The #1 Lawyer

He’s America’s Best Lawyer Until He’s Its #1 Murder Suspect

By: James Patterson, Nancy Allen

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

Length: 13 hrs

Publisher's summary

Biloxi’s best criminal defense attorney has never lost a case. Then his client’s beautiful wife is murdered, and America’s #1 lawyer suddenly becomes its #1 suspect.

Stafford Lee Penney is a small-town lawyer with a big-time reputation for winning every case he tries. In his sharp suits and polished Oxford shoes, Penney is Biloxi, Mississippi’s #1 Lawyer and top local celebrity.

Just as Penney notches his latest courtroom victory, his wife is scandalously killed. He spirals into a legal and personal losing streak, damaging his reputation and ruining his career.

That’s when Penney makes a bold decision. He stops trading on his power-lawyer identity and creates a new one: lawyer lifeguard. Moonlighting at the beach, showing up to court in flip-flops, mentoring a law student, the new Penney is at first unrecognizable.

It’s said that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. But when Penney is accused of murder, the #1 Lawyer will find a way to triumph.

©2024 James Patterson and Nancy Allen (P)2024 Little, Brown & Company

Critic reviews

“Excellent legal drama… Courtroom scenes are top-notch, and Patterson & Allen have once again hit a home run.”—Red Carpet Crash

"Patterson knows how to entertain readers ... [will] keep your head spinning right up until the end."—Bookreporter

Finally an excellent “Patterson” lent name book!

Many of the books released in past years with Patterson as a co-author were clearly not written with much, if any input from Patterson. I don’t know if Nancy Allen wrote most of this book , or all of it, but it’s a winner! Interesting plot, great narration ( so glad narrator didn’t use a phony, syrupy Mississippi accent🥖), and a surprise ending. One note, ending was somewhat spoiled by another reviewer who revealed they figured out whodunit, and proceeded to give the name. Shame on them!

good

finally a james Patterson book that was good and every other word wasn't a 4 letter word

Legal book

A good listen. Was a bit slow, but there were 2 trials and an usual finish

Mississippi Law has a type

Good story great narration. Succinct story, great plot with lots of plot twists that held my attention. I loved the character arch, just when you thought he was done he was able to pull through and move on to the next level of life’s mayhems.

He’s back!!!

Great book. I Enjoyed it from beginning to end. All the characters were real and the story was a page turner. “Charge On” Mr Patterson!!

the whole shoe being on the other foot premise

I Iiked the book and enjoyed the narration. The book was well written and engaging for readers.

Suspense didn’t know who was involved into the end

I loved all of it couldn’t stop listening it keep me guessing right to the very end

Very good

At first I was confused. Was this a John Grisham? With Jake Brigance? Nope. Patterson. Then the story took a couple of turns and veered into new writing territory. Mystery was good. Characters grew on you. I ended up really enjoying the story.

The characters were pretty cool. The story jumped to the end very quickly.

Performance was very good! I thought the Mississippi accent were done well. Characters could have been explored more.

Liked the characters and the mystery of it all. Liked that the language wasn’t riddled with unnecessary foul language.

I thought Jenny’s voice could have been better but the story was intriguing and kept me guessing.