A Book A Week

Election cycles are always full of headline-grabbing news, especially when a polarizing candidate dominates the stage with viral moments that drive an even deeper wedge between parties. As the dust settles on this year's presidential race, analysts on both sides will undoubtedly delve into post-mortems to understand precisely what led to the final results. These high-impact events are often shaped by small, seemingly trivial choices that snowball into something more significant. Phillip Margolin's new standalone legal thriller, An Insignificant Case, taps into this theme, exploring how minor actions can escalate into seismic consequences. I eagerly accepted an audiobook copy from his publisher and found myself fully engrossed in the captivating story Margolin crafted.

Guido Sabatini considers himself a visionary, a once-in-a-generation painter whose work demands public admiration. But to most, he’s simply eccentric. Born Lawrence Weiss, Guido is arrested for breaking into a restaurant to reclaim a painting he once sold to them. After all, he was offended they displayed his art in a private office instead of somewhere the public could see it! In his previous life as Lawrence, he was also a skilled card shark and burglar, so it's no surprise that, along with his painting, he swiped a flash drive from the restaurant owner's safe. 

When most people think of a lawyer, they picture someone sharp, wealthy, and tangled up in high-stakes cases. But Charlie Webb is none of those things. A graduate of a third-rate law school, Charlie scrapes by representing old friends and taking on court-appointed cases that amount to little more than petty disputes. So, when he's assigned to represent the quirky Guido Sabatini, who’s been arrested for a bizarre art heist, Charlie assumes it's just another trivial matter. Guido admits to taking the painting and swiping a flash drive from the owner’s safe, though Charlie senses there’s more to the story.

Ever the competent negotiator, Charlie arranges a deal to return the painting and “other items” if the charges are dropped. But when he discovers that the flash drive contains damning evidence tied to a major sex trafficking case, Charlie realizes that he and Guido are suddenly in over their heads. What started as a quirky case now has the pair tangled in a dangerous web of crime and conspiracy, propelling them into the most perilous case of their lives.

In An Insignificant Case, Phillip Margolin takes an unlikely duo—a quirky artist and a struggling lawyer—and turns a seemingly trivial crime into a thrilling legal showdown that kept me hooked to the very end. Margolin skillfully balances the intensity of the crimes with sharp, witty exchanges between his two heroes, injecting welcome levity into the otherwise dark storyline. This interplay of humor and suspense makes the novel a standout read.

The audiobook, narrated by Peter Ganin, perfectly captures the story’s pace and tension, breathing life into each character with engaging flair. Beyond delivering a first-rate legal thriller, An Insignificant Case invites readers to ponder how even minor actions can trigger lasting consequences. It’s a clever twist on the genre that leaves a lasting impression. 

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 83)