Liz Milliron is the author of two mystery series, the Laurel Highlands Mysteries, and the Homefront Mysteries. She also writes Hero’s Sword, a middle-grade adventure fantasy series as M.E. Sutton.
Her short fiction has appeared in several anthologies, including Mystery Most Historical and the Anthony-award winning Blood on the Bayou.
I enjoyed reviewing Liz Milliron’s novel, The Secrets We Keep (Book 5 in the Homefront Mystery Series) for the May 2024 issue of This Awful Awesome Life. When I heard she released Saving the Guilty, Book 7 in the Laurel Highlands Mystery Series, I knew I wanted to read and review it.
It starts out as a simple favor. Sally Castle receives a phone call from her old friend Dave Sturgess. Sturgess, a defense attorney, has had a heart attack while he was in the middle of appealing the murder conviction of his client, Alec Wilson. Wilson was convicted of the violent stabbing death of his wife, Vivien.
The appeal is based on a procedural error by the police which the judge in the case allowed. Obviously, he can’t complete the brief and file the appeal from his hospital bed.
Vivien Wilson was murdered in fictional Monongahela County which is the stomping grounds of characters from Annette Dashofy’s Zoe Chambers Mystery series. How much if any crossover will we see? No spoilers from me!
Castle and her law partner, Tanelsa Parson are supposed to complete the brief from his notes and file the appeal. It’s easy money for their new firm.
The case turns out to be anything, but easy when they discover the existence of a missing witness and inconsistencies in the trail of evidence which their new client doesn’t want to discuss. These inconsistencies seem related to a recent murder case Castle’s boyfriend is investigating.
Trooper Jim Duncan, an investigator for the Pennsylvania State Police is working on the homicide of Ellis Martingdon, who was murdered execution style in his Fayette County home. Duncan and his new partner Jennifer Cavendish battle a cold Pennsylvania winter trying to get justice for a victim who seems to have no enemies and no discernable past.
Duncan and Castle are finally moving in together. He’s not happy when she agrees to take this case instead of taking time off to pack up her apartment and complete the move. If they win the appeal and the case is dismissed without prejudice instead of with prejudice, the district attorney can refile charges. Castle and Parsons could also be preparing for a murder trial.
Reluctantly, he agrees to connect her with some of his sources, so she can clear up those nagging inconsistencies in the case. Milliron injects some humor through Duncan and Castle’s interactions with the snitches, especially Eddie, the bookie, and his bodyguard, Stanley.
How a lawyer approaches a case and interprets information as opposed to how a member of law enforcement approaches the same case is fascinating. Milliron shows us both sides of the legal system.
Can Duncan and Castle keep things professional?
With multiple murders and a growing list of suspects, can Castle avoid becoming the next victim?
How far will she go for a client?
How far will Duncan go to save her?
Lots of twists and turns will keep you entertained and guessing until the end.
Other Books by Liz Milliron:
The Laurel Highlands Mystery Series:
Root of All Evil (Book 1) 2018
Heaven Has No Rage (Book 2) 2019
Broken Trust (Book 3) 2020
Harm Not the Earth (Book 4) 2021
Lie Down with Dogs (Book 5) 2022
Thicker Than Water (Book 6) 2023
Murder Most Scenic: The Laurel Highlands Mysteries short story collection – 2015
An Idyllic Place for Murder: A Laurel Highlands Mysteries short story (1) 2014
Death & Politics: A Laurel Highlands Mysteries short story (2) 2014
Fatal Frost: A Laurel Highlands Mysteries short story (3) 2015
Dead of Summer: A Laurel Highlands Mysteries short story (5) 2014
A Brew to Die For: A Laurel Highlands Mysteries short story (6) 2014
The Homefront Mystery Series:
The Enemy We Don’t Know (Book 1) 2020
The Stories We Tell (Book 2) 2021
The Lessons We Learn (Book 3) 2022
The Truth We Hide (Book 4) 2023
The Secrets We Keep (Book5) 2024
Hero’s Sword:
Power Play (Book 1) 2015
Storm Clouds (Book 2) 2015
Wedding Bliss (Book 3) 2015
Snake in the Grass (Book 4) 2015
Fire Storm (Book 5) 2015
Shadow Dance (Book 6) 2015
Silks & Swords (Book 7) 2017
Visit her author page at: https://lizmilliron.com/