicate matters further, the DA that Robin is facing is the man she's just started dating, the first person she's begun seeing seriously after her husband was killed.
In a case where the stakes are high and the truth is elusive, where each new fact twists the case in a new direction, there is seemingly no way to win or direction to turn that will leave Robin Lockwood unscathed.
Robin Lockwood is now a prominent defense attorney in Portland, Oregon but a decade ago, she was a ranked and rising MMA fighter. Her career came to a quick end when she was knocked out and concussed in the first round by Mandy Kerrigan, a much more talented fighter.
Now the situation couldn't be more different, with Kerrigan on her last legs, her career nearly over, arrested for the quadruple murder of the entire Finch family...and Kerrigan's only possible friend is the attorney she beat so many years ago.
For Robin, it's no simple Margaret Finch was a lawyer working for vicious Russian mobsters, and was in the cross-hairs of both the mobsters and the widower of a woman a client killed; her husband Nathan Finch was deeply in debt to a bookie who threatened his life; her son Ryan was the one who sold Kerrigan illegal performance enhancing drugs and was beaten severely by her when Kerrigan failed her drug test. To complicate matters further, the DA that Robin is facing is the man she's just started dating, the first person she's begun seeing seriously after her husband was killed.
In a case where the stakes are high and the truth is elusive, where each new fact twists the case in a new direction, there is seemingly no way to win or direction to turn that will leave Robin Lockwood unscathed.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2023
432 people are currently reading
941 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews
October 16, 2023
Betrayal
by Phillip Margolin is a well-written and suspenseful legal thriller. It’s the seventh book in the Robin Lockwood series. Robin is a well-known and distinguished defense attorney in Portland, Oregon. However, ten years ago she as a ranked mixed martial arts fighter until she was knocked out and concussed in a fight with Mandy Kerrigan. Now, Kerrigan is nearing the end of her career and is arrested for the quadruple murder of the Finch family. Her court appointed lawyer is Robin.
Robin has a sense of humor, but is lonely. Mandy doesn’t know what she will do when her fighting career is over. She has no family she can ask for help and begrudgingly accepts Robin’s help. However, Robin will be facing deputy district attorney Tom McKee, the man Robin had just started to date. That means their personal lives must be put on hold until after the trial.
The plot is solid with plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings. There’s plenty of drama both inside and outside the courtroom. However, one of the keys to the case was a little too easy to identify. Themes include murder, corruption, scams, grief, friendship, assault, and much more.
Overall, this was an engaging, fast-paced, and intense novel which kept me turning the pages. While this is the first book that I have read in the series, I had no trouble learning the characters and rapidly coming up to speed. I enjoyed it and can’t wait until the next book in the series is available.
St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and Phillip Margolin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for November 07, 2023.
------------------------------------------
My 4.3 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Robin has a sense of humor, but is lonely. Mandy doesn’t know what she will do when her fighting career is over. She has no family she can ask for help and begrudgingly accepts Robin’s help. However, Robin will be facing deputy district attorney Tom McKee, the man Robin had just started to date. That means their personal lives must be put on hold until after the trial.
The plot is solid with plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings. There’s plenty of drama both inside and outside the courtroom. However, one of the keys to the case was a little too easy to identify. Themes include murder, corruption, scams, grief, friendship, assault, and much more.
Overall, this was an engaging, fast-paced, and intense novel which kept me turning the pages. While this is the first book that I have read in the series, I had no trouble learning the characters and rapidly coming up to speed. I enjoyed it and can’t wait until the next book in the series is available.
St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and Phillip Margolin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for November 07, 2023.
------------------------------------------
My 4.3 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
October 20, 2023
Woah, I couldn't put this one down! Betrayal is very readable as a standalone. I've read every book in this series and this entry is one of Phillip Margolin’s best!! 4.5⭐
A lot happened in ten years. When Portland defense attorney Robin Lockwood was a law student, she was also a professional MMA fighter. "Rockin Robin" jumps at the opportunity to be in a televised match in Las Vegas to fill a spot when another fighter had an injury. Her opponent, Mandy Kerrigan a second contender for world champion is on another level and knocked Robin out in the first round.
Today, Kerrigan is no longer a champion. She's struggling in the arena and in life. She's been charged with quadruple homicide for murdering the entire Finch family.
Betrayal brings both women back together although Kerrigan doesn't remember Robin at first. Robin is passionate about this case. It's Kerrigan who made Robin realize that her arena was inside the courtroom and not in the octagon cage. Robin wants to represent Kerrigan in this capital case.
I went in blind and loved it! The flashbacks, everything. Kerrigan's case is intriguing and involves multiple mysteries. There are quite a lot of characters but they're easy to tell apart, I have no problem keeping track of who did what. In some ways, I enjoy Robin's investigative team as much as I enjoy the court scene. There's good character development and it's very interesting that Robin's love interest is a prosecutor. Overall, very thrilling and the pace was great!
Thérèse Plummer is terrific. Absolutely perfection! I've always enjoyed Plummer's performance and she's one of my favorite narrators. I prefer her reading THIS book with a more serious tone rather than quirky characters in romance novels.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
Expected publication on 7th Nov 2023!
7h 20m
A lot happened in ten years. When Portland defense attorney Robin Lockwood was a law student, she was also a professional MMA fighter. "Rockin Robin" jumps at the opportunity to be in a televised match in Las Vegas to fill a spot when another fighter had an injury. Her opponent, Mandy Kerrigan a second contender for world champion is on another level and knocked Robin out in the first round.
Today, Kerrigan is no longer a champion. She's struggling in the arena and in life. She's been charged with quadruple homicide for murdering the entire Finch family.
Betrayal brings both women back together although Kerrigan doesn't remember Robin at first. Robin is passionate about this case. It's Kerrigan who made Robin realize that her arena was inside the courtroom and not in the octagon cage. Robin wants to represent Kerrigan in this capital case.
I went in blind and loved it! The flashbacks, everything. Kerrigan's case is intriguing and involves multiple mysteries. There are quite a lot of characters but they're easy to tell apart, I have no problem keeping track of who did what. In some ways, I enjoy Robin's investigative team as much as I enjoy the court scene. There's good character development and it's very interesting that Robin's love interest is a prosecutor. Overall, very thrilling and the pace was great!
Thérèse Plummer is terrific. Absolutely perfection! I've always enjoyed Plummer's performance and she's one of my favorite narrators. I prefer her reading THIS book with a more serious tone rather than quirky characters in romance novels.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
Expected publication on 7th Nov 2023!
7h 20m
November 14, 2023
Thanks to a good plot, this is a well written story around an especially difficult subject. 8 of 10 stars
November 15, 2023
This courtroom drama had too many suspects, and the resolution came out of left field. I could have done without the romance and I hated the description of the MMA match. In general, I have liked the author’s non-series books more than I have enjoyed the Robin Lockwood series. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
December 31, 2023
5/5 🌟
0.5/5 🌶️
5/5 🔎
TRIGGERS:
Murder
Death
Mentions of underage sex
Violence
Framing
Wrongful conviction
Insurance scamming
Mafia entanglement
BOOK BLURB:
Robin Lockwood is now a prominent defense attorney in Portland, Oregon but a decade ago, she was a ranked and rising MMA fighter. Her career came to a quick end when she was knocked out and concussed in the first round by Mandy Kerrigan, a much more talented fighter.
Now the situation couldn't be more different, with Kerrigan on her last legs, her career nearly over, arrested for the quadruple murder of the entire Finch family...and Kerrigan's only possible friend is the attorney she beat so many years ago.
For Robin, it's no simple case: Margaret Finch was a lawyer working for vicious Russian mobsters, and was in the cross-hairs of both the mobsters and the widower of a woman a client killed; her husband Nathan Finch was deeply in debt to a bookie who threatened his life; her son Ryan was the one who sold Kerrigan illegal performance enhancing drugs and was beaten severely by her when Kerrigan failed her drug test. To complicate matters further, the DA that Robin is facing is the man she's just started dating, the first person she's begun seeing seriously after her husband was killed.
In a case where the stakes are high and the truth is elusive, where each new fact twists the case in a new direction, there is seemingly no way to win or direction to turn that will leave Robin Lockwood unscathed.
MY THOUGHTS:
This book was a nice surprise and I didn’t see that twist coming at the end. I wasn’t able to predict the ending or the actual guilty person or the reason why. I call that a successful mystery/thriller!
0.5/5 🌶️
5/5 🔎
TRIGGERS:
Murder
Death
Mentions of underage sex
Violence
Framing
Wrongful conviction
Insurance scamming
Mafia entanglement
BOOK BLURB:
Robin Lockwood is now a prominent defense attorney in Portland, Oregon but a decade ago, she was a ranked and rising MMA fighter. Her career came to a quick end when she was knocked out and concussed in the first round by Mandy Kerrigan, a much more talented fighter.
Now the situation couldn't be more different, with Kerrigan on her last legs, her career nearly over, arrested for the quadruple murder of the entire Finch family...and Kerrigan's only possible friend is the attorney she beat so many years ago.
For Robin, it's no simple case: Margaret Finch was a lawyer working for vicious Russian mobsters, and was in the cross-hairs of both the mobsters and the widower of a woman a client killed; her husband Nathan Finch was deeply in debt to a bookie who threatened his life; her son Ryan was the one who sold Kerrigan illegal performance enhancing drugs and was beaten severely by her when Kerrigan failed her drug test. To complicate matters further, the DA that Robin is facing is the man she's just started dating, the first person she's begun seeing seriously after her husband was killed.
In a case where the stakes are high and the truth is elusive, where each new fact twists the case in a new direction, there is seemingly no way to win or direction to turn that will leave Robin Lockwood unscathed.
MY THOUGHTS:
This book was a nice surprise and I didn’t see that twist coming at the end. I wasn’t able to predict the ending or the actual guilty person or the reason why. I call that a successful mystery/thriller!
November 13, 2023
I've been following this series from the start so I, of course, had to grab this one. This is the seventh book in the Robin Lockwood series.
Description:
In Phillip Margolin's Betrayal , attorney Robin Lockwood finds herself defending her old nemesis in a multiple murder case with too many suspects, where success might cost her own life.
Robin Lockwood is now a prominent defense attorney in Portland, Oregon but a decade ago, she was a ranked and rising MMA fighter. Her career came to a quick end when she was knocked out and concussed in the first round by Mandy Kerrigan, a much more talented fighter.
Now the situation couldn't be more different, with Kerrigan on her last legs, her career nearly over, arrested for the quadruple murder of the entire Finch family...and Kerrigan's only possible friend is the attorney she beat so many years ago.
For Robin, it's no simple Margaret Finch was a lawyer working for vicious Russian mobsters, and was in the cross-hairs of both the mobsters and the widower of a woman a client killed; her husband Nathan Finch was deeply in debt to a bookie who threatened his life; her son Ryan was the one who sold Kerrigan illegal performance enhancing drugs and was beaten severely by her when Kerrigan failed her drug test. To complicate matters further, the DA that Robin is facing is the man she's just started dating, the first person she's begun seeing seriously after her husband was killed.
In a case where the stakes are high and the truth is elusive, where each new fact twists the case in a new direction, there is seemingly no way to win or direction to turn that will leave Robin Lockwood unscathed.
My Thoughts:
Phillip Margolin has been one of my favorite authors for years now, so I always look forward to his new books. Robin Lockwood is a great character and I've enjoyed this series. Great twists and turns in this one. And there are so many suspects. This is a complex situation and the history with Robin and Kerrigan adds a hurdle to the attorney-client relationship here. I liked that Robin finally decided to date again after losing her husband in such a devastatingly traumatic way. The plot is well done and the book is fast-paced and kept my attention throughout.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
In Phillip Margolin's Betrayal , attorney Robin Lockwood finds herself defending her old nemesis in a multiple murder case with too many suspects, where success might cost her own life.
Robin Lockwood is now a prominent defense attorney in Portland, Oregon but a decade ago, she was a ranked and rising MMA fighter. Her career came to a quick end when she was knocked out and concussed in the first round by Mandy Kerrigan, a much more talented fighter.
Now the situation couldn't be more different, with Kerrigan on her last legs, her career nearly over, arrested for the quadruple murder of the entire Finch family...and Kerrigan's only possible friend is the attorney she beat so many years ago.
For Robin, it's no simple Margaret Finch was a lawyer working for vicious Russian mobsters, and was in the cross-hairs of both the mobsters and the widower of a woman a client killed; her husband Nathan Finch was deeply in debt to a bookie who threatened his life; her son Ryan was the one who sold Kerrigan illegal performance enhancing drugs and was beaten severely by her when Kerrigan failed her drug test. To complicate matters further, the DA that Robin is facing is the man she's just started dating, the first person she's begun seeing seriously after her husband was killed.
In a case where the stakes are high and the truth is elusive, where each new fact twists the case in a new direction, there is seemingly no way to win or direction to turn that will leave Robin Lockwood unscathed.
My Thoughts:
Phillip Margolin has been one of my favorite authors for years now, so I always look forward to his new books. Robin Lockwood is a great character and I've enjoyed this series. Great twists and turns in this one. And there are so many suspects. This is a complex situation and the history with Robin and Kerrigan adds a hurdle to the attorney-client relationship here. I liked that Robin finally decided to date again after losing her husband in such a devastatingly traumatic way. The plot is well done and the book is fast-paced and kept my attention throughout.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
October 18, 2023
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Phillip Margolin, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
A long-time fan of Phillip Margolin and this great legal thriller series, I was eager to see what Robin Lockwood would be doing. Building on Robin’s past work as an MMA fighter and stellar lawyer, the story works to merge the two and show how a murder could bring many motives to the surface. Margolin proves his worth and shows how gripping a writer he is when given the chance to let all the pieces fall into place!
Robin Lockwood was once an established MMA fighter on her way up the ranks. After clashing with Mandy Kerrigan a decade ago, Robin’s fighting career came to an abrupt end and she turned her focus to law school, where she excelled and became a lawyer of some regard in the Portland area.
When Mandy reemerges in Robin’s life, things could not be more different. Her career on the literal ropes, Mandy has been arrested for a quadruple homicide, when the entire Finch household is found slain in their home. Mandy turns to Robin to defend her, a Herculean task if ever there was one.
As Robin tries to make sense of the case before her, she comes to realise that the Finches had many enemies. From mother, Margaret, who had been doing some legal work for the Russian mob; father, Nathan, who has racked up many debts with his gambling addiction; and Ryan, the ne’er-do-well son, selling designer drugs that are supposed to be untraceable. These drugs were detected during one post-fight test and have left Mandy suspended, providing the prime motive in the case. There is also the teenaged daughter, whose calm exterior hid a vicious side that had her bullying a fellow student, who ended up committing suicide.
While Robin knows that DA has a slim case, it makes more sense than anything she can muster together. When she presents her facts to a jury, things are not as effective as she might have liked, leaving little doubt about her client’s fate. However, the legal system is full of twists and should one of them tun in Mandy’s favour, Robin and her legal team will be there to pounce. Margolin weaves a wonderful web of deception, betrayal, and legal maneuvers in this piece that is sure to keep the reader flipping pages well into the night.
I can count on a strong piece of thriller work whenever Phillip Margolin is writing. The narrative foundation is always full of keen perspectives and provides the reader with something solid on which to rely as they make their way through any legal matter. The dialogue and short chapters push things along, leaving the reader eager to see where things are headed, as the story’s excitement increases with each new revelation.
Strong characters prove to the cornerstone to this piece. Not only is there a great development of the protagonist, but those around Robin Lockwood show great resolve and flavour the story effectively. There is some development here in Robin’s personal life, though it is not overshadowed by the legal matters. The numerous perspectives presented in this piece allow the reader to see things from a variety of angles and understand how the story emerges as one of Margolin’s best.
Any legal thriller worth its salt will have some great twists throughout story to keep the reader on their toes. Legal matters turn swiftly and Margolin knows how to insert these changes at the right time to ensure maximum impact. Margolin does well to leave the best for last, as the final reveal offers up a moment that few will see coming. though the attentive reader will have seen the clues laid out through the story’s climax. I cannot wait to see what Margolin and Robin Lockwood have on offer with the next instalment in this series.
Kudos, Mr. Margolin, for keeping things sharp and exciting.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/be...
A long-time fan of Phillip Margolin and this great legal thriller series, I was eager to see what Robin Lockwood would be doing. Building on Robin’s past work as an MMA fighter and stellar lawyer, the story works to merge the two and show how a murder could bring many motives to the surface. Margolin proves his worth and shows how gripping a writer he is when given the chance to let all the pieces fall into place!
Robin Lockwood was once an established MMA fighter on her way up the ranks. After clashing with Mandy Kerrigan a decade ago, Robin’s fighting career came to an abrupt end and she turned her focus to law school, where she excelled and became a lawyer of some regard in the Portland area.
When Mandy reemerges in Robin’s life, things could not be more different. Her career on the literal ropes, Mandy has been arrested for a quadruple homicide, when the entire Finch household is found slain in their home. Mandy turns to Robin to defend her, a Herculean task if ever there was one.
As Robin tries to make sense of the case before her, she comes to realise that the Finches had many enemies. From mother, Margaret, who had been doing some legal work for the Russian mob; father, Nathan, who has racked up many debts with his gambling addiction; and Ryan, the ne’er-do-well son, selling designer drugs that are supposed to be untraceable. These drugs were detected during one post-fight test and have left Mandy suspended, providing the prime motive in the case. There is also the teenaged daughter, whose calm exterior hid a vicious side that had her bullying a fellow student, who ended up committing suicide.
While Robin knows that DA has a slim case, it makes more sense than anything she can muster together. When she presents her facts to a jury, things are not as effective as she might have liked, leaving little doubt about her client’s fate. However, the legal system is full of twists and should one of them tun in Mandy’s favour, Robin and her legal team will be there to pounce. Margolin weaves a wonderful web of deception, betrayal, and legal maneuvers in this piece that is sure to keep the reader flipping pages well into the night.
I can count on a strong piece of thriller work whenever Phillip Margolin is writing. The narrative foundation is always full of keen perspectives and provides the reader with something solid on which to rely as they make their way through any legal matter. The dialogue and short chapters push things along, leaving the reader eager to see where things are headed, as the story’s excitement increases with each new revelation.
Strong characters prove to the cornerstone to this piece. Not only is there a great development of the protagonist, but those around Robin Lockwood show great resolve and flavour the story effectively. There is some development here in Robin’s personal life, though it is not overshadowed by the legal matters. The numerous perspectives presented in this piece allow the reader to see things from a variety of angles and understand how the story emerges as one of Margolin’s best.
Any legal thriller worth its salt will have some great twists throughout story to keep the reader on their toes. Legal matters turn swiftly and Margolin knows how to insert these changes at the right time to ensure maximum impact. Margolin does well to leave the best for last, as the final reveal offers up a moment that few will see coming. though the attentive reader will have seen the clues laid out through the story’s climax. I cannot wait to see what Margolin and Robin Lockwood have on offer with the next instalment in this series.
Kudos, Mr. Margolin, for keeping things sharp and exciting.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/be...
November 11, 2023
Robin Lockwood, former MMA fighter and now prominent defence attorney in Portland Oregon, is hired by her old fight cage nemesis, Mandy Kerrigan, who has been accused of a particularly heinous crime. A family of four has been brutally murdered and Mandy had been seen earlier fighting with the son outside a bar and, later, at the time of the murder, pounding on the door of the family’s home. Robin thinks she might be innocent but the evidence seems to be stacked against her. The only hope is to find other possible suspects and, as it turns out, every member of the family had done things to make them a target but is there enough evidence against any of these possibilities to keep Mandy off death row?
It’s been quite a while since I read a Phillip Margolin legal thriller but, after reading Betrayal, that’s an oversight I plan to rectify in the very near future. It’s a smart, well-written, and entertaining tale that kept me guessing right up to the big reveal at the end. The characters are well-drawn and easy to like or hate and Robin makes for one bad-ass protagonist. It is also very fast-paced thanks to Margolin’s use of short chapters and dialogue. There’s plenty of action outside the courtroom but it was the action inside the courtroom I found most compelling. Although this is the seventh in the Robin Lockwood series, it can be read as a standalone.
I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and St Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review
It’s been quite a while since I read a Phillip Margolin legal thriller but, after reading Betrayal, that’s an oversight I plan to rectify in the very near future. It’s a smart, well-written, and entertaining tale that kept me guessing right up to the big reveal at the end. The characters are well-drawn and easy to like or hate and Robin makes for one bad-ass protagonist. It is also very fast-paced thanks to Margolin’s use of short chapters and dialogue. There’s plenty of action outside the courtroom but it was the action inside the courtroom I found most compelling. Although this is the seventh in the Robin Lockwood series, it can be read as a standalone.
I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and St Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review
January 15, 2024
Attorney Robin Lockwood put herself through law school while she was a very good MMA fighter. It is now a decade later, and her latest client is a woman she fought in the ring, Mandy Kerrigan. A family of four has been brutally murdered, and since Mandy has the means, motive and opportunity, she has been arrested and will soon be tried for the quadruple murders. Robin has to put her feelings aside when it comes to defending Mandy.
For Mandy, there are a lot of reasons why her arrest moved to a trial. For one thing, her career is fizzling. Also, she had an altercation with the father of the family that was witnessed by many. It might be that the intended victim was Margaret Finch, but now Robin is determined to find out why the rest of her family was murdered.
Robin's reputation in the courtroom is legendary, but the prosecuting attorney is a man that she is drawn to. will Deputy District Attorney Tom Marks and Robin have a chance to get together now that they will be pitted against one another in the courtroom?
Betrayal is a fabulous book and an excellent addition to a winning series. I have read all of the books in the series, but have scheduled this series for a reread as I want to spend more time with Robin before book eight is released.
Many thanks to St. Martins/Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
For Mandy, there are a lot of reasons why her arrest moved to a trial. For one thing, her career is fizzling. Also, she had an altercation with the father of the family that was witnessed by many. It might be that the intended victim was Margaret Finch, but now Robin is determined to find out why the rest of her family was murdered.
Robin's reputation in the courtroom is legendary, but the prosecuting attorney is a man that she is drawn to. will Deputy District Attorney Tom Marks and Robin have a chance to get together now that they will be pitted against one another in the courtroom?
Betrayal is a fabulous book and an excellent addition to a winning series. I have read all of the books in the series, but have scheduled this series for a reread as I want to spend more time with Robin before book eight is released.
Many thanks to St. Martins/Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 13, 2023
The Writing is Seamless, Descriptive, and Enjoyable to Read
SUMMARY
In Betrayal, attorney Robin Lockwood defends her old MMA-fighting nemesis, Mandy Kerrigan, for murder. Mandy is arrested for killing the prominent Finch family. Mandy had been seen by a neighbor banging on their front door only twenty minutes before the four bodies were found dead inside.
The teenage son Ryan Finch had sold Mandy some non-detectable performance-enhancing drugs. But after her MMA fight that night, the drugs had been detected in Mandy’s system. Mandy’s career is now over, and she is furious. She had already brutally attacked Ryan earlier that afternoon on a public street with many witnesses.
Now, Mandy must rely on Robin to put up a good fight, with little evidence supporting her innocence.
REVIEW
Robin Lockwood is a strong, intriguing, and intelligent character. She carries the story, is hard to forget, and is a pleasure to read about. This is Phillip Margolin's seventh book in the Robin Lockwood series, and they just keep getting better.
Betrayal is brilliantly plotted and weaves a suspenseful tale that Robin expertly plays out in the courtroom. The writing is seamless, descriptive, and simply enjoyable to read. I listened to the Betrayal audiobook, narrated by Therese Plummer. Her voice, pacing, and tone were excellent.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Minotaur Books
Published November 7, 2023
Narrated. Therese Plummer
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
SUMMARY
In Betrayal, attorney Robin Lockwood defends her old MMA-fighting nemesis, Mandy Kerrigan, for murder. Mandy is arrested for killing the prominent Finch family. Mandy had been seen by a neighbor banging on their front door only twenty minutes before the four bodies were found dead inside.
The teenage son Ryan Finch had sold Mandy some non-detectable performance-enhancing drugs. But after her MMA fight that night, the drugs had been detected in Mandy’s system. Mandy’s career is now over, and she is furious. She had already brutally attacked Ryan earlier that afternoon on a public street with many witnesses.
Now, Mandy must rely on Robin to put up a good fight, with little evidence supporting her innocence.
REVIEW
Robin Lockwood is a strong, intriguing, and intelligent character. She carries the story, is hard to forget, and is a pleasure to read about. This is Phillip Margolin's seventh book in the Robin Lockwood series, and they just keep getting better.
Betrayal is brilliantly plotted and weaves a suspenseful tale that Robin expertly plays out in the courtroom. The writing is seamless, descriptive, and simply enjoyable to read. I listened to the Betrayal audiobook, narrated by Therese Plummer. Her voice, pacing, and tone were excellent.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Minotaur Books
Published November 7, 2023
Narrated. Therese Plummer
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
October 7, 2023
*Audiobook
This book is the latest and the Robin Lockwood series. She’s an ex fighter turned lawyer. She’s smart, she’s fearless, she takes no sh!t. She’s a female protagonist we all want to be.
In this book, she’s coming off of the death of someone very close to her and trying to figure out where she goes from here. Trying to put the pieces of her almost happily ever after, back together.
As usual, she has another complicated case, with lots of twists and turns. Legal thrillers, or something that Philip Margolin excels at, especially in this series. I’m not someone who is very big on series because I get bored after a while but I love Robin Lockwood’s character so much that I could totally see myself reading this series, even if it goes on and on forever.
This is one of those books that as I’m listening to/reading it I can actually picture everything in my mind as if I’m watching a movie and I just forget that I’m reading.
I highly recommend this series. The books are quick reads, and you’re gonna love all the characters. One thing I missed in this book was Regina Barrister. She was such a great character. I have a terrible memory, but somehow I remember her character so well. I loved the relationship she had with Robin Lockwood.
I highly recommend this book and I think you’ll love it too.
This book is the latest and the Robin Lockwood series. She’s an ex fighter turned lawyer. She’s smart, she’s fearless, she takes no sh!t. She’s a female protagonist we all want to be.
In this book, she’s coming off of the death of someone very close to her and trying to figure out where she goes from here. Trying to put the pieces of her almost happily ever after, back together.
As usual, she has another complicated case, with lots of twists and turns. Legal thrillers, or something that Philip Margolin excels at, especially in this series. I’m not someone who is very big on series because I get bored after a while but I love Robin Lockwood’s character so much that I could totally see myself reading this series, even if it goes on and on forever.
This is one of those books that as I’m listening to/reading it I can actually picture everything in my mind as if I’m watching a movie and I just forget that I’m reading.
I highly recommend this series. The books are quick reads, and you’re gonna love all the characters. One thing I missed in this book was Regina Barrister. She was such a great character. I have a terrible memory, but somehow I remember her character so well. I loved the relationship she had with Robin Lockwood.
I highly recommend this book and I think you’ll love it too.
August 10, 2023
I just finished reading "Betrayal" by Philip Margolin. Here are my thoughts. First of all, many thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
This book started of with a bang. A neighbour notices movement across the street of her home and then sees police cars. A family that lives across from her has been murdered. Then we find out about the murdered family-the Finches. They are not very nice, a mother who is a lawyer for the Russian mob, a father with a gambling addiction who makes drugs on the side, a son who is a loser and sells drugs for his father, and a daughter who is very young and is a bully in her highschool.
We also learn about a young lawyer who used to be a MMA fighter, and lost a fight many years ago to a superior oponent who is now accused of killing the entire Finch family.
There are many possible suspects and the lawyer (Robin) desperately tries to save her client. In court she has to face a smart District Attorney (who she is incidentally dating and must keep secret) and she thinks she has lost the case until...SURPRISE!
This book certainly. had a lot of promise, but it became bogged down with too many characters and uneccessary detail and information. I don't care what she had for dinner (things like that). There were so many characters that they were almost cardboardish (is that a word). And what exactly was the betrayal? The description of the novel says that Robin has to defend her old nemesis, but she literally fought her once. I don't think that qualifies her as a nemesis.
The ending was satisfying...but again, everything was wrapped up too quickly. I feel like this book started well but got caught up in unecessary detail and then ended abruptly and a little too perfectly.
All in all, I did finish it because I wanted to find out who the killer was...but I can't recommend it.
Happy Reading
This book started of with a bang. A neighbour notices movement across the street of her home and then sees police cars. A family that lives across from her has been murdered. Then we find out about the murdered family-the Finches. They are not very nice, a mother who is a lawyer for the Russian mob, a father with a gambling addiction who makes drugs on the side, a son who is a loser and sells drugs for his father, and a daughter who is very young and is a bully in her highschool.
We also learn about a young lawyer who used to be a MMA fighter, and lost a fight many years ago to a superior oponent who is now accused of killing the entire Finch family.
There are many possible suspects and the lawyer (Robin) desperately tries to save her client. In court she has to face a smart District Attorney (who she is incidentally dating and must keep secret) and she thinks she has lost the case until...SURPRISE!
This book certainly. had a lot of promise, but it became bogged down with too many characters and uneccessary detail and information. I don't care what she had for dinner (things like that). There were so many characters that they were almost cardboardish (is that a word). And what exactly was the betrayal? The description of the novel says that Robin has to defend her old nemesis, but she literally fought her once. I don't think that qualifies her as a nemesis.
The ending was satisfying...but again, everything was wrapped up too quickly. I feel like this book started well but got caught up in unecessary detail and then ended abruptly and a little too perfectly.
All in all, I did finish it because I wanted to find out who the killer was...but I can't recommend it.
Happy Reading
January 13, 2024
Love this series and look forward to each one..."Betrayal" by Phillip Margolin is the seventh book in the Robin Lockwood legal thriller series...Though a series, all of the Robin Lockwood's can be read as standalones...Lockwood is a well-known and established criminal defense attorney in Portland, Oregon with a tremendous backstory...Years ago, she was a ranked mixed martial arts fighter until she was knocked out and concussed in a fight with Mandy Kerrigan. In the current times, Kerrigan is at the end of her career and is arrested for the quadruple murder of the Finch family and Robin Lockwood is her defense...She is an absolutely kick-as attorney in and out of the courtroom which makes these stories a whole ton of fun to read!
November 11, 2023
After reading one other in this series featuring former MMA fighter Robin Lockwood, I looked forward to another. And I'm happy to say this one (the 7th) doesn't disappoint - if anything, I enjoyed it more. This time around, Robin is a highly regarded defense attorney in Portland, Oregon. When a local family of four is murdered, the primary suspect is Mandy Kerrigan, a washed-up MMA fighter who once roundly defeated Robin, causing her to get out of the professional fight arena. Mandy, it seems, had beaten up the grown son of the murdered family and was even seen at their door not long before the bodies were discovered.
But Robin suspects the truth is more elusive, agreeing to defend her and, hopefully, identify the real killer or killers. Among the discoveries is the fact that the mother, Margaret Finch, was an attorney with a lucrative history of defending powerful mobsters, the father owed a ton of gambling debt and the aforementioned son was a drug dealer (plenty of reasons for payback, then).
The story, which employs flashbacks, follows Robin's investigation and courtroom proceedings as well as her budding romance with a colleague. There's plenty of action, all building up to a surprising end (well, sort of; fairly early on I made a deduction on my own that proved right on the money). All told, it's a very entertaining book, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.
But Robin suspects the truth is more elusive, agreeing to defend her and, hopefully, identify the real killer or killers. Among the discoveries is the fact that the mother, Margaret Finch, was an attorney with a lucrative history of defending powerful mobsters, the father owed a ton of gambling debt and the aforementioned son was a drug dealer (plenty of reasons for payback, then).
The story, which employs flashbacks, follows Robin's investigation and courtroom proceedings as well as her budding romance with a colleague. There's plenty of action, all building up to a surprising end (well, sort of; fairly early on I made a deduction on my own that proved right on the money). All told, it's a very entertaining book, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.
March 14, 2024
Betrayal by Phillip Margolin is the seventh book in the Robin Lockwood series. Robin is a well-known and distinguished defense attorney in Portland, Oregon. Ten years ago, while going to University, she made a living as a mixed martial arts fighter. She gave that up when she was knocked out and ended up with a concussion. The fighter that knocked her out of the profession was Mandy Kerrigan. Kerrigan is at the end of her career, but when she is arrested for a quadruple murder. When Robin finds out that she will be using a court appointed lawyer, she requests the judge give her the case. Robin is sure that Mandy didn't do it, and with her investigator and herself, she follows all the evidence and her intuition to do her best to prove that someone else could have been the murderer.
Betrayal is a well written and plotted legal thriller. I have enjoyed all the books in this series, and although each story is contained within the covers of the book, I recommend you read them all in order to follow Robin's personal and professional growth. In a previous book, Robin's husband was killed during one of her cases and she is finally ready to date again. As the investigation plays out, there are more than a few suspects. The family has a lot of flaws and there could have been any number of people who wanted one of more of them dead. Of course, once a case goes to trial and someone has been indicted, the police stop looking for anyone else, but that doesn't stop Robin. There are plenty of twists in this one with several red herrings. I was invested in this story and wanted to know who killed the family. The evidence seemed to lead in one direction, but knowing Phillip Margolin, the obvious killer would not be the one. I was surprised at the final reveal. I love how Robin puts things together, and how her brain works. This was another enjoyable Robin Lockwood story. Once again, the audiobook is narrated by the wonderful Thérèse Plummer. Her voices, expression and storytelling are excellent and added to my enjoyment of this book. If you enjoy listening, then I recommend you go the audiobook route for this book and series.
Betrayal is a well written and plotted legal thriller. I have enjoyed all the books in this series, and although each story is contained within the covers of the book, I recommend you read them all in order to follow Robin's personal and professional growth. In a previous book, Robin's husband was killed during one of her cases and she is finally ready to date again. As the investigation plays out, there are more than a few suspects. The family has a lot of flaws and there could have been any number of people who wanted one of more of them dead. Of course, once a case goes to trial and someone has been indicted, the police stop looking for anyone else, but that doesn't stop Robin. There are plenty of twists in this one with several red herrings. I was invested in this story and wanted to know who killed the family. The evidence seemed to lead in one direction, but knowing Phillip Margolin, the obvious killer would not be the one. I was surprised at the final reveal. I love how Robin puts things together, and how her brain works. This was another enjoyable Robin Lockwood story. Once again, the audiobook is narrated by the wonderful Thérèse Plummer. Her voices, expression and storytelling are excellent and added to my enjoyment of this book. If you enjoy listening, then I recommend you go the audiobook route for this book and series.
August 28, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I have never read a Phillip Margolin book, but I have wanted to because I like the genre and I happen to be from Portland, Oregon, where the book takes place. His son, Daniel, was my daughter’s fathers attorney many years ago.
The book was an easy read and I enjoyed how it did keep me on the edge of my seat. There were several logical possibilities, which made it suspenseful. I didn’t put the book down and stayed awake til the wee hours of the morning to finish it. I wish he had tied up a few loose ends at the end, but it was still enjoyable.
I did feel like the courtroom scenes were a little too simple. But I understand that most readers don’t really want to read all the courtroom dialogue that isn’t relevant to the story. I think it would’ve given the book 4 stars if there was a little more complexity to the characters and storyline. I might see if some of his other books offer that complexity that I’m looking for.
But if you want to read a book that is fast-paced, keeps you guessing, and an easy read then this book is perfect.
Thank you to Net Galley for giving me a digital copy! I truly appreciate it!
I have never read a Phillip Margolin book, but I have wanted to because I like the genre and I happen to be from Portland, Oregon, where the book takes place. His son, Daniel, was my daughter’s fathers attorney many years ago.
The book was an easy read and I enjoyed how it did keep me on the edge of my seat. There were several logical possibilities, which made it suspenseful. I didn’t put the book down and stayed awake til the wee hours of the morning to finish it. I wish he had tied up a few loose ends at the end, but it was still enjoyable.
I did feel like the courtroom scenes were a little too simple. But I understand that most readers don’t really want to read all the courtroom dialogue that isn’t relevant to the story. I think it would’ve given the book 4 stars if there was a little more complexity to the characters and storyline. I might see if some of his other books offer that complexity that I’m looking for.
But if you want to read a book that is fast-paced, keeps you guessing, and an easy read then this book is perfect.
Thank you to Net Galley for giving me a digital copy! I truly appreciate it!
November 16, 2023
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the narrator’s voice and she completely encompasses all the characters perfectly! It was so easy to listen to for hours at a time and I finished in two sessions! I haven’t read other books in this story but felt like it worked really well as a standalone since I didn’t feel like I was missing any crucial details or information. It would have been nice knowing a little more of their backstories, but I’m sure that’s covered in the earlier books. I would definitely recommend to anyone who like police procedurals and mysteries!
I really liked the narrator’s voice and she completely encompasses all the characters perfectly! It was so easy to listen to for hours at a time and I finished in two sessions! I haven’t read other books in this story but felt like it worked really well as a standalone since I didn’t feel like I was missing any crucial details or information. It would have been nice knowing a little more of their backstories, but I’m sure that’s covered in the earlier books. I would definitely recommend to anyone who like police procedurals and mysteries!
April 26, 2023
Betrayal is the latest Robin Lockwood novel and one of Phillip Margolin’s best. The story centers around the defense of an old opponent of Robin’s during her short-lived career as an MMA fighter. The defense seems hopeless as the evidence mounts up against her client and the interplay between Robin and the prosecutor (a man she is currently dating) is fascinating. There are subplots involving gambling and drugs all woven together to effectuate a great thriller with an extremely satisfying conclusion.
I thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication and, of course, Phillip Margolin for the creation of a series which I enjoy immensely.
I thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication and, of course, Phillip Margolin for the creation of a series which I enjoy immensely.
October 18, 2023
Robin Lockwood book #7
A Legal Thriller
In a few words:
Robin, MMA fighter turned Portland, Ore., criminal defense attorney takes on the case of a former rival, Mandy Kerrigan, who has been charged with murdering a family of four. Though Mandy maintains her innocence, witnesses saw her banging on the door of the Finch family home after beating up the Finch’s oldest son, Ryan, at a bar when the performance-enhancing drugs he sold her showed up on a drug test. Robin is convinced she’ll find answers about the Finches’ enemies that will divert blame from Mandy. But this case turned not to be a cake walk.....
Defending her old nemesis in a multiple murder case with too many suspects, where success might cost Robin’s life, is not simple. To complicate matters, she is dating the DA.
My thoughts:
I am a long-time fan of Phillip Margolin and I am always eager to read what he has in store for us.
The court scenes maneuvers sucked me in from the start, although fictional this legal drama sounded real to me. I was captivated by the setting, Portland Oregon, where it seems you can pull off random murders, well at less according to this thriller. Mr. Margolin knows how to spin a case where the stakes are high and the truth is elusive, where fact twists the case in all directions, he surely does that with aplomb. Maybe trial attorneys can poke holes into this story but I think following the antics was exciting and suspenseful. I agree with some who think the Russian mafia connection is weak and really didn’t ring true, but what the heck it made for a very captivating read.
Definitely this story is characters driven. With its snappy dialogue and short chapters to help push things along, I was eager to see how this case would turn out.
It is a page turner no doubt in my books.
This is a good novel and one of Mr. Margolin I enjoyed the best.
Another excellent book I received from St-Martin Press via Netgalley
A Legal Thriller
In a few words:
Robin, MMA fighter turned Portland, Ore., criminal defense attorney takes on the case of a former rival, Mandy Kerrigan, who has been charged with murdering a family of four. Though Mandy maintains her innocence, witnesses saw her banging on the door of the Finch family home after beating up the Finch’s oldest son, Ryan, at a bar when the performance-enhancing drugs he sold her showed up on a drug test. Robin is convinced she’ll find answers about the Finches’ enemies that will divert blame from Mandy. But this case turned not to be a cake walk.....
Defending her old nemesis in a multiple murder case with too many suspects, where success might cost Robin’s life, is not simple. To complicate matters, she is dating the DA.
My thoughts:
I am a long-time fan of Phillip Margolin and I am always eager to read what he has in store for us.
The court scenes maneuvers sucked me in from the start, although fictional this legal drama sounded real to me. I was captivated by the setting, Portland Oregon, where it seems you can pull off random murders, well at less according to this thriller. Mr. Margolin knows how to spin a case where the stakes are high and the truth is elusive, where fact twists the case in all directions, he surely does that with aplomb. Maybe trial attorneys can poke holes into this story but I think following the antics was exciting and suspenseful. I agree with some who think the Russian mafia connection is weak and really didn’t ring true, but what the heck it made for a very captivating read.
Definitely this story is characters driven. With its snappy dialogue and short chapters to help push things along, I was eager to see how this case would turn out.
It is a page turner no doubt in my books.
This is a good novel and one of Mr. Margolin I enjoyed the best.
Another excellent book I received from St-Martin Press via Netgalley
June 21, 2023
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Betrayal by Phillip Margolin from NetGalley.
I was thrilled to be able to read Betrayal early because I have become a huge Phillip Margolin fan. I recently discovered his Robin Lockwood series and quickly became hooked. Each book in the series is filled with thrills, suspense, and mystery. Each time I think I’ve solved the mystery, the author includes a twist that changes my mind and gets my heart pumping.
Betrayal is the latest in Phillip Margolin’s Robin Lockwood series. Robin is such a unique character that you not only root for but you also want to be best friends with. As a former MMA fighter turned lawyer, Robin is a tough woman with a heart of gold. In Betrayal, Robin defends a MMA fighter who assures her she is being framed. This story has so many intriguing twists and turns I couldn’t put it down.
A courtroom drama such as Law & Order mixed with your favorite thrilling mystery novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed Betrayal and look forward to the next in the series.
I was thrilled to be able to read Betrayal early because I have become a huge Phillip Margolin fan. I recently discovered his Robin Lockwood series and quickly became hooked. Each book in the series is filled with thrills, suspense, and mystery. Each time I think I’ve solved the mystery, the author includes a twist that changes my mind and gets my heart pumping.
Betrayal is the latest in Phillip Margolin’s Robin Lockwood series. Robin is such a unique character that you not only root for but you also want to be best friends with. As a former MMA fighter turned lawyer, Robin is a tough woman with a heart of gold. In Betrayal, Robin defends a MMA fighter who assures her she is being framed. This story has so many intriguing twists and turns I couldn’t put it down.
A courtroom drama such as Law & Order mixed with your favorite thrilling mystery novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed Betrayal and look forward to the next in the series.
October 16, 2023
4.5 stars.
Betrayal brings Robin Lockwood back for one of her most challenging and unique cases yet.
Robin is defending a fellow MMA fighter who is charged with a mass murder of an entire family but insists she is innocent.
In order to defend Mandy, Robin has to put her personal life on hold and she just happens to be newly dating the prosecutor.
Can Robin trust her client's story as evidence points right back at Mandy.
Phillip Margolin always gives us a solid story with twists and turns and red herrings that have you guessing to the end.
Betrayal is no exception and the court room drama is so well done you think that you are sitting right there.
Highly recommend Betrayal and if you are new to the Robin Lockwood series you will want to read them all.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for a page turning suspenseful read.
Betrayal brings Robin Lockwood back for one of her most challenging and unique cases yet.
Robin is defending a fellow MMA fighter who is charged with a mass murder of an entire family but insists she is innocent.
In order to defend Mandy, Robin has to put her personal life on hold and she just happens to be newly dating the prosecutor.
Can Robin trust her client's story as evidence points right back at Mandy.
Phillip Margolin always gives us a solid story with twists and turns and red herrings that have you guessing to the end.
Betrayal is no exception and the court room drama is so well done you think that you are sitting right there.
Highly recommend Betrayal and if you are new to the Robin Lockwood series you will want to read them all.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for a page turning suspenseful read.
October 7, 2023
Good murder mystery/investigation.
I love it when all the pieces fit at the end. No open ending, no unresolved clues.
I also love to follow the investigation and especially the court room drama. Great at both.
Characters are interesting and very likeable. A romance takes up a minimum of content but sweetens up the characters. Content is all about the mystery etc and not a lot of flowery descriptions. I like Margolis' style.
Margolis never disappoints me.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love it when all the pieces fit at the end. No open ending, no unresolved clues.
I also love to follow the investigation and especially the court room drama. Great at both.
Characters are interesting and very likeable. A romance takes up a minimum of content but sweetens up the characters. Content is all about the mystery etc and not a lot of flowery descriptions. I like Margolis' style.
Margolis never disappoints me.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2024
Very repetitious- same info over and over. Didn’t like the MMA angle. As a matter of fact I didn’t like anything about the book. It was all so obvious, like duh! No more of this trite nonsense.
I must have read a different book than the reviewers who gave it 4/5 stars👎
I must have read a different book than the reviewers who gave it 4/5 stars👎
October 21, 2023
“ In Phillip Margolin's Betrayal, attorney Robin Lockwood finds herself defending her old nemesis in a multiple murder case with too many suspects, where success might cost her own life.”
Margo Lin has certainly done it again. When it comes to murder mysteries. Robin Lockwood never seems to stop when it means someone is out there killing people. A great thriller with lots of twists and turns.
Margo Lin has certainly done it again. When it comes to murder mysteries. Robin Lockwood never seems to stop when it means someone is out there killing people. A great thriller with lots of twists and turns.
April 27, 2023
Robin is back and better than ever. This time she is called on to defend one of her first opponents from her past life as an MMA fighter. As usual, the author creates some interesting characters and an excellent plot with enough turns to the reader guessing. I really an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.
January 9, 2024
I enjoyed this story, but found it a bit jumbled in my opinion. This may be because this was my first Robin Lockwood book, and this is #7 in the series, so there are probably things others that follow this series would understand where it was confusing for me. I did like the narrator, and enjoyed the book. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I was more familiar with the MCs. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this audiobook, in return for an honest review.
April 23, 2023
Fans of the bestselling Robin Lockwood series by Phillip Margolin have been waiting patiently for the 7th book in the series, Betrayal. In this novel, Robin, who was previously an MMA fighter, and who continues to work out daily, attends a fight featuring the person who beat her so badly10 years prior in a televised competition, that Robin quit competition and focused on her law practice. Mandy Kerrigan is no longer a world champion, and loses the match. Kerrigan finds herself flunking a drug test which finds performance enhancing drugs in her system and beats up the drug dealer who had promised his drugs wouldn’t show up in a test. Then her drug dealer, Ryan Finch is found murdered along with the rest of his family and Kerrigan is accused and jailed. Lockwood takes the case, which, while investigating leads to Russian mafia ties, gambling ties to bookies, and a very dysfunctional family who has all been murdered.
While Margolin is an excellent storyteller, this novel is missing several elements that make it a believable story. For instance, Kerrigan is charged with the murders even though there is no proof or DNA evidence she was ever in the house, yet there was a break-in through the back of the house where Mandy never was. The evidence is only circumstantial and very thin. There are other suspects that have more motive, but law enforcement doesn’t agree. The Russian mafia connection doesn’t ring true, and Margolin fails to tie up loose ends by the end of the story. Alan Chen is a character who isn’t treated like he should be by law enforcement and his scenarios don’t seem plausible.
One thing Margolin does do well in this novel is develop his characters. Robin is a viable attorney and knows her stuff, and the court proceedings show how good of an attorney she really is. The supporting characters are also very believable – some likeable, and some not – but excellent in moving the story along.
Although this is a good novel, it isn't Margolin's best.
Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.
While Margolin is an excellent storyteller, this novel is missing several elements that make it a believable story. For instance, Kerrigan is charged with the murders even though there is no proof or DNA evidence she was ever in the house, yet there was a break-in through the back of the house where Mandy never was. The evidence is only circumstantial and very thin. There are other suspects that have more motive, but law enforcement doesn’t agree. The Russian mafia connection doesn’t ring true, and Margolin fails to tie up loose ends by the end of the story. Alan Chen is a character who isn’t treated like he should be by law enforcement and his scenarios don’t seem plausible.
One thing Margolin does do well in this novel is develop his characters. Robin is a viable attorney and knows her stuff, and the court proceedings show how good of an attorney she really is. The supporting characters are also very believable – some likeable, and some not – but excellent in moving the story along.
Although this is a good novel, it isn't Margolin's best.
Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.
March 10, 2024
This is the laziest thing I’ve read in a really long time. It did have me laughing out loud in a couple spots, but I don’t think it was supposed to be a comedy. It felt like this was written by a seventh grader whose never watched a single episode of Law and Order. The author didn’t even try to get anything close to realistic.
We have a capital murder trial that lasts a day and a half, The high priced defense lawyer, doesn't even have a defense prepared when it's time to present her case nor has she met with her defense team until they're seated at the trial table.
Robin was an undefeated #9 ranked UFC fighter, but I after her very first loss in a last minute fight to the #1 ranked fisher, she just quits?? Unrealistic, but definitely a quality you want in your attorney when fighting for your life.
The phrasing is super repetitive and ridiculous too. I love how character casually uses the term PED, and talks about the purse being withheld/tied up as though that’s just normal language for everybody. Even in a courtroom.
But my favorite thing of all has to be the “smoking gun“ bombshell that the prosecution drops to clinch the conviction. A revelation so earth shattering that the defense could not possibly counter it. A detail so incriminating that the cops stop looking at the Russian mafia, the shady bookie, or the creepy teacher, or any other suspects.
And what was this game changer? Mandy said the door was locked, but the teacher with a flimsy cover story and a prop who finds the bodies said it was unlocked. Therefore, she must be lying and obviously the killer. Mic drop. Case closed. Everyone go home. Don't bother questioning why, if Mandy broke in through the back door, murdered an entire family, and slipped back out undetected, would then go around to the front porch, bang on the door and shout, drawing maximum attention to be sure she can be placed at the sconce at the time of the murder
We have a capital murder trial that lasts a day and a half, The high priced defense lawyer, doesn't even have a defense prepared when it's time to present her case nor has she met with her defense team until they're seated at the trial table.
Robin was an undefeated #9 ranked UFC fighter, but I after her very first loss in a last minute fight to the #1 ranked fisher, she just quits?? Unrealistic, but definitely a quality you want in your attorney when fighting for your life.
The phrasing is super repetitive and ridiculous too. I love how character casually uses the term PED, and talks about the purse being withheld/tied up as though that’s just normal language for everybody. Even in a courtroom.
But my favorite thing of all has to be the “smoking gun“ bombshell that the prosecution drops to clinch the conviction. A revelation so earth shattering that the defense could not possibly counter it. A detail so incriminating that the cops stop looking at the Russian mafia, the shady bookie, or the creepy teacher, or any other suspects.
And what was this game changer? Mandy said the door was locked, but the teacher with a flimsy cover story and a prop who finds the bodies said it was unlocked. Therefore, she must be lying and obviously the killer. Mic drop. Case closed. Everyone go home. Don't bother questioning why, if Mandy broke in through the back door, murdered an entire family, and slipped back out undetected, would then go around to the front porch, bang on the door and shout, drawing maximum attention to be sure she can be placed at the sconce at the time of the murder
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2023
Writing this makes me sad. I used to love Phillip Margolin’s novels. He’s one of a handful of authors I read all the time in my younger days. I lost track of his books some time ago, and I was so excited to receive this one on audio.
Unfortunately, the entire story fell flat for me.
The case itself just didn’t feel plausible. Mandy, the MMA fighter, is arrested on flimsy evidence, while other evidence is flatly ignored. And, yes, that can and does happen at times, but it was a stretch here because everyone involved seemed to intentionally wear blinders to all other possibilities. Then we add in the Russian mafia spin, which felt like it had been tossed in to add danger, even though it wasn’t a good fit. The whole thing wound up feeling convoluted.
Margolin usually excels at the trial aspects of his stories, but even that felt lackluster to me. When we got there, we already knew most of the evidence on both sides, so it was courtroom scenes with regurgitated facts and arguments.
I wasn’t wowed by the revelation or the ending.
The audio narration is good, but the overall experience was just okay.
*Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free download.*
Unfortunately, the entire story fell flat for me.
The case itself just didn’t feel plausible. Mandy, the MMA fighter, is arrested on flimsy evidence, while other evidence is flatly ignored. And, yes, that can and does happen at times, but it was a stretch here because everyone involved seemed to intentionally wear blinders to all other possibilities. Then we add in the Russian mafia spin, which felt like it had been tossed in to add danger, even though it wasn’t a good fit. The whole thing wound up feeling convoluted.
Margolin usually excels at the trial aspects of his stories, but even that felt lackluster to me. When we got there, we already knew most of the evidence on both sides, so it was courtroom scenes with regurgitated facts and arguments.
I wasn’t wowed by the revelation or the ending.
The audio narration is good, but the overall experience was just okay.
*Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free download.*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews