After what seems like ages of reading mediocre books, along comes a cracker!!! In all honesty, I’ve not read a book with James Patterson’s name on the cover that I didn’t like! This isn’t the first collaboration I’ve read but it is the first with Mike Lupica. This one is a courtroom drama with the added twist that the lawyer finds out very early on (so not a spoiler) that she has cancer, incurable cancer and if I’m honest, that’s the only thing about the book that I didn’t like……….simply because it means it’s not a series and it would have made an amazing series. Jane Smith is a criminal defence attorney, she’s ex NYPD, as is her partner, Jimmy Cunniff, in the investigating business she also runs,
She’s really good at what she does and has never lost a case, but this time even she struggles to believe the defendant is innocent. He’s Rob Jacobson, a wealthy, good-looking guy accused of murdering a family and with a huge amount of forensic evidence against him!
I was hooked right from the start and right till the end! This book is written in the first person and I haven’t always enjoyed this type of narration but I didn’t actually even notice it in this book till near the end. The sub-plots going on with the cancer, Jane’s sister, the vet, the dog and the other triple murder the investigative side of Jane’s professional life is handling all added to the enjoyment of the book.
Easy five stars!!

Happy Publication Day! 😁
Review is below - thank you to the author, publisher & Netgalley for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review 🥰

This was the first book I’ve read by Patterson, despite him having been on my radar for a while & me having bought 4 of his books which I haven’t gotten around to reading yet! I’ll definitely be bumping them up on my TBR now!

Synopsis:
Jane Smith is a highly-respected criminal defence lawyer, who has never lost a case, in her entire career. She’s smart, resilient and a brilliant investigator.
Jane is hired to represent a high-profile client who has been accused of 3 murders. She is then presented with a cold case which she and her colleague cannot resist. As if that wasn’t enough stress for her, she then receives a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis.
Jane does not let this stop her, as her determination pushes her through to solve the cold case and win yet another trial. The only thing that could stop her is the mystery person(s) who really don’t want the cold case re-opening… and their multiple attempts to silence her.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and I got through it really quickly! I was hooked from the start and really liked Jane. I enjoyed that the story was told from more than one POV & that it moved smoothly between perspectives.
The book kept me in suspense throughout and I couldn’t put it down, just when I prepared to put it down for the evening, a twist happened and I couldn’t leave it there!
The twist at the end has made me really want to read more of these characters and see their stories continue, especially with the hint of the crimes for which Jane’s client may or not be admitting responsibility…👀

I’d definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a fast-paced and gripping thriller, with twists and easy to read.

I am not a huge fan of James Patterson, I have liked a few but tend to find many lacking in a lot of things. I know he’s a huge Author and popular but that never sways me. So for years now he has been writing many books with other writers, it’s hard to know how much of each book is written by who.

This one had a lot of plot holes indeed. Let’s take our main character, Jane Smith, or cringe, Jane effing Smith she calls herself. Supposedly a hot shot defence Attorney. She is one of the most unlikeable and unrealistic characters I’ve read in a long time. She is crass, unprofessional (slapping a client and nothing happens.) like that would happen. She is given a heavy medical diagnosis early on but it plays diddly in the book hardly, I didn’t get the point. So much could of been done around that.

Oh my, the court scenes, of which there is a lot. So many unrealistic things again. Things that would never ever be allowed or passed over in a real court room. Ever. It’s badly researched at the very least. She’s defending yet another unlikeable character up on a triple homicide charge. Honestly the evidence, the DA’s case, the witnesses are laughable. This is poor quality writing.

The plot is boring. There is a side plot of her ex NYPD Detective buddy who is solving other murders, or trying to and being targeted by a mystery character himself. He was THE only decent and realistic character in the whole book. Remember that slap Jane got from her client, well he slapped her too, at the same time and ZERO repercussions. Like that’s gonna happen during a break session from trial. Seriously.

She’s portrayed as this hard, cold bitch quite frankly and it didn’t wash with me. I felt it was very cliche and it got very over the top many times. The plot holes are huge. Let’s take the moment (spoiler alert, so skip this bit if you want) when her dog is found muzzled and hidden in a closet in her house. Someone had broken in, she’s been warned but does NOTHING! No police, no forensics, no fingerprints, zip, nada, zero. Let’s just carry on as per normal.

It goes on and on. What it is however is a quick read that doesn’t strain the brain at all. It’s a shambles in my opinion. The police, the forensics, the trial, the Judge, the Attorneys all are written with actions and words that are not at all the real deal. This trial would of been hammered down in a real court. Don’t get me started on the runaway witnesses. Or ho she puts on the stand. Holy moly.

Nope. I am officially done with any James Patterson. These books are pumped out and so, so similar. It will sell, because certain readers like that type of basic fiction. Gosh, at bit of realistic research to make seems more believable would have been a basic. Did I mention that ballistics evidence is tiled by a cop who gives testimony because he was told by Forensics before court about a gun and bullets? Eh? You’d have the DA in fits. Jane won’t put “experts” on the stand in case they confuse the jury with science! It would have been ripped into. A cop is not a Ballistics expert. Sheesh. I’ll stop here. Tragedy.

Jane Smith has never lost a case. Her latest client is the despicable Rob Jacobson who is on trial for killing the Gate family - will this be the case she finally loses? To complicate matters, someone is trying to silence her and her partner Jimmy too. Are they asking too many questions?
People connected to the case are disappearing or dying. Who will be next?
If that wasn't enough, Jane has been diagnosed with neck and back cancer with a life expectancy of 12 months.
This is the start of a new series from the Patterson powerhouse... how long it can continue with a protagonist with such a fatal diagnosis is tough to say. If anybody is tough enough it is Jane Smith. It is a solid start to a new series.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

A fairly quick paced thriller, short chapters make this an enthralling read. It is a courtroom drama but has plenty of drama outside the courtroom and is not for the faint hearted.
Told from two perspectives, Jane a hard ass lawyer and her investigator, ex-cop Jimmy. I picture Jimmy as the investigator from Lincoln Lawyer, why I don’t know but to u get the idea of what kinda character he is…. Gets the job done!
A good solid read, think they could go another novel in the series but not sure if Jane can go much further….

Following criminal defense attorney Jane Smith’s latest trial, accompanied by the biggest fight she has to-date, a fight to live… although not wanting to fully acknowledge the problem head on, thinking she can manage this as she would her cases, in her own way. But will Jane win these cases?…
Told from both hers and best friend Jimmy’s perspective, the race is on…

Another great read from James Patterson, addictive reading from start to finish. Look forward to reading more from JP.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant outstanding book

jane smith a criminal attorney, the best in her field and one that most of her clients want to represent them but shes been given some devastating news... she has cancer and only 12 months to live

and not only that she is representing someone in court that she doesnt like at all Rob Jacobson a man who has more money than sense, a man accused of murder

wow what a powerful storyline this one is and the characters are brilliantly placed... i for one hope this is a series maybe only a short series but man this one certainly packed a punch... and i cant wait for another one

Many thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

James Patterson is one of the best writers of all time. I love the way he collaborates with less known authors with fabulous results. 12 months to live is simply a fabulous read. Short chapters, great plot, great book. 100% recommended.

This was a highly entertaining read! I love books with Kick-Ass female protagonists like Helen Grace, Atlee Pine and now Jane Smith, or like her partner in crime Jimmy Cunniff calls her, Jane effing Smith!

Jane has never lost a case but will this 1 be the 1 to break her winning streak but also the 1 that breaks her? Her client is the despicable Rob Jacobson who is on trial for killing the Gate family. Someone is trying to shut her and her partner Jimmy up. Are they asking too many questions?
People connected to the case are disappearing or dying. Who will be next? On top of it all Jane has been diagnosed with neck and back cancer with a life expectancy of 12 months.

I'm really looking forward to the next installment and to seeing where this series is going to take us (side note at the moment not further than 12 months it seems or 14 like Jane negotiated!)
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Defence attorney Jane Smith is feisty, snarky and very good at her job. She along with her investigator Jimmy, a retired NYPD cop, work hard to identify who is behind the multiple homicides – one she is currently investigating, and one a cold case – in this thrilling legal drama. Oh and also she has just been given a terminal medical diagnosis. The short chapters move this book along at a fast pace and it is an interesting and thrilling ride all along. Really enjoyed this.

Entertaining, fast paced, and with a quirky premise (those 12 months to live). This is a good read in the genre, with good repartee, Bad boys, good boys, and a sassy, strong lawyer protagonist who is defending a very rich, very entitled, very dodgy man accused of killing a family of three. Did he do it? Why? Some of the solutions were anticipated by this reader, but nevertheless I was interested enough in the characters and storyline to keep reading with pleasure. I particularly liked the mortality subplot, as the fact it was within this particular type of genre novel were killings are de rigueur, gave me some surprising and welcome food for thought. I recommend this novel and am grateful to have been given the opportunity to read and review it..

I really enjoyed this book! A storyline that kept you hooked from the off tyring to work out if he was innocent or was actually guilty. Good characters too, especially the main 3 ones that you could get into from the off. A great book and highly recommended.

I'm a huge James Patterson fan, but unfortunately this wasn't for me. Took me a while to get into and although I eventually started to enjoy it, it took until the half way point. The two overlapping story lines were complicated with lots of characters.

A fairly sombre affair as our main detective has a lot going on in her personal life, having been given only twelve months to live as she’s dying of cancer. Her sister is also dying of cancer and so the race to find the perpetrator of a triple murder is certainly on. I began begging for at least some good news at this stage and the attitude and sense of humour of our detective hero went some way to helping cheer me in as it happened. Phew. This is where it gets a little more complicated as there is a parallel case, in similar circumstances, in the mix with more characters to get my head around. There were certain elements that I enjoyed about the story, including the main character being fairly likeable. I didn’t, however, feel totally captivated and compelled to race through to the conclusion. A fairly decent read but not my favourite thus far by this author.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy of 12 Months to Live, the first novel to feature lawyer Jane Smith and her investigator, Jimmy Cunniff, set in the Hamptons.

Jane is about to start the defence of a high profile real estate developer when she is told that she has cancer and has twelve months to live. She’s not letting it get in the way of the trial and her winning record or taking on a cold case where a family was shot to death. That is, if her enemies don’t get her first.

I enjoyed 12 Months to Live, which is a courtroom drama, full of twists and turns and, at the same time, an action packed thriller. It is a page turner in the usual style with short sentences and chapters, which works well as it keeps the read punchy and ramps up the tension.

The novel is told mostly from Jane’s point of view as she is the one in the courtroom where most of the novel takes place with Jimmy contributing when the action leaves the courtroom and, boy, is there action. I don’t want to spoil the fun, so all I will say is that there are several deaths and even more shootings. Obviously it’s all a bit OTT, but it’s entertaining, so who cares?

The novel rattles along at a fast pace with too many twists to count and plenty of lies. I did feel that some developments were not cleared up and I don’t feel, even after finishing the novel, that the motives in either case are particularly clear. This may be intentional as Jane opens her case by saying that the prosecutor has not established a motive. Perhaps it’s a dose of reality, but I found it slightly unsatisfying.

I like Jane Smith. She’s a kind of take no prisoners woman, so feisty is an understatement. She struggles with her morals in this novel as she doesn’t like her client and wonders if she’s fighting to free a guilty man. To be honest he is a repulsive human being, rich, entitled and misogynistic, but hey ho, everyone’s entitled to a defence, maybe.

12 Months to Live is a good read that I can recommend.

Publishing heir and wealthy real estate mogul Rob Jacobson is currently being held at Riverhead Correctional Facility in New York having been accused of murdering a local family in the dead of night. The Gates clan - mother, father and teenage daughter - were each shot in the head. Jane Smith is his kickass defence attorney, and with his trial about to begin she is up against district attorney and prosecutor Greg McFall of Nassau County. But it soon becomes obvious to Smith that there are people who are willing to go to any and all lengths to ensure Jacobson goes down for this heinous crime whether he is guilty of it or not. But who, why and what exactly do they have so deeply invested in this care? Smith and her long-time best friend ex-NYC detective Jimmy Cunniff, not ones to rest on their laurels, have also decided to take on the private investigation of a case involving organised crime heavy hitters.

Both cases get more and more convoluted as time goes on and that's before we even get to the mention of Jane's recent cancer diagnosis where she has been informed by her friend Doctor Sam Wylie that she will be lucky to last the year. James Patterson has penned yet another glorious thriller, this time involving the legal system and boy what a ride it is. Although it took a little longer to get into it than some of his past books, once I was fully invested there was no stopping me from racing through its pages as quickly as humanly possible. I know people complain that his books are often formulaic, but the bottom line is that whatever this formula is it works staggeringly well to create tension and grip you like a vice. If it ain't broke why fix it? With his trademark short chapters that make it easy to dip in and out of if you haven't the time to devote to devouring the whole thing at once and many twists and turns with something important happening in nearly every chapter, thriller readers of all ages would be fools not to reach for 12 Months To Live.

Jane Smith is a lawyer, currently defending a highly unlikeable man in a triple homicide. She calls upon the help of former partner, Jimmy, to help find evidence to support their case. Can they do this, and avoid the difficulties they face along the way? Jane is also given some tough news in her personal life - can she put this aside to focus on her work?

I love James Patterson's books, but for me this one isn't a hit. I found it hard to get into and overly complicated - there are 2 overlapping stories at one point, with a lot of characters to remember and they all seemed to blur into one. I did however love the characters of Jimmy and vet Ben, I appreciated their support of Jane.

After a slow start I really enjoyed this book. Loved the two main characters Jane and Jimmy. Jane was a breath of fresh air, such a feisty lady. She has cancer and would make an excellent main character for future books but as the title hints her days are numbered. Jane and Jimmy make such a great team, Jane the lawyer, Jimmy her wing man and ex NYPD officer. The perfect combination. As usual from this author the chapters are relatively short, jumping effortlessly between the court room and Jimmy’s background research making it very easy to keep reading, and reading and reading.

12 Months to Live.. I do enjoy the short , sharp chapters as it keeps the tension going.. A gripping courtroom drama. I had no idea even up to the final page who was guilty. Liked the Jane Smith ,lawyer character.

Really enjoyed this book with a strong female character. As always fast paced, well thought out thriller I love James Patterson books.