It's a shame all authors can't remember to be hungry and take chances.
The story is familiar (albeit the source material is dark)
The surprise ending feels honest but the surprise is more due to the slow pacing that hypnotizes you from looking for it

Strong Proceedural that relies on their knowledge of the courtroom rather than modern technologies

Great for peers and middle agers
Nothing that brings the Tic Tok crowd back to reading though

Presidents Lawyer 4.25/5

Thank you Simon and Schuster and Lawrence Robbins for this ARC in exchange for an honest Review.

This was a medium-paced thriller that walked you through the legal turmoil of a former president in trouble. Did he kill his pregnant mistress? Former President Cutler relies on his friend Robbie, a highly established lawyer to be his defense. Even though Robbie was also sleeping with the deceased.

There were times where the legal jargon and American slang were above my understanding and that’s the only reason it’s not a 5 star for me. Other than that, the story was well laid out, and kept me engaged. I needed to know who the killer was, and without giving anything away- thoroughly enjoyed the twists at the end! Well done, will happily be looking for this author again in the future. Finished in under 24 hours.

Instagram review will be posted on the publish date.

The former President of the United States is arrested for the murder of his mistress and he calls his long time best friend and lawyer Rob Jacobson to represent him. What unfolds is a high stakes courtroom drama will keep you guessing until the very end.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
Ohh this was good! This debut had me engaged from the first chapter. Robbins takes us through a page turning trial but it is truly the flawed characters in Jack and Robbie and the backstory of their longstanding friendship that makes this a complex and twisted story with so much to unpack.

The author is an experienced trial lawyer and this comes through in his writing. The courtroom drama is top notch with some plot twists I definitely did not see coming! This book reminded me of Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series and maybe some early John Grisham.

If you love a good courtroom mystery this is not one to pass up!

If you love John Grisham books then this one is for you. This was steadily paced, tension building, keeps you guessing kinda read.
Well done!

Tension! Lots of it as the story builds to a surprise ending. The intertwining and entanglements keep the book moving along rapidly. The character development is interesting with some being fully developed and others superficially but for a reason that is realized eventually. Good mystery!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

WOW!!!!! Somethin' else!!! Great story, good writing, and a total twist at the end. Hopefully Mr. Robbins is working on another book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC.

This legal thriller is not my usual read, i am open to new things but the book for me was not my favorite. I found the writing good but the characters had trouble connecting with me and the plot was just too slow for me to look forward to reading the book. I can see how many people enjoyed it, it just wasn't for me.

A top-notch Washington D.C. litigator, Rob Jacobson, gets the case lawyers dream about. Unfortunately, he’s in charge of the defense of his longtime friend and former President of the United States, Jack Cutler. He is accused of killing his mistress and unfortunately for him, the government has no other suspects. Jacobson has his work cut out as Cutler is definitely not a saint. Cutler is an egotistical philanderer who enjoys kinky sex and heavy drinking, while also contending with anger management issues. Cutler’s loyal wife has not only had to endure his infidelities, she’s also suffered physical abuse from him as well. To make things even more complicated, the murder victim, Amanda Harper, had also been Jacobson’s former paramour.

The author, Lawrence Robbins, is an accomplished trial and appellate litigator who has argued numerous cases in the United States Supreme Court and the federal circuit courts of appeals. He incorporates his copious courtroom experiences into this story. The courtroom scenes are vibrant and scintillating, providing an authenticity that gives the feeling that the author is recounting actual details from trials he has participated in. The author has also utilized various aspects from stories that have made the headlines, such as the Chandra Levy/Rock Creek Park murder case.

There are enough red herrings and characters with motive to keep one guessing who the murderer is. There are numerous complicated relationships and characters with deep rooted issues. The friendship between Jacobson and Cutler is quite complex and compelling. Cutler hasn’t always been a great friend as the school pranks he played on Jacobson were demeaning and embarrassing. On top of that, Cutler’s wife Jessica had been Jacobson’s first love. As the case progresses, Jacobson’s emotions are pushed to the limit as he discovers the extent of Cutler’s extramarital affairs and abusive behavior. Even though their friendship is strained, Jacobson remains committed to proving Cutler’s innocence, even to the extent of opening up the possibility of Jessica being a murder suspect.

The verdict is in: If you’re looking for a light, fun read that has suspenseful courtroom drama and complex characters, this book is guilty as charged!

A gripping legal thriller that combines courtroom drama with political intrigue. The narrative is both suspenseful and authentic and the plot is fast paced with enough twists and turns that I was kept on the edge.
Many thanks to Atria and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Not your typical legal thriller, when your client is the president and he's accused of murder. Less than a month after incumbent president Jack Cutler is defeated in his bid for reelection, Cutler's mistress is found dead in a Washington, DC horse park.
The ex-prez begs his childhood friend, esteemed defense attorney Rob Jacobson, to be his lawyer for the murder trial. Rob reluctantly accepts, adding his mentor, Jane Cashman.
Robbins stacks the deck with possible killers: Cutler's wife and daughter, Jacobson's ex-wife and mentally damaged son, even the attorney's mysterious older brother.
A vicious game of cat and mouse ensues with the unveiling revealed in the final paragraph.
I had to go back and read the last chapter to reimagine the surprise ending.
The President's Lawyer is a fast paced thriller with enough red herrings to occupy a fish tank. Highly recommended.

The President’s Lawyer by Lawrence Robbins was such a great read. Fast paced, well structured and written. And wow…what a great book. I can’t wait for the author’s next book.
I can’t thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley enough for allowing me to preview this book.

I really enjoyed this legal thriller The President's Lawyer. Rob Jacobson, is asked by his childhood best friend, and former President of the United States to be his defense lawyer, after being charged with the murder of his mistress.

This book was very intriguing, and hard to put down. It had compelling and flawed characters, and it kept you guessing. I loved learning about the new technology being used for evidence gathering and selecting juries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the advanced reader copy. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a legal thriller.

What a great legal thriller. When Jack, an ex-President of the US is accused of murdering his mistress, he calls on his lifelong friend and lawyer, Robbie Jacobson. Jack and Robbie met in HS when Jack was the BMOC and Robbie was the scholarship kid who was a little nerdy. Jack defended Robbie but also used him as the butt of some of his antics.

Robbie has gone on to become a very successful defense lawyer and he uses all of his courtroom skills to try to get Jack off. Most of the story is told from his POV but interspersed with short chapters from another voice and we aren't sure who that is. I found that a little confusing in the beginning but I think that is the point. We start guessing who it is.

The courtroom scenes are gripping and so well written. It's hard to root for very many of the characters, certainly the ex-president is a cad but that doesn't mean he's a murderer. His wife had a complicated relationship with Robbie in their early life, their personal lives have been so intertwined, can't imagine that in real life but probably does happen. The ending will blow you away.

Definitely worth a read, it's quick; I literally didn't put it down... reading it on a plane ride home.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Can Robert really defend his best friend, Jack, an ex-President, who is accused of murdering Robert’s ex-girlfriend and who became Jack’s mistress?

Robert was leery about taking the job until Jack passed a lie detector test and was deemed innocent.

He agreed to defend Jack, but how did it work out?

Jack’s background information showed he has anger issues, has had multiple affairs, has assaulted his own father, and killed a dog.

Robert decided he needed someone else to help with the defense and asked his retired law partner Jane to help.

She outright told Robert she is not a fan of Jack and all she knows about him.

Jane finally decided she will help, and it's good she did.

We get the background on both men’s lives, a very interesting collection of evidence, and outstanding courtroom drama.

There are some sensitive revelations that may offend, but THE PRESIDENT'S LAWYER is well written and will keep readers completely engaged and anxious to get back to the book.

This is an amazing debut that will knock you right out of the jury box - very well done. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this political thriller - my first time diving into the genre.

Trying to piece the case being argued together throughout the trial was very engaging, and the chapters that dove into the therapy sessions were fascinating. As you read, you will convince yourself of the guilty party many times, and you may be right but not in the way you think!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy!

A Legal thriller

Attorney Rob Jacobson is asked by his lifelong best friend, the former President of the U.S., to defend him when he is accused of murdering his mistress. Typical of many powerful men, the president has anger issues, some unconventional sexual habits and can be an unpleasant man. As the high-profile case unfurls their past complicate Rob’s efforts and doubts begin to take roots in his head: could his friend be capable of murder?.....politic aside let the trial begin...

The thriller is mostly entertainment it starts at a snail pace and keeps pretty much that tempo till the end. We have intensive background on both the president and the defence attorney and through the story tid-bits of memories show up. By the end we pretty well know these two characters and what makes them tick.

I loved the court shenanigan the back and forth between the defence and the prosecutor was active and well-done, mostly amusing. Following the court proceedings there is a fair amount of edge-of- your seat action with a few surprises tossed in. Rob defends Jack and will prove his innocence in the trial of the century with all one’s might.

This story is written by a man familiar around a courtroom and knows how to pull his readers into the drama. Once in the courtroom I couldn’t put this book aside. The story is narrated mostly by Rob although by the end one unknown character share his voice setting doubts and second guessing who the killer may be..... Wow what a mind-blowing ending.....

This story is a quick read, entertaining and suspenseful.

THE PRESIDENT'S LAWYER - I did not care for this story. The characters did not interest me. The pace was a bit slow. I felt bombarded by the vulgar language, and I did not care for the depravity. Basically, just an average story. The last chapter was interesting. Source: Netgalley. 3*

I love a good legal thriller and this one was top notch! Loved it! I was pulled into the story immediately and honestly the whole way through. It's a quick, entertaining, suspenseful read with quite a few twists that I didn't predict. The courtroom scenes are filled with drama and the ending totally caught me off guard! Really great book!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Tension building had me on the edge of my seat, absolutely entertaining ‼️

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced e copy!

I would like to thank Netgalley for an eARC of this book.

When I first read the blurb of this book that this book is perfect for John Grisham fans I was immediately sold. And I had just finished reading a John Grisham book so when I went into this book it was absolutely just like a John Grisham novel.

This book is exactly the courtroom and background drama I live for: the high-profile scandal, the husband-wife relationship, the mistress, the friend who was friends with both husband and wife, etc. All of it was just the perfect mix.

I finished reading this book in two days; it was that good. It was literally a page turner. Even though I figured out who the real killer was when I was 18% done but I still had a lot of fun reading this book. And I am sure other readers who are fans of John Grisham or fans of legal thrillers will enjoy this as well.