Small Town Justice

A Janice Berne Mystery, Book 1

By: Emily S. Webster

Narrated by: Meghan Kelly

Length: 44 mins

Publisher's summary

A small-town lawyer takes on an unpopular murder case that leaves her client in fear for his life. With the sheriff refusing to investigate any further and her client facing a second degree murder charge, Janice Berne discovers secrets lurking in her town of Connerston, Indiana. With her paralegal, Andy, and private investigator, Justin, she seeks out the truth before Stevie Evans' time runs out.

In a town of 9,000 surrounded by Midwestern cornfields, Janice Berne is all that stands between a corroding justice system and her clients' rights. Known by her neighbors and friends as a laid-back, charming, attractive woman prone to sarcastic banter, she spends her days in court fighting for her clients and her nights at home curled up with her notes and a glass of her favorite wine.

Upon receiving news of a murder, the first ever in Connerston's proud history, she rushes to the jail to meet with her long-time client Stevie Evans. However, when she arrives, she finds a client too terrified to tell her much of anything, and complicating the case even further is the fact that the victim's son is the deputy on duty in the jail when Stevie is booked, and he is not taking the news well at all, according to the bruises on Stevie's face.

Along the way, Janice and her team race against a 48-hour deadline from the prosecutor on the case: ASA Cody Brynte, who wants to make a plea agreement that will leave Stevie serving some hard time in prison. Stevie is insistent on taking the deal unless Janice and her office can work something out before then.

There's more than meets the eye at first glance in this murder. Some witnesses may be reluctant to testify, and others just may not be who they seem. There are upstanding public officials, lovable older ladies, officers of the law, low-level criminals, and all types of characters in the middle filling this town and complicating matters in trying to figure out just what happened to George Dunn.

©2015 Dustin Pierson Doyle (P)2015 Dustin Pierson Doyle

Well done

She takes on a client that faces second degree murder charges. Finding there was a lot of secrets within this small town that was more to it then what she thought. Well done. Given audio for my voluntary review

44 minute short story

As far as I can determine this is the only story published by this author. It is about a small town crime written from the perspective of the innocent suspect's lawyer.

Short and to the point

A lot of books could be this short and this entertaining.

Meghan Kelly did a good job narrating.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Very short story

So short only 30 minutes long. It was weird to tie up so quickly

I received a free copy and left my honest review

Suspenseful

Even in a small town things happen. Secrets and more made realistic by the Narrator. Don’t miss out.

5 stars! A nice short story ......

this story was short but kept me engaged and interested until the end! I'd actually like to see a longer version of this story or maybe a separate book with these characters where we find out more about the killer

Interesting

Once in the past I downloaded a novel that said the time of 30 minutes but the book turned out to be eight hours long. So when I saw this book said its time was 44 minutes I just assumed it was an error, because it was listed as book one in a new series. Guess what, it was not, the book is actually 44 minutes long. I guess the opening to this new series is more of a teaser. I do not think I would have bought the book if I had believed the time frame of 44 minutes, but the story was interesting and got me hooked.

Janice Berne is a small town criminal defense attorney. Her law partner, who she met in law school, handles the civil part of the practice. Andy is the paralegal assistant and Justin the private investigator. The small town is Connerston, Indiana population nine thousand. Stevie Evans is accused of murdering George Dunn. George’s son is a deputy in the Sheriff Department. Can Janice save Stevie? The ending is a hanger that sets up for book two in the series.

The book is well written and goes at a very fast pace. The suspense builds during the story that also has some humor and general human interest to the story. The reader is introduced to the various key people and groundwork is laid for the new series. I will purchase book two in the series provided the book is of average length. Meghan Kelly did a good job narrating the story.

Descent Short Mystery

This was an okay, short little mystery, with good characters and storyline, This is book 1, but there is no book 2 as of yet.. Meghan Kelly does a good job narrating, but there is a little bit of a sound issue, it goes from low to high a lot. Received this for free from FABC, and I am giving my voluntary review.

Fun

I really enjoyed this short mystery. The writing was good and so was the narration.