by Andrea Renee Cox

When I saw the endorsement on the front cover of this book, I knew I wanted to read it. How could I not when it’s touted to “rival a John Grisham novel”?

I wish I had a bunch of positive things to say about this book, but I cannot pretend I enjoyed it. This is an extremely difficult review to write, because I dislike being negative about any author’s hard work. I know how many hours and emotions and commitment go into writing a novel, and I appreciate the passion and effort and time that go into every book I read, even those that weren’t a good fit for my reading taste.

Warning: There are plot spoilers ahead.

Not two chapters in, I was disappointed by the predictability of this story. That trend continued throughout, only truly surprising me twice in over 300 pages. The plot, which had great potential, seemed simplistic with not much suspense or action driving it.

The inconsistencies in three of the four POV characters made them difficult to root for. I wasn’t sure if Kate was a rookie lawyer or seasoned. She seemed to have earned a respectable and accomplished reputation, yet she was so naïve, unpracticed, and emotional that it seemed like this was her first case. She also claimed to have depression, but there were no signs in her thoughts or actions to prove it. Ethan claimed to be leveraging his friendship with Kate to win the case, but he waffled on remaining her friend or using her throughout the entire book. Landon claimed to be most concerned about Kate’s safety, but he was quick to relent on his normal security protocols when she asked him to. That behavior made me question whether or not he was actually an Army Ranger in his past. Those guys have to be decisive and in control, but the Landon I got to know throughout the story was weak and confused and not able to stand up to his client to do what was in her best interest where her safety was concerned.

Nicole was the strongest of the four POV characters, and I don’t have much complaint about her, except that she was barely given any page time for how strong a character she was. Were she the lead, I would have enjoyed this story much better, because she was a gal I could get behind and cheer for. She had strength and a great moral code, yet still had doubts about her abilities that she fought to overcome. Nicole was my favorite part of this book and the only completely positive aspect of it for me.

Since this book has been compared to John Grisham’s, his were what I weighed it against. This story fell flat for me, after having read over a dozen of Grisham’s. Deadly Proof was predictable and had major inconsistencies. About half of the book was repeated information. For example, Landon had a conversation about security with Cooper, then in the very next scene, Landon conveyed the same information (nearly word for word) to Kate. This type of thing happened over and over again. Another thing that really bothered me was how slow the legal side of the story was. Eighty percent was focused on the discovery phase and the junk documents that were handed over. There were inconsistencies on who the client was. Most of the time, it was a class-action suit. On several occasions, though, Kate suddenly began talking about how her client was a single woman rather than the earlier stated masses. I understand they were beginning the bellwether trials with only one case in order to see if they could further pursue a class-action suit, but even after that was decided, Kate talked about her clients being both the entire group affected by the medication and the widow whose case was up first. Shouldn’t she know which client or clients she was fighting for?

Why didn’t Kate ever include any of the other lawyers on the committee for which she wanted to be named lead counselor? I didn’t understand why this committee was even necessary if Kate never intended to be a team player. That made her seem hypocritical, by the way, considering she demanded all her associates to be team players when she, in fact, was not one herself. What happened to the trial? There never was one. I still don’t understand that, after having finished the book. Also, why was the bad guy willing to kill in the early chapters, then chose to use petty harassment throughout the rest of the book? It seemed like two different MOs to me, which made it appear like there were two different “enforcers,” which I knew from the beginning was incorrect due to the predictability I already mentioned. It turned out to merely be another inconsistency.

Due to all of the above, plus more, this book was hard for me to invest my emotions or time into. When compared to a Grisham novel, this book was significantly less complex and the characters drastically less developed. The overall presentation was belittling to the reader. An example is that several times supposedly intelligent characters asked really dumb questions simply to allow the lead to explain legal terms that anyone who had been on a jury, read a Grisham novel, or seen an episode of Law and Order would already know. Other times, legal terminology was used ad nauseam, which only served to make me feel talked down to rather than invited into the story. Why should I, the reader, be held at arm’s length or even looked down upon simply because I haven’t gone to law school? I’ve read enough legal thrillers and seen enough courtroom dramas to know what litigation, discovery, and bellwether trials are.

Even the faith thread was weak to me. It seemed to only be drawn upon when characters were desperate, yet the characters were then able to solve their own problems without relying on God. I really struggled to understand how the faith was intertwined with the core of who the characters were or the problems they faced.

As you can imagine, this book was a complete miss for me. I won’t be continuing the series, and I’m not eager to attempt another Dylan book. I think I’ll reread a few of my favorites of John Grisham’s instead.

That being said, I am more disappointed than anything about this book. It had an interesting back cover copy, an intriguing cover, and great endorsements. I was really looking forward to it and was hopeful about finding a new favorite legal suspense writer to follow. I’m always on the lookout for good quality books in that genre, because it is one I’ve enjoyed and been fascinated with since I was about twelve years old. That’s why I wanted to give this one a try. I had no idea that I would come away from it feeling like I’d wasted my time. I guess I’m back on the hunt for more quality legal thrillers.

I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, authors, and sites like Netgalley, Litfuse Publicity Group, and Blogging for Books. They do not require me to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

A whirlwind of danger and romance! This is a great read, that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

*Received this book from NetGalley for my honest review*

Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan is the first book in an exciting new series. Kate is the lead counsel on a case against a big pharmaceutical company. But things are not what they seem in this case. The company is trying to preserve their new drug and are covering things up. Then a witness dies and the stakes are raised even higher. Kate brings in Landon James, a private investigator, to look into the case. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Dylan pens a legal thriller in a new contemporary romantic suspense series set in Atlanta.

In Deadly Proof, lawyer Kate Sullivan goes after a pharmaceutical company when a whistleblower dies, refusing to put her ethics aside as she fights for justice. Every step she takes to uncover the truth in the corporate cover-up, puts her life in more danger. Her opposing counsel is a friend from law school, providing drama and tension in the courtroom battle. Former Army Ranger Landon James, works as a private investigator for Kate in tracking down the whistleblower’s allegations.

The more time they spend together on the case, the more their relationship grows. The attraction between Landon and Kate moves very slowly, then quite rapidly. At the same time, the danger grows as they face an enemy who will go to any length to stop the lawsuit, even murder. Will they get justice for those affected by the pharmaceutical company’s dangerous drug before one of them is gravely injured?

Dylan pens a fast-paced legal thriller that grabs the reader early and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the final page. Forgiveness is a central theme. Landon lives a life filled with regret; he gave up on God. Kate, having gained her own forgiveness for her past, prays for him and encourages him to forgive himself. While the book is part of the Atlanta Justice series, there was little in the book that reflects its Atlanta or southern setting.

It's a well-written, compelling story, that gripped my attention from the frist page. Dylan knows the legal world from within and that made the story even more real. I'm looking forward the the sequel in this series and hope there will follow a lot more books of her!

Deadly Proof is the first book by Rachel Dylan that I have read but I'm looking forward to reading many more. I enjoy a good legal thriller and that's exactly what I got with Deadly Proof. After reading the book and then looking the author up I'm pretty sure I know why it was so good. Rachel Dylan is an experienced attorney and I think that lends to the authenticity of her story.

The legal case involved is that of Mason Pharmaceutical knowingly causing the death of many people by allowing a drug to come to market when the adverse side effects were known to the company but hidden from the public. It's a class action lawsuit and Kate Sullivan has been appointed as the lead counsel to prosecute the case.

There's a lot at stake for everyone involved. Mason Pharmaceutical could lose millions in revenue and the directors seem to be willing to go to any lengths to avoid that. Kate's good friend and fellow lawyer, Ethan Black, has been retained to represent Mason Pharmaceutical. He quickly finds himself wondering just how far he's willing to bend the rules to win this case. Meanwhile people are dying, disappearing, and being threatened. Is Kate safe? Probably not but former Army Ranger turned P.I. Landon James along with his friends Cooper and Noah, are bound and determined to see that she survives the threats.

This is a very quick read because the action and intrigue is non-stop. It's a story that is written where you think that you are being told about what is happening from both perspectives, but look out because there's a twist at the end that I didn't see coming.

Deadly Proof is book one in the Atlanta Justice series. I took a peak at the next book in the series and it looks like the main characters in this series are going to be the men, Landon, Cooper, and Noah. Book two is Cooper's story. It seems as if the series can be read as stand alone novels but we'll have to wait and see for sure. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series and if you are a fan of legal thrillers this should be your cup of tea as well.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate this review.

If you enjoy a read with you heart in your throat, this one will probably do it. You never knew when the next shoe would drop, and just when you feel safe, boom or grab. People are murdered or just disappear, and why, greed seems to be the answer here.
The author kept me on my toes, and I felt like I was reading something that was in the paper, there is often a lawsuit against a drug company, and what drug doesn’t seem to come with warnings?
Surprises abound right up until the end, never would have guessed what happened, and add to that a bit of romance. A real page-turner here, I wasn’t able to put this one down, I had to know the ending!
I received this book through Lit Fuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

I took a break from reading fiction. A time to cleanse my literary palate. Rachel Dylan's novel was the perfect book to pick up after a brief sabbatical. Her story is sharp, intelligent, and exciting. I'm eager for more from Dylan, and highly recommend Deadly Proof.

I work in the legal field and this was so accurate and interesting. Kate and Landon were thrown together in a high stakes battle for truth and justice. Great book.

“Deadly Proof” is book number one in Rachel Dylan’s series Atlanta Justice. We are introduced to Kate Sullivan who is the counsel for the plaintiff in a lawsuit against a big pharmaceutical company. This is a beginning case for those who have taken a drug for migraine headaches, which is purported to cause terminal brain tumors. The case focuses on one victim in particular, a young girl who, after taking the drug, develops a fatal tumor. Her mother is part of this case. Kate is determined to get justice for those suffering the effects of the drugs and their families.

She is contacted by an informant from inside the big pharma company who tries to help Kate by divulging damaging evidence that the company knew of the dangers of the drug, but went ahead with the development and deployment. After this informant is found dead Kate calls Landon James a private investigator and former Army Ranger to investigate the death. After strange, terrifying things start happening to Kate, Landon calls in his buddies from earlier days to help protect her. Someone on the inside of the law firm is handing information to the defendant’s attorney Ethan, a friend of Kate’s from law school. All evidence points to his collaboration with someone on the inside, but Kate can’t believe that he would stoop to illegal actions to win his case. This novel keeps the reader on the edge of his seat waiting for the next attack on Kate and wondering who is involved with whom in this baffling case.

I really enjoyed reading this thriller. I know it is supposed to be a clean, Christian mystery-thriller, but I tired of the preachy dialogue that was too prevalent throughout the novel. I little goes a long way.

I received a complimentary print review copy of this book from Bethany House publishers and LitFusePublicity.com in return for posting a review.

Deadly Proof

Kate is trying to prove wrong against a drug company but will she be able to stay safe while doing it. A great suspense book and Christian fiction makes it even better. A little romance was added but did not overtake the story line. Very interesting from start to finish, kept me wondering how it was going to end. Some of the characters had a lot of self conflicts with doing the right thing. I did not figure out the bad guys so well written in that aspect. I received an advanced copy of the book thru NetGalley and Lit Fuse.

Not my type of a book. The writing style was good but the story was not gripping. The characters were a bit borinh. I couldn’t get myself to read it alot.

It's been a long, long time since I've read a legal thriller, and Deadly Proof was a good re-introduction to the genre. The pacing seemed just right, as the jeopardy to the characters increased in tandem with how entrenched they became in their position either for the plaintiff or defendant.

The romance between Kate and Noah was simple and sweet. I think a little more initial conflict between them would have enhanced it, but the characters were well developed and their progression from guarding their hearts to vulnerability was nicely done.

I had a good idea who the inside person and mastermind were with the pharmaceutical company, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the resolution. There were many shades of deception among the cast, and I liked that they weren't all strictly good or evil. They had varying motivations with varying degrees of complicity.

While I would've like to have seen a little less dialogue and a little more of the internal workings of the characters' minds, particularly early on, the things I really missed were setting details. Rooms and locations were nondescript. No peek at the furniture, decorating - nothing that would enhance the reader's vision and develop characters. Similarly, the characters didn't - physically - do much. It lacked the personal details that, again, help develop character and bring the scene to life. Just simple things like twirling pens, massaging a neck, biting a lip that humanize characters.

That said, I enjoyed the story. It was a quick, easy read that kept me interested from start to finish.
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Kate Sullivan is a 30-something lawyer who is given the biggest case in her relatively short career: lead counsel on a very big Pharma case involving a class action of families who have lost a member as a result of using a new drug from a global Pharma giant, MPC. Kate's the plaintiff bringing the case against MPC and a college buddy, Ethan, is leading the defence.

We're quickly thrown into the action as an insider (an MPC employee) having conferred with Kate is mysteriously murdered. Kate employs a PI to help her get to the bottom of that case to see if it has anything to do with her much bigger case. Of course it has a whole lot to do with it. Landon, an ex-Army Ranger, is the PI and there are immediate sparks between him and Kate and it's clear their relationship will create fodder for the story's romance angle.

Dylan knows the legal mumbo-jumbo well and I found all this really well handled. She made it sufficiently understandable that I found the more the case moved forward the more interested I was in it and wanted, like Kate, to get to the bottom of it. MPC wouldn't make it easy for her. Increasingly, we come to see that MPC will do anything, or will they? to make sure they don't have to settle the case before going to trial.

I liked how Kate was an intelligent career focused woman and was single. Often in Christian fiction our single female lead is just starting out in life in her twenties. Kate is also a Christian and I liked how Dylan showed her faith and walk with the Lord in the day to day. It was very realistic - we do pray before we go to an important meeting or have a bad guy chasing us. I also enjoyed Landon's struggle with his faith. He felt abandoned by God, a common concern many experience, and Dylan didn't just solve this matter for him. The respect he had for Kate's faith was also lovely to read.

I struggled a little with the romance. It was a bit too melodramatic for my liking. They both had 'history' that kept being referred to that impacted both of their self-confidences but we never really got to understand that history very well. Many reviewers have mentioned they didn't really connect with Kate and Landon and I understand that. Besides being thrown into the action around the case, a lot of their other interactions appeared ... well, melodramatic. Sorry to use it again. I didn't enjoy Landon's tactile approach to Kate ... it appeared a bit smarmy. And unprofessional. You don't stand behind your employer's chair and give her a shoulder massage. The many references to touching, taking his hand, etc got a bit tiresome. As did Landon's "I should have been there for you, Kate" and "I don't deserve a woman like her" ... Yes, the struggle with self-confidence is a good topic to cover but I felt a more experienced author would have dealt with it better so that it came across more sincere and believable.

The ending felt a little contrived as it suddenly happened and was soon wrapped up. I think Dylan needed to give some indication of the rivalry between the key players earlier in the story as I struggled with believing the authenticity of the story's resolution.

But bravo to Rachel Dylan for starting a series that has some real legal cred and I hope we see Kate and Landon further develop their characters in future novels. However, I wonder, if the series will move on to Kate's two girlfriends, also both single and lawyers, and explore cases they're involved in. I'll be keen to read the next instalment.

If you enjoy a good legal case that hums along at a good pace with some good likeable characters then you'll enjoy Deadly Proof.

I received a complimentary copy of Deadly Proof from NetGalley as part of the Litfuse Blog Tour but this had no influence on my review.

pages and pages at a time. I can suspend reality when I read a book. You can write that a psychotic elf sentenced a criminal Santa clause to eleventy-seven years in a coal mine and I will believe you. I do not need you to show me your in-depth knowledge of the criminal and justice system- unless you happen to be a lawyer, and I am hiring to defend me. Then, by all means, let me know all your knowledge and as fast as possible. Here, in this setting, the details only served to drive me to distraction and I was more focused on if the details were indeed correct versus the plot... I am not a christian and do not like to be preached at just because an author is one. It does not really improve or forward the character or plot to constantly flaunt her religion. One or two references are enough. I also would not like it if it constantly refereed to her love of cherry ice cream. Or the color pink. Or anything else. The writing style was okay, but the plot did not really have anything special about it, it really was the typical story, and the ending was just not believable yet you never really know....Overall, I cannot say it was horrible, I just did not like it as much as other books I have read in the genre. I will look for more of the authors books and see her writing style and will update my review because I want to re-read this, and try to focus harder on the plot not the heavy law details.

Deadly Proof is book one from Rachel Dylan's whole new series, Atlanta Justic. This is the first book I have read by this author and it will not be the last. I thought it was pretty good. They mystery and suspense kept me turning the pages. Kate and Landon make a great team. I can not wait to see what will happen in the next installment in this series.

I give Deadly Proof 4 1/2 stars.

Recommended.

I receive this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

This was pretty good. I especially liked how Dylan kept on track with minimal head hopping. We get the viewpoint of the three main characters. Kate Sullivan, her old-time friend from law school, and her private detective who is a former Army Ranger. Really good character development in all three of them.

You are drawn into the story from the very first page, and each page is a turner. However, there is a bit of wordiness, and quite a bit of rehashing points. I don't like that at all because it feels like padding to me, and this is why the book gets 4 stars instead of 5 from me. While some of the padding is interesting, the rehashing is just annoying. Why do authors who get up from there writing have to go back and rehash motives and previous stuff already handled just to explain why a character thinks something or does something? It's like the author is reminding himself/herself what had happened to get the story flowing again after a break. Readers don't take long breaks, so we don't forget from one chapter to the next. Argh!! (Those readers who buy the already published work might not see these things. Don't know because I read the first upload from Netgalley, it wasn't even an ARC.)

Besides those problems, the premise is right in line with John Grissom's best, only this one is steamed with faith and some faith problems especially with Landon (Kate's PI), which are very well interwoven in the story. Another thing done very well is great transitions from one POV to another. You aren't jerked out of the story trying to figure out where you are or whose head you are in. Congrats on that Dylan!

*Received this book from publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Special note to publisher--if you'd just take a little time to edit before upload to Netgalley, it would make our reading life so much easier!!! I'm willing to forgive a few mistakes here and there for indie published work, but come on Bethany, you are a professional! Give us a break! This review has been tweeted and facebooked.

Thoughts:

Inside DEADLY PROOF by Rachel Dylan, we step onto a tightrope between suspense and mystery!

Danger skulks in a case that is as big as any headliner today. Big Pharma and Big Law plan to take down a multidistrict litigation where the cost is plentiful, the clock ticks, the facts are the problem, and the peril of failure thrives within a landmark case.

Meanwhile, Kate Sullivan’s days get longer while her career is reaching new heights as lead counsel undertaking the Mason Pharmaceutical bellwether trials. Kate seeks justice for the victims of a dangerous drug, which this company unleashed, but as more victims are coming forward, a whistleblower enters the picture.

Elle Procter is anxious, scared, and seems to be fighting her own demons, but she is a researcher that holds the frightening facts about more than one drug and the problems. Now, Kate needs the discretion of a private investigator to find out more.

Landon James is still picking up the pieces from his service overseas as an Army Ranger, but he is finding his niche in private investigations. Although he had previous dealings with legal cases, where the priority is about money, he comes a bit wary meeting his newest potential client. However, it doesn’t take Landon long to realize that she lives up to the profile his research projects, and her compassion brings her version of justice from the heart.

As we are falling in love with Landon, he is gathering the facts, and he uncovers that death can be outsourced.

He worries about Kate as his protective instinct locks into gear. She knows enough to be in danger but just not enough to bring in the police, and things are shaping up to where the hunter becomes the prey. His battlefield past is coming back to haunt him as he fears a costly mistake could leave this attorney at death’s door.

Will wrongful death follow them to the courtroom or will this case die before it hits the docket?

***This opinion is my own.***

Preview:

DEADLY PROOF by Rachel Dylan places attorney Kate Sullivan into the hardest case of her career.

In the Mason Pharmaceutical case, the plaintiffs need justice for a wrongful death and a damaging drug, but this one medicine is still on the market. Its growth is on target to reach more patients, but she needs to stop a powerful company from hurting more for the sake of a bulging bottom line. The death of a whistleblower takes this case in another direction and into the company's research and development capabilities.

While Landon James hasn't been a PI for long, his experience as an Army Ranger makes this job the perfect fit. He's hired by a plaintiff's law firm and starts to dig up the buried bits of a Big Pharma player.

Do profits matter much more than patients do within Mason Pharmaceutical? If this is the case, how far will they go to ensure their piece of the pie?

For the sake of this lawyer in his life, he must avoid any appearance of impropriety, but his heart is gathering steam in the wrong direction when she becomes the target!

Kate Sullivan is an attorney representing the families of patients who died of brain tumors caused by the drug Celix. When she is named lead counsel strange things start happening to her, she feels like she is being followed and someone slashes her tires. So she hires private investigator, Landon James, to look into the drug company after one employee tips her off that it may be bigger than just one drug.

I like that Landon takes Kate's security seriously and warns her to take precautions, as well as bringing in his friends to help him out. Landon is an ex-Army Ranger, he is haunted by what happened on his last tour, he blames himself and believes that God abandoned him.

I really didn't like Ethan, who went to law school with Kate, he is representing the pharmaceutical and is unafraid to try and use their "friendship" to his advantage.

Kate is my favorite, she believes in what she is doing and wants to help the victims that she represents. She is courageous, and refuses to back down in the face of danger. She has her own struggles, but her faith is strong. I like how she is able to keep her head in the moment when things get crazy.

Overall this was an entertaining read, with a tension filled plot, and several twists. I liked Kate and Landon, they have great interaction as they get to know each other and work towards a resolution.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

In the first couple of chapters, there were four different point-of-view characters which I didn't particularly like because I couldn't get into the characters. Each POV was also short making it harder to delve into any one character or scene. They got a little longer further into the book but it took a while before I could actually relate to the characters because I wasn't following any one character for a substantial period of time.