Not for me, I'm afraid. The writing is cliched, the characters are stereotypes. The plot seemed promising, but I really couldn't spare the time to find out if it was fulfilled. I requested this book on the strength of the recommendation of the Mystery and Thriller reviewer for the New York Times, in whose judgment I have now completely lost faith.

Proof by Jon Cowan is a compelling legal thriller.
I was captivated by this book. It pulled me along through many twists and turns in this complex plot line.
There are some good twists in the story and it kept me engaged, wanting to know what would happen next.
I really enjoyed this debut title and I’m looking forward to seeing what Jon Cowan creates next!

I am a sucker for a legal thriller, and this a nice entry. Jake West is the failson drunk partner of a powerful law firm. He finds himself accused of murder and digs into his fathers firm to try to clear his name. Really good example of a solid Grishamish page turner. No huge surprises but hums along nicely

From one of my favorite shows, "Suits,"—the mega=talented writer and producer Jon Cowan delivers a dazzling knock-out debut legal thriller, PROOF and a kick-off to a new series, featuring charming attorney, Jake West, who has landed himself in the middle of a murder investigation and more in this twisty game of cat-and-mouse that will have you anxiously awaiting #2.

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About...

Jake West is an LA disgraced lawyer, flawed with plenty of demons and a drinking problem. He is witty and charming and he screwed up his marriage with Cara and his relationship as a father with his eight-year-old son, Aaron, and thirteen-year-old daughter, Chloe.

Currently in his forties, Jake West, a once-respected attorney, has hit rock bottom. He took on his father's biggest client and proved his dad was corrupt, now censured at work. Then, his ex-best friend, Rich Kaplan, is murdered in the car sitting with him outside the courthouse. Someone knocked on the window with a flashlight, and when Jake rolled down the window, he was shot and left with the gun. Now, Jake is accused of the crime. And it gets even more complex, with layers of mystery and suspense.

After all, he was a witness, not a suspect, but someone was setting him up for murder.

This will certainly shock him back to reality. He must sober up and find the real killer (that may be hidden in one of the case files of his father's law firm. What case was Rich working on?

West digs into the last case Kaplan was handling. Even though he has no experience in criminal law, he is defending Tiana Walker, who says she is innocent, who was accused of setting a fire that killed two of her three children. He takes over the case, and things become more suspicious.

Amid a web of secrets, lies, corruption, and murder, Jake must find the PROOF he needs to find the real killer, save himself, and help his client in this razor-sharp whodunit. The plot is complex and intense, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you try to unravel the mystery.

My thoughts...

Absorbing. Entertaining. Unputdownable!

Legal thrillers are my JAM - my favorite genre (reading, movies, and TV shows). I was over the moon delighted to discover Cowan (the producer of my all-time favorite SUITS and spin-off Suits LA) was coming out with a new legal thriller series, PROOF, and it exceeded all expectations!

This was a read in one sitting for me, and I was up all night. Hooked from page one to the ending and dying for the next in the series. You may not like the flawed Jake at the beginning, but as his character develops, you will find yourself rooting for him before you turn the last page.

Smartly written, with a twisty plot that keeps you guessing, fast paced, intriguing, intense, set in the glamorous bustling city as a backdrop, Jake is a hot new leading character, and a cast of fascinating supporting, well-developed characters you will devour.

PROOF has it all from crime, mystery, suspense, corruption, betrayal, murder, politics, bribery, murder, courtroom drama, well-developed characters, snappy, witty dialogue, and moral dilemmas that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

A compelling, gritty legal thriller exploring themes of redemption, justice, and greed, while Jake's character navigates complex legal battles and personal demons on the road to redemption.

An impressive debut from a pro! I highly recommend and hope this is an upcoming long-running series. (and TV series)

Recs...

PROOF is for fans of SUITS and Suits LA, and those who enjoy works by John Grisham, Scott Turow, Michael Connelly (Lincoln Lawyer), Bosch, and Prime Video TV series, Goliath. A fan of them all.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing a gifted advanced review copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I also purchased the hardcover, a classic for any home library.

Blog review posted @
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@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 24, 2025
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3.5 Stars

Jake is a disgraced lawyer, an alcoholic, and man whose life is falling apart. He is a difficult character who grows on you over time. I started out finding him insufferable but as he became more self-aware and grew a conscious, I began to root for him and saw him as that friend that you have a blast hanging out with but can only handle them in doses. I thought the side characters paired well with Jake and played off his personality in an engaging way. There are many POVs and each had distinct voices.

There are multiple veins to the story, starting with the murder of Jake’s colleague and friend, and then expanding and linking to multiple other crimes. Jake is the main suspect in the murder and to clear his name, he must investigate and find who really killed his friend and how it’s related to other recent events connected to his firm. I enjoyed the ride of figuring out the connections and finding the truth.

I found many similarities with characters, backstories and side stories, and overarching themes to The Lincoln Lawyer series which sometimes made it difficult not to compare the two.

This is Cowan’s debut novel, and I’m excited to see what he writes next.

Jon Cowan’s Proof hurtles forward with the same irresistible momentum that made Suits such a binge-watch phenomenon—yet he resists the urge to cut corners. The early chapters take their time laying down Jake West’s shattered world, and while that measured build-up may feel leisurely at first, it pays off in spades. Once the action ignites, you won’t be able to look away.

A disgraced drunk lawyer trying to find his friends killer? Who he's accused of killing? Yes please! So good!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Full of surprises, PROOF, was an entertaining legal thriller. I found myself rooting for Jake, an alcoholic, disgraced lawyer, to clear his name after being accused of murder.

There are many, many names to keep track of, which did detract from the story somewhat, but all in all, this is a fantastic book. There were enough clever plot twists to keep me entertained. This is a solid 4-star read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced reader copy.

Is there a formula for writing about lawyers? Do they have to be drunk and disgraced?

Sorry, but I didn’t make it through the first chapter before seeing it was just like the last few I have read.

Maybe a novel where the MC isn’t so predictable.


NetGalley/ Gallery Books June 24, 2025