An Insignificant Case: A Thriller

This stand-alone crime novel features Charlie Webb, supposedly a “third-rate” lawyer in Portland, Oregon who gets by handling minor legal matters for friends along with some court-appointed cases, one of which he gets as the story opens. He was assigned to defend Lawrence Weiss, a.k.a. Guido Sabatini, who admitted to stealing back a painting he sold to Gretchen Hall. Guido wanted her to display it in her restaurant, but instead she kept it in her private office, thus depriving the world, in Guido’s mind, from appreciating his art.

Guido not only stole the painting back, but took a flash drive from the safe over which the painting was hanging for possible leverage. (He didn’t know what was on it initially, but he reasoned that if show more it was in the safe, it might be valued enough by Gretchen to convince her to rehang his painting.) The flash drive turned out to be extremely important indeed, and some very powerful figures wanted it back. They couldn’t kill Guido since no one knew where he had stashed it, but others end up dead in pursuit of the drive. Guido was now suspected of multiple homicides, and wouldn’t accept any other attorney but Charlie.

Charlie had never handled a homicide, and was afraid he couldn’t offer competent representation, especially because he thought Guido was innocent and he wanted to do right by him.

Charlie requested help from the judge, and to his surprise, both sides of the matter got some very big legal hitters volunteering to help. Something was suspicious, with the machinations and life-threatening encounters way above Charlie’s pay grade.

The plot seemed inspired by the case of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and all the secrecy and scandals associated with their sex trafficking operations. But by concentrating on Charlie and how he handled any issues that arose, the author made matters both more tasteful and very understandable. In addition, the story brought to bear the question of legal justice versus vigilante justice, and whether the latter ever made more sense. As Charlie later mused, “Sometimes a person does something that’s against the law that you can’t help feeling is justified.” And yet, making one’s own laws wasn’t a good approach either.

Evaluation: This book was quite entertaining, with my only regret being that it was written as a stand-alone novel. I would love to see more books featuring Charlie Webb. show less

Entertaining and fast-paced legal thriller.

This is a standalone, so I was able to jump right in and get my fix as I love fiction involving legal maneuvering and complicated plots. This one however, got me with the characters. So many different personalities on the legal end and a really quirky mathematician turned artist who made for a very interesting criminal.

The basic plot involves an inappropriately displayed painting, a stolen flash drive, sex trafficking, murder, and vigilantism. The story takes off quickly and the excellent writing kept me hooked. As the action ricochets from one scenario to another, the attorneys adapt and try to keep their client alive.

Guido Sabatini (born Lawrence Weiss) is a most unlikely criminal as he's a show more slightly crazy painter who believes he was trained by the masters in a past life. He gets mad when a painting he sold to a restaurateur is not hung out in the main dining area but hidden away in an office. He decides to break in and liberate it, but also, in spite, takes a flash drive from the office safe thinking he will simply give it back once the owner hangs the painting in a more suitable place. Arrested for theft, he needs an attorney. Enter third rate lawyer Charles Webb. Charlie's a good guy but he's no match for what's coming. Oh, Guido. What a nest of serpents he let loose. There is something on that flash drive that many people will get to keep secret.

I really liked this story and was lucky to be able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publishers. The narrator did an excellent job of voicing the characters with appropriate tone, accents, and dramatic flair. The production was well done and enhanced my enjoyment of the book. show less

It's been far too long since I dove into one of Phillip Margolin's novels! This author knows how to craft a gripping legal thriller! He's an absolute must-read if you're a fan of legal thrillers.

Meet Charlie, a self-proclaimed mediocre lawyer who only gets hired when the budget is tight. After struggling to land a job post-graduation, he opened his own practice, surviving on referrals from sketchy friends and low-paying court-appointed gigs. That's how he crosses paths with the unforgettable Guido Sabatini. Guido is one of those wonderfully eccentric characters that truly makes the story come alive! Sure, he's in hot water for a burglary that spiraled into a murder charge, but his backstory is so heartfelt that you can't help but root show more for him. And he's so amusing!

Charlie has never tackled a murder case and tries his best to convey his inadequacy. But despite his efforts, he's thrown into the deep end!

The story unfolds at a thrilling pace, packed with action, but the characters steal the show. Guido, who refuses to go by his real name, Lawrence Weiss, believes he's the reincarnation of a Renaissance painter who brushed shoulders with the likes of Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci. But wait, there's more! Guido is not just a quirky character; he's also a math genius who attended Berkeley and Stanford, using his skills to make a killing in casinos—until he was banned for counting cards. He left his prestigious position at the University of Oregon to pursue his destiny as a reincarnated artist.

Charlie and a cast of equally captivating characters add depth and humor to the mix! I enjoyed this tale through audiobook and ebook formats—my absolute favorite way to devour a book. The narrator was spot on, bringing Margolin's vivid storytelling to life. With Margolin's background as a criminal defense attorney, the narrative is rich with authentic details that keep you on your toes.

Thank you to the author, Macmillan Audio, and Minotaur Books for providing these ARCs through NetGalley and Edelweiss. As always, all opinions are entirely my own.

#PhillipMargolin #AnInsignificantCase #MinotaurBooks #MacAudio2024 #gifted #Netgalley #Edelweiss #PeterGanim show less

From a Master of courtroom thriller we have another great legal drama hard to put down. Since discovering this author in 2011 and have been huge fan and his stories have never disappointed me. This latest is a standalone drama.

A little too long intro:

We are introduced to a new attorney, a third rate one who graduated from a third rate law school that couldn’t get a position at any major law firm so he opened his own law firm. Charles Webb takes on cases from dubious friends from his past and court appointed cases. Guido Sabatini, a talented artist and a nut job was his latest appointee to defend. Guido had sold one of his paintings to a restaurant owner and has liberated it along with a flash drive from the safe...At the time the show more restaurant owner and her partner were under investigation for sex trafficking of minors....With bargaining power knowing that the content of the flash drive threatens very powerful figures, Guido played all his cards but toying with criminals that wanted at any cost to retrieve the flash drive ...even going as far as murder may not be a good strategy.

It didn’t take long for the insignificant Charles to be plunged into more than a simple case defending Guido but into a sensational double murder....

My very long thoughts:

I simply love this story there is so much going on and so many twists and turns to face that I didn’t want to put the book down. I was so captivated by the coming and going and the many characters that crossed the pages many of them had important roles in both Charles and the defendant’s life that I didn’t want to miss a beat. This story definitely captured my attention from the start. Everything was so unpredictable even with some surprising reveals and outcomes. It was hard to predict anything....The characters were exceptional and I enjoyed how they played their parts in this drama. I admit at first I thought Mr. Margolin was rehashing the famous saga of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell but no to my relief a totally deferent spin and much more exciting.

This is an excellent read I give high score.

My thanks to St-Martin Press and Netgalley for this ARC I am pleased to share my thoughts show less

Charlie Webb, described as a “third rate” lawyer ekes out an existence by defending shady characters such as motorcycle gang members. He is appointed to defend a colorful character who sees himself as the reincarnation of artist Guido Sabatini. For him, painting is all. He breaks into the office of someone who has purchased one of his works to steal it back because she disrespected his talent by not hanging it where the public could view it. He also steals something out of her safe that turns out to be evidence in a sex trafficking case that may involve some important public figures. In the race to get the evidence back, three people are killed and Guido is charged with their murder. He insists that Charlie defend him, even though show more he has never defended a homicide suspect. The dangerous chase is on by both the good guys and the bad to reclaim the evidence and bring charges against the real killers and sex traffickers.

Through the years, I have read and enjoyed quite a few of Margolin’s books, especially the more recent ones in his attorney Robin Lockwood series. An Insignificant Case is a standalone. Although a bit predictable, there were some twists in this fast, entertaining read. Recommended for those who enjoy mysteries, thrillers, crime novels, legal thrillers, and quirky characters.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks for the DRC. show less

Charlie Webb is not a top-tier criminal defense attorney. In fact, he can barely pay his bills. However, he has acquitted himself nicely in some of his courtroom appearances. If he could only catch a break, he might attract more well-to-do clients. What Webb does not anticipate is being appointed to represent Lawrence Weiss, a painter who goes by the name of Guido Sabatini. Not for the first time, Guido is being charged with burglary. He does not steal cash. He actually “liberates” his paintings from people who have purchased them, if he believes that his art works have not been displayed prominently. In “An Insignificant Case,” Phillip Margolin’s latest legal thriller, Charlie is shocked when Guido’s case escalates into a show more complex and high-profile investigation.

Margolin populates his novel with a host of malevolent individuals who are vicious, impulsive, and reckless. The story, which is ripped from the headlines, involves a media mogul who lures young girls to his mansion and then cruelly exploits them. Guido, who is brilliant but naïve, possesses a crucial piece of evidence that he is reluctant to turn over to the police.

The courtroom scenes are unmemorable, and the dialogue between the thinly-developed characters is banal. Charlie is a decent guy, although he is extremely unsophisticated. As the bodies pile up and witnesses are either injured or killed, the police try to figure out who is behind all of this mayhem. There is plenty of action and the narrative moves along at a fast clip, but “An Insignificant Case” is derivative, far-fetched, and formulaic. show less

Suspenseful.. perfect for fans of John Grisham. A master of plot and pacing and one of those rare authors who can create a genuinely surprising ending.