Legacy of Lies: A Legal Thriller

This was a terrific read! Just when I thought I was completely jaded by my reviews, grading them generally at 4 or lower, along comes “Legacy of Lies” with a well deserved 5 rating. I don’t re tell story lines in my reviews. I leave summaries to other reviewers or the author’s fly leaf. Instead, I look at Plot, Character Development, Rising/Falling Action, Anti Climax (where warranted), and Resolution. My goal is to entice fellow would be readers, by my review, to read the book. This book excelled in all the above categories. I regard a great Plot as one, in which, when I start the read, I do not want to stop reading. Simply stated, I want to know what happens next, more than lay the book down for whatever reason. This book had great plot from page one to page last. Character Development of both protagonists and antagonists is well defined. Nothing confusing about who was “good” and who was “bad”. To be sure, the character “Bo” as chief protagonist is good, whereas chief antagonist “Z” is bad. Helen Lewis, the District Attorney “General” for the county in Tennessee where the criminal trial takes place is a little of both (no ***Spoiler Alert*** here). The Rising Action follows the procedural lines of a typical criminal trial and is very linear in that it starts low and rises in anxiety level to a crescendo to the Falling Action. As in this case, Falling Action slows after the jury verdict, but then the Anti Climax kicks in and it’s off to the races again! The Resolution, in the aftermath of the fore going, is one of the best I have read in a while. Generally, I find the ending of a story to be either sappy or just plain maudlin. Not so in this case. In my view, the author gives us two anti climaxes: one to determine the outcome of the criminal proceeding and another to deal with the after math—which, is exceedingly clever. I plan to follow this writer on other books he has written. Hopefully, any of his others will be as good as was this one. I certainly recommend this book as an excellent legal thriller.

I snatched up this book because I got an early copy of the second book in this series. I cannot say that I am disappointed. This new-to-me author is one I can't wait to read more of. So, this series is a spin-off from the author's previous series, which I realized very quickly there was a lot of backstory I didn't have. However, that was okay. Even though I would have preferred to have been more informed on the characters, the fact that I wasn't didn't ruin the book for me. I was able to breeze through this book with no issues. I will be going back and reading the previous series though. I can say that with absolute guarantee. This book had me guessing and second guessing myself all the way through. I thought I knew. Then I changed my mind. I was back and forth with the who from the very start. And let me say, I didn't fully see THAT coming at the very end. However, I think the who is exactly who it should have been, considering. (Am I confusing you?) This book is the kind of mystery that I typically crave. It's suspenseful. It has enough twists and turns to keep my mind constantly on the book. It has great, developed characters with some very real and interesting pasts that align with their present. The plot is spot on. I can't really sing enough praises for this book.

Legacy of Lies by Robert Bailey is one of the best books I've read in ages. Since I read about 15 books per month I am hard to please and really get excited when I find a book that holds my interest to the point I can't put it down. This book is a five star plus read. It is well written with well developed characters and is not predictable. It has rwists and surprises that enhance the story. For once I read a book with an ending I was unable to predict. For me that is a most enjoyable reading experience.

I have read all of Robert Bailey’s books and have enjoyed them all. The main character in the first four is Tom McMurtrie, a lawyer who played football for Coach Bear Bryant and taught law for many years at the University of Alabama. The main character in this new series is Bocephus Haynes, Tom McMurtrie’s best friend, and one of my favorite characters from the first series. I found this book hard to put down as the suspense built and there were unexpected developments. The author lives in North Alabama not far from where I live so I’m familiar with the settings in his books which is an added bonus. Also he has done book signings at the local library so I have met him multiple times and he’s so warm and friendly and so appreciative of his fans that I guess I’m predisposed to like his books. Even without these connections, though, I would highly recommend all of his books because they are just good reads. I received this one as a Prime First Read and jumped at the chance to read it early as I have been anticipating this book since reading the previous one right after it was released. While you wouldn’t have to have read the first series to enjoy this book, there are characters from the first series and references to things that happened in those books that will be more meaningful if you read them all in order. I have a lot of favorite authors but only a few that I have to read every new book as soon as it comes out and Robert Bailey falls in that group.

Writing reviews of "indie" authors can be both enlightening and satisfactory as well as a challenge to be unbiased and truthful. Addressing the last points first, I got this book from a "BookFunnel" promotion. Nobody has paid me anything in any way to write this. I am doing so in hopes that potential future readers will know what they are getting into in both a truthful and unbiased matter. Second, I really liked reading this book but have to admit going back a few pages or even a chapter or two to recall a character that I was not paying attention to. Big mistake. Everyone is important and makes up a neatly spun and electric finish that could not be anticipated. I really enjoyed the writing and the way the story was put together for an exciting courtroom finish to a "whodunit" murder mystery. No sex, except a "prostitution ring" that is a side issue. Some Christianity as a set of values consideration. Neither of which are that material. The Attorney, Bo, is an elderly black gentleman who is down on his luck when we are introduced to him. He just lost his children in a custody dispute and his law practice has been closed down for 5 years. He is hired by a woman who has been the county prosecutor for 20 years. She is charged with first degree murder of her long-divorced husband. There are lots of side stories, pay attention, they will become important in the excellent climax. If you like legal thillers, put this one at the top of your list, especially if you can get it free.

Legacy of Lies contains some strong language and dialogue. Robert Bailey writes Legacy of Lies: A Legal Thriller, which is book one in the Bocephus Haynes series. Helen Lewis is a proud and legendary lawyer who's feared in the courtroom. But when a prominent figure in her life is gunned down, Helen must face embarrassing revelations, conspiracies and a murder charge. She picks the best lawyer she knows to defend her: Bocephus Haynes. Bo must search for clues, chase down leads and watch his back in this unique and unpredictable thriller. Eric G. Dove provides engaging narration with his unique accents and consistent flow. Despite a meandering plot, some erratic pacing and shallow characters, this is an entertaining tale that will be enjoyed by the appropriate audience. Helen Lewis is the District Attorney in Pulaski, Tennessee. Addressed as the "General" in the courtroom and around town, Helen is a known as a ruthless lawyer who never backs down from a fight. She is in the midst of prosecuting a prominent figure in the community when her ex-husband threatens to blackmail her. When he's beaten and shot to death in his home later that night, Helen is the number one suspect. She approaches her estranged friend and lawyer, Bocephus Haynes, for help. After losing his wife and letting his life spiral out of control, Bo hasn't taken a case for many years. But Helen's request is exactly what he needs to reenter the game and find purpose in his life. As he digs into the case and unravels the mystery, he faces danger, suspicion and mounting uncertainty. Legacy of Lies starts strong, but it has inconsistent pacing through its 78 chapters. Bailey uses some chapters to set up the backstory of the primary characters in the work, and these long, expositional sections seem out of place and tedious. He jumps between individuals frequently in the remaining chapters, and it's difficult to get a firm grasp on the timing and progression of important events. There are strong chapters here, and they mainly involve characters interacting with each other and reacting to plot developments. The dialogue is consistent and believable. Helen and Bo are certainly the most fleshed-out characters. Their stories are interesting, and it's easy to invest in their successes or failures. The side-characters are less interesting and somewhat one-dimensional. Their motivations aren't always clear or predictable. The overarching plot is unique and well-developed, although it doesn't contain many twists until the conclusion. Some listeners will find the ending to be divisive and unsatisfying. Bailey certainty made bold choices in his conclusion, and it's relieving to listen to a work that deviates from thriller tropes. Even though some sections of this novel are difficult to endure, Eric G. Dove brings a strong level of engagement with his veteran narrative skill. He provides unique voices for each character and gender; his accents are fitting for every persona presented. His flow is soothing and consistent. He provides clear enunciation and never trips over words or phrases. Every action scene or traumatic circumstance matches well with his passion and emotional contributions. He improves this work greatly. Legacy of Lies is an average thriller bolstered by solid narration. Bailey presents two strong characters in Bo and Helen, but the various side-characters are difficult to engage with. The plot has intense, thrilling moments, but it's surrounded by tedious exposition and meandering plot lines. The concluding chapters will seem inharmonious to many, which will lesson any desire to continue with the series. Thankfully, Dove improves this work through his passionate and convincing narration. This novel is difficult to recommend to fans of fiction, but diehard thriller aficionados will find some aspects to admire in Bailey's work.

I ate up Bailey's "Professor" and "Jason Rich" series. Both were incredible! I discovered Robert Bailey after reading his stand alone "The Boomerang" and was on a hook for his writing style, twists he incorporates in his books, amazing and unique characters, and his fenomenal description of settings. After reading "The Boomerang" I jumped into Jason Rich stories and loved them. Took a break and then picked up Professor series and read them all back to back in a matter of 10 days, they were THAT addictive. And then I realized that I only had 2 books left to read by this author, so I restrained myself for couple months from diving into Bo's books. And now, as I finished first book, I am so thrilled to be back onto it. It is so amazing how Ribert Bailey interlinked Professor series with this one and it really felt like I was not reading a book, but rather was catching up with lives of old friends. This first book in Bo's series was so damn good. I couldn't put it down. It had everything you may wish from legal thriller PLUS all the story of your favorite characters and their lives right where you left them with the end of "Professor" series. I cannot wait to read what is there next with my beloved Bo.

The novel opens with Butch Renfroe with some business associates at the local gentleman’s club discussing show should defend one of them, Michael Zannick, on a serious charge. The group’s opinion is that none of the local lawyers would be able to stand up to the twenty-year veteran, District Attorney General, Helen Lewis. The decide on a local lawyer who has skin in the game, a non-aboveboard business also run out of the club. When the meeting is over, Butch thinks, “I’m a dead man…” Unfortunately for him, he is right! The opening main storyline deals with the preliminary legal maneuvering, interviewing witnesses, and jumps back in time to fill in information on some of the events leading up to the Butch’s murder. There is a secondary thread of the main character, Bocephus “Bo” Haynes returns to his home town of Pulaski, TN to get his life back together and reopen his law practice. A major impetus for the move is that he is asked to defend, Helen Lewis who believes that she is about to arrested for murdering her ex-husband, Butch. The storyline proceeds from here. The main storyline has an interesting twist to it. Helen does not want to tell Bo what happened until she knows what the prosecution knows. As the novel proceeds, more and more inculpatory evidence mounts. Then, the plot twists, some at the level I call literary grenades start occurring. My attention was quickly captured and kept all the way to the end. This is my major criterion for a high star rating. The B-storyline is quite rich. At the start of the novel, Bo is at rock bottom personally and professionally. His wife was murdered, has a criminal record, lost his license to practice law, and now lost custody of this children. This storyline is rich with how Bo battles back and his character is well defined with his interactions with his cousin, the defendant, Helen, the chief deputy sheriff. A C-storyline also quite evident as Bo proceeds through the novel. There are not any intimate scenes in this novel. Rude language is minimal. Violence is generally described in the less edgy after the fact, but there are several scenes where violence almost bubbles over. I believe that this novel will not be offensive to almost all readers. As I wrote above, my attention was quickly captured and maintained. I could not stop reading even late into the night. There were not any loose ends at the end, but there WAS A storyline that continues into the second novel of the series. This wasn’t what I call, “Who shot JR,” cliffhanger ending, so it did not bother me. Now, I purchased this novel because I had received an advance reading copy of the next novel and wanted to read the first novel in the series first. I was not disappointed.

Comment ce livre a atteint les meilleurs ventes je ne comprends pas. J‘ai trouvé horriblement ennuiant et banale.

District Attorney General Helen Evangeline Lewis is charged with the murder of her ex-husband Butch. She reaches out to the most renowned trial lawyer Bocephus Haynes to defend her. Bo is himself suffering a lot as his life has gone a downhill after his wife's murder and recently losing the custody trial of his kids. Bo refuses to defend the General. Will he change his stance? Did the General really kill Butch? What lies are being covered up? Read this legal thriller to find out the answers. Finally, the ending of the plot is just unpredictable and will for sure stun you.

Ripper read - unexpected but believable twists and turns to the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I’m looking for the follow up right now. Well done Robert Bailey. 👍👌

Fantastic read, thoroughly enjoyed the character development and back story linking. Making a start on the next book straight away

This is at very interested story. It is well written and the plot is full of surprises. I highly recommend this book.