MORTAL SIN (The Jake Lassiter Series) [Kindle Edition]

Paul Levine (Author)

Book Description

"The action is non-stop." - Chicago Tribune

Jake Lassiter has a dangerous conflict of interest. He's sleeping with Nicky Florio's wife...and defending the mob-connected millionaire in court. Florio has hatched a scheme deep in the Florida Everglades that oozes corruption, blood, and money. One false move, and Jake will be gator bait.

WHAT DO THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT "MORTAL SIN?"

"Engaging...lively...colorful. The plot races with mounting tension." - Miami Herald

"Just the remedy for those who can't get enough Spenser and miss Travis McGee terribly." - St. Petersburg Times

"'Mortal Sin' may not be better than a trip to Florida, but it's the next best thing." - Detroit Free Press

"Recalling the work of Carl Hiaasen, this thriller races to a smashing climax." - Library Journal.

"Wonderfully funny, sexy, and terrifying." - Dave Barry

WHAT'S THE VERDICT ON JAKE LASSITER?

"Irreverent...genuinely clever...great fun." - The New York Times Book Review

"Just the remedy for those who can't get enough Spenser and miss Travis McGee terribly." - St. Petersburg Times

"Jake Lassiter is attractive, funny, savvy, and brave." - Chicago Tribune

"Genuinely chilling." Washington Post Book World

"Wildly entertaining." - "St. Louis Post Dispatch

"Take one part John Grisham, two parts Carl Hiaasen, throw in a dash of John D. MacDonald, and voila! You've got Jake Lassiter." - Tulsa World

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author of 17 novels, Paul Levine won the John D. MacDonald fiction award and was nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, International Thriller, and James Thurber prizes. A former trial lawyer, he also wrote more than 20 episodes of the CBS military drama "JAG."  He is also the author of the "Solomon vs. Lord" series, the thrillers "Illegal," "Ballistic" and "Paydirt," and the Supreme Court novel "Impact."  His latest novel is "Last Chance Lassiter."  More info at paul-levine.com

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THE JAKE LASSITER SERIES

To Speak for the Dead
Night Vision
False Dawn
Mortal Sin
Riptide
Fool Me Twice
Flesh & Bones
Lassiter
Last Chance Lassiter 

OTHER NOVELS BY PAUL LEVINE

Solomon vs. Lord
The Deep Blue Alibi
Kill All the Lawyers
Habeas Porpoise
Illegal
Impact
Ballistic
Paydirt 
More info at paul-levine.com

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This fourth Jake Lassiter novel depicts the former football star investigating a Miami real estate racket.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Lawyer Jake Lassiter is defending Florida real estate developer Nicky Florio in a civil suit regarding an environmentalist's death at a poolside party. While Lassiter has doubts that the death was accidental, he also worries about the possible conflict of interest involved in sleeping with his client's wife, Gina. After Lassiter wins the case, he is sucked into the machinations of Florio and Gina and finds himself witness to a beheading, accused of embezzlement and murder, and on the run. Indian rights, animal rights, and slimy politicians and lawyers all surface in this fourth Lassiter novel. Permeated with cynicism and the corruption of South Florida that recall the work of Carl Hiaasen, this thriller races to a smashing climax. Recommended for public libraries.
- Robert H. Donahugh, formerly with Youngstown & Mahoning Cty. P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 436 KB
• Print Length: 304 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0042X991C
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,525 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #77 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Series

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "All Life Is Six To Five Against." July 24, 2005

By J. H. Minde TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

MORTAL SIN is Paul Levine's fourth Jake Lassiter novel. Having learned the lessons about excess represented by FALSE DAWN, Levine has written a superbly crafted and finely focused thriller. MORTAL SIN is well deserving of its John D. MacDonald Award, and certainly lives up to its dedication page to MacDonald and its strong debt to Travis McGee.

Entirely a South Florida story, MORTAL SIN is a tale of corruption, payola and murder with excellent pacing and a completely plausible premise and characters. Levine never lets go of the reins. MORTAL SIN is a fine showcase for his talents as a writer.

Jake Lassiter, the ex-Miami Dolphins linebacker, ex-Public Defender, ex-a lot of things, sets out to defend real estate developer Nicky Florio in a wrongful death suit brought by Melinda Tupton, the widow of crusading environmentalist Peter Tupton who froze to death on the hottest day of the year at Florio's pool party.

Complications arise. Jake is having what lawyers quaintly term a 'meretricious relationship' with Florio's wife Gina, formerly Star Hampton, retired Dolphin Doll and Jake's old live-in girlfriend. And on the last day of trial, Jake uncovers evidence that the 'wrongful death' he has just successfully defended may in fact be murder.

A chance remark to Nicky Florio---and Jake finds himself embroiled in a vast cover-up, running for his life through the dusty courthouses of Miami, the trendy clubs of South Beach, the retirement hotels of North Beach, the golf courses that dot Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, and finally, the vast 'River of Grass,' otherwise known as the environmentally sensitive Everglades, targeted and encroached upon by men like Florio....

A single sitting enjoyable read with some laugh-out-loud humor, wistful nostalgia, and respect for the natural world of its setting, MORTAL SIN is one of the best entries in the Jake Lassiter series, and comes very highly recommended. Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mortal Sin but much fun November 3, 2010

By FWS

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

My 4th Paul Levine, 3rd Lassiter. The best read so far. Levine is a great legal/suspense writer and in order to enjoy him don't get caught up in how plausible the story line is but relax, enjoy and go for the ride. Lassiter steps into deep "stuff" early on and spends the rest of the tale trying to dig himself out while continuing to complicate matters. A story full of bad guys; most of the rest are only medium bad. No good guys save for Nanny and Dr. Riggs, Lassiter's muse and mentor. The characters are well drawn, the dialog crisp and often very funny, the story slick and fast with enough twists, turns and escapes to satisfy any mystery/adventure fan. Can't miss with this one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Mortal Sin (Kindle edition) October 24, 2010

By L. Edwards

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Having read other books in the Jake Lassiter series, I knew this would be interesting suspense. However, I found the story to be a little far-fetched. Too many times, Jake finds himself in situations where he should have been killed and finds a last minute escape. Once would have been ok, but by the third time it seemed silly.

The book starts with Jake defending Nicky Florio, and getting him off, even though Jake believes there is more to the story. He starts looking further and gets himself into something unexpected that keeps expanding.

I often find myself suspending reality to read, but with this book, I was more aware of the stretch than usual. For me, that detracted from the book. In addition, I read the Kindle version and there were enough typos that it interfered with the flow of the book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars bewyld April 17, 2012

By bewyld

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

A light hearted mystery mixing humour with crime solving, on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it kept me guessing "who dunit".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars DW Review April 16, 2012

By Casino Fossil

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Paul Levine weaves a tale almost as well as Lee Child. His character Jake Lassiter is unique and the plots well thought out. Some situations are a bit on the silly to outlandish side, such as the ride on the manatee in one book, but generally speaking I enjoy Levine's work and look forward to finishing the series on Kindle.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Dissapointed October 13, 2012

By Reader

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

After reading the Solomon & Lord series which I love, I decided to try another Paul Levine's series - with Jake Lassiter. What a dissapointment. Aside of some, unnecessary in my opinion, detailed descriptions of murders, I found this book a little boring. I don't think I'll read any other of Jake Lassiter books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! June 23, 2012

By Docemeles

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Mortal Sin is my first Jake Lassiter novel and I'm hooked! Paul Levine has created a pallette of characters and plot that kept me turning the pages until there were none left. He carries on the tradition of great novelists who set their tales in South Florida.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, lots of action, great settings in South Florida January 27, 2012

By Ms Beastle

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm not usually enthusiastic about "lawyer" books, but this one exceeded my expectations by a mile.
Easy to enjoy, fast-paced, good dialog, nice twisty story line, easy-to-relate-to main character. I will definitely be reading more Jake Lassiter books.

More About the Author

PAUL LEVINE worked as a newspaper reporter, a law professor and a trial lawyer before becoming a full-time novelist. Obviously, he cannot hold a job. Paul claims that writing fiction comes naturally: he told whoppers for many years in his legal briefs. His books have been translated into 23 languages, none of which he can read.

He has won the John D. MacDonald fiction award and has been nominated for an Edgar, a Macavity, the International Thriller Writers Award, and the James Thurber Humor Prize. More info at www.paul-levine.com

What's new? "Lassiter" and "Last Chance Lassiter" are Paul's latest entries on Kindle. "To Speak for the Dead" continues its bestseller status more than 20 years after its hardcover publication.

Writing in USA TODAY, Larry King called the Lassiter series, "Mystery writing at its very, very best."

To Speak for the Dead
Night Vision
False Dawn
Mortal Sin
Riptide
Fool Me Twice
Flesh & Bones
Lassiter
Last Chance Lassiter

A Miami Dolphins linebacker turned hard-nosed lawyer, Lassiter has been described by Booklist as "one of the most entertaining series characters in contemporary crime fiction" and by The Miami Herald as having "a lot more charisma than Perry Mason ever did."

Also now available on Kindle: "Illegal," a thriller set in the world of human trafficking; "Impact," a legal thriller set at the Supreme Court; "Ballistic," in which a homegrown terrorist group takes over a missile silo in Wyoming; "Paydirt," in which a down-and-out bookie attempts to fix the Super Bowl; and "The Road to Hell," four original short stories.

Paul's other work includes the "Solomon and Lord" series, featuring mismatched Miami lawyers Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord:

Solomon vs. Lord
The Deep Blue Alibi
Kill All the Lawyers
Habeas Porpoise

"Fans of Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry will enjoy this humorous Florida crime romp," Publishers Weekly wrote of "Solomon vs. Lord."

Paul wrote 20 episodes of the TV series JAG, which gave him an opportunity to steer a nuclear submarine and land on the deck of an aircraft carrier, all without endangering national security. He is a graduate of Penn State University where he majored in journalism and the University of Miami Law School where he majored in the swimming pool. He passed the Florida Bar exam in his first try in what he suspects was a computer glitch.

He was a trial lawyer with the mammoth international law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, where he did not even pretend to know all his partners' names. He specialized in "complex litigation," cases so abstruse that even lawyers charging 500 bucks an hour didn't fully understand them. He tried hundreds of cases and handled appeals at every level, including the Supreme Court. Along the way, he filed expense accounts nearly as creative as his legal briefs.

Paul says he enjoys writing more than lawyering because he no longer keeps time sheets and gets to work in his underwear. He formerly lived in the hills of Southern California, which he claims are populated by rattlesnakes and coyotes, and those are just the Hollywood agents. Paul recently moved back to Miami, a place Joan Didion once called "a rich and wicked pastel boomtown." But to Paul, it's just "home sweet home."

More info at www.paul-levine.com
Follow Paul @Literary_Lion