Susan Wolfe (1)

This wasn't as lighthearted as I expected -- it's a mostly serious murder mystery set in a California law firm in the 1980s. It reminded me of early books by [a:John Grisham|721|John Grisham|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1413390525p2/721.jpg] and [a:Sidney Sheldon|9068|Sidney Sheldon|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1209169297p2/9068.jpg], with a classically overworked associate who tries to make up for feeling overwhelmed by working even harder.

It seemed clear to me that the author had actually worked in a law firm -- the details rang as true as the overall architecture of the setting. Of course it's somewhat dated: corded phones, hard copies of treatises, filings that have to be done in person at the courthouse, actual carbon copies. But technology aside, the inner workings of a law firm, and the power struggles therein, still feel very modern. The resolution was satisfying, and the glimmer of a love interest was believeable and un-forced.

I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.… (mere)

Escape Velocity is a clever thriller with a highly entertaining protagonist. Georgia Griffin moves to California to start a new life and earn enough money to help her younger sister escape an unpleasant situation at home. Their father is in jail for running cons, and their mother is unable or unwilling to protect Katie-Ann from a lecherous minister. After many interviews, Georgia lands a paralegal position at a software development company called Lumina. Immediately after starting her job, she realizes that all is not well at Lumina, and she begins using her father’s con artist skills to rid Lumina of the various incompetent and self-interested characters. My favorite part of the book was reading about the various methods that Georgia uses to jettison the unhelpful characters weighing Lumina down. The ending was great too with a twist I did not see coming. My only caveat was that I wished the book had moved along a little quicker – there were times when it bogged down a bit. I received this book in exchange for my honest review.… (mere)