It’s my pleasure today to be a part of author Larry D. Thompson’s Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tour for his legal thriller, DEAD PEASANTS.
As part of the tour, I’d like to share my review of the book with you, give a brief bio of the author and provide an excerpt from his book to entice you even more. Thanks to the author and the great folks at Partners in Crime Tours, I have a print copy of DEAD PEASANTS to giveaway. Please see the end of the post for the guidelines.
DEAD PEASANTS by Larry Thompson
If you were ever up against a big business in a legal battle, attorney Jack Bryant is the man you would want handling your case.Bryant comes from a background that doesn’t quite stand up to his colleagues, but he’s a fair man that works hard for his clients. By doing so, Bryant has made a nice little nest egg for himself and decides to retire to Fort Worth where he can relax and watch his son play football at TCU.
Boredom sets in and Bryant opens a pro bono office out of his RV. When an elderly widow knocks on his door, Bryant doesn’t realize how dangerous the case will be. The widow has a life insurance check on her deceased husband, but it’s payable to his former employer. Bryant files a civil suit to collect the benefits and soon discovers a string of serial killings.
Bryant and his new lady friend become targets in a murder for hire scheme. They have to uncover the mystery before someone is collecting insurance money on them.
Author Larry D. Thompson has created realistic, well-developed characters. The dialogue flows smoothly and draws you in. He has given his protagonist Jack Bryant strength and courage, with enough flaws to be real. Bryant is the type of character you can’t help but like and want to visit again and again.
The story is plausible with an eerie ‘what if’ feel. There are twists and turns to keep you in suspense and on the edge of your seat. The courtroom scenes are well developed with the author’s own lawyer background coming through. He places you in the midst of the action and holds you spellbound until the end.
DEAD PEASANTS is a page-turner that you won’t be able to put down until the last paragraph is read.
Author Larry D. Thompson’s website is http://www.larrydthompson.com/
Dead Peasants by Larry D. Thompson, St. Martin’s Press, @2012, ISBN: 978-1250009494. Hardcover, 304 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the author’s virtual book tour. A digital copy was sent to me by the tour promoter in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Larry D. Thompson is a veteran trial lawyer and has drawn on decades of experience in the courtroom to produce riveting legal thrillers. DEAD PEASANTS is his third novel.
After graduating from the University of Texas School of Law, Thompson founded the Houston trial firm where he still serves as managing partner. The proud father of three grown children, he lives and works in Texas but spends his summers in Colorado, where he crafts his novels and hikes the mountains surrounding Vail.
His greatest inspiration came from Thomas Thompson, his brother, who wrote many best-selling true-crime books and novels.
If you’d like to see more of Thompson’s tour, please visit the tour hosts found on his Partners in Crime Tour Page.
Here’s an excerpt from DEAD PEASANTS to entice you a bit more:
The knock at the door of the RV was so soft that at first Jack thought it must have been the wind. It came again. He rose from his chair and opened the door. An elderly black lady who he recognized as June Davis stood at the bottom of the steps.
“Mrs. Davis, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you at first. Please come in. It’s chilly out there for early May.” Jack went down a step and extended his hand to assist his visitor, then offered her something to drink.
June perched on the edge of the cushioned bench that circled the table. “Water would be nice,” she said in a soft voice.
Jack went to the refrigerator and returned with a bottle. He twisted the cap a half a turn and handed it to her. She twisted the cap the rest of the way, took a small sip, replaced the cap and set it on the table.
“How are you doing, Mrs. Davis? I mean since your husband died have you been managing okay?”
“I’m fine, Mr. Bryant. My house is paid for and I get a little social security check. Besides, my kids look after me.” She reached into her purse and retrieved an envelope which she slid across the table to Jack. “This came in the mail, addressed to me. I, I wasn’t sure what to do with it; so, I called Miss Colby. She said I should take it to you.”
Jack picked up the envelope. The return address was the United States Postal Service. He opened it and found another envelope, this one torn and mangled with the addressee illegible. The letter from the postal service read, Dear Mrs. Davis: One of our sorting machines jammed and mangled this letter. We apologize for the problem. Your name was the only one we could make out on the letter, and we were able to get your address. Please handle as you see fit. Very truly yours.
Jack looked at the mangled letter. It was from Euro Life Insurance Company, based on the Isle of Gibraltar. It stated that Euro had determined that one William Davis was married to June Davis. Under the terms of the policy, since it paid double indemnity in the event of an accidental death, the benefit was $400,000, payable to Allison Southwest. Jack looked through the documents a second time before he looked up.
“Did you know that they had insured Willie for $400,000?”
“Lawdy, no, Mr. Bryant. Willie only made $20,000 a year. Why would anyone insure him for that kind of money? Besides, he retired from Allison fifteen years ago.”
“Good question. Let me keep these papers and the check. I’ll get back to you in a couple of days.”
“Mrs. Davis, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you at first. Please come in. It’s chilly out there for early May.” Jack went down a step and extended his hand to assist his visitor, then offered her something to drink.
June perched on the edge of the cushioned bench that circled the table. “Water would be nice,” she said in a soft voice.
Jack went to the refrigerator and returned with a bottle. He twisted the cap a half a turn and handed it to her. She twisted the cap the rest of the way, took a small sip, replaced the cap and set it on the table.
“How are you doing, Mrs. Davis? I mean since your husband died have you been managing okay?”
“I’m fine, Mr. Bryant. My house is paid for and I get a little social security check. Besides, my kids look after me.” She reached into her purse and retrieved an envelope which she slid across the table to Jack. “This came in the mail, addressed to me. I, I wasn’t sure what to do with it; so, I called Miss Colby. She said I should take it to you.”
Jack picked up the envelope. The return address was the United States Postal Service. He opened it and found another envelope, this one torn and mangled with the addressee illegible. The letter from the postal service read, Dear Mrs. Davis: One of our sorting machines jammed and mangled this letter. We apologize for the problem. Your name was the only one we could make out on the letter, and we were able to get your address. Please handle as you see fit. Very truly yours.
Jack looked at the mangled letter. It was from Euro Life Insurance Company, based on the Isle of Gibraltar. It stated that Euro had determined that one William Davis was married to June Davis. Under the terms of the policy, since it paid double indemnity in the event of an accidental death, the benefit was $400,000, payable to Allison Southwest. Jack looked through the documents a second time before he looked up.
“Did you know that they had insured Willie for $400,000?”
“Lawdy, no, Mr. Bryant. Willie only made $20,000 a year. Why would anyone insure him for that kind of money? Besides, he retired from Allison fifteen years ago.”
“Good question. Let me keep these papers and the check. I’ll get back to you in a couple of days.”
Now for the giveaway. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Dead Peasants.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of DEAD PEASANTS is 8 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, April 28.
DEAD PEASANTS is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads.
Thanks for stopping by today. What is your favorite part of a legal thriller?
So glad you liked this book. Awesome review and post. Thank you for your insight.
ReplyDeleteMason - Thanks for a great review. I absolutely love the idea of an attorney working out of an RV. And sometimes legal mysteries can really draw the reader in. Oh, and the title got my attention right away.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I've been wanted to read it & you just made me wish I had it next to me! THANKS!!
ReplyDeleteThe title Dead Peasants remind me of Gogol's Dead Souls - collecting on peasants already dead, but this time it's not murder. If I recall, it was a humorous novel, in spite of the title. Must reread it...
ReplyDelete