He begged for help. By morning, he was dead.

When attorney Jack Larue takes a desperate call from the mayor of his hometown, he knows something is terribly wrong. Arnie Haines is frightened enough to ask for help — but too scared to say why.

Hours later, Arnie is dead. Stabbed in the back in his own garden.

The police move fast. Arnie's estranged partner — a troubled addict with no alibi — is arrested for murder.

Open and shut.

But Jack isn't convinced.
Because Arnie had secrets. Dangerous ones.

A fifty-acre land deal worth millions. Councilmen on the take. And a ruthless developer who will destroy anyone in his way.

Then a wildfire tears through the hills and a violent figure from Jack's past walks back into his life.

To clear an innocent man and protect everything he loves, Jack must uncover the truth before the flames consume it all.

MEET JACK LARUE:
Jack Larue is a solo-practice attorney in Madrone, California, taking family-law and criminal-defense cases in a small town with a long memory. Divorced from Diane, he shares custody of their two children and works alongside Cody — his sharp paralegal-investigator and partner.
Observant and quietly stubborn, Jack listens before he speaks. He still carries an old tragedy: a client he loved, killed in a crash that nearly ended his career. He fights for his clients because he knows what it costs to stand accused.

Perfect for fans of John Grisham, Scott Turow, Michael Connelly and Steve Cavanagh.

READERS LOVE THE JACK LARUE LEGAL THRILLERS:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A masterclass in tension. If you love high-stakes legal thrillers where the protagonist's life hangs by a thread, this is a must-read.' Diane T
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'One of the most gripping I have read in a long time. The conclusion is totally unexpected and incredibly exciting.’ Rural Hampshire
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Along the lines of John Grisham or Jonathan Kellerman.' Mary S.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'There is plenty of fast-paced action and I didn't see the end coming.' Barb D.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The plot builds tension through twists, hidden motives, and the constant sense that danger is everywhere, not just from people but from the terrain itself.' Dawn T.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A gripping roller coaster ride leading to an explosive finale.' Icanicant
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A great mystery novel I couldn't put down. Krenzel has created very interesting characters, paints great landscapes and tells great stories.' Susan S.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Very clever writing from Jesse Krenzel leaves me eagerly waiting more escapades of Jack Larue.' Phil
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An excellent, well written thriller.' Helena R.