Monday, March 6, 2017

Book Review: A Shattered Circle by Kevin Egan



Today we're talking about Kevin Egan's new legal thriller, A Shattered Circle. This is his eighth novel and his third thriller. He used to work in the New York County Courthouse, which is how he knows so much about lawyers and judges. 
Kevin’s short fiction has appeared regularly in RosebudAlfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and The 
Westchester Review. A Shattered Circle is the Mysterious Bookshops thriller of the month for March. 

Here's the description of the book:

"Barbara Lonergan is ferociously protective of her husband, Judge William Lonergan. After a New Year’s Day accident leaves the judge mentally impaired, Barbara draws a small circle around him to protect his health, his career, and his reputation. The circle consists only of Barbara, who doubles as the judge’s confidential secretary, and the judge’s law clerk. Together, and with the cooperation of the administrative judge of the well-known New York County Courthouse, they support Judge Lonergan enough for him to fulfill his judicial duties. Months pass under this exhausting routine, but as August deepens into heat and humidity, Barbara finds her small circle under siege from a persistent private investigator who needs the judge’s help in investigating the April murder of a well-known lawyer in upstate New York and a demented litigant in Judge Lonergan’s last trial who has filed a grievance with the Judicial Conduct Commission.  Meanwhile, court officer Foxx, in keeping a deathbed promise to a childhood friend, pokes at the edges of Barbara Lonergan’s protective circle.
"As the private investigator reveals troubling information and the judicial grievance heads toward resolution, Barbara removes her husband to the supposed safety of their summer home in the Berkshires. She does not realize that she has placed both of them in greater danger."

The story begins with a high-powered lawyer trying to de-stress with a day of solo fishing. Of course, relaxing in a beautiful stream doesn't last long in a thriller and poor lout winds up dead. The complications first arise when the PI investigating the case wants to interview Judge Lonergan, but can't. 
  The premise is set up so you're rooting for nice people who shouldn't be doing what they're doing, but you can't help but want them to succeed. The thoughtful story build up and character development make it easy to keep turning the pages to see how long Barbara can keep protecting her husband. Anybody would be lucky to have Barbara Lonergan in their corner. 

If you like legal thrillers with a twist with great characters, you'll love A Shattered Circle.


This book comes out March 7 in hardback from Tor/Forge.
Mystery Playground received this book courtesy of the author. The review is fair and independent. 

1 comment:

  1. I throughly enjoy legal thrillers with a twist. This one goes on the TBR pile!

    ReplyDelete