Fresh Start

A 3J Mystery, Book 1

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Pub Date 26 Jul 2021 | Archive Date 03 Aug 2021

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Description

A secret family legacy becomes a ticking time bomb ...

Skyscraper developer, Quincy Witherman, has continued his family's two-hundred-year practice of hiding assets in Switzerland. Now, needing protection from his creditors, he hires bankruptcy lawyer Josephina Jillian Jones – 3J – but fails to disclose the Swiss assets to 3J, his bankers, the IRS, and the bankruptcy court ... all felonies. 3J knows in her gut that something is wrong. So does Witherman's banker, Stacy Milnes.

Will anyone catch Witherman?

A secret family legacy becomes a ticking time bomb ...

Skyscraper developer, Quincy Witherman, has continued his family's two-hundred-year practice of hiding assets in Switzerland. Now, needing...


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ISBN 9781734557121
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Featured Reviews

This is the first of an intended series with Josephina Jillian Jones, the first Afro-America bankruptcy lawyer in Kansas City. Mark Shaiken, a former corporate bankruptcy attorney has previously published nonfiction books, but this is his first legal thriller. Whilst a developer hiding financial assets in Switzerland is an unusual and perhaps unenticing hook for most readers, it seemed intriguing enough to deserve a review. Told from the perspective of three characters, this is no average law mystery but a most engaging nuanced joy of a read. Highly recommended for those who like a more psychologically involved read with a tantalising vibe of who is the real criminal. So, motivation is an interesting underlying motif and there is even a left field Spockian reference. This is no dry bankruptcy story but a delightfully enchanting five-star rated read. With much thanks to Independently Published and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes.

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I am so pleased that I stumbled upon this title on Twitter. Fresh Start (A 3J Mystery 1) is the story of Mr. Quincy Gunn Witherman, a commercial real estate mogul. Quincy modestly resides in Kansas City, Missouri. The author describes the Midwestern city, including interesting facts and history of the area throughout the book. The story will include entities in St. Louis, Houston, NY, S. Africa, London and Philadelphia, 
Quincy has a 200 year family tree built in real estate, wealth, debt, death, loss, and hiding assets in Switzerland.
Quicy builds, (and is the holding company and management company) for reknowned skyscrapers in major cities for retail office space. The primary agent bank in his group of lenders has just excersized a contract clause demanding payment of $30 million on his current project. In light of this, Quincy hires the law firm Greene Madison to begin Chapter 11 bankruptcy procedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri. Josephina Jillian Jones (3J), the first African American bankruptcy attorney practicing at Greene Madison LLAP law firm, with her partner Bill Pascale, will represent Quincy. 3J has doubts about Quincy from day one.
The book is an intricate look at banking, terms, clauses, loan structure and payouts, interest, default payment, appraisals, collections, debt restructure, relief measures, debtors and creditors. It is the story of Quincy's complicated bankruptcy case. There are clients, lawyers, and  judges. The story is action packed with secrets, lies, criminal activity and legal dilemmas. Did Quincy hide money in a Swiss bank, will he get caught? Will the banks get paid or end up owning and managing office buildings? Will the law prevail? Will justice be done?
First Commercial Bank in St. Louis, MO. Is the agent bank where Stacy Milne is head of the bank’s special asset group. She is an unpleasant, acidic, direct, unlikable person. She's convinced Quincy's hiding money and will stop at nothing to catch him.
Federal Judge Robertson, presiding over his first bankruptcy case, will ultimately decide the fate of both the debtor and creditor.
I have an accounting background and once worked at a small law firm, so the topics were ideal for me. I have zero knowledge of commercial bank loans, so I learned lots. The explanations and terms were explained quite clearly and I think anyone who enjoys a suspenseful legal mystery will love this one. I could hardly put the book down. It was full of intrigue. I highly recommend.
I haven't read Mark Shaiken before. The title makes me believe this is the start of a new series and I can't wait to read the next one!
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance digital copy, this review is my voluntary opinion.

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My review of Fresh Start appeared at Ricochet.com at
https://ricochet.com/1026187/a-collision-of-two-unscrupulous-people/
and Lobsterforest,com at
https://lobsterforest.com/this-weeks-book-review-fresh-start/

Go to the URL for the Review.

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I really enjoyed this book. Character development was good. The plot was very interesting. Not a lot of typos.

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