The best books about barristers

North Carolina's Triangle region is known for its universities, research facilities, and politics, but even in such a prosperous, diverse, modern environment, crime helps define the edges. These cases cover several decades of murder, fraud and betrayal. Read about the nation's largest prison escape and a couple of North Carolina's poisoners. From a civil rights-era clash of Old South and New and a suspected Cold War spy to new-tech sleuths and tales of diligent as well as discredited investigators, these stories will keep you entertained and aghast at the dark side of daily life. Writer Cathy Pickens brings a mystery writer’s eye to the region’s true crime. 

Following the horrific murder of Rosemary Nelson, the prominent human rights lawyer, in Northern Ireland, Jim Fulton, a prominent LVF paramilitary, fled to the United States. He was deported with help from the FBI and in collusion with the British police, on his arrival at Heathrow, Fulton ‘walked through an open door,’ a Lewis Carrol-like euphemism for an invitation created by the crack undercover covert police team, only to disappear down the rabbit hole on accepting the invitation. The invitation? Working for an 'organized crime group' who were really all undercover officers recording every conversation with the target, Fulton, for two years.

According to Readers’ Favorite, Operation George ranks up with true crime classics such as Donnie Brasco and The Infiltrator in its pulse-pounding narrative of undercover operations with significant ramifications.

Fifteen-year-old schoolboy, Raymond Maynard, is accused of the brutal murder of his teacher. His appointed lawyers—the guarded veteran, Judith Burton, and the energetic young novice, Constance Lamb—begin a desperate pursuit of the truth, revealing uncomfortable secrets about the teacher and the school. 

But Judith has her own secrets which risk exposure when a new lie-detecting device, nicknamed Pinocchio, is introduced at Ray’s trial. This sophisticated software will watch for tiny movements in his face, to determine whether he is telling the truth—or not. A chilling, compelling courtroom drama that asks timely questions about the way we live our lives.

Following the horrific murder of Rosemary Nelson, the prominent human rights lawyer, in Northern Ireland, Jim Fulton, a prominent LVF paramilitary, fled to the United States. He was deported with help from the FBI and in collusion with the British police, on his arrival at Heathrow, Fulton ‘walked through an open door,’ a Lewis Carrol-like euphemism for an invitation created by the crack undercover covert police team, only to disappear down the rabbit hole on accepting the invitation. The invitation? Working for an 'organized crime group' who were really all undercover officers recording every conversation with the target, Fulton, for two years.

According to Readers’ Favorite, Operation George ranks up with true crime classics such as Donnie Brasco and The Infiltrator in its pulse-pounding narrative of undercover operations with significant ramifications.

Fifteen-year-old schoolboy, Raymond Maynard, is accused of the brutal murder of his teacher. His appointed lawyers—the guarded veteran, Judith Burton, and the energetic young novice, Constance Lamb—begin a desperate pursuit of the truth, revealing uncomfortable secrets about the teacher and the school. 

But Judith has her own secrets which risk exposure when a new lie-detecting device, nicknamed Pinocchio, is introduced at Ray’s trial. This sophisticated software will watch for tiny movements in his face, to determine whether he is telling the truth—or not. A chilling, compelling courtroom drama that asks timely questions about the way we live our lives.

Can a small-town doctor foil a killer and discover the truth about a missing baby? A patient shares a long-held secret with Dr. Eric Darcy—and then someone murders her. After police in his small town shrug off a vital clue, the young, widowed doctor teams with his cranky PI sister-in-law to bring justice. 

Was a fourth baby, a quadruplet, stolen at birth, many years ago? If so, what happened to the baby or, if she grew up, where is she now? “A very clever mystery where emotions and feelings ran deep.” -NightOwlReviews.

Following the horrific murder of Rosemary Nelson, the prominent human rights lawyer, in Northern Ireland, Jim Fulton, a prominent LVF paramilitary, fled to the United States. He was deported with help from the FBI and in collusion with the British police, on his arrival at Heathrow, Fulton ‘walked through an open door,’ a Lewis Carrol-like euphemism for an invitation created by the crack undercover covert police team, only to disappear down the rabbit hole on accepting the invitation. The invitation? Working for an 'organized crime group' who were really all undercover officers recording every conversation with the target, Fulton, for two years.

According to Readers’ Favorite, Operation George ranks up with true crime classics such as Donnie Brasco and The Infiltrator in its pulse-pounding narrative of undercover operations with significant ramifications.

A practical guide to new UK fire-safety legislation which has emerged since the 2017 Grenfell tower-block fire in which more than 70 residents lost their lives. And all because of highly flammable aluminum wall cladding which ignited as a result of a fire in the kitchen of one of the flats. Included within those victims are the thousands of leaseholders living in similar high-rise blocks, whose flats became worthless overnight. This book does not only alert residential leaseholders to their rights but also explains the new fire-safety responsibilities with which building managers must now comply. The book includes extensive references to the Fire Safety Order 2005; the Fire Safety Act 2021; the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire-Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

Fifteen-year-old schoolboy, Raymond Maynard, is accused of the brutal murder of his teacher. His appointed lawyers—the guarded veteran, Judith Burton, and the energetic young novice, Constance Lamb—begin a desperate pursuit of the truth, revealing uncomfortable secrets about the teacher and the school. 

But Judith has her own secrets which risk exposure when a new lie-detecting device, nicknamed Pinocchio, is introduced at Ray’s trial. This sophisticated software will watch for tiny movements in his face, to determine whether he is telling the truth—or not. A chilling, compelling courtroom drama that asks timely questions about the way we live our lives.

Màiri and her BFF Lianna dump their cheating partners and head for a New Life in Istanbul. But they get stopped dead in Paris. Lianna is locked up in jail, charged with murder. Màiri is being hunted by murderous terrorists. She never dreamt that travelling outside Scotland would be so dangerous...  

Death in Paris won 9 International Book Awards in 2022, including the Firebird Award for Best Book by a Debut Author.