I’m writing these two reviews together, because I read the books so quickly and so close to one another!
Book 6:
So I got distracted by other books for a little while, but I’m back on the Joe Dillard kick! Like I’ve said before, I like the characters. I like his family, and I like the way he practices law. He tried to do the right thing for good people. In this book, he hires a new associate named Charlie. She’s had a rough past, and she wants to defend an older neighbor whose son is trying to get him declared incompetent. Of course the man isn’t incompetent, and the son just wants to get on the old man’s land because there’s gold hidden there from years ago when a gangster brought it during prohibition.
The old man dies and leaves everything to Charlie, including the gold. She’s really scared and excited at first, because it’s like $50 million or something. Maybe 55. She pulls out a bar or two from the cave it’s hidden in, and bad things start happening. Joe tells her it’s blood money, since the mob most likely killed people to get it.
Of course the mobster’s great grandson (who’s a psycho) discovers that his family gold is still around, and he tries to get it from Charlie. A bunch of people get murdered, including almost Charlie. She decides that the gold really is blood money and she doesn’t want anything to do with it. Oh, and she starts to date Jack too, and they’re most likely in love. This was probable the Joe Dillard book with the least amount of actual lawyering, and the least amount of Joe. I still liked it though.
Book 7:
We start this book with a rich country star paying her lawyer to do something nefarious. At first it seems like she’s paying him to kill her husband. Then we fast forward and her husband is alive, but a young country star is murdered, and her husband is accused of it.
Then the wife (who started this whole mess) hires Joe to defend her husband, and pays him ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Please say that in the Dr. Evil voice. I don’t know how to do gifs, so please also imagine Mike Myers as Dr. Evil with his pinky up to his lip.
Anyway, Joe starts to defend this guy, and actually believes he’s innocent. There’s scandals, intrigue, conspiracy, and more murder. Of course Joe and his family are in danger again because whenever you’re dealing with rich people and exposing their secrets, they try to kill you 🙂
Caroline’s cancer is back and getting worse in this one too. It’s really sad because she’s an awesome woman, and the love of Joe’s life. I keep thinking that she’s going to die in one of these books, and I’m going to be upset.
I’d give both of these books 3.75 stars. They’re really quick reads, and I like the characters. I’m guessing sometimes they’re a bit formulaic, but I like the variety!