Irreparable Harm starts out with a high tension scene and it doesn't let up. Oh, there are times when things slow down a bit, but the tension doesn't ease. This is the first in a series featuring Sasha McCandless, and I've just gotta tell you - Sasha is one tough lawyer, and I don't just mean in the courtroom. As it turns out, she's pretty darn good at taking care of herself. The storyline is a little out there, or at least I hope it's a little out there - if not, I may never get on an airplane. It's also a bit convoluted, and while I would usually knock a book for that, it works here. There are a lot of moving parts in this one, and Melissa Miller brings it all together wonderfully.
Suzanne T Fortin gives voice to Sasha, and she does so quite well. The excitement and tension of the book comes through loud and clear, from courtroom drama to physical fights, it's done so well that I could picture it all.
In the end, this one doesn't have as much courtroom page time as I expected, but that along with the drama and action blends together so well that I didn't even notice it until I'd finished listening and thought back over the story. It's a great mix of solid storytelling and narration, and I'll be checking out more work by both Miller and Fortin.

Irreparable Harm was an enjoyable and fast paced legal thriller featuring a likable protagonist in Sasha McCandless, a bright lawyer who is working to defend an airline from the lawsuits that will be coming after one of their planes appear to malfunction and crash into a mountain, killing everyone on board. What starts as a routine query into the employment of one of the passengers quickly escalates into murder to cover up the crash and these people have no problem adding a lawyer to the dead. Sasha has no idea who she can trust when she discovers the crash was deliberately orchestrated.

I liked Sasha and thought she handled herself well throughout the story, though there were some issues with the story. The build-up and tension in the story starts out well and really drew me into the story. The characters were easy to relate to and root for. My issues with the story were due to the rushed feeling of the story’s ending. I was frustrated that after the initial buildup of tension and intrigue in the first 2/3 of the book, everything Sasha and Leo go through to stay alive and figure out this mess, the story gets wrapped up in a matter of a few pages. In addition, there was some eye-rolling on my part at the apparent ease that she takes out professional assassins with her bare hands, as well as disarming a federal air marshal. I felt the author was excessively repetitive in mentioning Sasha’s Krav Maga training, so much I was starting to wonder if this was a novel or an advertisement for a class.

My Final Verdict: I enjoyed the story but I hope that Sasha and Leo grow as characters in the rest of the series and the stories have more focus and relevance.

In the first book in a series, Melissa F. Miller shows readers what it takes to be a top lawyer at a firm:

Sasha McCandless has one goal in life, make partner at her firm. Everything else in her life is on hold until that happens. When a commercial airline crashes, everyone on board is killed, it is Sasha's firm who is representing the airline company, they know there will be a class action lawsuit. This is Sasha's big chance and big case that could have the payoff that she is looking for. But the farther Sasha digs into the plane crash and company many aspects are not lining up and she discovers the unthinkable, could the plane have been crashed on purpose?

I love courtroom procedural books (and I don't read them often enough) when they are done right and I think when this book is taking place in the courtroom it is interesting and well done, but when the book moves away from the courtroom and lawyer aspects the book just becomes okay (at best). I found the book was predictable and you as the reader were waiting for the main characters to catch up with the information that we know, like we know who the bad guy is in the first half of the book. This is not my favorite way for a plot to be laid out as I find it hinders the suspense, causes to the plot to really lag as well with me, as the reader, trying to figure everything out which is part of the reason I read books.

Feel like this book shows that it was written in 2011 by having the female lead not only as a kick-ass lawyer but also amazing at some sort of marshal arts skills, that I cannot remember the name of, that no one can beat her at, especially when the thugs after her are the heavy just throw punches guys. She has some sort of tragedy in her past that she lives with and defines certain things she does now. On the other side of things, I really liked Sasha's mind and how she things of things in the law/court based approach of things and what she can do legally. Additionally, her moral compass is on point and even when there are millions even billions on the line vs human life.

I think that the relationship aspect was forced even though this is very secondary to the story with just some thoughts here and there it is totally not needed in the book and really did not even need to be hinted at throughout the book. Why can't male and female characters just work well together without them becoming a couple in the end. These two worked really well together and I felt that having them in a relationship didn't add anything to the plot (I feel that this also shows that this book was written in 2011).

So not my favourite read, I may try the second book in the series to see if there is more lawyer/courtroom scenes as I think that is what Miller did really well in this book and I hope that Sasha grows as a character too.

Cheers!!!

I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

***AUDIO VERSION***
Irreparable Harm is a fast paced, gripping legal thriller about Sasha McCandless who is an attorney and is almost at the goalpost of becoming a partner at her law firm where she works. She has her eye on the prize and is dedicated to achieving this status.
When a plane that is operated by one of her clients crashes into a mountain which kills everyone on board, she gets preparations in order to face the civil law suits that are bound to occur.
This is when Sasha finds out that the crash was not an accident- it was actually planned! As Sasha and an air marshal (who is investigating the event) race against the clock to prevent another premeditated air disaster from occurring, she has to use all her skills as well as self defence skills in the form of Krav Maga to protect herself and put a stop to this killer before he kills her!
This fast paced legal thriller will pull you in from the first chapter and leave your head spinning!

The news is dire. A plane has plowed into a mountainside, killing all aboard. What could cause such a tragedy? Mechanical failure? Pilot error? Whatever it is, there will be legal implications for the airline, Hemisphere Air. Sasha McCandless works as a lawyer at the firm representing the airline. The first lawsuits for the survivors are ready to file the day after the crash. The airline requests that Sasha head up the team of lawyers who will defend against the suits. It's a huge career boost for Sasha who is on the cusp of making partner. That is, a huge boost if she is successful and a career killer if she fails.

As Sasha starts to look into the case, she begins to doubt that Hemisphere is at fault at all. Instead she believes that the airline has been the victim of terrorists; not terrorists for a cause but terrorists who want to make millions. They have created software that will incapacitate the manual controls and can send a plane to its doom. They can sell this software to the airlines for millions if not billions of dollars. Now those same people have Sasha in their sights.

Sasha soon finds that the other side is ready to play rough. People involved in the case are killed and Sasha herself is attacked several times. Luckily, she has help in the form of Leo Connelly, a federal air marshall. She also has her Krav Maga training which makes her a bad person to attack. Can Sasha and Leo find the terrorists before they find and put an end to them?

I listened to this novel. The narrator, Suzanne Fortin, read competently but I would not search out another narration by her. Her tone was close to a monotone and didn't appreciably change regardless of the action occurring. In a thriller, the narration should indicate when something major is happening.

Melissa Miller is a former attorney herself. That gives her legal thrillers the necessary expertise and knowledge of legal procedures that makes them believeable. She has written more than two dozen legal thrillers and this title is the introductory one in the Sasha McCandless series. This book is recommended for legal thriller readers.

Irreparable Harm, written by Melissa F. Miller, is a legal thriller starring a feisty female lawyer that kicks ass in court and off. This is the first book in the 13 book Sasha McCandless Series.

Synopsis:
Sasha is a talented lawyer who is well on her way to becoming a partner at her prestigious law firm. She is working on a big case when the people around her start dropping like flies. Sasha is also a martial arts expert who works out every day to stay on her toes. She uses both her legal and Krav Maga prowess to stay alive and solve the case.

Story Review:
Irreparable Harm is a plot-driven thriller that moves at a fast pace. Once you start listening, you won’t be able to stop. The book feels like it flies by.

I love the irony created by every thug’s perception of Sasha as an easy target because of her small stature versus their broken bodies when she gets done with them. Irreparable Harm would make a great movie or tv series.

The problem with plot-driven books, in general, is that we don’t feel a personal connection to the characters. I most identified with Sasha in the last chapter of the book. The ending piques my curiosity, and I would like to read at least one more book in the series to find out where life takes her next.

Narration Review:
Suzanne T. Fortin narrates Irreparable Harm and does a fabulous job. I was so fully engrossed in the story that I didn’t even notice there was a narrator!

Reading Recommendation:
If you liked Irreparable Harm, you should check out The Paris Dressmaker. It tells the perilous stories of two women who secretly work for French Resistance during the Nazi occupation of Paris. Some call it a work of historical fiction. Everyone calls it a thrilling ride!

Source:
I received a free copy of Irreparable Harm at my request in exchange for an honest review.

Again...A NEW SERIES! Sasha is meticulous and driven. She is a consistent and strong female lead that I look forward to reading more about. I love a good fast moving thriller and this one was one I couldn't stop. Melissa Miller has created not only a kickbutt lead, but a background of excellent supporting characters around her. Not being a lawyer, sometimes the legal definitions were very helpful. I didn't need them all but they weren't so drawn out as to take away from the pace of the story.

The reader thinks they know what the story is here right away. The bad guy is identified really early and what happened is not really in doubt. The background is slowly untangled and new motives and character involvement is revealed consistently as it goes. Many books do not have the pacing right, there is often a lot of down time and talking around the big reveal. This book got it right.

The narrator was exciting and immersive. Her voices and intonation kept me firmly in the story no matter what I was doing while listening. I sometimes have issues staying involved in audiobooks. Not an issue here.

Thanks to Melissa Miller, Netgalley, and @orangeskyaudio for introducing me to a new series. @melissafmiller #thriller

After a plane crash, a defense lawyer and an air Marshall team up after they’re thrown together in the aftermath of figuring out what happened. While I could’ve used a little less detail on everything, it was a good plot driven book. It kept my attention and I wanted to know what caused the crash.

Suzanne Fortin does a great job narrating the book. I’d definitely enjoy seeking out more of her narrated books.

Sasha is a rising attorney in a prestigious firm, and is suddenly in charge of defending an airline after a crash. Something's a bit strange about this crash, and as she investigates, she puts herself in danger. She partners with an air marshal to find the truth.

Excellent characters, made real by the good narration. Good plot, held my interest. I could have done with a little less martial arts detail, but it was tolerable. I'd read the next book in the series when it comes out.

Wow! If you are looking for an audio book to hold your interest this is it. My husband joined me midway through the book, and even without the buildup from the first half, he enjoyed this legal thriller. Sasha McCandless, a lawyer in a high-powered law firm in Pittsburgh, finds herself in the middle of a legal battle involving a Boeing plane that has crashed into a mountain. Its not by accident, it was planned and she is out to figure out how to keep other planes from meeting the same fate. Its exciting from beginning to end.

Irreparable Harm is book#1 in the Sasha McCandless series. Evidently, the book had been published years ago, but this is first time in audio. Action starts right away and it does not let up until the very end. It was a very quick listen, because I could not stop listening. Sasha is a tough, kick-ass lawyer, literally. She is very advanced in krav maga. I really liked Sasha. We meet Leo Connelly, a federal air marshall, who’s first meeting with Sasha doesn’t go well. Both Sasha and Leo are likeable characters. The narrator did an excellent job. While this legal thriller doesn’t break any new ground, the writing and the action were solid enough to convince me to continue reading this series. The only thing it didn’t do is convince me why I should ever fly again! Thank you to Netgalley and OrangeSky audio for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Really enjoyable legal thriller--main character is appealing and I definitely look forward to reading future titles in this series. I haven't read this author before but am intrigued to read more.

rreparable Harm, book one in the Sasha McCandless series, is a solid legal thriller.

A Boeing 727 crashes into Virginia mountainside, killing everyone on board. Sasha’s law firm represents the airlines. Quickly, Sasha suspects the crash wasn't an accident but instead deliberately sabotaged by a smartphone app that can remotely override the cockpit controls. She joins forces with a Federal Air Marshall, Leo, as they race to uncover the truth before another plane crashes.

The Audio action-packed scenes move quickly from fighting thugs to courtroom drama. While I figured out the plot early on, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this fast-paced legal thriller. I'll check out the rest of the series. They'll be perfect beach reads for the summer.

Thanks to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The first three audiobooks in this series will be available on 4/6/2021.

Irreparable Harm (Sasha McCandless Legal Thriller #1) by Melissa F. Miller
Narrated by Suzanne Fortin
Publisher: OrangeSky Audio
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers | Women's Fiction
Release Date: April 6, 2021

Irreparable Harm is the first book in the Sasha McCandless Legal Thriller series by Melissa F. Miller. This book was originally released in 2012 and the audiobook is being re-released with a new narrator. There are currently 13 books in the series and I will be reading them all!

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narration by Suzanne Fortin was great! She did an incredible job creating different voices for each character and really gave depth to the story.

I loved the heroin of this book! Sasha McCandless is an attorney working to make partner at the best law firm in town. She also knows how to protect herself with her Krav Maga training. She really is something else. She's quick on her feet, both mentally and physically.

Having worked in the aviation industry for almost 20 years, I loved the storyline. I found it exciting and very interesting! Having a hot federal air marshal around was nice too!

This is one of those books that you won't want to put down. It is fast paced and exciting and will keep your attention! I really enjoyed it and would recommend it people who like legal mysteries, action and adventure, and a strong female lead character!

I'm so grateful to Melissa F. Miller, OrangeSky Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

3 stars

A US Air Marshall & a corporate litigation lawyer with mad Krav Maga skills team up to investigate a dangerous & intriguing fraud...terrorism? ...case. As the bodies pile up, Sasha questions her career ambitions & her ethical choices, & what she really wants out of life.

[What I liked:]

•The plot is really interesting. I’ve never read a mystery where the MC’s are lawyers & Air Marshalls before. The crime itself as well as the criminal motivations were also interesting.

•I enjoyed the descriptions of Sasha’s Krav Maga training & techniques. It made the fight sequences more engaging than your average fist fight.

•3 stars instead of 4 mainly due to the mediocre character development, but I like this book enough to read more from this series.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•There are lots of descriptive details early on, to the point they felt annoying & unnecessary sometimes—which I’m surprised I’m actually saying since I love setting detail. But when it’s about the layout of office cubicles I guess it’s not so compelling.

•It took me awhile to warm up to Sasha. Her personality isn’t developed much beyond workaholism & martial arts skills. Hopefully this improves over the course of the series. I do admire her intelligence & toughness.

CW: lots of physical violence, murder

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

This book was FANTASTIC! From start to finish this was action-packed and exciting! Twists, turns, shock after shock! I loved this story!

I’m sorry, this just wasn’t for me. I usually enjoy reading medical and legal thrillers but I could never get into this one.

I am very sorry to say, this book just wasn't for me. I am not sure if it was the writing or the narrating, but I just could not get into it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know, I felt like reading a magazine. Like when JK Rowling became Robert Galbraith. I wanted to yell "this is not your field of work" the whole time. I don't mean to be mean towards the author, but with all descriptions of clothes, jewelry, and sandwich ingredients, I might have enjoyed a cookbook better.

This was a very plot-driven novel and I felt like I didn't get to know the characters at all. Well, except for their fashion choices and the fact that they like sushi more than cinnamon rolls.

There were some really strange jumps from the important case to the tattoo a replacement secretary was getting, and it had no importance to the story at all. So I was very confused with this part.

I also didn't appreciate having a tragic story that has NO importance for ANYTHING - not the character and not the plot. Why kill someone's family member when it will bring no value to the table. Well, it might have been important if we actually got to meet the characters a little.

The story was okay, I guess. Nothing special, but not all that bad either. It was fast and easy to read, but nothing memorable.

The bad guy was revealed waaaaaay to early and there was no suspense. I never gasped or opened my eyes a bit wider or anything that you would normally associate with a good thriller that has you on the edge of your seat.

It was just a little less than "meh".

Sasha McCandless is an attorney that wants to move up in her firm. She gets that chance when a plane crashes into s mountain and she has to defend the airline. She later finds out the plane was crashed because of an app that will interfere with the pilot controls and goes to stop an enemy before more are killed.

Good legal thriller. I had the audio..Engaging narrator. Look forward to more in this series.

My thanks to Net Galley for this audio.