True Intent

Nate Shepherd Legal Thriller Series, Book 2

By: Michael Stagg

Narrated by: George Newbern

When a billionaire dies, an innocent woman is blamed. One lawyer must fight a wealthy family for justice.

It seems straightforward to Attorney Nate Shepherd: a middle-aged billionaire dies while celebrating at a wedding reception. The grief-stricken family lashes out, though, blaming the billionaire’s date for his death. When the family brings all of its power to bear, the wheels of local justice threaten to overwhelm the woman.

As Nate Shepherd steps in to defend her, he tries to deflect the misplaced anger that’s directed at the woman for the tragedy. But as the investigation progresses, a tangled history unravels, including unexpected ties to Nate’s own life. And with each secret that is uncovered, the stakes rise until Nate finds himself fighting for the woman’s freedom in a trial for her life.

Can Nate Shepherd protect an innocent client from a family trying to buy its own brand of justice?

This is the second 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

Writing tic

I'm glad other readers noticed that witnesses, regardless of background or previous speech patterns, always answer counsels' questions with the same snappy "I did," "I am," "I was." After a while, I had to fast-forward through some of the trial testimony to avoid throwing my mp3 player into the weeds. [Note to Stagg's editor: The trial takes up so much of the story that he needs to bring the courtroom writing up to the rest of the book.] Still, a good yarn, good narration, good company on a legal-thriller junkie's daily walk.

Great Read

I enjoyed the botanical information about forests. Where I live in California the forests are devastated by a beetle. That researchers are working on how to ameliorate that type of problem is encouraging. The plot held a quizical puzzle. The main character had to be less than she seemed. No spoilers here. Good legal read.

Best book ever

Listened for two straight days while off from four 12 hour shift days. This book is my second listen from the author and narrator.

The ending caught me by total surprise. I was in total “unbelievable” shock.
I suppose I had the same feeling as Nate.

Kept my attention surprise twist

Kept my attention surprise twist. enjoyed reading whole series narrator is easy to listen to.

Captivating

A superb book in the number two series of the "Nate Shepherd Legal Thriller" series! Author Michael Stagg continues to deliver with engaging and gripping characters. I am looking forward to the following two books in this series. Narrator George Newbern is outstanding.

great story

it was slow moving and took a little while but the ending was killer!! i enojoyed listening to why he did it and the personal story as well. the narrator has become one of my favorites. overall a great story and performance. cant wait to start the second book

Mystery book writer lover.

This is the second book I’ve read of Michael Stagg and thought that it was one of the best written ones that I have ever read. Great nonchalant style of writing. I hope he keeps it up. They are enjoyable reads( or listens).

Guilty or innocent?

I just finished this book. It was a very interesting book. Never thought I would listen to a murder mystery entwined with trees and bugs.
And never have I listened to a book where at the end you still ask yourself was she really innocent, or did she get away with the most sinister, calculating murder?
You decide.

Very engaging!

This will keep you interested from start to finish. It’s quality writing and well narrated.

the judge is in charge

good story, different but one that keeps you intrigued and wonder what will happen...