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Green 61: An Anderson Parker Legal Thriller
by Cody Fowler Davis
Attorney Anderson Parker wanted to succeed and he chose the high profile law firm of The Law Offices of Justin Cartwright II in Tampa to achieve the fast track to the top. After three years he is beginning to wonder if the price to be paid is worth it. Anderson works hard, but still values his family life and finds it hard to put them on the back burner as his boss, Justin Cartwright,does.
Justin is willing to do anything to win for a client, even if it veers towards being unethical. Anderson is really not ready to move on, but after a confrontation with Justin he has no choice, but to go out on his own.
It is truly serendipity, in a twisted sense, when the two former colleagues end up on opposing sides in a lawsuit involving a tragic boating accident that claimed three lives, including two young children.
The Green 61 of the title refers to the marker in the Intercoastal Waterway near Useppa Island and is the pivotal setting of the story. Green 61 is truly a legal thriller since the reader knows early on who is responsible for the horrific tragedy that changes so many lives in an instant. The true suspense that will keep you turning the pages is to see to what lengths the defense of Cartwright will go to win and whether true justice has a chance.
Often thrillers are mainly plot driven with lots of action and very little character development. In his debut novel, Mr. Davis shows he can do a fabulous job at providing both elements in equal measure. In the very first chapter we get a telling glimpse inside Justin Cartwright’s life when we are told, “Gossip at the firm had Cartwright’s wife on the brink of divorcing her husband, whom due to his 65-to-75-hour workweek she never saw, but the ‘golden handcuffs’ of her prenuptial agreement prevented her from actually making good on her threat.”
We also see that although, Anderson has worked for Justin for three years, he is still a man who will not violate the state’s or his own code of ethics when he refuses to win at all costs and has the showdown with Justin that he knows will change his life forever. The author does a masterful job of conveying the numbing grief of the father of the two young children from the moment of trial through the end of the trial, too.
The setting plays an important role in the plot and Mr. Davis has written of a place he knows and loves. He brings the location alive for the reader and creates an all important sense of place.
The author’s career as a trial attorney and the legal background of his family give a unique insider’s look behind the scenes as the plot progresses. The reader has authentic glimpses into all that goes on to get a case to trial and the hardball tactics used during a trial. Mr. Davis’ keen ear for dialog both inside and outside the courtroom make for a compelling and highly entertaining book.
This is Cody Fowler Davis’ debut novel, but he is hard at work on a second Anderson Parker legal thriller. His writing skills and storytelling abilities show potential for great things. I wish this talented author a wider audience and much success in the future.
This review was originally posted at s
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