In this 3rd book in the 'Keera Duggan' series, the defense attorney represents a young man accused of murdering two people. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a bonus.
*****
Keera Duggan, a defense lawyer in her family law firm, Duggan & Associates, has a reputation for winning in court.
Duggan & Associates was founded by Keera's father, Patrick (Patsy), but Patsy's alcoholism has taken a toll, and he's stepped back from trial work. Patsy is still a valuable resource for the firm, and functions as second chair in court when necessary.
The other family members at Duggan & Associates are Keera's sisters: Ella - the managing partner;
and Maggie - the office administrator. Maggie is a serial dater, which the family jokes about.
After Keera's last case, she took a short trip to Italy, to recharge her batteries. Keera enjoyed the sights, the Christmas atmosphere, the stores and restaurants, and the zeppole and struffoli sold on every block.
As soon as Keera is back in the office after her Italy trip, Maggie buzzes to inform her, 'Tall. Dark, and Handsome is here, and needs to speak to you ASAP'. Maggie is referring to JP Harrison, the firm's private investigator, who's Black and British as well as good-looking.
JP tells Keera his nephew, Michael Westbrook, has been arrested for drug possession, and will probably be indicted for a double murder. JP asks Keera to speak to Michael as a favor, and see if she can help him.
Michael is about to be accused of killing his boss, John Lockett and John's girlfriend Melissa Scott.
This is the situation: Michael Westbrook worked for John Lockett at an airfreight company called Flying Tigers. Michael and John worked the night shift, which ended at 4:00 A.M.
On the morning of the murders, Michael had no car, so Lockett gave him a ride home after their shift. Locket asked Michael to hold on to two Flying Tigers packages, which he said contained surprise gifts for Melissa.
Later that day, Lockett was shot and his girlfriend Melissa was bludgeoned to death. After examining the crime scene - and finding Michael's fingerprints - homicide detectives Billy Ford and Frank Rossi went to Michael's house to question him.
The detectives saw the two Flying Tigers packages in Michael's house, and got a search warrant. One package contained fentanyl and the other held $16,000 in cash. Michael was arrested for drug possession, and Seattle prosecutor Kim Tran decided to seek an indictment for the murders of John Lockett and Melissa Scott.
Tran has a reputation as Seattle's toughest prosecuting attorney. As a child, Tran saw her parents killed when their jewelry store was robbed, and she has no sympathy for lawbreakers, especially murderers.
Keera agrees to represent Michael, who insists he's innocent. Michael claims he had no idea what was in the packages, and his fingerprints were at the crime scene because he went to Lockett's house from to time, to watch the Seahawks or Mariners games.
Most of the novel is a courtroom drama, as Michael Westbrook is tried for two homicides, and Defense Attorney Keera Duggan faces off against Prosecutor Kim Tran.
The proceedings are especially harrowing because Tran doesn't play by the rules. Tran withholds discovery until the last second; mixes up the order of the witnesses without informing Keera; and uses jailhouse informants, who (as a rule) are notorious liars.
Keera is also disadvantaged because the case is being tried by Judge Ima Patel, a former prosecutor who has bad memories of facing off against Patsy Duggan, known as 'The Irish Brawler'. Keera fears Judge Patel will rule against the defense out of spite.
As the trial proceeds, it seems Tran has inside information about Keera's trial strategy, and (in my view) the explanation for this is obvious. I also feel the story is predictable, and there's insufficient accountability for wrongdoing. For those reasons, this novel is just so-so for me.
On the bright side, the Duggan family interactions are always entertaining, especially the mandatory monthly dinner overseen by the family matriarch. One of the dinners coincides with Maggie's birthday, and Keera plays a fun prank on her sister.
All that said, readers who like courtroom dramas, especially fans of Keera Duggan, would probably get an afternoon's enjoyment from this book.
Thanks to Netgalley, Robert Dugoni, and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of the book.
Rating: 3 stars
No comments:
Post a Comment