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A transgendered youth accused of a brutal murder...
An attorney on the brink of self-destruction...
Attorney Harper Ross is at the end of her rope. Her former client, John Robinson, who she walked on a technicality, went on to kill again. John's second victim was a young, vibrant mother of two. After suffering with the devastating guilt about the evil that she unleashed back onto the street, Harper retreats to her old haunt, a bar called Charlie Hooper's, as she confronts her old demons.
Before she has a chance to completely drown her sorrows, Harper is called to defend Heather Morrison, a transgendered youth who is accused of killing her mother in cold blood. Heather insists that it was self-defense; Harper has her doubts.
As Harper gets further into investigation of the case, she discovers an evil beyond anything that she knew was possible. Her investigation of a church leads her to a Reverend who preaches hatred from the pulpit and possibly more.
Harper gets closer to the truth, yet further away from proving anything in a court of law. Her case seems to be sinking, and nothing can possibly save it.
A transgendered youth accused of a brutal murder...
An attorney on the brink of self-destruction...
Attorney Harper Ross is at the end of her rope. Her former client, John Robinson, who she walked on a technicality, went on to kill again. John's second victim was a young, vibrant mother of two. After suffering with the devastating guilt about the evil that she unleashed back onto the street, Harper retreats to her old haunt, a bar called Charlie Hooper's, as she confronts her old demons.
Before she has a chance to completely drown her sorrows, Harper is called to defend Heather Morrison, a transgendered youth who is accused of killing her mother in cold blood. Heather insists that it was self-defense; Harper has her doubts.
As Harper gets further into investigation of the case, she discovers an evil beyond anything that she knew was possible. Her investigation of a church leads her to a Reverend who preaches hatred from the pulpit and possibly more.
Harper gets closer to the truth, yet further away from proving anything in a court of law. Her case seems to be sinking, and nothing can possibly save it.
424 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2017
860 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 31, 2018
Ugh. What to say besides "ugh"? I don't know. I started off really excited about this book because I really like legal suspense books (I can't say legal thriller because there is really nothing scary about this book although there's kind of supposed to be), and the beginning was good and pulled me in. But then it just went downhill from there, until it ended up being a big disappointment. If you enjoy legal thrillers starring strong female characters and good plots then I would recommend Melissa Miller and the Sasha McCandless series. NOT this book, and here's why.
Its premise was very interesting. A transgendered teen is accused of murdering her mother and a burnt out, alcoholic lawyer is supposed to represent her but wants out of the legal profession. But what could have been a great book just fizzled out and died. It was predictable and became boring. The characters were more like caricatures. It was so convenient to blame the bad guys for all the bad things that there was nothing suspenseful about it. I'm not religious and I am all for LBGTQA+ rights but this book got way too preachy (or, anti-preachy?) against religion and way too politically correct to the point of being absurd.
For instance, the lawyer seriously describes her secretary as "Jane, my African American secretary" (?!) and there is a mention of a district attorney being "a female DA." This made me feel like I was living in the 1950's or like the book was being narrated by the kind of person the main character would actually hate (an older out of touch non-minority). I wish the author would have just told the story instead of getting on a soapbox. The same points could have been shown a lot better through the characters and story line but instead they were harped on to death through too much "telling"/preaching. I would not have liked a religious person preaching the message to me throughout the whole book with whatever message the *fictional* story was trying to teach me, and so I also did not like this anti-religious person doing that. I feel that it would have alienated the very audience she was trying to reach (intolerant people) and was too much preaching to the choir, to the point that sometimes even choir members like me got bored and didn't want to finish sitting through the lecture.
I think that for additional reasons the book could have used a lot more editing. There were parts that downright contradicted each other (Did she subpoena the witnesses or not?? She said she did/didn't like four different times) and parts that made no sense with plot holes galore, and not to mention so many editing/typo mistakes that it became distracting. I am fine with some typos but this took things to a whole new level. Also, it had random point of view changes that made no sense and were way too convenient but also ruined the whole story for me. For instance, most of it was told in the lawyer's first person point of view, which was fine, but then a random chapter was inserted from a witness/accomplice to the crime and it spoiled the whole rest of the plot because it let us know the whole story.
The narrator was not only annoying for being preachy and obnoxious but she also did some very unethical things while being preachy against other people. For instance, she showed up to court drunk. And she bragged about doing things that went against the code of ethics and whatever it took to win. And the most annoying part of it to me was that she was supposedly fighting to get custody of two girls after representing the guy who murdered their mom and getting him off of the crime and feeling bad about it, but she had almost no interaction with these girls and barely any scenes with them throughout the whole book except for feeling bad that she was missing dinner or whatever with them, and I couldn't believe she actually cared about them but instead she just wanted them to assuage her own guilt. She even took in her troubled client who was still currently on trial for murder against the advice of the social worker, and let her be around these girls who were already having a hard time after their mom died, just because it was what she wanted to do. (Oh, and she took one of the girls to the church she hated for preaching fire and brimstone and literal death to/murder of gay people, just because the girl said she wanted to help out.) She seemed to be driven by guilt and to make very bad decisions because of it and I wouldn't have wanted her to be my lawyer or my caretaker! Sure, of course she ends up winning the case in the end but hopefully any lawyer could have won it because the plot was so unbelievably predictable as to how she was going to win the client's case. She was not at all a strong character and I just wanted to tell her to toughen up. But at the same time, she wasn't relatable because she was so judgmental and headstrong and selfish.
Needless to say, I didn't like this book and was very disappointed because I had thought it could be a lot better. I basically forced myself to finish it because it had become so annoying and boring by the end. I gave it 2 stars because I felt passionately enough about it to hate it and to write this long review, so, that's saying something, and because the premise was good and I could relate to it *in the beginning* and because it was self published so I'm kind of grading on a curve because I think that with editing and proofreading it could have been a lot better. I hope the rest of the series improves but I didn't like it enough to keep reading. (The premise of the next book is that she has to defend her own past rapist and I just think that is too squicky to read about, even if I had liked this one more.) Also, although on Goodreads and one of the covers it says this book is by Annie Jacoby, the book I got on Amazon and its cover said it was written by Rachel Sinclair. It's confusing and makes me think that even the cover contain typos or the author doesn't care enough to even be consistent about the name of the person who wrote the book.
Its premise was very interesting. A transgendered teen is accused of murdering her mother and a burnt out, alcoholic lawyer is supposed to represent her but wants out of the legal profession. But what could have been a great book just fizzled out and died. It was predictable and became boring. The characters were more like caricatures. It was so convenient to blame the bad guys for all the bad things that there was nothing suspenseful about it. I'm not religious and I am all for LBGTQA+ rights but this book got way too preachy (or, anti-preachy?) against religion and way too politically correct to the point of being absurd.
For instance, the lawyer seriously describes her secretary as "Jane, my African American secretary" (?!) and there is a mention of a district attorney being "a female DA." This made me feel like I was living in the 1950's or like the book was being narrated by the kind of person the main character would actually hate (an older out of touch non-minority). I wish the author would have just told the story instead of getting on a soapbox. The same points could have been shown a lot better through the characters and story line but instead they were harped on to death through too much "telling"/preaching. I would not have liked a religious person preaching the message to me throughout the whole book with whatever message the *fictional* story was trying to teach me, and so I also did not like this anti-religious person doing that. I feel that it would have alienated the very audience she was trying to reach (intolerant people) and was too much preaching to the choir, to the point that sometimes even choir members like me got bored and didn't want to finish sitting through the lecture.
I think that for additional reasons the book could have used a lot more editing. There were parts that downright contradicted each other (Did she subpoena the witnesses or not?? She said she did/didn't like four different times) and parts that made no sense with plot holes galore, and not to mention so many editing/typo mistakes that it became distracting. I am fine with some typos but this took things to a whole new level. Also, it had random point of view changes that made no sense and were way too convenient but also ruined the whole story for me. For instance, most of it was told in the lawyer's first person point of view, which was fine, but then a random chapter was inserted from a witness/accomplice to the crime and it spoiled the whole rest of the plot because it let us know the whole story.
The narrator was not only annoying for being preachy and obnoxious but she also did some very unethical things while being preachy against other people. For instance, she showed up to court drunk. And she bragged about doing things that went against the code of ethics and whatever it took to win. And the most annoying part of it to me was that she was supposedly fighting to get custody of two girls after representing the guy who murdered their mom and getting him off of the crime and feeling bad about it, but she had almost no interaction with these girls and barely any scenes with them throughout the whole book except for feeling bad that she was missing dinner or whatever with them, and I couldn't believe she actually cared about them but instead she just wanted them to assuage her own guilt. She even took in her troubled client who was still currently on trial for murder against the advice of the social worker, and let her be around these girls who were already having a hard time after their mom died, just because it was what she wanted to do. (Oh, and she took one of the girls to the church she hated for preaching fire and brimstone and literal death to/murder of gay people, just because the girl said she wanted to help out.) She seemed to be driven by guilt and to make very bad decisions because of it and I wouldn't have wanted her to be my lawyer or my caretaker! Sure, of course she ends up winning the case in the end but hopefully any lawyer could have won it because the plot was so unbelievably predictable as to how she was going to win the client's case. She was not at all a strong character and I just wanted to tell her to toughen up. But at the same time, she wasn't relatable because she was so judgmental and headstrong and selfish.
Needless to say, I didn't like this book and was very disappointed because I had thought it could be a lot better. I basically forced myself to finish it because it had become so annoying and boring by the end. I gave it 2 stars because I felt passionately enough about it to hate it and to write this long review, so, that's saying something, and because the premise was good and I could relate to it *in the beginning* and because it was self published so I'm kind of grading on a curve because I think that with editing and proofreading it could have been a lot better. I hope the rest of the series improves but I didn't like it enough to keep reading. (The premise of the next book is that she has to defend her own past rapist and I just think that is too squicky to read about, even if I had liked this one more.) Also, although on Goodreads and one of the covers it says this book is by Annie Jacoby, the book I got on Amazon and its cover said it was written by Rachel Sinclair. It's confusing and makes me think that even the cover contain typos or the author doesn't care enough to even be consistent about the name of the person who wrote the book.
March 7, 2017
Couldn't put it down!!!
I loved it!!! I have read every book by this author and have never been disappointed. Great legal thriller that I just couldn't put it down. I would want Harper Ross as my attorney if I was in need of a criminal defense attorney. Can't wait to read the next one...with the teaser at the end for the next one I am hooked!!!
I loved it!!! I have read every book by this author and have never been disappointed. Great legal thriller that I just couldn't put it down. I would want Harper Ross as my attorney if I was in need of a criminal defense attorney. Can't wait to read the next one...with the teaser at the end for the next one I am hooked!!!
July 7, 2017
Bad faith is a BAD READ.
I just just finished chapter nine. This is, no doubt, the worse try at an attorney book I have read. I am thrilled I only paid ninety-nine cents.
Harry S.
I just just finished chapter nine. This is, no doubt, the worse try at an attorney book I have read. I am thrilled I only paid ninety-nine cents.
Harry S.
July 8, 2017
I received this an ARC for an honest review. This was a very intense novel. The ups and downs of Harper and her career and addiction was sort of heartbreaking at first. But then I start to realize that most of her issues are not as shallow as sometimes it looks. I would never pretend to understand an defense attorney, but I do know about addiction and alcoholism. I couldn't understand how she was able to do her job efficiently with all her underlying mental health issues and unresolved trauma issues. But to say the least she has a good heart, and although her decisions are mildly misguided, her intentions are not deceptive. I'm just glad that the subject of the plight of the LGBQT Community was at the forefront of this novel, and that alot of the horror of what this community goes through was put on blast. Although the story is fiction, it's not all lies from a personal POV or legal one. And I'd really like to know how Mathew's case turn out lol!!
October 14, 2017
Interesting story, especially in these times. The book started out well--the main character, Harper Ross, has issues. I suspect many defense attorneys have the same situation--a defendant beats a charge, and goes out to commit another crime. By the mid-point in the book, it was as if one person started writing the book, and another person finished it. The grammatical errors were incredibly distracting and interrupted the flow of the story--didn't anybody edit the book? The dialogue was strained and in some cases, the sentence structure was odd. I will try the second book in the series--there was a preview at the end of this one. But.....if it is as poorly edited as this one, I won't finish it.
September 6, 2017
Wasn't the best or worst book I have read.
So, this book did have some mystery to it. I can't say it is a thriller because I just seen it more as a drama. This writer seems to be very liberal, as this book is all about accepting LGBT community, and a church wanting gay kids murdered by their parents. My daughter is gay, and we love her and her partner because sexuality isn't the part we think about, to us she is just our daughter. A lot of conservatives are very accepting to LGBT community, but liberal writers seem to think otherwise. This wasn't a heart pounding, can't put it down book, but it was an okay drama.
So, this book did have some mystery to it. I can't say it is a thriller because I just seen it more as a drama. This writer seems to be very liberal, as this book is all about accepting LGBT community, and a church wanting gay kids murdered by their parents. My daughter is gay, and we love her and her partner because sexuality isn't the part we think about, to us she is just our daughter. A lot of conservatives are very accepting to LGBT community, but liberal writers seem to think otherwise. This wasn't a heart pounding, can't put it down book, but it was an okay drama.
May 29, 2023
Great book, but...
This book was riveting. I enjoyed every page, but so many times the punctuation was wrong, or the spelling was wrong, or there were discrepancies. Since I grew up in Kansas City, it was interesting to say the least. But I strongly suggest that the author find a different proof reader.
This book was riveting. I enjoyed every page, but so many times the punctuation was wrong, or the spelling was wrong, or there were discrepancies. Since I grew up in Kansas City, it was interesting to say the least. But I strongly suggest that the author find a different proof reader.
November 8, 2023
Excellent read
This is a great book with an unusual plot. It's about religious extremists, and people who are outside the realm of what they consider to be right. It also involves a transgender teen, so if you have issues with gay or trans people, this might not be the book for you.
This is a great book with an unusual plot. It's about religious extremists, and people who are outside the realm of what they consider to be right. It also involves a transgender teen, so if you have issues with gay or trans people, this might not be the book for you.
September 16, 2025
Good Plot????
The plot was really good but so much more could have been done with the story. There was no energy. No exciting investigation. Maybe, this is the way events leading up to a trial and an actual criminal trial works in the real world and if so, I can see why so many "innocent" defendants take a plea deal.
The plot was really good but so much more could have been done with the story. There was no energy. No exciting investigation. Maybe, this is the way events leading up to a trial and an actual criminal trial works in the real world and if so, I can see why so many "innocent" defendants take a plea deal.
June 9, 2017
So so plot, some details not quite believable
I wanted to like this book, but aspects of the plot and actions of the protagonist weren't really believable. And the ending resolved a little too easily. I won't be reading the second in the series, sorry.
I wanted to like this book, but aspects of the plot and actions of the protagonist weren't really believable. And the ending resolved a little too easily. I won't be reading the second in the series, sorry.
August 14, 2017
I wasn't sure what to think when I first started this book, but I started liking Harper Ross... she's human, has faults, but is willing to stand up for what she believes is right. I will definitely be reading more in this series.
September 2, 2017
Love this book. Great characters, a intense story of acceptance, fears and how religion can be misused to serve ones own fears. Hopefully, when one reads this they can take a true look and where they stand on these issues.
January 12, 2025
What a surprise
I read this book with very low expectations. I don't know why. I was pleasantly surprised. The characters are very colorful and complex. The story quickly becomes riveting. I strongly suggest that you give this a read. It is a really good book.
I read this book with very low expectations. I don't know why. I was pleasantly surprised. The characters are very colorful and complex. The story quickly becomes riveting. I strongly suggest that you give this a read. It is a really good book.
March 6, 2025
This was an OK legal novel and a very quick read. The plot involves a criminal defense lawyer and her client who admits killing their mother. A cult leader who advocates anti gay sentiment factors into the mix.
July 27, 2025
Justice for Heather
I have never read a book where one of the main characters is transgender. It was interesting and informative to learn how “trans” people are treated in the legal system.
I have never read a book where one of the main characters is transgender. It was interesting and informative to learn how “trans” people are treated in the legal system.
March 19, 2017
I loved this book and the characters. Great story line and I hope there is more to come from Harper. She deserves happiness.
June 5, 2017
Slow pace
Not sure what to think about this book. Harper Ross has some issues and character was hard to read. Next book looks better
Not sure what to think about this book. Harper Ross has some issues and character was hard to read. Next book looks better
October 4, 2017
Great
This is the first book from this author that I have read and must say I will read more I truly liked it
This is the first book from this author that I have read and must say I will read more I truly liked it
October 9, 2017
Review of: "Bad Faith"
This is a good read, but a little slow moving in my estimation. The. courtroom activity was a little bland, but okay.
This is a good read, but a little slow moving in my estimation. The. courtroom activity was a little bland, but okay.
August 19, 2018
Thriller
A page turner with many twists and turns. Rachel has a few surprises that are unexpected. Enjoyed the read and will read more of her books.
A page turner with many twists and turns. Rachel has a few surprises that are unexpected. Enjoyed the read and will read more of her books.
November 10, 2018
Interesting plot, amateurish writing
January 9, 2019
Bad Faith
Omg. This was a fantastic book. Loved it. Had lots of suspense and thrills. I highly recommend this book. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Omg. This was a fantastic book. Loved it. Had lots of suspense and thrills. I highly recommend this book. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
November 22, 2023
Faith, shows in the mirror of your beliefs!
Good read, has all the traits that make it a great book. Sinclair puts out a book worth reading. Try it, you’ll like it! Mikey did.
Good read, has all the traits that make it a great book. Sinclair puts out a book worth reading. Try it, you’ll like it! Mikey did.
February 4, 2025
I am looking forward to reading more books in this series!
March 18, 2017
Heath Morrison kills his mother. He hires attorney Harper Ross to defend him. Heath who wants to be Heather Morrison is claiming self defense. The only knife found at the murder scene was that of Heather's. Heather claimed her mom had a butcher knife, but nothing was found. Harper hears Heather's story but can't prove any of it! Was it self defense? Lots of twists and turns in this thriller. Don't miss this 5 star read by Annie Jacoby!
March 9, 2017
Good Read if you overlook errors
I found this to be an interesting study of an LGBT court case, in view of the current news stories about the movement. I would recommend it to any open minded reader.
The sour note is the poor job of proofreading. The book has far too many typos and grammatical errors.
I found this to be an interesting study of an LGBT court case, in view of the current news stories about the movement. I would recommend it to any open minded reader.
The sour note is the poor job of proofreading. The book has far too many typos and grammatical errors.
March 7, 2017
Great book!
March 18, 2025
Locations/Settings: [Missouri: Kansas City (Brookside Neighborhood, Wornall Rd., Iconic Art Deco Jackson County Circuit Courthouse, Church’s Chicken, Washington Square Park, Our Lady of Sorrows by the Crown Center, The Plaza, Cold Stone, Loose Park, Harrisonville, Tom’s Town Distilling Co. and Restaurant in the Crosswoods Art District at 17th and Main, Lidia’s Freight House Restaurant by Union Station); Kansas: Leawood (Church of the Nativity on 119th St.), Topeka (Westboro Baptist Church); Mentioned: San Diego and Escondido, California and State of Georgia]
September 20, 2017
My first book in this series and I really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews