Nate Shepherd attended his longtime friend Matt's sister's wedding in Carrefour, Ohio. Liselle had been dating the groom's uncle, billionaire Richard Phillips for about a month when Richard invited her to be his guest at the wedding. When he met Liselle at the reception, Nate didn't realize that he would become her attorney in the coming days—defending her for charges of first-degree murder.

Michael Stagg is the pseudonym of a lawyer who began writing legal thrillers before writing full-time. He crafts a well-written legal thriller. I love trees but was not aware of emerald ash borer devastation. That element, as part of Liselle's characterization, enhanced the storyline. The link to Nate's life revealed more of his past and elevated intrigue in the attorney/client relationship. The courtroom drama was taut. I guessed the verdict, and still, the craft of the ending took me by surprise. Edge of my seat, surprised!

Let there be no doubt I'll continue reading this series! I hope you do too! ( )