A family gets murdered but the adopted daughter survived. Soon it becomes clear that she is the primary suspect of the family's murders, but is she guilty? Defense attorney Samantha Brinkman is assigned the case and it quickly becomes apparent that there are numerous other things going on that cast the original assumptions into question.
There is a fair amount of courtroom action, but the majority of the story takes place elsewhere as Brinkman and her team search for clues to the truth behind the murders.
This is the first book I have read by Marcia Clark, but based on this one, I will be going back to check out her other titles.

Samantha Brinkman is an attorney who skates the line of legal and illegal behavior. Sometimes she crosses it. In book two, she has a bunch of balls in the air and she's an expert juggler. But all it takes is one of those balls to fall. Then one does. Can she recover? Marcia Clark weaves several stories into one brilliantly.

Absolutely devine !!! Shes the heroine the justice system needed, she cuts to the core and takes no prisoners. Very well written and the characters are great !!!

Marcia Clark is a craftswoman with words yielding them in ways that peel back the manipulative layers of both the “good guys” and the “bad guys” in each of her books.  As we followed her every word decades ago in real life we turn the pages in her fictional one.   For those who are looking for a new female driven legal series, Samantha Brinkman is a worthy pick.

Marcia Clark always has a good story to tell, and this one is no different. A great read start to finish. Always waiting for the next one.

Another well written book in this series.  Clark does a great job of writing complicated plots and complicated characters.  At times I felt like there was a little too much going on but it seemed to work.

Another great Samantha Brinkman story! I love that Sam and the other characters are so flawed making them more realistic. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Book Review: Moral Defense by Marcia Clark
Review by Dawn Thomas

426 Pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Release Date: November 8, 2016

Women Sleuths, Mystery, Legal Thriller

Samantha Brinkman is back for another installment. There are four different stories that take place in the book that are interwoven. In the first, Cassie a 15-year-old is the only survivor of the brutal slaying of her family. She describes a man from the Aryan Brotherhood as the attacker. During the investigation, however, evidence leads investigators to look at Cassie. When confronted, she reveals a history of abuse and molestation. Samantha, having a similar experience, does what she can to help her. 

In the second story, DeShawn Johnson is on the run. He tells Samantha she needs to give him back his dope. Unfortunately, she does not have it. The drug supplier wants it back or the $100,000. Samantha must find a way to fix the situation and save DeShawn.

In the third story, Samantha’s father, Dale, wants her help with an excessive force charge against another police detective. Samantha must dig deep into his past to uncover the truth.

The last story involves the Orozcos. They are back in Samantha’s live and want her to find the person responsible for changing the cell assignment for Richardo. She must give them a name to make them go away. When they are tired of waiting, they do their own digging, which points to Samantha.

There is so much going on in this book with the different storylines. Just when Samantha thinks she has solved everything, she is blindsided. She gives the analogy, “From the frying pan, into the fire.” Samantha is a strong woman and very determined. Cassie’s storyline is difficult especially for anyone with an abusive childhood. I recommend the book to anyone that enjoys legal thrillers and John Grisham fans.

Marcia Clark does it again in this second installment of her Samantha Brinkman series. I was riveting to each page, turning slowing as not to miss a single word. Definitely worth reading! I loved it!

I had to DNF this like Martha's last book this was badly written and unbelievable

Thank you to Marcia Clark, Thomas & Mercer., and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

For defense attorney Samantha Brinkman, it’s not about guilt or innocence—it’s about making sure her clients walk. But the case of Cassie Sonnenberg touches a raw nerve in Sam that makes it painfully personal.

A savage attack in a suburban home has left a father and son fatally stabbed, and a mother clinging to life. And Cassie, the family’s adopted teenage daughter, is accused of the bloody crime. It’s a tabloid-ready case that has the nation in an uproar—and Sam facing her biggest challenge. But when she learns the murders were sparked by years of sexual abuse, she doubles down to get Cassie exonerated.

Yet, even as Sam probes the secret past of a seemingly happy family, the dark memories of her own tormented life threaten to consume her. And as Cassie’s story keeps twisting at every turn, in troubling new directions, Sam must fight all the harder to separate dangerous lies from the terrifying truth.

This one starts off a little slow and it takes it a while to ramp up but you'll struggle to put it down once it does. 

What I liked about this one was that there were a few different story lines surrounding the main one which ties into the first book in the series (Blood Defense)  There are also two very strong supporting characters in Michelle and Alex and together with Samantha I felt the flow of the story was strong.

This story has lies and secrets, twists and turns with surprises around every corner.  The end result being, it kept me reading on.  In fact, as it neared the end I would have dared anyone to try and pry my Kindle from my hands as I cleaned and tidied with the other hand. 

I'm looking forward to reading the third installment (Snap Judgement) which is out in August 2017.

To read this and other reviews follow me at https://crimeandmysterybookreview.wordpress.com/

Another slam dunk from Marcia Clark and this one will keep you guessing all the way to the end. The story line is brilliantly composed and grabs your mind like a narcotic from the first page to the last.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1802442059?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

MORAL DEFENSE (Samantha Brinkman: #2) Written by Marcia Clark

2016; 426 Pages (Thomas & Mercer)

Genre: legal drama, suspense, mystery


(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)

Rating: ★★★★

Defense attorney, Sam Brinkman is back and finds herself with another sticky case to defend. Her newest client, Cassie Sonnenberg, a teenager is charged with murder and attempted murder. She is accused of stabbing both her adoptive father and brother, and savagely attacking her adoptive mother. Her mother is clinging to life and is the only one who could clear or damn Cassie. This case is already being aired everywhere and as accusation of sexual abuse and other secrets come out, Sam is no longer sure if she is protecting the innocent or the killer.

While I still miss Rachel Knight, I am now a fan of Sam, though I don't always agree with her. She is more of a flawed character and as I started this book I found myself relating to her. I also liked the crazy plot as it could be realistic. I will not say too much about the plot as I am always scared I am going to accidentally include a spoiler. Like her last case, Sam is not always sure if her client is really innocent. As she veers between providing a good defense and her own morals, I find that there is where we get to know Sam. I would recommend this book, and series, if you enjoy legal suspense thrillers told from the defense side.

I enjoyed this follow up to the first Samantha Brinkmann book. Great characters, plenty of suspense, and some twists and turns make this a wonderful legal thriller!

The backstory:  Moral Defense is the second legal mystery in Marcia Clark's series featuring Samantha Brinkman, a Los Angeles defense attorney. I loved the first, Blood Defense (my review.) I also loved Clark's first series, featuring Los Angeles prosecutor Rachel Knight.

The basics: Blood Defense ended with a lot of information, and Moral Defense picks up those storylines, while featuring the murder of a father and brother, and the attempted murder of the mother. Samantha is serving as the legal advocate for Cassie, the daughter who was not harmed in the crime.

My thoughts: Moral Defense features three  storylines, each one involving a different client. Two are holdovers from the first book, while Cassie's story is new and is the primary plot. The central mystery is who killed Cassie's family. All three storylines were interesting, and Clark is so good at incorporating expected and unexpected twists. I found myself somewhat let down by the Cassie storyline, partly because the most satisfying (and unexpected) twist isn't the last one. That storyline peaked a little too soon and lost momentum. I wish it would have wrapped up a bit more quickly. Still, it was compelling and entertaining.

Meanwhile, I found the two lingering storylines chugged along for most of the novel only to peak at the end. As I finished this novel, I once again found myself eager for the next one (out in August). It's hard to talk about this novel without spoiling all or part of it, but I'll vaguely say: once again Clark drops a bomb in the closing scene that will definitely shape the next novel. Clark is pushing this series along in fascinating ways, and I'm excited to see where the storylines for Samantha and the three supporting characters go next.

Favorite passage:  "Someday, people are going to care more about what we say and do than what we look like."

The verdict: Moral Defense isn't as accomplished of a mystery as Blood Defense, but it is an entertaining and thought-provoking read. It sets the stage for Snap Judgment (out August 29, 2017) beautifully. I'll be eagerly awaiting its publication.

Too dry. Could not get past a third of this book. I was disappointed in Marsha Clarks work.

I loved this book! This is book 2 in the Samantha Brinkman series. I am now totally hooked on this series. In this installment Samantha has 3 problems to resolve. She is defense attorney for a 16-year old girl who’s accused of killing both her parents and her brother. Making a repeat appearance in Sam’s office is DeShawn, a part-time drug dealer who she previously defended, and the Orozco’s who want to know who killed one of their own and they won’t take “No” for an answer. Alex and Michelle, her investigator and best friend, are also back and better than ever. Last, but not least, is the return of Dale, Sam’s father. He’s back on the police force and proves to be integral in solving the mystery. 

So what is it about this book that I love so much. One of the most important things for me in making a good story is that the characters must be believable and relatable. I find every character in this series to be that way, from the Orozco thugs to Sam herself, every character could be a real person. In addition, I enjoy female protagonists who are tough and confident professionals but not afraid of their softer, feminine side, and I find Sam to be exactly that. She cares deeply about her friends but is not afraid to do whatever it takes to get the job done. I also like the way that Samantha’s personal story is gradually unfolding with each book and that she continues to work on her relationship with her father even though it can be awkward at times. Best friend Michelle is perfect as the voice of reason in her life. Alex is charming and endlessly surprising Sam with what he can discover with a few keystrokes. This book is full of great characters, legal drama and thrills. I highly recommend you check out this series.

A family is brutally slaughtered in what looks like a break-in. The only survivor is the fifteen-year-old adopted daughter, Cassie. She was hiding under her bed and only saw a brief glimpse of the attacker as he escaped through the backyard. Attorney Samantha Brinkman is appointed Cassie's legal representative as the police investigate. 

Sam and her team of paralegal and long-time best friend Michelle and investigator Alec have a lot of questions to answer. What was this attack about? Why would anyone want to kill an ordinary Glendale family? Did they have secrets? Was it a burglary gone bad, or something more sinister? How did Cassie manage to survive? And how will she face a future with no family, no home, and a history of such violence and grief? 

Marcia Clark's feisty defense lawyer Samantha Brinkman is back in Moral Defense, the second in the series. Just as with Blood Defense, this novel is fast-paced, thrilling, twisty, and really hard to put down. Marcia Clark, former L.A. prosecutor and masterful writer, has again crafted a novel that takes you on a roller coaster of a ride through law and order, through guilt and innocence, through knowing the truth to questioning every idea. Like all the best thriller writers, she keeps us guessing until the very end. And I wouldn't have it any other way. 



Galleys for Moral Defense provided by the publisher through NetGalley.com.

Marcia Clark has a voice easily believed and creates characters and situations with depth.  She reveals backstory quickly so the reader bonds quickly with them easily. Although I enjoyed the Samantha Brickman character more (Blood Defense). I would read this series because this author's style is entertaining and intriguing