Mystic Wind

by James Barretto

Overview

National Indie Excellence Award Winner for Legal Thriller

American Fiction Award Winner for Legal Thriller

2022 American Fiction Award Winner for Legal Thriller

The last remaining fragment of truth—hidden in the mire of the Mystic Creek

Boston star-prosecutor-turned-corporate-attorney Jack Marino has risen fast and far from his upbringing in the Mystic housing projects. But after he's savagely beaten in retaliation for his work as head of the District Attorney's Urban Gang Unit, he's fired because his powerful boss is running for governor and fears the beating may have shaken Jack's formidable confidence.

Jack lands a plush suite at his father-in-law's mega law firm, making big money practicing corporate law. Although he seemingly has everything—money, privilege, and an heiress for a wife, what he doesn't have is his own self-respect.

When he is given a chance to get back into criminal law—this time as defense counsel in a capital murder case—he finally feels alive again. But to save his client from death row, he'll face a criminal network far more organized and powerful than he could have imagined.

The case will take Jack back to the projects he thought he'd escaped. He'll risk personal and professional ruin, and ultimately his very life, to fight the corrupt forces determined to see his client go down—forces that may have already given absolute immunity to the real killer.

Perfect for fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608094974
Publisher:	Oceanview Publishing
Publication date:	09/06/2022
Series:	A Jack Marino Legal Thriller , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	172,885
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

James Barretto is a former appellate brief writer, assistant district attorney, defense attorney, assistant attorney general and AG division chief. As a founding principal at a litigation firm, he has had experience in third-party litigation, worker's compensation, insurance defense, and general civil and criminal litigation. He has also served as a legal analyst for the local affiliate of a national cable news network and has appeared on national and international television as a commentator on a variety of legal subjects. He is currently a judge on the Massachusetts District Court. Mystic Wind is his first novel.

Editorial Reviews

07/11/2022

Set in the early 1980s, Barretto’s strong debut centers on Jack Marino, who as the head of the district attorney’s Urban Gang Unit in Mystic, Mass., amassed a reputation as an aggressive and skilled prosecutor. Following the conviction of a gang leader despite the nonappearance of his star witness, Marino was assaulted in his house by three masked men and only narrowly escaped death. Marino’s ambitious boss, Trevor Cameron, a career politician hoping to become governor, fired him when his work suffered in the home invasion’s aftermath. Two years later, Marino has landed a job at his father-in-law’s upscale firm, where he practices corporate law. Meanwhile, DA Cameron, eager to burnish his electoral prospects by pursuing the state’s first death penalty case in decades, hopes for an easy conviction of murder suspect David Lamb. The DA arranges for Marino, whom he regards as damaged goods, to represent Lamb, but Marino, who’s eager for redemption, works tirelessly to find the truth. Barretto, a Massachusetts judge, makes the legal maneuvering and courtroom scenes convincing. Fans of Robert Dugoni will hope to see more of Marino. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Mystic Wind is a stylish, polished, thoroughly enjoyable debut. James Barretto has it all—the authenticity of a courtroom veteran and the craft of a natural storyteller.” —William Landay, New York Times best-selling author

“James Barretto breaks into the publishing world with an outstanding debut. Fast-paced, carefully crafted, and terrifically well-written, Mystic Wind satisfies on every level. You won’t want to put this winner down!” —John Lescroart, New York Times best-selling author

“Mystic Wind is a classic legal thriller by an exciting new talent, delivering surprises to the very last page. It grabs us and pulls us into 1980s Boston, a world of violent streets and corrupt politicians, and attorney Jack Marino is the guy we want on our side.” —Joseph Finder, New York Times best-selling author

"Mystic Wind is a hurricane force legal thriller that blows away the best of John Grisham and Scott Turow. James Barretto's sizzling tale of a murder case that's much more than it seems doubles as a beautifully honed character study of a hero forced to confront his own past. Reminiscent of both Michael Connelly's Mickey Haller novels and Barry Reed's classic The Verdict, this is an absolute must read." —Jon Land, USA Today best-selling author

“This one pushes the envelope to the edge and beyond with a protagonist racing time and his own shadowy instincts. Lush, lusty, fascinating, and smart. Enjoy this walk on the perilous side." —Steve Berry, New York Times best-selling author

“Mystic Wind, the first in a new series, gives legal thriller fans a new hero with a story so good and nuanced that I wished I could read it for the first time all over again.” —Mystery Scene

“Barretto, a Massachusetts judge, makes the legal maneuvering and courtroom scenes convincing. Fans of Robert Dugoni will hope to see more of Marino.” —Publishers Weekly

“Mystic Wind will appeal to fans, occasional subscribers and first-timers to the legal thriller genre. But be forewarned, if you pick it up, be prepared to put any scheduled tasks on hold, as the book rates very high on the ‘cannot put it down’ index.” —Massachusetts Law Review

“Mystic Wind will appeal to fans, occasional subscribers and first-timers to the legal thriller genre. But be forewarned, if you pick it up, be prepared to put any scheduled tasks on hold, as the book rates very high on the ‘cannot put it down’ index.” —Massachusetts Law Review

From the Publisher