Fatal Trust by Todd M Johnson

In Fatal Trust, a new legal suspense novel by Todd M. Johnson, we follow Ian Wells as he tries to unravel the origin of a wealthy trust, the truth behind a decades old art heist, and his family's own buried secrets.

Ian is an up-and-coming Minneapolis lawyer who reluctantly inherited his father's law practice, and has since been trying to get out of the trusts and wills business in order to move into criminal defense. Business is slow, bills are piling up, and he's stuck at a crossroad - until a new client shows up wanting him to do a seemingly quick investigation for a trust dispersal, with a hefty fee for Ian already written into the contract. The one condition for him to get the fee is that he has to determine which of the three potential heirs have been involved in any sort of criminal activity for the last twenty years.

What starts out as a quick gamble to get a small fortune soon plunges Ian headfirst into the world of mobsters and unsolved crime. He finds himself becoming a target for both the potential heirs and the legal system, who are trying to solve the very crime that he's digging into and unraveling. Will Ian be able to keep his own conscience clean while discovering buried secrets about everyone he holds dear? Will he be able to clear his own name and avoid persecution for crimes he didn't commit?

This is definitely not a fast-paced thriller for those who like a quickly moving storyline. But the plot is solid, the characters are well established, and Todd has built a vivid image of the underground Minneapolis crime world of the '80s and '90s. A good read for anyone looking for a legal suspense that doesn't mind a slower unraveling to get to the finish line. It also has plenty of breakpoints, so it's great for those who don't have a lot of spare time to sit and invest in reading large sections at a time. 4/5 stars.

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary print copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.*

About The Author (copied from inside book):

Todd M. Johnson, author of Critical Reaction and The Deposit Slip, has practiced as an attorney for over thirty years, specializing as a trial lawyer. A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, he also taught for two years as adjunct professor of International Law and served as a U. S. diplomat in Hong Kong. He lives near Minneapolis with his wife, his son, Ian, and his daughter, Libby. Learn more at authortoddmjohnson.com.

Purchase Links:
     Amazon
     ChristianBook