Book Review: Influence by Carl Weber

Title: Influence

Author: Carl Weber

Genre: Legal Thriller, Urban Fiction

Publication Date: August 28, 2018

Purchase at Amazon/ B&N

About the Book

When famed attorney Bradley Hudson learns of his youngest son Langston’s arrest for drug trafficking, he immediately assembles a team of lawyers and investigators, including members of his own family, to build a defense. With his reputation for being a shark in the courtroom, Bradley is confident he will get justice for his son—until he realizes he will be going up against an old foe, Assistant District Attorney James Brown. Is the ADA allowing his personal history with the Hudsons to influence his handling of the prosecution?

To complicate matters, Bradley discovers that his older son, Lamont, a young lawyer and Bradley’s right-hand man, has secretly been planning his exit from the family law firm to get out from under his father’s shadow.

Desiree, Bradley’s only daughter, is fresh out of law school and quite reserved compared to her siblings. She’s the good girl who doesn’t normally like to rock the boat, but in what could be considered the worst of all timing, she is secretly dating a man and a woman, and both relationships are on a collision course. Given the problems her family is facing, now is not the right time for Desiree to introduce
more drama to the mix, but she just can’t seem to help herself.

As if fighting for one son’s freedom and fending off the other’s betrayal isn’t enough pressure, Bradley is also in the middle of his own love triangle between his ex-wife, federal judge Jacqueline Hudson, and his current wife and jury consultant, Carla. He knows how much is at stake if his family’s drama spirals out of control, so he’ll do everything within his power to keep it all together and prevent his son from landing behind bars. With his trademark dramatic style, Carl Weber introduces readers to the Hudsons. Only time will tell if they can stand united, or if the legal dynasty of Bradley Hudson is about to come crashing down.

My Thoughts

A family of lawyers.

An Assistant District Attorney wanting revenge.

What could go wrong? Probably everything.

When the Hudson’s find out one of their own has been accused of drug trafficking, they go into action to get him and his friends cleared. Several obstacles get in the way. James, the assistant district attorney is hellbent on bringing Bradley down. Will his son Langston have to pay for his father’s past transgressions?

Every power family has some type of dysfunction and the Hudson are no different. The daughter Desiree can’t decide on who she wants to be with man or woman, while trying to prove she is a capable lawyer. Lamont the eldest is wanting to step away from his father’s shadow by making it on his own. Langston is being accused of drug trafficking, but stands his ground and stays loyal to his friends.

Jaqueline, the children’s mother is a federal judge, who is trying to forget what happened in the past while trying to save her son. Bradley the head of the family is known for being the best, a powerful lawyer but his tactics are not working so well this time.

In this legal thriller, a family unit and friendships are tested. There are so many hidden agendas in this book, but worth reading. Carl Weber does not disappoint and I like a book featuring a strong black family.

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Favorite Books of 2020

The end of the year is approaching and it is time to reflect on the books I read in 2020. I read a total of 105 books. I only planned to read 60. I did change my reading habits by incorporating audiobooks and I have to say it wasn’t that bad. When I finished my list there were about thirty favorites, which is a lot, so I broke them down to just my top ten to share with you.

10. The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg

This middle grade mystery entertained me especially the characters. Shelby Holmes is so much like Sherlock it is funny even though it has to be hard for her being so overly smart. I like that her best friend becomes a black kid who has issues of his own, but they take care of each other in their own kind of way. This is book one in the series and I have loved them all.

9. The Cleaner by Paul Cleave

I fell in love with Joe the main character in this thriller. It intrigued me that Joe was the narrator who was investigating a copycat of his crimes. He was actually upset someone was copying his style of killing and just had to undercover who it was.

8. Verity by Colleen Hoover

I really enjoyed this thriller. The characters drove the story for me. Verity is sneaking, manipulative and cunning. Lowen is gullible since she is trying to find employment. Both of them are in for a surprise. I would love to see this in film and hope the author writes more thrillers soon.

7. Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh

This is a legal thriller where the killer is one of the jurors. The problem (which is a go problem) is that I didn’t know who it was and the suspense in finding out kept me on the edge.

6. The Cursed Hunter by Bethany Atazadeh

This has been the best beauty and beast retelling I have read. I like that the beast is a dragon and the determination in both the beauty and beast to make things right is so heartwarming. This is book three in the Stolen Kingdom series and I look forward to the fourth book.

5. Darkwind by R. Dugan

This was a wonderful introduction to epic fantasy with action, adventure, realist issues and characters who fight hard to do what is right and to protect their own. This is book one in the Starchaser Saga.

4. Dawnstar by R. Dugan

In book two of the Starchaser Saga, the travels carry on, but there is more to be done and also more to loose. New characters are introduced and I couldn’t help caring for them as much as the ones from book two. The action and adventure is more intense in this book and the suffering will make you cringe.

3. Cinderella is Dead by Kaylnn Bayron

This has been the best retelling of Cinderella in a while for me. The darkness hidden within these pages kept me reading. The twists in the story was unsuspected but so worth it. The characters are well developed and had me captivated from page one.

2. Grown  by Tiffany D. Jackson

Tiffany D. Jackson is my favorite YA contemporary thriller author and here is another one of her books that didn’t disappoint me. I will say this book made me angry, confused, frustrated among other emotions. It deals with realistic issues happening everyday and with young girls in situation they feel there is no way out. I love the realism in her novels and that they are very thought provoking.

1. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

This was my top book of the year mainly because of the investigative nature of the story. Pip’s determination to get answers, to clear a young boys name for his family and to make sure the right person is convicted. I love stories where a teenager becomes the detective and uncovers the evidence necessary to solve a case an adult could not. I like this author’s writing style and the way she structured the novel. I can’t wait to read it’s sequel.

 

Author Nick Lombardi Jr. shares Justice Gone

Justice Gone, a mystery/legal thriller which publishes February 22, 2019, touches upon many topical, controversial issues in today’s society as well as being a thrilling and engaging read. The story encapsulates current social issues: police brutality, homelessness, the plight of returning war veterans, the frenzy of the press, and the mechanics of the US judicial system.

WINNER NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCY AWARD – Best Legal Thriller

The courtroom scenes are wonderfully written…the characters are well described and the author paints a picture of each in the mind of the reader…Strong plot, strong characters and a strong writing style that I really enjoyed. This one is a definite “thumbs-up.” Strongly recommend! I look forward to reading additional works by N. Lombardi, Jr.
Kim M Aalaie, Author’s Den

One of my favorite suspense novels of the year. It will make you question the legal system.
The Eclectic Review

The courtroom action is excellent, trimmed to the most gripping parts of the trial, with plenty of emotional impact…a fairly realistic portrayal of the way small-town US society works…a fast-moving story with plenty of dramatic moments, and a big twist in the final pages.
Crime Review

“When a homeless war veteran is beaten to death by the police, stormy protests ensue, engulfing a small New Jersey town. Soon after, three cops are gunned down.

A multi-state manhunt is underway for a cop killer on the loose. And Dr. Tessa Thorpe, a veteran’s counselor, is caught up in the chase.

Donald Darfield, an African-American Iraqi war vet, war-time buddy of the beaten man, and one of Tessa’s patients, is holed up in a mountain cabin. Tessa, acting on instinct, sets off to find him, but the swarm of law enforcement officers gets there first, leading to Darfield’s dramatic capture.

Now, the only people separating him from the lethal needle of state justice are Tessa and ageing blind lawyer, Nathaniel Bodine. Can they untangle the web tightening around Darfield in time, when the press and the justice system are baying for revenge?”

Purchase Links

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Justice-Gone-N-Lombardi-Jr/dp/1785358766
https://amzn.to/2UxIxja

Amazon US
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1785358766/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1785358766&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

https://amzn.to/2WCTodE

Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40398725-justice-gone?ac=1&from_search=true

Barnes and Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/justice-gone-n-lombardi-jr/1128875661?ean=9781785358760
https://bit.ly/2SoiKwc

Book Depository
https://www.bookdepository.com/Justice-Gone-N-Lombardi-Jr/9781785358760?ref=grid-view&qid=1544400889897&sr=1-1

https://www.bookdepository.com/Justice-Gone-N-Lombardi-Jr/9781785358760?ref=grid-view&qid=1549051281975&sr=1

Waterstones
https://www.waterstones.com/book/justice-gone/n-lombardi-jr/9781785358760

https://bit.ly/2D37Y56

Kobo
https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/justice-gone

https://bit.ly/2BgY7ID

Amazon India
https://www.amazon.in/Justice-Gone-N-Jr-Lombardi-ebook/dp/B07N175RZJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1548392856&sr=1-1&keywords=justice+gone

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/nick.lombardi.9400

https://bit.ly/2sY7LeN

Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40398725-justice-gone#

https://bit.ly/2D1Ktt5

About The Author

N. Lombardi Jr, the N for Nicholas, has spent over half his life in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, working as a groundwater geologist. Nick can speak five languages: Swahili, Thai, Lao, Chinese, and Khmer (Cambodian).

In 1997, while visiting Lao People’s Democratic Republic, he witnessed the remnants of a secret war that had been waged for nine years, among which were children wounded from leftover cluster bombs. Driven by what he saw, he worked on The Plain of Jars for the next eight years.
Nick maintains a website with content that spans most aspects of the novel: The Secret War, Laotian culture, Buddhism etc. http://plainofjars.net

His second novel, Journey Towards a Falling Sun, is set in the wild frontier of northern Kenya.

His latest novel, Justice Gone was inspired by the fatal beating of a homeless man by police.
Nick now lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Visit his goodreads page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6982373.N_Lombardi_Jr_

Meet The Author: Interview with Norwood Holland

Stopping by Authors & Readers Book Corner is Norwood Holland, a freelance writer, lawyer, and author of the Drew Smith legal thriller series based on the capers of a bon vivant DC trial attorney. Holland is a graduate of Howard University School of Law and earned his degree in English from Fisk University where he studied under the renowned Harlem Renaissance author Arna Bontemps. He has served in several government agencies including the National Labor Relations Board and several top Washington law firms. In the mid-90s he began freelance writing with bylines in The Writer Magazine and the Examiner. He blogs at editorialindependence.com. Material Witness is third in the series launched with Sleepless Nights, followed by the prequel Minus One. Private Number the fourth series installment will be released in early 2019.

Get to Know The Author Norwood Holland:

Why should people read your book?

Material Witness is an enjoyable, easy read. The characters are clearly defined, and the suspense carries the reader from beginning to end. The series has an addictive quality, and you don’t have to start the series at the beginning. Each can be a standalone read, but most readers are left wanting more. People love Drew Smith, he has an emotional connection that invests readers. His bravado appeals to the male reader, while his good looks and hypersexual nature appeals to women. The reader derives pleasure in following Drew Smith’s emotional swings, his romantic woes, and his professional challenges.

 Who are the audiences for your book?

Material Witness was written for those who love legal thrillers and mysteries, but it also has broad appeal for those who enjoy popular fiction. It’s sexy with a hint of romantic suspense. There is something there for those who prefer romance, as well as the action adventure reader.

What is the setting of your novel and how is it significant?

The setting is Washington DC, and why DC? It’s my home where I was born and bred. It’s a world-class city full lawyers and politicians, statesmen and foreign diplomats. There is a lot of glint and glamour, but if you dig below the surface, there is a dark side with its gritty crime and backstreets you can see the real human condition. There is a juxtaposition of the oppressed, poor people struggling to make a living in a world saturated with wealth. Cities create wealth, and that’s what draws people to them. Washington is a reflection of the American character with its monuments, and sprawling suburbs. It’s an ideal setting to tell an American story.

Narration: Does the protagonist or an associate of the protagonist narrate? Or does the author write with detached objectivity, able to read minds and interpret motives? How did this affect your perceptions of what is going on? Is this narrator a reliable witness of events?

Sleepless Night’s varied from the third person to first-person narration. And my skills as the writer were not as sharp as they are now. I’ve chosen now to write in a strictly first-person narrative from Drew Smith’s point of view. When I decided to write thrillers I learned the First person was the best method suitable for writing thrillers because it allows for a lot of immediacy and emotion that would serve a thriller well.

Driver: Would you say that the novel is primarily character-driven or plot-driven? Or is there an effective combination of the two?

I would say Material Witness is plot driven. There is a murder, and the pursuit of the murderer is the primary focus. But the significance of the character-driven subplots cannot be dismissed.

 Characters:  Who are the central characters? Where do your sympathies naturally lie? Are their motivations, flaws and qualities credible, or merely means to drive the plot?

My primary characters are Drew Smith and the people he interacts with on a daily basis. Julio is his best friend for life. He is Drew’s sidekick fighting alongside him in trenches. The women in their lives also play a significant role. They keep their men grounded and focused. The open way for us to see their vulnerabilities, their desires, ambitions, and goals. Without the women, there would be no window to their motivations, flaws, and credible qualities.

Development:  Do the characters undergo any significant change or development? Did any of their actions or words provoke reflection or further revelation about them as people?

Character evolution is each book is incremental, Drew Smith character is strengthened over the long term. The changes are not really discernable in each book. But I have a five book vision of the series which I plan to develop into a cable TV series, but right now each book is plot driven. Drew is coming to accept his mental health infliction. The future problem how will he deal with it. Is there something good that can come from it?

 

Find the Author & Book At:

Web site:  http://norwoodholland.com

Blog:  http://editorialindependence.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Norwood-Holland-213656385330560/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/norwoodholland/

 

• Email address for readers to contact Norwood Holland:  norwoodholland@aim.com

 

• Directions or link to where the book can be purchased: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Qq2ypV

About The Book

Material Witness is a legal thriller and the third novel in the Drew Smith series. The DC trial attorney undertakes a murder investigation of a law school pal. Smith recruits fellow lawyer Edward Miller and TV news reporter Stephanie Gilchrist. The three become entangled in a love triangle while Smith is coping with his post-traumatic stress disorder. Material Witness follows the series prequel Minus One expanding on Smith’s mental health issues as his PTSD progresses into the paranormal. Smith’s friend Medhat tragically died in Smith’s arms from a gunshot wound. The shock and Drew’s underlying guilt inflicted a post-traumatic stress disorder condition. The condition progresses with Medhat’s lifelike visits with Drew in his dreams.

The investigation leads to the Chinese underworld of human smuggling and endangers his investigation team. As the investigation races toward resolution Smith finds Gilchrist and Miller lives in hostages. Drew Smith races against time in a life-threatening chain of events to save them.