Cain delivers a tense crime thriller with a large cast of characters that will keep readers guessing.

Molly Chrysler’s husband’s career as a prominent judge was ended when he was murdered, and his legacy was tainted by the allegations of sexual abuse of juvenile offenders. The judge’s wife gives the appearance of a rich widow who only wants to use her money to improve the world; she funds the renovation of the Juvenile Justice Center in her late husband’s name. But those who really know Molly Chrysler understand the truth of her character and the darkness of her wicked soul. When Hattie Jennings lost her son, Johnny, she was told his death was by suicide, but she knows it was murder: He went to jail after failing to stop his friends from beating a man to death, then fell victim to Judge Chrysler and planned to publicly accuse him (“He expected to be disbelieved by many people and smeared as a murderer seeking to defame the judge who had sentenced him. Nonetheless, he was ready to announce to the world what had happened to him and take the consequences as they came”). John Abel, defending the judge’s accused killer, has known the Chryslers for a long time and is a great lawyer, but his experience may not be enough against the underhanded dealings and manipulations of Molly. These characters make up only a part of a large cast that, at times, is difficult to keep track of, despite each having their own individual personality and depth. Molly Chrysler is a dynamic villain who will do anything to get what she wants. Hattie Jennings is a grieving mother who has nothing left to lose and is determined find justice for her son. John Abel is an experienced lawyer committed to order, fairness, and the law. These characters come together to make up a plot rich in complexity and deep social issues, with a fast pace and thrilling turns. With a satisfying and remarkable ending, Cain displays his mastery for complex stories.

Exciting and unpredictable, this is a thriller fans of the genre will enjoy.

In the 11th installment of Cain’s John Abel legal thriller series, the titular lawyer returns to defend a woman accused of murder while someone unexpected seeks revenge.

Amanda Bowman is at the center of a series of violent events that make her look like a prime suspect for murder. As a child, Amanda was sexually abused by her father, and when her mother tried to protect her, the justice system abandoned Amanda to her father’s clutches. When Amanda is an adult, Detective Sergeant Frank McCoy and Captain Elizabeth Knight convince her to talk to her father while wearing a wire to get a confession, but in the end, he is killed in an act of what is determined to be self-defense on Amanda’s part. Now, Amanda is free from her father’s abuse, but her paternal grandmother Ellen Bowman is stalking and harassing her, convinced that her son was innocent. In her free time, Amanda visits courtrooms to watch and learn, hoping to one day become a jury consultant. However, this attracts the ire of Commissioner Carpenter, who, believing Amanda is trying to intimidate her and others in power, confronts Amanda about attending public trialsand threatens her.Later, Carpenter is the victim of a hit-and-run auto collision; she barely sees the driver, but she looks similar to Amanda. As the mystery deepens, an innocent man will be murdered and Amanda will find herself back in the courtroom—this time, as the accused. Cain continues to weave superb mysteries; Amanda’s character is complex and dynamic, showing the resilience of someone accustomed to standing up against terrible opponents. She is intelligent and perceptive, skills she built over her years learning to survive: “Amanda’s years of abuse by her father and hiding the truth from herself and others had given her insight into what people were really thinking, no matter what they said.” The author is equally adept at showing how ineptitude and apathy within the justice system affect innocent people.

Another suspenseful and surprising legal thriller in a consistently entertaining series.

This installment of Cain’s John Abel Mystery series features a murder case involving child abuse, coverups, beheadings, and a plot for revenge.

It seems a serial killer may be on the loose when lawyer John Abel stumbles upon an orange Home Depot bucket filled with concrete and a severed head. After notifying the police, Abel and officers Creely, McCoy, and Jones find evidence of a connection between the head and another murder case involving a decapitated body. The severed head and body don’t belong to the same victim, so the police conclude that a much larger and more dangerous game is afoot (“What we can say is [the victims] were both sedated with a combination of drugs”). They soon learn the bigger picture includes child abuse, government coverups, corruption in the foster care system, and a religiously-motivated demand for repentance and atonement for sins. (As one character comments about her stance on the death penalty, “Life is precious if a person takes the joy of living from another they should pay for their sin with their life.”) This is a fast-paced, compelling mystery driven by deft plotting—within the first few pages, readers are pulled into a vortex of lies after Abel discovers the orange bucket that “rode low in the water, indifferent to the current” on the same river where captured the killer in a prior murder case. Throughout the narrative, just enough is revealed about the connections between the characters to compel readers to learn more without revealing the murderer. However, the character of Franklin, a psychologist, causes confusion; he seems wishy-washy, and his involvement with the child abuse material feels muddled. Overall, though, this is an engaging read that works well both as a series entry and as a standalone story.

A briskly paced, satisfying murder mystery.