Violent Crimes by Phillip Margolin

What starts out as a simple case of defending a client for a bar room brawl leads to fraud, conspiracy and murder in Phillip Margolin’s latest mesmerizing tale, VIOLENT CRIMES.

Narrator Therese Plummer does a superb job highlighting the various characters with their own unique voice. Her cadence and tone matches the highs and lows of the story. Plummer brings the emotions to the surface as she portrays the characters enhancing this fascinating story.

Veteran attorney Amanda Jaffe is asked by her friend Christine Larson to defend a fellow colleague, Tom Beatty, in a bar room brawl case. Tom is ex-military suffering from PTSD. Shortly after Amanda gets Tom released from the charge, Christine is found brutally beaten to death in Tom’s bedroom.

Amanda once again tried to help Tom and discovers Christine was looking into possible fraud involving her boss Dale Masterson at the law firm of Masterson, Hamilton, Rickman and Thomas where she and Tom worked. As the business practices of the law firm come under surveillance, Dale Masterson is found beaten to death in his mansion. Dale’s son, Brandon, is seen fleeing the house and is arrested for the murder. Amanda is hired to represent Brandon even though he confesses to killing his father for dealing with questionable clients that he claims are destroying the earth.

Amanda begins to think there could be a connection between Dale and Christine’s murders. The more she digs deeper, the darker the situation becomes. Amanda puts her life in danger determined to find Christine’s killer and find justice for her two clients as she wonders if one of them really is a killer.

This is a fast-pace story that has several plots going on at the same time before coming together in a surprised ending. The suspense and tension will keep you wondering what will happen next. While you might be able to figure out a few of the main bad guys, the author throws in a few twists to surprise you.

The characters are realistic and well-developed. The protagonist is a strong, determined and feisty female, but shows a vulnerable side as well.

VIOLENT CRIMES is the fifth installment in the Amanda Jaffe series, but can be read/listened to on its own. Filled with intrigue and anticipation, this story has a good blend of action, romance and courtroom procedures for an entertaining tale.

Violent Crimes by Phillip Margolin, An Amanda Jaffe Novel (Book #5), Narrated by Therese Plummer, HarperAudio, @2016, ASIN: BO195E9FZM, Unabridged, Digital Audio, Run Time: 6 Hours and 56 Minutes 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope I’ve enticed you to check out VIOLENT CRIMES. Do you enjoy courtroom procedures included in murder mysteries?