Show No Fear - A Legal Thriller

Show No Fear:
A Nina Reilly Novel
By Perri O’Shaughnessy
Pocket Books
ISBN: 9781416544393
339 Pages
Advance Reader’s Edition


Nina Reilly’s mother had never shown fear—at least to her daughter. But when she grew older and her mother became very ill, Nina had her own issues about showing fear. It wasn’t easy not to be afraid! When you read Show No Fear by Perri O’Shaughnessy, you’ll know why!

Nina was working her way through law school as a paralegal at Pohlmann, McIntyre, Sorensen and Frost. As she worked on various activities, she was also evaluating and considering what branch of law she should choose. If she had known what was going to happen, she would have immediately chosen criminal law, like Jack McIntyre handled!

Nina had a crush on Jack but he was crazy about Remy. She couldn’t really blame him, given that she admired the sophisticated, beautiful lawyer at the firm, who had, in many ways, become her mentor. Besides, she already had a wonderful love in her life—her son Bob. Nina had once thought she was in love with Richard Filsen, a lawyer in another firm. That relationship had ended through intrusion by her mother, unknown to Nina. And now, when her mother was so ill, Richard had decided to try to gain parental rights to meet and visit with his son. One of the lawyers at her firm was helping with the legal issues she faced with Richard.

Then Nina sought Remy’s help for her mother, since, in her concerns for her children, Ginny had started to think about her upcoming death and wanting to leave them money. She wanted to sue an acupuncturist who had placed long needles in her hand and then left town, which resulted in the loss of a hand.

There was much that needed to be done and considered for both of the issues Nina was facing, so it was natural that the firm used her efforts to research the background and people involved. But the more research she did, the more Nina was receiving statements that sometimes didn’t make sense, including that the acupuncturist claimed that he had never had her mother as a patient!

And then two individuals most involved are murdered!

Fortunately, Paul van Wagoner does not suspect Nina for their deaths! But there are indeed a number of suspects, given the lies and false statements being given to Paul, the homicide investigator. In fact, the police seemed to view one death as an accident so Nina started investigating herself¾with the guilty watching every move she made!

Aside from the legal actions, there are some interesting relationship gambits, especially when Remy announced she was being considered for a federal judgeship and she began to pull away from Jack.

This whodunit provides a lot of background describing the different scenarios that twist and turn in the beginning of the novel. In fact it is so paced and full of detailed legalese that, if you are like me, you completely miss the “possibility” of who committed the crimes. But when things start happening, you’ll be caught up into the action quickly and thrill to the climax as Nina fights for her life!

Readers who enjoy getting into the nitty-gritty of the eternal “he says-she says” drama of those in law and order will find Nina Reilly a warm, comforting, and honest presence in that constant turmoil. Look for Nina Reilly Novels by Perri O’Shaughnessy— she’ll become an even stronger female character after she passes the bar and begins handling her own cases!

G. A. Bixler
For Amazon

Die Decorator Die: A Novel of Murder Greed and Interior Design

What a Fun Book! Die, Decorator, Die by Franklin H. Levy, is a whodunit that will keep you guessing until the very end!

“Criminal law operates in a simple world—the prosecutors and police try to put people in jail, my minions and I try to keep them out...This is how the struggle between good and evil is played out in post-Biblical times.” (p. 76)

Meet Buzz Levin, a defense lawyer who has dreams about what Clarence Darrow thinks of him as a lawyer! And thanks to his wife, Ally, he has just taken on a case that “had everything—bimbos, bodies, buggery and bail.” (p. 62)

Ally is an interior decorator, plus “Aphrodite...to his Groucho Marx.” (p. 202). So when she calls him from her work site:

“Get over here right away—somebody tried to kill Megan...Someone bashed her head in with a hammer or something. The police say we’re all suspects and you’re my alibi. Besides, the place is full of policE and there’s an ambulance, so shouldn’t there be a lawyer? (p. 33)

He responds, “I’m on the way. Don’t let anyone who looks like they can afford me confess until I get there.” (p. 33)

You got it! Almost-like-George Burns and Gracie Allen’s comic routines run throughout this novel. Yes, there’s murder and mayhem and great investigating, but the underlying comedic interplay oftentimes trumps the mystery and suspense!

Needless to say, Ally also ensures that Buzz becomes the defense lawyer for Barry, of Barry and Bruno, gay partners, the latter of which was also murdered the day Megan’s head was bashed!

I’m sorry, folks. I promise that there is an excellent whodunit full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing as to who did do it, to the very end. But you must admit that what I’ve shared ensures that this book is not just another great mystery!

Plus you get great interior decorator tips throughout the book such as:

ALLYN SAYS

The best designers make custom lamp shades which often have
a pink silk liner to soften the light.

Levy gave me more than a cozy mystery, wonderful, funny characters, a puzzling whodunit, with interior design tips. He wrapped it up in the latest fabric for a must-read!
I just know you, too, will enjoy this one!


G. A. Bixler
For Amazon Vine