#ThrowbackThursday ~ Bum Luck by Paul Levine #Audiobook #LegalThriller

Throwback Thursday this week features Bum Luck, one of a series featuring lawyer, Jake Lassiter. I listened to the audiobook which was released in 2017 and performed by Luke Daniels.

My Thoughts

Jake Lassiter, criminal defence lawyer and ex linebacker for the Miami Dolphins, feels like killing his client after he won the case. He was not expecting to win as the evidence seemed unquestionable, but Thunder Thurston, high profile football star, has been found not guilty of murdering his wife. Jake is angry at himself, for doing his job too well, and Thunder. He’s certain Thunder is guilty and is completely disillusioned about the justice system, fantasising about taking matters into his own hands. To add to his problems Jake learns the District Attorney is attempting to charge him with jury tampering and bribing a witness.

Running alongside this story line is another case Jake is defending, about a mother of two who commits suicide. His friends, law partners Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord, are prosecuting. The insurance company claims they are not liable but certain facts come to light which cast doubt on their assertions. Those facts could also relate to Jake and the recent health issues which are a concern to his friends and family. This is another case where Jake knows his client is in the wrong but he is duty bound to represent them to the best of his ability, even if it does go against his personal code of justice.

I can believe this is basically true to life, in that it emphasises the imperfections of the justice system. Jake Lassiter has re-established his ethical code. It’s not all about winning cases anymore as it is for most lawyers, he wants just and fair treatment meted out. An entertaining, well written and thought provoking legal thriller, with distinctive characters and multiple threads woven together to create a very satisfying conclusion. 

The story has a serious theme running through, regarding CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a disease which affects people who have suffered repeated and/or severe blows to the head. 

Jake is a great character, unconventional, eminently likeable and quirky. I enjoyed the story line very much, it’s sharp, fun and witty, and enhanced by Luke Daniels’ performance, which always guarantees a great listen. Although this is part of a series there’s enough back story to make it able to be read as a stand alone.

“Thirty seconds after the jury announced its verdict, I decided to kill my client.” – Jake Lassiter

Lassiter believes that his NFL superstar client murdered his wife. But the jury said “not guilty.” Unable to let it go, Lassiter, vows to become a vigilante. His pals, squabbling law partners Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord, fear that all those concussions playing football caused the brain damage known as CTE.

Can Solomon & Lord stop Lassiter from becoming a murderer?
Can Dr. Melissa Gold’s treatments halt his decline?
Or…is it game over for Lassiter’s career and life?