Caldwell captivates with a riveting courtroom drama set in Los Angeles, the followup to the first in the Jake Clearwater series, Cost of Arrogance. After a sensational trial results in a hung jury, the district attorney begs Clearwater to return to his past vocation as a prosecutor to help a new jury reach a verdict. Ex-Playboy model Christie Cort, wife of ambitious and abusive police Lieutenant Max Cort, disappeared two years ago, and authorities never recovered her body. Jake must face off against a charismatic star defense attorney. From interviewing potential jurors to persuading terrified witnesses to take the stand, Jake must rely on every clever courtroom maneuver he knows to bring an allegedly wicked man to justice.Caldwell, a professor at Pepperdine School of Law, sweeps the reader into the artistry and theater that expert lawyers perform in high-stakes cases, showcasing their every calculated gesture and nuanced glance at the jurors. After taking in the compelling details of the initial, unresolved case, readers will applaud Jake’s decision to join the fray and the chance to bear witness as he plots and drinks coffee alongside his investigator, jury consultant, and, outside the courtroom, his best friend and lover, Lisa St. Marie. Caldwell’s witty narration keeps the tone light and relatable despite the dark subject and urgent stakes, and the prose is crisp and polished throughout. Visits to California tourist destinations like Moonstone Beach and Hearst Castle spice the narrative.
The text is peppered with quick, fascinating “trial tips,” which clarify concepts such as voir dire and the finer points of effective cross-examination, matching Jake’s professorial persona. As Jake wades through the case, overcoming hurdles such as persuading a salty judge to admit dicey evidence, Caldwell gradually raises the tension level until the plot verges on thriller. Fans of courtroom drama will savor this peek into the inner workings of an attorney’s mind while puzzling over the alleged villain’s guilt.
Takeaway: Readers will cheer this polished, highly enjoyable legal thriller.
Great for fans of: William Landay’s Defending Jacob, Michael Connelly.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
