A Conflict of Interest by Adam Mitzner

A Conflict of Interest by Adam Mitzner

The blurb:
Alex Miller is a criminal defense attorney and, at thirty-five: the youngest partner in one of the most powerful law firm in New York City.  He's a man at the top of his game with the life he's always dreamed of, complete with a loving wife, who remains patient with his long hours and high-stakes cases, and a beautiful young daughter.

At his father's funeral, Alex meets Michael Ohlig -- a mysterious and nearly mythic figure in the Miller family history -- who presents Alex with a surprising request: to represent him in a high-profile criminal investigation. . .an alleged brokerage scam that has lost hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. Wealthy beyond words, Ohlig insists he's done nothing wrong, and Alex who's experienced enough to know that clients always lie, uncharacteristically believes him.

But as the facts come out, shocking secrets are revealed that threaten everything Alex believes in -- about the law, his family, and himself.  But his desperate need for the truth propels Alex to unscrupulous depths, and to confront a past defined by deception and a future in jeopardy. . . with the realization that one false step could destroy everything Alex holds dear.

Review:
 A Conflict of Interest has been compared to Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent because both stand out among the legal thrillers.   Adam Mitzner's A Conflict of Interest gives a credible account of what life is like for a mid-level partner in a large and prestigious New York law firm.  Mitzner captures the advantages, perks, culture, pressures, and constant demands of Big Law life and we see how work has shaped Alex's life.

The story is told from Alex's point of view and he takes us through the different stages of the trial with such precision and detail that put A Conflict of Interest on the list of books to suggest to future lawyers and law students.  We readers get a sense of the drama and excitement of litigation as we learn - as much as much as we can in a novel - about the practice of criminal law and civil litigation.   But those who read legal thrillers for the excitement and plot will find the novel a gripping read.  As Alex's professional and personal life slowly unravels, we find ourselves sharing his hopes and fears.   A Conflict of Interest delivers drama, romance, excitement, and betrayal.    It's fun, fascinating, and thoroughly enjoyable.

ISBN-10: 1439157510 - Hardcover $25.00
Publisher: Gallery (May 17, 2011), 384 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

About the Author:
Adam Mitzner is an attorney living in New York City.  A Conflict of Interest is his first novel.