Deadly Proof (Rachel Dylan) – Review + Giveaway

Posted 28 September 2017 by Katie in Christian Fiction, Contemporary, New Releases, Review, Romance, Suspense / 9 Comments

~ About the Book ~

In the biggest case of her career, attorney Kate Sullivan is tapped as lead counsel to take on Mason Pharmaceutical because of a corporate cover-up related to its newest drug. After a whistleblower dies, Kate knows the stakes are much higher than her other lawsuits.
Former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James is still haunted by mistakes made while serving overseas. Trying to forget the past, he is hired by Kate to look into the whistleblower’s allegation and soon suspects that the company may be engaging in a dangerous game for profit. He also soon finds himself falling for this passionate and earnest young lawyer.
Determined not to make the same mistakes, he’s intent on keeping Kate safe, but as the case deepens, it appears someone is willing to risk everything–even murder–to keep the case from going to trial.
Genre: Romantic Suspense (Legal)
Series: #1 Atlanta Justice
Release date: 5 September 2017
Pages: 322
Publisher: Bethany House

Amazon US // Amazon AU // iBooks // Goodreads // Koorong

~ Review ~

Kate Sullivan had no idea what she was getting herself into when she took on the Mason Pharmaceutical (MPC) litigation! Sure, she knew it was big; thousands of cases had been filed on behalf of victims who had died or been injured taking their migraine drug, and as lead counsel, she was determined to get the justice they deserved. But was she really prepared for just how far someone would go to make sure the truth never came to light?
The key to unlocking this case for Kate is in the discovery phase, so there’s not a lot of court action in this novel. If she can find proof in the documents produced by MPC that they were aware of potentially harmful side effects, it will blow the case right open, and so that’s what she’s focused on. But that’s exactly what Ethan Black, Kate’s long-time friend and opposing counsel on behalf of MPC, doesn’t want to see happen, and he’s under a lot of pressure from the CEO of MPC to make sure any ‘hot’ documents, as they’re referred to, don’t end up in Kate’s hands.
I really enjoyed the legal side of this story, and in this respect, it’s obvious Rachel Dylan knows her stuff. Explanations of the legal process were worked naturally into the story where necessary, which meant that the reader was able to follow what was going on without getting bamboozled by legalese. We also got to experience the legal process as it played out from both sides of the case—Kate’s determination to get justice on behalf of her clients, and Ethan’s increasing struggle against the ethical dilemmas he faces, which was great for the tension.
The disappointment for me was that I didn’t really connect with these characters as well as I wanted to. I felt as though the distinction between Kate, the uber-ethical lawyer focused on achieving justice, and Ethan, the ambitious lawyer looking for wealth and prestige, was overemphasised to the point where they became one dimensional, and Landon wasn’t really developed beyond your ‘standard’ ex-military character. I would have liked to have felt more of an emotional connection between Kate and Landon, too.
Nevertheless, those who enjoy a solid legal suspense with a hint of romance will find this a satisfying read.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

~ About the Author ~

Rachel Dylan was a litigator in one of the nation’s most elite law firms for over eight years and now works as an attorney at one of the Big Three automobile manufacturers. She is the author of four Love Inspired Suspense novels and lives in Michigan with her husband.

Connect with Rachel:
Website // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Goodreads

~ Giveaway ~

To celebrate the tour, Bethany House is giving away four Suspense Novels and a $25 Starbucks Gift Card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4664b04912/

~ Q & A with Rachel Dylan ~

The Atlanta Justice series is centered around strong, female lawyers who take on high-stakes cases. What made you want to write their stories?
I’d have to say it’s personal! Having been an attorney for eleven years now, I love being able to pour parts of myself into the books. My everyday life as a lawyer isn’t that exciting and is definitely not as dangerous! But I’m able to draw on what I’ve lived through to bring life and authenticity to these characters.
What type of research did you do for Deadly Proof?
One of the great things about writing books related to my career is that I know lawyers who practice all different types of law. Deadly Proof focuses on Kate Sullivan, who is a plaintiff’s attorney taking on a big pharmaceutical company. I don’t do this specific type of plaintiff’s work, but I know lawyers who do, and I was able to talk with them. Also, I was able to relate to my characters on the defense side because I’ve done that work for years. It was really fun to write the perspectives of characters on both sides of the case.
Is there a reason you chose Atlanta for this series?
Yes! I’m from Georgia and lived in Atlanta, practicing law at a large law firm, for eight years. I wanted to pick a setting I was intimately familiar with to give readers an authentic Atlanta experience—sweet tea and all.
Where do you think Kate’s passion for her work comes from?
Kate truly believes that her life’s work is to help those who have been wronged. I believe a lot of her passion stems from her strong faith that has developed over the years. She’s not a lawyer to make big bucks but to change people’s lives for the better.
What is the next book in the Atlanta Justice series about?
Book two is about Kate’s friend Sophie Dawson, who we meet in Deadly Proof. Sophie is an Atlanta prosecutor. This story is exciting because it involves a completely different type of legal case than Deadly Proof. But I promise things get just as dangerous!