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amarettto's review
4.0
This was pretty good, but didn't really sweep me off my feet. I thought the plotline was solid and enjoyed reading it but didn't think it needed to be quite as long a book as it was. The mob boss element felt like a bit of a filler but I get that it was needed to tie things together in the end/make the perpetrator come forward. Still, it felt far fetched that the entire book built up two criminals who carry out this elaborate scheme, which gets brought down so easily by someone who gets strong-armed into confessing.
A decent not-too-heavy read.
A decent not-too-heavy read.
kaceyp14's review
2.0
I love a good courtroom trial book, but this one was pretty cheesy. The bad guys were “so bad”. Once they told us about Royce’s vault, it was too much. And the repetitive writing...Yes, I get it. Vaughn counts to 10 when he’s upset. And of course it ended with “perfect” resolution for each character.
ashann530's review
5.0
I loved this book. This author is 2 for 2 as far as I'm concerned. It held my attention from the beginning until the last page. I can't wait to see what else he writes! I'll be watching for it.
tuxwortha's review
5.0
Really enjoyed this. 4.5 stars. I admit I was getting antsy almost halfway through the book, but Myers came through with satisfying plot turn, a couple of roller coaster nail-biting twists, and fabulous conclusion. Couldn’t put it down, so I finished it in record time. I love how richly and believably he develops backstories and environment, making everything so incredibly believable because of those details. I’m pleased because often an author’s second novel isn’t as amazing as the first. I suspect that Myers will continue to deliver highly imaginative and thought-provoking follow-ups that will be my new go-to lawyer series. Can’t wait for the next one.
renaegade's review
4.0
A gripping story written in a way that makes you need to know what’s going to happen. It’s easy to plow through and will have you ready to throw your book/device more than once.
canada_matt's review
5.0
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, William L. Myers, Jr., and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
After his sensational debut legal thriller, William L. Myers, Jr. is back with another explosive novel that is sure to grab the attention of the reader from the opening lines. Vaughn Coburn is a young and fairly astute lawyer in Philadelphia whose meticulous work and passion for the job show on a daily basis. Arriving back at the firm one afternoon, Vaughn finds everyone glued to the television as they watch the latest developments in a fatal passenger train crash. Soon thereafter, the dreaded phone call comes, his cousin, Eddie, was the engineer and is being blamed for the entire event. As the body count mounts and media outlets are quick to point blame, Vaughn hastily accepts the request to represent Eddie. How could he not have seen the ninety-ton train car ahead of him? Might he have been distracted by his cell phone? When his blood test comes back, Eddie is clear of any narcotics or alcohol, but nothing makes sense, and the current state of amnesia is not helping Vaughn put together a reasonable case. Turning to an unlikely source, Vaughn begins to peel back the layers while two high-profile attorneys begin gathering up suits against Amtrak and Eddie. Problems only get worse when it turns out one of Philly’s finest mobsters had a relative on board and vows retribution. Vaughn can see no light at the end of the tunnel, but he will have to find something quickly, as he owes it to Eddie to clear him of this crime. A shared secret seems to cement Vaughn’s commitment to a man who has had a string of bad luck. With the country watching and the noose fit and ready, Vaughn must do the impossible and explain how Eddie Coburn could be innocent of such a straightforward crash. Might this be too much, even for a legal go-getter, to handle? Myers does a sensational job at piecing the story together, pacing the narrative in such a way that the reader will not be able to help but demand a little more with each page turn. Perfect for those who loved the debut novel and fans of a near-perfect legal thriller.
I came across Myers’ work earlier this year when I saw his novel, A Criminal Defence, receiving a great deal of hype. I loved that novel and hoped to find myself with a copy of this, the follow-up, in short order. Myers uses his knowledge of both the law and Philadelphia to pull the reader into the middle of something realistic. Using strong characters, Myers is able to offer up a wonderfully complex legal web. Vaughn Coburn is the ideal young lawyer to forge into his legal minefield. His past grit and determination paired with a desire to see justice done helps move the story forward, even when things appear bleak. Working alongside many others, both in the legal field and those who are trying to sink Eddie’s case, Vaughn is able to shape the story and keep the reader wondering. Layering much backstory into the narrative, Myers portrays both Coburn men as inseparable, though also having taken paths that could not have differed more. Pompous legal minds and gritty Amtrak employees balance the hope that Vaughn seeks to bring to Eddie’s case, leaving the reader to make the final decision as to what they will accept. Turning to the story itself, Myers offers his superior writing abilities to weave together a strong piece that has the ability to pull on the reader’s heartstrings. The horror of such an incident, a fatal train accident, adds dramatic flair to an already high-impact thriller. Myers uses not only his skill but draws on real-life events to deliver a novel that will be talked about long after it hits bookstands around the world. Mixing shoer chapters with those seen to develop the already strong foundation, Myers ensures the reader is presented with a high caliber novel that does not fade at any point. I can only hope that many others will discover Myers and increase his fan base. That said, it might leave some leery of travelling the rails for the foreseeable future.
Kudos, Mr. Myers, for such a powerful legal thriller. I will be insisting that many people rush out to get their hands on this book soon. I trust that this will get rave reviews from others who enjoy your style and delivery.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
After his sensational debut legal thriller, William L. Myers, Jr. is back with another explosive novel that is sure to grab the attention of the reader from the opening lines. Vaughn Coburn is a young and fairly astute lawyer in Philadelphia whose meticulous work and passion for the job show on a daily basis. Arriving back at the firm one afternoon, Vaughn finds everyone glued to the television as they watch the latest developments in a fatal passenger train crash. Soon thereafter, the dreaded phone call comes, his cousin, Eddie, was the engineer and is being blamed for the entire event. As the body count mounts and media outlets are quick to point blame, Vaughn hastily accepts the request to represent Eddie. How could he not have seen the ninety-ton train car ahead of him? Might he have been distracted by his cell phone? When his blood test comes back, Eddie is clear of any narcotics or alcohol, but nothing makes sense, and the current state of amnesia is not helping Vaughn put together a reasonable case. Turning to an unlikely source, Vaughn begins to peel back the layers while two high-profile attorneys begin gathering up suits against Amtrak and Eddie. Problems only get worse when it turns out one of Philly’s finest mobsters had a relative on board and vows retribution. Vaughn can see no light at the end of the tunnel, but he will have to find something quickly, as he owes it to Eddie to clear him of this crime. A shared secret seems to cement Vaughn’s commitment to a man who has had a string of bad luck. With the country watching and the noose fit and ready, Vaughn must do the impossible and explain how Eddie Coburn could be innocent of such a straightforward crash. Might this be too much, even for a legal go-getter, to handle? Myers does a sensational job at piecing the story together, pacing the narrative in such a way that the reader will not be able to help but demand a little more with each page turn. Perfect for those who loved the debut novel and fans of a near-perfect legal thriller.
I came across Myers’ work earlier this year when I saw his novel, A Criminal Defence, receiving a great deal of hype. I loved that novel and hoped to find myself with a copy of this, the follow-up, in short order. Myers uses his knowledge of both the law and Philadelphia to pull the reader into the middle of something realistic. Using strong characters, Myers is able to offer up a wonderfully complex legal web. Vaughn Coburn is the ideal young lawyer to forge into his legal minefield. His past grit and determination paired with a desire to see justice done helps move the story forward, even when things appear bleak. Working alongside many others, both in the legal field and those who are trying to sink Eddie’s case, Vaughn is able to shape the story and keep the reader wondering. Layering much backstory into the narrative, Myers portrays both Coburn men as inseparable, though also having taken paths that could not have differed more. Pompous legal minds and gritty Amtrak employees balance the hope that Vaughn seeks to bring to Eddie’s case, leaving the reader to make the final decision as to what they will accept. Turning to the story itself, Myers offers his superior writing abilities to weave together a strong piece that has the ability to pull on the reader’s heartstrings. The horror of such an incident, a fatal train accident, adds dramatic flair to an already high-impact thriller. Myers uses not only his skill but draws on real-life events to deliver a novel that will be talked about long after it hits bookstands around the world. Mixing shoer chapters with those seen to develop the already strong foundation, Myers ensures the reader is presented with a high caliber novel that does not fade at any point. I can only hope that many others will discover Myers and increase his fan base. That said, it might leave some leery of travelling the rails for the foreseeable future.
Kudos, Mr. Myers, for such a powerful legal thriller. I will be insisting that many people rush out to get their hands on this book soon. I trust that this will get rave reviews from others who enjoy your style and delivery.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
kdowli01's review
4.0
Such an exciting book! I couldn't put it down. Not having any legal background whatsoever, it was still very easy to follow, and kept me entertained the entire time. My only complaint was that the ending felt a bit abrupt. But I still look forward to continuing the series!
anothercurleyhairbooklover's review
2.0
story hampered by the writing. Dialog was okay, but the prose element very clumsy
bibliophilebookclub's review
5.0
William L. Myers Jr. is a new author to me and having read and loved A Criminal Defense, I was delighted to be able to read this follow-up. I’m a big fan of legal thrillers and An Engineered Injustice is another excellent addition to the genre
A passenger train derails with fatal results, and Vaughn Coburn takes on the case. His cousin, Eddy, was the engineer driving the train when it derailed. Coburn sets out to defend Eddy against claims that he caused the crash.
This case is very personal to Coburn, not least because he and Eddy share a secret from their past that imapcted both of their lives. What follows is a completely engrossing story, with more twists and turns than I was expecting. I found it impossible to put down. I was eager to learn what happened that caused the train to derail.
An Engineered Injustice is a very clever thriller, with some seriously shady characters. I loved how the author wove the story together, feeding the reader little nuggets of information along the way.
If you are a fan of John Grisham, Steve Cavanagh etc, then you need to add this book to your TBR immediately.
Highly recommended!
A passenger train derails with fatal results, and Vaughn Coburn takes on the case. His cousin, Eddy, was the engineer driving the train when it derailed. Coburn sets out to defend Eddy against claims that he caused the crash.
This case is very personal to Coburn, not least because he and Eddy share a secret from their past that imapcted both of their lives. What follows is a completely engrossing story, with more twists and turns than I was expecting. I found it impossible to put down. I was eager to learn what happened that caused the train to derail.
An Engineered Injustice is a very clever thriller, with some seriously shady characters. I loved how the author wove the story together, feeding the reader little nuggets of information along the way.
If you are a fan of John Grisham, Steve Cavanagh etc, then you need to add this book to your TBR immediately.
Highly recommended!
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