Mystic Wind

Strong Legal Thriller Debut. As a former District Attorney's Office employee (I worked on their tech) and (mostly) former police accountability activist who also happens to be a former trailer park kid... I have quite a bit in common with our hero of this new series. Which may have made this particular book have a bit more impact for me - while not having these exact experiences, I've been close enough that they all rang all too true. And what experiences we have, from having (and losing) it all in order to truly find yourself (which to be clear, never really happened in my own life) to crime lords not caring about the “little people” they are destroying to cops, prosecutors, and judges - who are supposed to care about those very people - placing their own profits and aspirations ahead of truly serving the people and truly seeking justice. Of course, Barretto also does himself a few favors in setting the book in the early 80s, before American police - and the entire “justice” system - became as militarized as it now stands, and before activists really rose in response to such militarization. For example, data does not exist for the period in question, yet American police are known to have killed over 10,000 people within the last decade as I write this review. In setting this story (and likely series?) in such a “simpler” time, Barretto manages to be able to tell his tale(s) without having to worry about such issues. Overall truly a solid legal thriller that also provides a solid look at some areas many might prefer not to see. Very much recommended.

A debut legal thriller, Mystic Wind is set in the 1980's in Boston. It's the story of Jack Marino, former hot-shot prosecutor with the DA's office, now working for his rich wife's father at a tony law firm and wondering whether he hasn't sold out. Suddenly he's thrust back into criminal law, defending a man accused of a cold-blooded murder with the just-instituted death penalty on the table. The fast-paced plot takes Jack back to the Mystic housing projects where he grew up and reunites him with his estranged brother and the woman he left behind as he struggles to win justice for his client despite the political machinations unfolding in the looming gubernatorial race and the prejudice of a sitting judge. While some of the courtroom scenes dragged a bit, in general the pace was quick with short chapters moving the action along and a central character who grew into an honorable crusader for justice worthy of what looks to be an ongoing series.

My thanks to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.