Trey Gowdy is a news personality and former federal prosecutor. His background led me to expect a compelling legal thriller. And that is what I got.

Here is what I liked:

👩‍⚖️There is a compelling courtroom scene that brought Perry Mason and Matlock to mind.

📚With two murders to solve in less than 300 pages, there is room for more story to come.

🕵️‍♂️Colm Truesdale has a heart for the victim. His drive to solve the case makes for a sympathetic protagonist.

😎In addition to Truesdale, we meet supporting characters who are worth spending more time with. I'll be watching for a sequel!

Narrator Toby Ricketts does an admirable job of bringing the story to life although I did notice his British pronunciation popping out a few times (like rhyming garage with carriage). Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Authors Gowdy and Greyson present readers with Colm Truesdale, a prosecutor recovering from the deaths of his wife and daughter. Still wracked with grief, he isn't scheduled to be on call for new cases but when a mix-up lands him assigned to the case of a murdered hairdresser, he dives in over the objections of his co-workers who don't think he's ready, and maybe never will be, for a return to his previous work. The case quickly becomes complicated when a page has disappeared from her appointment book, her shop/home are burned to the ground, and a it appears local judge was involved with the dead woman.

At the same time, another lawyer in town is found dead, an apparent suicide. Or is it? The district attorney's office and the local police are juggling the cases in the small South Carolina town. Action turns and twists between the crimes and readers get to know ADA Truesdale.

This read keeps you guessing, with its multiple suspects and motives. Readers will be hoping for a sequel. Narrator Toby Ricketts hits all the right notes in the audiobook, helping make Gowdy's first foray into fiction, along with experienced author Christopher Greyson, a good read. Recommended for fans of mysteries.