This book had been on my to be read list for quite a while, I am so glad I picked it up to complete. One of the best court case coverages I have read, including Grisham. The sensitive nature of gays was done well with good taste.
I thank Clink Publishing and NetGalley for my opportunity to read. Well deserved 5 star read.

In Defense of an Other by Grace Mead

Brief Summary: Matthew Durrant, an early career lawyer, is exploring his attraction to other men and decides to visit a gay bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He spends the night talking to another man and when they are attacked in the alley behind the bar, he attacks in self-defense and kills one of their attackers. Unfortunately, the case is turned against him and he is put on trial for murder. I initially requested this galley because of my interest in diversity and my love of Law and Order SVU.

Highlights: I first learned of the lack of civil rights protections for LGBT when Dr. Hayburn gave Grand Rounds at the Medical Center where I work, and was initially shocked. This book, set in 2007, highlights the lack of protections under the Equal Protections Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This book also does an excellent job of highlighting the biases people hold against LGBTQ individuals and the injustice of our legal system. I am a huge civil rights enthusiast and I was riveted to this page turner. I read the last 75% of the novel in one day! Of course, it was set in one of my favorite cities, New Orleans, and the author brings a city I love to life. Next time I visit I will absolutely go to Jacques-Imo’s Café and the Maison Bourbon Jazz Club. It was fitting to learn that the author is a transgender lawyer and has firsthand experience with the diversity population she wrote about. She also did a great job highlighting what the loved ones experience through Matt’s mom’s perspective.

Explanation of Rating: 5/5; this book really appealed to my civil rights and social justice values. As soon as I finished the acknowledgements, I went straight to download another book on LGBT civil rights. I can’t say enough good things about this book and it’s the perfect schedule clearing legal thriller read you can finish in a weekend. In my opinion this novel didn’t get the press it deserve; it was self published by an #ownvoices author.

My personal message to the author is this: Grace Mead, I beg you for a sequel of Matthew Durrant doing LGBTQ legal civil rights work!

Thank you to Net Galley and Clink Street Publishing for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

I've always enjoyed legal thrillers and courtroom dramas so it was so nice to see a book in this subgenre with lgbt+ representation!
This story was so fast-paced and engaging! And the legal aspects of the book were so on point. The author is a succesfull attorney and that reflects on the writing and the story so I'm really greatful for that.
I also really enjoyed the emotional weight this novel has; the relationship between the main character and his mother was so loving. It also touches a very important issue; how unfair the legal system is to non-straight people.
I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it!

Most of Matt’s reactions to events in the novel were quite flat. As fascinating as the legal story was, I felt that I would have liked some more development of the characters.

I’ve written before that I don’t want gay to be the entire plot, which this book definitely does, but i’m also not convinced that it was in it enough. At the beginning of the story Matt isn’t sure he is gay, and while that does develop during the book i feel like it could have been made a more vital aspect of the story.

I will look out for more Grace Mead books, but hopefully they will hit better for me than this one did.

Unfortunately, Defense of An Other was not for me - I am having a hard time focusing lately and this one just did not grip me or hold me.

Defense of An Other by Grace Mead was an interesting read and it was pacey. I was expecting more then I got from it though.

I read this book all in one sitting, forgoing food along the way. I look forward to more from this author!

A very interesting and pacey crime thriller about a crime that's a bit different from the usual 'deranged man murders innocent woman' plot that we usually see in this genre. The book is clearly well researched and it held my interest throughout. Some LGBTQ+ plotpoints were perhaps a little on the nose and could have been more subtle and sensitive, and the protagonist's sexuality never felt truly authentic, but it starts a necessary conversation. A solid debut and I would be interested in following the author's next works.

Stop whatever you are doing and get yourself a copy of this book NOW! It is a must read for...anyone with a pulse. It is well written and is so very timely, though written a few years ago. A legal thriller that takes you on a compelling very timely journey. Prejudice, the justice system, homophobia (get over it already people...people are born who they are..let everyone live in peace) hate crimes, ones ability to protect themselves, a mothers unfailing love to name a few. When does defining yourself become murder? The world is a scary place for most, but for the LGBTQ it is so much more difficult. They are often at risk in their own homes, places of worship and places of business let alone the rest of the world that so many of us take for granted. Why Matt is charged for protecting himself is just the beginning of illustrating how prejudiced the system is. If he was a nerdy straight man would he have been charged? how about finding a jury of his peers? It is not an easy read, but a good and necessary one.

This was a slow moving legal thriller. But I kept up with it and am glad I did. I liked it despite it being a little slow moving. Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book quite interesting to start with but I got a little bored about halfway through. The story was built up really well and getting to know Matt was great. Reading about the attack and the subsequent trial was right down my street as someone who loves crime dramas. I just found some of the story to be quite slow with too much dialogue at times.

Defense of An Other is a very thought-provoking and compelling novel. Lawyer Matt Durant goes out to explore a gay bar one night hoping to meet someone new and figure out who he is and what makes him happy. However, by the end of the night he finds himself in jail for murder. The story asks provocative questions about the potential consequences of our actions and whether we can find ourselves fighting for our freedom despite defending others and trying to do the right thing. Author Grace Mead clearly knows her stuff and the book presents a fascinating look at the legal process and at the experience of prison while also addressing the flaws in our criminal justice system.

I enjoyed the story at the beginning as I enjoy a lot of Grisham books but it bogged down for me when the letters from Matt's mother became more religious. I understand what the author was trying to get across but it still bogged me down. I was upset at the ending at first but after thinking about it more, I thought that was an appropriate ending.

So this book truly sucked me in from the first chapter. I started it on the Trans-Siberian railway, knowing there was a 6 hour ride ahead. The friend who was with me can testify that I pretty much refused to speak to her until I finished it.

As the blurb says, this is the story of a young talented lawyer who one day kills a man after being attacked for being gay. The book does a good job of taking us through all the steps, from the murder itself to the trial.

As the author is an accomplished lawyer herself, seeing legal matters through that lens added a lot. I know others may not but I enjoyed reading the legal parts. True, it's chunks of words in legal jargon but it was fascinating and because I was invested in this case, I found that I cared deeply about what was being said.

There are some issues I'd like to talk about but they are spoilery and therefore, I'll wrap the review up now for whoever hasn't read the book and then elaborate on them.

All in all, this is an interesting legal thriller. Matt is a pleasant character. He's a little cold but you do feel for him. The plot moves quickly. I recommend this book if you don't mind some legal scenes!

<b> What I'm Taking With Me </b>
- Lawyers are kind of terrifying.
- Gayness makes every book better, this is a fact.
- America's justice system is tragic.

Okay, spoilers.

I felt like this book sets out to have a conversation about LBGT+ (or just gay men) who are at risk to be discriminated in the justice system. That's a great thing to fight for but I feel it didn't manage to do that.

Ultimately, the case rested on a "he said" "she said" type of situation. Can we say that he got this verdict because he was gay? I'm not sure. Perhaps the jury simply believed he was trying to buy drugs and that that's why he killed the guy.

I realize that the jury scene is meant to show that the jury is homophobic but still, if they were also very anti drugs, wouldn't have Matt gotten the same punishment?

Additionally, when did Matt become gay? How did he date the girl for so long without being attracted to her? Why is this book scared to say the word bisexual? I mean, Matt goes from "I have a long time relationship with a girl" to "hm, I find guys attractive but idk" to "I am gay and that's who I am" in seconds.

This book made me scared of justice systems. In the situation presented to him, Matt did everything right and still, this is the justice that he got. His gayness doesn't seem to matter, as it could have been any other violent situation really. If this is an accurate representation of how courts work, I feel like something has to change.

In the book, lawsuits are portrayed as such a strategical endeavor. The characters spend time figuring out whether someone would lie and how. It's interesting because I had always assumed courts really punish people once they find out they're lying.

There's a conversation here about the "lowlifes" of society vs the educated and privileged. It hinges on the idea that as Matt is in the high class, he will lie in order to save himself. That the other guy's life is worth less because he's not a fancy lawyer. That in prison, his high class works against him. I would have liked to see this developed more.

I did enjoy this book but yeah, that's what I found myself thinking about it.

Yawn. Between the oomp oomp club, the "I decided I was gay" and the legal mumbo jumbo, this was not the book for me. I was bored and annoyed for pretty much all of the book and basically felt like I was being lectured. Not at all what I look for in a book at all.

What a great story!! I actually finished this in about 2 days. It was extremely gripping and I flew through it! Although I’m not usually a huge fan of courtroom drama, or attorneys in general, this story focuses so much more on the characters.

Besides the trial, this is a story of questioning sexual orientation, family and a mother’s unconditional love. She shows her support to Matt even under the most trying conditions. In turn, he reacts to her love with upmost respect and maintains his generosity and need to help others less fortunate than himself.

I highly recommend this book and am very appreciative to NetGalley and publishers for the free book in exchange for my honest review.

<u>Content Warning: Hate Crime, Killing in Self-Defense, Homophobia, Rape Threats, Prision.</u>

Huh. I think this is what happens when an accurate activist lawyer writes a legal courtroom thriller. I’ve never read such a realistic and thorough trial in a novel before. Every step is represented including jury selections and instructions.

The actual verdict happens around halftime and I had idea how it would continue. I did not expect anything that happened after that.

Fair warning though. This isn’t Grisham or Connelly playing fast & loose with reality and mixing it with Die Hard. It’s about actual people and lawyers and laws and briefings and the slow-ass injustice system.

<u>The Elephant in the Closet:</u>

Of course, I was intrigued by the gayness. Honestly, if Matt was just another straight white dude, I wouldn’t have picked this up. I’m always happy to support more diversity in fiction, and I hardly see any for this genre.

I appreciate not having to question Matt’s innocence or guilt at all. I don’t need and have no energy for entertaining the ‘morality of gay people’ and their self-defense. Having it from his point of view with no doubt may kill the mystery of that aspect but leaves no wiggle room for the homophobic fuckers to actually have a point. The latter is far more important to me.

<u>Why It Still Fucking Matters:</u>

I did not know…

I mean….

I <i>knew</i> but I didn’t KNOW. Holy shit. Check this shit out to see how really fucking far and behind we are for gay rights in the USA.
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_United_States#Summary_table_of_LGBT_rights_in_the_United_States">Summary Table of LGBT Rights in United States</a>

<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_United_States#State-by-state_summary_table_of_LGBT_rights_in_the_United_States">State by State Summary of LGBT Rights in United States</a>


This post is really good at explaining the legalese and lawyer perspectives:

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/07/16/anti-gay-discrimination-is-sex-discrimination-says-the-eeoc/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ce3a7155ff86">EEOC Says Anti-Gay Descriminiation is Sex Discrimination</a>

And that was just in 2015!

<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/36vZ9fy5nK0HS/giphy.gif" width="400" height="300" alt="Cartoon Embarrassed & Shocked at Realization"/>


Defense of an Other does not neglect the racism inherent in the system. In fact, it’s very straightforward in laying how the prison system works as slave labor. It doesn’t give racists any leverage or reinforcement unlike most legal and crime fiction.

Also, make sure to read through to VERY VERY end. All the Author’s Notes & stuff. Gave me a deeper understanding and connection with Defense of an Other.

I can’t wait to read more from Grace Mead!

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF: 60%

I don't always review books I don't finish but I felt I gave this one enough time that I could leave a review. I did not enjoy this book. The summary made it sound like it was going to be this great legal drama centered around a gay man and the prejudices still prevalent against homosexuals. I was hoping for wonderful characters and edgy, tense drama. It sounded like a gripping read.

What I got was a bland, almost clinical procedural. I was never really given a chance to care for the characters before everything was underway. I kept reading because I thought maybe it took a bit longer to really get into it but I still didn't care after Matt's trial. It lacked a depth I was craving.

I didn't see the point in continuing.

Defense of an Other is about a young lawyer Matt Durant who lives in New Orleans. He has a job he loves as an attorney and a promising career ahead of him. He has been questioning his secuality and after a recent break up decides to visit a local gay bar. While at the club he meets a man named Joey and spends the evening getting to know him. Later they are attacked in an alley by three guys and Matt kills one while defending Joey.
The story then drags on and on through what a good guy Matt his, how much his mother loves him, the dangers he will face in prison and how he learns to cope ( or not)
The story fell a little flat for me, the fight, trial and conviction were done the time you reached 50% point of the book. The author was writing different books, one an unjust conviction and the other the struggles of coming out and the struggle for gay rights. Both are important issues but I ended up bored instead of engaged with his struggle.

I was first drawn to read this book because its setting is New Orleans. I loved this city, and the French Quarter in particular, before I ever had the chance to actually visit. It all started when I played the video game Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers that required visiting various locales to finish. Then, of course, there was Anne Rice, not totally because of her infamous vampire novels, but because of THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS an historical novel of the city in the 1840s. New Orleans' place in history comes from both actual events and a rich folklore.

As I started reading, anticipation was high. As I read, that anticipation was not fulfilled. As a general rule, I don't do spoilers. For the most part, I want my reviews to reflect the quality of the read and not the retelling of the tale. I'm going to do spoilers.

I'm not sure about what the author was attempting to convey through her main character Matt Durant. Matt, a 28-year-old lawyer in New Orleans might be gay, he's not sure. He's broken up with a long-time girlfriend but has been attracted to his own sex since middle school. He finds men attractive but does everything and anything to dampen those feelings. He, apparently, never experimented at all with a same-sex relationship. So is this a coming of age and coming out novel?

One of Matt's distractions from his confusion is boxing for the exercise and discipline. His routing does not include actually striking his sparring partner.

Matt Durant decides to have a few beers at home and then go to a gay bar in the French Quarter. It is not his first visit to Drink; he previously went there at the behest of the ex-girlfriend. This time he goes solo in hopes of figuring out his sexual orientation. He's 28 years old and still confused?

While sitting at the bar, Matt is approached by another patron offering to buy him a drink. One thing leads to another, so they move to a table away from the loud music to continue a conversation. A long line for the men's room encourages the two men to use the back alley as their toilet. They are approached by three thugs who decide it's time to beat up some gay guys. So it's a book about a hate crime? Joey Buckner, openly gay, gets his nose smashed so badly that it takes two reconstructive surgeries to repair it. One of the thugs approached Matt with a knife. Matt is holding a beer bottle and reflexively uses it as a weapon when attacked. He jams the unbroken neck of the bottle into the thugs neck not once, but twice, killing him. He does not flee the scene but returns to the bar to call the police.

The sham police investigation provides the District Attorney with a drug deal scenario that never happened, the trial for capital murder is scheduled for a mere six weeks after Matt's arrest. Matt is found guilty but is not sentenced to death. He gets life without parole. Is this a courtroom thriller? The trial seems to consist of four witnesses against the defendant… the investigating detective, Joey Buckner whose life Matt probably saved, and the two thugs who attacked Matt and Joey in the alley. So you have three eyewitnesses and a cop who suggested the drug deal gone bad to the thugs before questioning them together. Incompetence or corruption? Either way, I've watched enough "Law & Order," along with more dead body shows that are police or forensic procedurals to shake my head at the notion. The courtroom scenes lack drama and seem totally perfunctory.

Forgive me if I sound harsh, but as fiction goes I wasn't thrilled. One of the reasons I don't read a book blurb very carefully is that I want to discover the book without preconceived notions. I do look for key words like specific locations and/or specific plot lines. Words like crime and murder sort of jump off the page (or screen) at me. For that reason, I had no idea who the author was before I started reading.

Very near the end of the book, Matt's lawyer argues a case before the Supreme Court narrowly drawn from his Louisiana court case. During voir dire, the prosecutor uses a peremptory challenge to excuse a gay juror for no apparent reason other than that potential juror's sexual orientation. The arguments made by both sides were, for me, the most riveting part of the book. The lawyers and Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Scalia, and Justice Ginsberg sparred in totally believable exchanges. I did read the after material at the end of the book where Ms. Mead states that the Supreme Court transcript is fictional. In every instance where the argument was raised to move gay rights forward throughout the book, I found clear and compelling legal opinion. I am not, nor have I ever been, a lawyer. I have a dear friend who is, and who has worked for years on issues of gay rights. He has mentioned to me the need for the LGBTQ community to be declared a suspect class by the Supreme Court. Ms. Mead's legal writing here is spot on.

Now the question is how many stars? From a factual point of view, I would have to give this book 5 stars. However, the fiction does fall flat in a number of ways. I found Matt to be a less than believable character and way too whiny. I more, or less, feel that he ranks somewhere very close to Bella, in the Twilight series. All of the surrounding cast is too superficial. The plot goes in too many directions without delving deeply into any of them. Some of the exposition boils down to TMI. Am I sorry I read it? No. Would I recommend it? That would depend on who was asking.