4* Makes me grateful that I live in the UK, because that kind of justice is effing messed-up, frightening, and endemic of the US's current 'leadership'.

This book had me feeling uneasy just from the second or so page when the protag and his wife met a LEO, and I use the latter loosely, who tried to intimidate them with veiled threats, and an attempt at what could've become physical, too. It had me on edge, had me feeling disgusted that the current 'leadership' in 2025 USA likely has given growth and empowerment to this version of 'justice'. It made me glad to be a Brit in a country where there's respect, dignity, and not-crazy politicians.

Back to the actual tale - maybe a bit of the original Lincoln Lawyer film to it, because if the southern setting and prejudices. And corrupt people in positions of power that they have no business being in. Justice in that town was non-existent and I'm hoping that book 2 finds Dean staying in town and celebrating his victory by bringing about change and taking down the corruption, and stopping the 'this is how we do things round here' brigade. I wasn't sure how he'd get the accused off, but justice rearing its head was satisfying. There's a showdown that needs to happen, and that's the right kind of justice considering what someone did. Here's hoping, with book 2 already preordered.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer, for my reading pleasure.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Lawyer Dean Lincoln returns to his hometown of Beaufort after a number of years in Chicago. When Dean agrees to defend a local boy accused of murdering his girlfriend he encounters resistance from the local population who have no time for big city lawyers. They make it clear that they have their own way of dealing with things and it will be in his own best interests not to rock the boat.

This is the first book by this author that I have read and I enjoyed it. I would recommend it to others particularly those that like a good courtroom drama.