This book although well written with a good storyline just wasn’t for me. I found it difficult to get into the storyline and it seemed to be a little all over for me and I just didn’t grip me. I stuck with it and got to the end but just not my book!

Excellent storytelling and likable characters. I loved the courtroom scenes; one such scene that stood out from the rest was Jack's cross-examination of the witness - this was nothing less of a "cat caught your tongue, eh, mister?"

We have a shocking twist at the end. This is at the very end of the story - totally unexpected. I can't say I liked it much but that didn't affect my rating in any way.

Overall, this was a totally engrossing and interesting legal thriller. From start to finish, every chapter and every twist kept me guessing for more. I don't suppose one could ask for a more smashing debut than this one. Absolutely fantabulous!

Solid courtroom thriller novel with some good twists and lots of suspense. My only real complaint was how detailed some of the technical language was in the trial. I had moments where I was pulled out of the story because I would get a bit lost in the language.

This is a great new legal thriller with great twists and suspense. Thrilling and real courtroom scenes and great action. The suspense will keep you from putting the book down, but you won't want it to end. It's that good. For fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow, you'll find this equals their talent. Highly recommended.

James Barretto's Mystic Wind was a gripping legal thriller that actually changed my mind on legal thrillers. Prior to reading this work, I never really gravitated towards legal books, and wasn't a major fan of 'courtroom drama' style plots. After following Marino over the course of the novel, my perception completely changed! The depth that Barretto went into regarding the courtroom and trial procedures, as well as Marino's thoughts on everything captivated me. I never found myself growing disinterested, and eagerly wanted to know how everything would get resolved. I would gladly read more works by Barretto, and would love to check out more legal thrillers similar to this one! Thank you very much to James Barretto and NetGalley for the ARC, and sorry for the late review!

This is a debut legal thriller. Not only is there the typical courtroom drama, there is a political undertone dripping with corruption. Fast paced and a great twisty ending. Thank you Netgalley and Oceanview publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 Stars

This 1st in a new legal mystery series introduces attorney Jack Marino, who grew up in the gritty reality of the Mystic housing projects in Boston, in the fight of his life.

It begins with homeless Crazy Nora witnessing a murder. She can clear Jack's innocent client but only if he finds her first, as he aims to secure justice against corruption in high places.

I'm looking forward to more in this fast-paced series.

This book is a great legal thriller, plenty of drama with a strong storyline, well done James Barretto.
The main character Jack Marino is believable and strong, he takes on a case that’s a tough one to prove,
This book has twists and turns and, as the story unfolds, the many characters keep the reader guessing and wanting to know more!
A recommended read for fans of legal suspense, a new author with more to offer!

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and James Barretto for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

James Barretto is an exciting entry into the world of lethal thrillers. His "Mystic Winds", which is the first book in the Jack Marino series, is an interesting window into the world of lawyers, the accused, the not-so-perfect justice system and the lawyers' machinations with each other to pursue their idea of justice and excellence.

Jack Marino, having always been the best criminal trial lawyer of Boston, stops prosecuting hard criminal cases after an attack on him and has been working in his father-in-law's law firm, on civil suits since then. However, circumstances push him into representing a defendant in a murder trial and he finds himself pulling out of the fugue he had been since the attack and regain himself again.

His struggles in coming out of the after effects of the attack on him and the fierceness with which he fights for real justice has been wonderfully portrayed in a brilliant way; the trial in which Jack works on provides an engaging backdrop and the author James Barretto has done that excellently. I did feel that the rest of the characters, other than Jack Marino's, could have been fleshed out more. However, I still had the most enjoyable and thrilling reading experience from this book and recommend this highly to all lovers of courtroom dramas.

Jack was a high flying DA attacked and almost died he losses his job and starts to work in his father in laws practice as a corporate lawyer. Two years on he is asked to defend a murderer. But it is not what it seems, darker forces are at work and there are plenty of twists to keep the reader to the end.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a legal thriller, which unfortunately did not grip me at all.

It was well written as a debut book, so I will definitely keep an eye on the author :)

Attorney Jack Marino was an assistant district attorney and a star prosecutor until he was nearly killed by an unknown assailant. When it becomes apparent he can no longer be an effective trial attorney he joins his father-in-law’s firm and moves into corporate law. But, when he is asked to defend a client pro bono, who is accused of murder, he makes the difficult decision to return to the courtroom. What transpires is a cat and mouse game with a former colleague and now the prosecutor in the case, conflict with the presiding judge, and a re-evaluation of his life and goals.

Mystic Wind is the debut novel by author James Barretto. It is a fast-paced legal thriller that many readers will compare to John Grisham. And, indeed, it does have many of the same elements that the Grisham novels possess. However, Mystic Wind explains the law and its applications in much more detail than most other authors of legal thrillers. This could be a good thing or a bad thing. Some may find the information unnecessary or too detailed, but for the most part, I enjoyed learning about how the law works (or is supposed to work).

What I didn’t like were some of the characters and in particular Jack’s wife, who is the stereotypical woman who has everything and thinks she can dictate the lives of everyone around her. How ghastly! And if she isn’t bad enough, there are the attorneys who are more interested in their political ambitions than they are in justice and the rule of law. I just hope there aren’t too many of them in real life, but I fear there could be.

All in all, Mystic Wind is a good debut and I’m predicting great things for this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Absolutely incredible fast-moving legal thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat wondering how things would turn out.

I look forward to reading many more books by this author and hope he's writing even now.

If you like legal thrillers, courtroom dramas, and/or suspense, this is your book. Check it out!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own.

Assistant District Attorney, Jack Marino, envisages a better world. He wants to make the streets safe and to use his skills to pursue justice. The local gangs are out of control.

Jack’s life is changed permanently when attacked by three men in his unit on the thirteenth floor. His wife, Abby, was not home as yet and his only chance was to pull the fire alarm.

An exciting legal thriller that kept me engrossed to the end. An absolute must read.

Everything Grisham used to be.
A cracking Court Room thriller that sees a previously brilliant prosecution attorney pitched against his old bosses in a fight to prove a man’s innocence and save him from the death penalty.
What he doesn’t know is that the District Attorney has manipulated the legal system to get him to defend the accused.
Why?
Because they want him to fail and for his client to get the first death penalty under new legislation.
The reason?
The upcoming election the DA wants to win.
The investigation is going to open a can of worms.
What will the verdict be and who will survive till the end of the book.
A stunning read

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of this book.
I loved the excitement in this book. The author gives lots of details to draw you into the story . You feel like you know Jack and are pulling for him to save his client from the awful people out to get him for their own benefit. I really enjoy books that have lawyers and court cases. The author did a great job. I highly recommend this book.

First in a series, decent legal thriller. Will give next book a try. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

This is a rip-roaring legal drama which has it all: the incredible highs and lows of days in court, behind-the-scenes political manoeuvering, hidden agendas and a real life hero. I could not put it down. I was drawn right into the drama of the court case, was horrified by the machinations and rooted so hard for the defendant that I was emotionally drained each time things didn’t go his way. I adored Jack, the lawyer who had lost his true self and was now fighting to save his client from death row, and was as fascinated with the personal stories as with the court case. Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley.com, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a great book on par with early John Grisham and Scott Turow. Jack Moreno was a District Attorney prosecuting gang violence, until a violent attack left him with ptsd and a hesitancy in the courtroom.

After being fired from the District Attorney's office he goes to work for his father in law doing corporate law which is sucking the life out him. His wife, also an attorney is thrilled with his being out of criminal law. Then he receives a call from a judge asking him to take on a criminal case that he can't refuse.

The legal manipulations after that and the political maneuverings are terrifying in their ambition. Its what happens when people lose sight of what is right and only focus on what will get them elected. It becomes not about the law but about ambition and huge mistakes get made.

This is a very ambition novel and it reminds me a bit of the Pelican Brief in its twists and turns. This is definitely an author that I will be keeping an eye on. Well created characters and a great story that really sucks you in. I wouldn't be surprised to see this turned into either a TV series or a movie at some point in the future.

Wow. This book was absolutely amazing! It was intense and suspenseful; it kept you on the edge of your seat, and it ended in a way that I never saw coming! There was one specific event that literally blew my mind. Barrett does a fantastic job with the courtroom scenes – very believable. As an attorney, I absolutely love legal thrillers. Barret also does a great job of providing each character with a distinctive personality and really writing in such a way that you root for certain characters, and despise others. For instance, I absolutely hated the judge. While I whole heartedly give this book 5 big stars, there was two little sentences that bothered me. During the trial, the Judge would tell the witness that they needed to respond with Yes or No so that their response was on the record. However, two times that the Commonwealth asked something of the Judge, for instance to approach the witness, and the judge nodded. A judge should know better. It’s not a huge deal, but just something I noticed.