What do you think?
Rate this book
Article 15: Lawyers and Lovers and Guns…
“She was one in a million…and the day I met her I should have bought a lottery ticket instead.” ~Griffith Crowe
Griffith Crowe, the "fixer" for a Chicago law firm, falls for his current assignment, Helena Nicholson, the beautiful heir of a Tech Sector venture capitalist who perished in a helicopter crash leaving her half a billion dollars, a Learjet 31, and unsavory suspicions about her father's death. As he investigates, the ex-Navy SEAL crosses swords with Helena’s step-brother, the Pentagon’s Highlands Forum, and an All-Star bad guy somebody has hired to stop him. When Griff finds himself on the wrong side of an arrest warrant he Is he a player or being played?
Griffith Crowe, the "fixer" for a Chicago law firm, falls for his current assignment, Helena Nicholson, the beautiful heir of a Tech Sector venture capitalist who perished in a helicopter crash leaving her half a billion dollars, a Learjet 31, and unsavory suspicions about her father's death. As he investigates, the ex-Navy SEAL crosses swords with Helena’s step-brother, the Pentagon’s Highlands Forum, and an All-Star bad guy somebody has hired to stop him. When Griff finds himself on the wrong side of an arrest warrant he Is he a player or being played?
- GenresMystery
341 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2019
6 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
M.T. Bass
29 books389 followersEvery author was first a reader. My aim is to pay forward at least some small portion of the fun I've had and the discoveries I've made from reading great books, holding fast to the notion that while victors may get to write history, novelists get to write/right reality.
To join my mailing list and keep in touch (and get a free download), click here.
Just so you know what you might be getting into, my favorite five novels are:
1. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
2. Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
3. Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
4. Little Big Man by Thomas Berger
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
As much as I love real, physical "meatspace" books with real paper pages ("Real tomato ketchup, Eddie?"), I have to confess that eBook publishing has not only enabled my story-telling disorder, it has amped my reading back up without breaking my back, since I can carry my entire library around in my iPad Mini.
So it goes…
To join my mailing list and keep in touch (and get a free download), click here.
Just so you know what you might be getting into, my favorite five novels are:
1. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
2. Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
3. Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
4. Little Big Man by Thomas Berger
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
As much as I love real, physical "meatspace" books with real paper pages ("Real tomato ketchup, Eddie?"), I have to confess that eBook publishing has not only enabled my story-telling disorder, it has amped my reading back up without breaking my back, since I can carry my entire library around in my iPad Mini.
So it goes…
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 24, 2019
Griffith Crowe ("Name's Griff") is ex-military, putting his very specific skillset to use working for a Chicago law firm when the well-to-do have a problem and need it resolved. His newest case seems straightforward enough on the surface...a recently divorced gorgeous blonde needs help retrieving some sentimental items that had belonged to her father, who died recently under slightly suspicious circumstances.
Nothing can ever be that easy, though, and in no time Griff is up to his eyeballs in government intrigue, bad blood between family members, and bullet-dodging. His dogged determination to complete his case has us following him across the country, from his Wyoming ranch to Chicago, Taos to Kentucky, meeting new friends and juggling the affection of not one but two lovely ladies. When he finds himself inexplicably on the wrong side of the law he has to wonder: is he being played, and if so, by whom?
“Article 15” refers to a constitutional clause that boils down to "get it while you can" when a government is corrupt and going belly-up. Griff finds that it definitely applies to more than just politicians, and employs many clever tactics to see his case through. He's not the only one who's out to grab the goods, though...
Bass's writing style is stripped down and laconic, doing a great job of having the tone reflect the main character himself. Even moments of high tension and drama are told in a straightforward manner, sometimes edging a little over the "show, don't tell" line...as such, even though I enjoyed the novel, there was no nail-biting on my part. There are a lot of references to flying, planes, airports, etc. (the author is a pilot and flight instructor), but these were woven neatly into the narrative, and even for things that went over my head, I didn't feel that they detracted from the pacing.
This mystery was made especially enjoyable by the fact that M.T. Bass clearly knows his stuff...the book is peppered with references that very clearly come from experience, not research.
-----------------
A free copy of Article 15 was provided to me in exchange for a fair and unbiased review, which has been cross-posted to my blog, Twintype Books.
Nothing can ever be that easy, though, and in no time Griff is up to his eyeballs in government intrigue, bad blood between family members, and bullet-dodging. His dogged determination to complete his case has us following him across the country, from his Wyoming ranch to Chicago, Taos to Kentucky, meeting new friends and juggling the affection of not one but two lovely ladies. When he finds himself inexplicably on the wrong side of the law he has to wonder: is he being played, and if so, by whom?
“Article 15” refers to a constitutional clause that boils down to "get it while you can" when a government is corrupt and going belly-up. Griff finds that it definitely applies to more than just politicians, and employs many clever tactics to see his case through. He's not the only one who's out to grab the goods, though...
Bass's writing style is stripped down and laconic, doing a great job of having the tone reflect the main character himself. Even moments of high tension and drama are told in a straightforward manner, sometimes edging a little over the "show, don't tell" line...as such, even though I enjoyed the novel, there was no nail-biting on my part. There are a lot of references to flying, planes, airports, etc. (the author is a pilot and flight instructor), but these were woven neatly into the narrative, and even for things that went over my head, I didn't feel that they detracted from the pacing.
This mystery was made especially enjoyable by the fact that M.T. Bass clearly knows his stuff...the book is peppered with references that very clearly come from experience, not research.
-----------------
A free copy of Article 15 was provided to me in exchange for a fair and unbiased review, which has been cross-posted to my blog, Twintype Books.
Read
July 17, 2019Article 15 is a brand new novel by author M.T. Bass and the first book in the Griffith Crowe series. The title stems from what the main character learned while working in Africa during his military career. A lesson that boils down to how, when a citizen can't do anything to fight government corruption, one should heed the words of a French motto which translates to "get it while you can".
When Griffith Crowe first lays eyes on Helena Nickolson at an airport in Chicago - a stunning woman that possesses a priceless Jackson Pollack painting - she comes out of a plane wearing Jackie-Ohh sunglasses and a skin-tight red dress, a sight that is warrant to evoke sharp-set stares from a couple of line boys. From the moment that his ears are soothed by her seductive husky voice, Griffith falls head over heals for Helena. Cliff Nickolson, her father, was a wealthy and former military man who died not long before this. As he explains to her, his work includes solving a problem or two for clients. His latest job leads him towards ending up in danger of being convicted in a heated murder case after uncovering information that leads him to believe that her father's death might not have been an accident.
The author adds a slight dose of humour to his setting descriptions that helps to sustain a clear image of what a reader is supposed to visualize. What the air is like inside a particular building unit is clearly defined along with histories that are given to show readers what has already or is still taking place inside them.
Working for a topnotch law firm called Stein, Baylor and Stein, Griffith Crowe is former Special Forces and lives on a ranch in Wyoming. Lance Baylor, who works for this company as well, is the one that informs Crowe about this client that is intent on getting back an expensive piece of art from his ex that he lost in a settlement. The manner in which the author introduces his protagonist is to portray him as this man with a background to proudly flaunt to those underlings if you happen to find yourself in an elevated position in your own career yourself. The author teases readers early on about Griffith's military career. He owns a Siberian Husky called Rodya that he almost shoots when it sneaks up on him in his ranch home.
Griffith Crowe is certainly an interesting chap who is proud of the Cirrus S-22 airplane that he owns and that it at least takes him where he needs to go. He has an inside voice that is reliable and apt to take him out of tough situations with the opposite sex. His implacable facade stems from having done BUD/S training on the Coronado Beach. Helena is described as a blonde having blue gray eyes. Her attitude is pretty straight forward as she calls Griff tall, dark, and dangerous from the onset. She comes across as an extremely sexy woman and it's not long before we see Griff making love with Helena.
Lance Baylor is introduced as a character that has mastered the art of entering and exiting rooms. Described as both a talented lawyer and rainmaker, he is a close colleague and friend of Griffith. My initial take of him was that he seemed to like Griffith a lot. He comes equipped with a sense of humour that gets you careening with a sore belly, but he can also be a bit rough and condescending with it. He ends one joke insensitively with the words "and sheiks love their sons". One of those where you don't know whether to laugh or shake your head in surrender.
Before the court case in which Griffith faces the danger of being convicted, he manages to get his hands on Cliff Nickolson's journals that gives him a broader understanding of who the man was. The first entry is dated June 12, 1979. Cliff had been a student pilot at the age of sixteen. Griff also gets his hands on Cliff's Naval Aviator wings, Dessert Storm campaign ribbons, Silver Star, and a Navy Cross. As a fighter pilot, Mr. Nickolson has a number of accolades under his belt. He became wealthy after his military career and lost his life due to a helicopter crash that took the lives of not only him, but Helena's step-mother and a corporate pilot near Pebble Beach.
Griffith Crowe's flying escapades are realistically described and, for someone who enjoys or who are interested in flying, these scenes offer something satisfactory and useful. One unique aviation strategy I learned about was flying IFR which means "I Follow Roads." I liked the ending for how it surprised me with somebody's viper-like appearance at just the right time to thwart an enemy. I can't name this person. However, I'd just add that Bass is an author of thrillers with a God-given talent to shock readers when they least expect it.
Helena is an exciting character to meet, but she can also come across as a bit frivolous. Her attitude during a court scene can be disappointing for readers who have grown to like her. While questioned by the judge, she is not afraid to defend herself with snide remarks. One thing that this book offers is a lot of acronyms for those who are not fond of sitting with a headache problem while reading. " Tomorrow, you and I are going to pay a little visit to the local FSDO office and explain to the FAA exactly you did to the FADEC and nav systems software on Cliff Nickolson’s helicopter."
For now, I'll miss Crowe, a Navy SEAL who not only comes with an extensive collection of firearms, but with the most cleverest of answers as well. Plain flying pleasure and a stunning ending aside, I'd place this novel in the hands of readers who are entertained by the sometimes psychoactive and dangerous lives that wealthy men like Crowe lead.
When Griffith Crowe first lays eyes on Helena Nickolson at an airport in Chicago - a stunning woman that possesses a priceless Jackson Pollack painting - she comes out of a plane wearing Jackie-Ohh sunglasses and a skin-tight red dress, a sight that is warrant to evoke sharp-set stares from a couple of line boys. From the moment that his ears are soothed by her seductive husky voice, Griffith falls head over heals for Helena. Cliff Nickolson, her father, was a wealthy and former military man who died not long before this. As he explains to her, his work includes solving a problem or two for clients. His latest job leads him towards ending up in danger of being convicted in a heated murder case after uncovering information that leads him to believe that her father's death might not have been an accident.
The author adds a slight dose of humour to his setting descriptions that helps to sustain a clear image of what a reader is supposed to visualize. What the air is like inside a particular building unit is clearly defined along with histories that are given to show readers what has already or is still taking place inside them.
Working for a topnotch law firm called Stein, Baylor and Stein, Griffith Crowe is former Special Forces and lives on a ranch in Wyoming. Lance Baylor, who works for this company as well, is the one that informs Crowe about this client that is intent on getting back an expensive piece of art from his ex that he lost in a settlement. The manner in which the author introduces his protagonist is to portray him as this man with a background to proudly flaunt to those underlings if you happen to find yourself in an elevated position in your own career yourself. The author teases readers early on about Griffith's military career. He owns a Siberian Husky called Rodya that he almost shoots when it sneaks up on him in his ranch home.
Griffith Crowe is certainly an interesting chap who is proud of the Cirrus S-22 airplane that he owns and that it at least takes him where he needs to go. He has an inside voice that is reliable and apt to take him out of tough situations with the opposite sex. His implacable facade stems from having done BUD/S training on the Coronado Beach. Helena is described as a blonde having blue gray eyes. Her attitude is pretty straight forward as she calls Griff tall, dark, and dangerous from the onset. She comes across as an extremely sexy woman and it's not long before we see Griff making love with Helena.
Lance Baylor is introduced as a character that has mastered the art of entering and exiting rooms. Described as both a talented lawyer and rainmaker, he is a close colleague and friend of Griffith. My initial take of him was that he seemed to like Griffith a lot. He comes equipped with a sense of humour that gets you careening with a sore belly, but he can also be a bit rough and condescending with it. He ends one joke insensitively with the words "and sheiks love their sons". One of those where you don't know whether to laugh or shake your head in surrender.
Before the court case in which Griffith faces the danger of being convicted, he manages to get his hands on Cliff Nickolson's journals that gives him a broader understanding of who the man was. The first entry is dated June 12, 1979. Cliff had been a student pilot at the age of sixteen. Griff also gets his hands on Cliff's Naval Aviator wings, Dessert Storm campaign ribbons, Silver Star, and a Navy Cross. As a fighter pilot, Mr. Nickolson has a number of accolades under his belt. He became wealthy after his military career and lost his life due to a helicopter crash that took the lives of not only him, but Helena's step-mother and a corporate pilot near Pebble Beach.
Griffith Crowe's flying escapades are realistically described and, for someone who enjoys or who are interested in flying, these scenes offer something satisfactory and useful. One unique aviation strategy I learned about was flying IFR which means "I Follow Roads." I liked the ending for how it surprised me with somebody's viper-like appearance at just the right time to thwart an enemy. I can't name this person. However, I'd just add that Bass is an author of thrillers with a God-given talent to shock readers when they least expect it.
Helena is an exciting character to meet, but she can also come across as a bit frivolous. Her attitude during a court scene can be disappointing for readers who have grown to like her. While questioned by the judge, she is not afraid to defend herself with snide remarks. One thing that this book offers is a lot of acronyms for those who are not fond of sitting with a headache problem while reading. " Tomorrow, you and I are going to pay a little visit to the local FSDO office and explain to the FAA exactly you did to the FADEC and nav systems software on Cliff Nickolson’s helicopter."
For now, I'll miss Crowe, a Navy SEAL who not only comes with an extensive collection of firearms, but with the most cleverest of answers as well. Plain flying pleasure and a stunning ending aside, I'd place this novel in the hands of readers who are entertained by the sometimes psychoactive and dangerous lives that wealthy men like Crowe lead.
April 7, 2024
The dialogue really made this book for me. Snotty. Sarcastic. Sassy. Snappy. Snarky. I love it! The romance/ lust was my second enjoyment. So free and frivolous, and some of those 's' words above. And then the plot. Complicated and compelling. Some of it was over my head, but, like I said, I really loved the dialogue! I'll be reading more from this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary audio version of this book from the author through Story Origin. The narrator is perfect for this book. He IS Griff in my mind. 5 stars for him.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary audio version of this book from the author through Story Origin. The narrator is perfect for this book. He IS Griff in my mind. 5 stars for him.
March 29, 2024
Griffith Crowe works for a law firm as a “fixer” when he’s not on his ranch. Griff takes an assignment that should be pretty straight forward but it is anything but predictable. This audio will take you through lots of action and suspense and keep you guessing. I’m intrigued by Griff and the characters we meet in this one, I would be interested in reading more about them. I would recommend this one and I look forward to more from this author.
April 1, 2024
I listened to the audio version of this novel and I enjoyed it. The narrator grew on me and hooked me after a couple chapters. It was a good mystery book. My favorite part was the courtroom scenes when Griffith was being accused of murder. The writing was superb during the trial. So good. However, I think I missed something at the end. Not sure what happened to Helena. I'll have to go back and recap but overall if you are looking to read a good mystery, this is the book.
November 10, 2019
Just finished M. T. Bass's Article 15, another of his fast-paced, intricate thrillers with their varied and delightfully interest cast of characters.
Griffith Crowe fixes things for attorney and long-time frat brother Lance Baylor. But it took more than a little fixing when he agreed to help heiress Lance's client Helena Nickolson fix a few things.
Griffith Crowe fixes things for attorney and long-time frat brother Lance Baylor. But it took more than a little fixing when he agreed to help heiress Lance's client Helena Nickolson fix a few things.
October 20, 2019
Half-Arapaho Wyoming ranchowner Griffin Crowe sidelines as a troubleshooter for a hogh-powered Chicago law firm. Usually success is expected, but his newest cade entangles him with an unstoppable femme fatale and vastly more trouble than he could have imagined.
October 20, 2019
An awesome story, extremely well written with fantastic language. There is absolutely no dead meat, as the pace is very high, and the characters are truly great.
March 20, 2024
Action packed mystery/thriller that kept me intrigued until the end with unexpected plot twits and turns
March 31, 2024
It took me a while to write this review, as I wanted a clear mind and some distance from it.
I read some notes about how this book came to be, and I'm sorry - but not all avid readers can become good writers.
The book was confusing, the story strange and the characters unconvincing.
The reason I gave it 2 stars and not just 1 is that it wasn't as off-putting as other books I've read.
The narrator was okay.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I read some notes about how this book came to be, and I'm sorry - but not all avid readers can become good writers.
The book was confusing, the story strange and the characters unconvincing.
The reason I gave it 2 stars and not just 1 is that it wasn't as off-putting as other books I've read.
The narrator was okay.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews