Title: A Matter of Life and Death
Author: Phillip Margolin
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: March 9, 2021
Rating: 5 out of 5
Margolin's latest book brings Portland Defense Attorney Robin Lockwood one of her most difficult trials. When a homeless man is arrested for killing a prominent judge's wife, the case against him seems hopeless for him. His DNA and prints are all over the scene and he is seen fleeing the property by the husband who has an airtight alibi. Yet, Lockwood senses the man is innocent and the case is too pat.
This is the fourth in the Robin Lockwood series and it reunites her with Amanda Joffe, another defense attorney and the star of another one of Margolin's series. Sadly, Joffe gets too little time here, but it is still great to have them back in a murder trial. I love the setting in Portland, Oregon, as it is my adoptive hometown and I can picture the locations described.
I almost gave this 4 stars, but Margolin tacks on a related murder trial in the last part of the book. And this one, too, seems open and shut but ends with a wallop, a sudden courtroom twist. Three murders, all related, with Lockwood and Joffe. What's not to love about this one. It is likely to hit my best of books read list for 2020, I liked it that much.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an advance review copy for free; I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
