Beyond Reasonable Doubt

by Robert Dugoni

Although many want to classify Beyond Reasonable Doubt as a “legal thriller,” I want to call it a novel that is a cross between a legal mystery and a police procedural. This fascinating book is very suspenseful, but won’t keep you up at night with psychological shudders. Keera Duggan worked as a prosecutor, but was forced to quit. She returned to the family law firm as a defense lawyer at just the right time. The patriarch of the family, Patsy (a.k.a. The Irish Brawler)  has taken another in a series of dives into alcoholism just as a big case comes up. Fortunately, Patsy, with an excellent reputation among lawyers, has trained Keera well, first in chess and then in trial law. Unfortunately, this case is representing Jenna Bernstein, Keera’s longtime nemesis, a sociopath, and a liar par excellence. 

This case gets very involved as Jenna is not the only one involved who lies. Keera has to dig deeply to get to the truth and then present her client with some hard choices.

Keera is a strong woman who realizes taking this case will help her grow and test herself. She is countered by several professionals from her past. They all respect her and wish she still worked for the state. Keera doesn’t have much time for a personal life, but she is very likable. If you like a book that includes what the characters eat at every meal (ad nauseam), then this is not the book for you. It reads like a complicated mind puzzle because Keera has to not only figure out who killed whom and why, but also how to present the information in the court for the benefit of her client. Just as difficult perhaps is sorting out the jumble of lies and the motivations for them.    

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #2 in the Keera Duggan series, but can be read as a standalone

Publication:  October 22, 2024—Thomas & Mercer

Memorable Lines:

“I found that it was defending the difficult cases that I learned the most about myself—who I was as an attorney and as a person.”

For once Jenna wouldn’t be in charge. Keera would run this show. And, maybe, a part of Keera wanted Jenna to know that while her life was once again spiraling down the toilet, Keera’s was succeeding, quite well, thank you. Ego? Sure. Retribution? No doubt.”

“My mother always said about Jenna, ‘Trouble always seems to follow that girl,’ and those of us who were around her suffered for it.”