Review: THE THIRD VICTIM, by Phillip Margolin.

THE THIRD VICTIM, by Phillip Margolin

Audiobook

MacMillan Audio - 2018

Narrated by Therese Plummer

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Margolin is a veteran in the world of legal thrillers. He delivers another solid story in THE THIRD VICTIM.

A woman is found crumpled on the highway, bloodied, battered, bits of duct tape clinging to her wrists and ankles. She tells her horrific story of confinement and eventual escape. Her injuries and evidence of confinement are consistent with two unsolved murders in the area. When she identifies the house she escaped from, the legal community is turned upside down. The house belongs to a prominent lawyer, Alex Mason. Alex is now the defendant in a death penalty case.

Of course Alex protests and claims innocence, but what might be most damning of all, is the testimony of his wife. Her stories of his sexual sadism paint Alex as the type of predator capable of these heinous crimes. As the evidence piles up, it does not bode well for Alex.

They say that only  a fool represents themselves in court, and Alex is no fool. He hires the best in the business. Regina Barrister, known in the legal community as "The Sorceress" due to her impressive record of court room wins.

Robin Lockwood is a fresh new lawyer finishing up her clerkship at the Oregon Supreme court.  Everything about her indicates she is a fighter.  She helped finance her law school costs by fighting in the MMA. Now she is ready to learn how to do battle in a courtroom instead of an octagon.  When the opportunity presents itself to work for and learn from Regina she jumps at the opportunity.  Immediately she becomes a team player in the Alex Mason case - as second chair.  Soon, Robin is noticing things and questioning Regina's judgement.

Phillip Margolin has been writing for a long time. i can remember reading his books far longer ago than I care to admit.  His experience shows.  The story is taut and edgy, with plot twists that that spin things in a different direction , just as you are getting comfortable in the direction it is going. The characters are well defined and believable.

Narration was clear, with a pleasant cadence, and had an appropriate range of characters and emotions. 

This may not be Margolin's best novel, but it is a solid good one nonetheless.

Happy Reading,

Christine