A New York Times Book Review Best Thriller of 2023!
For seventeen years, small-town public defender Andy Hughes has been underpaid to look after the poor, the addicted, and the unfortunate souls who constantly cycle through the courts, charged with petty crimes. Then, in the summer of 2020, heâs assigned to a grotesque murder case that brings national media focus to rural Patrick County, VirginiaâAlicia Benson, the wife of a wealthy businessman, is murdered in her home. The accused killer, Damian Bullins, is a cunning felon with a long history of violence, and he confesses to the police. He even admits his guilt to Andy. But a simple typographical error and a shocking discovery begin to complicate the stateâs case, making it possible Bullins might escape punishment. Duty-bound to give his client a thorough defense, Andyâdespite his misgivingsâagrees to fight for a not-guilty verdict, a decision that will ultimately force him to make profound, life-and-death choices, both inside and outside the courtroom.
With its unforgettable characters, insiderâs blueprint of the justice system, intricate plotting, and provocative, no-holds-barred ending, The Plinko Bouncedemonstrates once again why Martin Clark has been called âthe thinking manâs John Grishamâ by The New York Times and praised as âhands down, our finest legal-thriller writerâ by Entertainment Weekly.