In The Missing Piece, defense attorney (and former District Attorney) Wes Farrell is feeling burnt out representing people he believes are guilty.
Wes’ latest client, Doug Rush, is accused of murdering recently exonerated Paul Riley. Riley served eleven years for raping and murdering Doug’s daughter. The Exoneration Initiative (a thinly covered adaptation of the real Innocence Project) got Riley out of prison after another imprisoned murderer confessed to the crimes. Doug vehemently opposed Riley’s release. But did that make Doug a murderer? In Wes’ eyes, it did. But Wes still was going to defend him.
This book, like others in the series, is a legal investigator procedural. Abe, an investigator at Wes’ law firm, is very methodical about the case. The case has a surprising turn in the middle and an even more stunning reveal at the end. Still, the pacing was rather slow. Overall, The Missing Piece deserves 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.