by Linda Scottoline

“TJ, that’s why I give you so much credit.” “Me?” I asked, astonished. “Yes, you took responsibility for what you did. When you pleaded guilty, you accounted. You weren’t trying to get away from the consequences. Mom and Dad hired Angela for you, and they all wanted you to fight the charge. You’re the one who said no. You’re the one who wanted to plead guilty, and I watched you in that courtroom. I could see you felt terrible. You thought it was your worst day, but I thought it was your best.” Whoa. I’d never thought of it that way. I couldn’t speak for a moment.

This was my first introduction to Edgar Award-winning author Lisa Scottoline who has written a ton of books but only slightly more than 1 a year. That is a good sign and something I look at with an author that is new to me. She doesn’t churn them out like a book assembly line. I will be reading more of her books. A nice balance of mystery, suspense, and family drama, it is a little old-fashioned in that much of it is the detective work of a private investigator wrapped up with a smidgeon of courtroom drama at the end. Two smidgeons, actually.

The tale is told in first person by TJ, a recovering alcoholic and the youngest son of the powerful Devlin family. Mom, Dad, and 2 of their 3 children, ambitious MVD (Most Valuable Devlin) John and do-gooder, Gabby, are lawyers and are devoted to their family law firm. TJ is not a lawyer, but a college dropout and ex-con who served time in prison for a bad act he did while drunk. He is the black sheepiest of black sheep and has been viewed as a screw-up his whole life, usually for good reason. He is now out, sober, and employed as a private investigator for the firm, a job that the family gave him to keep their eyes on him and keep him on the straight and narrow. Also, it would look bad for a Devlin to be unemployed or flipping burgers somewhere.

TJ is devoted and loyal to his family some of whom deserve it and some who do not. He is a very good guy. We like him right away for his sweet disposition and snarky humor. No one is more surprised than he is when his brother John comes to him for help when he thinks he has murdered a client. TJ is anxious to prove himself and takes matters in hand very competently. But it is not long before we hate and suspect brother John as much as we love TJ. And dear old Dad is no prize either.

While TJ is putting his life and his freedom in danger by trying to save his brother, he has been asked to work on another case by his sister who is seeking justice for a group of ex-prisoners who were experimented on by the government with awful consequences. Although the stakes are high, and we stress over TJ and the injustices he continually deals with, the book somehow maintains a light atmosphere. It doesn’t keep us mired in darkness or on edge for too long although there is plenty of drama, suspense, and surprises. TJ goes to a dark place at one point but Truth, Justice, and the American Way prevail and I loved it. There is even a tiny little romance to provide TJ with a personal happy ending and hope for the future.