BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT, written by Robert Dugoni, is a good read. Five years ago Jenna, CEO of the Ponce de León Restorative Tech (PDRT) biotech company, must decide whether or not to inform investors about holding back the release of a product until its flaws can be fixed. Erik Wei threatens to tell the truth about the product and is killed. Jenna, having been tried for Erik’s murder, is exonerated thanks to Patsy Duggan’s defense. Did Jenna get away with murder?

Keera Duggan takes over for Patsy and defends Jenna in a new murder trial. After establishing Keera Duggan’s character as a Seattle-based attorney, Robert Dugoni writes a mystery/thriller that puts Jenna Bernstein and Keera Duggan in the spotlight. Keera’s father, Patsy Duggan, has instilled in his daughter the belief that trials don’t necessarily determine the truth but only what the evidence supports. As a result, especially with her past experiences dealing with Jenna, Keera has to manage her conscience in order to represent Jenna. Is Jenna attempting to get away with the murder of Sirus Kohl? Does Keera enable her do this?

The dialogue flows easily in this novel, and the plot moves along at a good pace. The prologue is appreciated as it gives the background needed to understand the underpinnings of the current story. The depth of this tale is immense. I look forward to reading the next book in the Keera Duggan series. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT.

This is a great legal thriller from start to finish, with a few twists along the way. Definitely a 5* can’t put down book. This author can always be counted on to deliver a good story. It is part of a series but could be read as a stand alone. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This is the second in Robert Dugoni's great legal thriller series featuring the able chess player, Keera Duggan, daughter of the well known Irish Brawler, part of the family run firm of Duggan and Associates, with her sisters, Maggie and Ella. With her father's alcohol addiction, it is Keera, defence lawyer, who is now at the forefront, with her remarkable abilities to strategise, utilising her chess background to come up with intuitive, startling solutions to help win for her clients. Keera is on a much needed staycation, something her family takes little notice of, as she is called in and learns they have a potentially lucrative client likely to be facing murder charges.

However, there is a snag, Jenna Bernstein, someone Keera knows all too well from her childhood, a liar, devious and manipulative sociopath she intensely dislikes, who as CEO of Ponce de Leon Restorative Technology, her father had successfully defended from a previous charge of murdering the company's chief science officer, Erik Wei, using what in legal terms is referred to as the Svengali defence. He got her off, as Jenna pointed the finger at her older lover, with responsibilities in running the company, Sirus Kohl, stating he had kept her in the dark as she made claims for the business that could not be substantiated. Jenna is now set for going on trial for his murder, he had intended to testify and provide documentation that could have led to her facing prison.

Keera is not keen on representing Jenna, but takes on board her father's advice that she'd learn more about herself defending the most difficult cases, rather than the easy cases. Keera is helped by the firm's smart, ex-cop, black PI, JP Harrison, but would she be guilty of freeing a killer if she successfully defends Jenna? This is an intricately plotted and dark crime read, with twists and turns that kept me gripped, desperate to learn how it all ends. Fans of the author are likely to love this, as would other readers who enjoy the crime, mystery, and thriller genres. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Title: Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Author: Robert Dugoni
Series: Keera Duggan Book 2
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Pub Date: October 22, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pages: 384

Background info from Book1 ~ Keera Duggan's father is a famous defense attorney with his own firm Patrick (aka Patsy) Duggan & Associates.
Keera had a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, until her romantic relationship with Miller Ambrose also a prosecutor ended. She then joined her father’s firm

Additionally Keera is a former Chess prodigy and loved to strategize which has helped her in her law career. She only plays online on. She considers not just what her opponent will do next but also the two or three moves which may follow. Her opponent is the “Dark Knight” and his chess moves can be applied to strategies in this case. She knows the “Dark Knight” is her dad.

In this story, Keera’s dad asks her to work with Jenna Bernstein who is accused of killing her former business partner and lover. Keera knows Jenna all too well. She also knows where Jenna goes, trouble follows.
This is my eighth author, Robert Dugoni novel, I have read most of the novels in the Tracy Crosswhite series and always enjoyed them. This is second in the Keera Duggan series. Book #1 " Her Deadly Game" earned my 5 stars!! Yes! Dugoni is one of my fav authors.
I am a fan of good courtroom drama and Keera had me cheering the entire time even though I had no clue of her plan.
Certainly hope there is a Book #3
Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this granted me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 22, 2024.

I went back and read the first book in this series before starting this and could not wait to start it. Keera Duggan is a great character. The Duggan family is great and storylines interesting
This is a series i will follow without fail
Dugoni has another winner

After stumbling over a book by this new to me author I just had to read this second book too. I just had to. The first one was Her Deadly Game, Book one in the Keera Guggan Series, published by Thomas & Mercer.
A masterfully grafted story, enticing storyline, characters so very easy to connect with, in short an incredible, literally unputdownable read. Suspenseful, slow paced with great love to detail I was more than intrigued and loved this second book just like the first one. A fantastic book, I highly, highly recommend it.

This author never disappoints! A compelling story that will keep you up past your bedtime. A great continuation of a must read series!

Excellent legal drama, with a few chess comparisons included. Great characters and storytelling, as well as a very interesting plot.

Book 2 of the Keera Duggan series catches you up on Book 1 and really expands these characters to the max!

Keera buries any trepidation she may have as she takes on the defense of this master manipulator. Someone she herself has been manipulated by. Only the best litigator can win more than one case at a time. Causing the prosecution to wonder why they let her get away!

Read it! You will want an extra time until you finish, and if your interest is piqued , buy book one Her Deadly Game just to get more of these characters.

Could not put this book down - Another amazing legal thriller from Robert Dugoni. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. When does the third book in this series come out?!

This was an interesting read although it did drag a bit at times.While it works as a stand alone novel, reading the first book in the series would have definitely helped in providing additional background to the novel. The basis for the novel is the daughter taking over the law practice and a particular client from her father. While a good read, you can figure out who actually committed the murder about half way through the book.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

With Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Robert Dugoni continues what he is so good at, creating a fast moving, well developed legal mystery that keeps you interested. From introducing the presumed sociopath Jenna Bernstein, that Keera Duggan agrees to defend, to the final court decision you follow along wondering what is Keera’s next move. After all her father taught her well and she is known as a chess champion. There’s only circumstantial evidence for the arrest of Jenna for the murder of her former medical startup partner and lover. The business was a failure and the government is after them for fraud and now her partner is dead and it sure looks like the prosecution has the reason. Following a legal case from the defense point of view is interesting. How do you defend someone when you have doubts about their innocence? With a Dugoni story nothing’s dry and it’s fascinating to watch the story develop. Even when you find yourself thinking you have the answers you keep on wondering am I right and how is she going to bring it to a conclusion. Family dynamics, development of characters, plot and the inclusion of the prosecution’s point of view makes it all the better. Just an added detail, if you missed the first book in the series, you can easily read this as a stand alone but the first book was as good as the second. A solid series, a solid read! Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC!

I love Robert Dugoni’s books so this was a must read for me. I really enjoyed the banter with the family and the way they set up the story witht the past and present. I will keep on reading and if you’re a fan of the first book, the second will be almost as entertaining. Would recommend!

Wow! Robert Dugoni has done it again. Keera Diggan #2 is quality Dugoni and better than ever.

There are those books, fewer than I’d like, that simply take hold of you from the very first page and there’s no shaking loose, even if you want. Dugoni’s books are of that caliber and he just gets better. This new series is a fine example.

I thought he’d reached the top of the hill with the Tracy Crosswhite Series, but Keera and the entire cast are even better. Superbly crafted characters, from Keera to her alcoholic father, to her sisters and onto Det. Rossi. They all come alive under RD’s skilled hand.

This story, a fine piece of work, never missed a beat. A good thriller keeps me in the dark until nearly the end of the book. This one had me blindfolded until the crafty reveal. Loved it! 😊 you will too.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing.

obert Dugoni is a fantastic author and easily one of my favorites. Charles Jenkins series, Tracy Crosswhite series (LOVE!) and the stand alone novels, every one is fantastic. Now we have the second of the Keera Duggan series and it's another winner of a series! When I pick up a Robert Dugong book I expect a great read and I've never been disappointed.

This is the second book in this new series and this time Keera is defending a childhood "friend" and as Keera's mother often says: "trouble always seems to follow that girl".
While I enjoyed the first in the series, Her Deadly Game, I missed Tracy Crosswhite and just didn't feel immediately fond of Keera. As book one progressed, so did my fondness for Keera and the rest of the Duggan family. This book, immediately grabbed my attention and had so many twists and turns and courtroom drama and I didn't want to put the book down. Dugoni's books never feel ridiculous or far-fetched and his courtroom drama is always intense yet believable. This was definitely a 4.5 star read and I can't wait to keep reading and watching the Duggan stories unfold.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and Robert Dugoni for the gift of the ARC to read this amazing book ahead of its publication date.

Legal thrillers are one of my favorite genres and this one did not disappoint. Keera Duggan left her job as a prosecutor to work for her family's firm as a defense attorney. She is a former chess prodigy and practices law in a similar manner as her chess matches. I love her as a character in this series. In this 2nd book she is defending Jenna, an old childhood acquaintance, accused of murder. I can't wait until there are more in this series.

When I read my first Keera Duggan book I knew I had to read the second one. It did not disappoint! When Keera has to defend a manipulative sociopath who was a childhood friend, disturbing questions arise. Keera's father successfully defended her a few years earlier. Her mom had always said "where Jenna goes, trouble follows". Keera doesn't really want to defend Jenna, but she thinks, this time, Jenna is innocent. This is a fast moving story and very easy reading. Thanks @NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

When NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review, I realized that Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is the second book in the Keera Duggan series, so I would need to read the first book, Her Deadly Game, prior to reading this one. I absolutely LOVED the first book, so I had high hopes for the second. I feel as though it’s important to note that even though this is the second book in the series, you could easily read it without having read the first. The book does mention events and people from the first book, but those details aren’t necessary to fully enjoy and understand book #2.

The main character, Keera Duggan, is an attorney who has been hired by a wealthy CEO of a start-up company who has been arrested and accused of murdering her business partner. The CEO is none other than Jenna Bernstein, Keera’s old “childhood friend”. Keera is well aware of Jenna’s personality and her questionable actions from the past, so she is the perfect person to represent Jenna in the murder trial. Jenna comes off as a narcissistic, spoiled woman who deserves whatever is coming to her.

Dugoni does a fabulous job including just enough details and legalese to keep the reader continuously wondering if their predictions about who killed Jenna’s business partner were correct. When I finished the book, I found myself hoping that Dugoni writes a third book in the series that focuses on Jenna Bernstein’s case with the US District Attorney.

This is the third book by Dugoni that I have read, and as with the other two, it did not disappoint!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

There are brief references to the first instalment of this series here, but the book can easily be read as a standalone. (I have read the first book, but can remember little about it!)

Keera is asked to defend Jenna, a frenemy of hers from school, who is accused of murdering the man she used to run a medical start-up with, and with whom she also used to be romantically involved. At the point the story opens, Jenna has been acquitted of murdering the whistleblower who revealed the company's claims were exaggerated, but is about to be charged with murder again.

I thought the Jenna/Keera relationship was well-done, and the Patsy sub-plot was also good, but I found the switching of viewpoints between Keera and police detective Frank slowed things down a bit. I also wasn't entirely sure about Keera's trial strategy (was that really the only option?) although it did at least ensure justice was done.

Jenna Bernstein was the CEO of a biotech company that raised money fraudulently. When she is accused of murdering her former associate/lover, she seeks the help of the Duggan law practice. Father Patsy had gotten Jenna off of a murder charge five years ago. With Patsy indisposed, it falls on his daughter, Keera, to defend her. Childhood acquaintances, Keera knows Jenna to be a manipulative, cruel, liar.

This is the second in the Keera Duggan Series. I am a big fan of Robert Dugoni’s books and did read the first in this series, Her Deadly Game. This one, however, would work as a stand alone.

Dugoni always weaves a good tale. Well plotted with a contemporary theme and good character development, this is a smooth, engrossing read. I like Keera and look forward to picking up the next installment in the series. Move over, Tracy Crosswhite, Dugoni has created another strong, capable female MC.