Legacy of Lies (Bocephus Haynes #1)

This is a well written book with good character development. Set in a small Southern town, it shows how crime and corruption can thrive when money and opportunity are the driving factors. I had some concerns when I saw that this Kindle First choice was Book 1 of a two book series. Too often that seems to mean that a reader is left hanging with the only alternative to purchase the next book in the series in order to have a conclusion. I was happy to discover that this is a freestanding book and the story is wrapped up neatly with no loose threads. However, I enjoyed the book and the characters so much that I look forward to another book in the series. There is more mystery and investigation than courtroom drama but this is a good legal thriller. There is nothing that I noticed that readers sensitive to language, graphic violence or sex would find objectionable. I definitely recommend this as an entertaining and fast paced read for anyone looking for a character driven mystery and legal thriller.

Attorney Robert Bailey knows how to write a dynamic, riveting legal thriller with depth and emotional integrity. He’s proved this before with his award-winning, best-selling McMurtrie and Drake legal series. He is an author who knows how to put the thrill back in legal thriller, with full blown action, unexpected twists, and dramatic climaxes. With Legacy of Lies, Bailey’s newest book, he proves he is at the top of his game. While prior books had adversaries threatening the lives of protagonists, this time a dominant threat to the main two characters comes from within. Which is not to say they aren’t in danger from outside forces, only that the enemy within is as dangerous as the enemy without. This makes Legacy of Lies even more compelling and richer for the deep humanity Bailey captures in a finely wrought thriller and stirring story of redemption. Helen Evangeline Lewis, aka The General, is the district attorney general for a four-county area in Tennessee. Attractive, confident, and tough, she is haunted by a devastating event in her past that causes a kind of PTSD fugue at a critical junction in the story. Her ex-husband, Butch Renfroe, threatens to reveal his version of that event in order to blackmail her. He wants her to drop statutory and forcible rape charges against Michael Zannick, who is powerful, unscrupulous, and rich. She recognizes Butch must be in Zannick’s clutches but refuses to drop the charges. In the heated argument that follows, she threatens to kill her ex-husband. Her threat is overheard by her assistant district attorney. The night after their argument, someone kills Butch—and a neighbor witnesses Helen coming and going from his house. Traces of his blood are found in her vehicle. Her DNA is found on the victim. In short order, the local sheriff reluctantly accepts that he must arrest Helen, despite his long-time respect for her. It might all be circumstantial, but it’s a tight case establishing motive, means and opportunity. Knowing arrest is imminent, Helen seeks out Bo Hayes to be her defense attorney. She believes that only Bo—with his courtroom skills, personal dedication and fierce drive—can save her. Bo is a tall, broad-shouldered black man who gained early fame as a football player under legendary coach Bear Bryant at The University of Alabama. However, when Helen finds him, Bo is a drunken mess, having just lost custody of his two children to their grandparents. Bo has never recovered from witnessing the murder of his beloved wife a year before and has slid into a self-pitying, useless remnant of the “wide-ass open” attorney he used to be. Bo must not only find a defense for Helen, he must redeem himself. Increasingly the odds seem stacked against them both. A stunning discovery, a triple twist, and dramatic courtroom scenes all make for a riveting, satisfying read in what might well be Bailey’s best book to date. While the twists come as a surprise, they also seem inevitable once the shock wears off—and that is a hard thing for an author to pull off, but Bailey does it exceptionally well. I did receive a free Advanced Readers Copy, but this is my honest and voluntary review. Legacy of Lies is a grand story with a morality tale vibe, gripping and thrilling throughout. It showcases Bailey once more as a writer who knows how to keep the suspense high, the pacing fast, the narrative strong, the characters compellingly complex, and his plot full of white-knuckle tension and twists.

I have to admit that I don\’t quite understand the one-word, one-star reviews of this book. Legal thrillers are one of my favorite subgenres, but I hadn\’t read this author before this story. While I was perhaps a little turned off by the initial scene, though I understand its necessity, I was riveted by the story as soon as we got to the heroine, a female prosecutor nicknamed The General. I thought she was absolutely awesome when we first meet her, standing tall against threats and doing what\’s right even if it isn\’t easy or perhaps even in her best interest. I like a character with moral integrity, and she had it in spades. This book is unusual as far as legal thrillers go. We expect to have external villains that muck up the story. But in this novel, the main characters–the prosecutor heroine and the lawyer she had to hire to defend against an erroneous murder charge–had past and present demons they had to wrestle with to pull off what they needed to to do against all odds that seemed increasingly unbeatable. The courtroom drama is what you hope a legal thriller will have. I will admit to being surprised at some of the twists and turns of the plot, yet once I looked back, I could see where those came from. The author had baked them into the story very cleverly. I don\’t think this is easily done, so hats off to the author on that one. Don\’t listen to one-word, negative reviews! I always think that ANY review, especially very negative ones, need to be backed up with why the reviewer thought the way they did. If I dislike a book, I tell you precisely why. If you like legal thrillers, this is a good one.

Somewhat predictable….until the very end. Storytelling kept my interest. Characters are colorful. Not too much legalese. Nice short chapters makes for easy stop/start for picking up and putting down as needed.

This was my monthly freebie via my Prime membership & what a gift it is. I have previously read Robert Bailey\’s legal thrillers and I\’ve enjoyed them immensely & this book has certainly earned a well deserved Five ? Review from me – Mind you I\’ve always had a soft spot for Bo. Well done R.B. I\’m looking forward to the next one!!

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