A Matter of Life and Death

Action packed, gripping, heart pounding crime thriller with so many smart twists hook you up from first chapter and you want to consume it without a break in a few hours. But as you reach the finishing line so fast you feel so depressed because you had so much fun and you want to read more adventures of this badass, ex MMA fighter, ambitious,smart, sexy, independent Robin Lockwood. Thankfully I’m new to this series so I can go back to soothe my craving. <br /><br />Robin may be a young lawyer but her intuition, intelligence, calmness help her to kick assess at the court. Lately she defends a transgender client who is blamed for prostitution and is desperate to keep her job. Anthony Carasco was assigned judge to her case, he already made his inappropriate sexist comments before the trial but surprisingly he acts objective throughout the trial and her client gets acquitted. <br /><br /> But of course the real reason behind the judge’s fair manners shows up imminently. Their paths cross again as Robin takes the case of Joe Lattimore who was training with the same boxing club with her, homeless, married, with baby, is convicted to kill Anthony Carasco’s wife. The same wife Mr. Carasco wants to get rid of after meeting his hot mistress Hayes. <br /><br /> After fighting an illegal underground match, Joe kills his opponent and he finds himself get threatened by the fight’s organizers who push him to steal jewelries from a house they chose. But when Joe secretly enters the house he finds the dead body of Mr. Carasco’s wife instead of jewelries and he starts running away without looking back. It seems like a quiet obvious set up and Mr. Carasco might be involved in entire scheme. But another unexpected thing happens and it changes everything about the trial of Joe.<br /><br /> You wanna learn more juicy details! Go on and read it! <br /><br />I’m giving my four fast pacing, mind bending, entertaining, smart heroine stars! <br />I’m looking forward to read more books from this series! <br /><br />Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

<b>Are you looking for a great legal thriller to lose yourself in over a weekend? Look no further…you found it!</b><br /><br />This is a twisty tale involving a fight club, blackmailing prostitutes and most importantly …murder! How does all this fit together you ask? Well, I can’t spoil the fun…you’ll have to pick this book up to find out!<br /><br />This is book four of the Robin Lockwood series but can easily stand on its own. So don’t be afraid to just jump right in.<br /><br />I’ve been reading books by Phillip Margolin for years. Both his series and stand-alone. I enjoy each equally and I always know I’m in for a treat when I pick up one of his novels.<br /><br />This latest release includes lots of courtroom drama, so if that your thing (and it is mine) then I think you’ll really enjoy this one.<br /><br />Phillip Margolin remains one of my go-to authors, and I’m already looking forward to his next release!<br /><br />Posted to: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/">https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...</a><br /><br />Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC to read and review.

This one was hard to put down! Great suspense from the beginning with multiple cases. Sometimes I find this to be a turnoff, but the author did a great job at delivering and wrapping up each case.<br /><br />As for the main story, the defendant is facing the death penalty thus putting utmost pressure on Robin to defend her client to the best ability. There are a few bad people and midway through, readers learn who the bad guys are. Despite overwhelming evidence, it was a fun ride to see how it all panned out.<br /><br />A Matter of Life and Death is engaging and a step up from the previous book #3 where I found the story to be too cozy.<br /><br />**Thank you Macmillian for a digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

3.5⭐<br />This one was hard to put down! Great suspense from the beginning with multiple cases. Sometimes I find this to be a turn off, but the author did a great job at delivering and wrapping up each case. <br /><br />As for the main story, the defendant is facing death penalty thus put utmost pressure on Robin to defend her client to her best ability. There are a few bad people and midway through, readers learn who the bad guys are. Despite overwhelming evidence it was a fun ride to see how it all panned out.<br /><br /><i>A Matter of Life and Death</i> is engaging and a step up from the previous book #3 where I found the story to be too cozy. <br /><br />**Thank you Macmillian and Phillip Margolin for a digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Phillip Margolin has written much better stories than this average one. 5 of 10 stars

I have read each of the books in this series featuring Robin Lockwood, however this book works fine as a standalone. Lockwood is a Yale Law graduate and former MMA fighter. In this book she takes on the murder case of Joe Lattimore, a former boxer who has been framed for the murder of the wealthy wife of a sleazy judge. Lattimore is facing the death penalty if convicted. <br /><br />The first half of this book is the more interesting part. That’s were we see how the elaborate framing was carried out, who was involved and why. I found the rest of the book a little sluggish. Since the readers know everything already there is no mystery or suspense involved. We are just waiting to see how Lockwood will finally glom on to what happened. In the end, the right guy starts confessing, so it’s not like Lockwood outsmarted anyone. I find Lockwood to be a little too perfect, but I will probably continue with the series. I have also liked some of the author’s non-series books. <br /><br />I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

<br /><i>First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Phillip Margolin, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.</i><br /><br />Phillip Margolin has his newest legal mind, Robin Lockwood, in the middle of her most harrowing case yet. When a man is accused of murdering a judge’s wife, the evidence seems almost irrefutable. As the death penalty stares them in the face, Robin and her indigent client must do all they can to prove that this was not only a miscarriage of justice, but that there’s a larger scheme at play, even more dangerous than anyone might imagine. In A Case of Life and Death,, Margolin does a masterful job and keeps the reader enthralled throughout. Recommended to those who love a good legal thriller, particularly the reader who has come to enjoy the work of Phillip Margolin.<br /><br />Things have not been going well for Joe Lattimore of late. Technically homeless, with a wife and little one, Joe is forced to scrounge for money wherever he can and remember his past as a boxer. When he’s offered a chance to make a quick buck, he takes it, though it’s a dubious venture. He’s told that there’s a fight club where he can make a decent amount of money, which Joe thinks might be the pot of gold for which he has long been waiting.<br /><br />While he wins the fight, it’s no-holds-barred and Joe’s opponent is left clinging to life. Joe’s told the man died and is ushered away. Told that there is a video of the event, Joe knows it could be used against him should he not follow directions to the letter of the law. When Joe’s sent to a house and told to go inside, he enters, only to find the body of a woman who has been beaten to death. His prints are all over the walls as he tries to scramble away, only to be caught fleeing by the victim’s husband, Judge Anthony Carasco.<br /><br /> Once Joe’s been apprehended, after an anonymous tip, things go from bad to worse. The State has some damning and seemingly irrefutable evidence, pushing for the death penalty. Robin Lockwood, who knows Joe in passing, agrees to take his case, feeling that someone’s been pulling strings to frame an innocent man. However, nothing seems to add up and the evidence points strongly to Joe’s guilt. However, beneath it all, there are secrets that people are keeping, from the fight club to the victim’s suspicions about her husband, and even the judge’s alibi on the night of the crime. Robin knows that capital cases require not only dedication, but persistence in the face of adversity. She’ll need it all in this situation, as it’s the difference between a man’s life and his untimely demise.<br /><br />I enjoy a well-crafted legal thriller at the best of time, something that Phillip Margolin never fails to deliver. I discovered his work primarily with the launch of the Robin Lockwood series, but have come to find that he is a master of the genre and has much to say without being overly repetitive. The plot is alluring and the writing hooks the reader from the opening pages. This is what a legal thriller should be. <br /><br />Robin Lockwood does well as protagonist once again. Her presence adds something to the story and keeps the reader wanting to know even more. With a backstory as an MMA fighter, Robin knows the world of fame and glory, though is also keen to help those who cannot help themselves. Her legal acumen is second to none, as she finds one dangling thread and is apt to yank on it, hoping to unravel the truth. Gritty and all in, Robin works for her clients like no lawyer would, wanting truth to reign over the easy way out.<br /><br />Margolin’s use of a handful of strong secondary characters in this piece helps to develop a great story that uses a few subplots to advance the larger narrative. There are those within the pages of this book who will impress the reader, while others will show their true mettle as the story advances. Everyone has their role, even if it does not seem apparent at the outset. Margolin’s development of these individuals helps keep the story flowing and the plot twists fresh in the reader’s mind.<br /><br />The overall delivery of the piece was something I thoroughly enjoyed. I cannot say enough about Phillip Margolin or his work, both of which left me highly impressed. I like a story that is full of twists and a legal thriller that uses the law to peel back to the truth, both of which are on display here. The reader is treated to a quick narrative that pushes the story along, with some credible dialogue along the way. Short chapters force the reader to feel the momentum of the piece and get carried away as the story pushes towards a verdict where punishment is at the heart of it all. A little murder, some deception, and a handful of blackmail situations all create the needed intensity for the reader to see just how talented Margolin is with his writing. I cannot wait for what else this series has to offer.<br /><br />Kudos, Mr. Margolin, for another winner. While some may need a comlex courtroom drama to appeal to them, your action-packed story has just what I needed to pass the time.<br /><br />Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: <br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/">http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/</a><br /><br />A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons">https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...</a>

This was my first spin around a courtroom with Robin Lockwood. Needless to say, this is Phillip Margolin's fourth edition in Robin's legal career. No shame in starting with #4. It read smoothly for me like a well-tuned standalone. <br /><br />Phillip Margolin and I are now besties. I like his style and his deliberate and artfully designed storyline. I felt like my GPS had a woeful glitch and I was traveling down some unfamiliar streets with not a street light in sight. What a pokerface you have, Margolin. Playing quite a sleight of hand leading us to such a whiplash of an ending.....<br /><br />What happens when someone leaves a streak of "Guilty" across your face? You're thrown into jail with all the evidence mounting up against you. Shouting your innocence seems to fall on deaf ears. That's what happened to Joe Lattimore, a homeless man trying to provide for his wife and baby. Joe, a former boxer, took the challenge to fight in a ring located in an abandoned barn in the country. He was desperate for cash. Turns out his challenger was found dead after the fight. Manslaughter, perhaps. But looks like Joe will be arraigned on murder charges for a corpse that suddenly showed up with Joe's fingerprints left behind.<br /><br />That's where said Robin Lockwood makes her entrance. She's agreed to take on Joe's case, but this one doesn't look like there's much light at the end of the tunnel. To add to that, Robin must sort through a mountainous pile of events including prostitution, wayward legal minds, organized crime, revenge, blackmail, betrayal, and more. Margolin packs a tight suitcase. There's no dead time involved under his watch. (Whoa, except for the murders)<br /><br />A Matter of Life and Death is lined with some devious characters who are out for a good time at someone else's expense. Phillip Margolin is clever in his courtroom scenes and all the antics and adventures it takes to get there. I'm already lining up anxiously awaiting the #5.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this free copy in return for an honest review.<br /><br /> Attorney turned author, Phillip Margolin, returns with his 4th book in the Robin Lockwood series and this time she is faced with a murder trial that carries the distinct possibility of a death sentence. <br /> A real page turner that gives us down and out Joe Lattimore who has been reduced to living in a Tent City in Portland, OR, with his wife and infant daughter. Things appear desperate for Joe who was a former boxer and whose temper kept him from holding a job as a cook after his boxing days were over. He has no job, no prospects and no way to provide for his family until one night he went out for a jog and was stopped by a man who recognized him from his boxing days and offered him the chance to make $300 in an illegal no-holds barred fight.<br /> Once Joe agrees to this, the action picks up and he is soon whisked away to a secret location where he is matched against an obviously impaired opponent. He is told the crowd wants blood and shortly Joe is pummeling this opponent to the point where he stops hitting him because he believes the other man is seriously hurt. He is told the man is dead and is quickly hustled away from the site.<br /> Things go downhill from there after he is summoned, once again, to burgle a home and steal the jewelry from a safe. When he gets inside he sees a dead body and runs away, but his fingerprints are in the house. To make things worse the decedent is the wife of a rather unlikeable judge.<br /> Robin Lockwood, a private practitioner, agrees to handle the case and she is soon plunged into an underworld of violence and crime as she tries to find out what really happened and who is the true killer.<br /> As a former attorney I am always drawn to books written by other attorneys, and Margolin has been able to develop a technique of time compression. The books is almost devoid of any prose, his character development basically consists of giving us physical descriptions of people, and he is able to cut through all the typical trial preparation, motions, investigations and some shoddy police work in order to quickly get us to what he considers the most important parts of the story.<br /> This is a fast-paced and action packed book that, while sparse on legal details, has enough legal and investigative insights to make a plausible and successful mystery. I read this in less than 24 hours, and the pages seem to fly by as we follow Lattimore, Lockwood, prostitutes, judges, bikers and gangsters to a breathless conclusion.<br />This review was previously published at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://www.mysteryandsuspense.com">www.mysteryandsuspense.com</a> <br /> <br /><br /> <br />

Review published in: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-matter-of-life-and-death.html">https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....</a><br /><br />What an absolute page turner! I had just started it and when I realized I was already halfway through!<br /><br />Former MMA fighter turned attorney Robin Lockwood is back in the fourth installment in the series with a case that, as the title indicates, is a matter of life and death. When a homeless guy is accused of killing a judge's wife, Robin is convinced he's being framed so she must give it her all if she doesn't want an innocent to die.<br /><br />This was action packed from page one. The author doesn't lose time with unnecessary details, going straight to move along the plot, encompassing what irl could take several months into just a few pages. It's a plot driven story and character development is at a minimum. That's why I seriously recommend to read first the other three books in the series to get to know Robin better. It felt as if I was watching a legal drama tv-show episode. While that made me keep flying through the pages, it also made me miss a bit more development in some scenes and characters.<br /><br />Although the plot was pretty straightforward from the beginning and it was pretty clear who was responsible for the murder from the start, it was really interesting to see how the trial developed and learning about the differences between a death case and a "normal" one. I'm a sucker for courtroom dramas and there's nothing I like more than a good cross examination scene.<br /><br />There were some twists towards the end that were tremendously satisfying (take that, motherf*****!).<br /><br />Another great addition to the series, with a really entertaining plot and a pretty likeable heroine.<br /><br />Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.