This debut legal thriller will have you flipping pages and missing bedtime. This has long been my favorite genre and it didn’t disappoint. You can immediately tell the author has both the background and experience in the legal system. The first of the book is a slow build, stick with it, you won’t be disappointed. The story was easy to read with good descriptions and not overly complicated by legalese. Being set in Washington, DC there is a heavy presence of gossip, rumors, media attention and politics. The protagonist of the plot is defense attorney Robbie. His character is developed beginning far back in his teenage years when the friendship with the future President of the United States began. The heart of the case for me was predicated on that relationship. Both men loved the same women which resulted in a clear dominant figure. The trust Robbie has in his longtime friend will be tested when Jack (former president) Is charged with murdering his lover. Jack’s wife, Jess, plays a significant role in not only the case but in their history. There are sordid affairs, jilted lovers, lies and suspects at every turn, the resolution will have you gasping. I hope there will be many more to come by this talented author.
NetGalley provided an advanced uncorrected reader’s copy of “The President’s Lawyer” by Lawrence S. Robbins, Simon & Schuster, Atria Books, anticipated publication is 10/08/2024. The thoughts expressed here are always my own honest personal opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

This book was described as a John Grisham style book and I think it fits that category.. interesting scenario in which a former President is accused of murder. He is being defended by his lifetime friend who has additional spoiler conflicts that I won’t reveal here. The book held my interest the entire time and the actual trial was revealing, riveting, and had me speculating. The ending of the book was interesting and not fully expected. I am confident this book will do well when released to the public.

Thanks to the publisher for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Aldair George attended Yale Law School but is now a lawyer in North Carolina who just handles plea deals for out-of-state speeding tickets. After attending a Yale reunion, he makes contact with his two best friends during law school and ends up defending one of them for murder.

The plot is complicated and pulls in everything from genetic engineering to Cold War Relations. But the story is fast paced and I enjoyed it even though there were parts that were unnecessary. For instance, at one point Aldair is using facial recognition on other characters and finding out that more than one of them had previous identities. I had no trouble following the plot, but some of the twists near the end seemed to be there just to pull all the threads together into a nicely finished bundle.

A lawyer for the former President is found dead at a Rock Creek Park horse stable and the President is the leading suspect. He asks his long time friend to represent him and keep him from prison.

There is a lot going on in this book that seems implausible, It is and it isn't your typical legal thriller. Instead of focusing on the evidence and proving it wrong. Robbins goes into the back story of the characters lives. Which turns rather tawdry for an old prude as myself. If you are not into partner sharing its a little odd reading.

However Robbins somehow holds this all together and creates a pretty fast paged page turner. I really enjoyed the novel and look forward to more despite some unusual plotting holes. You will like it. I sure did.

Very few books do y9ou ever read that absolutely stays with you. When you finish that last page, you sit and marvel at what you have read
This is one of thoe books! The novel centers around a past President who is on trial and who has asked his old famliy lawyer friend to handle his case.

I was absolutley mesmerized by this book. It is masterfully crafted and a simply riveting read which was almost impossible to put down

One of the best reads of 2024. Will be on the Best eller list for a long time!

This was good. I definitely didn’t see the twists coming. I enjoyed the ride for sure! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The President's Lawyer is one of the most compelling reads I have encountered. While the book focuses on the death of a lawyer who at one time worked for the President of the United States, it also focuses on the likelihood, given the evidence, that the President committed that crime.
Much of the book focuses on the exciting criminal trial of the President and the interplay of those who knew him, loved him, hated him, represented him and prosecuted him. I confess that the book kept me guessing in its entirety. At times, I felt certain that I knew what the outcome would be and at other times, I recognized how little I knew.
Could not put the book down, enjoyed the characters, the story line and the many twists and turns.


I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

An interesting plot with a real twist at the end. Characters are interesting and flawed. Plot twists and turns.

A lawyer who defends himself has a fool for a client. This should probably apply to lawyers and best friends as well. So much of the relationship and baggage associated with it colors the defense. After a slow start, the story gets going and a twist at the end proves interesting .

I loved the thriller element of this novel, it had a great overall concept in the genre. It uses the former President perfectly and had a tense atmosphere that I was hoping for. I thought it was great that he had to prove his friend's innocence. The characters felt like real people and I was hooked from the first chapter. Lawrence Robbins writes a great overall story and had a great legal thriller overall. I can't wait to read more from this author.

The President's Lawyer by Lawrence Robbins was advertised as a "high-stakes legal thriller." While the courtroom scenes were good, the story felt a bit off.

The story is about a Washington, DC, litigator who is hired to defend his best friend, the former President of the United States, against a murder charge. There were some parallels to today's political environment.

As I stated, there were good, dramatic courtroom scenes and a very good surprise ending.

I would probably recommend this book, and I would read more from this author.

#NetGalley @AtriaBooks

Thanks @netgalley and @atriabooks for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Wow! I’m still thinking about the end of that book. I thought I had it all worked out, but that was a twist that I did not see coming. I can’t resist a good courtroom drama. Lots of disturbing elements here, but also a hard book to but down. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read in my books. Check this one out in October 2024. #avivaandfriendsrecos

This book was a struggle in the first half. I felt like there was no significant plot happening for about 7 whole chapters and a lot of info dumping. I did enjoy the courtroom and trial aspects of the book and the “twist” at the end was unpredictable but in a way where it just came out of nowhere not that it was so carefully done or executed.

The men in this book were far too comfortable with having relationships with women that other men they are friends with had relationships with and that for me was a huge negative.

I would recommend this to people who like procedurals and those who enjoyed older thriller novels like John Grisham but fans of thrillers that are fast paced would probably not enjoy this one.

I received an ARC of this debut novel through NetGalley.

When one gets an invitation from NetGalley to read an ARC of a debut novel, in my mind it can mean one of two things. Either the author or publisher is desperate to get a struggling book some attention. Or they are so sure they have a hit on their hands and want the word to spread. With The President's Lawyer, the latter is the case.

This one is about an ex-POTUS, accused of murder, who pleads with his friend since childhood to defend him. The ex-POTUS is NOT a complete knockoff of a certain former President, which I was grateful for. This ex-POTUS is a Democrat, for one, but he is a womanizer, a bully and not too honest.

The author is an experienced attorney and the legal strategy and the courtroom scenes are quite authentic.

I was close to giving this 5 stars but was disappointed in the conclusion. Nevertheless, this was a very riveting novel that I recommend highly.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for the copy of The President's Lawyer by Lawrence Robbins. This was a great premise, and I love legal thrillers, so I put this at the top of my list to read. Jack was too bad for it to be believable that he had been the President without a ton of scandals, and that people would be surprised about his indiscretions with the way social media is today. I liked the scheming, planning, and the trial itself, even though that repetitive closing argument went on too long.
I’m sure some readers will love the final reveal, but sadly it was my most hated trope so it was a major disappointment to me. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Great political thriller with a phenomenal twist that just says "WOW"!!!
Didn't see that coming!!
Rob is called in by his very close friend and former President to defend him against a murder charge. de4spite having been romantically involved with the deceased himself and against his better judgement, he takes the case on and the story takes off.
No looking back as you flip the pages to get to the next incredibly winding twist.
The characters are really well defined and the plot is scrupulously maintained in a forward direction with side stories that keep you
absolutely spinning as you try to keep up.
One curve after another makes for a dynamic and really , really good story.
Great job by Robbins with the absolute attention to every single detail making it an easy read despite the legal and political machinations.
Robbie is definitely a man of many talents.