Lion Plays Rough: A Leo Maxwell Mystery (Leo Maxwell Mystery, 2) - Softcover

Smith, Lachlan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 080212299X ISBN 13: 9780802122995

Publisher: Mysterious Press, 2015

Synopsis

Leo Maxwell always lived in the shadow of his older brother Teddy but is now an ambitious criminal defense attorney in his own right, practicing in Oakland under Teddy’s ex-wife. When a mysterious woman nearly runs Leo down, then appears at his office and asks him to defend her brother on a murder charge, Leo thinks he’s found the case that will make his name. One problem: he hasn’t actually met the client. And after taking a series of photographs that seem to blow the lid on corruption in the police department, Leo quickly learns that all is not as it seems beginning with the alluring woman who hired him. Leo’s client” is actually represented by one of Oakland’s most renowned gangland lawyers and claims never to have heard of him. Between the notorious lawyer and certain elements within the Oakland police, Leo realizes that he has unwittingly made himself enemy number one within the criminal community as well as the police department. Both sides want him silenced before he uncovers the full extent of a scandal that is poised to engulf the whole city. As bodies pile up, Leo must decide what he will sacrifice in order to bring those responsible for the murders to justice. And the truth behind the corruption proves far more sinister than he could have ever suspected.

About this title

About the Author:

Lachlan Smith is the author of "Bear is Broken," the first Leo Maxwell mystery. He was a Richard Scowcroft Fellow in the Stegner Program at Stanford and received an MFA from Cornell. His fiction has appeared in the "Best New American Voices" series. In addition to writing novels, he is an attorney practicing in the area of civil rights and employment law.

From Booklist:

In Smith’s debut (Bear Is Broken, 2012), fledgling San Francisco attorney Leo Maxwell earned his investigative chops by tracking down the shooter who incapacitated his genius attorney brother, Teddy. Now Leo’s life is feeling hopelessly tame: he’s arguing defense cases for his sister-in-law’s firm and living with Teddy, who’s struggling to recover. So, when a femme fatale pleads with him to prove her brother is being framed for murder by a dirty cop and a drug kingpin, he squashes ethical misgivings and takes the case. Using the sister’s information, Leo snaps damaging photos of the pair. But when he triumphantly delivers his evidence to the DA, the game changes. His supposed client doesn’t have a sister and is already being represented by the city’s most feared underworld attorney. With the DA investigating Leo’s ethics, and the drug lord in question out for blood, Leo’s only option is uncovering the “sister’s” motives. This entry bears less emotional weight than the debut but boasts greater polish in its blend of ironic narration, classic noir overtones, and artfully drafted characters. --Christine Tran

About this edition

• Publisher: Mysterious Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 080212299X
• ISBN 13: 9780802122995
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256