I enjoyed the plot of this book, even if it is one that has been covered in many other mystery novels. A small town crime, becomes the talk of the town and a smart lawyer must defend the person that the residents blame for the crime. Overall an enjoyable read. I thought the first half of the book dragged a little and I found myself skimming as the author used 2 pages describe something that could have been done in half a page. But the 2nd half of the book made up for it as I raced to the ending. A little editing could really help this book. I rate it 3.5 stars which I have rounded up to 4.

Small Town Judgement is a fast paced legal thriller. It had twists that I didn't see coming and kept me interested right up until the very last page. I didn't realize this was the second in a series but it can absolutely be read as a standalone. I love the fact that the author focused on both the legal aspect as well as the human aspect. Seeing Spencer fight for his client while also trying to deal with the emotional journey of becoming a parent is intense. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thoroughly enjoyable legal thriller set in a small town. this is the second book in the series and I'm becoming quite attached to the characters.
Smoothly written with a lot of heart and soul and some twistiness. Enjoyed the investigative insight into US legal system

lots of moments and layers that pull you into this book and keep you thinking and reading. its tight and smartly put together so you are led exactly where Peter wants to take you.
there is lots of elements that work to bring this book together and getting to know Spencer and the plot was an equal good time. the balance between Spencer time and other parts were done so well and make you all the more involved right into the centre of the characters too. we get to feel more for whats going on simply for seeing the Spencer outside of his job. going to the legal world must mean you have to turn off a certain part of you to do the job well. and in cases like this that must be especially true. so to see the 'home' Spencer was a good touch.
this time we are taken to the defence of a young man who is accused of trying to kill his girlfriend by throwing her off a balcony. sadly, all the evidence is also pointing for it to be true. but Spencer knows how often there is more to the picture and when something feels off. and hes feeling it now. so what actually happened and how does he even begin figuring it out? but the deeper Spencer digs the more questions hes has. there is a young girl fighting for her life and a man that somehow keeps looking guilty no matter his cries of the opposite.
secrets and revelations keep coming in this book and in the trial and we end up being just as excited to read every page that turns.
will he find the inconsistencies he needs. will seeing whats going on in these peoples lives put him off his own journey at home? and what might the other circling this story have to do with what really happened to this young girl?

Thank you to Peter Kirkland, Relay Publishing, and NetGalley for this Arc in return for an honest review.

Small Town Judgment follows Spencer Dunn, an Attorney working for his father in law, in a small town in Maine, who takes on the case of a 17 y.o. boy, Jason, accused of pushing his girl friend off a third story balcony resulting in her being in a coma fighting for her life. Although the boy seems genuine in his cries of innocence, Spencer begins to learn details that make him question his belief in his young Client.

In addition to qualms about his new Client, Spencer and his wife, Leah, are looking to adopt while also trying to get over the loss of the new born son. To make matters worse, Spencer discovers the identity of his Clients father and realizes that he tried to help put this gangster away while working with the FBI in the past. These plotlines were probably discussed in the first book in this series, which I admittedly have not read.

After several setbacks in Juvenile Court, resulting in Jason being tried as an adult, and ultimately being incarcerated in an adult prison awaiting Trial, Spencer is doing everything in his power to get Jason found not guilty and released. As much as he tries, the evidence continues to pile up against his client, and only makes him more fearful of adopting given what he learns about the teenagers in this small town.

Even with the odds stacking up against his Client, Spencer continues to believe his Client's story, and starts to find inconsistencies that will hopefully result in "reasonable doubt."

Given the revelations at Trial, Kirkland kind of tips his hand and the reader realizes too soon who the actual culprit is, but nonetheless it is a fun thrilling read while Spencer tries to get to the truth and free his Client.

I did find some of the dialogue uninspired, especially at the beginning, but it got a little better as the story progressed. Otherwise I would have given this 5 stars.

Book #2 in the series, and a sure winner. Spencer Dunn is a lawyer in a small town with secrets hidden in every home. Spencer's client is a young man accused of throwing his girlfriend off a balcony, placing her in a coma from which she has yet to come back. With no witnesses and few clues, the young man has already been convicted in public opinion. But Spencer believes him innocent and digs until the picture becomes clearer and his client becomes a target. Peter Kirkland did an excellent job in the first book, A Small Town Lawyer. With the continued development of Spencer, his supporting cast, and the drama often found in a small town, this series should be around for a long while.

This is the second Spencer Dunn legal thriller and Peter Kirkland has done it again.

A complex, twisty but immersive tale where nothing is how it seems to be.

Spencer Dunn is a sympathetic hero who has a lot going on in his family life too and the depiction of small town America is picture perfect.

An excellent author producing high quality work.

Highly recommended.

This second book in the Spencer Dunn series was even more addictive than the first! I really enjoyed how the characters, especially Spencer, developed more depth this time around. His background as a former forensic scientist continues to make him such an interesting and clever main character. The case in this book had so many twists, and just when I thought there was no way out, the author surprised me with smart turns that kept me hooked.
The family drama added a lot to the emotional layers of the story, and I found myself caring more about Spencer because of it. I also liked how the town of Autumn Harbor felt like its own character, full of secrets and tension.
The suspense is strong, the pacing is quick, and the writing kept me turning the pages. I can’t wait to read the next one in this gripping legal thriller series that I highly recommend to anyone interested in immersive thrillers.
Very grateful to the publisher/ author for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own