An Innocent Client

Joe Dillard, Book 1

By: Scott Pratt

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

A preacher is found brutally murdered in a Tennessee motel room.

A beautiful, mysterious young girl is accused.

In this bestselling debut, criminal defense lawyer Joe Dillard has become jaded over the years as he's tried to balance his career against his conscience. Savvy but cynical, Dillard wants to quit doing criminal defense, but he can't resist the chance to represent someone who might actually be innocent. His drug-addicted sister has just been released from prison and his mother is succumbing to Alzheimer's, but Dillard's commitment to the case never wavers despite the personal troubles and professional demands that threaten to destroy him.

Smart and sophisticated, with a plot twist that will leave you shaking your head in wonder, An Innocent Client -- the first in the acclaimed Joe Dillard series -- will also leave you begging for more.

©2012 Scott Pratt (P)2024 Scott Pratt

Critic reviews

Chosen by Bookbub readers as one of the Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time.

"It's Scott Turow and Grisham... The opening chapter is maybe the most compelling I've read in a decade." - Ken Bruen, bestselling author of The Guards

"Pratt knows what he's doing and it shows." - Alafair Burke, acclaimed author of The Wife

"Pratt's richly developed characters are vivid and believable, especially the strong Southern women who fight their male-dominated culture from behind a facade of vulnerability in this brilliantly executed debut." -- Publisher's Weekly

Start with #2 in series. you won't miss anything.

Any additional comments?

All through the book I thought how much I didn't like this book....the main character...the narrator and had planned to return it. Then in the last few chapters I liked it ... very much. And I've already listened to the second in the series which I'll give a higher rating. My recommendation: Skip this one and start with Book 2.

Good story, looking forward to the series.

What did you love best about An Innocent Client?

It is a great opener to a 7 book series. Joe Dillard is a great character all around. His desperation just to have 1 innocent client, no pun intended.

What other book might you compare An Innocent Client to and why?

N/A

Would you listen to another book narrated by Tim Campbell?

I will finish the series. All his male voices sound similar. It becomes difficult to tell whom is speaking at certain points. Although Tim Campbell's voice is exactly what I would picture Joe Dillard's voice sounding like.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I felt for Angel, especially at the end. But the ending with Erlene made me laugh so hard.

Any additional comments?

The reason the story has 5 stars and the overall is 3 is as followed. My biggest overall issue, and it is the same with the ENTIRE SERIES. I purchased the MATCHING Kindle book, but they do not match. Almost every page has an altered word, and entire paragraphs have been added/removed from the audible compared to the MATCHING Kindle book. I enjoy reading along but it is difficult with this series. Truthfully it is unacceptable to advertise a matching book then it be this different, again pretty much every page has at least one altered word. At first I thought it was toning down some of the vulgarity on Audible, until halfway through a rant that was not in the book was spoken. But still overall a great book.

Good read, but so much unethical lawyering

Joe Dillard is a decent guy. However, all of the prosecutors and judges and police involved engage in so much unethical conduct that the book was very hard to read. It was also lots of unnecessary focus on bad sexual behavior.

Great book

Enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to listening to more from this author. The narration was good as well.

Interesting to say the least :)

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I found this book to be a well-rounded production. I missed the voice of George Guidell but Tim was not bad. He had a great drawl to his voice which was fun. A very well written book that kept me interested.

What other book might you compare An Innocent Client to and why?

I really can't comment on this... Each author has their own style and I enjoy them all because of it.

What does Tim Campbell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The southern drawl. lol

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The funny parts. There were more than a few. Just subtle humor not blatant ! but enjoyable.

treaty story, narration is a little robotic at Tim

there were times where I struggled to believe it wasn't a computer reading to me, but the story is excellent.

great suspense

narrative great! story details gruesome but necessary...fantastic ending! Enjoyed plot and climax. look forward next book! *****

Book one An Innocent Client

This was my second time through this book. It was as entertaining as the first time my wife and I listened to it. This time though, I didn’t have to drive.
Fun book.

virigine

live write, do write, get write🙂 good book ,good story written and told well. you can the the people when it done write and like prego, it's in there. good job! 😉

Good

Really enjoyed it. Humor, pathos,....good story.
The narration was excellent I'll watch for more from this author