• Lethal Defense

  • Nate Shepherd Legal Thriller Series, Book 1
  • By: Michael Stagg
  • Narrated by: George Newbern
  • Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (10,474 ratings)

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Lethal Defense  By  cover art

Lethal Defense

By: Michael Stagg
Narrated by: George Newbern
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Publisher's summary

A client savagely kills a man to protect a friend. A lawyer with secrets must prove it was justified.

Attorney Nate Shepherd left a big firm to go out on his own. He sees nothing but opportunity when an out-of-town lawyer wants to hire him as local counsel on a high-profile murder case. Though his family worries that the case hits too close to home, Nate joins the defense team.

When circumstances force him to take on a bigger role, Nate ignores his family’s fears and throws himself into his client’s defense. But as he digs deeper, every aspect of the case raises memories of a terrible event that Nate has tried his best to bury.

Battling an aggressive prosecutor in court and a dogged reporter outside it, Nate fights to prove that his client’s brutal, bloody slaying of an evil victim was right. But when Nate’s own story is exposed, it threatens his client’s freedom...and Nate’s carefully constructed life. Can he fend off his own demons long enough to save his client?

This is the first book in the gripping Nate Shepherd Legal Thriller series. If you like razor-sharp dialogue, iron-willed characters, and slippery moral quandaries, then you’ll love this fierce courtroom drama.

©2020 Michael Stagg (P)2020 Podium Audio

What listeners say about Lethal Defense

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8,230
  • 4 Stars
    1,766
  • 3 Stars
    351
  • 2 Stars
    80
  • 1 Stars
    47
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7,586
  • 4 Stars
    1,714
  • 3 Stars
    347
  • 2 Stars
    78
  • 1 Stars
    56

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Exceptionally well done

As a trial lawyer, I tend not to read legal thrillers as I deal with the law every day, and look for an escape after working hours. But on rare occasion, I'll read one, most often a criminal law thriller since I do not practice criminal law. It was easy to tell that the author actually practiced law and tried cases to verdict.

This book was exceptionally well done as my title explains. Because there were no gotcha moments, the five star rating is all the more impressive in my mind. It was just a very well plotted, character driven story, on the edge of fence to allow arguments on both of all issues.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

I’m a fan. This book/situation makes one think what the world do if they were the characters. Will be listening to the series.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Very good audiobook, never hear of this author. His work on this book was wonderful. Kept me fully engaged, narrator was excellent as well. I could not stop listening.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

loved it...

I will admit that I only read it because the leading man shares the same name as my son... but that is where the similarity ended. LOL

Great pace, interesting story development and characters. Reminded me of a Grisham courtroom drama. Narrator have a believable voice to that of Nate Shepherd and others. Very easy on the ears. Added to the story instead of taking the listener out of the action. I will definitely look for other works narrates by him. I havent checked, but I hope he narrates subsequent Nate Shepherd novels in this series.

Enjoy!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story teller

Easy listen, great story really made me think about my own opinion in many ways.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Heart wrenching

I love legal dramas but this wasn’t what I expected
Great narration and I love the storyline
Definitely checking out the next book in the series

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great listen

This story was interesting, engaging, and evoked a note of emotion I didn’t expect. You’re going to like Nate Shepard! Worth your time!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Solid reading and story line!

Overall solid narration and a steady storyline, no sudden twists or surprises. Great writing and easy to binge. I would not consider this a thriller, more of a courtroom drama, I kept imagining an episode of law and order with the writing/narration. Definitely listening to more of this author’s work.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Intelligent, ever evolving plot, humorous

Wow, AND an 'included' title. This was an excellent romp. It had heart, great characters and some laugh out loud moments. The plot evolved over the entirety of the story as revelations continued to add layers and heart. I immediately searched on other titles by both the author and the narrator.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

new fan here

loved the narrator and overall story line. onto book 2! some of the story was pretty graphic in description of the crime though. But definitely added to the storyline. Hghly recommrnd

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