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Pro Bono
A tenacious attorney grapples with a dangerous group of thieves in this new thriller from the author of The Old Man.
Charles Warren, Los Angeles attorney, has dedicated his career to aiding people in financial straits. He is particularly skilled at the art of recovering assets that have been embezzled or hidden. In his newest case, helping a beautiful young widow find the money missing from her late husband’s investment accounts, Charlie recognizes a familiar scheme—one that echoes the con job that targeted his own widowed mother many years before, and that led him, as a teenager, to commit a crime of retribution that still weighs on his conscience.
Charlie can’t get the present case out of his mind, but within hours of starting his investigation, he is followed, shot at, and has his briefcase stolen. It’s clear that someone doesn’t want him following the trail of the missing money but, as Charlie continues to pursue answers, he quickly becomes too entangled in the web of fraud, betrayal, and career criminals surrounding the theft to escape its deadly snare.
Charles Warren, Los Angeles attorney, has dedicated his career to aiding people in financial straits. He is particularly skilled at the art of recovering assets that have been embezzled or hidden. In his newest case, helping a beautiful young widow find the money missing from her late husband’s investment accounts, Charlie recognizes a familiar scheme—one that echoes the con job that targeted his own widowed mother many years before, and that led him, as a teenager, to commit a crime of retribution that still weighs on his conscience.
Charlie can’t get the present case out of his mind, but within hours of starting his investigation, he is followed, shot at, and has his briefcase stolen. It’s clear that someone doesn’t want him following the trail of the missing money but, as Charlie continues to pursue answers, he quickly becomes too entangled in the web of fraud, betrayal, and career criminals surrounding the theft to escape its deadly snare.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published January 14, 2025
439 people are currently reading
5570 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Perry
93 books1,700 followersThomas Perry was the author of 25 novels. He was born in Tonawanda, New York in 1947. He received a B.A. from Cornell University in 1969 and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Rochester in 1974. He had worked as a park maintenance man, factory laborer, commercial fisherman, university administrator and teacher, and as a writer and producer of prime time network television shows.
Thomas Perry lived in Southern California.
Thomas Perry lived in Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
January 8, 2025
Pro Bono et Cui Bono?
A review of the Mysterious Press Kindle ARC via NetGalley, obtained in advance of the publication of the official hardcover/ebook/audiobook (January 14, 2025).
Attorney Charles Warren had met a major conman and grifter in his youth. So he already has some idea of what he is up against when the newly widowed Vesper Ellis comes into his office asking for assistance in tracking missing funds from her bank accounts.
But the stakes are bigger than ever when suddenly he finds himself being targeted by unknown stalkers who even steal his briefcase from his car shortly after he takes on the new client. There are increasing twists and surprise villains which build throughout this latest novel from the master of the 'hunt and hide' / 'seek and evade' suspense thriller.
Before it is over, not only Ellis and Warren, but even his own mother, who had been the victim of the conman in Warren's youth, will become possible targets for murder. It becomes absolutely unputdownable as the culprits circle their victim and our heroes make a desperate attempt at a rescue. This was yet another terrific read from Thomas Perry, who was the author of last year's Hero (January 2024), which I 5-star rated and described as being Relentless.
My thanks to the author, the publisher Mysterious Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.
Trivia and Link
Author Thomas Perry will be interviewed by the Poisoned Pen Bookstore YouTube channel on Tuesday January 14, 2025 when the book is officially released. You can be notified in advance or watch the archived interview afterwards here.
A review of the Mysterious Press Kindle ARC via NetGalley, obtained in advance of the publication of the official hardcover/ebook/audiobook (January 14, 2025).
Attorney Charles Warren had met a major conman and grifter in his youth. So he already has some idea of what he is up against when the newly widowed Vesper Ellis comes into his office asking for assistance in tracking missing funds from her bank accounts.
But the stakes are bigger than ever when suddenly he finds himself being targeted by unknown stalkers who even steal his briefcase from his car shortly after he takes on the new client. There are increasing twists and surprise villains which build throughout this latest novel from the master of the 'hunt and hide' / 'seek and evade' suspense thriller.
Before it is over, not only Ellis and Warren, but even his own mother, who had been the victim of the conman in Warren's youth, will become possible targets for murder. It becomes absolutely unputdownable as the culprits circle their victim and our heroes make a desperate attempt at a rescue. This was yet another terrific read from Thomas Perry, who was the author of last year's Hero (January 2024), which I 5-star rated and described as being Relentless.
My thanks to the author, the publisher Mysterious Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.
Trivia and Link
Author Thomas Perry will be interviewed by the Poisoned Pen Bookstore YouTube channel on Tuesday January 14, 2025 when the book is officially released. You can be notified in advance or watch the archived interview afterwards here.
January 25, 2025
Charles Warren is an attorney specializing in recovering assets for people who have been defrauded. His mission was inspired by the long-ago fleecing of his mother. Now a widow has hired him after she discovers money missing from the investment accounts of her late husband. I actually enjoy reading about financial crimes, clever criminals and even more clever detective work. However, this is a thriller author, so he ramps up the brute force.
The book begins with the confusing introduction of way too many characters - in three settings. Their stories eventually converge in the present, but I wish that the author had found a simpler way to introduce them. Charles and the widow are both threatened, chased and harmed, presumably having something to do with her missing cash. This leads to the even more characters. Once that situation was resolved, the book wasn’t finished. There were more characters to introduce and more mayhem. The book did hold my interest. It’s similar to other books that I’ve read by this author. It’s a simple, fast moving entertainment to read on a plane. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
The book begins with the confusing introduction of way too many characters - in three settings. Their stories eventually converge in the present, but I wish that the author had found a simpler way to introduce them. Charles and the widow are both threatened, chased and harmed, presumably having something to do with her missing cash. This leads to the even more characters. Once that situation was resolved, the book wasn’t finished. There were more characters to introduce and more mayhem. The book did hold my interest. It’s similar to other books that I’ve read by this author. It’s a simple, fast moving entertainment to read on a plane. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
January 6, 2025
The PROs and CONs of PRO BONO:
PROs:
1) GIFTED AUTHOR:
Thomas Perry is a true master of the ‘hunt and the hunted" suspense thrillers.
2) INTRIGUING PREMISE:
Can a Los Angeles attorney help a beautiful young widow find the money missing from her late husband's investment accounts?
3) ACTION-PACKED:
Within hours of starting his investigation, the protagonist is followed, shot at, and had his briefcase stolen.
CONS:
1) TOO MANY CHARACTERS.
I prefer fewer characters with more in-depth characterizations.
2) NOT THE AUTHOR'S BEST BOOK.
Although the book was good, it was not in the same league as Thomas Perry's earlier releases.
It lacked the sizzling element of suspense and attention to detail I was expecting and seeking from this talented author.
----------------------
I listened to the audiobook read by L.J. Ganser. Although L.J. Ganser's narration was good, it was not great.
Narrator Michael Kramer narrated all of my favorite Thomas Perry books and perhaps I would have enjoyed this audiobook more with a Michael Kramer narration.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2025
I listened to the audiobook of this one and I thought the narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life, especially the main character Charles Warren. I haven’t read anything by Thomas Perry, but I thought it was over all a well written novel. I thought there was an interesting mix of well written mystery and a couple of overly obvious subplots that could have been left out. Charles is an attorney and CPA who specializes in finding stolen money and getting it back for his clients. It is clear what drove him down this path, when he was a teenager his mother married a man who tried to steal everything from her. Charles get a new a client who is sure money has been going missing from some of the investment accounts her husband left her when she died. There is a lot of action in this one and it was interesting. I will read more by this author. I gave it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because it was well written.
June 12, 2025
This face-paced thriller was a fun read, even though some of the characters made me chuckle at either their surprising gifts for eluding bad guys - or the ineptitude of some of those bad guys.
When Charlie Warren was a teenager his mother was scammed by a grifter who ran off with her money not long into their wedded life. Very quickly after that he died, and the records of where her money went disappeared as well.
Now an attorney, Charlie is approached by a woman who is pretty sure something is bogus in her investment accounts. Sorting this out is right in Charlie’s wheelhouse, since he excels at finding hidden funds in divorce cases.
Turns out the woman was right, someone was siphoning funds out of two of her investment accounts. This part of the book with the financial shenanigans was especially interesting to me, since I spent decades working in various roles in the investment management business. (I witnessed a situation that was pretty similar to what happens in this book, but with much worse consequences for the small firm that employed the person perpetrating the fraud. Didn’t end well for the bad guy either.)
But that’s only one part of the plot. There is also the matter of those funds that were stolen from Charlie’s mother 17 years previously. Circumstances develop that provide Charlie with the opportunity to recoup this money, but it’s a tricky bit of business getting it done.
What did I mean about the surprising aspects of some of the characters? Well, there’s Charlie, who, despite having been a mild-mannered attorney his whole life, has Jason Bourne-level skills at thinking on his feet, surviving gunshots, defending his home and his office against bad guys, and outwitting both low lifes and top executives of international investment firms.
And those bad guys are a mirror image of Charlie. They make hideously poor decisions and are generally incapable of pulling off any of their nefarious activities successfully.
But those are small things, really. This thriller was just what I needed before tackling the last section of a much more challenging book I’ve been reading. Did I mention that Charlie’s office manager/legal secretary/assistant is a lesbian who brings her dog to work every day? How can I not like that? :-)
When Charlie Warren was a teenager his mother was scammed by a grifter who ran off with her money not long into their wedded life. Very quickly after that he died, and the records of where her money went disappeared as well.
Now an attorney, Charlie is approached by a woman who is pretty sure something is bogus in her investment accounts. Sorting this out is right in Charlie’s wheelhouse, since he excels at finding hidden funds in divorce cases.
Turns out the woman was right, someone was siphoning funds out of two of her investment accounts. This part of the book with the financial shenanigans was especially interesting to me, since I spent decades working in various roles in the investment management business. (I witnessed a situation that was pretty similar to what happens in this book, but with much worse consequences for the small firm that employed the person perpetrating the fraud. Didn’t end well for the bad guy either.)
But that’s only one part of the plot. There is also the matter of those funds that were stolen from Charlie’s mother 17 years previously. Circumstances develop that provide Charlie with the opportunity to recoup this money, but it’s a tricky bit of business getting it done.
What did I mean about the surprising aspects of some of the characters? Well, there’s Charlie, who, despite having been a mild-mannered attorney his whole life, has Jason Bourne-level skills at thinking on his feet, surviving gunshots, defending his home and his office against bad guys, and outwitting both low lifes and top executives of international investment firms.
And those bad guys are a mirror image of Charlie. They make hideously poor decisions and are generally incapable of pulling off any of their nefarious activities successfully.
But those are small things, really. This thriller was just what I needed before tackling the last section of a much more challenging book I’ve been reading. Did I mention that Charlie’s office manager/legal secretary/assistant is a lesbian who brings her dog to work every day? How can I not like that? :-)
March 4, 2025
Wow! Excellent! Thomas Perry at his finest!
October 24, 2024
I have been a fan of Mr. Perry's for a while - specifically his Jane Whitefield series - so I was interested when I saw this new stand alone available as an ARC. This book has a bit of a different theme from the previous books that I've read from him.
We meet Charles Warren - first as a young man who helps uncover a scam being played on his widowed mother by an extremely talented con man, and then later as an attorney who seems to find himself in a similar situation with a different woman.
While the premise of the story was interesting, it felt almost like we were just getting the outline of a story and the contents still needed to be filled in. There was a lack of depth regarding certain circumstances, while at the same time it almost felt like we were then lost in the minutia of certain accounting issues. I'm not sure if that makes sense or not. I think that what was lacking the most was the character development that I have come to expect from this author. The characters felt more like cardboard cutouts and it was hard to feel engaged past a certain level.
I liked Charles as a character, but had trouble feeling anything for any of the other characters in the story. There are a couple of characters that are placed directly into the plot of the story - two ex convicts - that I had a hard time making their situation make sense. Then there are the "bad guys" who end up almost being caricatures of themselves.
In the end, it was a quick and easy read and the storyline does have a completed story arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Penzler Publishers | Mysterious Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on January 14, 2025.
We meet Charles Warren - first as a young man who helps uncover a scam being played on his widowed mother by an extremely talented con man, and then later as an attorney who seems to find himself in a similar situation with a different woman.
While the premise of the story was interesting, it felt almost like we were just getting the outline of a story and the contents still needed to be filled in. There was a lack of depth regarding certain circumstances, while at the same time it almost felt like we were then lost in the minutia of certain accounting issues. I'm not sure if that makes sense or not. I think that what was lacking the most was the character development that I have come to expect from this author. The characters felt more like cardboard cutouts and it was hard to feel engaged past a certain level.
I liked Charles as a character, but had trouble feeling anything for any of the other characters in the story. There are a couple of characters that are placed directly into the plot of the story - two ex convicts - that I had a hard time making their situation make sense. Then there are the "bad guys" who end up almost being caricatures of themselves.
In the end, it was a quick and easy read and the storyline does have a completed story arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Penzler Publishers | Mysterious Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on January 14, 2025.
January 26, 2025
This is a Mystery/Thriller. I listened to the audiobook for this book, and the narrator was very good. I really enjoyed listening to this book. I got totally pulled into this story, and I did not want to put this book down. This had me guessing and sitting on the edge of my seat. I loved all the action/suspense and the drama. I also loved the fast pace this story was told in. Great read. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
February 5, 2025
Excellent story. I will always ready Thomas Perry. He knows how to keep the story interesting and moving forward.
December 4, 2024
I love every book by Thomas Perry. His writing is accessible and it just flows making it easy to read.
Mack Stone is a con man. He cons the wrong woman whose son runs him off the road. Right after a bus full of convicts who have been fighting fires is California comes across the crash. 2 of them find paperwork that shows his latest con.
Flash forward 20 years and son Charlie is now a lawyer working for people getting divorced and often cheated.
The cons are out of prison. They make a deal that Charlie will give them a finders fee if they can get his mother's money back. In the meantime, Charlie is representing Vesper who realizes that her accounts are being embezzeled from after the death of her husband.
All of this gets tied together in a very readable plot that is a fun quick read.
Mack Stone is a con man. He cons the wrong woman whose son runs him off the road. Right after a bus full of convicts who have been fighting fires is California comes across the crash. 2 of them find paperwork that shows his latest con.
Flash forward 20 years and son Charlie is now a lawyer working for people getting divorced and often cheated.
The cons are out of prison. They make a deal that Charlie will give them a finders fee if they can get his mother's money back. In the meantime, Charlie is representing Vesper who realizes that her accounts are being embezzeled from after the death of her husband.
All of this gets tied together in a very readable plot that is a fun quick read.
January 21, 2025
Review to follow
January 30, 2025
The character’s were shallow and the writing borderline juvenile
July 26, 2025
"Con men and women were sociopaths, every one of them like Mack Stone. They had no sense that the people they were robbing were anything but prey."
I love Thomas Perry and Pro Bono is Perry at his best, this novel is a rip, roaring caper involving financial fraud, there are two different plotlines, one of which sets off the other. Attorney Charlie Warren knows about fraudsters, as his mother Linda was conned by her second husband Mack Stone who ran away with all her money. So, when a beautiful new client shows up with lots of cash missing from her investment accounts Charlie dives in to help head first. There are lots of crazy twists and turns and lots of bad guys/girls, for me this was fast and fun, but if you're looking for "believable" this may not be for you.
I love Thomas Perry and Pro Bono is Perry at his best, this novel is a rip, roaring caper involving financial fraud, there are two different plotlines, one of which sets off the other. Attorney Charlie Warren knows about fraudsters, as his mother Linda was conned by her second husband Mack Stone who ran away with all her money. So, when a beautiful new client shows up with lots of cash missing from her investment accounts Charlie dives in to help head first. There are lots of crazy twists and turns and lots of bad guys/girls, for me this was fast and fun, but if you're looking for "believable" this may not be for you.
June 30, 2025
Great read. He is one of my favorites. I buy his hardcover each time it comes out. So I'm a little biased.
d.
d.
May 15, 2025
Kind of a different flavor to this Perry book. Still a thriller but featuring a lawyer/ CPA.
Charlie Warren's mother was the victim of a grifter who ended up dying while Charlie was still in high school. lt's years later and Charlie is now a lawyer who specializes in financial crimes and some divorces.
Charlie's new client is a widow who's been having her investment accounts drained, and he finds her case reminds him of his mother. But folks involved in illegally taking others' money don't always go peacefully.
Charlie Warren's mother was the victim of a grifter who ended up dying while Charlie was still in high school. lt's years later and Charlie is now a lawyer who specializes in financial crimes and some divorces.
Charlie's new client is a widow who's been having her investment accounts drained, and he finds her case reminds him of his mother. But folks involved in illegally taking others' money don't always go peacefully.
January 25, 2025
Do you really know your financial manager? The author has created a list of characters that this reader loves to hate…Charles Warner, Los Angeles financial attorney, who helps people when in a financial crisis-takes us on a ride through his own life experiences and the ones he wants to help. Take the ride. Enjoy
January 19, 2025
Thomas Perry, so dependably good!
February 21, 2025
I did not enjoy this book. I guess I cannot politely describe the plot, characters, action so I will just have to leave it at that. Just relieved I finished it. I wonder if he thought the criminals were humorously wrought thugs, but I was not amused. Relieved I got to the end!
Library Loan
Library Loan
November 22, 2024
I'm a fan of Thomas Perry's Jane Whitefield series, but this was a disappointment. It's overall just flat, with flat characters and virtually no character development. There are three separate threads to this story and they don't come together well. A pair of ex-cons had some potential for comic relief, but they disappeared early on and just showed up at the end. There are other threads that don't intersect leaving almost the feeling of three separate stories. This feels very much like a first draft or a debut novel. I hope this is just a rare clunker. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2025
This might be the best I've read this year. The mystery is great and I never really knew if I could trust some of the characters. I loved the ending.
October 6, 2025
Charles Warren may be the coolest character that ever didn't live. A lawyer and a CPA (the schooling alone!), Charles digs into a case that puts his client at risk: and then goes after her to save her!
The ending felt a bit weak compared to the rest of the book, but I sense there may be more in the series.
fantastic writing: very engaging and suspenseful with characters that I cared about (the main ones at least, not plot created characters).
thank you NetGalley, the author Thomas Perry, and Highbridge Audio for my audiobook.
The ending felt a bit weak compared to the rest of the book, but I sense there may be more in the series.
fantastic writing: very engaging and suspenseful with characters that I cared about (the main ones at least, not plot created characters).
thank you NetGalley, the author Thomas Perry, and Highbridge Audio for my audiobook.
November 22, 2024
Since 1994 I have been a loyal fan of Thomas Perry. This first series about Jane Whitefield (Vanishing Act 1994 – The Left Handed Twin 2021),who helped people discover a new identity and then disappear involved the classic Run-and-Hide mystery. Very detailed plot lines about how to disappear. In those days it was actually possible to disappear with fake IDs using dead people’s information. Now with our modern technology, of course, that is unthinkable. Since Jane Whitefield, Thomas Perry has gone on to write 17 stand-alone novels – one of which is The Old Man, made into a hit television series. And truthfully, I can say that all of Perry’s books are of the same quality as those first ones in the Whitefield series. The latest, Pro Bono, is another heavy on detail and plot and light on character and setting. But sometimes an intricate Plot is worth it.
In this story Perry gives us the detail about how to stop a financial scam from the point of view of a LA lawyer, Charles Warren. Warren’s skills in recovering stolen and hidden assets propel the novel through the plot line – Warren is helping a beautiful widow find the money embezzled from her late husband’s accounts. Of course, the criminals do what they can to stop Warren and continue their conspiracy. The story unfolds rapidly and concisely in the Perry style of factual movements with little or no concern with the character build up. However, you do develop your own vision of the characters as the quite intricate detail emerges in the story. Sometimes a story that involves JUST THE FACTS, MA’AM, is a fun read in the mystery genre. Especially when those facts are clever and encompassing.
My rating: 4 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. Pro Bono will be published on Jan. 14, 2025.
In this story Perry gives us the detail about how to stop a financial scam from the point of view of a LA lawyer, Charles Warren. Warren’s skills in recovering stolen and hidden assets propel the novel through the plot line – Warren is helping a beautiful widow find the money embezzled from her late husband’s accounts. Of course, the criminals do what they can to stop Warren and continue their conspiracy. The story unfolds rapidly and concisely in the Perry style of factual movements with little or no concern with the character build up. However, you do develop your own vision of the characters as the quite intricate detail emerges in the story. Sometimes a story that involves JUST THE FACTS, MA’AM, is a fun read in the mystery genre. Especially when those facts are clever and encompassing.
My rating: 4 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. Pro Bono will be published on Jan. 14, 2025.
October 22, 2024
I have loved every book Thomas Perry has written and once again he writes a winner!
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Charles an attorney is skilled at recovering money from embezzling etc. As a child his mother married a man who stole her money. One day he hopes to retrieve it.
A young widow asks for his help as someone is stealing her money. Someone is trying to prevent him from finding the money as he is followed, shot at and his briefcase is stolen….. he won’t give up!
What a nail biter!
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Charles an attorney is skilled at recovering money from embezzling etc. As a child his mother married a man who stole her money. One day he hopes to retrieve it.
A young widow asks for his help as someone is stealing her money. Someone is trying to prevent him from finding the money as he is followed, shot at and his briefcase is stolen….. he won’t give up!
What a nail biter!
March 13, 2025
2.75/5 - this was an interesting, slower-paced read. What was difficult for me is characters were mentioned without really explaining who they are and how they tie into the story. Nothing in this book was a shock to me either. I think it put me into a reading slump.
January 6, 2025
A teenaged boy discovers the new man in his widowed mother’s life is stealing money from her. Fast forward 15 years, and he is an attorney and forensic accountant helping others in similar situations. Vesper is referred to him and he decides to take her case pro bono - for the public good - ie at no charge. While his motivation is not entirely clear, he proceeds to uncover wrongdoing and sets the wheels in motion. And the bureaucratic wheels turn slowly as the complex schemes are unraveled. Lives are threatened. Justice (or a form of it) is served. Then, just when I thought the book was wrapping up, a new set of issues arise. The state bureaucratic wheels turn slowly as complex claims are evaluated. Lives are threatened. Justice (or a form of it) is served. I feel as though I’ve been schooled in recovering lost property too. The “good” characters are likeable enough and it’s hard to feel sorry for the “bad” ones, though some are worse than others.
In sum, it’s interesting. Much like the legal profession, uneven. Sometimes it’s action-packed and other times it’s a lot of paperwork. I listened to the audiobook and feel as though I missed a statement here or there that might have more clearly pointed to a motivation or plot turn, especially when it came to the pair of former detectives that were assisting on the case. 3.5 rounded up. Narration is fine, but many of the voices seemed the same and I’m not sure if that was a reflection of the writing or narration.
If you didn’t already have reasons to be wary of new people you meet, you might after reading this book.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @HighBridgeAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #ProBono for review purposes. Publication date: January 14, 2025.
In sum, it’s interesting. Much like the legal profession, uneven. Sometimes it’s action-packed and other times it’s a lot of paperwork. I listened to the audiobook and feel as though I missed a statement here or there that might have more clearly pointed to a motivation or plot turn, especially when it came to the pair of former detectives that were assisting on the case. 3.5 rounded up. Narration is fine, but many of the voices seemed the same and I’m not sure if that was a reflection of the writing or narration.
If you didn’t already have reasons to be wary of new people you meet, you might after reading this book.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @HighBridgeAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #ProBono for review purposes. Publication date: January 14, 2025.
July 17, 2025
Thomas Perry is one of my favourite authors however this book simply wasn’t as good as most of his others. There was too much unnecessary description of food, clothes, minutia that muddied the decent story.
Of this is your first Thomas Perry book do not give up - most of his books are a brilliant 5 stars.
Of this is your first Thomas Perry book do not give up - most of his books are a brilliant 5 stars.
July 3, 2025
Although this story got off to a slow, unusual start, once it picked up I really enjoyed it! I don't want to say too much, but just know this one is worth reading, or better yet, listen on audiobook! 10 out of 10!!
January 7, 2025
This was a great legal thriller that was absolutely a non-stop, action packed, whirlwind of a book.
I felt like the story was actually 2 in 1. There’s the initial storyline of Charlie and Vesper (his new client who goes missing) and then another one involving his mother and her missing money.
I had no idea what was going to come next in this thriller and I really didn’t want to stop listening (audiobook). The only struggles I had were:
1.) I thought Vesper was a 76ish year old woman for the first 20% of the book (until Charlie rescues her) and not a mid-30s woman.
2.) There were too many characters to keep up with.
The narrator was great though and it really made for an enjoyable audiobook. This is my first Thomas Perry book and I’ll definitely be picking up another!
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Highbridge Audio for allowing me to preview this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I felt like the story was actually 2 in 1. There’s the initial storyline of Charlie and Vesper (his new client who goes missing) and then another one involving his mother and her missing money.
I had no idea what was going to come next in this thriller and I really didn’t want to stop listening (audiobook). The only struggles I had were:
1.) I thought Vesper was a 76ish year old woman for the first 20% of the book (until Charlie rescues her) and not a mid-30s woman.
2.) There were too many characters to keep up with.
The narrator was great though and it really made for an enjoyable audiobook. This is my first Thomas Perry book and I’ll definitely be picking up another!
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Highbridge Audio for allowing me to preview this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2025
I'd forgotten how much I like Thomas Perry's books. This is a fabulous suspense thriller book.
April 15, 2025
The Tone and Pace of Perry’s latest Thriller sustained my immersion in this tale of a lawyer/CPA who investigates financial scams that predominantly victimize the vulnerable like his widowed mother. Early in the book, the reader learns what happens to Linda Warren and how her teenage son, Charlie, reacts to his discovery that his stepdad is vermin. The years jump from 2007 to 2012 to 2024 and Charlie is helping other people get their money back and is contacted by two men who try to coerce his help in getting the money swindled from his mother years earlier. Nothing goes as planned until it does in this book, as Perry weaves some twists into this tale, forgoing deep characterization even while making this reader in turns, empathetic to his main CHs and invoking distaste towards the very unsavory, unscrupled predators. These predators are the best-created CHs in the book and Perry’s detailed overview of how they con without conscience and Charlie’s ability to uncover their tracks is the essence of why I kept reading. Good financial forensic detail but explained well was captivating. I found the dialogue a bit stifled and wooden, and often, much too repetitive and more detailed in that repetition than needed. Perry is a favorite of mine but this book not so much. Tone is built through his Setting description of various Californian and Nevadan locales, especially the homes and landscaping, and works well with the Pace of short chapters and agile plotting, even if the author leaves several arcs somewhat up in the air, leaving the reader free to deduce that justice was done. RED FLAGS: Graphic Violence; Kidnapping. Readalikes may be Steve Cavanaugh’s The Defense, James Grippando’s Blood Money, for that combination of money crimes and legal sleuthing, and/or maybe First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston for something female-centric and very intriguing.
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