Lone Witness

by Rachel Dylan

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers

Christian

Pub Date 01 May 2018

I am reviewing a copy of Lone Witness through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

For those of you who are a fan of Christian Suspense and want a story full of intrigue I definitely recommend Lone Witness…

Sophie Dawson’s first job as a prosecutor in the white collar division of the Fulton D.A’s office is building a case against Local Bank Employees who seem to be cheating their clients. Circumstances beyond her control though leave her the only witness to a double homicide and end up turning her life upside down.

Sophie is not one to back down, but the bank case she is on seems to grow more complicated by the day and the gang will do anything to stop her from testifying. Sophie is determined to stand for what’s right, but is Cooper willing to do the same?

Find out in Lone Witness.

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Rachel Dylan has written a thoughtful legal thriller with a bit of romance thrown in to make life interesting for the protagonist and her father’s choice for a bodyguard.

Sophie Dawson is an Assistant District Attorney for the Fulton County (Atlanta, GA) District Attorney’s office. After receiving a promotion from the Criminal Division to the White Crimes Division, she finds herself on two sides of the law — serving as the prosecutor for a case involving an investment banker overcharging of his clients and serving as the lone witness at a late night convenience store double homicide. The catch — both cases could end up with her being killed by the respective defendants.

The story is well-written and easily held this reader’s interest. If produced as a movie it would be rated PG13 — because of violence. The violence is not excessive, but occurs throughout the book. My major complaint was the nature of the romance — the protagonist is determined to change the mind of her bodyguard who, given his family of origin, has no interest in pursuing romance at this point of his life. The language chosen by the author almost makes one believe it is acceptable to aggressively stalk an unwanted suitor. At least as presented in the book, though maybe suitable for a romance novel, this reader felt that the behavior was inappropriate for a Christian desiring to set an example for others whether as the character of a book or in real life.

For the reader looking an exciting escape from life or just a good clean thriller, not cluttered with gore and sex, Lone Witness would fill the bill. Having a place in both the public library and the church library; this book would satisfy readers coming from many directions.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

This is book two in a courtroom drama series. Sophie is a hardworking prosecutor who accidentally ends up on the other side of the legal system after she witnesses a double homicide at a convenience store. She has just started work on an important bank fraud case and is determined that the fact she is the lone witness to the murders won’t stop her from working on this important case even though she has identified one of the shooters as the brother of a notorious gang lord. Her (rich) father is worried and hires Cooper to keep an eye on her and it’s a good thing that he does as she becomes a target. But is she a target because of the murders or because of her case? You’ll have to read the book to find out. The developing relationship between Sophie and Cooper is just an plus to a good story.

I received a copy of this book through Net Galley.

I was sucked into this story right from the beginning. After a long day at work Sophie stops at a store to pick up some food and ends up witnessing a double murder. Shortly after this she begins to receive threats on her life so her father hires Cooper to protect her while the case goes to trial. As an assistant district attorney it is possible that Sophie may have some other enemies, it is up to Cooper and his team to keep her safe and try to figure out who is really behind the threats. I was intrigued to see what was going to happen and find out what was really going on. I did not want to put the book down.

There are multiple mysteries and storylines going on throughout that could have almost been three separate stories, but they are interweaved in a way that makes it feel like one full real life possible story. Ms. Dylan did a wonderful job of keeping me in the dark about certain characters, I thought I knew who was working for who but it ended up taking turns I was never expecting. This was definitely much more suspense-filled than a romance story, but the romance added to the story and did not distract you.

The two main characters are Cooper and Sophie. Sophie learns that being a witness is much different than being the prosecutor, but she handles it with courage in order to seek justice for the victims. Because of past experiences Cooper has set up some boundaries for his life, he knows that being around Sophie may get him wanting to break his own rules but he is determined to keep their working relationship professional. However the longer he spends with Sophie he finds himself more attracted to her. Can he overcome his fears that caused him set these boundaries? I really liked both of these characters, individually they were two strong individuals but together they created a force that could overcome what was thrown at them. I wasn’t a huge fan of defense attorney Ashley, I just couldn’t cheer for her side of the case, but I was very proud the step she took at the end. I did think the storyline of her and Patrick’s interactions after the case didn’t really fit in with the story by that point, however it was nice to get positive closure with them.

Even though this story is book 2 in the series, it can easily be followed without reading the previous book. I loved this book! The mystery keep me intrigued, had twists I never saw coming, characters that had me rooting for them, and suspense that had me on the edge of my seat. If you are into suspense books, I highly recommend giving this one a try.

This was a very intense, but very interesting story. The main characters were portrayed in a way that made you care about them and what happened to them. Prosecutor Sophie Dawson is a "workhorse". She stays late at her job and often skips eating. One fateful night she leaves work late, stops at a convenience store for a junk food snack and unwittingly witnesses a double murder. Being the only witness, she is in danger. The culprit is the brother of a notorious gang leader in the Atlanta area. Attempts on her life begin and she is assigned a body guard, Cooper Knight, by her father. Another case she is working on for her job also entails danger so it's always a guess at where the danger is coming from.
This will keep you wondering, wavering back and forth, and dish out some surprises in the end. Throw in a little romance, faith testing and danger and find the makings for a very satisfying read.
Although it's book #2 in the Atlanta Justice series it can be read alone. But I highly recommend book #1, Deadly Proof, as an excellent read also.
I received an ebook copy from the publisher/author through Netgalley but was not required to write a review.

Fulton County prosecutor Sophie Dawson works for the love of the job. She believes in justice for the little man—especially when the perpetrators are corporations that betray the trust of their investors. Her new position in the White Collar Crime Unit in Atlanta, GA gives her the perfect place to follow her passion.

On her way home from work one night, she becomes the lone witness to a double homicide at a convenience store. When she discovers that the perpetrator she identifies in a police lineup is the younger brother of a notorious gang leader, a niggle of worry burrows its way into her mind.

Her sometimes overprotective dad goes behind her back and hires Cooper King, former police officer and current PI, to keep an eye on her and step in if it looks as if someone might want to harm Sophie.

Sophie thinks no one would harm her—after all, with a high-profile case, the defendant wouldn’t want to bring negative attention to himself. But the danger escalates from threatening letters to a personal attack.

Will she make it to the trail in one piece? And will Cooper be able to protect her and help her figure out who wants to kill her before they succeed?

Lone Witness ( Atlanta Justice #2 )
By: Rachel Dylan
Lone Witness is book two in Atlanta Justice Series. If you love a good suspense then you will love Lone Witness. This is a page turner and you will not want to put it down. Action, twist, and turns throughout the story that will keep you guessing till the end. Be sure and get your copy today.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A great addition to the Atlanta Justice series. I’m anxiously awaiting the 3rd book now. In this one we get to know Sophie and Cooper better, but still see Landon, Noah, Kate and Mia as well as some others. I was right on not trusting one of the characters, but wrong on another. A few I wasn’t sure on were also made clear by the end. In this one Sophie is in the wrong spot and the wrong time and is the sole witness to a double homicide. She’s also working on another case that is heating up. Who is behind the attempts to scare or harm her? Good plot, with enough action to keep the pages turning, and all nicely wrapped up by the end of the book. If you haven’t read Deadly Proof, pick that one up as well as this one. Although it’s a series, you don’t have to read them in order, they can stand on their own.
I received an advanced copy from Net Galley. This review and thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a favorable review.

"Tonight she was not here as a prosecutor, but as a witness."

When senior assistant district attorney Sophie Dawson becomes an eyewitness to a double homicide, she quickly experiences what it is like to be under the microscope of an aggressive defense lawyer, not to mention the fact, that the accused is the little brother of a notorious Atlanta gang leader. Forced to divide her attention between preparing to witness and pressing forward with her own high profile White Collar Crimes Unit case, Sophie finds herself directly in the cross hairs of some very dangerous criminals.

"You have a huge target on your back. And Juan Wade doesn't miss . . . . . "

Cooper Knight, co-owner of a private security firm, has been employed by Sophie's father to shadow his daughter, after it becomes apparent that someone associated with her case load is threatening Sophie with bodily harm. The lovely blond attorney is surprised when Cooper makes his presence known and little miffed that her father has intervened, but it's not long before Sophie is thankful for Cooper's presence; the threats against her safety suddenly escalating, as her court date draws near. They have met in the past, having mutual friends, but something about this time seems different, and a lot more interesting.

With its impressive legal savvy and fast paced scene changes, Dylan's readers are sure to be impressed. . . . .especially with the ending.

I received a copy of this book from the author through Net Galley. The opinions stated are entirely my own.

Great legal suspense! Loved the plot and the main characters. Had a few twists to tease the readers. Highly recommended!

This is the second book in the Atlanta Justice series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. The strength or highlight of this book for me was in the courtroom details. It was fascinating to see how the lawyer would try to trip up a witness…even when that witness was a prosecutor herself and perhaps should have seen what was happening. I enjoyed the twists and turns, ups and downs of the ongoing cases.
Sophie Dawson is heading home from work when she is a witness to two murders. Even though she’s a prosecutor who has dealt with gangs before, she doesn’t comprehend the danger she is in as the sole witness. While waiting to testify at one trial, she is trying to prepare a case for another trial against a banker who may have been cheating his clients. The high profile nature of the one trial masks the potential dangers in the second. Will Sophie and her security guard, Cooper, be able to sort things out before it’s too late?
The romance between Sophie and Cooper is predictable and doesn’t get a lot of development. It wasn’t really the focus of the book so it didn’t bother me too much. I was actually more intrigued by Patrick and Ashley and would enjoy reading more about them in future books.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This is book two in the Atlanta Justice series. I loved this book and all of the characters. My problem is that it is a $15 book and I have found that my customers are not buying the more expensive books. Customers come in here and want the book but when they find out the price, they do not buy it. With todays economy, it is hard to sell the more expensive books

Lone Witness is the second book in the Atlanta Justice series. Lone Witness is inspirational suspense meets legal drama, and features two cases that become deadly and one woman who dares to stand and fight for justice.

Sophie Dawson is devoted to finding justice for those who can’t fight for themselves, and a recent career move into white-collar crime as a prosecutor gives her the opportunity to do just that. But a late-night snack stop turns into a nightmare when she witnesses the murder of two people. Sophie must straddle both sides of the courtroom, as a witness and as prosecutor, as she juggles being a key witness in the shooting case and her own investigation into a money theft scheme. When her life is threatened, she must rely on private security guard Cooper Knight to keep her safe - even if spending more time with Cooper endangers her heart.

I really enjoyed all the legal aspects of Lone Witness. It was interesting to see duel sides of the legal justice system as Sophie balances being both a prosecutor and a witness. The preparation and investigation that is involved in both roles is thrilling and informative. I enjoyed the legal techniques and strategies employed. I also enjoyed the many perspectives that are portrayed in the story. The chapters are narrated from the perspectives of multiple characters. Naturally, Sophie’s perspective, as a key character, dominates, but Cooper’s perspective is also shared, as are the perspectives of the prosecutor and defending lawyer involved in the murder case.

While I enjoyed the legal drama and the suspense it brought to the plot, I didn’t enjoy the romance nor the overall writing style of Lone Witness. The writing style was very formal and stilted. It felt like everything was being told to the reader instead of shown, and it left me feeling distanced from both the story and the characters. I also felt ambivalent about the romance. It seemed so sudden, Sophie’s feelings for Cooper and vice versa. One moment they are distance acquaintances and the next they are talking about creating a family and setting expectations around a possible relationship. While I do appreciate situations where the people involved are open and honest about their feelings, it just seemed a quick jump. Didn’t they want to just spend some time together first? Maybe chat about their favourite things, laugh over a shared joke, something that would give them a connection other than a supposed chemistry? While Cooper’s doubts do slow the progression of their relationship down, and the focus does remain on the action and unfolding drama of the court and investigation cases, I never truly became invested in Cooper and Sophie’s relationship.

While Lone Witness it is the second book in the Atlanta Justice series, both books are stand-alones and can be read independently. I recommend Lone Witness to readers who enjoy legal suspense, with a touch of romance and plenty of life-threatening drama.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Sophie a prosecutor , loving her job, even though it usually ended up late at night. Stopping at a convince store, she ends up being a witness to a double homicide, and gang related. Special prosecutor Patrick has been assigned to the case. Her father hires a bodyguard, which didn’t please her, and now getting threathing letters. Everything escalated with the trial, as does the readers, the tense plot, and will there be a guilty verdict, and is Sophie keep safe. A story that grabs you, the plot flows, and questions need answers, very well written.
Given ARC by Net Galley, Bethany House for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of Lone Witness by Rachel Dylan and was not disappointed.

Sophie Dawson is a prosecutor who fights to get justice for those who cannot or will not speak for themselves, usually (but not always) going up against corporations. Among her cases at the moment is one against a bank CEO for embezzlement. One night after work she decides to stop at the convenience store to pick up some snacks before heading home to do more work. While in the store she witnesses a robbery turned murder. The next day she finds out that the perpetrator is the brother of a local gang leader and immediately realizes that this is not going to be what she is used to dealing with.
Cooper Knight is ex law enforcement who now runs a security firm with his 2 best friends. When Randall Dawson called him and asked him to keep his daughter safe in light of the events that just happened Cooper was happy to do it although he was thought maybe he was being overprotective.
But it would turn out that Sophie needed a guardian angel, as Sophie prepares for her embezzlement case and to be a witness in the robbery/homicide case Sophie and Cooper will need to figure out who keeps trying to kill her.

This was a fantastic edge of your seat story. I thought I knew where it was going but was surprised more than once and especially at the end. Thank you Ms. Dylan for the opportunity to participate in this read and review.

This book will keep you guessing until the very end! I really loved the whole story, especially because honestly, it was more like three stories all in one book. I loved how intricate the whole book was and how so many different events happened practically simultaneously. I don't know how Dylan kept it all straight, but it made for an amazing read.

I loved Sophie. There were so many parts of her to love. She was a very hard worker and very deliberate and determined. I love what a good friend and daughter she was too. I loved Cooper too. He isn't my new favorite hero, but I did like his protective qualities and how kind he was to Sophie.

I really love the friendship between the three women. I don't have that in my life so it is fun to read about it and live vicariously. I like the camaraderie between the men too. It is nice to read about men who have good healthy relationships.

This book is so full of intrigue, adventure, suspense, and more that it was a fast read because I just couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I loved every aspect of the book and cannot wait to see what Dylan puts Mia through in book 3!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

3 1/2
Lone Witness basic story is interesting but gets lost in the details of the Legal, to many points of views and the long drawn out romance. Sophie Dawson is beautiful, rich, smart and tells it like it is. She works and in this book you read that she works and works and works and really never stops working. Yet Sophie wants to be a mother more than anything she just hasn't met the right guy. Cooper her Body guard who she know though mutual friends. He is her knight in shinning armor but he refuses to have any romantic interest in her because of his abusive past. Which he makes very clear to her many many times.
Sophie is very forward to the point if I was a guy I would run the other direction.
The have quite prayers in their heads in the book. The story drags along about 1\2 though the book to the point this read was flipping pages to the end of the story.
Which has the very typical Happily Ever After.

The story did dragged. The characters didn't really connect for this reader. The romance was sweet but also seem forced.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advance Copy of Lone Witness by Rachel Dylan

If you enjoy legal romantic suspense, you'll love Lone Witness. Sophie Dawson is a prosecutor of white crimes and is working on a case against a local bank employee. As the title suggests, she is also the sole witness to a double homicide. As Sophie digs deeper into the bank case, and the double homicide case gets closer to trial, she must put her trust in Cooper to keep her safe and determine who is targeting her.

Cooper Knight must keep Sophie safe and alive to testify when the double homicide case comes to trial. As Sophie is attacked and shot at, he decides to bring her under protective custody.

Lone Witness is book two in Rachel Dylan's series, but you don't need to read them in order. The action keeps you on the edge of your seat as the courtroom drama keeps you turning the pages. The court scenes and procedures are realistic as Dylan is a practicing attorney.

LONE WITNESS by RACHEL DYLAN is a legal drama, full of suspense, with a good dose of romance and a strong Christian message.
Sophie Dawson is a prosecutor with the White Collar Crime Unit of the Fulton County District Attorney's Office. On her way home from work late one evening, she stops at a Quick-Stop to get a snack, and witnesses a double homicide. She sees the shooter clearly. The shooter turns out to be the little brother of one of the most vicious gang bosses in Atlanta. Because of the danger involved, her father employs Cooper Knight, a private investigator with a law enforcement background, to protect Sophie.
There are many twists and turns in the story, with things not always being what they seem. Sophie is not sure who to trust, especially when she has a few very narrow escapes.
There is much drama in the courtroom which is so well described, the characters are very real, and it is altogether a most enjoyable read. It is the first book I have read by this author and it most certainly will not be the last!

This is a 3.5 rating for me really.
Loved the suspense part. The plot was good.
Sophie is a prosecutor who has witnessed a double homicide. The culprit however is the younger brother of a gangster. Suddenly Sophie's life is in danger .When she gets multiple attacks nobody is sure who is after her. She is after all a prosecutor who has enemies. Her father is not taking chances and has hired Cooper to keep her safe. But Cooper has feelings for her. Will it interfere with his job?
What about the case of Shelton and the bank? Is there something more going on? Why does it look like her boss does not want the case to go to trial.?
I gave this a 3.5 because I felt the romance plot was not fully developed. Didn't really get invested in their love life enough to be rooting for it. And I started reading this book with the expectation that it was a romance book.
Will definitely read this author again because I love legal thrillers. This time my expectations will be more for the suspense than the romance.