The Last Defense [Hardcover]

Christopher Darden (Author), Dick Lochte (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Mercer Early, a young litigator at the most prestigious African-American law firm on the West Coast, has everything going for him. That is, until a labyrinthine murder case drops into his lap-and threatens the pillars on which his many laurels rest.

An incisive look at criminal justice and race relations, this novel will challenge your assumptions about guilt and innocence-and keep you turning pages until the very end.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The third pairing of former O.J. Simpson prosecutor Darden (In Contempt) and veteran mystery author Lochte (Sleeping Dog, etc.) pinballs the non-stop action from courtroom to bar room to bedroom. At the center of it all is Mercer Early, an ambitious young lawyer at the prestigious African-American law firm Carter and Hansborough. From his successful defense of a punk drug dealer whose father is a pillar of the church and the community to his romance with Vanessa Hansborough, the senior partner's daughter, Mercer appears to be on the fast track. But Mercer has a secret that could derail him. The authors' dark view of the Los Angeles legal system extends from the antiquated courts to the corrupt or incompetent police force, to the lawyers and law firms litigating, to the victims and defendants on trial. Amid the simmering stew of sex, drugs, alcohol, violence and courtroom pyrotechnics are a stable of memorable characters, including a racist white cop Mercer must defend and a homicide cop who lost his gun and his badge while drunk in a bar. Darden and Lochte (L.A. Justice; The Trials of Nikki Hill) make a formidable team, as murder and a frame-up reach from street dealers to boardrooms to pulpits to politics. It's a fast ride with a jolting, surprise finish.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In another legal thriller from the authors of L.A. Justice, young lawyer Mercer Early juggles a puzzling murder case and a forbidden love affair with his boss's daughter.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: NAL Hardcover (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451207327
• ISBN-13: 978-0451207326
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,032,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exciting legal thriller, October 3, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Defense (Hardcover)

Mercer Early has everything a man could want. He is a defense attorney at one of the most prestigious law firms in the country; he's in love with the boss's daughter; finally one of the two senior partners thinks he's got a bright future ahead of him. He has just won an acquittal for doper Darion Mayfield by proving that the lead detective on the case, Detective Burris beat a confession out of the defendant and then perjured himself on the stand.

Before Burris is taken into custody, he threatens to get even with Darion. Only a few days later the doper is found dead in a dumpster with a witness placing Burris at the scene. The detective's lover blackmails Mercer into defending Burris who believes his client is innocent and is being framed. Mercer is getting insider information from Internal Affairs Detective Mingus who is investigating an officer who may be responsible for a frame.

THE LAST DEFENSE is an exciting legal thriller that will appeal to fans of John Grisham. It's obvious that Christopher Darden knows his way around a courtroom as he proves to be a winning writer when paired with veteran author Dick Lochte. The story line is fast-paced hooking the reader from the early courtroom drama to the strong climax.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life After OJ, October 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Last Defense (Hardcover)

The Last Defense is proof of life after OJ. Mr. Darden & Mr. Lochte have struck gold with this LA Law mystery thriller. Mr. Darden shows that he is still at his peak performance as a writer. He and Lochte make a great team! I hope there is more to come, like a MOVIE. I loved the Trials of Nikki Hill, and this is even better!!!!!