The Plea
"The Plea’ has it all."
Synopsis:
For years, major New York law firm Harland & Sinton has operated a massive global fraud. The FBI is on to them, but they need witnesses to secure their case. When a major client of the firm, David Child, is arrested for murder, the FBI ask con-artist-turned-lawyer Eddie Flynn to secure Child as his client and force him to testify against the firm.
Eddie's not a man to be forced into representing a guilty client, but the FBI has incriminating files on Eddie's wife, Christine, and if Eddie won't play ball, she'll pay the price.
When Eddie meets David Child he knows Child is innocent, despite the overwhelming evidence against him. With the FBI putting pressure on him to secure the plea, Eddie must find a way to prove Child's innocence while keeping his wife out of danger - not just from the FBI, but from the firm itself.
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Review:
One of my favourite protagonists, Eddie Flynn, features in Cavanagh's second legal thriller, 'The Plea'. Flynn has a failed marriage behind him, a business that is not exactly thriving, and a previous career as a hustler and con man to help him in his current career as a lawyer. Cavanagh expertly weaves Flynn's past and present careers, making the law and legal system feel little more than a confidence trick; an art of making people see what they want and need to see. 'The Plea' shows the less honourable side of the legal system; corruptible police officers, biased judges, egotistical lawyers. Yet among all of these, and despite his obvious flaws, Flynn manages to maintain his principles towards those that deserve them (but is happy to con, lie and cheat to get what he wants). Eddie still knows many less than savoury characters from his previous life, a number of which appear in 'The Plea', and all willing to help and support their former friend. However, 'The Plea' isn't just a courtroom drama. It will also leave you trying to work out what's going on, who is guilty, who is going to benefit. And even if you manage to work it all out, you will still enjoy this book. Cavanagh is a brilliant author. His timing is perfect. There is just enough technical information to inform yet not bore the reader. There is a good mix of courtroom, police and confidence tricks to appeal to a wide audience. In fact, 'The Plea' has it all.