Buckle up! Phillip Margolin is about to take you on one of the wildest rides you've ever been on. Absolutely fantastic! Defense attorney, Karen Wyatt, was set up and sent to prison for a year. She lost her freedom, her law license, and more. After an informant comes forward, she's released after a year in prison and has her integrity and law license reinstated. There's one thing she can't figure out - who was the mastermind behind her false conviction. And with the huge settlement from the state, she's back practicing whislt keeping a lookout for evidence to take down the mastermind. Karen is assigned a case to represent a "patsy" - he says he's being set up for the murder of a prominent citizen. She and her investigator, Morris, dive deep into the case and find out it reaches further than just this murder and may have ties to both Karen's false conviction and a biker gang. Tremendous storytelling and an even better cast of characters. I hope we hear more from Karen Wyatt - and perhaps see her teaming up with Robin Lockwood?? A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

4-5/10: 2 ⭐️’s.
I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. It had the potential for a great detective and courtroom procedural and thriller. However, there was way too many characters to keep track of. I found myself going back to look for character names so that I could remind myself of who was who and what role they played in a lot of intertwining and tangled plots lines. It became very confusing. If not for the over abundance of characters I might have enjoyed this. It all kind of came together in the end, but it was a letdown after really liking the Robin Lockwood series.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

I LOVE legal thrillers. I teach history and politics so I love reading a good legal thriller when I can find one. I found the plot and twists very engaging. The author really keeps the tension high and readers on the edge of their seats. The character development was great. I was genuinely invested in Karen. I will recommend this to my book club for our next read!

Thank you for the opportunity to preview False witness. Margolin, Grisham, Turow - great legal thriller authors.
This is a strong legal thriller with a female lead character. Wrongfully convicted, an attorney is determined to get to the bottom of her legal issues.
She’s back in the legal world but she’s not sure what or who put her behind bars.
Her crusade is met with opposition and she is being pushed to make a decision on whether or not to find the truth.
Lots of characters and subplots so pay attention
Solid legal novel. 3.5 stars

Having read several of Phillip Margolin’s legal thrillers over the years, I approached False Witness with high expectations—and it did not disappoint. The novel centers on Defense Attorney Karen Wyatt, a woman whose career and life were nearly destroyed after being falsely imprisoned on a fabricated drug charge. Now reinstated to the bar, Karen is determined to uncover who orchestrated her downfall, even as she takes on a new case involving a client accused of a brutal murder. Margolin expertly weaves together past and present, creating a layered plot that explores corruption, betrayal, and the pursuit of justice.

Karen is a compelling protagonist resilient, sharp, and emotionally grounded. Her personal vendetta against the shadowy figures who set her up runs parallel to her defense of a client who may be either a cold-blooded killer or an innocent pawn. The twist comes when Karen discovers that the conspiracy against her reaches deeper than she imagined, involving a powerful drug gang, a corrupt official in the District Attorney’s office, and even a missing Congressman with a bizarre story. Margolin’s pacing is taut, and his ability to juggle multiple plot threads without losing clarity is one of the novel’s strengths.

The conclusion is both satisfying and unsettling. While Karen manages to expose key players and deliver justice in the courtroom, the lingering presence of those still in hiding leaves the door open for future reckoning. Margolin doesn’t tie everything up neatly, which adds to the realism and tension of the story. False Witness is a smart, fast-paced thriller that showcases Margolin’s knack for legal intrigue and character-driven suspense. For longtime fans, it’s another strong entry in his catalog; for newcomers, it’s a gripping introduction to his world of high-stakes justice.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Phillip Margolin’s False Witness introduces Karen Wyatt, a brilliant defense attorney who’s already endured the worst—she was framed, imprisoned, and stripped of her law license before finally being exonerated. Now, back in practice, she’s determined to rebuild her career while quietly hunting for the truth about who set her up.

Margolin blends courtroom drama, investigative suspense, and fast-moving twists, crafting a story that tests Karen’s resilience and resourcefulness. Readers can expect sharp legal maneuvering, high stakes, and plenty of surprises—while never being quite sure whom to trust.

At its heart, False Witness is about justice versus corruption, and how far one woman is willing to go to uncover the truth when the system itself seems stacked against her.

If you enjoy legal thrillers with strong, determined protagonists and tangled conspiracies, this one should be on your radar when it releases in November 2025

In FALSE WITNESS, written by Phillip Margolin, Karen Wyatt is the District Attorney protagonist. After being framed and sent to jail in an Oregon women’s prison, she is released and reinstated to the bar as a lawyer. Thomas Horan, a congressman disappears after taking a phone call. His car is found on the side of a road. I want to know what happens. How does this connect with Karen Wyatt?

I can easily picture the characters because their descriptions are so good. The “good guy” plot and the “bad guy” plot are both presented well. This plot is intricate and makes for an engaging read. I look forward to reading other novels written by Phillip Margolin. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of FALSE WITNESS.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 STARS

i haven't read any of this author's previous work, so this was my introduction to their writing. i can honestly say i was left wanting to read more from them and looked up others to get into. nonetheless, this itself was a thrilling read. it sucked me in from the jump. then as the story went on, i started to question why any of it had anything to do with... well, anything. then the pieces started to fit, and you're left wondering what was going to happen next. as things took off, i was at the edge of my seat, eager to read the next page.

the writing style here was well done and easy to follow along. the world building was also well crafted. i really appreciated the pacing as well. it gradually pulls you in and immerses you into the story. you feel like a fly on the wall as everything took place. honestly, it almost feels like watching an episode of Law & Order, CSI, Criminal Minds, or shows of that nature. which is awesome.

i would definitely recommend this, especially for those who enjoy thrillers & true crimes. i also look forward to diving into more of this author's work. this may be my first, but definitely not my last.

thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and advanced copy via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Can Phillip Margolin even write a bad book? I think not. I have been a fan since Gone But Not Forgotten first came out way back in the early nineties. That is one of the books that I still measure most other thrillers against today. But I am reviewing False Witness so here we go! This book is the beginning of yet another series. Just when I get used to characters in his series', Margolin comes up with yet more new characters in another new series. And I fall in love all over again. Here we have Defense Attorney Karen Wyatt. Karen has just served a year in prison after being falsely convicted. She sues the city and is able to begin practicing law again and receives a nice settlement. The story then fast-forwards three years and her practice has again taken off. Karen now only wants to defend people whom she feels are truly innocent because of her own history. She is also still trying to figure out who set her up. This all gives us a story involving a corrupt legal system and police officers, a motorcycle gang, aliens (yes) and of course, a murder. I feel it's fairly obvious from his writing that Phillip Margolin was actually a defense attorney. The guy knows his stuff. It is however surprising to me how well he writes strong female leads. I am not normally a huge fan of female characters written by men. He is an exception. Well here's to what I hope continues to be another great series!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Phillip Margolin and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of November 11, 2025.

A fast-paced legal thriller packed with sharp twists and tense courtroom drama. Margolin keeps the suspense building while weaving in just enough character depth to make you care who wins—and who survives. A solid page-turner that delivers on both mystery and momentum.

Margolin’s books are a,ways high octane from start to finish and he keeps the story moving! This book will not disappoint Margolin fans! Thanks for the ARC!

Set up by corrupt cops and district attorneys, disbarred lawyer Karen Wyatt wins her release from jail and gets reinstated to the bar following a post conviction hearing. Three years later, she’s defending a patsy in a murder trial that has far-reaching implications. False Witness is a fast-moving legal thriller with a multi-pronged plot and plenty of twists. There’s a lot of moving parts and characters here keeping the reader on their toes as Wyatt tries to defend her client while the bodies around them are dropping like flies. Part police procedural, part courtroom drama, this was an engrossing read that just flew by, totally enjoyable. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Defense Attorney Karen Wyatt definitely got herself in a pickle when she exposed corruption in the police force and the District Attorney’s office. She set herself up to take the fall, and fall she did, deep into prison. When she was finally exonerated, she came out with a bit of a chip on her shoulder and a burning desire to get some well-earned retribution.

The author keeps the tension ratcheted up as she goes about the business of practicing law and three years later taking pro bono cases. In the meantime, she continues to filter through her list of suspects, working to find the mole in the DA’s office.

So much going on, the plot can get complex and there is a real mixed bag of characters from every spectrum. All the twists and turns are there, moving the storyline along fairly briskly.

Thanks to Minotaur Books for gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions below are my own.

This was a very complex set of intertwined crimes where you’re presented with a bunch of seemingly unrelated dominoes that come together in the most unexpected ways. A politician claiming to be abducted by aliens after publicly challenging their existence, a lawyer who has just been sprung from prison after being framed, a brutal murder and a violent motorcycle gang are our main characters. But chapter after chapter we get new lives and new unusual circumstances which weave into the story. At times it was a little overwhelming but having read Margolin before I trusted the process. It definitely all comes together nicely with several explosive moments. I really liked that we got both courtroom fireworks and great action scenes.

I don’t know how, but Margolin has done it again! He has managed to mix every possible clichė into a very enjoyable story. Take a wrongly-imprisoned defense attorney, a PI who was a former detective, a proud, pompous prosecutor, a crooked DA, a motorcycle gang, a congressman, a wealthy murder victim, Mensa members, alien abductions, a clueless defendant and more and what do you get? A surprisingly good story.

A great read! Finished in a day! Attorney Karen Wyatt is framed by someone in law enforcement and spends time in prison. Once she is proven innocent and released, she begins her life again but in the back of her mind she wants to find the one who sent her to prison. The story has several plot lines that all come together in a page turning ending. Combine a congressman abducted by an alien, Hell's Angels, a prosecutor whose arrogance knows no end and the good guys trying to find the truth and this book is a winner. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

False Witness introduces a new lead character in Phillip Margolin’s stable of strong female lawyers. This legal thriller jumps right in as Margolin’s Prologue introduces us to felon and disbarred lawyer, Karen Wyatt, as she is walking out of an Oregon prison after serving a year behind bars. Karen had been falsely convicted of possession of a large amount of cocaine after being set up by the DA’s office and law enforcement. Corruption at its finest. Her first stop after the prison doors close behind her is a Portland courtroom where a post-conviction case is scheduled. Her lawyer presents new irrefutable evidence supporting Karen’s innocence causing the judge to vacate her original conviction. He also sends a request to the State Bar to reinstate her law license. They do.

Following a successful lawsuit against the city that netted Karen millions of dollars she begins practicing law again. The book then jumps forward three years and Karen’s law practice has grown to the point that Karen can work on pro bono cases while her experienced associates generate income in personal injury cases and family law. False Witness’ main plot is Karen personal mission to uncover the mole in the DA’s office who set her up and which drug gang lord the mole was working with. At the same time Karen accepts a court appointed case defending an alleged murderer accused of killing a wealthy investment manager who is actually a conman, scammer, embezzler, and money launderer for a local biker gang led by a brilliant but psychotic leader. The action is nonstop, the body count increases every few chapters, and the list of possible suspects increases also. Honest cops, Karen’s personal investigator, and a dedicated young DA all work tirelessly to ensure the right person is convicted. On the book’s only downside for me, I did not find the connection of the Congressman, aliens, and the killer particularly believable but was willing to cope with his unusual behavior whenever he appeared. The final clue or two brought us to a surprise ending we have come to expect in a Margolin thriller.

Phillip Margolin is a terrific storyteller who can weave seemingly unconnected parts of a story into a satisfying conclusion. False Witness moves along at a brisk pace which makes keeping track of the large group of characters a bit of a challenge. But I persevered. I read the book in two sittings as I had trouble convincing myself to stop after “just one more chapter.” It’s that good.

I thank NetGalley and Minotaur for the opportunity to read and review this highly enjoyable novel.

Sit back and enjoy this novel. Karen Wyatt is the attorney involved in a very interesting case. WYATT has her own interesting backstory which aligns perfectly with the case she is defending. A man of very poor repute is found murdered and Karen takes on the job of defending the man who was being framed for his murder.

This book moves quickly through corruption, gangs, money laundering and lots of murders.

There’s something for everyone and I enjoyed every minute.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

There is a lot going on in this interesting and intriguing novel — a Congressional hearing about alien sightings, a notorious biker gang, murders, hypnosis, a mole in the district attorney’s office, a “friend” setting up another for murder, a wrongly convicted attorney, etc. Somehow, Mr. Margolin manages to pull all of this together in an impressive manner forcing the reader to lose sleep in order to reach the satisfying conclusion. This book is highly recommended for all and I thank NetGalley and Minotaur for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.