Genre: Legal Thriller
Published by: St Martin's Press
Publication Date: October 2, 2012
Number of Pages: 304
ISBN: 978-1250009494
Synopsis:
Lawyer Jack Bryant retires early to Fort Worth to kick back, relax and watch his son play football at TCU. Bored with retirement he opens a pro bono office in his RV. When Jack finds an elderly widow at his doorstep, clutching a check for life insurance proceeds on her husband but payable to his former employer, Jack files a civil suit to collect the benefits rightfully due the widow. A seemingly accidental death of his client’s husband thrusts Jack into a vortex of serial killings. He and his new love interest find themselves targets in the same murder for hire scheme. To stop the killings Jack must unravel what in their past makes certain people worth more dead than alive.
Excerpt:
The knock at the door of the RV was so soft that at first Jack thought it must have been the wind. It came again. He rose from his chair and opened the door. An elderly black lady who he recognized as June Davis stood at the bottom of the steps.
“Mrs. Davis, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you at first. Please come in. It’s chilly out there for early May.”
Jack went down a step and extended his hand to assist his visitor, then offered her something to drink. June perched on the edge of the cushioned bench that circled the table. “Water would be nice,” she said in a soft voice.
Jack went to the refrigerator and returned with a bottle. He twisted the cap a half a turn and handed it to her. She twisted the cap the rest of the way, took a small sip, replaced the cap and set it on the table.
“How are you doing, Mrs. Davis? I mean since your husband died have you been managing okay?”
“I’m fine, Mr. Bryant. My house is paid for and I get a little social security check. Besides, my kids look after me.”
She reached into her purse and retrieved an envelope which she slid across the table to Jack.
“This came in the mail, addressed to me. I, I wasn’t sure what to do with it; so, I called Miss Colby. She said I should take it to you.”
Jack picked up the envelope. The return address was the United States Postal Service. He opened it and found another envelope, this one torn and mangled with the addressee illegible. The letter from the postal service read, Dear Mrs. Davis: One of our sorting machines jammed and mangled this letter. We apologize for the problem. Your name was the only one we could make out on the letter, and we were able to get your address. Please handle as you see fit. Very truly yours. Jack looked at the mangled letter. It was from Euro Life Insurance Company, based on the Isle of Gibraltar. It stated that Euro had determined that one William Davis was married to June Davis. Under the terms of the policy, since it paid double indemnity in the event of an accidental death, the benefit was $400,000, payable to Allison Southwest. Jack looked through the documents a second time before he looked up.
“Did you know that they had insured Willie for $400,000?”
“Lawdy, no, Mr. Bryant. Willie only made $20,000 a year. Why would anyone insure him for that kind of money? Besides, he retired from Allison fifteen years ago.”
“Good question. Let me keep these papers and the check. I’ll get back to you in a couple of days.”
Jack went down a step and extended his hand to assist his visitor, then offered her something to drink. June perched on the edge of the cushioned bench that circled the table. “Water would be nice,” she said in a soft voice.
Jack went to the refrigerator and returned with a bottle. He twisted the cap a half a turn and handed it to her. She twisted the cap the rest of the way, took a small sip, replaced the cap and set it on the table.
“How are you doing, Mrs. Davis? I mean since your husband died have you been managing okay?”
“I’m fine, Mr. Bryant. My house is paid for and I get a little social security check. Besides, my kids look after me.”
She reached into her purse and retrieved an envelope which she slid across the table to Jack.
“This came in the mail, addressed to me. I, I wasn’t sure what to do with it; so, I called Miss Colby. She said I should take it to you.”
Jack picked up the envelope. The return address was the United States Postal Service. He opened it and found another envelope, this one torn and mangled with the addressee illegible. The letter from the postal service read, Dear Mrs. Davis: One of our sorting machines jammed and mangled this letter. We apologize for the problem. Your name was the only one we could make out on the letter, and we were able to get your address. Please handle as you see fit. Very truly yours. Jack looked at the mangled letter. It was from Euro Life Insurance Company, based on the Isle of Gibraltar. It stated that Euro had determined that one William Davis was married to June Davis. Under the terms of the policy, since it paid double indemnity in the event of an accidental death, the benefit was $400,000, payable to Allison Southwest. Jack looked through the documents a second time before he looked up.
“Did you know that they had insured Willie for $400,000?”
“Lawdy, no, Mr. Bryant. Willie only made $20,000 a year. Why would anyone insure him for that kind of money? Besides, he retired from Allison fifteen years ago.”
“Good question. Let me keep these papers and the check. I’ll get back to you in a couple of days.”
Author Bio:
Larry D. Thompson is a veteran trial lawyer and has drawn on decades of experience in the courtroom to produce riveting legal thrillers. Dead Peasants is is third After graduating from the University of Texas School of Law, Thompson founded the Houston trial firm where he still serves as managing partner. The proud father of three grown children, he lives and works in Texas but spends his summers in Colorado, where he crafts his novels and hikes the mountains surrounding Vail. His greatest inspiration came from Thomas Thompson, his brother, who wrote many best-selling true-crime books and novels.
Websites & Links: 
Follow the tour & you could win your own copy:
- April 1, 2013 Showcase by Catherine @ Lavender & Camomile Press
- April 1, 2013 Showcase by Sapphyria @ Sapphyria's Book Reviews
- April 1, 2013 Review by Tammy & Michelle @ The Nook Users Book Club
- April 2, 2013 Guest Post by Cherie @ Cherie Reads
- April 3, 2013 Showcase by Cheryl @ CMash Reads
- April 4, 2013 Review by Ashley @ Dr. Pepper Diva
- April 5, 2013 Guest Post & Review by Lori @ Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
- April 8, 2013 Review by Steve @ True Media Solutions LLC
- April 9, 2013 Review by Barbara @ Views from the Countryside
- April 10, 2013 Review by JoyAnne @ Deco My Heart
- April 11, 2013 Interview & Review by Janiera @ Books & Beauty
- April 14, 2013 Review by Susan @ My Cozie Corner
- April 15, 2013 Review by Victor @ Vic's Media Room
- April 16, 2013 Interview & Review by Kristi @ Books and Needlepoint
- April 17, 2013 Guest Post by Jo @ Writers and Authors
- April 19, 2013 Review by Mason Canyon @ Thoughts in Progress
- April 22, 2013 Review by Kayla @ I Read a Book Once
- April 23, 2013 Review by Fenny @ Hotchpotch
- April 24, 2013 Review by Athena @ TheStuff of Success
- April 25, 2013 Review by Mary @ Mary's Cup of Tea
- April 26, 2013 Guest Post by Laurie @ Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
- April 29, 2013 Review by Carol Wong
- April 30, 2013 Interview by Review Jodi @ Words by Webb
- May 1, 2013 Showcase @ Omnimystery
- May 6, 2013 Guest Post & Review by Kathleen @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews
- May 7, 2013 Interview & Review by Vicky @ DealSharing Aunt
- May 8, 2013 Review by Heather @ Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- May 9, 2013 Interview & Review by Jean @ JeanBookNerd
- May 20, 2013 Showcase @ Hott Books
- May 21, 2013 Review by Joy @ Thoughts of Joy
- May 22nd, 2013 Review by Sandy @ Mama Knows Books
- May 24, 2013 Review by Ashna @ WantedReaders
- May 25, 2013 Review by Brittany @ Book Nook
- May 27, 2013 Interview & Review by Kate @ Read2 Review
- May 30, 2013 Review by Tammy @ The Self-Taught Cook
Thank you to Larry Thompson and Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for generously offering this book to me for review.
If you'd like to join in on an upcoming tour just stop by their sites and sign up today!Reader review . . .
Jackson Bryant is a successful plaintiff attorney who decides to retire after a multi-million dollar verdict. Attractive realtor Colby Stripling not only sells him his new home, but catches his attention, as well. He takes her advice and begins doing pro bono work for financially disadvantaged clients. When he agrees to help an elderly widow who received a life insurance payment made not to her, but to her husband's former employer, Jackson finds himself in the middle of a mystery involving a serial killer and murder for hire.
First, just let me say this: Wow! I have found a new favorite author. From the first chapter, I began thinking that this guy is the next Grisham. His writing is very similar, with the same pace and storytelling style. Also, the Southern small-town setting with the cunning lawyer who can put on and take off the country-bumpkin persona at will is reminiscent of Grisham's novels. However, this novel is a bit more gritty than the average legal mystery.
If you enjoy legal thrillers, especially those in a Southern setting, you will be hooked from page one.
5 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Partners In Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
1 comments:
"WOW" what a review!! Great job. So glad you liked this title, especially since I am currently reading it and loving it too. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this book.
Post a Comment