Publishers Weekly
★ 01/09/2023
Levine scores with this witty and complex legal thriller, the 15th featuring Miami Dolphins linebacker-turned-attorney Jake Lassiter (after 2020’s Cheater’s Game). Lassiter’s fiancée, Melissa Gold, the neuropathologist treating Lassiter for symptoms possibly related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, suspects that he’s been less than forthcoming with her about his health. The potential for football to cause harm hits home differently when his teenage godson, Rodrigo Pittman, suffers serious neck injuries during a game. Guilt-ridden about his encouraging Rodrigo to suit up, Lassiter pursues legal action against Rodrigo’s coach, who allowed Rodrigo on the field, despite some indications that he was already concussed. The quixotic Lassiter also goes all out to obtain an injunction against high school tackle football itself, stopping further play until its leaders can prove it’s safe for players. His legal maneuvers are opposed by powerful foes, including a cabal of big corporations that provides untraceable funds to get NFL players out of jams. Levine never strains credibility and perfectly balances the legal plotline with his lead’s personal health and relationship struggles. This winner works even for those new to the series. (Self-published)
From the Publisher
"Levine scores with this witty and complex legal thriller. The author never strains credibility and perfectly balances the legal plotline with his lead's personal health and relationship struggles. This winner works even for those new to the series." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Our hero's clashes with a phalanx of eloquent, profoundly evil corporate types are worth rereading. Another mark of a fine novel is the treatment of secondary characters. Levine's are articulate and sassy. A treat for fans of the offbeat." —Booklist
"Fast paced, smooth and soulful. A winner!" —Jacqueline Winspear, New York Times bestselling author of the Maisie Dobbs series
"'Early Grave' is a twisty legal drama, a moral mystery, and even an inquiry into what the purpose of a man's life should be, all enlivened by Jake Lassiter's bold bravado and Paul Levine's laugh-out-loud wit. The story will keep you rooting for the good guys, both on the page and in the world. —Ed Zuckerman, Emmy and Edgar Allan Poe award winner
"Levine has never shied from hot-button issues, and his choice to make CTE a reality for Lassiter ensures Jake will be remembered." —Chatterrific
Library Journal
11/01/2022
In the final Jake Lassiter adventure (a follow-up to Cheater's Game), Levine leads his beat-up ex—Miami Dolphin—turned—lawyer protagonist through the world of competitive football. Wallowing in the backwaters of Miami Beach, Lassiter's physical, personal, and professional history is catching up to him as he plods through his job investigating minor malfeasance for the Florida State Bar. Either out of guilt or because of a newfound moral compass, he springs to action when his godson Rodrigo (the son of his ex-teammate Tank) is injured in his first high-school football game. Lassiter decides to confront the football world by filing a daring lawsuit about the dangers of high-school football. Soon the powers that be are unloading on him—testing his physical limits, his relationships, and everything he thought was right. Daunting at first with a dizzying array of memes, pop-culture references, and rapid-fire first-person dialogue, the story soon develops a narrative flow and rhythm. VERDICT With its singular characters, clever plotting, and focused storytelling, Levine's punchy, well-written contemporary legal thriller will please John Grisham fans. The short chapters and first-person POV make it a good choice for reading on a tablet or phone.—James Woods Marshall
