Review: A Criminal Defense by William Meyers Jr.

A Criminal Defense

by William Meyers Jr.

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Pages: 380

Format: ebook

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Losing the trial of his life could mean losing everything.

When a young reporter is found dead and a prominent Philadelphia businessman is accused of her murder, Mick McFarland finds himself involved in the case of his life. The defendant, David Hanson, was Mick’s close friend in law school, and the victim, a TV news reporter, had reached out to Mick for legal help only hours before her death.

Mick’s played both sides of Philadelphia’s courtrooms. As a top-shelf defense attorney and former prosecutor, he knows all the tricks of the trade. And he’ll need every one of them to win.

But as the trial progresses, he’s disturbed by developments that confirm his deepest fears. This trial, one that already hits too close to home, may jeopardize his firm, his family—everything. Now Mick’s only way out is to mastermind the most brilliant defense he’s ever spun, one that will cross every legal and moral boundary. 

Kritters Thoughts:  Mick McFarland is a defense attorney in Philadelphia, PA and he is known to be one of the best.  He frequents in the higher circles in Philadelphia and even has quite the contacts from his law school days.  One of his previous classmates comes to him for help as he is being charged for murder of a woman who was getting ready to take down a corrupt police ring.  There are a few people who would have reason to want Jennifer Yamura dead . . . 

It had been a very long time since I had read a legal thriller.  With a heavy focus on the court case and not the true intricacies of the murder, this book leaned heavy on the courtroom drama.  There were a few times where the pacing didn't work for me and that may because I felt that the law was weighing down the book, but readers who love the legal thrillers may just enjoy this more than me.  I definitely had to read a lighter fiction story after this one before I ventured to book two and book three.  

BUT the twists and turns were great.  I read a few reviews after finishing this book and I can understand the frustration with the outcome as the victim definitely gets jipped in the end, but it is fiction and sometimes the bad guy wins.  I thought the ending was different and interesting and I enjoyed how it all came together at the end.  

I am intrigued as to the next two books in the series and will be reviewing them over the next two days.  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2019 Challenge: 8 out of 100