Andy Hughes has been an underpaid public defender in rural Patrick County, Virginia for over seventeen years; a career laden with the same petty crime cases committed by the same petty criminals. The repetition leads Hughes to finally quit, seeking his preference of a bigger, better law firm or perhaps a complete career change. However, he couldn’t have picked the worst time to do so.
Hughes’ career decision falls in 2020, smack dab in the middle of the well-remembered pandemic. As they say when it rains it pours. Andy attempts to manage the new tension with his ex-wife and her husband, his son’s increasingly distant and moody temperament, and a new romantic interest. Given all of life’s lemons, Hughes chooses to accept one final case before his official resignation leaving him to once again defend in his opinion one of the lowest and most despicable men he’s ever had the misfortune to represent, Damian Bullins.
Bullins is accused of murdering the wife of a well-to-do business man in their own home after she refuses to give him money and to complicate Hughes’ defense, Bullins signed a confession to the crime with the arresting officers. Although it would appear Hughes has his work cut out for him the prosecution has many long hours ahead of them as well with no witnesses, no motive, and only circumstantial evidence.
However, much like the game Plinko, a series of events have made it possible for Bullins to walk away a free man despite his admittance of the crime and history of violence. Will Bullins’ luck run out or will he hit the jackpot avoiding a guilty verdict? Will Hughes’ complicated opinion of Bullins allow him to fully meet his ethical duty defending Bullins to the best of his ability? Will the defense be enough for a non-guilty verdict given the signed confession? What will either verdict mean for Hughes and his family?
Martin Clark has created an exciting and fun legal thriller based on his own career as a Virginia circuit court judge. Despite being a legal drama, he never falls into the trap of over explaining legal jargon bogging down the plot and risking confusion for the reader during the court proceedings and case. He makes great use of the rural setting of Patrick County, Virginia by adding in local flavor and the communities realistic adaptations to the 2020 pandemic mandates. Clark truly created realistic and plausible characters, plot, setting, and suspense allowing the reader to easily imagine the shock to a small town from such a horrific crime and the following gossip that ensues.
If courtroom dramas, exciting twists and turns, and local culture intrigue you, then Martin Clark has you covered. If you find you truly enjoy Martin Clark and The Plinko Bounce check out his other books The Jezebel Remedy and The Substitution Order now available at the Craig County Public Library. Clark is also the author of The Many Aspects of Mobile Home Living, Plain Heathen Mischief, and The Legal Limit.
The Craig County Public Library Friends of the Library will host Martin Clark on Sunday, May 4th at 2pm in the Craig County High School auditorium. The event is free and registration can be completed via the following link: https://fol.launchcart.store/product/p/3o3zzl0. For more information about Martin Clark you can visit his website at https://martinclark.com/.
If you experience issues with registration please contact the Craig County Public Library during normal business hours at (540) 864-8978 or email craiglibrary@swva.net. Register to meet Martin Clark today!
