Alive by Proxy

Proxy Legal Thrillers, #3

by

Manning Wolfe

Quinton Bell defends a pro football player accused of murdering his agent.

Alive by Proxy is the third book in veteran author Manning Wolfe's riveting Proxy Legal Thriller series, and the suspense in this one is killer! Houston Wildcatter lineman, Marcus Hale, accused of murdering his agent one dark and stormy night, proclaims his innocence and retains Quinton Bell to defend him. But Quinton's past is just about to catch up with him, as someone who knows his true identity leaves him taunting notes and souvenirs, which soon escalate to more deadly hints. Quinton must decide whether to stay the course and do what he can for his famous client or cut and run for his life once again. 

In this latest case, Byron Douglas has settled into his new persona as Quinton Bell, the identity and life of an old friend who died, and has built a thriving law practice with an eminently competent and dependable staff and loyal colleagues. He's moved into his work-in-progress fixer-upper home in Houston and regularly visits the Bell family home in Galveston, but he still feels like he's being watched. He's not wrong. With his anxiety pinging off the ceiling, he manages a thorough trial prep while convincing his client to come clean about the awful secrets he's keeping. 

The descriptions of Houston are vivid and transport the reader to the humid, sauna-like city that is the largest in Texas. Quinton's trips to Galveston and, later, through north Texas to the casino across the Red River paint a picture of the state's size and the region's diversity. The long nighttime drive from Oklahoma south back to Houston captured the reality of the journey and the feelings of remote isolation and empty darkness. 

The plot covers the defense's careful investigation of the murder before trial and the suspense of the courtroom proceedings. The author underscores the role of the defense attorney, regardless of the client's guilt or innocence. The appearances by the individual who is watching Quinton are creepy and full of tension. He so easily becomes invisible, able to quickly and quietly melt away out of sight. The author does a wonderful job building suspense throughout the story, and the scenes with the watcher had me on the edge of my seat. 

I recommend ALIVE BY PROXY to readers of legal mysteries, thrillers, and courtroom dramas. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.