An attorney’s defense of his own mother in a murder trial exposes a dark world of deception in a gripping thriller by Chad Zunker, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Not Our Daughter and Family Money.

Twenty-six-year-old Denver attorney Josh King returns to Austin after his estranged mother, Lauren Snow—the city’s powerful mayor—is accused of murdering his wealthy stepfather. Though his relationship with Lauren is fractured, Josh wants to be there for his fragile younger sister, Kinsey.

But when he arrives, Josh is persuaded to defend his mother in court. Of course Lauren insists she’s innocent. Killing the man with the money and influence that could fuel her ambitions would be political suicide. She’s ruthless, not reckless. Then again, his mother built her career on smoke and mirrors, and Josh has no idea who she really is anymore or what she’s capable of doing. With camera-ready grief, she’s playing the role of victim to perfection. Josh is duty bound to believe every word she says.

When Josh uncovers a web of conspiracies and devastating family secrets, he’ll be forced to choose between justice and protecting the people he loves—even as he gets closer to the truth.

© 2026 by Chad Zunker, all rights reserved.

<p>Chad Zunker is the Amazon Charts bestselling author of <i>In His Wake</i>, <i>Not Our Daughter</i>, <i>The Wife You Know</i>, <i>All He Has Left</i>, and <i>Family Money</i>; the David Adams series, including <i>An Equal Justice</i>, which was nominated for the 2020 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, <i>An Unequal Defense</i>, and <i>Runaway Justice</i>; and <i>The Tracker</i>, <i>Shadow Shepherd</i>, and <i>Hunt the Lion</i> in the Sam Callahan series. Chad studied journalism at the University of Texas, where he was also on the football team. He has worked for some of the country’s most powerful law firms and has also invented baby products that are sold all over the world. He lives in Austin with his wife, Katie, and their three daughters, and is hard at work on his next novel. For more information, visit www.chadzunker.com.</p>