If asked whether I was a fan of James Patterson’s books, my first response would be “no.” I,  was happy to give his #1 Lawyer a try, especially since it was offered to me in exchange for my honest review. (Thank you Little Brown and NetGalley!)

No Alex Cross this time…instead it is Stafford Lee Penney, flashy attorney in Mississippi. Wait, is this Grisham? Greg Iles? Robert Bailey? All have the whole Southern “justice” thing working well for them…how could this be different?

Well, for starters, he is no longer a big flashy guy with a gorgeous wife and gazillion dollar suits. His wife has been killed, and he has decided to become the “lawyer lifeguard.” Sort of like the Lincoln Lawyer goes to the beach, He mentors a law student and struggles to find a way to redeem himself after he sort of self-sabotages his career.

It’s an enjoyable read. Not sure I will seek out any sequels, but it is fine. I might just be a ghost writer bigot, and I definitely like to support original mysteries written by authors who get away from their regular storylines. Three and a half stars, can’t decide whether to round up or down, but since I always had a reputation as an easy grader, I will go four. And good for you, Nancy Allen, for your portion of this work. (Wish I knew how much is yours and how much is JP’s)