Rain City Legal Thriller Books
Some people would kill for a fresh start. Seattle attorney Daniel Raine is going through some tough life changes; he's getting divorced, and his law partner is leaving him to become a judge. If Raine can’t find a way to stay afloat, he'll be practicing law out of his car. Then, the perfect opportunity - a rich socialite called Abigail Willoughby arrives at his door, wanting to divorce her even richer husband. Raine is thrilled to take the case but gets more than he bargained for when he is forced into an unlikely alliance with high-powered realtor Rebecca Sommers who has her own motives for wanting to get close to his rich client. What seems like a straightforward case quickly turns to chaos when Abigail threatens her husband Jeremy in front of dozens of witnesses. That same night, Jeremy is discovered murdered in their home. All the evidence points to Abigail as the murderer. But she swears she is innocent and Raine believes her. Together with Sommers, he races to find out who really killed Jeremy and to save his client from serving a lifetime behind bars for a crime she didn’t commit. Burden of Proof is a spellbinding tale of murder and intrigue that will grip readers till the very end. What readers are saying about Burden of Proof : “… it was SO good! … I was totally hooked from the very beginning. Seriously, you won't be able to put it down!” -Booksprout Reviewer “… did not disappoint . I enjoyed this author's writing style. It was crisp, to the point, and flowed nicely without any extra "fluff" to pull me away from the storyline and action.” -Netgalley Reviewer “I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a nice balance between the legal side of the story, and more personal stuff… held my interest throughout.” -Booksprout Reviewer “A great, short legal thriller, fast paced and entertaining . Highly recommend.” -Netgalley Reviewer “The characters are well defined and the writing is excellent — especially the dialogue… is recommended for all readers who enjoy this genre…” -Netgalley Reviewer “Very interesting read and I found myself gripped, this book had everything as well as some twists and turns .” -Netgalley Reviewer
Murder is an art form. And this one is a masterpiece. Attorney Daniel Raine has recently gone out on his own and now is struggling to make rent. So when he’s invited to a fundraiser gala at a downtown Seattle art gallery, he sees it as a chance to find some new clients among the city’s wealthy elite. And it works in the most unexpected way – when a young artist is found dead in the women’s restroom. The assigned detective declares it a suicide and the young woman’s parents promptly sue the gallery owner for driving their daughter to take her own life. Raine is hired to defend the lawsuit and embarks on a mission to exonerate his client. He soon realizes that the Rain City art world is a hotbed of intrigue, treachery and secret deals and becomes convinced that the young artist was murdered. But why? And by whom? Raine finds himself navigating an unfamiliar world peopled by rich collectors, starving art students, and the beautiful and beguiling director of a local art school. Can he piece together what really happened on that fateful night and save his client from ruin? Trial by Jury – the second in the brilliant legal thriller series featuring attorney Daniel Raine. What readers are saying about Trial By Jury : “Definitely didn't expect that ending! There were a lot of twists and turns that kept me from wanting to put the book down. 5 stars.” -Booksprout Reviewer “Fast paced read, there is a conclusion… I didn’t see it coming! Truly a brilliant execution from Stephen Penner.” -Netgalley Reviewer “… engrossing, fast paced , and well written legal thriller. Will be looking forward to new additions to the series.” -Netgalley Reviewer “A well written and plotted legal thriller… This is fast becoming an interesting series well worth following. The plot is original with twist and turns and an unexpected denouement.” -Netgalley Reviewer “I enjoyed the mystery and the characters were realistically described.” -Netgalley Reviewer
A family on top of the world. With a long, long way to fall. Attorney Daniel Raine is hired by Adam Harper, the son of Seattle’s biggest real estate developer. Adam wants to seize control of the family company by declaring his father mentally unfit. There’s only one problem. It soon becomes clear that the old man is very much in possession of his mental faculties and Raine is going to lose the case. Ever the pragmatist, Raine decides to stick with it and rack up some billable hours. But he soon finds himself in the middle of a deadly dispute as various members of this powerful family fight to gain control of the business. Each more ruthless than the last, they will stop at nothing to get what they want. Including murder. As the case unfolds, Raine uncovers a familial web of deceit and treachery. And, as he closes in on the final truth, he himself becomes a target in this twisted game where only one thing matters – The Survival Rule. The Survival Rule – the third in the brilliant legal thriller series featuring attorney Daniel Raine. What readers are saying about The Survival Rule : “…a quick-paced, “ gotta read ” courtroom drama.” -Netgalley Reviewer “…will keep you on edge and there's times when you'll feel like the rug has just been pulled out from under your feet. This author is really good at leaving you speechless and gasping for breath .” -Booksprout Reviewer “This is only the third in the series but it's another cracker . …a fantastic read.” -Booksprout Reviewer “…I can recommend them as they are clearly written by a person who is a lawyer. …your interest is held from the first page.” -Booksprout Reviewer
Murder. Lies. Corruption. Just another day at the office. A young man, Michael, dies while in custody at the county jail. The authorities claim it was a heart attack. His mom thinks it was murder. Attorney Daniel Raine agrees to take the case, suing the jail for wrongful death. But no one will talk about what happened in Michael’s cell on that fateful night. The guards claim they saw nothing and there’s no surveillance video. Raine starts to dig and soon discovers that the dead man wasn’t just a petty criminal. He was an informant for a narcotics detective who is trying to take down a drug cartel. Now Raine and his erstwhile partner, Rebecca Sommers, must unravel the mystery. Did someone order Michael’s murder? And if so, was it the cartel? Or was it one of the good guys? Double Jeopardy – the fourth book in the brilliant legal thriller series featuring attorney Daniel Raine. What readers are saying about Double Jeopardy : “…a fast-paced and intriguing read. The reveal at the end was a surprise to me which of course made sense when I thought about it. I can't wait for the next book.” -Booksprout Reviewer “…the investigative techniques and trial depictions are fascinating . This book is recommended for all who enjoy this genre and who appreciate a startling and unexpected conclusion.” -Netgalley Reviewer “ Spectacular storytelling with an ending that hit me out of left field.” -Goodreads Reviewer “As a trial lawyer myself, now retired, I dislike crime dramas that exaggerate or even fake what goes on in a courtroom. So I am glad that author Stephen Penner didn't need to fake anything. It's all very believable...and highly enjoyable . Read the book! You'll like it!” -Netgalley Reviewer “A pacy, punchy and twisty read, which was very enjoyable .” -Goodreads Reviewer “…another stellar book by Stephen Penner. This book delivered on suspense, plot twists and page turning just as I expected. … had me hanging on by the edge needing to know what happened and will happen! A must read for anyone who likes an action packed legal thriller!” -Netgalley Reviewer
A high-society dinner. Served with a side of murder. When successful real estate entrepreneur Alexandra Pruitt is poisoned at her own retirement dinner, there are many suspects to choose from. Too many. Alexandra’s long-term boyfriend and the five women Alexandra mentored over the years all have reasons to want her dead. The police quickly pick the most obvious, one of Alexandra’s mentees, Meredith Beauchamp. Attorney Daniel Raine thinks they’ve got it wrong, and sets out to prove it. Who benefits most from Alexandra’s murder? The answer isn’t as straightforward as it seems. A missing will, forged business documents, and secrets in the past all serve to muddy the waters. Raine knows he has his work cut out if he is to untangle this web of deceit. But he is willing to do whatever it takes to save an innocent woman from a life behind bars. Even if that means bending the law a little… Prime Suspects – the fifth book in the brilliant legal thriller series featuring attorney Daniel Raine. What readers are saying about Prime Suspects : “If you’re looking for a great courtroom thriller, look no further! The story is immediately engaging … Penner hooked me from the start and kept the suspense alive until the very end.” -Goodreads Reviewer “…a terrific tale. The plot unfolded beautifully and the author is a good storyteller. A few twists along the way, plenty of drama made this book a recommended read for me.” -Netgalley Reviewer “I’ve read all of the series and it’s a favorite . The courtroom drama and banter is always entertaining. I was caught off guard by the reveal, lots of twists and turns in the plot.” -Goodreads Reviewer “…a classic and yet completely unique take on the whodunit murder mystery genre, with an outsider trying to untangle all the secrets and lies.” -Netgalley Reviewer “Stephen Penner has done it again , another phenomenal Rain City Legal Book about my favourite fictional lawyer, Daniel Raine! I love this book, just like his others, because it is written in great legal detail, has a great plot, twist and it's gripping to the very end.” -Netgalley Reviewer “…delivers a gripping blend of legal drama and suspense . Penner's writing is taut and atmospheric, effectively building tension while exploring themes of justice and morality. Fans of legal thrillers will appreciate the intricate plotting and unexpected twists. Overall, it's a compelling addition to the series that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.” -Netgalley Reviewer