The Plinko Bounce by Martin Clark

 

Summary (from the publisher): For seventeen years, small-town public defender Andy Hughes has been underpaid to look after the poor, the addicted, and the unfortunate souls who constantly cycle through the courts, charged with petty crimes.

Then, in the summer of 2020, he’s assigned to a grotesque murder case that brings national media focus to rural Patrick County, Virginia—Alicia Benson, the wife of a wealthy businessman, is murdered in her home. The accused killer, Damian Bullins, is a cunning felon with a long history of violence, and he confesses to the police. He even admits his guilt to Andy. But a simple typographical error and a shocking discovery begin to complicate the state’s case, making it possible Bullins might escape punishment.

Duty-bound to give his client a thorough defense, Andy—despite his misgivings—agrees to fight for a not-guilty verdict, a decision that will ultimately force him to make profound, life-and-death choices, both inside and outside the courtroom.

With its unforgettable characters, insider’s blueprint of the justice system, intricate plotting, and provocative, no-holds-barred ending, The Plinko Bounce demonstrates once again why Martin Clark has been called “the thinking man’s John Grisham” by The New York Times and praised as “hands down, our finest legal-thriller writer” by Entertainment Weekly.

Review: It's the summer of 2020, and longtime public defender Andy Hughes is assigned to defend a man accused of murder in rural Patrick County, Virginia. Damian Bullins is a felon with a long history of violence, and he confesses his guilt to police and to Andy. But because of a legal technicality, Bullins might escape punishment entirely. While duty bound to defend his client, Andy is ultimately forced to make difficult decisions, both in and outside of the courtroom. 

This was a well-done legal thriller. It's clear that Clark has an intimate knowledge of the justice system and criminals like Bullins. I really liked Andy as a character. He is a standup guy that wants to do right by his son, is hardworking, and talented in multiple areas. Many elements of his character - his sense of right and wrong, his devotion to his family, and his skill with hands - helped shape and develop the plot and the decisions his character made that pushed the novel forward. 

I love that Clark sets his books in his own backyard. I live in Martinsville, Virginia, which features heavily in this book. It was such a thrill to hear local restaurants and familiar spots casually referenced throughout this book. The characters eat at familiar local places like Third Bay Cafe and Checkered Pig and visit the Virginia Museum of Natural History. One of the characters even works at the same community college where I work. As someone living in rural southern Virginia, it's rare for me to see my home represented in fiction, so this was a true thrill for me. I also thought the rural and remote setting perfectly fit the intricate plot that Clark has devised for this particular novel. 

Also, just a note that Martin Clark and I graduated from the same college (Davidson College) and I met him some years ago. I am happy to get the chance to read his most recent work. I listened to the audio version of this book, which was well done. I particularly appreciated that the book had a male narrator, but a second, female narrator was used to voice all the dialogue from female characters.  

Aside from a bunch of John Grisham novels I read over a decade ago, I don't typically read a lot of legal thrillers. But I was pleased to revisit the genre for this book. A compelling plot and an excellent choice of setting. 

Stars: 4