Defense attorney David Adams has walked away from a high profile career at a massive firm. Now he seems to be making his life harder by taking on a seemingly no win case.


An Unequal Defense
When David’s friend, who happens to be a prosecution attorney is murdered, David does the unlikely. He agrees to defend the suspect, who was caught red-handed at the crime scene. This suspect, a man named Rebel, claims the CIA set him up for this murder.

As David digs into the case he starts to notice people following him. Could Rebel be serious about a CIA plot?

An Unequal Defense was a fun read. While I do enjoy a good legal thriller, sometimes the courtroom scenes can bog the story down. This one was not focused on court. There were very few scenes taking place with legal jargon. The focus was David out trying to find the truth and reacting to how the case unfolded.

Overall the writing was great. A good pace with a few “didn’t see that coming” moments. Which by the end had an outcome that felt right for the story.

A digital review copy of this book was provided via NetGalley for this unbiased review.

This was a very enjoyable book and was hard to put down. The characters were great and there was some good court room drama. Positively riveting.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Thriller

I didn't read the first book in the series but didn't ever feel that I was missing anything.

David once worked at a lucrative law firm. But after seeing it for what it was to him, he decided to branch out on his own and try to represent people who may not be able to afford the best. What he didn't anticipate was how difficult it would be to bring in any clients who were able to pay for the legal services they needed.

When David's law school friend is murdered, the last thing David expects is to take the case and defend the accused. However, with the first meeting, while David decides whether or not he really will take the case, Rebel speaks to a different part of David.

David and his band of misfits do their best to solve the mystery. Rebel is trusting David and David has to see the evidence for what it is.

I really enjoyed this story. While I wouldn't say this is exactly a legal thriller, it did keep you guessing and it was very fast paced.

An Unequal Defense is a well-written, fast paced legal thriller. Though it is the second in a series, it works very well as a stand-alone. I loved that the book had a hero that was not a big firm lawyer or a DA like most legal thriller heroes, but a guy with his own struggling law firm who primarily helps the less fortunate. In this case, he defends a homeless man known as “Rebel” who is accused of murdering an Assistant DA. It’s a clever construct: what if the mentally ill client on the street is not actually paranoid, but people actually are out to get him?

I really liked both the characters and the plot. While conspiracy theory thrillers always require a certain suspension of disbelief, this one really works and seems realistic and plausible. It also really delivered with a worthy ending.

After enjoying this book I went to the author’s website to see what the next book in the series would be. There I read the story about his many years of trying to make it as a writer, and the happy ending that gave us this series. It was really inspiring to those of us who have writerly aspirations and made me even happier to have found this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Chad Zunker and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this great new legal thriller series in exchange for my honest review.

David Adams is a great protagonist, almost immediately empathetic. Up to a year ago, the fledgling attorney was a rising star in an aggressive legal firm strongly focused on billable hours and the almighty buck.

He and a partner Thomas Gray (his mentor) left to start their own office, one that would take on cases of the disenfranchised--hoping to make a difference to the community.

One of David's friends, an assistant DA, is shot to death in an alley but he's asked to defend Rebel, the homeless man in custody. It looks like an open and shut case with the homeless man maintaining he didn't do it, while blathering about the CIA.

This was more investigation than legal thriller, but the well-paced mystery-thriller is a fairly simple read. While the plot might be complex, there are red herrings sufficient to drive interest and gradually expands from unreliable witness to political conspiracy. Who can you trust? The author introduces great support characters, including Dana Mitchem and Kate at the appropriate point in time, and while plunking in possible new dodgy motives, adds tension to the ever-widening plot. There might have been greater fleshing of Dana in the first, as well as Thomas and Doc, but I missed it here.

Easy to follow, short chapters, genuine dialogue. David comes off as sincere, you'll root for him as well as Rebel. There is a surprise in the conclusion that left the reader with a knowing chuckle and ended a fast read pleasantly. The second book in the series and the first I've read of this author.

I received this digital download from the publisher through NetGalley and appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Fun, fast-paced legal, espionage thriller that'll interest you in proceeding to Book 3. An Unequal Defense is out now. The timing is perfect! 3.5/5

David is sure that Rebel didn't kill Luke Murphy but he's not buying Rebel's theories about the Russians and the CIA. David left his big money law firm to help others (admirable). Luke was his classmate and he was a prosecutor. It's likely there are people who wanted him dead, although David isn't one of them. Rebel, a homeless man, has obviously been set up but by who and how? It might not be the CIA but there's definitely something going on here. This is notable for its respectful portrayal of the homeless. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a fast paced and entertaining read for fans of conspiracy thrillers.

David Adams is a lawyer who left the big time to help out clients at the other end of the economic spectrum, the poor, downtrodden, homeless men and women who seem to drift, unnoticed, in and out of society.

When Rebel, one of the troubled homeless men is accused of a high profile murder, David takes the case despite the potential economic hit to the struggling law office he and his friend have set up.

If you like John Grisham, you will enjoy Mr. Zunker's An Unequal Defense. This well is a written book that will keep you engaged with the characters and intelligent plot and keep you guessing to the end.

I would like to thank NetGallery for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

David Adams was once the star lawyer at a firm out of college. However, one year ago, a life changing event caused him to reevaluate his priorities. Now he works at a new law firm, just him and his friend as they work to defend those who literally have nothing, and try to bring hope to the homeless community in Texas. Things have been going well. That is until a case with a man who appears to believe he is in the center of a CIA cover story, is accused of shooting David's university friend, a county prosecutor. With no help from anyone but a group of unlikely allies, David must get to the bottom of the case if he has any hope of bringing the real truth of the matter to light.

Chad Zunker delivers a thrilling page turner, and easily crafts a compelling story that is unable to be put down. He leads you deep into heart of one of the overlooked communities in America and encourages you to think about those who have been treated as the rejects of society.

Personal Thoughts -

What a Great story! I loved every moment of this riveting tale. Chad is able to depict such realistic and unique characters, encourage you to reevaluate your thoughts and opinions about a community that many look down on. David is a great protagonist and story that surrounds this case is truly one that makes you question everything that you read. Unreliable witness, Hidden motives, Political intrigue, this story has it all.

I will say that while this is labeled as a 'Legal Thriller' there is very little of it that takes place in a courtroom, which would normally be disappointing for me except for the fact that the rest of the plot and characters is able to hold the story aloft. I also really admire that working with the homeless community is an actual passion for the author, as it comes across so genuinely in his book.

Final thoughts -

Chad Zunker has blown me away with this book. I loved every moment that I was in it and literally finished the book in one day of reading it! I also really respect and appreciate the core message that is at the heart of Chad's work, and it encouraged me to reconsider my outlook to those who are less fortunate then myself. Chad you have gained a new fan!

Thank you for NetGalley for allow me read an advanced copy of this book!

This book, An Unequal Defense, by author Chad Zunker, is a fast read filled with intrigue, suspense and many interesting characters and sub-plots. Even better, the compassion and concern for the homeless in our society found throughout this book gives an important human element to the read. In this story, the main character of this book, attorney David Adams, continues to follow his heart and instincts to do what’s right in a twisted system geared toward favoring the rich and connected. Representing those without, attorney Adams fights against huge odds to get to the truth. The story takes place in my beloved Austin Texas and captures the depth and weirdness that makes this city great. This enjoyable read was fast paced yet every character was fully developed. I couldn’t put this book down and I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

This book is terrific! I really enjoyed the first in this series--and this one is even better. I'm a huge Chad Zunker fan (I've read all of his books as they've been released). Psyched to get an advanced copy of this book, highly recommend.

After reading the first book in this series and loving it I knew I had to read this one! I am so glad I did because this one did not disappoint. Set 6 months after the end of the firs book, David is still trying to figure out how to run his new law practice. When a homeless man is accused of murdering one of David's law school friends, he is reluctant to take his case until a mysterious woman shows up. I will let the rest remain a mystery since you are going to want to dive right in. At just 252 pages this novel flew by and I was so engrossed I did not want to put it down.

While you do not have to read the first book to understand what is happening in this one, I believe it helps you understand David's background better which makes the book more enjoyable.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

I received this book through the Read Now program on "NetGalley". This is the 1st book that I have read by this author.

David Adams was in his earlier life a corporate Attorney living the high style. He realized that this was not what he wanted. He and a friend started a law firm where David assisted homeless and indigent people. David was enlisted to assist with the defense of Rebel, a homeless person that was charged with the murder of a prosecutor. David took the case because the individual was a friend of David's mentor "Benny" who had died earlier. The D.A.'s office was pushing hard on this case because of pressure being exerted from someone in high places.

David reviewed all of the eveidence that was available and he became more convenced that his client was guilty. While awaiting trial, David received information from an unknown source that put him on a trail where he started to see that there was maybe hope that his client didn't do it.

With this information, the D.A.'s office offered David a deal to present to his client Rebel. Rebel refused the deal and wanted to proceed to trial.

While the trial date approached, there were several incidents that begn to raise flags.

If you want to find out how Rebel was cleared and why there was so much pressure to close this case, then you must read this book.

LOVED this second book about David Adams, the young Texas lawyer who has left his glossy, lucrative first job to represent his less fortunate brothers living on the street. In An Unequal Defense, Adams represents "Rebel" a young man suffering with a problem of "blackouts", who has been accused of murder. Zunker writes a compelling, fast moving tale with twists and turns that take his reader all around Austin, which makes the book especially fun for those of us who know and love the city. The story has an underlying faith message which is appropriate and inspirational, adding some emotion to the story. The ending was uplifting and satisfying.

After having read all of Chad Zunker's books, I have to say that An Unequal Defense is my favorite. It was fun and easy to read, and the chapters were quite manageable. There were a lot of characters, and I did need to go back and refresh my memory on who was who a few times. Would recommend this book to all Grisham readers!

Thanks to Chad and NetGalley for letting me read and review this book.

This is a good mystery by an experienced author who created an engaging plot, interesting characters. and even includes some uplifting aspects. Nicely done. Recommended.

I really appreciate the AR for review!!

I am an avid reader but I don't read much fiction these days. When I do read fiction, I tend to stick to proven authors that I am familiar with. Too often, I've tried a fiction book by an unfamiliar writer and have quit part way through because of an unbelievable plot or stilted dialog or just plain bad writing. I wasn't familiar with Mr. Zunker's work and, to be perfectly honest, I was reluctant to give this book a shot. I've always loved legal thrillers as I grew up reading John Grisham, so I took a chance on this book. I am very glad that I did: this book is stunningly good; nothing short of a revelation. I am amazed at Mr. Zunker's ability to craft a taut, engaging story at clocks in at over half the length of the typical thriller. I find the shorter length refreshing and am amazed that the author did not sacrifice any details of the story.

This is the second book in this series. After reading the first one I saw this on Net Galley and knew I wanted to read it. Thank you! This is about David, a lawyer who had everything going for him at a big law firm when he meets Benny, a homeless man. He left the firm and opened an office to help the homeless. In this book, Rebel is accused of killing a good friend of David’ and he does not want to take the case. But he knows Rebel is innocent. There is corruption in the highest part of the city government. David is helped by a mysterious man. Who is he? He also has a friend in the DA’s office who wants to do the right thing.

I really enjoyed the writing and David’s commitment to help the disenfranchised. The book showed the homeless without being preachy. This book is worth a read.

What a delightful read to run across. It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a conspiracy thriller and boy have I missed them. I had almost forgotten how fun they can be and how sucked in I can get as pages furiously fly by as I get caught up in all the twists and turns. This is my first novel to read by Chad Zunker.

An Unequal Defense features a protagonist that I was very happy to root for. After he and his partner leave their previous firm to start a new one that focuses less on money and more on what truly matters, David finds that getting started and finding paying clients is more difficult than he’d like it to be. So when someone approaches him to defend a homeless man named Rebel who has been arrested for murdering an assistant district attorney, he hesitates a little. While his heart keeps prompting him to represent Rebel, odd things are occurring that just don’t add up keeping him invested until finally he is all-in on the case.

One of the main worries when I don’t start at the beginning of a series is whether or not I will understand everything that is going on, or will I feel like I have missed out on something. So, after I was a little ways into the book and realized it was the 2nd one in the series I was a little shocked that I hadn’t been able to tell. The background story occurred so fluidly within the context of the narrative that it felt natural. While, yes, the author did have that moment toward the beginning where they catch you up, it didn’t really feel like it was due to a different book.

While I liked the characters and the pacing of the story definitely had a thriller pace to it, what I missed was having a little more moments of character background and growth – not on the main character, but on supporting characters, such as Dana or Kate. While Dana is definitely important to David and they are definitely friends I never felt I completely understood why she was siding with him or had his back. At times it felt like the supporting characters were just there as a tool to provide certain information or move the plot to the next point. They are, of course, but as a reader I don’t necessarily want to know that.

With all that said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and loved how quickly I became absorbed in it, but also came to really appreciate the positive message the book brings forth too. Overall, a nice read.

An Unequal Justice, the first in the David Adams series, is a favorite of mine. So I was glad to reenter the world of David Adams, a young, idealistic lawyer. An Unequal Defense, is a worthy sequel. Author Chad Zunker took a risk in writing yet another in the genre of idealistic lawyer takes on wrongly accused client facing the death penalty. Much of the story is predictable...lawyer faces seemingly damning evidence, opposition from powerful figures, and help from an insider.
Zunker manages to give some new twists to the story, but he also makes his characters quite appealing. The predictable outcome is unfortunate. Yet I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to others.
Thanks, NetGalley, and the publlisher for the ARC.

This was the second book featuring the character of David Adams, a high priced lawyer who left the glitz to work for those who truly needed help. In this story, David once again is involved with the homeless and the needy, at the risk of his own livelihood and that of his partner.
This was a suspenseful thriller and I enjoyed reading it. I am looking forward to more books with David Adams.

I have to say it is refreshing to read good novels without all the sex, violence and profanity.

A homeless man wakes up from a spell in an alley to find himself in clothes he doesn’t recognize. Then he finds a gun in the pocket of the jacket. Soon after, he’s accused of killing a county prosecutor named Luke Murphy, in an alley. Doc, David’s paralegal, believes Rebel is innocent and asks David to represent Rebel.

David has been working for a Hunter & Kellerman, a top law firm in Austin before leaving to start his own law firm Gray & Adams, LLP with his mentor, Thomas Gray.

David has long since moved from representing wealthy clients, billion-dollar tech companies who were billed astronomical by the hour, to representing the homeless homeless and people who couldn’t afford a decent meal.

When David finally meets Roger North, the homeless man who goes by the street name Rebel, Rebel claims he’s innocent and that’s he’s being framed either by the CIA or by Russian agents. Or is he?

At first, David has mixed feelings about representing Rebel considering he might be a bit delusional. David, however, reconsiders following an encounter with another potential witness.
An interesting read and I would recommend.
Thank you to Chad Zunker, NetGalley, and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.