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?
