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adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Lawrence Robbins, a seasoned lawyer known for his exceptional career, has created a compelling legal thriller. Despite not being my usual genre, I highly recommend this novel.
"The President's Lawyer" is an electrifying legal thriller that kept me on my toes.
Imagine this: a former president accused of murdering his mistress, with all his scandalous secrets exposed in a gripping courtroom drama. And let me tell you, these secrets are juicy!
The intertwining of dual timelines added an extra layer of intrigue, making the story even more enthralling. Jack is represented by his childhood best friend, Rob, who had a relationship with the deceased mistress at one time, as well as the former first lady. What? I loved how complex these characters were! Their relationships are an intricate web of secrets that will keep your mind engaged and your head spinning.
But it's the book's phenomenally twisted ending that left me breathless. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in search of an exceptional legal thriller!
Thank you to Atria Books and the author for this gifted ARC provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
"The President's Lawyer" is an electrifying legal thriller that kept me on my toes.
Imagine this: a former president accused of murdering his mistress, with all his scandalous secrets exposed in a gripping courtroom drama. And let me tell you, these secrets are juicy!
The intertwining of dual timelines added an extra layer of intrigue, making the story even more enthralling. Jack is represented by his childhood best friend, Rob, who had a relationship with the deceased mistress at one time, as well as the former first lady. What? I loved how complex these characters were! Their relationships are an intricate web of secrets that will keep your mind engaged and your head spinning.
But it's the book's phenomenally twisted ending that left me breathless. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in search of an exceptional legal thriller!
Thank you to Atria Books and the author for this gifted ARC provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
mysterious
fast-paced
I really enjoyed this political thriller - my first time diving into the genre, and I think I will go back for me.
Trying to piece the case being argued together throughout the trial was very engaging, and the chapters that dove into the therapy sessions were fascinating. As you read, you will convince yourself of the guilty party many times, and you may be right but not in the way you think!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy!
Trying to piece the case being argued together throughout the trial was very engaging, and the chapters that dove into the therapy sessions were fascinating. As you read, you will convince yourself of the guilty party many times, and you may be right but not in the way you think!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy!
mysterious
tense
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
3.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ .25 stars! Jack, the former President of the US was accused of killing Amanda, a former employee of Jack’s that worked for him while he was in office. Jack reached out to his friend Rob Jacobson who is a defense attorney and asked Jack to represent him in this case.
We follow the story to see if Jack really killed Amanda or if someone else did it. It is told in dual timelines and has multiple POVs. This story had so many twists and secrets that I enjoyed. There was a lot of police procedural and lawyer talk that really isn’t for me, but I enjoyed the writing and the book overall.
We follow the story to see if Jack really killed Amanda or if someone else did it. It is told in dual timelines and has multiple POVs. This story had so many twists and secrets that I enjoyed. There was a lot of police procedural and lawyer talk that really isn’t for me, but I enjoyed the writing and the book overall.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A former President is accused of murder….
….can his best friend prove his innocence?
Washington DC is a tough town when you’re no longer in power, as former President Jack Cutler has found out since he lost his bid for reelection. On the surface, Jack has it all…Jessica, his loving and beautiful wife, two great kids, and a rise to great heights from his Brooklyn roots. He was always the popular kid, a solid student and a great athlete, good looking and charismatic, and from a well-to-do family. All of which made his friendship with Rob Jacobson unlikely; Rob was not from a monied family, and the only way he ended up at Briar County Day for high school with Jack was through a combination of strong academics and a significant scholarship. Rob was no athlete, he was a self-professed member of the “Nerd Patrol”, but they bonded over 1960’s rock in music class and went on from there. The relationship has not been perfect, with Jack having definite anger management issues and needing to be top dog at all times in all things, and both Jack and Rob survived rocky home lives. Then there’s the fact that Jack ended up marrying Jessica, Rob’s first love, and has not always treated Jess well nor been faithful to her. Still, the friendship has lasted for decades. And when Amanda Harper, a beautiful young woman who worked in Jack’s administration and with whom Jack had had an affair, is found dead in Rock Creek Park with rope burns on her wrists and ankles and evidence pointing to Jack, it is Rob (now one of the best litigators in DC) to whom Jack turns for help. Rob, was also once involved with Amanda when they worked together at the prestigious law firm where Rob is a partner, and with whom he was still in love when she broke things off. Rob initially turns Jack down, citing the decidedly complex relationships between the two of them and both Amanda and Jessica, but Jack is insistent and Rob ultimately agrees. Jack swears he is innocent and Rob believes him, but with overwhelming evidence pointing to Jack’s guilt and the unsavory details of the salacious affair ripping apart Jack’s reputation, even Rob may not be able to save Jack from prison.
Author Lawrence Robbins is absolutely writing what he knows; he has been a successful trial and appellate litigator in Washington DC with a K Street firm, argued multiple times before the US Supreme Court, and has worked with many high profile clients including the BIden campaign. That level of experience infuses much of the book, particularly the courtroom scenes, adding authenticity to the story. There are more than a few possible candidates for Amanda’s killer….scorned and abandoned wives and lovers, a son struggling with mental illness, and more. There is plenty of backstory for both Rob and Jack that is doled out, particularly at the beginning of the book, which helps explain the emotional scars each carries and possibly even why a friendship that seems to lopsided in power has survived Jack stealing not one but two of the women who Rob had loved. As the story unfolded, I had a hard time accepting that Rob would agree to take Jack on as a client, with him assuming that his own connections to both Amanda and Jessica would remain unknown. In Washington DC, city of leaks and backbiting? When a former President is on trial for murdering a younger woman with whom he had a kinky affair? Who worked in his administration? For me, that detracted from the overall plot (others may not agree), and while there were plenty of twists and turns (including a real doozy at the end), I was able to guess who the killer was early on (although I didn’t see that doozy of a twist coming, so maybe I only get half credit). Fans of legal thrillers who like courtroom scenes and case preparation to be authentic will enjoy The President’s Lawyer, as will those who appreciate an insider’s look at the good and bad sides of life in DC; readers of authors like Phillip Margolin, William Landry Scott Turow and (of course) John Grisham may also want to give this one a try. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me early access to the novel.
….can his best friend prove his innocence?
Washington DC is a tough town when you’re no longer in power, as former President Jack Cutler has found out since he lost his bid for reelection. On the surface, Jack has it all…Jessica, his loving and beautiful wife, two great kids, and a rise to great heights from his Brooklyn roots. He was always the popular kid, a solid student and a great athlete, good looking and charismatic, and from a well-to-do family. All of which made his friendship with Rob Jacobson unlikely; Rob was not from a monied family, and the only way he ended up at Briar County Day for high school with Jack was through a combination of strong academics and a significant scholarship. Rob was no athlete, he was a self-professed member of the “Nerd Patrol”, but they bonded over 1960’s rock in music class and went on from there. The relationship has not been perfect, with Jack having definite anger management issues and needing to be top dog at all times in all things, and both Jack and Rob survived rocky home lives. Then there’s the fact that Jack ended up marrying Jessica, Rob’s first love, and has not always treated Jess well nor been faithful to her. Still, the friendship has lasted for decades. And when Amanda Harper, a beautiful young woman who worked in Jack’s administration and with whom Jack had had an affair, is found dead in Rock Creek Park with rope burns on her wrists and ankles and evidence pointing to Jack, it is Rob (now one of the best litigators in DC) to whom Jack turns for help. Rob, was also once involved with Amanda when they worked together at the prestigious law firm where Rob is a partner, and with whom he was still in love when she broke things off. Rob initially turns Jack down, citing the decidedly complex relationships between the two of them and both Amanda and Jessica, but Jack is insistent and Rob ultimately agrees. Jack swears he is innocent and Rob believes him, but with overwhelming evidence pointing to Jack’s guilt and the unsavory details of the salacious affair ripping apart Jack’s reputation, even Rob may not be able to save Jack from prison.
Author Lawrence Robbins is absolutely writing what he knows; he has been a successful trial and appellate litigator in Washington DC with a K Street firm, argued multiple times before the US Supreme Court, and has worked with many high profile clients including the BIden campaign. That level of experience infuses much of the book, particularly the courtroom scenes, adding authenticity to the story. There are more than a few possible candidates for Amanda’s killer….scorned and abandoned wives and lovers, a son struggling with mental illness, and more. There is plenty of backstory for both Rob and Jack that is doled out, particularly at the beginning of the book, which helps explain the emotional scars each carries and possibly even why a friendship that seems to lopsided in power has survived Jack stealing not one but two of the women who Rob had loved. As the story unfolded, I had a hard time accepting that Rob would agree to take Jack on as a client, with him assuming that his own connections to both Amanda and Jessica would remain unknown. In Washington DC, city of leaks and backbiting? When a former President is on trial for murdering a younger woman with whom he had a kinky affair? Who worked in his administration? For me, that detracted from the overall plot (others may not agree), and while there were plenty of twists and turns (including a real doozy at the end), I was able to guess who the killer was early on (although I didn’t see that doozy of a twist coming, so maybe I only get half credit). Fans of legal thrillers who like courtroom scenes and case preparation to be authentic will enjoy The President’s Lawyer, as will those who appreciate an insider’s look at the good and bad sides of life in DC; readers of authors like Phillip Margolin, William Landry Scott Turow and (of course) John Grisham may also want to give this one a try. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me early access to the novel.
One-word review: Creepy
Emojis: 🤔🫢😳
Rating: 4 🌟s
Comp Titles:
Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow
My Top-Five-style Review:
5. The inclusion of character sessions, a unique narrative device, was a brilliant move. It fuels the story and gives the reader a deep insight into the killer's mind and motivation, making you feel more connected to the plot.
4. The back story, complex and fascinating, though sometimes wordy, is a puzzle that keeps the reader intellectually stimulated. The balance of exposition to dialogue, while leaning heavily on the exposition side, is paramount in determining who the killer is.
3. I was not a fan of the real-world political commentary. However, I found the stereotyping by political parties fascinating, although it could be seen as misleading. The author's portrayal of political parties may not align with all readers' views, and this could be a potential drawback for some.
2. There are lots of twists and turns and excellent red herrings that keep you guessing, and I found them captivating and entertaining throughout the story.
1.That ending!!!! I can't say anything about it, but it was so creepy, and I loved that!