Beach Lawyer (Beach Lawyer Series) Kindle Edition

*** LANGUAGE ***

Adult English. In fact, if you cut the f-words by 50 percent, they still would be excessive. I served 10 years in the navy and worked with iron workers in construction for many years and can swear with the best of them, in the appropriate audience, so don't get me wrong. Still, the frequency of f-bombs in Beach Lawyer did annoy.

Quick & Dirty Highlights

Despite the language, and despite a slow start (in which the author skillfully sets the stage and develops our hero's character) I found Beach Lawyer to be an intriguing story. Why?

The location feels real. The characters are authentic and thoroughly believable. This story could, in fact probably, has happened.

I like the pace and flow and want to read more episodes in the future.

One point worth noting: those who worry that this may be just another Grisham need not fret. Both writers are good and their styles are totally different.

Length: Print, 382 pages; Audible, 11 hours 7 minutes.

Target Audience/Genre: Crime Fiction.

Q - How was this book obtained?
A - Bought on Amazon.

Q - Is this a book that I can read without having to read others first?
A – Yes.

Q - Are there a lot of typos/misspellings, grammatical errors or other editing failures?
A – No.

Q - Is this a fast, easy read or is it more of a leisure read?
A – A leisure read.

Q - My biggest pleasure or disappointment?
A - The language. Reduce the frequency of f-words by 2/3 and I would rate this as five stars.

I’ve included a small excerpt below, so readers can peruse the style of presentation utilized by the author.

EXCERPT

'...Then he told Robert, “Remember what my father-in-law said about f-----up.” He said it with a wink, but for some reason, menace laced the remark.

"Heard him loud and clear, Mr. Pierce.”

"Good night, Robert,” Dorothy said, shaking his hand. “It’s so wonderful to see you again.”

“Same here, Ms. Pierce,” he replied. And he meant it.

Behind them all, a metal stairwell door squealed open. Carlos held it, and Gia exited with her garbage bag of belongings. Dorothy stared at...'

Bottom Line:

I found Beach Lawyer to be an engaging read despite a few rough patches. Liked it enough to pre-order the Audible version. As to future writing by this writer? I honestly don't know. Probably, but still on the fence.

Four stars out of five.

Comments regarding your opinion of this book or of my review, whether favorable or unfavorable, are always welcome. If you buy the book based on my review and become disappointed, especially, I do want to know that and I want to understand how I can improve as a book reviewer. Just please be polite.

Thank you.

I feel a little queasy when I have to write a negative review. I never want to bash an author's hard work. But here we go...

I didn't like this book. At all.

To begin with, the pace is slow. This was listed as a legal thriller. Like too many books these days, the thriller label doesn't remotely fit. This book is more of a legal quagmire. We spend an endless amount of time learning the proper legal procedures for filing whatever claim. We see the day-to-day workings of a lawyer within a high-profile law firm. I felt like I was there in the office doing paperwork with Robert all day. These details overpowered the story, particularly throughout the first half.

Then there's the plot, which feels choppy, with long lulls of tedium centered around a convoluted story. The supposedly intelligent characters make some of the most foolish choices imaginable, giving the story an implausible feel. And I have to say I was offended by the treatment of the sexual assault. Several times it was stressed by Robert and other characters that it wasn't a full "rape", and therefore wasn't as big of a deal. Even worse, the victim has this attitude. I don't know many women who could so easily argue that being sexually assaulted is more forgivable if there is no penetration.

The story is told mostly from Robert's point of view, but we also have random POV switches that don't transition well.

The male characters are developed and I mostly believed them, though they are also shallow and unlikable. Even Robert, the would-be hero, is difficult to like as the story goes on. The female characters are simply odd. For one thing, the author seems preoccupied with female-on-female sex, as if this is a common occurrence in every woman's life. I understood it with the two female characters involved in a bisexual relationship, though the details were still over-the-top, but it got to be too much when a random waitress made a pass at Robert's girlfriend. None of this added any value to the story. The women often felt more like a man's fantasy perception than real-life females.

By midway through the story, I was skimming ahead out of irritation and boredom. Unfortunately, the plot continued to spiral into a complex, tangled mess.

Of course, this is only my opinion. Lots of reviewers have loved this story. If you enjoy detailed legal mysteries, this one might be for you.