Fatal February by Barbara Levenson is the first book in the new mystery series. Publisher: Oceanview Publishing, February 2009
For half Jewish, half Southern Baptist Miami criminal defense attorney Mary Magruder Katz, life starts to spin completely out of control when a minor fender bender turns out to be an unlikely shot from Cupid’s bow.The other car’s driver, isn’t just a distracted driver; he’s distracting, not to mention charming, handsome, and mysterious. Hardly before she knows what hit her, Mary breaks off her engagement, jumps into a sizzling new romance, gets fired from her former fiancé’s highbrow law firm, starts her own practice, and lands her first client, Lillian Yarmouth.But Lillian isn’t just any client; she’s the prime suspect in what’s become the Miami society murder of the year. While investigating Lillian’s alleged crime of passion, Mary finds that this case, like all matters of the heart, is anything but black and white. And Mary has clearly stumbled onto something that has someone seeing red.February may be the shortest month of the year, but Mary’s got some long days (and nights) ahead. This month could be a real killer.
This book features Miami criminal defense attorney Mary Magruder Katz. During the month of February, Mary’s life changed: she’s in a fender bender as a result; loses her job, breaks off her engagement; opens up her own law practice and falls in love with the handsome Carlos Martin who rear ends her car. Her first case is a big one, she’s representing Lillian Yarmouth who is accused of killing her husband and the state believes they have an open-and-shut case. Mary investigates with all her gusto to free her client who she feels is innocent. While all this is going on, Mary is relishing her new relationship with Carlos; staffing her new office with a paralegal and contending with meeting Carlos’ Hispanic family and Carlos meeting her hybrid Jewish/Southern Baptist family. This book is a hoot. I could not put this book down. The characters enraptures you were you want to know what is going to happen next. This book had mystery, suspense, comedy and just plain fun. I’m so happy to hear that the author is working on the second and third book in the series. [5 stars – it was amazing]
*new-to-me author