Judgment Calls (Samantha Kincaid, 1)

An apparently simple assault case spirals into a complex web of violence and deception in this bold debut thriller. Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid walks into her office in Portland’s Drug and Vice Division one Monday morning to find three police officers waiting for her. A thirteen-year-old girl has been brutally attacked and left for dead on the city’s outskirts. Given the lack of evidence, most lawyers would settle for an assault charge; Samantha, unnerved by the viciousness of the crime, decides to go for attempted murder. But as she prepares for the trial, she uncovers a dangerous trail leading to an earlier high-profile death penalty case, a prostitution ring of underage girls, and a possible serial killer. Seamlessly moving between courtroom and criminal investigation, Judgment Calls reveals not only an insider’s knowledge of the justice system but a fresh new voice in the world of crime writing. ‘Burke is a born storyteller and has created an attractive heroine whom I look forward to meeting again.’ ― Sunday Telegraph ‘A terrific debut: very different from her famous father’s work, but the storytelling DNA is all there. This is smart, savvy, expert – and highly recommended.’ ― Lee Child