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Deborah Hawkins
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Dark Moon, A Legal Thriller (The Warrick Thompson Files Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Deborah Hawkins (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 4,696 ratings
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The allegation is homicide. But defending it could be professional suicide.

Criminal defense attorney Sarah Knight is legendary for winning impossible battles. But representing vicious killers comes at a price, and if anyone discovers her dark secrets, she’ll be the one on trial. And with a high profile double-murder case throwing her in the spotlight, victory could cost her career.

With evidence piling up and one victim identified as the son of a Supreme Court justice, Sarah fears her odds are insurmountable. As she follows a murky trail of money and lies straight to the surviving heirs, she may have found her client’s last hope for freedom. But everything shatters when an attempt is made on the accused’s life. Can Sarah win her toughest challenge before she and her client go down in flames?

Dark Moon, A Legal Thriller is the first standalone novel in the riveting Warrick-Thompson Files series. If you like fast-paced action, courtroom conflicts, and edge-of-your-seat twists, then you’ll love Deborah Hawkins’ unputdownable tale.

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  1. Book 1 of 6
    The Warrick Thompson Files
  2. Print length
    477 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 9, 2016
  5. File size
    1.6 MB
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  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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The Warrick Thompson Files Book 1 - Book 6
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From the Publisher

Women Sleuths thriller series courtroom mystery woman Attorney courtroom drama
legal fiction books crime fiction female detective
legal fiction books crime fiction female detective legal thriller mystery lawyer
Dark Moon, A Legal Thriller (The Warrick Thompson Files Book 1)
Mirror, Mirror, A Legal Thriller (The Warrick Thompson Files Book 2)
Keeping Secrets, A Legal Thriller (The Warrick Thompson Files Book 3)
The Death of Distant Stars, A Legal Thriller (The Warrick Thompson Files Book 4)
Vengeance, A Legal Thriller (The Warrick Thompson Files Book 5)
Unforgettable, A Legal Thriller (The Warrick Thompson Files Book 6)
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Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars 4,696
4.3 out of 5 stars 3,721
4.4 out of 5 stars 602
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,278
4.5 out of 5 stars 340
4.3 out of 5 stars 79
Price $0.99 $5.99 $5.99 $5.99 $5.99 $5.99
Reading order 1 2 3 4 5 6

Editorial Reviews

Review

A gripping study in psychology and legal process wound deftly into the footprints of a legal thriller that is hard to put down, holding the rare ability to immerse both genre readers and more general-interest thriller and mystery enthusiasts, alike. - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01BTR8Q44
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Deborah Hawkins (March 9, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 9, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 477 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 4,696 ratings

About the author

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Deborah Hawkins

Deborah Hawkins

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Available now on Amazon.com, The Death of Distant Stars, A Legal Thriller

Deborah grew up in the South, wrote her first novel at the of age thirteen, and has been writing ever since. In graduate school, she studied Irish Literature and came to believe all Irishmen and Southerners are born storytellers. In addition to writing, she loves music and plays the clarinet. Now that her children are grown, she devotes her time to law, music, writing, and her two Golden Retrievers, Melody and Rhythm.

Deborah taught college English and worked as a technical editor before going to law school. She worked for several large East Cost firms before coming to California in the mid-1980's where she developed a solo practice as an appellate attorney while raising her three children as a single parent. She is admitted to the bar in two states and the District of Columbia, is a certified appellate specialist, and has a Master of Laws in addition to a Masters in English. She believes that even a legal case always begins with a story.

Connect with Deborah on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DanceForADeadPrincess or at www.facebook.com/deborah.hawkins.37 or follow her on Twitter at @DeborahHawk3 or email her at dhawkins8350@gmail.com

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4,696 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book an engaging read with an interesting storyline. They appreciate the well-developed characters and their backstories that unfold slowly. The writing quality is praised as clear and the author is described as talented. However, opinions differ on the legal thriller aspect, with some finding it intriguing and realistic, while others consider it far-fetched and lacking editing.

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ReadabilityStory qualityWriting qualityCharacter developmentAuthorLegal thrillerPacingRomance
187 customers mention "Readability"182 positive5 negative

Customers find the book engaging. They enjoy the realistic dialogue and courtroom drama. The characters are well-developed and believable. Readers praise it as Deborah Hawkins' best work to date.

"...“Dark Moon” did that superbly – and more than once. I savored this novel for hours on end, so it didn’t matter that the ending unfolded for me..." Read more

"...So forgive me if that part of my review came across as too harsh. Very good book and a very good author!" Read more

"This book kept me mesmerized from the first half-hour reading. Complex characters and plot, but well worth the read!..." Read more

"...And this could have been and should have been a great book. However, I found it hard to like Sarah, finding her standoffish and irresponsible...." Read more

185 customers mention "Story quality"178 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline with its suspenseful plot and thrilling twists. They find the book gripping and frustrating at times, but overall praise the engaging storytelling and effective writing style. The fast-paced thriller keeps readers hooked from beginning to end with plenty of surprises.

"...As for the ending ... I loved it. The best mysteries usually sow a few seeds in mid-story that the reader would likely gloss over at the time, but..." Read more

"...able to paint a very effective word picture that kept me captivated from beginning to end...." Read more

"...Complex characters and plot, but well worth the read! Hawkins ranks among my favorite authors." Read more

"...The plot is initially grabbing. And this could have been and should have been a great book...." Read more

56 customers mention "Writing quality"43 positive13 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written, with clear descriptions and effective word pictures that keep them captivated. The author is impressed by her ability to write an excellent novel with minimal words.

"...Despite that, Ms. Hawkins is still able to paint a very effective word picture that kept me captivated from beginning to end...." Read more

"...high-tension, sometimes infuriating, courtroom scenes and is very well written...." Read more

"...review without mentioning how impressed I am that the author can write an excellent novel with an absolute minimum of profanity." Read more

"...The plot is far fetched, the editing is non existent, and there are times when you want to pull your hair out...." Read more

55 customers mention "Character development"43 positive12 negative

Customers find the characters interesting and well-developed. They appreciate the backstories unfolding patiently and suspensefully, as well as their guarded personalities. The plot is gripping and the ending is satisfying.

"...The plot was gripping; the characters’ “back stories” unfolded patiently and suspensefully; and the fight for justice against seemingly..." Read more

"This book kept me mesmerized from the first half-hour reading. Complex characters and plot, but well worth the read!..." Read more

"...Easy to follow interesting storyline. Believable characters with distinct, strong personalities. Informative and educational dialogue...." Read more

"...At every turn, the main character appeared defeated and defeatist. I did not feel the book was saved by the final "twist."" Read more

17 customers mention "Author"17 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author as an amazing and gifted storyteller. They find the book riveting and a great whodunit. The themes are written at a high level of sophistication.

"...The legal themes were written from a high level of sophistication, and while a few bits of the “tech” in the middle seemed odd at the time I read..." Read more

"...Very good book and a very good author!" Read more

"I thought the author did a great job with this book. I'm a big fan of legal mysteries. As soon as I finish it, I ordered another." Read more

"...is a excellent mystery storyteller and has been a new author for my library shelves." Read more

81 customers mention "Legal thriller"55 positive26 negative

Customers have different views on the legal thriller. Some find it interesting and realistic, with good courtroom drama and tension. They describe it as a great lawyer mystery with many twists and secrets. However, others feel the plot is far-fetched and editing is lacking.

"A page turner by a seasoned trial lawyer who shows us how legal sausage is really made, including some of the unsavory ingredients that can go into..." Read more

"...The book has many high-tension, sometimes infuriating, courtroom scenes and is very well written...." Read more

"An interesting legal thriller, but it did have a contrived ending. I will read Hawkins other book. Overalls good read" Read more

"This intelligent legal thriller neatly juggles multiple storylines among very smart characters...." Read more

35 customers mention "Pacing"22 positive13 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's pacing. Some find it fast-paced with complex characters and many twists and turns. They describe it as exciting, scary, sad, and never dull. Others mention the story is convoluted at times, predictable, and slow.

"...– though a theme so common as to be trite in lesser works – was poignantly done here, framed with a subtheme of domestic violence in a unique and..." Read more

"...Huh? Jim is a terrible PI and fails to find the simplest evidence and follow up on the basics...." Read more

"...Just a stunning end that you definitely do not see coming, thanks. Onto #2." Read more

"...This is such a good story ...my heart was racing so fast I couldn't get to the next page quick enough...." Read more

19 customers mention "Romance"9 positive10 negative

Customers have mixed views on the romance in the book. Some find it well-written and engaging, with emotional ups and downs as they empathize with the characters. Others feel the romance is understated and distracting, with too much emphasis on emotions and clichés.

"...The plight of the defendant in this case was very real and sad. I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen to her...." Read more

"...The novel had a strong component of romance, but it too was deftly executed to maintain suspense, since after a while it wasn’t clear where – if..." Read more

"...were skimpy and not profound or surprising - it was almost like she was trying to go fast pace and move on to the next incident...." Read more

"...Full of legal issues and we described human emotions of love, longing and guarded personalities. I just wonder, can the author keep it up?..." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

  • vtgals
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intricate and riveting ... couldn't put it down!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    “Dark Moon” is a legal mystery quite unlike the somewhat more formulaic types to which we’ve become accustomed, and I read it in virtually one sitting, because I couldn’t put it down. The plot was gripping; the characters’ “back stories” unfolded patiently and suspensefully; and the fight for justice against seemingly insurmountable odds – though a theme so common as to be trite in lesser works – was poignantly done here, framed with a subtheme of domestic violence in a unique and imaginative yet true-to-life legal setting. The characters were complex interweavings of human virtues and failings (some with far more failings than virtues, to be sure); which I particularly liked because society often views high-level professionals favorably for their status, achievement and wealth, whereas the novel’s characters were so often dysfunctional as well as talented – far more like real life. The novel had a strong component of romance, but it too was deftly executed to maintain suspense, since after a while it wasn’t clear where – if anywhere – the romance was going to be. The legal themes were written from a high level of sophistication, and while a few bits of the “tech” in the middle seemed odd at the time I read them, ultimately they too were part of the seamlessly crafted storyline.

    As for the ending ... I loved it. The best mysteries usually sow a few seeds in mid-story that the reader would likely gloss over at the time, but later turn out to be part of the unpredictable ending; so that when the ending is reached, it not only gives the reader the “Wow!” moments she wants, but also pulls together other portions of the storyline that had been part of the suspense. “Dark Moon” did that superbly – and more than once. I savored this novel for hours on end, so it didn’t matter that the ending unfolded for me after 4:00 a.m. By that time, sleep was overrated.
    One person found this helpful
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  • J. Kurtz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Enjoyable Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first book I've read by this author. I love legal thrillers, and this one is very good from a story-telling point of view. A few minor nit-picks: First, the widespread corruption is a bit far-fetched. I'm not naive enough to think that corruption does not exist, but this poor defendant seemed to have everybody in a powerful position bound and determined to find her guilty. Despite that, Ms. Hawkins is still able to paint a very effective word picture that kept me captivated from beginning to end.

    My second minor gripe was the very poor editing. If somebody is getting paid to proof-read prior to publishing, they need to be replaced with somebody else. Lots of improper word usage that seemed to jump off the page as I was reading.

    With that said, please understand that I really did enjoy the book, and will look for more from Deborah Hawkins. I am retired from federal law enforcement myself, so I really did enjoy the storyline. I also supervised a number of agents and therefore had to review and approve their reports. So I'm probably a little bit more attuned to proof-reading than most readers. So forgive me if that part of my review came across as too harsh. Very good book and a very good author!
    54 people found this helpful
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  • Dr. J. Troy Robinson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book kept me mesmerized from the first half-hour reading. Complex characters and plot, but well worth the read! Hawkins ranks among my favorite authors.
    One person found this helpful
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  • T Reader
    3.0 out of 5 stars Barely 3 Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Sarah Knight is a lawyer assigned to defending a woman accused of killing her husband and the psychologist who awarded custody of her children to her husband. Sarah has a scar on her face and a deep dark tragic secret. The setting is San Diego, which the author depicts as fraught with corruption. To add to the complexity, Sarah is pressured to do a minimal defense so that the accused is convicted.

    The plot is initially grabbing. And this could have been and should have been a great book. However, I found it hard to like Sarah, finding her standoffish and irresponsible. To illustrate, Sarah meets a stranger in a bar, Jim, who proclaims himself to be a private investigator. Sarah then proceeds to tell him all about her case and hires him to help investigate, without verifying his background. Huh? Jim is a terrible PI and fails to find the simplest evidence and follow up on the basics.

    The book contains the requisite escalating threats against Sarah. who does nothing to record the threats or take safety precautions. And it makes no sense that the threatener would just continue to threaten and not carry through.

    The ending is supposed to be a shocking twist, but it contradicts much of the storyline and character descriptions. And realistically, there is no way that this shocking twist could not have been uncovered. Especially by the threatener.

    This book would have been much better without the deep dark tragic secret, making Sarah more likeable (and smarter), and with more focus on the legal case.
    43 people found this helpful
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  • Mizmooz
    5.0 out of 5 stars First time reader of this Author !
    Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Thoroughly enjoyed every single moment and was kept on the edge of my seat until the end! Just a stunning end that you definitely do not see coming, thanks. Onto #2.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Annabelle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    One of the best books I have read for a while. Good strong characters and a very good storyline. Although it flowed along quite well initially it slowed down a bit in the middle. Nevertheless it picked up again and the twist in the tail was brilliantly played out. An exceptionally good plot from a master storyteller.
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  • vishnu
    5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary story telling.
    Reviewed in India on July 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I was in an impression to rate 4 but the last chapter blew my mind; all my doubts about the characters behaviors were perfectly addressed with the twist in the story.
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  • Lissy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced, gripping legal thriller
    Reviewed in Australia on July 6, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    From the very first page I was hooked into this story. I have read all of Deborah's books and enjoyed them all but this is by far my favourite and I'm recommending it to all my friends! The way she describes the characters and the settings they are in is beautiful, and how she delves into their emotions is brilliant. Her understanding of the legal system is obvious and I really enjoyed the way she presented the legal arguments both in and out of the courtroom. She also tackles the serious topic of domestic violence in a realistic way, and it was heartbreaking to read knowing that this is a reality for so many women and children in our society. I didn't want this story to end, and can see this becoming a really great series.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book it was well thought out and it ...
    Reviewed in Canada on April 22, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book it was well thought out and it held my interest right through. There are also some unexpected twists in it. Most enjoyable.
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  • SueOxford
    4.0 out of 5 stars A really good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A really good read. End is rather unrealistic but does not spoil the story too much. Very well written, I assume by a lawyer as lots of (US) legal references, but not over complex for non lawyers like me.
    Report

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