Small Town Lawyer: Boxset One, Books 1-3

Dark secrets haunt a small town lawyer…

Leland Monroe lost everything… His big city job, his sterling reputation and, worst of all, his loving wife. Now he’s starting over, setting up shop in his quiet hometown of Basking Rock. And struggling to repair his relationship with his troubled son.

But Basking Rock holds dark memories for Leland. And even darker secrets…

When a case involving Leland’s high school sweetheart reveals a tangled web of corruption, Leland realizes it’s not just his client’s life that’s at stake. Powerful forces surface to threaten the precious few loved ones he has left.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As Leland’s cases pile up, he begins to uncover a rot that runs to the core of Basking Rock. From dirty cops, to corrupt prosecutors, and even organized crime. Only Leland will stand up for his innocent clients, even as each case puts his career… and his life… on the line.

Leland Monroe brings justice to his small town, no matter the cost. Three complete legal thriller novels, for one bargain price…

©2023 Relay Publishing (P)2026 Relay Publishing

Audiobook Review: Small Town Lawyer (Books 1-3)

​T.A. Kirkland delivers a gripping legal thriller series following Leland Munroe, a former prosecutor navigating the psychological and financial hurdles of starting a defense practice in his hometown. It’s a fantastic series for those who love "morally grey" dilemmas and authentic small-town atmosphere.
​Series Highlights
​Book 1 (Defending Innocent): A powerful introduction to Leland’s tragic backstory and the high-stakes reality of being a public defender. It strikes a perfect balance of detail and pace.
​Book 2 (Influencing Justice): A modern mystery involving a social media influencer. While the resolution felt slightly rushed, the partnership between Leland and his PI, Terri, is excellent.
​Book 3 (Interpreting Guilt): Explores the subjectivity of truth through a tragic boating accident. The evolving father-son dynamic with Noah is a standout highlight.
​Audiobook Performance
​J.J. Hosenfeld captures Leland’s weary but determined tone perfectly. While the voicing for some female characters was a bit hit-or-miss, his pacing keeps the suspense moving. Overall, a very entertaining binge-listen!
​The Verdict: A story of hope and persistence in the face of injustice. The ending of Book 3 leaves a massive hook—I’m ready for the next one!
​

Mostly good…but

The books start slow. In some ways it feels like when you got an 8 page paper assignment, but you only have 4 pages of content…a lot of filler.

The stories are good and keep your attention, mostly.

2 things….enough “g@% damn”, and double negatives. Distracting.

Interesting series.

SMALL TOWN LAWYER:
SMALL TOWN LAWYER, Boxset Books 1 - 3, Audiobook - Finally, I'm able to read the start of this interesting series. Good characters. Easy pace. No Southerner says pe-CAN (like in can do). The narrator JJ Hosenfeld otherwise does a decent job with his characters.
DEFENDING INNOCENCE, #1 - 4*
INFLUENCING JUSTICE, #2 - 4*
INTERPRETING GUILT, #3 - 4*
Source: Booksprout. 4*

BURNING EVIDENCE, #4 - My first read by this author and I enjoyed it. A constant pace with a good blend of interesting characters, interesting story lines and good dialog. The lawyer and the PI make good co-workers professionally and privately. Also interesting is the relationship between the businessman and his wife. Source: Booksprout. 4*

PRESCRIBING DOUBT, #5 - Enjoyable and interesting. Good characters. Intriguing story lines. Wish I had discovered this author five books ago. Source: Booksprout. 4*

TWISTING JUDGMENT, #6 - Another well written story with good characters, interesting story lines, a devastating hurricane, and a tetch of romance. Source: Booksprout. 5*
SMALL TOWN LAWYER end.