“Chuck
Greaves writes with style and an insider’s knowledge of the courtroom and the
lawyer’s life. Hush Money is smart,
entertaining, and funny. And in Jack MacTaggart he has created a likeable, wise-cracking
lawyer-detective–Jim Rockford with a law degree. A great read.” William Landay, New York Times bestselling author
A 2013 Shamus Award Finalist for Best First P.I. NovelFinalist for the 2012 RT Award for First MysteryFinalist for the 2013 Audie Award for MysteryFinalist for the 2012 Rocky Award
A newly minted member of Henley & Hargrove, Pasadena’s oldest and snobbiest law firm, Jack MacTaggart is assigned to handle an insurance claim on behalf of socialite Sydney Everett. Hush Puppy, Sydney's champion show horse, has died unexpectedly, and attending veterinarian George Wells confides to Jack that the great horse’s death was anything but natural. Jack’s investigation leads him into the high-stakes world of professional show jumping and down a path to romance, intrigue, and an old blackmail scheme that further implicates his client. After Jack reports his findings, another body is discovered. And this one is human.
Praise
“Chuck
Greaves writes with style and an insider’s knowledge of the courtroom and the
lawyer’s life. Hush Money is smart,
entertaining, and funny. And in Jack MacTaggart he has created a likeable, wise-cracking
lawyer-detective–Jim Rockford with a law degree. A great read.” William Landay, New York Times bestselling author
“Greaves’
stellar first novel…[places] MacTaggert directly in the crosshairs both of the
police and the criminal behind the plot. Greaves makes the most of his
twenty-five years as a trial attorney in relating courtroom tactics. The
combination of confident writing and a determined and ethical protagonist add
up to a winner.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Cleverly
intermingles equestrian show jumping, insurance claims, and high-tech science
in this sunny California thriller.” Library Journal (starred review)
“Greaves’
memorable debut introduces a wisecracking hero who gets his wit from his Uncle
Louis. Fast-paced and inspired, written with an insider’s knowledge of the
legal world, it’s a terrific addition to the genre, and one hopes there will be
more Jack stories.” RT Book Reviews
“An auspicious debut. Jack would be welcome back
in the winner’s circle any time.” Kirkus Reviews
“Hush Money sparks with snappy dialog,
rich imagery, and sarcasm sharp as a razor.” Sasscer Hill, author of Agatha and Macavity Best First Mystery nominee, Full Mortality
“Narrator Dan Butler brings the wisecracking MacTaggart
to life with excellent timing and an audible smirk. His easygoing manner makes him
easy to dismiss, but Butler’s delivery makes it clear that would be a mistake.
Butler’s pleasant voice puts listeners at ease in the unfamiliar world of show
horses and the wealthy people who own them.” AudioFile
Chuck Greaves was born in Levittown,
New York. He is an honors graduate of both the University of Southern California
and Boston College Law School and spent twenty-five years as a trial lawyer in
Los Angeles. Hush Money, his debut
novel, won the SouthWest Writers International Writing Contest and was named a
finalist for several national honors, including the Rocky Award from Left Coast
Crime, the RT Award for First Mystery, and the Audie Award from the Audio Publishers Association. He
lives in Colorado, where he also writes literary fiction as C. Joseph Greaves.
Dan Butler, audiobook narrator, actor, writer, director, and producer, has had major roles on and off Broadway and has appeared in numerous television shows, including Frasier, House, and Monk. He cowrote and directed Karl Rove, I Love You and has appeared in such feature films as Crazy, Stupid, Love; Silence of the Lambs; Enemy of the State; and Fixing Frank, among others.
Overview
A 2013 Shamus Award Finalist for Best First P.I. NovelFinalist for the 2012 RT Award for First MysteryFinalist for the 2013 Audie Award for MysteryFinalist for the 2012 Rocky Award
A newly minted member of Henley & Hargrove, Pasadena’s oldest and snobbiest law firm, Jack MacTaggart is assigned to handle an insurance claim on behalf of socialite Sydney Everett. Hush Puppy, Sydney's champion show horse, has died unexpectedly, and attending veterinarian George Wells confides to Jack that the great horse’s death was anything but natural. Jack’s investigation leads him into the high-stakes world of professional show jumping and down a path to romance, intrigue, and an old blackmail scheme that further implicates his client. After Jack reports his findings, another body is discovered. And this one is human.