I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
An Insignificant Case: A Thriller by Phillip Margolin Published by Macmillan, Minotaur Books on November 5, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Legal
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley
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Goodreads
A new standalone legal thriller from the international bestselling author of GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.
Charlie Webb is a third rate lawyer who graduated from a third rate law-school and, because he couldn’t get hired by any of the major law firms, has opened his own law firm, where he gets by handling cases for dubious associates from his youth and some court appointed cases. Described as “a leaky boat floating down the stream of life,” Charlie has led unremarkable life, personally and professionally. Until he’s appointed to be the attorney for a decidedly crackpot artist who calls himself Guido Sabatini (born Lawrence Weiss). Sabatini has been arrested – again – for breaking into a restaurant and stealing back a painting he sold them because he was insulted by where it was displayed. But as Lawrence Weiss, he’s also an accomplished card shark and burglar and while he was there, he stole a thumb drive from the owner’s safe.
Not knowing what else Sabatani has stolen, Webb negotiates the return of the painting and “other items’ for the owner dropping charges against Sabatini. But the contents of the flash drive threatens very powerful figures who are determined to retrieve it, the restaurant owner (Gretchen Hall) and her driver (Yuri Makarov) are being investigated for the sex trafficking of minors, and there are others who have a violent grudge against Sabatini. When a minor theft case becomes a double homicide, and even more, Charlie Webb, an insignificant lawyer assigned to an insignificant case, is faced with the most important, and deadliest, case of his life. Going back to his long-time bestselling roots, Phillip Margolin returns with a brilliant standalone legal thriller in the tradition of John Grisham.
Review
In this gripping legal thriller, Phillip Margolin introduces us to Charlie Webb, the kind of lawyer who usually handles parking tickets and petty theft. But when a routine shoplifting case lands on his desk, it explodes into something far darker: a double homicide that pulls back the curtain on a high-stakes sex trafficking operation.
Charlie isn’t your typical hero. He’s more likely to be found in traffic court than making dramatic closing arguments in a murder trial. Yet there’s something endearing about this underdog who suddenly finds himself way out of his depth. As he digs deeper into the case, he’s joined by a cast of characters that feels pulled straight from Portland’s rain-soaked streets – from jaded detectives to corrupt officials hiding behind polished desks.
Drawing from his years as a criminal defense attorney, Margolin brings the courtroom scenes to life with the kind of details that only an insider would know. The story moves at a breakneck pace, each revelation more shocking than the last, as Charlie uncovers how a simple theft connects to some of Oregon’s most powerful figures.
What makes this book truly compelling isn’t just its twisty plot – it’s how it explores the messy reality of justice. Charlie’s journey forces him to confront the gap between what’s legal and what’s right, all while trying to keep his moral compass pointing north. It’s the kind of story that makes you question whether there’s really such a thing as an “insignificant” case.
While some readers might need to Google a few legal terms, Margolin’s writing style keeps the story accessible and engaging. He’s often compared to John Grisham, but this book feels fresher, grittier, and more personal. It’s a return to form for Margolin, proving why he remains one of the most trusted names in legal thrillers.
Whether you’re a fan of courtroom drama or just love a good mystery, An Insignificant Case delivers. It’s a reminder that sometimes the biggest stories start in the smallest places – and that justice, like Charlie Webb himself, often comes from the most unexpected corners.
