Two estranged brothers represent opposing sides of a high-profile double-murder case in this legal thriller debut. Ten years ago, a capital murder case in the heart of Texas split the Lynch family in two. Conscience-stricken Travis left his high-powered law firm to become a public defender, while bullish Jake rose to become District Attorney. Now, estranged lawyer brothers Travis and Jake … brothers Travis and Jake Lynch find themselves on opposing sides of an Austin courtroom in a high-profile, grisly double murder case–with another accused criminal’s life on the line. Both Lynches are convinced they’re on the right side, but the truth turns out to be more complicated–and deadly.
A drug deal double-cross turns lethal, killing two college students and leaving one paralyzed. The victim never saw the gunman but he knows one name: Sam Park. Travis defended Sam’s brother years before. His heart won’t let him turn down the case, even knowing it’ll bring him face-to-face with Jake after ten years of cold silence. Jake, meanwhile, runs afoul of the Austin political machine and needs a case like this to win an upcoming election. And Sam, the prime suspect, won’t talk–not to Travis, and certainly not to the high-and-mighty DA–and time is running out. . . .
Can these feuding brothers put aside a decade of enmity in the name of true justice? Or will the truth of what really happened that bloody night go to the grave with Sam Park?
Perfect for fans of Due Process by Scott Pratt, The Family Lawyer by James Patterson, Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke, and The Fifth Justice by John Ellsworth.
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The Guilty Die Twice by Don Hartshorn is a thrilling mystery that also looks at the two sides of capital punishment.
Will the Lynch brothers make peace with each other after ten long years?
The Lynch Family has been attornies for generations. They are among Austin’s elite. Valentine Lynch ran for Texas’s governor twice and lost, but he still has clout in the political and legal arena.
Claire Lynch is the middle sibling. She is running the family law firm now with her father as a figurehead. Claire is a force to be reckoned with too. She does help her brothers with whatever she can.
Jake Lynch
Jake is the oldest of the three Lynch siblings. He is also the current district attorney; he is married with two children and lives in Austin’s best neighborhoods. At first, Jake came across as a pompous jerk, but I saw that he wasn’t the monster that everyone made him out to be after getting in his head. Jake is good at his job and seeing people for what they are.
Jake seems like the bad guy in this story, but there is more to him than meets the eye. So, keep your eye on him.
Travis Lynch
Travis is the youngest of the three Lynch siblings. He has chosen not to use the privilege that the Lynch name comes with. In fact, his beliefs are very different from the rest of his family. However, Travis is punishing himself for things that are out of his control, and he is hurting his wife and family in the process. Honestly, at first, I thought that Travis was this righteous person who helped the poor and outcast. Which he totally does, but at times it felt like he did it to make up for a past event that he couldn’t change. In the process of finding his truth, Travis alienates his family, turns his back on his friends, and becomes a mess of a man trying to give free legal help to those he deems worthy.
We do start to see a change in Travis, but it sneaks up on you, and then you see this totally different person.
Christine Morton
Christine is a surprising character. She is a newspaper reporter that made her name with that old case ten years ago. The brothers both hate her, but she is tough, and she knows far more than most other people involved in the cases and around Austin.
I loved this character. She has some grit, and she isn’t afraid to back down. She kept everything moving.
The Story
The story switches between the present in which Jake is the DA and must figure out how to handle a case where two rich boys were brutally shot and killed. Travis has decided to take one of the accused boy’s side against the DA’s office. It looks like this case may also have capital punishment (death penalty).
The case from the past was ten years ago when Travis worked as Jake’s clerk in the DA’s office. They were working on another capital punishment case where Travis flips on Jake in the middle of the investigation.
We see how that case tore the brothers apart and how the new case helps bring them back together. It also shows the corruption and a side of the defendants that most people don’t see. It also shows that just because someone has money doesn’t mean that they are good parents.
Oh, and Bobby Velasquez, what a jerk. That man is so slimy. But Jake did teach him a few things. 😉
Five Stars
I have to say that I was skeptical about this book, but it really came through. There was even a part where I was actually outraged and pissed off at the things that were happening. When a book gives me that much emotion, the author has done an outstanding job. My rating for The Guilty Die Twice by Don Hartshorn is five stars.
If you like legal thrillers, then this is a book for you. Mr. Hartshorn does an amazing job of weaving all the pieces into a cohesive story that really makes you think.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Guilty Die Twice by Don Hartshorn.
Until the next time,
~Jen
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The Guilty Die Twice by Don Hartshorn is an intricate legal thriller set over two time periods – present day and ten years earlier in the form of flashbacks.
The whole novel surrounds the topic of the death penalty versus life imprisonment. There are some strong voices for both sides, both inside and outside the jail. For me, personally, the death penalty does not sit comfortably. Once done, you cannot undo it if a miscarriage of justice has occurred.
There is also the subject of the rich and the poor. The wealthy can afford a good defence. The poor need to find someone who believes them and will work to see justice prevail. There are those who work for their own gain counter balanced by those with scruples.
Family is important. Family need to pull together. If cracks or craters appear in our relationships, we need to fix them. We need to develop bonds of loyalty.
The whole novel was well thought out and executed. There were an eclectic mix of characters eliciting a variety of responses from me.
I enjoyed The Guilty Die Twice and read it in just one sitting. It would translate marvellously into a courtroom drama.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.