Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales by Randy Singer

Landon Reed was an all-star quarterback for Southeastern University. Caught in a financial bind, he agreed to shave a few points off of games he knew his team would win anyway. But he got caught and as the novel opens, he is just being released after completing his prison sentence.

Waiting for him is Kerri, his loyal girlfriend, and Maddie, their daughter. Landon is a changed man. In prison he came to faith in Jesus and the first thing he wants to do is marry Kerri.

The story quickly moves to Landon's review before Virginia Board of Bar Examiners. Landon has earned his law degree and wants to practice. It is a hard sell, because of his prison time but he convinces the examiners that he is a new man and he passes.

One of the examiners is Harry McNaughten, an old criminal defense lawyer. After months of not being able to land a position with a law firm, he runs into Harry again. Landon has been in a fight in a bar. Though he did not start it, he may lose his privilege to practice law. He is saved from that when Harry comes to his rescue. Harry offers Landon a job with his law firm, much to the dismay of his partners.

Landon works with Harry on a high profile murder case. He is a bit disturbed by Harry's unusual techniques and then his world is turned on end. Harry is murdered. Then two more from the firm are killed. Suddenly, working for this law firm can be deadly.

Singer has crafted a great legal thriller. He weaves several stories together to create the drama. There is a retired CIA undercover operative, now the owner of a large private special forces company, who is out to kill those in government who let his foreign girlfriend be tortured to death. There is the successful district prosecutor now accused of embezzlement and murder. And there is Kerri, successful investigative reporter for a local television station.

Readers who like Grisham will like this novel. The characters are well developed and the action is tight. Landon and Kerri are Christians and their faith is essential as they face danger. You learn a little about football and lots about the legal system. I enjoyed it from cover to cover. The twist at the end was great too.

You can read the first chapter here.

Watch the author video here.

Watch the book trailer here.

Randy Singer is an award-winning author and veteran trial attorney. He was recently a finalist with John Grisham and Michael Connelly for the inaugural Harper lee Prize for Legal Fiction sponsored by the University of Alabama School of Law and the ABA Journal. Randy and his wife have two grown children and live in Virginia Beach. You can visit Randy Singer's website at http://www.randysinger.net/.

You can read an interview with Randy Singer and find out what inspired him to write this book, what lessons he wanted readers to find, and what he is writing now here.

Tyndale House Publishers, 448 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.