Description

‘Razor sharp, reminiscent of the best of Grisham’ Kia Abdullah

BIG BUSINESS

James Euchre lives an easy life as a local attorney in a small Texan town, making plenty of money from patent infringement cases.

BAD BLOOD

But when his mentor is killed, and one of his clients is arrested for murder, James is forced to take on his first criminal case – defending the man who allegedly killed his friend.

BETRAYAL

The deeper James goes into the case, the more he fears that he’ll fail to save an innocent client’s life – or worse, wind up freeing a guilty man…

Publisher Review

'The Local is everything a legal thriller should be. A cunningly crafted courtroom drama, with a top drawer cast of characters that drag you headfirst into the action. I finished it in twenty-four hours, and quite literally couldn't put it down. For me, this was reminiscent of the likes of John Grisham at his finest' - Rob Scragg, author of What Falls Between the Cracks 'The surprising twists are rendered plausible by Hartstone's mastery of conveying detailed trial strategies. Scott Turow readers should take a look' - Publishers Weekly 'A sizzling, fast-paced read that drew me in and kept me turning pages right to the end. Joey Hartstone paints a vivid picture of a small-town Texas court where old feuds and allegiances mean anything can happen' - William Landay, author of Defending Jacob 'A courtroom thriller with a dazzling cinematic quality, which is not surprising as Hartstone is an accomplished film and television writer... This is an extremely promising debut, and readers will want more of Hartstone's razor-edge style. A natural for fans of Grisham and Turow' - Booklist 'The Local has everything I love in a book. It's a thriller, a whodunit, and a sexy courtroom drama. It's a real page-turner with fascinating characters that takes place in my home state of Texas. Enjoy!' - Woody Harrelson 'Unraveling a fraught legal system page-by-gripping-page, The Local is an extraordinary and unforgettable powerhouse of a debut. Hartstone's masterful storytelling and switchblade-sharp wit make for a piercing and wildly entertaining thriller about the fragility of power - and the feverish and cruel desperation of those who wield it. An absolute must-read' - P.J. Vernon, author of Bath Haus 'A spectacular courtroom thriller that kept me turning pages like the best of Grisham or Turow. I loved everything about The Local except for the hours of lost sleep when I couldn't put it down. Let's hope that Joey Hartstone is working on a sequel, because I can't get enough of these characters' - Michelle King, co-creator of The Good Wife and The Good Fight 'A compelling and fast-moving novel dealing with the conflict between friendship, family loyalty and duty to the law. Hartstone kept me guessing right till the end' - Lisa Ballantyne, author of The Guilty Ones 'Joey Hartstone is a consummate storyteller. In The Local, he crafts a razor-sharp thriller reminiscent of the best of Grisham. Filled with simmering tensions, abiding rivalries and the heady atmosphere of small-town Southern America, it's slick, smart and - to my delight - undeniably sexy' - Kia Abdullah, author of Next of Kin