Library Journal
★ 05/01/2015
Clark (The Legal Limit) spends his days as a Virginia circuit court judge, which explains why he is able to portray the inner workings of the legal system with ease and dexterity. It also accounts for why his latest effort is only the fourth book the author has published in 15 years, making his name an unfamiliar one to many legal thriller readers. However, this fast-paced and delightfully unpredictable tale of Joe and Lisa Stone's legal battles on behalf and because of their eccentric client, animal hoarder and would-be-inventor Lettie VanSandt, may accomplish much toward making Clark's a household name. Not only do the frequent plot twists keep the reader glued to the page, but Clark's depiction of life in rural Virginia and the depth and sensitivity of his character portrayals—particularly that of Lisa Stone's struggles with the ups and downs of her marriage—make the book memorable for much more than its clever legal machinations. VERDICT Recommend this book to fans of Scott Turow and John Grisham, then don't be surprised when they come back looking for more. [See Prepub Alert, 12/14/15.]—Nancy McNicol, Hamden P.L., CT