The Least Among Us: A Novel

Searing social commentary meets chilling suspense as public defender Julia Geary takes a case destined to rock her small town to the core, for fans of John Lescroart.

Public defender Julia Gearys star is rising, and now shes got her first murder case defending local denizen Ray Belmar in the death of a homeless man. But Julias professional and personal challenges are mounting. First, shes assigned an intern whose arrogance is insufferable. Then, her widowed mother-in-law, whose home Julia and her son Calvin share, announces her plans to re-marry, meaning theyll have to find a new place to live. And to top things off, Julias boss removes her from the case, saying that shes lost perspective, replacing her with an attorney who advises Ray to plead guilty.
 
Julia cant shake the suspicion that the murder, and the subsequent killing of a homeless woman, is linked to the death of a state legislator who had been crusading for political reform. With the help of Duck Creeks homeless community and her old friend, Sheriffs Deputy Wayne Peterson, she launches her investigationbut then the anonymous threats start pouring in.
 
Just as Julia begins to uncover the ways the system is shockingly stacked against those on the fringes of society, she makes an even more damning discovery. Someone close to her is harboring a dark secret they are desperate to protecteven if that means silencing Julia once and for all.