IN TOO DEEP

4 stars out of 5

Let me say at the outset that I've loved Jack Reacher for years (in the books, I hasten to add, of which this is the 29th). This one is not my favorite - maybe by half a country mile - but I stayed up past my bedtime to polish it off nonetheless.

Mostly, I guess, I just didn't warm up to any of the overabundance of characters - probably because it was a little hard to tell the good guys and gals from the bad. And for some reason, Reacher himself seemed a little "off" - but then, if I'd lost a chunk of my recent memory on top of trying to do my usual super-human feats with a broken wrist, I guess I'd be a little cranky as well. The wrist, in fact, is where it begins; Reacher wakes up tethered to a table in an unknown location. In typical Reacher fashion, he manages to get free - but he has no recollection of how he got to be where he is. So when a man arrives and shows him he's survived a car accident in the Ozarks during which an FBI agent was killed, Reacher decides, at least for the time being, to believe him.

But of course, not everyone is who they claim to be, and chapter perspective shifts let readers in on what's going on behind Reacher's back. Along the way, Reacher meets up with a disgraced female agent who's on the trail of the man she claims murdered her father - who, as it turns out, is directly connected to characters who are causing headaches for Reacher as well. Joining forces, then, is a no-brainer - especially since she's a computer whiz while Reacher remains a troglodyte when it comes to technology (although it amazes me how much he knows about it even though he doesn't even own a cell phone).

Needless to say, what they learn along the way turns out to be a huge threat to the American way of life, and as expected, saving our skins depends on Reacher learning the truth before the other side does. The fun - and action - is in the getting there, and trust me, there's plenty of it from start to finish. Another good installment, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child (Delacorte Press, October 2024); 328 pp.

THE PRESIDENT'S LAWYER

5 stars out of 5

If one of the primary settings in a book is a courtroom, I'm always up for it (or "down" for it, as today's kids tend to say). Whichever direction tickles your fancy though, I guarantee you'll fancy this debut novel and its gobsmacking ending.

Rob Jacobson was a super-charged attorney for many years, but now he faces one of his toughest cases yet: defending his long-time friend John S. Cutter - better known as Jack and as the recently-exited President of the United States. The charge? Murdering Amanda Harper, his top legal aide and a woman with whom he was having an affair.

For sure, it won't be easy; the police, and prosecutors, have ample evidence to "prove" Jack strangled his lover, then dragged her body to a local park where they claim he left more damning evidence. The case is even more complicated because of Rob's former relationships with both Amanda and the President's wife and First Lady Jess, the latter of whom may or may not have known about her husband's dalliance.

From the outset, Rob was reluctant to take on the case; after all, there are at least two obvious conflicts. But since his old friend is insistent, Rob rounds up his old attorney friend Jane Cashman to ride shotgun and decides to give it a go. Much of the book centers on the actual trial, so readers who love that scenario should be delighted (for sure I was). Back home, Rob worries only about his son Josh, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and often, reminisces about his long-lost brother, Evan, and their abusive but no-longer-living parents.

The courtroom scenes are riviting - the author, I learned, has a pretty impressive record as a trial and appellate court attorney. As far as I'm concerned, he's a pretty impressive writer as well; all along the way, clues are dropped that might have softened the blow of the ending. I didn't, and I added to the whammy for at least the next couple of days as I kicked myself for not paying more attention. But hey, when you're caught up in the drama of a life-or-death trial...

For sure, this one's a winner - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for offering it to me in the form of a pre-release review copy. Wow!

The President's Lawyer by Lawrence Robbins (Atria Books, October 2024); 319 pp.

THE MORE THE TERRIER

5 stars out of 5

Granted, this is not a lengthy book. Still, the fact that I whipped through 35% of it in one before-bed sitting indicates two things: first, it's an easy read; and second, doing so was a real treat. In fact, I'll say it's one of the best so far (this is the 30th).

Long-time super-charged attorney Andy Carpenter is happy as a clam now that he's retired - enjoying the heck out of his ex-cop wife, Laurie Collilns, 15-year-old son Ricky, their three dogs and running his Tara Foundation dog rescue operation. On their way back home to Paterson, New Jersey, the family is surprised when their pet sitter tells them a stray dog has appeared at their doorstep and doesn't want to leave. Almost immediately, though, they're shocked to realize this isn't a stray; it's Murphy, a pup they once fostered that was adopted some time ago by BJ Bremer, who lives with his mother. They're even more shocked, though, when BJ's mother reveals that her son has been arrested for murdering one of his college professors at nearby Rutgers University.

Andy is, of course, reluctant to take on the case - besides loving retirement, he won't be making any money (not that he needs any). But under the circumstances, he just can't say no; so he quickly gathers his competent team, which includes Laurie, to begin an investigation that begins with a close look at the victim in hopes that will lead to a motive. On the downside, the evidence against BJ is strong, so it's clear that even coming up with enough to create reasonable doubt in the minds of jurors will be a challenge.

But try they will, of course, and it's an intriguing exploration that leads to some very dangerous characters. I'm sorry to say other readers will have to find out how it went for themselves, though - I can't say more without revealing too much. But for courtroom and pooch lovers, I highly recommend this book (and the entire series). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The More the Terrier by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, October 2024); 299 pp.

SOCIETY OF LIES

4 stars out of 5

At the outset, I'll say that if I got nothing else out of this book, it was confirmation of my decades-ago decision when I started college that "going Greek" just wasn't for me. Whew!

Maya Banks, though, didn't get the memo. In fact, when she was a student at Princeton a decade or so ago, she jumped into the social club thing with both feet - participating in all of what I'd have called "Rush Week" activities at her desired Sterling Club and hoping for acceptance into the ultra-secret Greystone Society imbedded in the club. She was, she said, trying to pave the way for her younger sister, Naomi, who would (hopefully) follow in her footsteps. And for the most part, all that went as planned; now, Maya is back for her 10-year college reunion - when she also expects to see Naomi's graduation.

Alas, that's not to be; before the big event, Maya - now married with a 5-year-old daughter Dani - gets word that Naomi won't be graduating; no, she didn't fail her last class - she's dead. And while it's initially ruled accidental, some things just don't add up - like the drugs in her system and no logical reason for her to be found covered in snow far from the lodge at which she was staying. Maya, understandably, is frantic; but very soon she begins to wonder if some things that happened and people she knew back when she was a student had some impact on the reason for Naomi's death.

Chapters, which flip back and forth among time frames and the perspectives of Maya and Naomi almost fast enough to give me whiplash, provide readers with a look at what went on in the worlds of both young women - all coming together, of course, to make a complete and attention-holding story. Definitely worth a read, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown (Bantam, October 2024); 366 pp.