Synopses & Reviews
Finalist for the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction:New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni delivers another gripping legal thriller in his popular David Sloane series. The case? Defending the woman he loves against a charge of murder.
A year after the devastating murder of his wife, attorney David Sloane has returned to Seattle after three months in Mexico. At a black-tie dinner where he’s been persuaded to give the keynote address, Sloane reconnects with Barclay Reid, opposing counsel in his most prominent case. Barclay is suffering from her own personal tragedy—the death of her teenage daughter from a drug overdose. In the aftermath, Barclay has begun an intense crusade against the Russian drug traffickers she holds responsible for her daughter’s death, pursuing them with a righteousness that matches Sloane’s own zeal for justice. Despite their adversarial past, Sloane is drawn to Barclay and for the first time since his wife died, he finds himself beginning to have romantic feelings again.
But when Barclay’s crusade stalls and a Russian drug dealer turns up dead, she stands accused of murder, and Sloane is her chosen defender. Amid the swirling media frenzy, in his first criminal case, Sloane finds himself once again in harm’s way, while mounting evidence suggests that Barclay is a woman with many secrets—and may not be quite as innocent as she seems.
With his signature fast-paced, page-turning action and exhilarating plot twists, Robert Dugoni once again proves why he’s so often been named the heir to Grisham’s literary throne.
Review
"Tight plotting and well-developed characters push Dugoni to the head of the legal thriller pack in what is probably his finest book to date. John Grisham and Scott Turow fans should add Dugoni to their list of must-reads." —Library Journal (starred review)
Review
“Dugoni has often been described as a challenger to Turow and other big names in the legal-thriller genre, but at this point, he’s claimed his own position on the A-list. A must read for fans of courtroom drama from Grisham to Turow to Erle Stanley Gardner.” —Booklist
Review
“Dugoni has done it again! Taut courtroom scenes, stunning twists and deceptively dangerous men...and women. Be prepared for a helluva ride from a master of courtroom suspense!” —Lisa Gardner
Review
“The verdict's in on Murder One—Robert Dugoni has written another first-class legal thriller. It's smart, taut, suspenseful and exquisitely plotted.” —Linda Fairstein
Review
“With Murder One Robert Dugoni creates more twists and turns than a road in the Cascade Mountains. For readers who love detailed police work and spot-on courtroom drama, this is the book to look for. He’ll keep you guessing right till the end.” —Elizabeth George
Review
“The best yet in the series.”
—Publishers Weekly
Review
“Dugoni has done it again!” —Lisa Gardner
Review
“DUGONI HAS CLAIMED HIS OWN POSITION ON THE LEGAL THRILLER A-LIST.” —Booklist
Review
“DUGONI’S FINEST BOOK TO DATE.” —Library Journal (starred review)
Synopsis
The case? Defending the woman he loves against a charge of murder. A year after the devastating murder of his wife, attorney David Sloane reconnects with beautiful Barclay Reid, opposing counsel in his most prominent case, at a black-tie dinner. Barclay is suffering from her own personal tragedy—the drug overdose death of her teenage daughter. In the aftermath, she has begun an intense crusade against the Russian traffickers she holds responsible. As she and Sloane grow closer, they discover an undeniable attraction between them. But when a drug dealer turns up dead and Barclay stands accused of murder, Sloane once again finds himself in harms way. Amid the swirling media frenzy, mounting evidence suggests Barclay is a woman with many secrets. . . . Is her passion for Sloane real, or could she be playing with him? With his signature page-turning action and exhilarating plot twists, Robert Dugoni once again proves why he is so often named the heir to Grishams literary throne.
About the Author
Robert Dugoni has practiced as a civil litigator in San Francisco and Seattle for seventeen years. In 1999 he left his law practice to write full time. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University with a degree in journalism and worked as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times before obtaining his doctorate of jurisprudence from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law. A two-time winner of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest, he lives with his wife and two children in the Pacific Northwest.