Dead Docket

John Delaney, attorney and ex-cop, is happily teaching law in New York City. When he's asked to go to Atlanta and settle the affairs of an acquaintance's dead daughter, Sarah O'Connor, Delaney doesn't protest too much; his lover, attorney Katherine Adams, lives in Atlanta. But when Delaney gets to Atlanta, things do not go as simply as planned. Sarah's "accidental" death does not appear to have been accidental. An open police investigation file is missing. A powerful crime boss may be involved. State and Federal investigators are sniffing around. A psychotic killer is waiting. Past events in Katherine's life are going to return to haunt her, and the missing file may be connected to the death of Delaney's father. Things are going to get nasty. //Dead Docket// by Mitchell Graham is a crime thriller with a plethora of thrilling twists and turns, well developed characters, and background information conveniently fed in small bites at a time. The story moves along well for about two-thirds of the book, but the chapter on the trial is an unnecessary distraction. In real life, Nick would simply have asked his niece for the file - but then there would have been no story. Read this book. Reviewed by Douglas McWilliams

They became lovers in New York City (see MAJESTIC DESCENDING), but while John Delaney is a Big Apple law professor, Katherine Adams is an Atlanta lawyer. They miss one another, but keep in contact though long distance relationships are difficult. Delaney is excited and sad as he has a professional reason to see Katherine. Delaney is heading to Georgia to settle the estate of the daughter of his father's partner. Apparently Sarah fell off a cliff while camping in Cloudland Canyon in north Georgia Mountains. However, this simple matter turns ugly when Delaney learns O'Connor allegedly stole a file from the US Attorney's office where she worked as a legal intern; the file contained incriminating evidence against crime boss Warren Blendel. John soon realizes that Sarah's apartment was searched and that the FBI has kept a case open involving her and her boyfriend Andre Rostov. Not long after that Blendel's thugs come to Atlanta to bury anyone associated with the evidence. Katherine and John find a tie to his fathers' death as the case spins further out of control. Throw away your plausibility meter somewhere on the East Coast and the reader will have a great time going along for the ride of an action-packed thriller. The story line is action-packed and feels at times out of control as Adams and Delaney land in one dangerous disaster after another. Filled with twists, fans will appreciate this entertaining but improbable thriller. Harriet Klausner

Finally a book kept me up all night! I couldn't wait for this followup story because I loved Majestic Descending and this book features the same characters but the story moves even faster. One of the things that held my interest was the realistic dialogue and the dry humor. It was easy to relate to these characters and I wish Delaney was cloned!! I am already wishing for Mitchell Graham's next book. I read somewhere that Dead Docket AND Majestic Descending have both been optioned for a movie. While you are reading you can just imagine Bruce Willis as Delaney - perfect.

I really enjoyed this book. The twists and turns will leave you wondering where you are. The trial and action scenes in particular were just first rate. John Delaney and Katherine Adams make a great team. You can either read this with Majestic Descending or as a stand alone. I'm a big fan of legal mysteries and felt the dialogue and reparte between them really made the story fun. Both of them are witty and tough as nails when its called for. A big thumbs up for the author. This is a perfect summer read.

I read Mitchell's Graham's thriller, Majestic Descending last year and was anxiously awaiting this sequel. It didn't disappoint. Graham is a hidden treasure. I found the story to be fast paced and the characters enjoyable. It was like meeting old friends again. I don't know what the idiot from Publisher's Weekly was thinking when they wrote their review. It's clear he or she couldn't have read the story very closely. Joshua does not turn his back on Katherine as they wrote. She wasn't even in the room when he got there. I particularly enjoyed the courtroom scenes, which I thought were spot on. Graham is an attorney and he knows how to hold a readers interest without being too technical. What makes this book a standout are the plot twists. Just when you think you have it figured out, Graham reverses direction and takes you on a ride down another alley. In my opinion Mr. Graham is the equal of any writer out there and I can't wait for his next book. Mark G.