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Bocephus Haynes #1
Legacy of Lies
A small-town attorney takes on prejudice and corruption in this powerful legal thriller.
Small-town lawyer Bocephus Haynes comes home late one night to find District Attorney General Helen Lewis waiting for him. Her ex-husband has just been killed. She’s about to be arrested for his murder. And she wants Bo to represent her.
There’s a lot working against them. Just before his death, Helen’s ex-husband threatened to reveal a dark secret from her past. Bo has been in a tailspin since his wife’s death. What’s more, his whole life has been defined by a crime committed against his family, and he continues to face prejudice as the only African American litigator in Pulaski, Tennessee.
Bo’s back is against the wall, and Helen resigns herself to a dismal fate—but a stunning discovery throws everything into chaos. There’s a chance for justice, but to achieve it, the cost might be too much for Bo to bear.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2020
12854 people are currently reading
6485 people want to read
About the author
Robert Bailey
12 books1,323 followersRobert Bailey is the bestselling and award winning author of the McMurtrie and Drake Legal Thrillers series, which includes The Final Reckoning, The Last Trial, Between Black and White, and The Professor, as well as the Bocephus Haynes’ series, which debuted with Legacy of Lies. He is also the author of the inspirational novel, The Golfer’s Carol.
Robert was born in Huntsville, Alabama, the son of a builder and a schoolteacher. From the time he could walk, he’s loved stories, especially those about Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and his beloved Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
Robert obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History from Davidson College in North Carolina. Law School at the University of Alabama followed, where Robert made Law Review, competed on the school’s trial team and managed to watch every home football game.
For the past twenty-one years, he’s been a civil defense trial lawyer in his hometown of Huntsville. He and his wife, Dixie, have three kids.
Robert was born in Huntsville, Alabama, the son of a builder and a schoolteacher. From the time he could walk, he’s loved stories, especially those about Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and his beloved Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
Robert obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History from Davidson College in North Carolina. Law School at the University of Alabama followed, where Robert made Law Review, competed on the school’s trial team and managed to watch every home football game.
For the past twenty-one years, he’s been a civil defense trial lawyer in his hometown of Huntsville. He and his wife, Dixie, have three kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,045 reviews
June 5, 2020
Legacy of Lies is packed to the hilt like a weighty pulled-pork sandwich. Plenty to sink your teeth into.
Robert Bailey sets out his characters rubbing shoulder-to-shoulder with one another. It's small town Pulaski, Tennessee where everyone knows everyone else's business and beyond. We set foot into Helen Evangeline Lewis' office where she is the District Attorney General known as "The General" for good reason. No nonsense and to the point, Helen wears her usual black assemble with black heels that signal she's coming.
Helen and her assistant, Gloria Sanchez, are preparing to go to trial against one of the largest landowners in the county. Michael Zannick has been accused of rape and his attorney has been pressing Helen to settle out of court. It's a no go for Helen.
And later Helen's ex-husband, Butch Renfroe, threatens to bring up something from Helen's past if she doesn't settle in the Zannick case. Someone in the shadows of the darkened courtroom hears Helen threaten to kill Butch if he does. Yup, Butch ends up dead that night and they're coming after Helen.
Enter Bocephus "Bo" Haynes, twice suspended lawyer, who will take on Helen's case. Bo has met with a lot of grief and misfortune over the years. Right now Doubt seems to be his middle name. The case is solid against Helen and she seems to be withholding important information from Bo. He needs to have a win in order to get his teenage kids back from their grandparents. There's a lot at stake here weighing on a man who doesn't always bring it across the finish line.
Legacy of Lies has a lot of plots and subplots in the mix with some stronger than others. Some of this gets in the way on the dance floor. But it's the African American character of Bocephus Haynes that shows a lot of promise for future novels in this series. There's always room for a wounded warrior and Bo shows up ready and willing. Robert Bailey throws quite a few curve balls in the last inning to ratchet up the ol' twister-roo. I'd like to see what he has in mind for Bo in the future.
I received a copy of Legacy of Lies through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishers and to Robert Bailey for the opportunity.
Robert Bailey sets out his characters rubbing shoulder-to-shoulder with one another. It's small town Pulaski, Tennessee where everyone knows everyone else's business and beyond. We set foot into Helen Evangeline Lewis' office where she is the District Attorney General known as "The General" for good reason. No nonsense and to the point, Helen wears her usual black assemble with black heels that signal she's coming.
Helen and her assistant, Gloria Sanchez, are preparing to go to trial against one of the largest landowners in the county. Michael Zannick has been accused of rape and his attorney has been pressing Helen to settle out of court. It's a no go for Helen.
And later Helen's ex-husband, Butch Renfroe, threatens to bring up something from Helen's past if she doesn't settle in the Zannick case. Someone in the shadows of the darkened courtroom hears Helen threaten to kill Butch if he does. Yup, Butch ends up dead that night and they're coming after Helen.
Enter Bocephus "Bo" Haynes, twice suspended lawyer, who will take on Helen's case. Bo has met with a lot of grief and misfortune over the years. Right now Doubt seems to be his middle name. The case is solid against Helen and she seems to be withholding important information from Bo. He needs to have a win in order to get his teenage kids back from their grandparents. There's a lot at stake here weighing on a man who doesn't always bring it across the finish line.
Legacy of Lies has a lot of plots and subplots in the mix with some stronger than others. Some of this gets in the way on the dance floor. But it's the African American character of Bocephus Haynes that shows a lot of promise for future novels in this series. There's always room for a wounded warrior and Bo shows up ready and willing. Robert Bailey throws quite a few curve balls in the last inning to ratchet up the ol' twister-roo. I'd like to see what he has in mind for Bo in the future.
I received a copy of Legacy of Lies through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishers and to Robert Bailey for the opportunity.
May 9, 2020
I read this because I got it for free, and it was worth about that much. It’s not the worst legal thriller I’ve ever read, but it’s a weak entry. The courtroom procedure and evidence were sloppy, the plot twists were unbelievable and contrived, and an air of sexism and racism permeated the book. This is also one of those irritating books that constantly refers to earlier ones, which are apparently similarly unbelievable and contrived. Not reading anything further by this author.
January 29, 2021
This is a story that kept me turning the pages until the very end. Some of what happens is predictable, much not, especially at the end, but even the predictable is well presented.
I was, however, repeatedly puzzled by the lack of competence by the prime character Bocephus Haynes, who never seems to take the initiative to deal with either his case or his client. Other people keep bringing Bo the information he needs; he almost never seeks it out.
All said, still an outstanding 4**** read.
NOTE: this is not really the first book in a series. Almost all of the characters in this book were featured in Bailey's prior McMurtrie and Drake 4-book series, which was excellent.
I was, however, repeatedly puzzled by the lack of competence by the prime character Bocephus Haynes, who never seems to take the initiative to deal with either his case or his client. Other people keep bringing Bo the information he needs; he almost never seeks it out.
All said, still an outstanding 4**** read.
NOTE: this is not really the first book in a series. Almost all of the characters in this book were featured in Bailey's prior McMurtrie and Drake 4-book series, which was excellent.
May 3, 2020
Thank you to Amazon prime reads for this page turner. Holy cow, couldn't put it down. A disgraced lawyer takes the case of his career to turn his life around. he is defending the district attorney who is accused of murdering her ex-husband. Great action and cast of characters. The tension builds until, BOOM, the twist at the end was shocking.
January 11, 2022
an entertaining read
I started reading this book a month ago and it was ok, the first half was boring, filled with too much self loathing+pity I nearly gave up. And then from 50% that’s when the real action started, the suspense, the thrill even though it was a bit predictable it was fun to read.
The twist after the verdict had me 😮, yeah it caught me off guard. I am tempted to read book 2.
I’ve got a lot of things that got to me with this book but I’m too lazy to type I’ll be back for an extensive review 😅
I started reading this book a month ago and it was ok, the first half was boring, filled with too much self loathing+pity I nearly gave up. And then from 50% that’s when the real action started, the suspense, the thrill even though it was a bit predictable it was fun to read.
The twist after the verdict had me 😮, yeah it caught me off guard. I am tempted to read book 2.
I’ve got a lot of things that got to me with this book but I’m too lazy to type I’ll be back for an extensive review 😅
August 14, 2020
Legacy of Lies (Bocephus Haynes #1) by Robert Bailey
Synopsis /
A small-town attorney takes on prejudice and corruption in this powerful legal thriller.
Small-town lawyer Bocephus Haynes comes home late one night to find District Attorney General Helen Lewis waiting for him. Her ex-husband has just been killed. She’s about to be arrested for his murder. And she wants Bo to represent her.
There’s a lot working against them. Just before his death, Helen’s ex-husband threatened to reveal a dark secret from her past. Bo has been in a tailspin since his wife’s death. What’s more, his whole life has been defined by a crime committed against his family, and he continues to face prejudice as the only African American litigator in Pulaski, Tennessee.
Bo’s back is against the wall, and Helen resigns herself to a dismal fate—but a stunning discovery throws everything into chaos. There’s a chance for justice, but to achieve it, the cost might be too much for Bo to bear.
My Thoughts /
A well-deserved 4.5*
Plenty to sink your teeth into with this one.
Was sitting on a 4* rating until, GOBSMACKED – the twist at the end I did not see coming. Absolutely love it when that happens! I have not enjoyed the ending of a book this much in a while – so keen to read the next instalment.
I really enjoyed how Bocephus Haynes was portrayed in this story, a great protagonist – whom you could love or hate, or, both love and hate at the same time! While reading this I was reminded of a time in my childhood when, during the early 70’s (1971 to 78 to be exact) an awkward man in a rumpled beige raincoat, smoking a cigar and driving an old Peugeot graced our homes on TV as Columbo. If you have never seen an episode, do yourself a favour a watch a few. Just proves the saying you can never judge a book by its cover.
A load of characters and drama, which sometimes I have trouble with but in this instance the way they were all written and tied to each other I had no trouble remembering who was who.
A most enjoyable read.
Synopsis /
A small-town attorney takes on prejudice and corruption in this powerful legal thriller.
Small-town lawyer Bocephus Haynes comes home late one night to find District Attorney General Helen Lewis waiting for him. Her ex-husband has just been killed. She’s about to be arrested for his murder. And she wants Bo to represent her.
There’s a lot working against them. Just before his death, Helen’s ex-husband threatened to reveal a dark secret from her past. Bo has been in a tailspin since his wife’s death. What’s more, his whole life has been defined by a crime committed against his family, and he continues to face prejudice as the only African American litigator in Pulaski, Tennessee.
Bo’s back is against the wall, and Helen resigns herself to a dismal fate—but a stunning discovery throws everything into chaos. There’s a chance for justice, but to achieve it, the cost might be too much for Bo to bear.
My Thoughts /
A well-deserved 4.5*
Plenty to sink your teeth into with this one.
Was sitting on a 4* rating until, GOBSMACKED – the twist at the end I did not see coming. Absolutely love it when that happens! I have not enjoyed the ending of a book this much in a while – so keen to read the next instalment.
I really enjoyed how Bocephus Haynes was portrayed in this story, a great protagonist – whom you could love or hate, or, both love and hate at the same time! While reading this I was reminded of a time in my childhood when, during the early 70’s (1971 to 78 to be exact) an awkward man in a rumpled beige raincoat, smoking a cigar and driving an old Peugeot graced our homes on TV as Columbo. If you have never seen an episode, do yourself a favour a watch a few. Just proves the saying you can never judge a book by its cover.
A load of characters and drama, which sometimes I have trouble with but in this instance the way they were all written and tied to each other I had no trouble remembering who was who.
A most enjoyable read.
December 3, 2024
This author is a master when it comes to writing rich characters in a twisty mystery courtroom drama tale.
We have a man slated to be murdered...
Yes, that is how we enter the story...
And then his ex-wife a respected district attorney as the defendant.
Did she or didn’t she – that is the question.
This author has a way of writing his characters that you either like them or hate them – no real in-between – but either way, you find yourself invested in the story.
Stay with it, the ending might just surprise you.
We have a man slated to be murdered...
Yes, that is how we enter the story...
And then his ex-wife a respected district attorney as the defendant.
Did she or didn’t she – that is the question.
This author has a way of writing his characters that you either like them or hate them – no real in-between – but either way, you find yourself invested in the story.
Stay with it, the ending might just surprise you.
May 1, 2020
Attorney Robert Bailey knows how to write a dynamic, riveting legal thriller with depth and emotional integrity. He’s proved this before with his award-winning, best-selling McMurtrie and Drake legal series. He is an author who knows how to put the thrill back in legal thriller, with full blown action, unexpected twists, and dramatic climaxes.
With Legacy of Lies, Bailey’s newest book, he proves he is at the top of his game. While prior books had adversaries threatening the lives of protagonists, this time a dominant threat to the main two characters comes from within. Which is not to say they aren’t in danger from outside forces, only that the enemy within is as dangerous as the enemy without. This makes Legacy of Lies even more compelling and richer for the deep humanity Bailey captures in a finely wrought thriller and stirring story of redemption.
Helen Evangeline Lewis, aka The General, is the district attorney general for a four-county area in Tennessee. Attractive, confident, and tough, she is haunted by a devastating event in her past that causes a kind of PTSD fugue at a critical junction in the story. Her ex-husband, Butch Renfroe, threatens to reveal his version of that event in order to blackmail her. He wants her to drop statutory and forcible rape charges against Michael Zannick, who is powerful, unscrupulous, and rich. She recognizes Butch must be in Zannick’s clutches but refuses to drop the charges. In the heated argument that follows, she threatens to kill her ex-husband. Her threat is overheard by her assistant district attorney.
The night after their argument, someone kills Butch—and a neighbor witnesses Helen coming and going from his house. Traces of his blood are found in her vehicle. Her DNA is found on the victim. In short order, the local sheriff reluctantly accepts that he must arrest Helen, despite his long-time respect for her. It might all be circumstantial, but it’s a tight case establishing motive, means and opportunity.
Knowing arrest is imminent, Helen seeks out Bo Hayes to be her defense attorney. She believes that only Bo—with his courtroom skills, personal dedication and fierce drive—can save her. Bo is a tall, broad-shouldered black man who gained early fame as a football player under legendary coach Bear Bryant at The University of Alabama. However, when Helen finds him, Bo is a drunken mess, having just lost custody of his two children to their grandparents. Bo has never recovered from witnessing the murder of his beloved wife a year before and has slid into a self-pitying, useless remnant of the “wide-ass open” attorney he used to be.
Bo must not only find a defense for Helen, he must redeem himself. Increasingly the odds seem stacked against them both.
A stunning discovery, a triple twist, and dramatic courtroom scenes all make for a riveting, satisfying read in what might well be Bailey’s best book to date. While the twists come as a surprise, they also seem inevitable once the shock wears off—and that is a hard thing for an author to pull off, but Bailey does it exceptionally well.
Legacy of Lies is a grand story with a morality tale vibe, gripping and thrilling throughout. It showcases Bailey once more as a writer who knows how to keep the suspense high, the pacing fast, the narrative strong, the characters compellingly complex, and his plot full of white-knuckle tension and twists.
With Legacy of Lies, Bailey’s newest book, he proves he is at the top of his game. While prior books had adversaries threatening the lives of protagonists, this time a dominant threat to the main two characters comes from within. Which is not to say they aren’t in danger from outside forces, only that the enemy within is as dangerous as the enemy without. This makes Legacy of Lies even more compelling and richer for the deep humanity Bailey captures in a finely wrought thriller and stirring story of redemption.
Helen Evangeline Lewis, aka The General, is the district attorney general for a four-county area in Tennessee. Attractive, confident, and tough, she is haunted by a devastating event in her past that causes a kind of PTSD fugue at a critical junction in the story. Her ex-husband, Butch Renfroe, threatens to reveal his version of that event in order to blackmail her. He wants her to drop statutory and forcible rape charges against Michael Zannick, who is powerful, unscrupulous, and rich. She recognizes Butch must be in Zannick’s clutches but refuses to drop the charges. In the heated argument that follows, she threatens to kill her ex-husband. Her threat is overheard by her assistant district attorney.
The night after their argument, someone kills Butch—and a neighbor witnesses Helen coming and going from his house. Traces of his blood are found in her vehicle. Her DNA is found on the victim. In short order, the local sheriff reluctantly accepts that he must arrest Helen, despite his long-time respect for her. It might all be circumstantial, but it’s a tight case establishing motive, means and opportunity.
Knowing arrest is imminent, Helen seeks out Bo Hayes to be her defense attorney. She believes that only Bo—with his courtroom skills, personal dedication and fierce drive—can save her. Bo is a tall, broad-shouldered black man who gained early fame as a football player under legendary coach Bear Bryant at The University of Alabama. However, when Helen finds him, Bo is a drunken mess, having just lost custody of his two children to their grandparents. Bo has never recovered from witnessing the murder of his beloved wife a year before and has slid into a self-pitying, useless remnant of the “wide-ass open” attorney he used to be.
Bo must not only find a defense for Helen, he must redeem himself. Increasingly the odds seem stacked against them both.
A stunning discovery, a triple twist, and dramatic courtroom scenes all make for a riveting, satisfying read in what might well be Bailey’s best book to date. While the twists come as a surprise, they also seem inevitable once the shock wears off—and that is a hard thing for an author to pull off, but Bailey does it exceptionally well.
Legacy of Lies is a grand story with a morality tale vibe, gripping and thrilling throughout. It showcases Bailey once more as a writer who knows how to keep the suspense high, the pacing fast, the narrative strong, the characters compellingly complex, and his plot full of white-knuckle tension and twists.
January 15, 2021
Robert Bailey is so good. Great characters and and a very fast pace that kept me wanting for more.
February 4, 2021
The best thing about this series of books was the character of the Professor, but the author killed him. So now we have the leftovers and they are just disappointing in disturbing ways. For example, Bo revels in falsely accusing one of the bad guys of racism. This is a sad and tired trope for the author to use, because it goes along with trivializing actual racism. As for the General, . In addition, the entire plot revolves around a nonsensical and yet trite MacGuffin about abortion .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2020
What a Gift !
This was my monthly freebie via my Prime membership & what a gift it is. I have previously read Robert Bailey's legal thrillers and I've enjoyed them immensely & this book has certainly earned a well deserved Five 🌟 Review from me - Mind you I've always had a soft spot for Bo. Well done R.B. I'm looking forward to the next one!!
This was my monthly freebie via my Prime membership & what a gift it is. I have previously read Robert Bailey's legal thrillers and I've enjoyed them immensely & this book has certainly earned a well deserved Five 🌟 Review from me - Mind you I've always had a soft spot for Bo. Well done R.B. I'm looking forward to the next one!!
May 3, 2020
A good, easy read.
Somewhat predictable....until the very end. Storytelling kept my interest. Characters are colorful. Not too much legalese. Nice short chapters makes for easy stop/start for picking up and putting down as needed.
Somewhat predictable....until the very end. Storytelling kept my interest. Characters are colorful. Not too much legalese. Nice short chapters makes for easy stop/start for picking up and putting down as needed.
May 6, 2020
Probably the worst book I’ve read in 2020, for many reasons.
I decided to read this book when I saw it available for free on Amazon Prime reading because (a) It was free and I was between books, (b) I am a fan of the legal thriller genre, (c) the author is from my home state, and (d) the setting is less than an hour’s drive from my former middle Tennessee home. Given all those things, I was hoping for something like the late Scott Pratt’s Joe Dillard series. I was very disappointed.
Firstly, I wouldn’t recommend reading this without first reading the author’s previous series. Events of the past books are frequently intertwined with the plot of this book, and it’s frequently a confusing read without that background. Of course having read this mess of a novel, I am not the least bit tempted to backtrack. Just wish I’d understood that dependency beforehand.
Secondly, multiple elements of the plot are simply unbelievable. I won’t point them all out here, but by the time the last one was revealed - SPOILER BEGIN - wherein the baddest bad guy is revealed to be the son of one of the two protagonists - SPOILER END - I was so numbed to the stupidity of it all that I just didn’t care anymore.
Finally, another major flaw with the book is that every single Caucasian male character is a bad guy, yet not a single non-Caucasian male is portrayed as much less than heroic. Am I hyper-sensitive to this? Probably, but it’s a recurring theme that has infected nearly every part of the media in the past 10 years or so, and frankly I’m sick of it. Dear author and readers, would you like to see fewer one star reviews of your work/reading material? How about a more balanced treatment of ALL people? If I want to see your kind of bias, I’ll just watch CNN or MSNBC. I thought people from Alabama knew better.
I decided to read this book when I saw it available for free on Amazon Prime reading because (a) It was free and I was between books, (b) I am a fan of the legal thriller genre, (c) the author is from my home state, and (d) the setting is less than an hour’s drive from my former middle Tennessee home. Given all those things, I was hoping for something like the late Scott Pratt’s Joe Dillard series. I was very disappointed.
Firstly, I wouldn’t recommend reading this without first reading the author’s previous series. Events of the past books are frequently intertwined with the plot of this book, and it’s frequently a confusing read without that background. Of course having read this mess of a novel, I am not the least bit tempted to backtrack. Just wish I’d understood that dependency beforehand.
Secondly, multiple elements of the plot are simply unbelievable. I won’t point them all out here, but by the time the last one was revealed - SPOILER BEGIN - wherein the baddest bad guy is revealed to be the son of one of the two protagonists - SPOILER END - I was so numbed to the stupidity of it all that I just didn’t care anymore.
Finally, another major flaw with the book is that every single Caucasian male character is a bad guy, yet not a single non-Caucasian male is portrayed as much less than heroic. Am I hyper-sensitive to this? Probably, but it’s a recurring theme that has infected nearly every part of the media in the past 10 years or so, and frankly I’m sick of it. Dear author and readers, would you like to see fewer one star reviews of your work/reading material? How about a more balanced treatment of ALL people? If I want to see your kind of bias, I’ll just watch CNN or MSNBC. I thought people from Alabama knew better.
June 7, 2020
Fantastic! Starting with his first novel, The Professor, Robert Bailey creates a world full of Alabama football nostalgia, southern landmarks, intriguing characters and captivating stories. Legacy of Lies continues his success while focusing on my favorite character from his first four books, Bocephus Haynes. Start with The Professor and you’ll quickly become addicted to this Rammer Jammer legal thriller series.
September 24, 2022
This was suspenseful and fast-paced, and I liked it. But with reservations. This was connected to an earlier series, and it is clear that terrible things have happened to the main character, which means this is a trend that might continue. The mystery also didn't have a clear ending. I like my mysteries to have solid endings, and this one was mixed. There was also a slight cliffhanger. I might continue but will wait till there are more books in this series to decide.
July 4, 2020
I’m glad the author continued the McMurtrie series with Bo. I enjoy his writing and characters, and I was guessing right up to the end!
September 29, 2020
When you get to that point when you are reading the book at 3 am to finally finish it, you know it's a winner. The unforeseen twist at the end did catch me off guard.
January 8, 2021
Seriously SO good! Hooked me at the start and never let me down! I admire Bocephus Haynes and was rooting for him the whole time. I’m so glad this will be a series. I can’t wait until book #2. Thank you Amazon First Reads!
February 4, 2023
Start of a new series by Robert Bailey.... a murder mystery with alot of twists....very enjoyable!
September 25, 2021
This is a very fine who-dunnit with lots of twists and turns. Highly recommend!
March 17, 2022
I got this book for free a few years ago from Amazon first reads. I finally got around to reading it and I’m glad I did. It is a great start to a new series. It’s a tight, fast moving story with believable characters. Though it’s classified as a legal thriller, most of the story takes place during the investigation before the trial. I flew through this book and was totally engaged. There were a few twists that I didn’t see coming. The ending was very good and paves the way for the next book in the series. I have the second book and I am anxious to read it and find out where the story will go. A friend on Twitter and formed me this is a spinoff of another series that was also very good. Based on this book, I would not hesitate to read that first series. This was a great crime fiction novel that I would highly recommend.
June 15, 2020
As a “sucker” for almost any series of mysteries which has a unique, fascinating lead character, I am thrilled with the protagonist for Legacy of Lies, part mystery, part thriller, and part courtroom drama. But how could you get more interested in a series than having the lead character be a black lawyer in the South? And this is not just any black man but, “A black man whose biological father was the Imperial Wizard of the KKK.” (p. 85) But it even gets stranger. “All those years I spent trying to bring the men that murdered Roosevelt Haynes to justice, and turns out my daddy wasn’t Roosevelt but the leader of the lynch mob. How’s that for irony?” Despite the prevalence of lawyer mystery-thriller combinations, Bocephus (“Bo”) Haynes is not your ordinary attorney. In addition to his precarious situation in a racist environment, he has his own baggage of debilitating grief and a tendency toward drunkenness that feeds on that.
For Legacy of Lies, Robert Bailey introduces a most unique defendant. His client for a dramatic murder trial is the “hanging prosecutor,” the District Attorney General for the county. It seems like it is poetic justice for a zealous prosecutor to be tripped up in a trial seemingly rigged against her. When the richest man in the county is pulling the strings and the prosecutor is the opponent running for her job, it doesn’t seem like it could get any worse. Yet, it does. Some of the twists rely a little too much on coincidence,
In terms of characterization, I love the way that guilt eats upon many of these characters. And, as unconvincing as they are at times, I like the nifty twists Bailey gives us—especially in the denouement. Best of all, there is a sense of redemption in this story. The characters may never completely get rid of their guilt. That wouldn’t be realistic. Yet, there is enough poetic justice and measures of redemption to go around. Legacy of Lies is the first volume in a series featuring “Bo” Haynes (Yes, I finally started a series with the inaugural novel!) and, although I don’t want to read them back-to-back, I’m definitely along for the ride.
For Legacy of Lies, Robert Bailey introduces a most unique defendant. His client for a dramatic murder trial is the “hanging prosecutor,” the District Attorney General for the county. It seems like it is poetic justice for a zealous prosecutor to be tripped up in a trial seemingly rigged against her. When the richest man in the county is pulling the strings and the prosecutor is the opponent running for her job, it doesn’t seem like it could get any worse. Yet, it does. Some of the twists rely a little too much on coincidence,
In terms of characterization, I love the way that guilt eats upon many of these characters. And, as unconvincing as they are at times, I like the nifty twists Bailey gives us—especially in the denouement. Best of all, there is a sense of redemption in this story. The characters may never completely get rid of their guilt. That wouldn’t be realistic. Yet, there is enough poetic justice and measures of redemption to go around. Legacy of Lies is the first volume in a series featuring “Bo” Haynes (Yes, I finally started a series with the inaugural novel!) and, although I don’t want to read them back-to-back, I’m definitely along for the ride.
May 3, 2020
I have to admit that I don't quite understand the one-word, one-star reviews of this book. Legal thrillers are one of my favorite subgenres, but I hadn't read this author before this story. While I was perhaps a little turned off by the initial scene, though I understand its necessity, I was riveted by the story as soon as we got to the heroine, a female prosecutor nicknamed The General. I thought she was absolutely awesome when we first meet her, standing tall against threats and doing what's right even if it isn't easy or perhaps even in her best interest. I like a character with moral integrity, and she had it in spades.
This book is unusual as far as legal thrillers go. We expect to have external villains that muck up the story. But in this novel, the main characters--the prosecutor heroine and the lawyer she had to hire to defend against an erroneous murder charge--had past and present demons they had to wrestle with to pull off what they needed to to do against all odds that seemed increasingly unbeatable. The courtroom drama is what you hope a legal thriller will have. I will admit to being surprised at some of the twists and turns of the plot, yet once I looked back, I could see where those came from. The author had baked them into the story very cleverly. I don't think this is easily done, so hats off to the author on that one.
Don't listen to one-word, negative reviews! I always think that ANY review, especially very negative ones, need to be backed up with why the reviewer thought the way they did. If I dislike a book, I tell you precisely why.
If you like legal thrillers, this is a good one.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
This book is unusual as far as legal thrillers go. We expect to have external villains that muck up the story. But in this novel, the main characters--the prosecutor heroine and the lawyer she had to hire to defend against an erroneous murder charge--had past and present demons they had to wrestle with to pull off what they needed to to do against all odds that seemed increasingly unbeatable. The courtroom drama is what you hope a legal thriller will have. I will admit to being surprised at some of the twists and turns of the plot, yet once I looked back, I could see where those came from. The author had baked them into the story very cleverly. I don't think this is easily done, so hats off to the author on that one.
Don't listen to one-word, negative reviews! I always think that ANY review, especially very negative ones, need to be backed up with why the reviewer thought the way they did. If I dislike a book, I tell you precisely why.
If you like legal thrillers, this is a good one.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
August 5, 2020
Disappointing
I stopped reading this book about halfway into it. It was obviously written by a man with little insight re women and how they deal with abortions. The lead characters behavior is unrealistic and it appears that the author was trying to make it more suspenseful by having her withhold information from her attorney. I don't enjoy reading books when characters do stupid and unrealistic things. So I stopped reading. This book was an insult to my intelligence.
I stopped reading this book about halfway into it. It was obviously written by a man with little insight re women and how they deal with abortions. The lead characters behavior is unrealistic and it appears that the author was trying to make it more suspenseful by having her withhold information from her attorney. I don't enjoy reading books when characters do stupid and unrealistic things. So I stopped reading. This book was an insult to my intelligence.
August 22, 2022
Mediocre. Didn’t feel like it was the same author who wrote The Professor. The climax felt like it was 3 pages long, too. 3 stars.
May 30, 2021
The story is set in the small town of Pulaski, Tennessee where Helen Evangeline Lewis is the District Attorney General. She is called “The General” due to her black dress and heels that signal her arrival in court.
Helen and her assistant are preparing a case against Michael Zannick, a rich, powerful and unscrupulous man, who is accused of rape. When his attorney is unsuccessful in convincing Helen to settle out of court, her ex-husband, Butch Renfroe, confronts Helen threatening to disclose a devastating secret from her past. In the heated argument that follows, she threatens to kill her ex-husband. That night, Butch is murdered and all evidence points to Helen.
Helen ironically seeks out Bocephus "Bo" Haynes, a twice suspended black lawyer to be her defense attorney. Bo has met misfortune ever since it was discovered that his biological father was the Imperial Wizard of the KKK.
A year ago, Bo witnessed the murder of his beloved wife and recently, he lost custody of his children. Although Bo is consumed with grief, guilt and doubt and has turned to alcohol, Helen believes he can save her with his excellent courtroom skills. Even though the evidence seems circumstantial and the prosecution has a solid case with motive, means and opportunity, Bo needs to win in order to get his life back on track and get his teenage kids back.
Legacy of Lies is gripping mystery-thriller with a unique and compelling lead character.
The author keeps the reader in suspense with a fast paced plot.
The twists and riveting courtroom drama made for an enjoyable read.
SPOILER – I found the only weak point in the story was when you learn the shocking discovery that the conniving antagonist, Michael Zannack, is the son of two of the characters.
This part of the story seemed too contrived and unbelievable.
Helen and her assistant are preparing a case against Michael Zannick, a rich, powerful and unscrupulous man, who is accused of rape. When his attorney is unsuccessful in convincing Helen to settle out of court, her ex-husband, Butch Renfroe, confronts Helen threatening to disclose a devastating secret from her past. In the heated argument that follows, she threatens to kill her ex-husband. That night, Butch is murdered and all evidence points to Helen.
Helen ironically seeks out Bocephus "Bo" Haynes, a twice suspended black lawyer to be her defense attorney. Bo has met misfortune ever since it was discovered that his biological father was the Imperial Wizard of the KKK.
A year ago, Bo witnessed the murder of his beloved wife and recently, he lost custody of his children. Although Bo is consumed with grief, guilt and doubt and has turned to alcohol, Helen believes he can save her with his excellent courtroom skills. Even though the evidence seems circumstantial and the prosecution has a solid case with motive, means and opportunity, Bo needs to win in order to get his life back on track and get his teenage kids back.
Legacy of Lies is gripping mystery-thriller with a unique and compelling lead character.
The author keeps the reader in suspense with a fast paced plot.
The twists and riveting courtroom drama made for an enjoyable read.
SPOILER – I found the only weak point in the story was when you learn the shocking discovery that the conniving antagonist, Michael Zannack, is the son of two of the characters.
This part of the story seemed too contrived and unbelievable.
September 23, 2020
Good Book
I LOOOVES me a good plot twist!!!!
SPOILER ALERT!!!! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!!!!
When Helen left Butch's house and said she didn't remember how she got to wherever she was and that her gun was gone, I thought she killed him. The author was able to send me off the trail. I definitely thought about the fact that after that she had a full story for Bo, and I was like "wait...i thought she blacked out". I was wondering why she refused to tell her attorney what really happened until after the preliminary. Now we know it's because she DID kill Butch and wanted to know what the prosecution's case was. That heffa is GOOOD!!!
THEN we find out that she did not get an abortion when she was raped, but instead put her kid up for adoption. THEN we find out that Zannick is her kid, and he running around buying up property, and pretending to be younger than he is so he can have sex with teenagers, and that he was going to set up Butch's murder and frame Helen as revenge for abandoning him. Which seems so stupid to me, but I'm not adopted, so IDK.
I like how the author threw me off the trail without making the plot unbelievable. Everything tied together so well, but when the hammer fell, you weren't like "where the hell did that come from?"
I gave it a 4 instead of 5 only because the process of collecting evidence was slow and unexciting. Not boring at all. Stakes were high, but there wasn't a lot of tension. I like for books to stress me out. But this was a good read.
I LOOOVES me a good plot twist!!!!
SPOILER ALERT!!!! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!!!!
When Helen left Butch's house and said she didn't remember how she got to wherever she was and that her gun was gone, I thought she killed him. The author was able to send me off the trail. I definitely thought about the fact that after that she had a full story for Bo, and I was like "wait...i thought she blacked out". I was wondering why she refused to tell her attorney what really happened until after the preliminary. Now we know it's because she DID kill Butch and wanted to know what the prosecution's case was. That heffa is GOOOD!!!
THEN we find out that she did not get an abortion when she was raped, but instead put her kid up for adoption. THEN we find out that Zannick is her kid, and he running around buying up property, and pretending to be younger than he is so he can have sex with teenagers, and that he was going to set up Butch's murder and frame Helen as revenge for abandoning him. Which seems so stupid to me, but I'm not adopted, so IDK.
I like how the author threw me off the trail without making the plot unbelievable. Everything tied together so well, but when the hammer fell, you weren't like "where the hell did that come from?"
I gave it a 4 instead of 5 only because the process of collecting evidence was slow and unexciting. Not boring at all. Stakes were high, but there wasn't a lot of tension. I like for books to stress me out. But this was a good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2021
I snatched up this book because I got an early copy of the second book in this series. I cannot say that I am disappointed. This new-to-me author is one I can't wait to read more of.
So, this series is a spin-off from the author's previous series, which I realized very quickly there was a lot of backstory I didn't have. However, that was okay. Even though I would have preferred to have been more informed on the characters, the fact that I wasn't didn't ruin the book for me. I was able to breeze through this book with no issues. I will be going back and reading the previous series though. I can say that with absolute guarantee.
This book had me guessing and second guessing myself all the way through. I thought I knew. Then I changed my mind. I was back and forth with the who from the very start. And let me say, I didn't fully see THAT coming at the very end. However, I think the who is exactly who it should have been, considering. (Am I confusing you?)
This book is the kind of mystery that I typically crave. It's suspenseful. It has enough twists and turns to keep my mind constantly on the book. It has great, developed characters with some very real and interesting pasts that align with their present. The plot is spot on. I can't really sing enough praises for this book.
So, this series is a spin-off from the author's previous series, which I realized very quickly there was a lot of backstory I didn't have. However, that was okay. Even though I would have preferred to have been more informed on the characters, the fact that I wasn't didn't ruin the book for me. I was able to breeze through this book with no issues. I will be going back and reading the previous series though. I can say that with absolute guarantee.
This book had me guessing and second guessing myself all the way through. I thought I knew. Then I changed my mind. I was back and forth with the who from the very start. And let me say, I didn't fully see THAT coming at the very end. However, I think the who is exactly who it should have been, considering. (Am I confusing you?)
This book is the kind of mystery that I typically crave. It's suspenseful. It has enough twists and turns to keep my mind constantly on the book. It has great, developed characters with some very real and interesting pasts that align with their present. The plot is spot on. I can't really sing enough praises for this book.
December 28, 2024
Absolutely a great book. The entire time I was reading this I felt like I was watching a movie. This is the first book written by Robert Bailey I have read and it was great. Corruption at its finest and the depth of it was crazy. My heart felt for all the individuals who were screwed around. Bo a man who lost his wife became a single father. His two children were ordered to live with his in-laws until he could prove things to the court. Before all the personal issues Bo was an attorney. Once he went to a court hearing he was granted the permission to practice law again. Once Bo was given the okay to practice law again he was asked to take a case that has so many twists and turns. He is not the type of attorney to take a case lightly. Bo is a go getter and pounds the pavement when going to battle for his client and that to me is an attorney you'd want on your side.
October 29, 2021
Helen Lewis, the District Attorney General ("General") of her TN county, is accused of murdering her ex-husband after he threatened to expose a secret from their shared past. She hires Bocephus Haynes, a local Black attorney who was the best defense attorney around but is now barely functional after a series of tragedies (that occurred in other earlier books). Swirling around their local community are a bunch of sleazy salesmen, attorneys, real estate developers, attorneys and other disgraced public figures.
Fast paced and full of twists and turns, especially at the end. But I always felt like I had picked this up in the middle of a story that I should have already read - though this is described as "Bocephus Haynes #1" - which it clearly isn't. Will have to go back and find the earlier books.
Fast paced and full of twists and turns, especially at the end. But I always felt like I had picked this up in the middle of a story that I should have already read - though this is described as "Bocephus Haynes #1" - which it clearly isn't. Will have to go back and find the earlier books.
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