I received this book through NetGalley and the publisher. This story starts slowly at the beginning, but the drama picks up right away.

The story begins with Alec being stopped by police and winds up being beaten. While this is going on, Ham and Hitch pass the car and pull over he side of the road because Ham is feeling ill. They happen to see the attack on Alec. After getting back in their car, they see another police car pulled over and Ham asked Hitch to stop because his girlfriend Donna was being brought up on DUI and Ham tried to see her, but wound up being arrested.

As the story proceeds, Ham ultimately agrees to defend Alec on the resisting arrest and other charges. The 1st trial ends in a mistrial and while preparing for the retrial, Ham discovers information and ultimately winds up with his girlfriend hurt in an accident and dying and Hap's car being blown up. Hap along with Hitch and one of Ham 's tenants start looking into the individuals who arrested Alec. Danger seemed to follow them.

Up till the time of the retrial, another lawyer offered Ham a proposition regarding Alec's case. To find out who the lawyer represented, what parties were behind the danger that were aimed at Ham and his friends, and what the result of Alec's case was, then you must read this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for this tough, gritty crime/courtroom drama in return for an honest review. I had difficulty fully engaging in this story. I urge prospective readers not to be deterred by my 2-star rating, but to also read the very favourable reviews on Goodreads and Amazon

Set in 2008, the story centres around the savage beating of a Black immigrant, probably because of an Obama sticker on his car. The victim, Alec Monceau, is a kind, helpful computer store worker. He sends most of his wages to Trinidad to help support his family. He is arrested on a trumped -up charge.
Surely such vicious, lawless police officers would not exist in the present-day!

This brutal assault on the innocent Alec was witnessed by a lawyer, Garbuncle, and his reporter buddy, Hitchens. Garbuncle is a racist, slovenly, miserly, and a drunk. Hitchens tolerated Garbuncle's attitudes and behaviour and acts as his moral conscience. Later they meet Alec who generously offers to set up their new computers free of charge. Hitchens prods Garbuncle to defend Alec in court and wins a bet with him to make this happen. The dialogue between the more politically correct and tolerant Hitchens and Garbuncle is presented in a witty manner.

I enjoyed the interactions between these three characters and the court scenes. I found the sections which focused on members of the Ku Klux Klan and other characters less compelling. I didn't care for the broken English written for Alec which I found objectional and demeaning. True, he was just learning English, but it reminded me of speech patterns in old-time racist books and comics. The plot thickens when Garbuncle discovers a connection between the police officers who participated in the brutal assault and others involved in illegal activities. This puts Garbuncle's life in danger as well as that of his client.

How can this prejudiced lawyer who holds so many racial stereotypes, and is frequently in a state of drunkenness, manage Alec's defence and act as a fair witness? Can his long-ingrained attitudes change? Will justice be served? The premise was thought-provoking, and relevant in recent times.

The NetGalley description of this title is accurate and the plot shows promise. However, the stereotypical language and events made the book difficult to like and stick with.