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The Broken Lawyer
NEW RE-EDITED EDITION
Can an alcoholic lawyer working out of the back room of a Chinese restaurant in New York City’s Chinatown and barely surviving on court assigned cases save a young Hispanic man from a wrongful conviction and a family from the grips of a notorious Triad while battling his addiction?
Once a star prosecutor in the NYC District Attorney’s office the lawyer is forced to deal with his alcoholism or lose his law license. As he struggles to get his life back on track he must represent a succession of mostly hardened career criminals for whom he has little or no use. But two of his cases challenge his attitudes and test his skills.
Convinced that a young Hispanic man accused of armed robbery is actually innocent he works to have the case dismissed before the young man’s life is ruined. Police procedure, a courtroom battle, a savvy expert and an incompetent ADA all play roles in the outcome of the case.
A chance introduction brings a Chinese family that’s been dragged into cocaine smuggling and a diamond robbery by a notorious Triad to the lawyer. With the lives of an innocent woman and child hanging in the balance, he works closely with the NYPD and the FBI to free the family from the Triad’s grip. That well-laid plans sometimes go wrong is not surprising but why they go wrong can be surprising as he finds out.
The lawyer’s battle with his alcoholism and his AA experiences are very much a part of his story. From his initial skepticism about AA through the various stages of his recovery he tells all with a blunt honesty, sometimes humorously but often painfully, as he is forced to examine his past life and himself.
Can an alcoholic lawyer working out of the back room of a Chinese restaurant in New York City’s Chinatown and barely surviving on court assigned cases save a young Hispanic man from a wrongful conviction and a family from the grips of a notorious Triad while battling his addiction?
Once a star prosecutor in the NYC District Attorney’s office the lawyer is forced to deal with his alcoholism or lose his law license. As he struggles to get his life back on track he must represent a succession of mostly hardened career criminals for whom he has little or no use. But two of his cases challenge his attitudes and test his skills.
Convinced that a young Hispanic man accused of armed robbery is actually innocent he works to have the case dismissed before the young man’s life is ruined. Police procedure, a courtroom battle, a savvy expert and an incompetent ADA all play roles in the outcome of the case.
A chance introduction brings a Chinese family that’s been dragged into cocaine smuggling and a diamond robbery by a notorious Triad to the lawyer. With the lives of an innocent woman and child hanging in the balance, he works closely with the NYPD and the FBI to free the family from the Triad’s grip. That well-laid plans sometimes go wrong is not surprising but why they go wrong can be surprising as he finds out.
The lawyer’s battle with his alcoholism and his AA experiences are very much a part of his story. From his initial skepticism about AA through the various stages of his recovery he tells all with a blunt honesty, sometimes humorously but often painfully, as he is forced to examine his past life and himself.
421 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 8, 2016
411 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Donald L'Abbate
12 books11 followersAfter graduating from Manhattan College and Fordham University School of Law, I practiced in New York for thirty-five years. Although I write about criminal law, I never practiced criminal law. My area of practice was civil litigation.
In 2005 I retired and in 2010 moved with my wife Rose to South Carolina. Freed from the daily grind of an active law practice, I once again became an avid reader. That lead to my writing stories, which I did strictly for my own enjoyment and shared only with my wife. Eventually, Rose encouraged me to publish my stories, and surprisingly I’ve managed to publish a couple of books.
Having been born, educated and lived in or near New York City, for sixty-five years, I know a few things about the city. As for alcoholism, I know a few things about that too. The Broken Lawyer books are not biographical, but I have drawn on some of my own experiences when writing Jake Carney’s stories.
To learn more about me and my books, visit my website at WWW.DLABBATE-WRITER.COM
In 2005 I retired and in 2010 moved with my wife Rose to South Carolina. Freed from the daily grind of an active law practice, I once again became an avid reader. That lead to my writing stories, which I did strictly for my own enjoyment and shared only with my wife. Eventually, Rose encouraged me to publish my stories, and surprisingly I’ve managed to publish a couple of books.
Having been born, educated and lived in or near New York City, for sixty-five years, I know a few things about the city. As for alcoholism, I know a few things about that too. The Broken Lawyer books are not biographical, but I have drawn on some of my own experiences when writing Jake Carney’s stories.
To learn more about me and my books, visit my website at WWW.DLABBATE-WRITER.COM
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 25, 2016
There have been only a few times I haven't been able to finish reading a book. This is one of those times. There were so many problems with the grammar and writing style, I had to reread sentences several times to get what the author was trying to say. The book is riddled with run-on sentences, poor punctuation, missing words, and spelling errors. It is hard to believe this was written by an attorney with 35 years of civil experience that involves a large amount of writing.
What I was able to read, the storyline does have potential. I hope the author does eventually get this book edited.
What I was able to read, the storyline does have potential. I hope the author does eventually get this book edited.
May 16, 2018
The protagonist is supposed to be 46 years old; a former high-flying lawyer in Manhattan who lost his job for repeatedly turning up drunk in court and has spent 13 years living in a crummy apartment, working out of a back room in a Chinese restaurant for legal-aid clients and drinking yet it comes as a massive revelation to him that he has a drinking problem.
Handily, once he is forced to go to AA, he realises he may be an alcoholic, stops drinking & immediately looks much better - so much so that people remark upon it - and he instantly feels healthier. No withdrawal issues, no DTs, no signs of the physical toll that that level of drinking must have taken. Women continue to find him irresistible but his new-found sobriety means he only hits on half of them and keeps his lechery for his readers.
He has opinions on everything - the best hot dogs in the world, his 'dirtbag' clients, the American legal system etc and he's going to give you every one of those opinions because why wouldn't you want to know where to get the 'best hot dogs in the world' from a man who considers a trip to Queens foreign travel?
He describes his life in excruciating detail - every meal, every trivial conversation, every idle thought that crosses his mind. And over all this he is evangelising for AA with the zeal of a reformed addict.
Reading this was like being cornered by an 80-year old and forced to listen to his entire life story. Told in real time, with no interruptions allowed.
Handily, once he is forced to go to AA, he realises he may be an alcoholic, stops drinking & immediately looks much better - so much so that people remark upon it - and he instantly feels healthier. No withdrawal issues, no DTs, no signs of the physical toll that that level of drinking must have taken. Women continue to find him irresistible but his new-found sobriety means he only hits on half of them and keeps his lechery for his readers.
He has opinions on everything - the best hot dogs in the world, his 'dirtbag' clients, the American legal system etc and he's going to give you every one of those opinions because why wouldn't you want to know where to get the 'best hot dogs in the world' from a man who considers a trip to Queens foreign travel?
He describes his life in excruciating detail - every meal, every trivial conversation, every idle thought that crosses his mind. And over all this he is evangelising for AA with the zeal of a reformed addict.
Reading this was like being cornered by an 80-year old and forced to listen to his entire life story. Told in real time, with no interruptions allowed.
April 26, 2020
A tale of redemption
I really enjoyed "The Broken Lawyer," a legal thriller, yes; however, more a tale of redemption.
I'm surprised at the negative reviews criticizing the writing style and typos. I liked Mr. L'Abbate's style. I felt it fit with the unnamed protagonist's telling of his story. Frankly, I didn't notice any more typos and editing issues than a normal Kindle read.
The story takes us on an alcoholic lawyer's journey through recovery: from a rented desk in the back of a Chinese restaurant representing criminal clients referred by the city courts to discovery that his life can be better without being drunk, and with the support of AA meetings and good people in his life.
Is it a "perfect" and accurate tale of recovery? Not having been in recovery I can't answer that. It's one person's story -- and, importantly, it's a story. A work of fiction. Mr. L'Abbate gets to choose how he wants to tell it. And I think he told it well. I look forward to others in the series.
I really enjoyed "The Broken Lawyer," a legal thriller, yes; however, more a tale of redemption.
I'm surprised at the negative reviews criticizing the writing style and typos. I liked Mr. L'Abbate's style. I felt it fit with the unnamed protagonist's telling of his story. Frankly, I didn't notice any more typos and editing issues than a normal Kindle read.
The story takes us on an alcoholic lawyer's journey through recovery: from a rented desk in the back of a Chinese restaurant representing criminal clients referred by the city courts to discovery that his life can be better without being drunk, and with the support of AA meetings and good people in his life.
Is it a "perfect" and accurate tale of recovery? Not having been in recovery I can't answer that. It's one person's story -- and, importantly, it's a story. A work of fiction. Mr. L'Abbate gets to choose how he wants to tell it. And I think he told it well. I look forward to others in the series.
October 19, 2021
Broken
This was absolutely the most heart felt and interesting story; beautifully written. (Not the the occasional editing mishaps) the story itself. This was written by someone that is very close friends with Bill W. Being a recovering Alcoholic myself, this brought back many memories for me. (keeping it fresh) The truly fascinating thing about us, our stories are the same. The circumstances/situations differ; but where the debilitating addiction takes us is the same journey. We suffer a slow destruction from the inside out. If we are lucky to find recovery, we actually get to survive and then live a fulfilled life. Highly recommend
This was absolutely the most heart felt and interesting story; beautifully written. (Not the the occasional editing mishaps) the story itself. This was written by someone that is very close friends with Bill W. Being a recovering Alcoholic myself, this brought back many memories for me. (keeping it fresh) The truly fascinating thing about us, our stories are the same. The circumstances/situations differ; but where the debilitating addiction takes us is the same journey. We suffer a slow destruction from the inside out. If we are lucky to find recovery, we actually get to survive and then live a fulfilled life. Highly recommend
November 26, 2016
Fascinating Story
This story is written as a true, first person confession of a lawyer's day by day struggle and ascension from a life controlled by alcoholism. The preface makes him sound quite despicable. However, you will grow to love and admire him by the end of the book. Intermixed with his personal trials, he recounts legal clients' case histories and one in particular is indeed a thriller. Don't rush through this book. Take time to soak up the life lessons it offers.
This story is written as a true, first person confession of a lawyer's day by day struggle and ascension from a life controlled by alcoholism. The preface makes him sound quite despicable. However, you will grow to love and admire him by the end of the book. Intermixed with his personal trials, he recounts legal clients' case histories and one in particular is indeed a thriller. Don't rush through this book. Take time to soak up the life lessons it offers.
March 30, 2021
T?
Just finished "Broken Lawyer" by Donald L'Abbat and I am only sorry I
Didn't read #1 before #2___because I loved "Broken Lawyer" which is story of a good atty. But a better drunk, his story of his working the
Steps of AA to change his life ,while working as a court ordered atty.!l
In itself the story? of his l travels are pretty exciting add in severa! Of his smaller criminals and the Big ✓ of chinese criminals,raids and underworld gangsters,a romance of one or two,and you get a "great read"
Just finished "Broken Lawyer" by Donald L'Abbat and I am only sorry I
Didn't read #1 before #2___because I loved "Broken Lawyer" which is story of a good atty. But a better drunk, his story of his working the
Steps of AA to change his life ,while working as a court ordered atty.!l
In itself the story? of his l travels are pretty exciting add in severa! Of his smaller criminals and the Big ✓ of chinese criminals,raids and underworld gangsters,a romance of one or two,and you get a "great read"
July 30, 2017
I found it entertaining although not exactly a legal thriller. The characters could have been developed more and added to their physical description. I liked the sense of humor of the author. I read the reviews and was on the fence about committing to the book but since it was a kindle freebie I went for it. I just downloaded his 2nd book so I am hoping it's more of a thriller. If all the restaurants are real I am visiting them when I make it to New York.
June 16, 2019
Good story, likable character
An enjoyable read, and written in an interesting informal style. I'll read the next book sometime, although this was not quite the page-turner of some series I read. One surprise is the large number of grammatical errors throughout the book. Presumably it hasn't been proof read?
An enjoyable read, and written in an interesting informal style. I'll read the next book sometime, although this was not quite the page-turner of some series I read. One surprise is the large number of grammatical errors throughout the book. Presumably it hasn't been proof read?
September 24, 2019
You're kidding!
I have never read a book before that had not been proofread and edited! The story, enjoyed but had to figure out where the punctuation should be! I'm not sure I would ever read another of his if it were the same. Even some of the words were wrong; ei persecution instead of prosecution.
I have never read a book before that had not been proofread and edited! The story, enjoyed but had to figure out where the punctuation should be! I'm not sure I would ever read another of his if it were the same. Even some of the words were wrong; ei persecution instead of prosecution.
September 25, 2019
OK But I Kept Reading
It was one of those boo!s you don't really love but that keeps you coming back to read. It has an easy reading style, more like a conversation than a book. The only real negative was the many editing errors such as words obviously out of even the wrong word . Fire that proofreader LOL
It was one of those boo!s you don't really love but that keeps you coming back to read. It has an easy reading style, more like a conversation than a book. The only real negative was the many editing errors such as words obviously out of even the wrong word . Fire that proofreader LOL
August 15, 2022
Enjoyable story
I really like this character and enjoyed all his ups and downs. Being a recovering alcoholic is a big part of the book but it makes you stop and think about the struggle an alcoholic has to go through each and every day in order to stay sober. Looking forward to reading the next book.
I really like this character and enjoyed all his ups and downs. Being a recovering alcoholic is a big part of the book but it makes you stop and think about the struggle an alcoholic has to go through each and every day in order to stay sober. Looking forward to reading the next book.
February 9, 2017
Smooth writing
This was one of those "couldn't stop til it was done"!! This author did a brilliant job of weaving his life in between the ribbons of all the characters and their different situations. Amazing.. Can't wait to read next story.
This was one of those "couldn't stop til it was done"!! This author did a brilliant job of weaving his life in between the ribbons of all the characters and their different situations. Amazing.. Can't wait to read next story.
July 9, 2017
So so so-called thriller
Could have had more potential but as for a thriller? No. Not so much. The AA thing was a bit much. Got boring. The book just had no sustenance to it. The big thriller was the diamond heist..big deal.
Could have had more potential but as for a thriller? No. Not so much. The AA thing was a bit much. Got boring. The book just had no sustenance to it. The big thriller was the diamond heist..big deal.
January 18, 2018
Decent Read
Not a ton of action in this book, but it was written in a humorous manner and the conversation style held my interest. It's the kind of book you can read awhile then easily put down for awhile, not a page Turner action thriller.
Not a ton of action in this book, but it was written in a humorous manner and the conversation style held my interest. It's the kind of book you can read awhile then easily put down for awhile, not a page Turner action thriller.
April 16, 2018
Grabs Your Attention Immediately
The main character writes his own story and I found myself cheering him on as he battled alcohol and desperately tried to pull his legal career out of the toliet.
This author is on my must read list.
The main character writes his own story and I found myself cheering him on as he battled alcohol and desperately tried to pull his legal career out of the toliet.
This author is on my must read list.
June 13, 2018
Alcoholics and Lawyers
This book was quite insightful into the mind of an alcoholic and I loved it. While it was a legal thriller with realistic storylines, it dealt honesty with the reality of alcoholism.
This book was quite insightful into the mind of an alcoholic and I loved it. While it was a legal thriller with realistic storylines, it dealt honesty with the reality of alcoholism.
June 30, 2019
Typos, misspelled words, improper grammar and all kinds of syntax
Why write if you’re English is incorrect on every page? Who proofread this novel? They should be fired. Run on sentences plague this book.
Why write if you’re English is incorrect on every page? Who proofread this novel? They should be fired. Run on sentences plague this book.
January 3, 2020
Good: Two Good Legal Stories and Much About AA
The book would have earned five stars except for too much repetitive self flagellation for my taste. A semi-thriller holds the reader’s interest until the end. I recommend reading if you are into law or interested in AA.
The book would have earned five stars except for too much repetitive self flagellation for my taste. A semi-thriller holds the reader’s interest until the end. I recommend reading if you are into law or interested in AA.
November 19, 2021
I loved this book. I come from a family of recovering alcoholics, so this was great reading for me. I couldn't put the book down. He developed the characters well and I have just downloaded his next book, to see what happens now that he has been sober for a while.
May 11, 2022
A different kind of legal thriller
Enjoyed this book. It is different than just a mystery. This has humor along with suspense and touches on a problem that affects a large percentage of people in this country.
Enjoyed this book. It is different than just a mystery. This has humor along with suspense and touches on a problem that affects a large percentage of people in this country.
November 30, 2016
Different Lawyer story
Good plot, an easy read, I would try another book by this author. There were lots of misspelled words as I read this book.
Good plot, an easy read, I would try another book by this author. There were lots of misspelled words as I read this book.
November 23, 2017
Just a story.
OK, not much excitement! Not a page turner or can't wait to next chapter. Not too long, which is good for this story line.
OK, not much excitement! Not a page turner or can't wait to next chapter. Not too long, which is good for this story line.
March 1, 2018
Good one. Tells all about bad lawyers and acoholics. Read it and learn just how sick they are.
April 2, 2018
About 2.75 in actuality.
October 4, 2018
A real lawyer
This was a very different legal thriller It presents a real human being that has problems like the all of us
This was a very different legal thriller It presents a real human being that has problems like the all of us
November 19, 2018
This author is up there with Grisham a brilliant first read starting next one right away Highly Recommended.
January 24, 2020
The Broken Lawyer
A very unusual book, written entirely in " the first person. " This is an honest, detailed story of a recovering alcoholic.
A very unusual book, written entirely in " the first person. " This is an honest, detailed story of a recovering alcoholic.
October 18, 2021
Great book
I loved the main character. He was fun and likeable. The story had suspense, humor, and a bit of romance.
I loved the main character. He was fun and likeable. The story had suspense, humor, and a bit of romance.
October 21, 2021
Good story
I really enjoyed this book. The character seems very real. The story line was very different from most lawyer novels.
I really enjoyed this book. The character seems very real. The story line was very different from most lawyer novels.
June 6, 2022
too much AA
Just like some alcoholics must talk about it all the time, some authors must talk about it all the time.
Just like some alcoholics must talk about it all the time, some authors must talk about it all the time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews