Robert Bailey never fails to hit one out of the park. I'm a big fan of the Jason Rich series and this one is even more compelling and interesting and suspenseful as the 2 before. I highly recommend this title, as well as all of Mr. Bailey's work.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Rich Waters" by Robert Bailey is a riveting legal thriller that delves into the murky depths of a small town's secrets and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth. The novel follows Jason Rich, a lawyer whose reputation precedes him, as he is coerced into defending a case that seems indefensible.

Bailey's narrative is masterful, weaving a tale that is as much about the personal redemption of its protagonist as it is about the legal battle he wages. The setting of Guntersville, Alabama, is almost a character in itself, with Bailey painting a vivid picture of the Southern town and its inhabitants.

The plot centers around a former high school football star accused of a heinous crime, and the story unfolds with a pace that keeps the reader on edge. Bailey's expertise as a lawyer shines through in the courtroom scenes, which are both authentic and electrifying.

This latest book has some cliché and mainstream bits BUT it still kept the awesome, unpredictable vibe of the entire series! Story aside, what really made me appreciate this masterpiece is the author's ability to both capture and tell the struggles of a person suffering from substance abuse and/or people who have a dysfunctional upbringing. Add to that his objectivity and fairness in treating each character, giving them their own back stories and not just painting them as either black or white; good or evil. I truly love this and I can not wait for the next books!

Attorney Jason Rich recently won a large court case, his first, really, despite being a lawyer for many years. He's made his money as an 'ambulance-chasing' accident attorney. His "In an accident? Get Rich!" billboards dot the landscape around his hometown of Guntersville, Alabama. But winning a major case doesn't mean that his life is back on track. Not giving in to his substance abuse tendencies is still a daily challenge, and he and his 17-year-old niece, Nola, have not been getting along. She's been skipping school or coming to school under the influence of something (alcohol? drugs?) and she's in danger of not graduating. Jason never expected to act as a parent, but since the death of his sister (the circumstances surrounding the previous case). And to top it off, the woman he was dating , whom he had proposed to and whom Nola had bonded with, left him after he proposed.

Now, Tyson Cade, the region's biggest drug dealer wants Jason to represent Trey Cowan, a local, talented athlete who fell short of making it to the big time and who is now accused of killing a cop. Working for Cade is the last thing Jason wants to do, but the dealer has enough of a hold on Rich and his family and friends, and Cade has proven that he's not afraid to take a life when following through on a threat. But the drug dealer is slippery and most of what happens can never be tied back to him.

Jason has no choice but to be the attorney for Trey but he gets no help from the accused and a lot of pressure from Cade. Even Jason has to admit that evidence against his client is overwhelming.

But there's one interesting piece to the case ... the lead detective in the case, a woman that Jason has great respect for, hasn't been seen and doesn't show up for the preliminary hearing. This doesn't make sense for an open-and-shut case. With no other leads, Jason decides to look into it.

Every time I write a review of a Robert Bailey legal thriller I tend start with my surprise that I like these books so much. I've never read a legal thriller before Bailey, and I'm not from the South, which is more than a landscape for these books - it's a way of living - but these books are SO exciting. In fact, at one point in this book, I was feeling highly anxious at the events going on. Enough so that I put the book down for a bit and thought that maybe this would be my last Robert Bailey book. My issue was mostly with the drug dealer having the power over people the way that he did.

The anxiety was only momentary and my glee at the appearance of a character from another of Bailey's series', Bo Haynes, was enough to counter my earlier anxiety. I wouldn't have minded more of Bo, but his appearance does come with very important help.

A lot of changes will take place during the course of the book. I don't want to give away too much but suffice it to say that things will be different in the next book (assuming there is one) and, just as between books #1 and #2 here, not all those changes will be positive.

The category for a book like this is "legal thriller" and Bailey, a lawyer himself, knows the legal part quite well and the 'thriller' portion is high octane excitement.

Looking for a good book? Rich Waters is the second book in the Jason Rich series by Robert Bailey. Bailey may not have invented the legal thriller category, but he rules it.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Rich Waters by Robert Bailey
Jason Rich #2

Wow! This book picks up a few months after the first with Jason Rich coerced into taking another murder trial case while juggling care for his niece, stay sober, and stay out of trouble with the state bar association. Intense, intricately plotted, interesting ongoing journey that has me rooting for Rich to succeed.

What I liked:

What I liked:
* Jason Rich: lawyer, wealthy, alcoholic, complicated, cares deeply about his family, dealing with personal demons, brilliant, really feel for him
* Izzy: Jason’s law partner – didn’t see much of her in this book
* Harry: investigator for Jason’s law firm, ex-military, good at what he does, had a smaller part but very large part in this book
* Chase: Jason’s childhood neighbor, friend, and lover, military veteran, has PTSD, troubled, not sure what will happen to her after this book
* Nola & Niecy: Jason’s nieces, lost both parents when their father was murdered in the first book, eldest at college and youngest in high school and having difficulties after her parents deaths
* The Tonindandels: three brothers that were wild as children, are distinguished military veterans, lethal, protective and there for those that they care about – really like these men
* The Tyson Cade thread: meth kingpin of the area, easy to dislike, will do anything to stay on top of his mountain
* The plot, pace, setting, and writing – drew me in and kept me reading from beginning to end
* The unexpected twists and turns
* The complexity of the case facing Jason and how he finally managed to get the facts needed to represent his client

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about all the bad things as they happened and how what I was reading all too often occurs in real life

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

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

5 Stars

I’m a fan of legal thrillers: think Scott Turow, John Grisham, Michael Connelly, William Landay. Somehow, I stumbled on Rich Bood by Robert Bailey. The protagonist, Jason Rich, is famous for his billboards from Alabama to Florida, featuring the slogan “In an accident? Get Rich!” Yes, he is THAT kind of lawyer, an “ambulance chaser,” and he’s made a freaking fortune at it.

Times have been challenging, including his divorce and a visit to rehab, and then his sister Jana is accused of murder, and she begs him to help her (despite his lack of ANY experience in criminal law). Jason returns to his home town in Alabama where Jana has plenty of enemies…and it looks like maybe Jana hired a hitman? What could possibly go wrong?

It’s a ton of fun, and I enjoyed the book, so when I had the chance to read the second book in the series, Rich Waters (thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, who provided a copy in exchange for this honest review), I jumped at it!

In this one, a former high school football star is accused of killing a cop, the local meth king blackmails Jason into defending him, and Jason just can’t refuse. Jason wants to dismantle the meth empire …. and once again, a fun read. Well done, and I look forward to the next one in this series! Four stars.

Once you read a Robert Baily book, you will be hooked. Trust me!

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book to see what trouble Rich gets himself into next. You will become obsessed with these characters and never want to stop reading. The suspense of who, what, why, and WTF will have you begging for more!!

Start this series from the beginning. You will thank us later!!

Thoroughly enjoyed this second installment in the Jason Rich series. Set in the same northern Alabama town of Guntersville, it is equally filled with courtroom drama, family drama and suspense. The only thing that is a bit irritating is that the entire community seems to be riddled with corruption, alcoholism and/or drug addiction. I hope that's not really the case in this beautiful charming town. It's still a good tale even though it's centered around dark seedy characters. Word of advice...read the first book before this one to understand the backstory. My thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book I have read in the Jason Rich series by Robert Bailey. This one was just as good as the last one. Jason Rich is an attorney, he is also an alcoholic who is working hard to stay on the wagon. He just won a tremendous lawsuit. Typically he does suits that involve claims of wrongdoing and those are not jury trials. The last one was. It was only his second trial with a jury, his first was his sister's murder trial. He prevailed in it and now is faced with another situation that involves murder and the local drug kingpin. Jason is the guardian of his niece, she has a drug problem and his girlfriend is also a reformed alcoholic but she has disappeared. Jason is finding triggers everywhere that make him want to drink. He must prevail in this murder trial of a man he thinks is innocent but there is no proof. His only help may be from the sheriff's department which may also be dirty. Read this twisty entertaining tail of the Southern justice. I enjoy the writing of Robert Bailey and hope to read more from him. Bailey is an attorney that practices in Huntsville, Alabama. Thanks to #NetGalley and #RichWater#Robert Bailey for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The setting of Robert Bailey's Jason Rich series drew me in. Guntersville is a town in North Alabama, surrounded by Lake Guntersville. Bailey includes local landmarks in his story, adding lots of Southern atmosphere to his mystery series featuring billboard lawyer Jason Rich.

In Rich Waters, the second book in the series, a former high school football star is accused of murder. Rich takes on this, his second case. He is also working on his own life in terms of healing and family relationships. For those who enjoy legal thrillers and small town atmosphere, it's easy to get caught up in this twisty, character driven series.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance reader's copy. My review is my own.

Bailey has hit his stride with Jason Rich! I fell in love with him with the McMurtrie books. Seems to be getting bette r and better. He might top Grisham... FIGHTING WORDS!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of RICH WATERS in return for my honest review. 

RICH WATERS begins in the aftermath of Book 1 from the Jason Rich series, RICH BLOOD. The same cast of rowdy characters get caught up in another murder case when a young police officer is killed under suspicious circumstances. Jason Rich finds himself involved in his second criminal case, where saving his family means defending a client he can’t trust.

💭 I could totally see this series as a TV show! Small southern Alabama town, gritty characters, and the contrast between beautiful lake houses and a local meth empire (think Ozark!)

I loved the character development in this one! My favourites are his security guards - the three Tonidandel brothers - fearlessly savage ex-military men with secret hearts of gold.

I didn’t love this plot as much as the first book. It was more about drug dealers, blackmail, and corrupt cops… but that’s just a me problem! The ending was 👍 and I can’t wait for Book 3.

Read this if you like…
🕵️‍♂️ Amateur detectives 
👨‍⚖️ Courtroom dramas
💪 Rough but loveable supporting characters 
🎥 Primal Fear
🏃‍♂️ Fast paced reads

If you like legal thrillers this is a good book just like his 1st! Looking forward to reading more of his books!
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this!

Jason Rich Defends Another Slam Dunk Case

Trey Cowan is drunk and drinking at a restaurant bar. He was an outstanding as a high school quarterback, when his leg failed him. He recently tried out for the Birmingham Barons baseball team but did not make it. He currently works a very low-level job for the city. Deputy Flowers, his friend and favorite receiver in high school, arrives and sits next to him. Flowers asks him to make a delivery for Tyson Cade, the local drug king pin. When Cowan declines, Flowers needles him until Cowan finally takes a swing at him and yells that he will kill him. Flowers hauls him outside where the tells Cowan that he either makes the delivery for Cade and receive $2,500 or go to jail. Cowan in desperate need for money agrees to do it. Cowan walks home drunk and then decides to sleep over at his mother’s home. Since she lives in a rough neighborhood, he takes his shotgun with him. Shortly after midnight, Deputy Flowers is shot twice in his chest from a shotgun. The location is about a mile from Cowan’s mother’s home. There is evidence that ties the shotgun found in Cowan’s truck to the crime scene. From this murder, this novel proceeds.

The main storyline consists of several threads. As in the previous novel, Cade has leverage over Rich and coerces him into defending Cowan, who then refuses to tell Rich anything at all. So, besides trying to find out what happened, he has no clue where to focus his investigatory efforts. Second, a strange event starts in the sheriff’s office. Third, the two closest persons to Rich, Nola Waters, his ward and niece, and Chase Wittschen, his love interest, fall back hard into drug use orchestrated by Cade. While they want nothing to do with Rich, he tries to help them to become clean and beat their addictions. Also, he tries to remove Cade’s threat to turn them in for their participation in his drug trade. There are so many ways that things can go wrong and tragically do. My interest was captured quickly. As Rich tries to make progress in this Gordian Knot of a case and in his personal life, my interest stayed locked into this novel.

There is extensive material on Rich’s character. His own alcohol dependance is strongly challenged by this difficult case and, especially, when the lives of his ward and girlfriend go south. Rich’s juggling trying to help them, keeping himself sober, and keeping his law license provides much insight into the Rich character. For me, Rich is a fully rounded character. There is a supporting B-storyline between Rich’s partner, Izzy, and his investigator, Harry, that enrichened my reading enjoyment of this novel. These storylines are well woven into the main storyline.

For the aspects of a novel that can turn off some readers, there is one quick but not romantic intimate scene. There is a noticeable amount of vulgar, rude, and impious language. These aspects did not raise to the level that caused concern for me. Violence is described after the fact and as it occurs, so there is some edginess from the violence. Lastly, this is the second novel in this series, you should be able to read this novel first as I did not see anything unexplained or needed information from the first novel.

Like the first novel in this series, there are many interacting threads that keep my interest. There even is a surprise character in this novel. On the other side, the ending is the opposite of a “they lived happily ever after” ending. Also, having grown up when watching pre-1960 movies and TV were only available, I am used to the villain receives his or her just deserts. While there are many good reasons that this trope is not followed, it both is and isn’t in this novel. The “isn’t” occurs in the epilogue. Even though it wasn’t that serious, it was the last image from the novel and left me with a bad taste. Despite this unresolved issue, I did enjoy reading this novel. I am looking forward to reading future novels by this author. I have read two advanced reading copies and two purchases by this author. I have purchased four other previous novels. So, even with my issue, I still recommend reading this novel. Compared to the three novels, this one is not quite the same quality. I rate this novel with four stars.

I received a free prepublication e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based only on my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

I loved "Rich Waters" as much as "Rich Blood" and enjoyed how the author continued the story of Jason, his family, friends, enemies and legal troubles. I particularly enjoyed the Tonidandel brothers and their story. Bailey has created colorful and real characters you won't forget! This book resonates with anyone who lives in or appreciates ALabama and the people, places, and love of football. Kudos to Bob Bailey who kept me turning the pages. I can't wait to read his next book!

A well plotted, fast paced and gripping story. A tightly knitted plot that kept on the edge and guessing.
It's part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Rich Waters by R. Bailey, published by Thomas & Mercer is the second book in the Jason Rich Series. Every book can be read as a stand-alone. For best reading experience I recommend to read the books in order. The previous book is Rich Blood.
The story picks up soon after the previous book was left off.
Jason is back in Alabama for good and he wants to start over, leave his past behind. Easier said than done when a murder case needs his attention and his investigative skills.
A fast paced story, complex, full of unexpected twist and turns that had me holding my breath. Suspenseful, rich, excellent written and literally unputdownable, a fantastic read, 5 stars.

I received an ARC through Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story starts with Jason waiting for the jury to reach a verdict on his latest case. The verdict comes in and Jason's client has been awarded $25 million. This a big win for Jason. He could not foresee that his next case was to defend an individual accused of murdering a cop.

The story relays the interaction between Kelly, the police officer and Trey the former high school star athelete. Kelly was even one of the individuals that he yhrough passes to. Trey by all accounts had a bright future ahead of him, but a tackle in his last game took it all away. Instead of going to college and then becoming an NFL star, he was living his life working a menial job and having hopes of maybe becoming a professional baseball player. Trey was in a bar drinking when Kelly came in. Kelly soon rubbed in that Trey's tryout with a baseball team did not go well. As a result Trey pused Kelly. As trey was leaving, he threatened to kill Kelly. As it so happened, Kelly was murdered that night and Trey was arrested the next day.

Jason was approached by an individual who wanted Jason to defend Trey. Jason's 1st answer was o, but this individual told Trey he didn't have any choice if he didn't want something to happen. Jason wound up taking the case, but as he started looking into it, there were forces outside that wanted to make sure that Trey was convicted. The time for the trial arrives and it is time for Jason to put on his defense. Unfortunately for Jason, things looked bleak. There were events that happenned that put a bullseye on Jason. Just before the end of the trial, Jason received a text to come to a location immediately.

To discover how the jury handled the verdict, what events would put as roadblocks in Jason's search for the truth, what he discovered as a result of the text and who was the individual that force Jason to take the case, then you need to read this book. It is a definite winner.

Book Review: Rich Waters (Jason Rich #2) by Robert Bailey
Published by Thomas & Mercer, June 20, 2023

★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars)

One of the first offerings in Prime Reading's October 2016 debut was Robert Bailey's legal thriller, "The Professor" (2014) (McMurtrie and Drake, #1), in which readers get to meet star protagonist Professor Thomas Jackson McMurtrie "...who literally wrote the book on evidence in the state of Alabama".

In subsequent "McMurtrie and Drake" books, we also get acquainted with ex-All American linebacker, Bocephus Aurelius Haynes, Esq., who gets his own legal thriller series, along with "The General", Giles County, TN, DA Helen Evangeline Lewis.

The pair, together with "The Professor", remain staples, in thought or in deed, in the universe of Robert Bailey's novels.

I should mention I've read all his books. Great reads!

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// Rich Waters (Jason Rich #2) by Robert Bailey (2023) //

// “In an Accident? Get Rich!!” //

Beckon the highway ad signs of the "billboard lawyer", littered across Alabama and Tennessee.

They all belong to 37-year-old personal injury attorney Jason Rich, multimillionaire, alcoholic, easy-going son of venerable trial lawyer Lucas Rich, student of "The Professor" Tom McMurtrie, and friend of 30-year veteran defense attorney Bo Haynes.

Jason Rich has never spent a day litigating in court, making his fortune settling his cases pre-trial.

Except for that one time. Recently. When he debuts in court as a criminal defense attorney, and, against all odds, successfully gets his sister accused of murder, acquitted.

It was then that the billboard lawyer resolves to clean up his act.

Give up his vices, lead a better life, and be a trial lawyer in the footsteps of his father.

Fortune obliges. But in a cruel way.

In his second case as defense attorney, Jason Rich is coerced by the local drug lord to take on the impossible defense of a young man accused of killing a police officer. An open-and-shut case if ever there was one, in a conservative Southern community where cops are raised on pedestals.

It turns out inexplicably that the murdered cop was himself under the payroll of the drug lord. Possibly along with others in local law enforcement and the justice system.

And same drug lord has under his thumb, Jason's closest loved ones.

Rich finds himself framed, jailed. Then bailed.

With no one else to trust, he places himself under the armed protection of the Tonidandels, all decorated military veterans, led by Colonel Satch Tonidandel (ret'd), and his younger brothers, themselves, both Captains...

-------

Colorful. That Jason Rich is.

But, thus far, he simply lacks the charisma and gravitas of Bailey's compelling protagonists Tom McMurtrie and Bo Haynes.

Also, in this new legal thriller series, conspicuously absent are those palpable, thundering, courtroom drama moments we've seen in prior books.

However, all that, I feel, is about to change.

Overall, another winner from Robert Bailey!

Review based on an advance reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.

Robert Bailey's Rich Waters continues the story about Jason Rich, a high-profile torts attorney who is forced into taking a criminal defense case for Trey Cowan. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. I liked the courtroom drama (mostly at the end).

I would consider this book to be fairly decent, plot-wise and legal-wise. Bailey's writing style is fast-paced and engaging, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. He does an excellent job of building tension and suspense throughout the book. The ending was satisfying except for the situation with Nola, who I hated.

The main issues that I had were in the realm of the writing. Different authors of course have different styles, but it is my opinion that Robert Bailey's book needed some work. I think the dialogue was too on-the-nose bordering unrealistic. He need to learn the art of subtext in dialogue. And like his dialogue, his characters tended to be too on-the-nose as well.

#netgalley