Marti Green

Thank You, NetGalley, for my complimentary review copy.

Mallory and Charlotte Jensen, twin girls born to a young mother, grew up in vastly different circumstances, unaware of each other’s existence. Their mother, Susan AKA Sasha, could not afford to keep both her girls so she kept the first-born, Mallory.

“Charly,” now an art gallery owner, had a privileged upbringing and lives an affluent lifestyle with her husband, Ben Gordon. In stark contrast, Mallory, an artist, could not afford to show more go to college. She lives for the art classes she takes at a local art institute and works as a waitress. Her home is a run-down boarding house.

From the very first line, I was drawn into the story. The book is divided into five parts, including a preface and epilogue. In between, the parts shift perspective from Mallory to Charlotte. The writing style is very readable, the chapters short, the characters, well-developed.

One fateful day, a customer in the restaurant where Mallory works mistakes her for her twin and mentions the gallery. Out of curiosity, she goes to check it out and there she sees her mirror image. Completely caught off-guard, she leaves without meeting her sister. She visits Charly’s home and the door is answered by Ben, who is just as shocked, but invites her in. Mallory is entranced by her beautiful surroundings, a stark contrast to her own. Ben notices her reaction and a devious, sinister, but brilliant plan takes shape in his mind.

At first taken aback by Ben’s proposal, Mallory comes around once Ben tells her about Charly and provokes her about what could have been and what still can be. So, the plan is put into motion. All goes smoothly...until it doesn’t.

In conclusion, I loved this book, my first by this author. The blurb intrigued me. There were unexpected plot twists that made the story anything but predictable and kept me reading, eager to find out what will happen next. I loved that I didn’t have a clue. The end was somewhat sappy, but satisfying. show less

Thank you to the publicist and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book. This is an honest review – all opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 Stars

How far would you go to claim the life you could have had?

The Good Twin really digs into the whole “Princess and the Pauper” storyline, but with a twist. When Mallory discovers that, not only does she have an identical twin sister but, only two minutes made the decision over which twin grew up in poverty and which was given show more luxury she starts questioning a lot about her life. When she is given the opportunity to change her future and grab on to the life she could have had…well the thought of money and privilege would be enough to seduce anyone.

The author really knows how to grab the reader right away and sets such a great pace throughout the book that, before you know it, you’ve read the entire thing. I found the storyline very gripping and I don’t think I had a single second of boredom or page skimming. I was deeply engrossed from the first page…and then we got to the ending. Let’s talk about that, shall we?

This entire book was like being given a cone of your favorite ice cream only to have it fall to the ground as soon as you try to take a lick. And it just keeps happening. Over and over again until eventually there’s just no more ice cream and all you’re left with is a soggy cone.

Here’s where I have issues; we get a great storyline, an intriguing background and then comes this killer plot…which just falls together so easily? Seriously? Huge, life altering decisions need to be made and…just…sure, why not? I’ve given more thought to lunch. That seems to be the theme I kept seeing through the book. I’d be deeply into the story, then something happens and it’s all just so unbelievably easy. Key word…unbelievably. I felt that there really should have been some type of real conflict somewhere and was let down. Like the characters decided that they didn’t want to play anymore so they were just going to let everything happen. I could have forgiven it all, too, if it wasn’t for that ending. Without getting spoiler-y….all I’m going to say is people are NOT that way (there is no word I can think of that won’t give something away here). This was not the ending I signed up for and I feel a little bit cheated. That’s all I’m going to say on the matter.

The thing is, this is a really good book. It really is. I was completely drawn into every second of the story. I just left it feeling very, very unsatisfied. It shouldn’t be wrong to want your ice cream, and get to eat it too. show less

I stayed up until 2 AM to finish UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, that’s how engrossing it was
Dani Trumball worked as a lawyer for the Help Innocent Prisoners Project in New York City. While her job was preparing cases and presenting them in court, a letter from a man sentenced to be executed in six weeks in Indiana grabbed her attention. It read, “I loved my little girl and only wanted to help her....Maybe I deserve to die, but it’s not because I killed my little girl.”
George Cahoun was show more sentenced to death seventeen years earlier after his four-year-old daughter, Angelina, disappeared and the badly burned body of a three or four-year-old girl was found buried in a forest. A witness saw a man going into the woods carrying a large package. George’s wife, Sallie, testified against him and said they both killed her. She was serving a 25 to life sentence in another prison in Indiana. They had had no contact over the years.
Dani was given the job of determining whether George was actually innocent or if he was just claiming to be to get out of prison. If he was innocent, she had only six weeks to find a cause for retrial or reversal.
She and her team checked records, spoke to the Calhouns and many others involved in the case and she decided he was indeed innocent. She used two major paths to stay the execution: Showing that his lawyer did not do his job properly and that the child in the grave was not his daughter.
One of the major obstacles was finding out what happened to Angelina. I don’t want to spoil the story so I will just say the problem has not disappeared though there are programs in place to make it less likely today.
The book introduced me to two new pieces of information: Williams Syndrom, a rare genetic disorder and Martindale Hubbell, a site that provides ratings on lawyers throughout the country.
The story, predictably, had Dani running into a lot of frustration as her appeals were rejected and she tried to find out what happened to Angelina: Was hers the child in the grave? If not, who was that child? What happened to Angelina: On the whole, the situations are plausible and the plot moves forward at a quick pace. At the end, all the loose ends are tied up
I found one bit of snobbery Marti Green’s writing: “She hated country music, which inevitably was the only music she could find on the dial outside New York.” Dani was traveling in Indiana and other states in the upper Midwest. There are a lot of radio stations that play rock and roll, blues, jazz, and classical music in that area.
This book was a free Amazon Kindle download. show less

A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 Stars

Marti Green returns with popular Help Innocent Prisoners Project, (HIPP) with her third and most riveting installment in the series--THE PRICE OF JUSTICE, when justice comes with a hefty price; sacrifices made, and a race against time with an execution countdown, in this complex multi-layered suspense legal crime thriller.

Having read the two other books in the series, was so excited to show more discover what case Dani Trumball, and the HIPP team in New York would be involved in this time around. This is the most complex case yet, which will keep you on the edge of your seat guessing, as to the identity of the real killer.

This request for legal representation is quite different than their normal cases at HIPP. Since the organization is a non-profit, helping innocent prisoners, normally their clients have no other financial means for legal counsel. Their mission is to help free as many innocent men and women as they can. However, without funds they will have to let go of staff and that will dramatically reduce the number of people they can help.

When Amelia Melton, one of the richest and most power grandmother, matriarch comes flying in their humble office, the elderly woman wants Dani to save her grandson, who is serving on death row and days from execution. She can afford the best attorneys money can buy. However, she has long given up on them, and aware HIPP operates on donations.

Her proposal is for Dani to take her grandson, Winston’s case and she will donate $500,000 to the organization. Win it, and she will donate an additional $500,000, plus expenses. She wants an answer in two days, as there is no time to spare.

Ms. Melton is doing the bidding, and taking control. The parents fell apart when their son was first arrested, and they believe in him; however, they are worn down. It is up to the grandmother to take charge of his future. Dani's first reaction is to say no; however, there are many innocent impoverished men and women they can help with this money. Bruce and the board agree, they have to help.

However, first Dani wants to visit Winston, and ensure he is really innocent. That is all they need, to help a guilty man go free, no matter who his family is. Of course, with state and federal budget cuts, grants, and contributions which have recently been cut in half and the economy, organizations such as theirs are suffering.

The attorneys handling the original rape case, say Winston was an arrogant, cocky rich kid and the judges and system wanted to make an example of this family. How would it look if the courts showed favoritism to a rich and connected family?

The Meltons are wealthy with a home in Manhattan, and a winter home in Palm Beach. The rape occurred years ago with a high school student and the body was found behind Palm Beach High School. Melton at the time was a freshman at Princeton University and was at his family’s home visiting for semester break. He girl had been raped and killed and the cause of death was strangulation. No DNA was recovered from her body, but a strand of hair identified as belonging to the defendant was discovered near the body. They had dated prior to this and he had broken off the relationship prior to college.

When they visit Winston in prison, he appears to be innocent and very humble. His grandmother will stop at nothing to free her grandson. Then only days before another execution of a criminal, another death row prisoner confesses to the rape. He knows too many details. But why is he confessing now? Has the grandmother paid someone to take the fall, which will be executed in a few days regardless?

They have to find out if this guy’s family has received any large sums of money? Was the other guy the real killer, and if not, who is the real killer? He could still be out there? In the meantime, could Winston really be guilty and fooling everyone?

Dani and her team will need to work quickly, as the death warrant has already been signed, HIPP has less than six months to try and clear him. Their whole purpose is representing inmates they believe have been unfairly convicted. They do not take cases unless they believe the person isn’t guilty. Unlike other attorneys it is not always of importance. Of course someone else confessed, but what if they investigate and he didn't do it? Does the board expect them to represent him, anyway? What about double jeopardy for Winston--if he gets free, he cannot be tried again for the same crime?

Not only do they have to try and reverse the decision, they also have to begin their own investigation to clear their own suspicions, and look at anyone else who may be connected to the crime. From Winston’s friends, ex-girlfriends, and the victim’s friends, from back seven years earlier.

The suspense builds, when you suspect the grandmother buying off everyone, then is Winston really innocent, what about the person who confessed—how did he know details? Then there is another big twist which will leave your head spinning until it comes down to the wire.

Love Florida authors, and really enjoy them if they write legal thrillers. Green does an excellent job, with her legal facts, practicing attorney and residing in Central Florida. The interesting twist was the obstacle with Florida law. It’s the only state in which only seven of twelve jurors need to agree to impose the death penalty, instead of unanimous.

In summary, thanks Marti, for featuring Palm Beach County, my home for the last eight years! As always, another terrific suspense in this awesome series. Love the characters, and always a different case with new twists. Cannot wait to see what is next in the series. Keep them coming!

A huge fan of legal series, and even more so when combined with the personal lives, strong women, and those who enjoy helping those in need. Each can be read as a standalone; however, would recommend reading them all! Unintended Consequences #1 Presumption of Guilt #2

If you enjoy this type of legal suspense crime thriller—helping the underdog and the innocent; also highly recommend, Sophie Fox's A Casey Cort Series. The author is a former trial attorney, and she is full of wit! Both these series are top notch, and feature some strong intelligent women attorneys, fighting for justice to defend the less fortunate. Qualified Immunity #1 Under Color of Law #2

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On a side note: Palm Beach vs West Palm Beach:
I had to laugh, as when you are a local, you get picky about Palm Beach, versus WPB, and a few times in the novel, they were co-mingled.

I live in a hi-rise in Downtown WPB on Flagler Drive/Fern St, next to the Trump Plaza, which is on the Intracoastal Waterway. Being on the 15th floor, I have a view of Palm Beach, as well. Only a few blocks from the south bridge; the north/south bridge separate West Palm Beach from Palm Beach-Like a half mile, which I ride my bike there often. If you are local, you keep the two separate. They are very distinct. WPB is the urban city Downtown; whereas PB, the island. Belvedere Rd is in WPB, not South Palm Beach Island, so when we say south Palm Beach, we think Ritz Carlton on A1A. . Being in the real estate, hospitality, and travel industry, I pick up on things like this—most may not even notice.

A travel tip: If you are visiting in the WPB area there is a small hip boutique hotel there on the corner of Belvedere/Olive- Biba Hotel in the El Cid Historic District. Another Old Florida tropical style boutique hotel, rich in history and charm: Casa Grandview Historic Luxury Inn, Cottages & Suites, north of Belvedere off Georgia Ave, in Grandview Heights Historic District. As you can see, I am pretty passionate about Palm Beach County! show less