Review DEAD PEASANTS by Larry Thompson

Dead Peasants by Larry Thompson
Published by St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: October 12, 2012
ISBN-10: 1250009499
ISBN-13: 978-1250009494
Pages: 292
Review Copy from: Author
Edition: Kindle
My Rating: 5

Synopsis:
Lawyer Jack Bryant retires early to Fort Worth to kick back, relax and watch his son play football at TCU. Bored with retirement he opens a pro bono office in his RV. When Jack finds an elderly widow at his doorstep, clutching a check for life insurance proceeds on her husband but payable to his former employer, Jack files a civil suit to collect the benefits rightfully due the widow. A seemingly accidental death of his client’s husband thrusts Jack into a vortex of serial killings. He and his new love interest find themselves targets in the same murder for hire scheme. To stop the killings Jack must unravel what in their past makes certain people worth more dead than alive.

My Thoughts and Opinion:
When I first saw the title of this book, and knowing it was a legal thriller, I have to be honest, I couldn’t figure out what peasants had to do with the plot. And then it is explained. A “dead peasant” is a type of insurance policy (being vague as to details so not to include spoiler), but let me tell you, this is a bit scary as to it’s existence in real life.

The writing style was fluid, the characters 3 dimensional, so it was easy to visualize both the cast and settings.

The protagonist, Jackson Douglas Bryant, attorney, has become one of my favorite characters, and hope that this is the beginning of many future books written around him. Jack Bryant is a successful lawyer, who decides to become a pro bono plaintiff’s lawyer for those who do not have the means to hire an attorney. And his first case, turns out to be more than just routine. People are being killed but by who and why? And the “who done it” ending was one I didn’t see coming.

One thing I really enjoyed was that, even though it was a legal thriller, it did not contain the heavy legalese often found in this genre.

This is the first time I have read a book by this author, but let me tell you, it won’t be the last!! Loved it! A definite page turner that will keep you guessing.