Robert Bailey (5) (1973–)

I thoroughly enjoyed this legal thriller about a recovering alcoholic personal injury lawyer who heads home to deal with family. Namely, a murdered brother-in-law, a drug addict (possibly murderess) sister, and nieces he hasn't seen in years. Jason Rich is a very likable character, unlike his sister, Jana, who is a real tool. But family is family. The plot and dialog were lively, and the twist at the end was a bonus. Rich Blood is an entertaining read I highly recommend.

Rich Blood (Thomas & Mercer 2022) is a superb legal thriller with all the classic elements and with the twists and turns Robert Bailey fans know to expect. It travels a somewhat different direction than Bailey’s prior best-selling Thomas McMurtrie series. Unlike McMurtrie, a law professor with a strong, somewhat inflexible moral code, the attorney at the center of Rich Blood—Jason Rich—is a man whose situational ethics allow him latitude and excuses. Rich has never tried a case. He is, show more in fact, afraid of the courtroom and has made his wealth extracting (or extorting) settlements in personal injury cases. That is, he is what is generally regarded as an “ambulance chaser.” He crassly advertises on billboards making grand use of his last name with his slogan: “In an accident? Get Rich.” Rich’s lax ethical standards and troubled personality make him unpredictable and therefore rather fascinating.

Rich is also fresh out of rehab, struggling with a serious alcohol addiction, and in trouble with the Alabama Bar Association for more than just his drinking. He is already at the end of a fraying rope when his estranged sister Jana calls needing his help. She is in jail on a murder charge, accused of killing her husband. All the evidence points at her guilt. Even her two teen daughters believe her guilty. Like her brother, she suffers from substance abuse. Complicating everything, she is deeply in debt to her dealer who doesn’t care who pays him so long as someone does.

Set in Guntersville, AL, the story uses the lush landscape of the area to its advantage. With fast pacing and ratcheting suspense, Rich Blood is a particularly compelling thriller. But it is Jason and Jana who make this such an enthralling read. Their love-hate sibling dynamics, their struggles with addictions, and their utter self-absorption make them often unlikable but always interesting.

With everything seemingly stacked against him and his sister, Rich reluctantly agrees to defend her at trial. He is not completely alone, having a loyal female partner and an equally loyal investigator. An old crush and a gang of unsavory men also offer backup. That Rich garners loyal support from those who know him best suggests he is more than just a dry drunk ambulance chaser. He might well be a man in search of his own virtue and valor.

The climax comes not just with a bang but with three shocking twists. Riveting, exciting, satisfying—Rich Blood encompasses every element of a classic thriller. Bailey just keeps getting better and better—and that is saying a lot. He is a Huntsville, AL attorney and the author of six prior legal thrillers. show less

The Wrong Side by Robert Bailey
Bocephelus Haynes #2

High School students are full of dreams for their future and much to look forward to. Not all dreams come true, though, and sometimes nightmares come to visit. I had not read book one in this series and wasn’t sure I would like this book at first thinking it seemed more a book written for younger readers than myself but as I kept reading I found that though the main characters in the murder mystery were in high school the story was show more definitely written for those older, too.

What I liked:
* That not having read book one in the series did not detract from this story/book as it stood alone
* Wondering what I might have missed in book one of the series and how it would have impacted my take on this story
* Some of the hints of history in the town
* That Bocephelus chose to defend Odell even though by doing so he fell on The Wrong Side of community opinions and feelings
* Bo’s family and his interactions with them
* That though some rushed to judge the “evidence” some were able to find clues that exposed the truth
* The way the court case played out
* The strings that tantalized related to some of the characters and wanting to know more about some of them
* Wondering if some of the dreams of the high school students would come to fruition
* Thinking about Bo’s next case…if he chooses to take one.
* The look into the impact on family and friends when someone is murdered
* The legal and courtroom portions of the story
* That the murder case was solved

What I didn’t like:
* Realizing how fragile life is and how easily anger can lead to murder
* Thinking about how youth and immaturity combined with a desire to succeed – no matter what or who might be harmed – can have such a horrible impact on so many

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series/by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars show less

On a summer night in 1966 when Bocephus “Bo” Haynes was 5 years old he secretly witnessed the Klu Klux Klan lynch his father. He overheard the leader speaking, it was a voice he had heard many times before, it was that of a prominent businessman who both of his parents worked for. When Bo told his mother who it was and he wanted to go to the sheriff to report the crime, it scared her to death. No one would take the word of a five-year-old child who was already traumatized by what he had show more witnessed over this man’s word who was a pillar of society. Plus if it ever got out what Bo saw and heard his life would be in grave danger. He was sent to live with his aunt and uncle in a neighboring town.

He excelled on the football field and was recruited by Paul “Bear” Bryant himself to play for the University of Alabama. He had ambitions to play professionally until he was injured on the field and his career was cut short. Bo decided to study Law that’s where he met Tom McMurtrie who became more than just his professor, he also became Bo’s mentor and a very good friend to him.

When Bo Haynes graduated law school, he goes back to his old hometown Pulaski, Tennessee the birthplace of the Klu Klux Klan. He turned down many lucrative offers from high profile law firms both in Alabama and Tennessee. He was the only African-American attorney in the town but he worked hard and made a good name for himself. He was still seeking justice for his father’s death. He made no bones about it, he knew exactly who was responsible and Bo was going to bring this man to justice whatever the cost. It had already cost him a great deal, so what did he have to lose?

Every year since he’d been back in Pulaski he would go out to the clearing where they had hung his father. He was on his way to his annual pilgrimage when he stopped in at a local tavern and had something to eat and quite a bit to drink. He was sitting at the bar drinking when the man Andy Walker came walking towards the front door with his wife and brother in law. Andy Walker was the man who he held responsible for the death of his father. Bo had a heated exchange with Andy in front of several witnesses. They left the tavern, then Bo left not too long afterwards. He was so drunk, he didn’t remember anything until the next morning when he was awakened by blue flashing lights and loud banging on his office door. He sees muddy tracks and has mud on his clothes but he has no recollection of how they got there. The night before was a total haze, he was arrested for the murder of Mr. Andy Walker. He was stunned, he knew he had a blackout but he would never murder anyone. No matter how much he hated the man.

When he’s being questioned, he asks for his attorney, his attorney being Mr. Tom McMurtrie who had just come out of retirement and has never tried a death penalty case before. Tom is the only man Bo would trust with his life.

This is a great legal thriller, it has a little bit of everything in it. The characters are very likeable, the setting is fantastic from the description of the old, style courthouse to the beat up old Saturn that Tom’s law partner drives. It’s really held my attention. I was totally taken with this great cast of characters and Mr. Bailey’s writing style. He kept me on pins and needles during the whole trial, there wasn’t a lot of legalizing that some authors bog you down with. It was full of surprises. I realize that I would have understood more regarding the complexities of the relationships between the main characters if I had read the first of the series before hand but I wasn’t fumbling around lost, Mr. Bailey gives the reader enough background so they can’t wait to sink their teeth into the first book of the series, “The Professor”. I’ve already purchased my copy.

I would like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley of this book for an honest review. show less