The Right to Remain (Jack Swyteck #20) by James Grippando

 In this, the 20th installment of the Jack Swyteck series (and the first I have read), the Miami defense attorney faces a maddening client. Elliott Stafford, the main suspect in a murder investigation, ignores Jack’s advice, testifies before a grand jury, and gets indicted. Remanded into custody, Elliott decides to stop talking. He refuses to speak to anyone, even his own attorney. As Jack digs deeper into the case, trying to save Elliott despite himself, he uncovers a complicated personal history as well as other deep, personal secrets that hint Elliott might be protecting someone else.

This was great legal suspense and the tension is palpable as the courtroom theatrics play out and the investigation starts to uncover discrepancies and issues that make the situation quite unique. Although not entirely unpredictable, there were a few twists that took me by surprise. I loved the legal technicalities and the procedural points that really emphasized the legal aspects of the situation Elliott was in as well as how Jack handled the setbacks. There was definitely a lot more going on than a murder and all of those side plots made the story even more interesting. I am definitely going to have to go back to the beginning and read more of this series as I liked the writing style and the focus on the law. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Jonathan Davis, did an excellent job of giving every character a distinct personality. His ability to vary his tempo, pace, and accents to match the situation and the various roles felt authentic and real. His performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

This is the 20th book in a long running series. This was the first one I have read and I plan to go back to the beginning. It worked OK as a standalone.

Genre and tags: legal suspense, courtroom drama, murder, trans, gender dysphoria, adoption, gun running, 

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins

 In St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama, the old Rosalie Inn has weathered a century of hurricanes, but its walls hold some deadly secrets. Geneva Corliss, the inn’s owner, is struggling to keep the family legacy alive as occupancy rates are low and debts are mounting. She hopes that the arrival and lengthy open-ended stay of true-crime author August Fletcher will boost business since he’s also bringing an infamous ghost from the past. Lo Bailey, now almost 60, was accused and freed after a hung jury when she was put on trial for murdering her married lover, Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie years ago in 1984. August intends to help Lo write her memoirs, or so he says, and she wants to clear her name once and for all. What happened on that stormy night at St. Medard’s Bay. 

This was a fun, atmospheric read with the tension enhanced by an approaching storm as the events from years ago set up a multi timeline narrative. The different points of view as well as snippets from the manuscript that August is writing add a clever layer to the mystery. Secrets are revealed and though some of the twists were a bit predictable, the setting and the complicated history between the characters kept me hooked. At times it seemed completely grounded in Southern Gothic backdrop with the inn at the water’s edge and the weather almost another character. In the end, it is about loyalty and friendship. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also reading along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The multicast recording by 7 different performers made it so much easier to track the shifts in time and point of view. The accents were seamless and distinct and each character infused his/her role with great emotional depth and dramatic flair. Their performances definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre and tags: murder, adultery, hurricanes, friendship, true crime