Relentless, razor-sharp, and compulsively readable; a legal thriller that never lets up.
In his latest novel, Shaiken offers a sharply drawn courtroom drama that exposes the fragility of truth in contemporary justice. Kansas City bankruptcy attorney Josephina “3J” Jones expects a routine Chapter 11 filing when she takes on Paxton Energy, a multigenerational oil and gas company caught in a sudden credit freeze. The case detonates when the banks introduce a video that appears to show the company’s CEO openly confessing to years of financial fraud. If admitted, the footage leaves the judge with no discretion: management must be removed, and the company placed on a fast track toward dissolution.
Shaiken keeps the plot grounded in authentic legal process while maintaining momentum. The ticking clock of hearings and statutory deadlines drives the suspense. The novel’s deeper unease, however, comes from its portrayal of a justice system that places enormous faith in expert testimony, and the ease with which that faith can be exploited. The characterization is equally assured. Competent and ethical, 3J is a grounded and convincing lead who knows how fragile control can be in litigation. Her internal struggle as the case unravels deepens the story beyond its procedural frame. Opposing her are bankers drawn with unsettling realism, shaped by careerism and institutional momentum rather than overt malice.
Although the plot engages with modern anxieties about deepfakes and digital manipulation, the novel resists sensationalism. Shaiken instead concentrates on the quieter workings of power; expert authority, lending relationships, and unforgiving legal deadlines, delivering a thriller that feels timely, controlled, and unnervingly plausible. Legal fiction fans and readers of courtroom procedurals will find much to admire here.
Pub date February 17, 2026
ISBN 979-8990853720
Price $15.99 (USD) Paperback, $7.99 Kindle edition
