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The Jailhouse Lawyer  By  cover art

The Jailhouse Lawyer

By: James Patterson, Nancy Allen
Narrated by: Megan Tusing
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Publisher's summary

From James Patterson, the world's number one best-selling author: A young lawyer takes on the judge who is destroying her hometown - and ends up in jail herself.

In picture-perfect Erva, Alabama, the most serious crimes are misdemeanors. Speeding tickets. Shoplifting. Contempt of court.

Then why is the jail so crowded? And why are so few prisoners released? There’s only one place to learn the truth behind these incriminating secrets.

Sometimes the best education a lawyer can get is a short stretch of hard time.

©2021 James Patterson and Nancy Allen (P)2021 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

“I couldn’t put down The Jailhouse Lawyer, a page-turning legal thriller that exposes a headline-making crisis in the American courts: the new debtors’ prisons, where an inability to pay court costs sentences poor people to jail, with devastating consequences.” (Tony Messenger, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist, author of Profit and Punishment: How America Criminalizes the Poor in the Name of Justice)

What listeners say about The Jailhouse Lawyer

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A happy accident

I accidentally purchased this title but I am certainly glad I did. First, what a surprise to get two titles for the price of one and both of such great quality. The stories never dragged, never felt the lull which is sometimes felt in courtroom titles. The author did a great job with making you feel the struggle and helpless feeling of the character. I recommend this title and I am happy about my accidental purchase.

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4 people found this helpful

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Loved it!

I enjoyed the book. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen I bought the actual book and the audio version so when I couldn’t read I could listen. This is the first James Patterson book I have read and I’m eager to see what else he has written. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It did seem very long and some what drawn out but personally I liked that in this book because when you ended the book you didn’t feel left hanging. The long drawn out part wasn’t for nothing. I was satisfied with it and was glad I didn’t waste my time reading something that left me lost or left to my imagination at the end.

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2 storylines for 1 credit. Nice change

Well done. Great James Patterson book. Well written. Well narrated! Great suspense in both stories.
Liked the 2 for 1! Same characters. Think the part 2 should’ve been before main storyline because lays groundwork background info for main title.
Hopefully sequel??!!

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Entertaining with some exceptions

The plot had its moments of intrigue but the repetitiveness of the details was annoying at times. It had sufficient intrigue to hold my attention. The narrator’s southern accent and mimic of the men’s voices was overemphasized & overly dramatized. Not enough to deter my interest.
I recommend the book with some reservations.

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The Jailhouse Lawyer and Public Defender

Great combination, storylines, character development. and narration. Hard to put down with twists and turns throughout.

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compelling

couldn't stop listening. pulls you in and doesn't let go!
highly recommend this excellent courtroom drama

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Review

Loved it! Couldn't put it down! Spellbinding! story very realistic. I like the small town setting. NJM

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What a great book!

James Patterson never ceases to amaze me! This book will shock and amaze you with his creativity.

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Not a surprising Not a surprising ending well writ

What is there no surprise to find out she would be found innocent but the story itself was very good I enjoyed this book very much

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One of the best books from James Patterson

This has got to be one of the best books I have read by James Patterson. Nancy Allen was wonderful in writing this story and I will be looking up her other books. The story kept me interested I couldn’t stop listening and I was intrigued the whole time. Definitely a must listen or read.

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