Star rating: 3.25 rounded down for Goodreads
Family book club selection

It's been a long, long time since I've written a review this long. But, I feel that it was necessary. This book had my feel good and my feel bad moods. Love/hate. Ending let down.

1st: This is my very first Legal Thriller book, I've never given them a chance because I felt like they would be "boring."
2nd: I gave this a hard and steady shot.
3rd: I've looked at others reviews to see if I was alone on the fact that this book is too long for what it is. There is too much of Simon's side life going on, along with Netty's will, and all other legal things that could have been skipped. In a way, I look at this book/author being the Legal Thriller version of Stephen King lol While his books are AMAZING, he can be a bit wordy.

Simon Latch meets with Netty Bennett whose lost her husband and had just recently did a will she feels concerned about with the lawyer across the street from Simon's law firm. Simon finds out that the lawyer Wally made up Netty's will set for when she passes, that Wally get's the money. So, what does Simon do? Simon does exactly what Wally does but he covers his own tracks by putting in charity offerings and additional will information showing that he worked for her, etc., etc.. (This is where all the legal information becomes competitive). Wally may have been a dirty lawyer but he technically did things legally and ethically according to law. Simon finds loop holes that he does, which become extremely unethical. Worse part is, Simon seems like a nice man. Too good at what he does. Netty passes away, but before that, Simon managed to sign to be her POA-Power of Attorney. All hell let's loose after that. But, what the heck was that ending? The verdict was thrown in as someone who has barely any parts at all in the book... All the wordy repetitiveness just to pick someone who we had very little information on and rush it like that?

This book was good, the plot is solid, poor execution, and rushed ending... There is A LOT of unnecessary legal talk, Simon's side life issues and gambling problems that could have been skipped. Because the repetitiveness was a major issue in reading this book, is the sole reason for the large star deduction. I know it isn't because this is my first Legal Thriller, I just feel like you can mention some legal concepts and move forward, which was not the situation in this book. I also don't know how I feel about courthouse drama, it's a lot of back and forth gibber.

I enjoyed the book and I also was bored out of my mind in portions of the book. It is a very slow, slow burn legal thriller. I had moments where I was so interested, then there were times I felt like I could bang my head against my desk. (I never banged my head on the desk haha). Even though those moments that were repetitive, it made me talk about it continuously to my husband which means it definitely had an impact.

If you are new to Legal Thrillers, I wouldn't start with this one. I'll probably be giving Legal Thriller genre another chance at some point but this book made me kind of worried on starting one but I believe from other reviews that it's just this book isn't for everyone and that some of his other works are actually really good, so this will not be my last.