Bitter Choices by WIlliam Manchee Book review!

 

The attorneys of Turner & Waters are back at it again. In over their heads, each must win their respective cases or face dire consequences. It's 1999 and the world is awaiting the predicted Year 2000 calamity when millions of computers were expected to crash simultaneously due to short-sighted programmers. Although governments all over the world have spent billions trying to avoid this disaster, everyone is holding their breath on New Years' Eve, 1999.

Stan's son, Reggie Turner, has joined the firm and has his heart set on practicing personal injury law, but Stan is against it having had bad luck with PI cases in the Past. When Reggie bags his first PI case, he must solicit Paula and Jodie's help in untangling the legal quagmire that is unleashed when Tom "the Tornado" Tyson sues his new client and the District Attorney presses criminal charges against her.

In the meantime, Stan's new estate planning client talks Stan into agreeing to be the executor and trustee in the event of his death, not expecting the client to die just days later. When Stan assumes his duties, his world is shattered, and he is faced with bitter choices.

William Manchee is an attorney by trade and practices consumer law in Texas with his son Jim. Originally from southern California, he now lives in Plano, Texas. He is the author of 25 novels including the Stan Turner Mysteries, Rich Coleman Novels, and the Tarizon Saga.

Author, Novelist William Manchee's Website

Bitter Choices by William Manchee is the 13th in the Stan Turner Mystery series. I read this as a stand-alone novel and I had not read any of the other ones in the series. I will have to go back and catch up!

1999 and we all know what was supposed to happen that New Year, computers would not be able to get the right date. Planes would crash, and the banking system would go haywire. Well, 2000 rolled around and none of the stuff happened, business as usual. Stan is an attorney for Turner & Waters and his son Reggie has joined the firm. 

Reggie gets his first PI case and needs the help of Paula and Jodie while Stan takes on a client,  who wants Stan to be the executor and trustee in case of his death. As fate would have it, he is murdered and Stan now has to unravel the businesses that he had. While doing this, the Mexican Cartel steps in and wants Stan to work for them. Stan is reluctant but has no choice when the lives of his friends and family are threatened.

Reggie is persuaded to take on a personal injury case. Amanda and her daughter were involved in a car accident that appears to be Amanda's fault. It is up to Reggie and others at the firm to prove that she was not negligent. Unfortunately, her injuries are such that she is permanently in a wheelchair. The prosecutor Tom "the Tornado" Tyson bound and determined to charge her with vehicular homicide.  Between the two men, their cases keep them very busy. Interviewing witnesses and trying to stay out of the sight of the cartel.   

This novel is character-driven, everyone has a purpose and job to do hopefully to do the right thing for their clients. You can tell that the author is a lawyer himself, and knows the jargon and legalese. Like I said prior, this book can be read as a stand-alone novel. I enjoy this kind of book and this one did have a surprise ending. I give it 4 stars.

I received a copy of the book from the author and VoraciousReadersOnly for review purposes only and was not monetarily compensated for said review.