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Brigham Theodore #1
The Neon Lawyer
With money and hope in short supply, newly minted attorney Brigham Theodore decides it’s time to lower his standards. He joins a seedy fly-by-night firm in Salt Lake City out of desperation. After he loses his first case—a speeding ticket—he’s convinced his career is over. But to his shock, his boss hands him a slightly more complex case: capital murder.
Brigham’s new client is Amanda Pierce, a lost, exhausted woman who gunned down the man who tortured and killed her six-year-old daughter. A jury may prove sympathetic to her unbearable pain, but the law is no fan of vigilante justice—and neither is Vince Dale, the slick and powerful prosecutor who’s never lost a murder case. There’s no question that Amanda pulled the trigger—she did it in front of five witnesses. If she pleads guilty, she will avoid a death sentence, but saving her life this way comes with an admission that what she did was wrong. However, if she refuses the “guilty” label, Brigham will have no choice but to fight for his career—and Amanda’s life.
Brigham’s new client is Amanda Pierce, a lost, exhausted woman who gunned down the man who tortured and killed her six-year-old daughter. A jury may prove sympathetic to her unbearable pain, but the law is no fan of vigilante justice—and neither is Vince Dale, the slick and powerful prosecutor who’s never lost a murder case. There’s no question that Amanda pulled the trigger—she did it in front of five witnesses. If she pleads guilty, she will avoid a death sentence, but saving her life this way comes with an admission that what she did was wrong. However, if she refuses the “guilty” label, Brigham will have no choice but to fight for his career—and Amanda’s life.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2014
About the author
Victor Methos
78 books1,891 followersVictor Methos is the Edgar Award nominated bestselling author of over forty novels. He has been a criminal and civil rights lawyer in the Mountain West, conducting over 100 trials, and produces two books a year with his dog Fraiser by his side.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,957 reviews
May 10, 2020
Newly graduated lawyer Brigham Theodore has high hopes for his new career, yet when his first case lands on his desk, a capital murder case to boot, he's not prepared for it. Amanda Pierce is on trial for killing a man in broad daylight with five witnesses. A man who raped and killed her six year old daughter. Brigham is unprepared for the feelings this case rises in him. And how do you prepare a defence for a woman who is so clearly guilty?
While I did enjoy this novel, I found it to be annoyingly predictable, with none of the twists and turns I like a good legal thriller to have. It is quick and easy to read, however it lacks depth. While this is the first of a series, I doubt I'll bother going any further with it.
While I did enjoy this novel, I found it to be annoyingly predictable, with none of the twists and turns I like a good legal thriller to have. It is quick and easy to read, however it lacks depth. While this is the first of a series, I doubt I'll bother going any further with it.
March 29, 2017
Had to read it again.
Read this book years ago, but reading the books in this series had to re-read this one again. How Brigham Theodore started his practice in the Salt Lake city.
Amanda, killed the man who murdered her six years old daughter.
If you're going to read the other books in this series, please start with this one. They all short stories, and Victor Methos doesn't waste your time with lots of description or long trial questioning.
Read this book years ago, but reading the books in this series had to re-read this one again. How Brigham Theodore started his practice in the Salt Lake city.
Amanda, killed the man who murdered her six years old daughter.
If you're going to read the other books in this series, please start with this one. They all short stories, and Victor Methos doesn't waste your time with lots of description or long trial questioning.
August 22, 2019
I was intrigued when I discovered Victor Methos last month and vowed that I would come back to try some more of his work. Stumbling upon a short legal thriller, I thought that this would be the perfect addition to my vacation reading list. Brigham Theodore has just passed the Utah Bar and the ink on his certification is still drying as he seeks employment. While many of the firms in Salt Lake City snub him, he finds one willing to take a chance on him. Handed a murder trial in his first week, Theodore is in full panic mode, but can only hope that what he’s read about criminal procedure will be enough. A young woman is accused of gunning down the man who is set to have raped and murdered her six year-old daughter. With five witnesses, Theodore will have a hard time arguing her innocence, but is ready to do whatever he can. Arguing diminished capacity, Theodore enters the courtroom as green as they come and stumbles through the trial agains a man set to be the next District Attorney. While Theodore may be new to the profession, he is not completely inept and pulls out some interesting legal arguments to intrigue the jury. It will take more than a few unique legal tricks to keep Theodore’s client from facing the death penalty, but his willing to do what he can to help a woman full of guilt and agony at the loss of the only thing she holds dear. Methos is strong with his delivery and keeps the reader guessing as the story progresses. Recommended for the reader who enjoys a good legal thriller, as well as those who enjoy something compact for easy reading.
It was a Goodreads banner that led me to Victor Methos and I am happy to say that this second novel was as impactful as the first. Methos works well with the subject matter and compresses it into a story that could be read in a single day. Brigham Theodore has much to offer in this piece, though his wet behind the ears nature can something offer a stumbling block to a legal blockbuster. Theodore is still unsure how to handle himself and the cases at hand, but he is determined to find answers and stumbles into the arms of a woman who can guide him through the maze that is criminal law. Without being too optimistic, Theodore can only hope that the law he studied is applicable in the courtroom, though he is faced with a prosecutor who is out for blood. In this mid-length novel, there are a great deal of other characters who make am impact and help move the story along. From the accused who is trying to process what she may have done, to the prosecutor who has more to worry about than this simple case, and even a fellow member of the firm who uses his naïveté to her advantage, Methos offers much on which the write can build a better understanding for the story and the law. With a strong narrative that does not stop throughout and a plot that pits the hapless lawyer against the legal system, Methos knows how to craft a great novel. In a piece whose central focus is the courtroom, the story turns on the smallest thing. I am happy that I came back to try some more Victor Methos. With a second novel in the series, I am ready to leap right in.
Kudos, Mr. Methos, another great piece. I have enjoyed both pieces greatly and will read the second book in this series eagerly to see how it fares.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
It was a Goodreads banner that led me to Victor Methos and I am happy to say that this second novel was as impactful as the first. Methos works well with the subject matter and compresses it into a story that could be read in a single day. Brigham Theodore has much to offer in this piece, though his wet behind the ears nature can something offer a stumbling block to a legal blockbuster. Theodore is still unsure how to handle himself and the cases at hand, but he is determined to find answers and stumbles into the arms of a woman who can guide him through the maze that is criminal law. Without being too optimistic, Theodore can only hope that the law he studied is applicable in the courtroom, though he is faced with a prosecutor who is out for blood. In this mid-length novel, there are a great deal of other characters who make am impact and help move the story along. From the accused who is trying to process what she may have done, to the prosecutor who has more to worry about than this simple case, and even a fellow member of the firm who uses his naïveté to her advantage, Methos offers much on which the write can build a better understanding for the story and the law. With a strong narrative that does not stop throughout and a plot that pits the hapless lawyer against the legal system, Methos knows how to craft a great novel. In a piece whose central focus is the courtroom, the story turns on the smallest thing. I am happy that I came back to try some more Victor Methos. With a second novel in the series, I am ready to leap right in.
Kudos, Mr. Methos, another great piece. I have enjoyed both pieces greatly and will read the second book in this series eagerly to see how it fares.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
August 24, 2017
4 Deep and Very Sad Stars
Say what? This isn’t a romance book. Yeah I know, BUT it was FREE AUDIO via Kindle Unlimited and I really liked the cover so why not?
The Neon Laywer is a standalone and the length of audio was perfect for what kind of book was. This was a deep book and really hard to listen to, but it was really engaging and I couldn’t stop listening until I finish.
A lot of things worked for me on this book.
First, I really liked the audio narrator. He’s pacing was perfect, his voice was pleasant to listen to and I love his voice transitions between different characters. He never had the same voice. I’m pretty sure I liked the book more because of this.
The book starts out with a bang and in a very bad way (for the character, not for the book). This book is about a mom killing her daughter’s killer. I’m a mom so this one hurt a lot. It was hard to listen to how the daughter died and listen to the mother’s pain, but the author has a compelling way in how he tells the story.
The POV is told from the lawyer, Brigham. He’s a young, fresh out of school lawyer just scraping by. He only has one suit and he can’t afford food, but he’s filled with hopeful intentions. Once he lands this big murder trial, he realizes, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine.
Let’s be honest, this book isn’t 100% accurate. A lot of it is sensationalized for the story, but you know what? It worked.
I liked listening to Brigham struggle, I liked how he truly cared for his client I loved rooting for justice to prevail. It was an entertaining read which I would have never listened to if it wasn’t for Kindle Unlimited, So yay!
Say what? This isn’t a romance book. Yeah I know, BUT it was FREE AUDIO via Kindle Unlimited and I really liked the cover so why not?
The Neon Laywer is a standalone and the length of audio was perfect for what kind of book was. This was a deep book and really hard to listen to, but it was really engaging and I couldn’t stop listening until I finish.
A lot of things worked for me on this book.
First, I really liked the audio narrator. He’s pacing was perfect, his voice was pleasant to listen to and I love his voice transitions between different characters. He never had the same voice. I’m pretty sure I liked the book more because of this.
The book starts out with a bang and in a very bad way (for the character, not for the book). This book is about a mom killing her daughter’s killer. I’m a mom so this one hurt a lot. It was hard to listen to how the daughter died and listen to the mother’s pain, but the author has a compelling way in how he tells the story.
The POV is told from the lawyer, Brigham. He’s a young, fresh out of school lawyer just scraping by. He only has one suit and he can’t afford food, but he’s filled with hopeful intentions. Once he lands this big murder trial, he realizes, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine.
Let’s be honest, this book isn’t 100% accurate. A lot of it is sensationalized for the story, but you know what? It worked.
I liked listening to Brigham struggle, I liked how he truly cared for his client I loved rooting for justice to prevail. It was an entertaining read which I would have never listened to if it wasn’t for Kindle Unlimited, So yay!
April 7, 2024
3.5 stars
short review for busy readers: young legal beagle in Salt Lake City takes on a case everyone thinks too hard for a newbie, but his talent, smarts and tenacity get him farther than anyone expects. Even himself.
in detail:
Sound familiar? Typical lawyer story in passable prose, but with a highly gripping je ne sais quoi about it that made it far more of a satisfying read for me than any John Grisham I’ve ever tried.
Is there a male-writer typical “newbie gets hot babe without any effort” romantic subplot? Yep, and that’s about the only strong critique I have of it.
A highly enjoyable and remarkably well-balanced B movie of a novel. 3.5 stars easy.
short review for busy readers: young legal beagle in Salt Lake City takes on a case everyone thinks too hard for a newbie, but his talent, smarts and tenacity get him farther than anyone expects. Even himself.
in detail:
Sound familiar? Typical lawyer story in passable prose, but with a highly gripping je ne sais quoi about it that made it far more of a satisfying read for me than any John Grisham I’ve ever tried.
Is there a male-writer typical “newbie gets hot babe without any effort” romantic subplot? Yep, and that’s about the only strong critique I have of it.
A highly enjoyable and remarkably well-balanced B movie of a novel. 3.5 stars easy.
June 15, 2020
The Rainmaker
Rudy Baylor
Memphis
The Neon Lawyer
Brigham Theodore
Salt Lake City
A mother assassinates the killer of her six year old daughter. The prosecutor wants the death penalty.
No.
There is no way the state would seek the death penalty. People would look at the mother as a hero not a killer. The prosecutor would plead her out.
This was second rate make that third rate John Grisham. A Capital Murder case for an attorney with one case under his belt? A speeding ticket case. A bit of a stretch. And of course the hottest blond in the office falls for him. Like i said a bit unrealistic.
Not worth the time. Skip it.
Rudy Baylor
Memphis
The Neon Lawyer
Brigham Theodore
Salt Lake City
A mother assassinates the killer of her six year old daughter. The prosecutor wants the death penalty.
No.
There is no way the state would seek the death penalty. People would look at the mother as a hero not a killer. The prosecutor would plead her out.
This was second rate make that third rate John Grisham. A Capital Murder case for an attorney with one case under his belt? A speeding ticket case. A bit of a stretch. And of course the hottest blond in the office falls for him. Like i said a bit unrealistic.
Not worth the time. Skip it.
December 7, 2022
The TTB Law Firm
This story is sad, but the writing, while keeping perspective, is upbeat. For such a difficult case I'm amazed at how much I truly enjoyed the witty narrative. I will be reading more books from this author. The courtroom theatrics were excellent. The ending was a surprise. I admit that I held my breath.
This story is sad, but the writing, while keeping perspective, is upbeat. For such a difficult case I'm amazed at how much I truly enjoyed the witty narrative. I will be reading more books from this author. The courtroom theatrics were excellent. The ending was a surprise. I admit that I held my breath.
October 13, 2022
Love a good legal thriller. This was a short one at 4 1/2 hours or so. I look forward to more from this author
July 16, 2015
A very good short with great characters that I would read more about. This was reminiscent of, "A Time to Kill" by John Grishom.
August 1, 2023
I liked the John Grisham vibes of this legal novel. I liked that it's a lawyer series set in Utah as most others of this genre seem to be in NYC, Mississippi or Los Angeles. Brigham Theodore is a protagonist that was easy to empathize with and I liked the cases he tried as a brand new lawyer. I definitely want to read more stories from Victor Methos.
I accessed this title with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
Goodreads review published 31/07/23
I accessed this title with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
Goodreads review published 31/07/23
October 25, 2017
I would have given it two stars if it wasn’t plagiarism.
The author used the ides from
The Rainmaker by John Grisham 1995
(Young fresh out of university lawyer that no one want to hire, gets a job at a small law firm. The owner of the firm has questionable reputation and connections to the crime world. The young lawyer gets a big case and wins it.)
A Time to Kill by John Grisham 1989
(A parent takes the law in his own hands and kills the two boys that rape his little girl while they were escorted out of the court. Young lawyer takes the case and wins it. Beautiful female assistant that help him, falls in love with him and ends up in bed with him.)
The whole writing had this John Grisham feel to it, but lacked the research and experience.
The only thing that seems to be the writer’s idea is the closing argument of Theodore Brigham which is a valid point, but not enough to call the book his own.
The author used the ides from
The Rainmaker by John Grisham 1995
(Young fresh out of university lawyer that no one want to hire, gets a job at a small law firm. The owner of the firm has questionable reputation and connections to the crime world. The young lawyer gets a big case and wins it.)
A Time to Kill by John Grisham 1989
(A parent takes the law in his own hands and kills the two boys that rape his little girl while they were escorted out of the court. Young lawyer takes the case and wins it. Beautiful female assistant that help him, falls in love with him and ends up in bed with him.)
The whole writing had this John Grisham feel to it, but lacked the research and experience.
The only thing that seems to be the writer’s idea is the closing argument of Theodore Brigham which is a valid point, but not enough to call the book his own.
September 18, 2022
TW: A child is kidnapped, tortured, and murdered.
The Neon Lawyer is fast-paced and based on an actual court case. Brigham Theodore, a newly sworn-in attorney, gets hired at a law office that has a neon sign above the door. His first case? Defending a speeder, which he loses. His next case? Defending the mother of the murdered child, after she shot and killed the monster who killed her daughter.
Mr. Methos is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. The Neon Lawyer has so much heart. I'll admit to tearing up occasionally as I read, but there were also moments of humor, which I appreciated. I'm always up for a good David and Goliath story and some days I just couldn't care less when a book isn't 100% believable!
The Neon Lawyer is fast-paced and based on an actual court case. Brigham Theodore, a newly sworn-in attorney, gets hired at a law office that has a neon sign above the door. His first case? Defending a speeder, which he loses. His next case? Defending the mother of the murdered child, after she shot and killed the monster who killed her daughter.
Mr. Methos is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. The Neon Lawyer has so much heart. I'll admit to tearing up occasionally as I read, but there were also moments of humor, which I appreciated. I'm always up for a good David and Goliath story and some days I just couldn't care less when a book isn't 100% believable!
March 7, 2020
***3.5*** for the STORY ***4.5*** for the AB
This is a standard David and Goliath story and if you don't know much about the Criminal Justice System it's a fun ride. For me it was an entertaining few hours which I was able to enjoy by bringing good will and squinting real hard but mostly because of Nick Podehl's narration. Excellent.
Don't get me wrong. The bones of the story are fairly accurate but, unless things are way different in Utah, I don't know that the state would've handled Amanda Pierce in such a manner, just because of the optics and there's no way that an attorney with nil experience like Brigham Theodore would've been assigned the case nor would a case like this go to trial in such a short period of time. But you can ignore all that and enjoy this like most tv procedurals or airport paperbacks that we forget sooner than the vacation.
This is a standard David and Goliath story and if you don't know much about the Criminal Justice System it's a fun ride. For me it was an entertaining few hours which I was able to enjoy by bringing good will and squinting real hard but mostly because of Nick Podehl's narration. Excellent.
Don't get me wrong. The bones of the story are fairly accurate but, unless things are way different in Utah, I don't know that the state would've handled Amanda Pierce in such a manner, just because of the optics and there's no way that an attorney with nil experience like Brigham Theodore would've been assigned the case nor would a case like this go to trial in such a short period of time. But you can ignore all that and enjoy this like most tv procedurals or airport paperbacks that we forget sooner than the vacation.
July 22, 2015
The pluses: I listened to the Audible version and the narration was A++. Nick Podehl did an amazing job of having incredibly distinct voices for each character, with several different accents, affectations and moods. Some of the characters were slightly over the top, but it's okay because you kind of have to take this whole book with a grain of salt.
The story focuses on the trial of a woman who shot and killed the man who raped and murdered her six year old daughter.
The minuses: There was just too much going on with the case that I don't see happening in the real world. If the defendant was found guilty she could have been the first woman executed in Utah (in this book's world). In real life this would have been an incredibly high profile case, likely with many great lawyers willing to defend her for free (for the fame if nothing else). Instead we get a man who just passed the bar, and whose only other trial was for a speeding ticket, which he lost. The trial itself should have had flurries of objections (and sustainments of) from both sides as witnesses gave testimony using conjecture, surmising of motives, and hearsay. The unprofessionalism and eventual breaking of the law from the prosecuting attorney would have been dealt with differently, and I also don't see any prosecutor taking such public glee in prosecuting this woman and wanting to put her to death. Prosecutors may believe this is the right outcome in their heads, but it's not in their best interest to push it in public.
I think I got this as a Daily Deal from Audible, so I didn't pay much, and it was fine and enjoyable, just nothing to sink your teeth into when anyone can see there are problems abounding with what happens in court. Perhaps the narration saved it for me, from giving less stars. I may have given it just one if I had read it myself. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading court cases or legal plots.
The story focuses on the trial of a woman who shot and killed the man who raped and murdered her six year old daughter.
The minuses: There was just too much going on with the case that I don't see happening in the real world. If the defendant was found guilty she could have been the first woman executed in Utah (in this book's world). In real life this would have been an incredibly high profile case, likely with many great lawyers willing to defend her for free (for the fame if nothing else). Instead we get a man who just passed the bar, and whose only other trial was for a speeding ticket, which he lost. The trial itself should have had flurries of objections (and sustainments of) from both sides as witnesses gave testimony using conjecture, surmising of motives, and hearsay. The unprofessionalism and eventual breaking of the law from the prosecuting attorney would have been dealt with differently, and I also don't see any prosecutor taking such public glee in prosecuting this woman and wanting to put her to death. Prosecutors may believe this is the right outcome in their heads, but it's not in their best interest to push it in public.
I think I got this as a Daily Deal from Audible, so I didn't pay much, and it was fine and enjoyable, just nothing to sink your teeth into when anyone can see there are problems abounding with what happens in court. Perhaps the narration saved it for me, from giving less stars. I may have given it just one if I had read it myself. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading court cases or legal plots.
August 25, 2014
Ok. My rating of this book is actually 4 1/2 stars. I really like the way Victor Methos writes. He doesn't go into these long dragged out descriptions. He keeps it short, but still tells enough to keep the reader engrossed in the story. It was a very fast read. You can probably finish it in 2 to 3 hours. There were several reasons why I didn't give this 5 stars. To begin, I found the beginning of the book lacked action and was predictable. I have learned a 'Thriller' should have action and tension in every scene. This unfortunate did not. However, later in the book, the courtroom scene did change that some. Also, the protagonist in the story is a little hard to believe. He takes on a capital murder case, with a possible death penalty, being right out of law school. I don't think so. Finally the ending was a little anticlimactic and I felt there were some things that needed further explaining and closure.
I am definitely going to checking out other books of this author.I
I am definitely going to checking out other books of this author.I
August 12, 2017
This book was one of the worst I've ever read.
It was contrived, predictable and what in the world was that last chapter?
No. Do not waste your time. This is a book that stereotypes people, professions and procedures. It is a huge disappointment with so many 4 and 5 star reviews. I don't understand how anyone could find this book thought provoking or entertaining.
It was contrived, predictable and what in the world was that last chapter?
No. Do not waste your time. This is a book that stereotypes people, professions and procedures. It is a huge disappointment with so many 4 and 5 star reviews. I don't understand how anyone could find this book thought provoking or entertaining.
September 2, 2020
4.5 stars.this was really good.i realise I haven’t read a legal thriller for a long time. Part of why I liked it is because it was short. Sometimes authors of legal thrillers feel the need to put in as much detail as it would take to actually present the case. I’ve docked half a star because the lawyer’s success did suspend belief a little. An entertaining read.
November 18, 2014
A special thank you to Amazon Publishing, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Victor Methos’ THE NEON LAWYER, based on a true story, is an emotional and compelling crime legal suspense thriller mixed with humor, of a new young lawyer, placed in an extraordinary position; defending a woman who murdered her young innocent daughter’s evil killer and pedophile.
Set in Salt Lake City, Utah, Brigham Theodore, age twenty-six has a great heart and has worked hard for this day—soon to be the first member of the Bar to also be a janitor. A transplant from Tulane, after Hurricane Katrina, his law school class had been cancelled. Rather than transferring, he took some time off then came back and finished later. He wanted to practice somewhere rural, as in big cities, he knows they have a lawyer for every six or seven persons.
The market was so saturated that it was hard to find a job, they did not pay much, or a firm would expect you to live at work and now allow for a life outside of work. He wanted none of this, as why he picked SLC, a place as far from New Orleans as he could get.
However, now that he is a licensed lawyer, he cannot find a job; one interview and reject after another. With little money, no car, no Harvard grad or top name school status, nor is he from a prestigious family, and furthermore, he has just enough money for rent and barely enough for food or clothes. However, he does have one suit and a bicycle.
Desperate, he thinks he may have to go back to the school for his janitor job. However, he finds a hole in the wall seedy firm LAW OFFICES OF TTB (Tommy Two Balls, a good story here), with a neon sign that reads Attorneys at Law, a not so traditional owner and staff where the bail bonds agency next door is their best friend. Tommy takes chance on him and hires with; no salary or benefits; however a percentage of the cases he brings in.
Being brand new at this, his new boss gives him a speeding ticket. He researches, does well, and the next case he is handed is a capital murder case—quite a change. (as they are part of the public defender program). How can he hold the life of a woman he does not know in his hands, when he has no experience in criminal law, especially when she may be the first women to be executed in Utah with the death penalty?
Brigham's new client is Amanda Pierce, she is broken, has lost her job, poor, and is disabled, due to serving in the war. Her only daughter, Tabitha was kidnapped at six years old, sexually abused and brutally murdered with her body parts found in a garbage bag ready to be disposed of in a dumpster.
Amanda shot and killed him coming out of the courtroom with five witnesses. She was unable to save her daughter. Now it is up to Brigham to save Amanda’s life as he goes up against a corrupt system who is not there to help the poor.
I loved Brigham’s character! He is a smart, hard-working, funny, with ethics, morals, and a warm heart and has not become cynical or jaded yet. In addition, with his past and his mother being the victim of a brutal crime, offers compassion on his part, as a lawyer in order to sympathize with his client. Loved Molly, the colleague who came from a larger firm and their relationship, and Tommy, his witty boss with a colored past. They all take Brigham under their wing, and as he prepares for the trial, with tension and suspense as he takes control against the bad guys for a satisfying read.
The setting was so realistic, I would envision Matthew McConaughey playing Theodore in the courtroom scene up against Vince. (would make for a great movie). I devour good legal novels, crime, and courtroom battles, as an avid fan of Grisham and Connelly.
This was my first book by Methos, and was highly impressed --his style, with well-developed characters, for a compelling page-turner, which I found difficult to put down. There is much to like here, from the front cover which pulled me in (well done), and an inside view into the life of a struggling attorney fighting against a corrupt system, as well as the injustice of our legal system--Best of all the human interaction and dynamics.
Would enjoy a series with Theodore and Molly as they make a good team, and possibly more about his mother, and some surprises with Tommy's past; could see at least 4-5 more books here with a variety of different cases (legal is my favorite).
Readers would also enjoy Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (non-fiction). Highly recommend THE NEON LAWYER and look forward to reading more from Methos. His vast experience as a prosecutor specializing in violent crime as well as his current role as a criminal defense attorney in the Midwest, is apparent with excellent writing and research reflective throughout the pages.
Love the quote at the beginning of the book: “At his best, man is the noblest of animals. Separated from law and justice, he is the worst.” – Aristotle
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
Victor Methos’ THE NEON LAWYER, based on a true story, is an emotional and compelling crime legal suspense thriller mixed with humor, of a new young lawyer, placed in an extraordinary position; defending a woman who murdered her young innocent daughter’s evil killer and pedophile.
Set in Salt Lake City, Utah, Brigham Theodore, age twenty-six has a great heart and has worked hard for this day—soon to be the first member of the Bar to also be a janitor. A transplant from Tulane, after Hurricane Katrina, his law school class had been cancelled. Rather than transferring, he took some time off then came back and finished later. He wanted to practice somewhere rural, as in big cities, he knows they have a lawyer for every six or seven persons.
The market was so saturated that it was hard to find a job, they did not pay much, or a firm would expect you to live at work and now allow for a life outside of work. He wanted none of this, as why he picked SLC, a place as far from New Orleans as he could get.
However, now that he is a licensed lawyer, he cannot find a job; one interview and reject after another. With little money, no car, no Harvard grad or top name school status, nor is he from a prestigious family, and furthermore, he has just enough money for rent and barely enough for food or clothes. However, he does have one suit and a bicycle.
Desperate, he thinks he may have to go back to the school for his janitor job. However, he finds a hole in the wall seedy firm LAW OFFICES OF TTB (Tommy Two Balls, a good story here), with a neon sign that reads Attorneys at Law, a not so traditional owner and staff where the bail bonds agency next door is their best friend. Tommy takes chance on him and hires with; no salary or benefits; however a percentage of the cases he brings in.
Being brand new at this, his new boss gives him a speeding ticket. He researches, does well, and the next case he is handed is a capital murder case—quite a change. (as they are part of the public defender program). How can he hold the life of a woman he does not know in his hands, when he has no experience in criminal law, especially when she may be the first women to be executed in Utah with the death penalty?
Brigham's new client is Amanda Pierce, she is broken, has lost her job, poor, and is disabled, due to serving in the war. Her only daughter, Tabitha was kidnapped at six years old, sexually abused and brutally murdered with her body parts found in a garbage bag ready to be disposed of in a dumpster.
Amanda shot and killed him coming out of the courtroom with five witnesses. She was unable to save her daughter. Now it is up to Brigham to save Amanda’s life as he goes up against a corrupt system who is not there to help the poor.
I loved Brigham’s character! He is a smart, hard-working, funny, with ethics, morals, and a warm heart and has not become cynical or jaded yet. In addition, with his past and his mother being the victim of a brutal crime, offers compassion on his part, as a lawyer in order to sympathize with his client. Loved Molly, the colleague who came from a larger firm and their relationship, and Tommy, his witty boss with a colored past. They all take Brigham under their wing, and as he prepares for the trial, with tension and suspense as he takes control against the bad guys for a satisfying read.
The setting was so realistic, I would envision Matthew McConaughey playing Theodore in the courtroom scene up against Vince. (would make for a great movie). I devour good legal novels, crime, and courtroom battles, as an avid fan of Grisham and Connelly.
This was my first book by Methos, and was highly impressed --his style, with well-developed characters, for a compelling page-turner, which I found difficult to put down. There is much to like here, from the front cover which pulled me in (well done), and an inside view into the life of a struggling attorney fighting against a corrupt system, as well as the injustice of our legal system--Best of all the human interaction and dynamics.
Would enjoy a series with Theodore and Molly as they make a good team, and possibly more about his mother, and some surprises with Tommy's past; could see at least 4-5 more books here with a variety of different cases (legal is my favorite).
Readers would also enjoy Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (non-fiction). Highly recommend THE NEON LAWYER and look forward to reading more from Methos. His vast experience as a prosecutor specializing in violent crime as well as his current role as a criminal defense attorney in the Midwest, is apparent with excellent writing and research reflective throughout the pages.
Love the quote at the beginning of the book: “At his best, man is the noblest of animals. Separated from law and justice, he is the worst.” – Aristotle
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
January 13, 2025
I love a good legal thriller with an underdog attorney. I'm rooting for the underdog ALWAYS !
February 8, 2016
This is my first book by Victor Methos. It seems I am venturing out and trying different authors recently. What made me buy this book is that it is based on a true story. The novel is an emotional crime legal suspense thriller with some humor mixed in.
Brigham Theodore has graduated from Tulane Law School and has moved to Salt Lake City, Utah after Hurricane Katrina. He has a hard time finding a job. He finally obtains one with the Law Offices of TTB (Tommy Two Balls) with a neon sign and a bail bonds agency next door. The firm is also part of the public defenders network. Brigham receives no salary just a percentage of the cases he brings into the firm. He is assigned a public defender case of Amanda Pierce, a poor disabled veteran woman whose only daughter was kidnapped and killed. Amanda shoots and kills the man accused of killing her daughter as he walks out of a courtroom; the shooting takes place in front of lots of witnesses.
How is Brigham going to defend her and will she be the first women executed in Utah? The courtroom drama is great with lots of suspense and action as the plot thickens. The inside view of a struggling attorney fighting against a corrupt legal system makes for great human interaction and dynamics. The writing is about typical for a first time author but his character development is great as is the fact it is based on a true story. I discovered the author was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and was a prosecutor in Utah and now is a defense attorney. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. I have listened to Nick Podehl narrate before and as usual he does a good job narrating this book.
Brigham Theodore has graduated from Tulane Law School and has moved to Salt Lake City, Utah after Hurricane Katrina. He has a hard time finding a job. He finally obtains one with the Law Offices of TTB (Tommy Two Balls) with a neon sign and a bail bonds agency next door. The firm is also part of the public defenders network. Brigham receives no salary just a percentage of the cases he brings into the firm. He is assigned a public defender case of Amanda Pierce, a poor disabled veteran woman whose only daughter was kidnapped and killed. Amanda shoots and kills the man accused of killing her daughter as he walks out of a courtroom; the shooting takes place in front of lots of witnesses.
How is Brigham going to defend her and will she be the first women executed in Utah? The courtroom drama is great with lots of suspense and action as the plot thickens. The inside view of a struggling attorney fighting against a corrupt legal system makes for great human interaction and dynamics. The writing is about typical for a first time author but his character development is great as is the fact it is based on a true story. I discovered the author was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and was a prosecutor in Utah and now is a defense attorney. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. I have listened to Nick Podehl narrate before and as usual he does a good job narrating this book.
September 16, 2017
This is my first book by Victor Methos and it wouldn't be my last. I'm hungry for more legal thriller.
It was a page turner, the characters are likable and they came to life. The plot moves fast and drew you in from the beginning to the end. I tear up here and there and smiled at the end. Loved it.
I borrowed this book through Prime membership.
It was a page turner, the characters are likable and they came to life. The plot moves fast and drew you in from the beginning to the end. I tear up here and there and smiled at the end. Loved it.
I borrowed this book through Prime membership.
June 12, 2023
5.0 stars. Based on the true events, this legal thriller packs an emotional punch. At 169 pages this is a quick, fast read and another engrossing story by one of my favorite authors. If you're a Victor Methos fan, don't miss this one.
September 2, 2017
You can find this review in English below.
*2,5 stars*
Me encantan las series de abogados. Y las pelis. Y, sobre todo, las historias. Pero me resulta casi imposible dar con ellas. Y aún más difícil es encontrar alguna “especial”. (Y si encima, este no es el caso, tiene un poco de romance… entonces ya ¡es la leche!, con perdón, *sigh*)
Lo que más me ha sorprendido es que esta historia está basada en hechos reales. El señor Methos es abogado y ha ejercido y este fue uno de sus casos, según nos explica en unas notas al final del libro. Tengo que ser sincera, esto me ha hecho mirar a la historia con otros ojos, y lo que en principio iba a ser una historia más dentro del género, al final acabó siendo una historia con muchísimo potencial pero que ha pecado de superficial.
Sinceramente creo que esta historia hubiese funcionado espectacularmente bien en la pequeña pantalla. Tiene todos los ingredientes para ser una de mis favoritas, pero en formato escrito la he encontrado frívola.
El autor hace un trabajo buenísimo introduciendo personajes, todos con un toque especial, con bagaje y muy humanos. Pero lo hace de una manera muy apresurada, sin dar demasiadas explicaciones o detalles, con lo cual, al final, todo parece un poco forzado y poco creíble. Le han faltado páginas.
Lo mismo me ha pasado con la trama legal. El caso que tiene entre manos el Sr. Methos es de todo menos sencillo. Y al final todo ha sido tratado desde un único punto de vista: el del sentido común, que muy a mí pesar, nada tiene que ver con el derecho legal.
Tal y como se cuenta en la propia descripción de la historia, el caso está claro desde el principio, con lo cual, estaba esperando que pasase algo extraordinario y/o espectacular que me hiciese tiritar de emoción al llegar al final, que seamos sincero, también estaba claro. Y no ha sido así. Todo ha quedado en agua de borrajas. Este ha sido un caso de los que se gana en los alegatos finales, con lo cual, el juicio per se no tiene ninguna importancia, y aunque hay un par de ideas brillantes aquí y allá, quedan deslucidas porque todo es blanco o negro, bueno o malo y los contrastes no existen, y la historia me ha parecido superficial y apresurada por culpa de esa falta de matices.
La posición de la fiscalía no se explica (y es inexplicable) y el caso entre manos es demasiado cruel y salvaje para tratarlo de una manera tan veleidosa.
Mi conclusión es que el autor ha tenido que decidir qué contaba y qué no, y al final se ha apoyado más en el melodrama que en la legalidad.
Ojalá hubiese tenido 50 páginas más llenas de razonamientos. Hubiese sido una historia de 5 estrellas.
***
*2,5 stars*
I love TV series about lawyers. And movies. And, above all, written stories. But it´s almost impossible to find them. And even more difficult is to find some "special" ones. (And if to top it all, this is not the case, it has a bit of romance ... then..wow! It would be heaven! *sigh *)
What has surprised me the most is that this story is based on real events. Mr. Methos is a criminal defense attorney and has practiced and this was one of his cases, as it´s explained in notes at the end of the book. I have to be honest, this has made me see the story in a new light, and what initially was going to be another average story in the genre, in the end it ended up being a story with a lot of potential but that had suffered of superficiality.
I sincerely believe that this story would have worked spectacularly well on the small screen. It has all the ingredients to be one of my favorites, but in written format I have found it frivolous.
The author does a great job introducing characters, all with a special touch, with baggage and very human. But it does so in a very rushed way, without giving enough explanations or details, which, in the end, makes all a bit forced and unbelievable. The story lacked pages.
Idem with the legal plot. The case in Mr. Methos's hands is anything but simple. And in the end everything has been treated from a single point of view: that of common sense, which very much to my regret, on most occasions has nothing to do with the law.
As it is told in the blurb itself, the case is clear from the beginning, so I was waiting for something extraordinary and /or spectacular that made me shiver with emotion when I reached the end, which let's be honest, was also clear. And it has not been so. All went up in smoke. This has been a case won at the final allegations, and the trial per se is of no consequence, and although there are a couple of brilliant ideas here and there, they are lackluster because everything is white or black, good or bad and contrasts do not exist, and the story has seemed superficial and hurried because of this lack of nuances.
The position of the prosecution is not explained (and is inexplicable) and the case in hand is too cruel and savage to treat it so loosely.
My conclusion is that the author has had to decide what to tell us and what not, and in the end the plot has been based more on melodrama than on legality.
I wish it had had 50 more pages full of reasoning. It would have been a 5 star story.
*2,5 stars*
Me encantan las series de abogados. Y las pelis. Y, sobre todo, las historias. Pero me resulta casi imposible dar con ellas. Y aún más difícil es encontrar alguna “especial”. (Y si encima, este no es el caso, tiene un poco de romance… entonces ya ¡es la leche!, con perdón, *sigh*)
Lo que más me ha sorprendido es que esta historia está basada en hechos reales. El señor Methos es abogado y ha ejercido y este fue uno de sus casos, según nos explica en unas notas al final del libro. Tengo que ser sincera, esto me ha hecho mirar a la historia con otros ojos, y lo que en principio iba a ser una historia más dentro del género, al final acabó siendo una historia con muchísimo potencial pero que ha pecado de superficial.
Sinceramente creo que esta historia hubiese funcionado espectacularmente bien en la pequeña pantalla. Tiene todos los ingredientes para ser una de mis favoritas, pero en formato escrito la he encontrado frívola.
El autor hace un trabajo buenísimo introduciendo personajes, todos con un toque especial, con bagaje y muy humanos. Pero lo hace de una manera muy apresurada, sin dar demasiadas explicaciones o detalles, con lo cual, al final, todo parece un poco forzado y poco creíble. Le han faltado páginas.
Lo mismo me ha pasado con la trama legal. El caso que tiene entre manos el Sr. Methos es de todo menos sencillo. Y al final todo ha sido tratado desde un único punto de vista: el del sentido común, que muy a mí pesar, nada tiene que ver con el derecho legal.
Tal y como se cuenta en la propia descripción de la historia, el caso está claro desde el principio, con lo cual, estaba esperando que pasase algo extraordinario y/o espectacular que me hiciese tiritar de emoción al llegar al final, que seamos sincero, también estaba claro. Y no ha sido así. Todo ha quedado en agua de borrajas. Este ha sido un caso de los que se gana en los alegatos finales, con lo cual, el juicio per se no tiene ninguna importancia, y aunque hay un par de ideas brillantes aquí y allá, quedan deslucidas porque todo es blanco o negro, bueno o malo y los contrastes no existen, y la historia me ha parecido superficial y apresurada por culpa de esa falta de matices.
La posición de la fiscalía no se explica (y es inexplicable) y el caso entre manos es demasiado cruel y salvaje para tratarlo de una manera tan veleidosa.
Mi conclusión es que el autor ha tenido que decidir qué contaba y qué no, y al final se ha apoyado más en el melodrama que en la legalidad.
Ojalá hubiese tenido 50 páginas más llenas de razonamientos. Hubiese sido una historia de 5 estrellas.
***
*2,5 stars*
I love TV series about lawyers. And movies. And, above all, written stories. But it´s almost impossible to find them. And even more difficult is to find some "special" ones. (And if to top it all, this is not the case, it has a bit of romance ... then..wow! It would be heaven! *sigh *)
What has surprised me the most is that this story is based on real events. Mr. Methos is a criminal defense attorney and has practiced and this was one of his cases, as it´s explained in notes at the end of the book. I have to be honest, this has made me see the story in a new light, and what initially was going to be another average story in the genre, in the end it ended up being a story with a lot of potential but that had suffered of superficiality.
I sincerely believe that this story would have worked spectacularly well on the small screen. It has all the ingredients to be one of my favorites, but in written format I have found it frivolous.
The author does a great job introducing characters, all with a special touch, with baggage and very human. But it does so in a very rushed way, without giving enough explanations or details, which, in the end, makes all a bit forced and unbelievable. The story lacked pages.
Idem with the legal plot. The case in Mr. Methos's hands is anything but simple. And in the end everything has been treated from a single point of view: that of common sense, which very much to my regret, on most occasions has nothing to do with the law.
As it is told in the blurb itself, the case is clear from the beginning, so I was waiting for something extraordinary and /or spectacular that made me shiver with emotion when I reached the end, which let's be honest, was also clear. And it has not been so. All went up in smoke. This has been a case won at the final allegations, and the trial per se is of no consequence, and although there are a couple of brilliant ideas here and there, they are lackluster because everything is white or black, good or bad and contrasts do not exist, and the story has seemed superficial and hurried because of this lack of nuances.
The position of the prosecution is not explained (and is inexplicable) and the case in hand is too cruel and savage to treat it so loosely.
My conclusion is that the author has had to decide what to tell us and what not, and in the end the plot has been based more on melodrama than on legality.
I wish it had had 50 more pages full of reasoning. It would have been a 5 star story.
June 13, 2021
You ever read or see something and think, This person needs to rot in hell? That’s what I thought when I read what this monster did to that little girl. Hell has to exist for people like this, right? I can’t blame her mother for shooting him. I wanted to shoot him myself, so I understand why she snapped. But alas, we can’t take the law into our own hands, and Amanda was arrested for killing the man who violated and killed her little girl. Enter Brigham Theodore, the young, fresh-out-of-law-school attorney who gets the case.
Victor Methos is really good at upping the stakes and making your root for the underdog. He’s also adept at dropping in gems without sounding preachy. For instance, Tommy gave Brigham some great advice about the jury: See, they wanna acquit her. But they need something to tell their relatives…. We have to give them something that will make their spouses back off. Maybe even understand. That’s your job. Give them that.” Another gem he dropped into the story, was when Brigham was speaking to the jury: “There’s a dirty little secret to this rule of law that Mr. Dale didn’t tell you. If you’re rich enough, if you’re powerful enough, the rule of law doesn’t apply to you.” We all know that, don’t we?
I was very happy with the ending to this story and surprised to learn it’s based on a true story. Names, etc. were changed, of course, but it was really well-written. I was engrossed with the tale from the beginning all the way to the end.
Victor Methos is really good at upping the stakes and making your root for the underdog. He’s also adept at dropping in gems without sounding preachy. For instance, Tommy gave Brigham some great advice about the jury: See, they wanna acquit her. But they need something to tell their relatives…. We have to give them something that will make their spouses back off. Maybe even understand. That’s your job. Give them that.” Another gem he dropped into the story, was when Brigham was speaking to the jury: “There’s a dirty little secret to this rule of law that Mr. Dale didn’t tell you. If you’re rich enough, if you’re powerful enough, the rule of law doesn’t apply to you.” We all know that, don’t we?
I was very happy with the ending to this story and surprised to learn it’s based on a true story. Names, etc. were changed, of course, but it was really well-written. I was engrossed with the tale from the beginning all the way to the end.
June 23, 2018
A legal thriller set in Salt Lake City with a protagonist named Brigham Theodore raised my eyebrows — for some reason, Mormon authors have a heavy presence in science fiction & fantasy, but I wasn't aware of many Mormon legal thrillers. Notwithstanding the allusions, however, the LDS is never mentioned in this book, and while Brigham does hint at his belief in God now and then, he certainly doesn't appear to be particularly religious. Indeed, his defining character flaw is a hot temper that almost gets him into trouble several times, both in and out of the courtroom.
Brigham is freshly graduated from law school. Like a lot of young lawyers, he graduated from an undistinguished school with a ton of debt into a glutted market, and so finds himself initially having to keep his janitorial job. After persistently knocking on doors all over Salt Lake City, however, he is hired on a piecework basis by a grubby lawyer who runs some sort of boiler room legal operation. You "kill what you eat." Here Brigham meets a slightly introverted cast of characters, except the love interest, a hot lady lawyer who's way out of his league on several levels, so of course you know he'll end up sleeping with her.
After a couple of unimpressive first cases, Brigham winds up being given a murder case. This seemed a little implausible, but he is working for a tiny, hardscrabble firm, so we're supposed to accept that his boss didn't have anyone more important to give such a loser of a case to. Amanda Pierce, in a scene out of a Lifetime movie, gunned down the man who raped and killed her six-year-old daughter right on the courthouse steps.
As a legal thriller, The Neon Lawyer was so-so. I like legal details, and Victor Methos (another lawyer-turned-author) doesn't stint on courtroom procedures and a bit of legal education, though the book is not heavy with infodumping. His characters were a little bit cliched - Brigham Theodore, the idealistic young lawyer who's living on ramen and coffee, Amanda Pierce, the sympathetic, grief-stricken mother, Vince Dale, the arrogant, pitiless D.A., and Molly, the hot love interest.
This was a quick and entertaining read. There was one big problem I had with the story, however...
I was rooting for a guilty verdict.
See, we're obviously supposed to sympathize with Amanda Pierce. Her little girl was abducted, raped, and killed by a monster. The details are gruesome enough to make it absolutely clear that Amanda shot the right guy, and that he deserved it. So yes, I sympathized with her. And the DA, who goes for the death penalty (even though we know a DA would almost certainly not seek the death penalty in such a case) is portrayed as a heartless bastard who only cares about winning, not justice.
Except as heartless as his argument was, it was correct: Amanda Pierce picked up a gun and decided to be judge, jury, and executioner herself. Even though the culprit had already been arrested. We have laws against vigilante justice for a reason, and Brigham Theodore's entire case was pretty much that anyone else would have done the same thing, the bastard deserved it, so we should let her go. There was a fig leaf of mental incapacity offered as an argument, but really, the defense was essentially that mothers should be allowed to kill men who rape and kill their daughters. As appealing as this argument might be, it really can't be accepted in a civil society, and most juries wouldn't accept it.
I will not spoil the book by telling you what the verdict was, except to say that the ending is something of a punt. I was engaged in Amanda's trial and Brigham's tribulations as a wet-behind-the-ears lawyer, but The Neon Lawyer was really a 3.5 star read, with a good story but lacking a bit in development.
Brigham is freshly graduated from law school. Like a lot of young lawyers, he graduated from an undistinguished school with a ton of debt into a glutted market, and so finds himself initially having to keep his janitorial job. After persistently knocking on doors all over Salt Lake City, however, he is hired on a piecework basis by a grubby lawyer who runs some sort of boiler room legal operation. You "kill what you eat." Here Brigham meets a slightly introverted cast of characters, except the love interest, a hot lady lawyer who's way out of his league on several levels, so of course you know he'll end up sleeping with her.
After a couple of unimpressive first cases, Brigham winds up being given a murder case. This seemed a little implausible, but he is working for a tiny, hardscrabble firm, so we're supposed to accept that his boss didn't have anyone more important to give such a loser of a case to. Amanda Pierce, in a scene out of a Lifetime movie, gunned down the man who raped and killed her six-year-old daughter right on the courthouse steps.
As a legal thriller, The Neon Lawyer was so-so. I like legal details, and Victor Methos (another lawyer-turned-author) doesn't stint on courtroom procedures and a bit of legal education, though the book is not heavy with infodumping. His characters were a little bit cliched - Brigham Theodore, the idealistic young lawyer who's living on ramen and coffee, Amanda Pierce, the sympathetic, grief-stricken mother, Vince Dale, the arrogant, pitiless D.A., and Molly, the hot love interest.
This was a quick and entertaining read. There was one big problem I had with the story, however...
I was rooting for a guilty verdict.
See, we're obviously supposed to sympathize with Amanda Pierce. Her little girl was abducted, raped, and killed by a monster. The details are gruesome enough to make it absolutely clear that Amanda shot the right guy, and that he deserved it. So yes, I sympathized with her. And the DA, who goes for the death penalty (even though we know a DA would almost certainly not seek the death penalty in such a case) is portrayed as a heartless bastard who only cares about winning, not justice.
Except as heartless as his argument was, it was correct: Amanda Pierce picked up a gun and decided to be judge, jury, and executioner herself. Even though the culprit had already been arrested. We have laws against vigilante justice for a reason, and Brigham Theodore's entire case was pretty much that anyone else would have done the same thing, the bastard deserved it, so we should let her go. There was a fig leaf of mental incapacity offered as an argument, but really, the defense was essentially that mothers should be allowed to kill men who rape and kill their daughters. As appealing as this argument might be, it really can't be accepted in a civil society, and most juries wouldn't accept it.
I will not spoil the book by telling you what the verdict was, except to say that the ending is something of a punt. I was engaged in Amanda's trial and Brigham's tribulations as a wet-behind-the-ears lawyer, but The Neon Lawyer was really a 3.5 star read, with a good story but lacking a bit in development.
February 25, 2017
Though the book is short, it leaves nothing out and it packs a punch, making it stand out from other legal thrillers.
Brigham Theodore is a lawyer straight out of law school and after quitting his job as a school janitor, he needs something fast. He takes up employment at this shady law office and immediately gets his first case - a speeding ticket- and loses. With broken spirits, he thinks he might be in over in his head, that's until his boss gives him a promotion. To homicide.
It's clear that Amanda Pierce killed the man who kidnapped and killed her six-year old daughter, but was she in the right mind? Not only does Brigham have to fight against Amanda from getting the death penalty, he has to fight the system and the prosecutor trying to screw him over every chance they have.
Overall I loved this book. The beginning was a little predictable but it showed a major issue; every school with a library has a law school, thus making the job market for lawyers incredibly saturated. It doesn't help that many firms are only looking for Ivy League grads to fill their spots. That message rings true for many who are trying to start or find a job in the law field. It makes the reader feel as if they're not alone, but when Brigham gets his job, it shows that there is hope for any one willing to put up a fight.
Though this book was incredibly short, Methos leaves nothing out. He doesn't fill the book with erroneous details that drag us away from the story, as many other novels will. He keeps the reader engaged from the very beginning. He presents the issue of Amanda Pierce and gets you hooked into her story. Then Methos jumps to Brigham and his struggle to win this case in whatever way he can. I love this because it makes the novel more concise and easier to read while not bogging you down with information and scenes that take away from the importance of the story. His character and scene descriptions are on point, while not giving too much away so that the reader can picture things for themselves.
Another thing that I loved was his use of detail. He adds so much research and information on the judicial system and the things that lawyers must know while on trial, that you can learn a bit about law and the way lawyers do their job through this novel.
Most of all, this book provides hope. It provides hope that the victims of such incidents as what occurred to Amanda and Tabitha Pierce get the justice that they deserve. So for that, and because Methos has such clear and concise writing, leaving the reader hooked onto every page, I am giving this a 5 star rating.
Brigham Theodore is a lawyer straight out of law school and after quitting his job as a school janitor, he needs something fast. He takes up employment at this shady law office and immediately gets his first case - a speeding ticket- and loses. With broken spirits, he thinks he might be in over in his head, that's until his boss gives him a promotion. To homicide.
It's clear that Amanda Pierce killed the man who kidnapped and killed her six-year old daughter, but was she in the right mind? Not only does Brigham have to fight against Amanda from getting the death penalty, he has to fight the system and the prosecutor trying to screw him over every chance they have.
Overall I loved this book. The beginning was a little predictable but it showed a major issue; every school with a library has a law school, thus making the job market for lawyers incredibly saturated. It doesn't help that many firms are only looking for Ivy League grads to fill their spots. That message rings true for many who are trying to start or find a job in the law field. It makes the reader feel as if they're not alone, but when Brigham gets his job, it shows that there is hope for any one willing to put up a fight.
Though this book was incredibly short, Methos leaves nothing out. He doesn't fill the book with erroneous details that drag us away from the story, as many other novels will. He keeps the reader engaged from the very beginning. He presents the issue of Amanda Pierce and gets you hooked into her story. Then Methos jumps to Brigham and his struggle to win this case in whatever way he can. I love this because it makes the novel more concise and easier to read while not bogging you down with information and scenes that take away from the importance of the story. His character and scene descriptions are on point, while not giving too much away so that the reader can picture things for themselves.
Another thing that I loved was his use of detail. He adds so much research and information on the judicial system and the things that lawyers must know while on trial, that you can learn a bit about law and the way lawyers do their job through this novel.
Most of all, this book provides hope. It provides hope that the victims of such incidents as what occurred to Amanda and Tabitha Pierce get the justice that they deserve. So for that, and because Methos has such clear and concise writing, leaving the reader hooked onto every page, I am giving this a 5 star rating.
December 14, 2020
The Neophyte Fantasy Lawyer
Review of the Brilliance Audio audiobook edition (2014)
Victor Methos is extremely prolific with 40 novels to his credit in the space of 10-15 years. That level of productivity usually smells either of formulaic writing or a ghostwriter factory or perhaps both.
Formula seems to be the likely métier. The plucky lawyer, saddled with an impossible case and client, against all odds, pulls off a win versus an unlikeable prosecutor and/or judge and/or justice system. That was certainly the case in my only previous Methos, A Gambler's Jury (2018) and is again in The Neon Lawyer (2014). This latter is also Methos' most popular novel to date in his Goodreads rankings.
The Neon Lawyer is Brigham Theodore, who is hired straight out of law school by what seems to be a very shady mob-affiliated firm (sound like any other book that you know?) that advertises with a neon sign. Of course, the boss is actually a soft-touch, there is a faithful sidekick with a Scots accent and a beautiful woman lawyer who only works there so she can run triathlons in her spare time. Of course our plucky lawyer is handed an impossible murder defense as his first major case ever. Of course the prosecutor is cold-blooded and unlikeable etc. etc.
Still it was entertaining and the voice performance in the audiobook of all voices by Nick Podehl was well done. It is points off for introducing subplots that are completely dropped and ignored by the end. Minor . Maybe those are followed up in the sequel Mercy (2016), but it still seemed like sloppy work to leave them hanging.
Review of the Brilliance Audio audiobook edition (2014)
Victor Methos is extremely prolific with 40 novels to his credit in the space of 10-15 years. That level of productivity usually smells either of formulaic writing or a ghostwriter factory or perhaps both.
Formula seems to be the likely métier. The plucky lawyer, saddled with an impossible case and client, against all odds, pulls off a win versus an unlikeable prosecutor and/or judge and/or justice system. That was certainly the case in my only previous Methos, A Gambler's Jury (2018) and is again in The Neon Lawyer (2014). This latter is also Methos' most popular novel to date in his Goodreads rankings.
The Neon Lawyer is Brigham Theodore, who is hired straight out of law school by what seems to be a very shady mob-affiliated firm (sound like any other book that you know?) that advertises with a neon sign. Of course, the boss is actually a soft-touch, there is a faithful sidekick with a Scots accent and a beautiful woman lawyer who only works there so she can run triathlons in her spare time. Of course our plucky lawyer is handed an impossible murder defense as his first major case ever. Of course the prosecutor is cold-blooded and unlikeable etc. etc.
Still it was entertaining and the voice performance in the audiobook of all voices by Nick Podehl was well done. It is points off for introducing subplots that are completely dropped and ignored by the end. Minor . Maybe those are followed up in the sequel Mercy (2016), but it still seemed like sloppy work to leave them hanging.
July 19, 2017
It's not a bad book, not by any means, it just has a poor story.
I enjoy reading shallow books once in a while, ones where i can just turn my brain off for a while and let myself drift in the author words even if his arguments are not the most solid ones, this book accomplishes that, and does it good enough.
The story is the classic David and Goliath trope where the young inexperienced bold and sharp lawyer goes vs the selfish egotistical experienced dehumanized lawyer, but it doesn't throw anything new into the mix, resulting in an all too familiar read.
My issue with this kind of books is once you turn your brain back on, the many plot holes in the story start to dawn on you, and the story falls apart way too easy.
It may be that im used to longer books where the author has more time to flesh out the characters, but I felt every character in this book was lacking in personality, I mean yeah they have their emotional moments, but just for the sake of having them, it doesn't feel natural, and again, it may be cuz this is a short book (and it is very short) but in the end, it feels flawed.
I enjoy reading shallow books once in a while, ones where i can just turn my brain off for a while and let myself drift in the author words even if his arguments are not the most solid ones, this book accomplishes that, and does it good enough.
The story is the classic David and Goliath trope where the young inexperienced bold and sharp lawyer goes vs the selfish egotistical experienced dehumanized lawyer, but it doesn't throw anything new into the mix, resulting in an all too familiar read.
My issue with this kind of books is once you turn your brain back on, the many plot holes in the story start to dawn on you, and the story falls apart way too easy.
It may be that im used to longer books where the author has more time to flesh out the characters, but I felt every character in this book was lacking in personality, I mean yeah they have their emotional moments, but just for the sake of having them, it doesn't feel natural, and again, it may be cuz this is a short book (and it is very short) but in the end, it feels flawed.
March 18, 2016
This book is supposedly based on a true story and the author “has recalled facts and events as best as he remembers them”, whatever that may mean.
A pennyless, idealistic young man working as a janitor passes his bar exam, finds work with an enigmatic Russian lawyer/mobster, his stunning blonde colleague falls for him right away (of course) and his second ever case as defense attorney (the first was a speeding offense) is a high-profile murder case involving the death penalty where he is up against an experienced, ice-cold prosecutor who is one step away from becoming DA, blah, blah, blah ...
The book is very short, sloppily written, full of clichés and entirely predictable. Why did Mr. Methos bother ??
A pennyless, idealistic young man working as a janitor passes his bar exam, finds work with an enigmatic Russian lawyer/mobster, his stunning blonde colleague falls for him right away (of course) and his second ever case as defense attorney (the first was a speeding offense) is a high-profile murder case involving the death penalty where he is up against an experienced, ice-cold prosecutor who is one step away from becoming DA, blah, blah, blah ...
The book is very short, sloppily written, full of clichés and entirely predictable. Why did Mr. Methos bother ??
October 26, 2014
I got a free copy of this book from Netgalley. It was a very quick decent read. The story fits comfortably in the genre of new young lawyer takes on impossible case and wins against all odds, and has new interesting love interest. It's well done with good characters and a compelling legal case. But it's not particularly original or deep. Good book to read in transit or when in need of a quick easy book.
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