This is another standalone (as far as I'm aware) James Patterson book and I'm starting to rediscover my love of his books. There is plenty of action in this one and a lot of twists to the plot so I was never truly convinced of his guilt/ innocence. The characters were written well and the court scenes weren't boring (as they can be in some books). A great book in my opinion

This is an excellent legal thriller from Patterson. I have read most of his books and lately I found some books taking a dip in form but thankfully this isn't one of them.

An excellent stand alone book which I highly recommend.

What would you do if you only had 12 months to live? You probably wouldn’t spend time defending a sleazy real estate star from a triple murder charge but that’s exactly what Jane Smith chooses to do. On her way to the first day of the trial, she receives a diagnosis of terminal cancer. Nothing stops Jane. Not a year left, a possibly guilty, annoying client nor rapidly escalating threats. Not even the unfortunately timed attention of a hunky veterinarian. Jane wants to, needs to win what may be her last case.

James Patterson and Mike Lupica make a mystery dream team! 12 Months to Live ratchets up the tension from the first pages. Characters that come alive, locations in the Hamptons that make you feel like you are there, snappy dialogue and a plot that keeps you turning pages as fast as you can will rocket this thriller to the top of the best seller list. And it’s the start of a new series! I cant wait to see what Jane does next. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and James Patterson for this ARC.

Defence lawyer who has never lost a case defending a multiple murderer. The defendant is an arrogant rich self entitled parasite who makes defending him even harder. Missing witnesses, lies in the courtroom and an antagonist judge make the defence an uphill struggle.
A very likeable character as the defence and rounded out with the rest of the defence team. Not the run of the mill defense book. I really enjoyed it and hope there will be more

"12 Months to Live" by James Patterson is a thrilling legal suspense novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from the very beginning. Jane Smith, a formidable criminal defence attorney, is a complex and compelling protagonist. Her determination to win a high-profile case while facing a terminal diagnosis adds depth to the story. Patterson's writing is sharp and fast-paced, with clever plot twists and a riveting courtroom drama. The book brilliantly explores themes of justice, mortality, and resilience. As Jane races against time to solve a cold case and secure her client's freedom, the suspense is palpable. This novel is a masterful blend of legal thriller and emotional drama that will captivate fans of the genre and leave them eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

James Patterson and Mike Lupica deliver a punchy, fast paced thriller with a strong female lead.

This is pure Patterson, with short, pithy chapters and a strong storyline. The lead character has a difficult case to win, that of an entire family murdered. Then she receives news that she has a cancer that could kill her in a year. This all builds to a suspenseful, easy, page turner, but, with a wide array of characters you’ll need to be on your toes to keep track.

Overall, I found it to be a Good Read,

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

⭐️⭐️⭐️- 12 Months To Live - James Patterson / Mike Lupica

It’s been a while since I’ve read any James Patterson books - so it was great to get the opportunity thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

It’s a great premise for this book - and the trademark short chapters from Patterson / Mike Lupica make it a quick effortless read.

Jane, the main character, is a force to be reckoned with - and she makes short work of some of the witnesses in the trial she is defense counsellor for. I wouldn’t like to come up against her in a court of law!

Slightly complicated in places, with so many people / characters to remember - two stories begin to overlap and play out as the story develops.

Courtroom and legal thrillers are a genre I’ve not really dipped into much, but I could well be tempted to read more of this.

A stand-alone book from James Patterson introducing defence lawyer Jane Smith. Featuring twists and turns in every chapter I found this to be an enjoyable read. Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

You are going to love Jane Smith! She is a tough, determined, stubborn and funny criminal defence lawyer in New York. She has also just been told that she has cancer and has 12 months to live. This does not stop her from going to work, defending a rich, arrogant and very unlikeable man in a triple homicide case. This case will make her break her, in manny ways.

I for one hope that Jane fights this cancer and has more than a year left in her life. She is a fantastic new character from one of my favourite authors. Along with her investigative partner, Jimmy, both ex NYPD, they put their lives on the line for what they feel is right.

With his signature short and snappy chapters, plenty of questionable characters, this is a great start to a new series. I already can’t wait for more from Jane and Jimmy.. and Rip. An absolute cracking page turner once again.

Thank you so much to Century, Random House UK for allowing me early access to this book. It is always an honour to be approved for James Patterson books, and I always devour them. Published on September 28th.

It’s Jane Smith’s job to defend wealthy Rob Jacobson, who is charged with the murders of the Gates family. He professes his innocence to her, but Jane knows the only people that need to be convinced are the twelve jury members. Although she has plenty to keep her occupied defending Jacobson, Greg McCall, the Nassau County DA, asks Jane and her investigator ex- NYPD officer, Jimmy Cunniff, a favour. He requests they run a side investigation into three deaths in Garden City, those of the Carson family. So, Jane really has her work cut out now with two cases of triple homicide and if that’s not enough, she receives some terrible news.

First of all, I particularly enjoy that here we have a strong, good female lead character. Yes, she’s a bit of a smarty-pants and has a terrific grasp of killer (poor choice of words considering the death count) one-liners but she’s very likeable. The dialogue is always whip smart when she’s around. There is plenty of humour although at times it’s a bit cheesy, however, it’s still welcome. Jimmy is also very likeable, he’s intuitive, brave and a good friend. I hope this duo appear again, the ending suggests this is a strong possibility.

I like the way it’s written with short sharp and snappy chapters, which delivers a fast paced ever changing plot with danger around many a corner. The courtroom scenes are especially lively as things bat back and forth between the defence and prosecution with the judge trying to keep order. The trial and investigation takes many a convoluted but interesting twist and turn and Jane is definitely on the train to Crazy Town, but will it all end in the wreckage of a case? The tension of has he/hasn’t he in the trial is maintained right to the end keeping you glued to the pages. The two cases blend together well and I don’t feel as if I’m jumping from one to the other.

Overall, this is a fast, easy to read, enjoyable and entertaining read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Jane Smith, defence lawyer, has been asked to represent Rob Jacobson, a real estate mogul charged with a triple murder.

But when witnesses for the defence start to go missing, she realises that there may be more to the case than appears on the face of it. When she herself is attacked, she knows she has to keep her wits about her if she is going to survive, let alone represent her client.

A good yarn, with plenty to keep the reader distracted. Thanks to Netgalley for letting me have a review copy.