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The Trial of Connor Padget

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A Five-Awards Winning Legal an unusual lawyer, an unusual case, an unusual trial. Add the charm of South Louisiana and you have a legal mystery told with a twist -- from inside the lawyer's mind. --NIEA Finalist, Writer's Digest Honorable Mention, Chanticleer Somerset Finalist, Contemporary Fiction Indie Reader Plus, Literary Titan Silver Award, and placement in Midwest Review's Library.

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2019

About the author

Carl Roberts

1 book1 follower
After LSU graduation , I served as an Electronics Warfare Officer stationed at Yokota AFB, Japan, flying covert missions over Russia.
While there I was assigned to defend an airman in a court martial case and saw the need for lawyers to help those in trouble.

After my return home, I signed up for law school, graduated, and practiced for many years as a trial lawyer. I liked the excitement of the courtroom and helping people. I've always liked books... and stories. Why I am now writing my own.

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5 stars
8 (36%)
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7 (31%)
3 stars
5 (22%)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Jean.
1,770 reviews769 followers
April 16, 2020
I found this story captivating. Jack Carney is a civil attorney who has an average quiet life. Suddenly his best friend kills a man in police custody in full view on the T.V. news. Carney is determined to defend his friend against everyone’s advice. What happens, how he goes about it, what he learns about his friend and the victim kept me glued to the book. The story is low key with no melodramatics which makes it even more exciting. I highly recommend this book.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is six hours and thirty minutes. Kevin Stillwell does a good job narrating the book. Stillwell is an actor, voice actor and winner of a number of Earphone Awards.

This story was a 2019 Writer’s Digest Honorable mention finalist for the Literary Titan Silver Award.
Profile Image for Dave.
3,321 reviews408 followers
February 9, 2020
"The Trial of Connor Padget" comes encased in the form of a legal thriller, but it could also be entitled " A Man's Search For Meaning." It's a quick-reading story about a civil lawyer who to the dismay of his partners takes on an unwinnable criminal defense case. By unwinnable, I mean to say, the whole gunshot homicide was captured on live television like Jack Ruby taking out Lee Harvey. There's no question about identity, no question about how it was done, and certainly little in question about the motive as Connor Padget believed his target was having an affair with his wife and kidnapped his son. Jack Carney was good friends with a Padget from high school and was not going to let his friend go done without a fight, not when he knew his friend to be decent. Thus, begins a story ending with a courtroom trial. Along the way, the story is as much about Carney's life as it is about the legal battle. For Carney, this trial gives meaning to him that's been missing and frees him from the life he's shackled himself too. Well-written and absorbing, the story is told straight without getting too clever about legal maneuvers.
Profile Image for Kavita.
344 reviews21 followers
April 30, 2020
It's been a few years since I read any story about a trial and the trial in the title and the description tempted me to pick up the book on Edelweiss plus.

Jack Carney is a lawyer by profession but not a criminal lawyer. His childhood friend Connor Padget shoots a person in the airport in from of TV cameras. He is standing trial and there is no question that he will be convicted and Jack Carney decides to defend him. In this endeavour he faces a bit of opposition from his wife and colleagues. He stands firm in his decision. The story is about his journey through this phase of his life. During this time he also rethinks a lot of his choices and reminisces about his past.

The story though on the face of it is about Connor Padget, when I read it realised it's more about Jack's thoughts, journey and his decision.

The story is paced slowly, not much of courtroom drama that I expected. Jack Carney's characterisation was nicely done. I would have loved to know more about his relationships. There were a few things that left unanswered but all in all it was a good experience.

If you like to read about an individual's internal journey when he is standing up for a friend and seemingly alone then you will like to read this one. If you are expecting a courtroom drama or exciting investigations etc then you will be disappointed.

I voluntarily requested this book on Edelweiss plus and thank the author and publishers for providing me with the same. The opinions expressed are mine alone.
Profile Image for Mandy.
3,416 reviews309 followers
May 21, 2020
This not a courtroom drama, as such, and certainly not a thriller as I have seen it called, but a far more interesting exploration of what happens when a lawyer chooses to follow his conscience rather than the dictates of the firm he works for. Jack Carney is not a criminal lawyer and his firm does not allow such matters to be taken up. But when an old friend asks him for help he decides that he cannot refuse, for reasons that are gradually revealed as the book progresses. There's no doubt that this friend, Connor Padget, is guilty. That’s not the issue. What matters is why he committed this crime, what drove him to it, and the book is a calm and measured examination of what happens when someone is pushed to the limit. Questions of loyalty, honour, courage and conscience all come into play. The trial itself is very well-handled, with no melodrama, and the book as a whole is well-paced and well-constructed. The tension lies in not knowing what the court will decide. A nuanced, intelligent and insightful novel, and one which I very much enjoyed.
Profile Image for Lynn.
1,310 reviews
March 2, 2020
Connor Padgett and Jack Carney have been friends forever. They played on the same basketball team at University High, worked at the Dairy Queen during the summers, went off to LSU together, got married. Connor has a son, Scott.

"Connor got into some serious trouble tonight...he shot someone. At the airport. Live on the five o'clock news. I saw him do it." Jack tells his wife. Jack, a trial lawyer but not a criminal lawyer, decides to defend his friend. Because he just can't believe that there isn't some explanation for this bizarre behavior.

This DEBUT novel is tightly constructed, full of unanticipated twists and turns, introduces Jack Carney as a loveable lawyer, and ends pretty much the way a story like this has to end

I read this EARC courtesy of Edelweiss and Gatekeeper Press; pub date 04/30/19
Profile Image for Clazzzer C.
574 reviews14 followers
March 21, 2020
The Trial of Connor Padget was a great read. It kept me gripped throughout. Connor and Jack are life long friends with memories stretching back to their childhood summers. Jack is a lawyer and is called upon when is friend Connor finds himself in hot water. Even though Jack's firm is not one which defends criminal cases Jack agrees to defend his friend. He needs him and Jack is sure that there is more to this case than meets the eye. I was captivated while reading this novel. It was in no way predictable and presented many twists and turns. I really enjoyed Carl Robert's debut novel and I look forward to many more from this talented writer. I give this book 4 stars and they are well deserved.
Profile Image for Kerrie Hatcher.
451 reviews9 followers
May 1, 2020
I enjoyed reading The Trial of Connor Padget. The main character, Jack Carney, volunteers to defend his high school buddy, even though the crime is caught on camera. Jack is a successful attorney, has a beautiful wife and a comfortable home. Yet, he is at a crossroads. The trial itself is just a vehicle to explore Jack’s dilemma. He has decisions to make. I like the way the author explores the trial, social issues and Jack’s decisions. I like the way the author reveals just enough information, using flash backs and reminisces, but leaves some things to the reader’s imagination. I recommend this book.
Thank you #NetGalley and #TheTrialofConnorPadget for an advanced copy of this book.
Profile Image for Kaye .
388 reviews6 followers
May 12, 2020
What a great discovery: intelligent writing; suspenseful plot; deeply complex characters; intriguing, well-wrought settings. This book has the whole package. I hope Carl Roberts writes more than one novel!
Profile Image for Cherime MacFarlane.
Author 95 books611 followers
February 7, 2020
I found this to be an excellent read. I highly recommend this tale of consequences. Jack stands by his friend and finds his life changed.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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