Book Review: The Last Defense

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Last Defense     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Christopher Darden , Dick Lochte
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Legal Setting
NAL, Oct 2002, $24.95, 448 pp.

Mercer Early has everything a man could want. He is a defense attorney at one of the most prestigious law firms in the country; he’s in love with the boss’s daughter; finally one of the two senior partners thinks he’s got a bright future ahead of him. He has just won an acquittal for doper Darion Mayfield by proving that the lead detective on the case, Detective Burris beat a confession out of the defendant and then perjured himself on the stand.

Before Burris is taken into custody, he threatens to get even with Darion. Only a few days later the doper is found dead in a dumpster with a witness placing Burris at the scene. The detective’s lover blackmails Mercer into defending Burris who believes his client is innocent and is being framed. Mercer is getting insider information from Internal Affairs Detective Mingus who is investigating an officer who may be responsible for a frame.

THE LAST DEFENSE is an exciting legal thriller that will appeal to fans of John Grisham. It’s obvious that Christopher Darden knows his way around a courtroom as he proves to be a winning writer when paired with veteran author Dick Lochte. The story line is fast- paced hooking the reader from the early courtroom drama to the strong climax.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner