Dead Peasants by Larry Thompson Review and interview

Synopsis:

Lawyer Jack Bryant retires early to Fort Worth to kick back, relax and watch his son play football at TCU. Bored with retirement he opens a pro bono office in his RV. When Jack finds an elderly widow at his doorstep, clutching a check for life insurance proceeds on her husband but payable to his former employer, Jack files a civil suit to collect the benefits rightfully due the widow. A seemingly accidental death of his client’s husband thrusts Jack into a vortex of serial killings. He and his new love interest find themselves targets in the same murder for hire scheme. To stop the killings Jack must unravel what in their past makes certain people worth more dead than alive.

Excerpt:

The knock at the door of the RV was so soft that at first Jack thought it must have been the wind. It came again. He rose from his chair and opened the door. An elderly black lady who he recognized as June Davis stood at the bottom of the steps. “Mrs. Davis, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you at first. Please come in. It’s chilly out there for early May.” Jack went down a step and extended his hand to assist his visitor, then offered her something to drink.June perched on the edge of the cushioned bench that circled the table. “Water would be nice,” she said in a soft voice. Jack went to the refrigerator and returned with a bottle. He twisted the cap a half a turn and handed it to her. She twisted the cap the rest of the way, took a small sip, replaced the cap and set it on the table. “How are you doing, Mrs. Davis? I mean since your husband died have you been managing okay?” “I’m fine, Mr. Bryant. My house is paid for and I get a little social security check. Besides, my kids look after me.” She reached into her purse and retrieved an envelope which she slid across the table to Jack. “This came in the mail, addressed to me. I, I wasn’t sure what to do with it; so, I called Miss Colby. She said I should take it to you.” Jack picked up the envelope. The return address was the United States Postal Service. He opened it and found another envelope, this one torn and mangled with the addressee illegible. The letter from the postal service read, Dear Mrs. Davis: One of our sorting machines jammed and mangled this letter. We apologize for the problem. Your name was the only one we could make out on the letter, and we were able to get your address. Please handle as you see fit. Very truly yours. Jack looked at the mangled letter. It was from Euro Life Insurance Company, based on the Isle of Gibraltar. It stated that Euro had determined that one William Davis was married to June Davis. Under the terms of the policy, since it paid double indemnity in the event of an accidental death, the benefit was $400,000, payable to Allison Southwest. Jack looked through the documents a second time before he looked up. “Did you know that they had insured Willie for $400,000?” “Lawdy, no, Mr. Bryant. Willie only made $20,000 a year. Why would anyone insure him for that kind of money? Besides, he retired from Allison fifteen years ago.” “Good question. Let me keep these papers and the check. I’ll get back to you in a couple of days.”

Author Bio:

Larry D. Thompson is a veteran trial lawyer and has drawn on decades of experience in the courtroom to produce riveting legal thrillers. Dead Peasants is is third After graduating from the University of Texas School of Law, Thompson founded the Houston trial firm where he still serves as managing partner. The proud father of three grown children, he lives and works in Texas but spends his summers in Colorado, where he crafts his novels and hikes the mountains surrounding Vail. His greatest inspiration came from Thomas Thompson, his brother, who wrote many best-selling true-crime books and novels.

Websites & Links:

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April 1, 2013 Showcase by Catherine @ Lavender & Camomile Press
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April 1, 2013 Review by Tammy & Michelle @ The Nook Users Book Club
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April 8, 2013 Review by Steve @ True Media Solutions LLC
April 9, 2013 Review by Barbara @ Views from the Countryside
April 10, 2013 Review by JoyAnne @ Deco My Heart
April 11, 2013 Interview & Review by Janiera @ Books & Beauty
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April 15, 2013 Review by Victor @ Vic's Media Room
April 16, 2013 Interview & Review by Kristi @ Books and Needlepoint
April 17, 2013 Guest Post by Jo @ Writers and Authors
April 19, 2013 Review by Mason Canyon @ Thoughts in Progress
April 22, 2013 Review by Kayla @ I Read a Book Once
April 23, 2013 Review by Fenny @ Hotchpotch
April 24, 2013 Review by Athena @ TheStuff of Success
April 25, 2013 Review by Mary @ Mary's Cup of Tea
April 26, 2013 Guest Post by Laurie @ Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
April 29, 2013 Review by Carol Wong
April 30, 2013 Interview by Review Jodi @ Words by Webb
May 1, 2013 Showcase @ Omnimystery
May 6, 2013 Guest Post & Review by Kathleen @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews
May 7, 2013 Interview & Review by Vicky @ DealSharing Aunt
May 8, 2013 Review by Heather @ Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
May 9, 2013 Interview & Review by Jean @ JeanBookNerd
May 20, 2013 Showcase @ Hott Books
May 21, 2013 Review by Joy @ Thoughts of Joy
May 22nd, 2013 Review by Sandy @ Mama Knows Books
May 24, 2013 Review by Ashna @ WantedReaders
May 25, 2013 Review by Brittany @ Book Nook
May 27, 2013 Interview & Review by Kate @ Read2 Review
May 30, 2013 Review by Tammy @ The Self-Taught Cook

My Review:
I was mad when I had to put this book down. I needed to know who won in court, and what was going on. The author is a lawyer and the court scenes were very realistic. I could not wait to find out who was dying next and what kind of "accident" they got killed by. I was so into this book that I felt like "accidents" could happen to anyone, anywhere and at anytime. I  liked that Jack went back to be closer to his son, and their interaction was not always pretty. Divorces are never easy.
This book was full of thrills, and I was completely hooked. The author also made the settind seam real with foreclosures, and money being tight. I definitely felt like this was a true story on crime tv.

I am giving this book a 5/5. I hope this author keeps on writing! I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.

Interview Questions:

1. will there be more cases? or more books in the series
When I started writing (Dead Peasants is my third published novel), I really didn’t intend to write about the same character twice.  Jackson Bryant has changed that.  I’ve created a character (along with Colby and his son) that nearly every reader wants to see again.  So, I will be writing about Jack again.  As I have told others, since he does pro bono work out of his RV in a poor part of town, there’s no telling who will come knocking on his door with an interesting problem.

2. would you open up a pro bono in real life? Would I open up a pro bono in real life?  Probably not.  I still have a full time trial practice and fill the remainder of my hours with writing.  However, I do some pro bono cases from time to time in my law practice.
3. did you fall in love later in life too?
Yes, to my second wife.  My first wife and I raised three great kids, but divorced after the youngest went off to college.  A few years later I married one of my law partners who has been my true love for sixteen years now.  She’s also my editor, marketer and biggest fan.