False Witness: A Novel by Phillip MargolinPublication Date: November 11, 2025
Pages: 304
Add on: Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Fiction / Thrillers / Crime
Publisher: Minotaur Books / Macmillan
A lawyer who was set-up, imprisoned, and disbarred, only to be vindicated and reinstated, is determined to find out who set her up and cover their tracks with a trail of dead bodies
Defense Attorney Karen Wyatt exposed corruption in the police force and the District Attorney's office while getting her client exonerated in court. But in doing so, she put a target on her back and she was set-up on fake drug charge, imprisoned and disbarred until the conspiracy unraveled and her innocence was proven. Now reinstated to the bar, Wyatt is still interested in finding out who ordered her to be set-up - but the key figures were either killed or are in Witness Protection.In the meantime, Wyatt is a practicing defense attorney, whose current client is either guilty of a heinous murder, or is a too-trusting patsy for an acquaintance set-up for a crime he didn't commit. It will take all of Wyatt's genius to defend her client successfully but that's just one piece of an increasingly complex puzzle.
With a deadly criminal drug gang, a powerful, corrupt figure hiding in the D.A.'s office, and a Congressman who turned up with an unbelievable story after disappearing for days, Traitor is twisty, breathtaking, and unpredictable thriller.
REVIEW
Phillip Margolin’s False Witness throws you headfirst into the life of Karen Wayatt, an Oregon lawyer who’s clawed her way back from disgrace. Framed, locked up, and disbarred, she’s finally cleared her name, but the real fight is just beginning. Determined to expose the architect of her downfall, she finds herself tangled in a web of courtroom battles, backroom conspiracies, and danger that feels all too close to home. Margolin keeps the tension sky-high, spinning a plot full of sharp turns and false leads without ever letting the pace drag.
The Waytt is as tough as they come, resourceful, stubborn, and just vulnerable enough to keep you rooting for her. The supporting cast is packed with shady, morally complex characters, lending the book a gritty edge that fans of legal thrillers will recognize and appreciate. Themes of justice, redemption, and the high price of seeking the truth run through every chapter, and Margolin’s experience as a defence attorney makes the legal details snap with authenticity.
I am here for False Witness; the plot is gripping, the pacing breathless, and the twists genuinely surprising. The new lead character is a standout, and Margolin’s writing is as sharp as ever. Okay, I can admit that the plot occasionally strains belief, and if you prefer slow, character-driven stories, the nonstop action might be a bit too much. But for anyone who craves a brilliant, propulsive legal thriller, False Witness hits the mark and then some. It’s a wild ride from start to finish, impossible to put down, and packed with enough suspense to keep you guessing till the final page.
