Set against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, Oregon, this fast-paced crime thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
About the Book
He couldn’t save his reputation, his marriage, or his career—but he’s dead-set on saving a friend framed for murder . . .
Divorced, disbarred, and broke. That’s where former defense attorney Mick Ward found himself after a drug-fueled collapse, and now all he wants is a quiet life. But when he discovers a body on his friend Elliott’s property, Mick has to get involved. Because the body belongs to a rival from Elliott’s criminal past, and someone’s planted a gun in his house.
Currently, a Black Lives Matter activist running for Portland’s city council, Elliott suspects he’s been targeted by vengeful cops. But the worst is yet to come, and with Mick unable to practice law, he’ll have to work around the system any way he can to help his friend . . .
My Thoughts
Legal thrillers aren’t my usual jam, though this will be the first of two I review this week. Not being an expert on the genre, I still think the majority focus on current lawyers, unlike many crime-focused genres, which include any number of people playing detectives from knitting grandmas to cookie bakers to grizzled current or former detectives. So, seeing an ex-lawyer head back to the desk and courtroom to defend a dear friend and ex-con and attempt to keep him off death row was a unique and interesting experience for me.
Our main character, …, did however herald back to the grizzly detectives that populate my more typical reads. Described as a big, imposing, powerful man – more common in the police car than the courtroom – he was also grumpy, good with his hands, and tired of a world that had long since disappointed him. Far from a corporate greedy type, this lawyer has the heart of gold our grizzly, retired detective typically has set on saving the world one case at a time. A former defense attorney, he is described by many as the “patron saint of lost causes,” has spent his career focusing on cases no one else would take and spending his soul rescuing those he believed were innocent when no one else did.
As a long-time lover of the cozy genre, and the grizzle detective populating all sorts of detective stories, I thoroughly enjoyed this interpretation of a lawyer. An insight into the humanity of America’s most hated profession with fresh eyes was great. I honestly on multiple occasions forgot he was supposed to be working on the legal side of things. But, then, as he repeatedly reminded people, he wasn’t a lawyer anymore.
His relationships were messy, even the best of them. His most solid and best friendship was with the suspect, which is how he ended up in this situation – one of the reasons cozy mysteries popped into my head as a slight comparison. Amateur detective books are always featuring the sleuth having to defend their own or their loved ones’ honor. This felt like the introduction of characters we will see again someday, and I look forward to seeing the various relationships develop.
Spencer’s depiction of a recent and ongoing historical movement – the Black Lives Matter protests and organization – was done with cultural and societal sensitivity and grace. The handling of horrible racism, corruption, and so many difficult topics was handled honestly and through an understandable lens. While it is always best to let minority cultures tell their own stories, this was a good story and offered a perspective that could help bridge some gaps that might not otherwise be broached. Hopefully, for some, this book opens the conversation and opens the door for them to experience other conversations, media, and more to understand topics highlighted in this story.
I am so grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me in this tour.
Who’s It For?
If you’re a legal thriller lover or a detective/crime fiction lover, I think you’ll love this equally. However, this does deal with a good deal of serious topics so please check the content warnings.
Content Warning: Racism, Death, Gore, Violence, Police Brutality, Police Cover-ups, Egregious White Privelege, Protests Interrupted, Child Death, Organized Crime, Serious Injury
About the Author
Paul Spencer was born in London, grew up in Australia, and has traveled extensively ever since. He lived in the United states for many years, where he became a lawyer. His experience in criminal and anti-discrimination law inspired him to write Black Mark, his first novel. Black Mark won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. In addition, Paul’s short fiction has been published in several journals, and longlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association short Mystery prize and the Uncharted Magazine Short story Prize.
Besides writing, Paul enjoys reading Tartan Noir, making sausages, and messing around with cars. He lives in Spain with his wife, a lazy old Labrador, and an obnoixious cat.
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/fO9RdRq
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9781916978874
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/1b3QLCq
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210447355-black-mark
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Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.