Book Review: DEVIL’S DEAL by Terri Lynn Coop

Juliana Martin is a top Dallas attorney working at her father’s law firm. Their very rich clientele pay handsomely for them to make legal problems go away, though Juliana manages to keep at least arm’s length from the worst dirt in her third floor office. Eventually it all gets too much for her, but the day she decides to tell her father she’s had enough of shady deals and shadier clients, the Feds pay a visit. Charged for a murder he didn’t commit, Juliana’s father faces the death penalty. The only offer on the table is a devil’s deal: for Juliana to come out of hiding and give up one of her father’s biggest clients, or watch her father die, and possibly face the same fate herself.

DEVIL’S DEAL is Terri Lynn Coop’s debut novel, and the first in a series featuring the smart, tough Texan lawyer, Juliana Martin. I found this a very easy read, but not in the sense of “simple” or “childish.” There are plenty of plot twists, and some quite uncomfortable scenes. By “easy” I mean the story doesn’t drag, the characters are relatable, and the voice is punchy and down-to-earth. Short chapters provide plenty of cliffhangers, some minor, but some quite significant.

The first part of the book takes Juliana from the big city to a small town, where she agrees to tie up loose ends in her late Uncle Jimmy’s legal practice while she tries to stay under the radar. Juliana is clearly not comfortable with the RV and casserole set, but does her best to ingratiate herself, which makes for fun reading. Things don’t go to plan, however, and Juliana finds herself entangled with the authorities, one of whom is handsome Federal agent Ethan Price. When trust leads to betrayal, she is forced to call in favors from some of her father’s choicest clients. The things we learn and the people we meet along the way all play into the larger plot, so nothing’s throw-away, as is the case with all good mysteries.

If you enjoy legal thrillers and mysteries, you’ll enjoy DEVIL’S DEAL. Juliana Martin comes across as no-nonsense, but not without sensitivity. Terri has managed to create a character who’s not just James Bond in a skirt. She can use firearms, and knows a fair few fight moves, but while she can play like a guy, she hasn’t lost her femininity. That’s a hard balance to achieve.

There’s profanity and violence, so I would definitely rate it R. There are romantic scenes–some a little on the steamy side–but I don’t recall anything sexually explicit. A solid four Goodreads stars.