Slick as a politicians handshake. Crafted in the spirit of the best hardboiled thrillers of the golden era yet thoroughly modern and so up to date you could be watching it on the evening news. Dark and brilliant sexy and full of surprises. The Last Witness by Joel Goldman is classy and stylish noir at it’s very best.When Jack Cullan, the spiritual heir to "Boss Tom" Pendergast’s Kansas City political machine winds up dead, Attorney Lou Mason takes it personal. His best friend, Wilson “Blues” Bluestone is arrested and charged with the murder. “Blues” says he is innocent and Mason believes him because “Blues” has never told him a lie. But Blues threatened the dead man in front of witnesses and his fingerprints and DNA are found at the scene. Blues ex partner, KC Detective Harry Ryman is convinced he did it but he has carried a grudge for Blues for years. Harry thinks Blues got away with murder once for killing a woman in a drug bust. Blues left the KCPD after that shooting, and Harry, who happens to be Mason’s aunt, and surrogate mother’s romantic companion, has been out to nail him since. Mason soon realizes that in order to prove Blues innocent, he’ll have to find the real killer as he suspects that everyone from the prosecutor to the judge to the cops don’t want to dig for justice because they just might uncover more dirt than what covers a grave. All of KC’s major players are on edge – from the Mayor, ex quarterback and hometown hero Billy Sunshine to suspected mobster and casino owner Ed Fiora . They know that Cullan kept file’s on everyone that allowed him to pull the strings on the political, legal and business community of KC. Mason is quickly approached by the mayor’s chief of staff, Amy White with an offer to find and turn over the files, other offers soon follow. Devastatingly sexy Beth Harrell, the gambling commissioner that was in Blue’s night club with Cullan the night before the murder wants photos that Cullan had of her that may just have convinced her to grant Fiora his gaming license. Fiora suspect’s he was in the files and doesn’t want the methods of how he got his gaming license granted, nor his questionable finances exposed. Additionally, if he had the files, he could control the political machine. White wants to protect her boss, Cullan’s secretary, Shirley Parker wants to protect her dead boss, Leonard Campbell, the DA says he wants to prosecute those exposed in the files, but Mason suspects he wants the political muscle the files would bring him. Mason suspects the files will also expose cops on Cullan’s payroll, but which cops? His aunts lover Ryman, his partner Carl Zimmerman, Toland,the officer that arrested Blues and seems to have more than an interest in justice. Then there’s Donovan Jenkins the ex favorite wide receiver for Billy Sunshine and now KC beer distributor. Throw in an endless supply of receptionists named Margret running interference for their bosses and everyone wants the files to stay lost or to possess them for their own purposes, which they just may be willing to kill for – if they haven’t already. The cards are stacked against Mason. And so are all the players. The evidence against Blues seems to be overwhelming. The police and prosecutors have stopped looking for any other suspect, whether because of grudges against Blues or political pressure from those with things to hide. It becomes evident in Mason’s quest to prove Blues not guilty, that there are many who would kill again or go to other extremes to send Blues to the death chamber.Mason’s only allies are Mickey Shanahan the dead-beat PR man, card sharp, computer hacker and conman who rented offices from Blues but never paid rent. Then there is Rachel Firestone, the lipstick lesbian reporter who Mason is sexually attracted to. Rachel was on the quest for the files before Cullan was killed. The chase leads across the frozen streets of KC in the midst of an ice storm that rivals the players own cold cold hearts. From Tom Pendergast’s old office’s – recently the headquarters for “The Elect Billy Sunshine” campaign across the street from Cullan’s own offices to the bedrooms and boardrooms of Kansas City’s rich and powerful. With prose that are as precise as the workings of a slot machine and dialog that is quick, biting, hardboiled and smart, Joel Goldman has crafted a master piece in this, the second Lou Mason book. The pace is unrelenting, the plot perfect as it twists through the frozen streets. The characters are realistic and excellently developed and the story will pull you in like a gambling addiction. Oh, and the “reveal” will astound you, you’ll never see it coming and yet all the clues are there…I warn you, don’t miss this book, newly rereleased in eBook format. But if you do get it you might as well preorder Cold Truth, the third book in the series because you’ll be hooked on Lou Mason and Joel Goldman.Joel Goldman is a former Kansas City attorney who lives in Leawood, Kansas – a suburb of KC. For insight into what makes Joel such an excellent writer of crime fiction, follow his blog, What’s Shakin’ . He is the author of the Edgar and Shamus nominated Lou Mason thrillers and and has released the ebook versions of these books beginning in June with MOTION TO KILL. His newest novel, STONE COLD, featuring Public Defender, Alex Stone will be released later this year. He explores his movement disorder - tics, through his character, former FBI Agent Jack Davis, in a series beginning with SHAKEDOWN. Catch my short story, FIRE IN THE SKY in the anthology TOP SUSPENSE: 13 CLASSIC STORIES FROM 12 MASTERS OF THE GENRE. Stay tuned for what's shaking in his world with his newsletter and blog and follow him on Twitter and Facebook. The Dirty Lowdown http://the-dirty-lowdown.blogspot.com/
Listening to this excellent reading by Kevin Foley was my happy introduction to Books In Motion. Safe to say that I look forward to many more pleasurable listening experiences from this company. Narrator Foley has three decades of voice performance experience - radio, television, and freelancing. That background is evident in his clear, compelling reading of THE LAST WITNESS. Kansas City is the setting for Book 2 in Goldman's Lou Mason series, and the action is nonstop. Jack Cullan is dead, not at all due to natural causes, and Mason is hired to defend his accused killer. Cullan had been a mover and shaker, appeasing some friends and making a slew of enemies. Night before Cullan's sudden earthly departure he'd gotten into a scrape with Blues Bluestone, during which Blues's DNA was left under Cullan's fingernails. So, who's the prime suspect? He's arrested without bail. Mason well knows he won't stand much chance of getting Blues off in a court trial, so the obvious solution is for him to find the killer. That may be the obvious solution, but nothing else is very plain as Mason finds himself drawn into a miasma of political manipulation, subterfuge, and double dealing. It seems he's not only racing the clock to save his client but also himself. - Gail Cooke
What do You think about The Last Witness (2011)?
The story is about Kansas City trial lawyer Lou Mason hired to defend his friend and landlord, ex-cop Wilson "Blues" Bluestone, Jr., who was accused of murdering a local lawyer and political fixer, Jack Cullan. Mason did some digging of his own and to find out who killed Jack Cullan. As he delved into Cullan's personal life and work he finds out that Cullan kept private files that rivaled those of J. Edgar Hoover, the list contains the names of Kansas City high-rollers, from Mayor Billy Sunshine on down that exposes the kind of secrets someone will do anything to keep. It is up to Mason to find out the killer before Blues faces the death penalty if he's convicted of the crime.A colleague and a friend of mine recommended this legal thriller novel, she said it was a good book. I totally agree with her. =D
—Michelle
Great investigative thriller!!Loads of characters intertwined in a muder(s) mystery. This story starts with a murder and an arrest. As the investigation begins there are more questions than answers as is typical.. The DA sees this case as open and shut. It quickly becomes "not so much". Soon there are dirty files on many of the characters and everyone wants them. This leads to more murder and intrigue. The author keeps the book moving from one event to another in and out of the courtroom. The reader almost needs to keep a tally sheet to keep things straight. This is the first time I've read a story from this author. I'll be looking for another book from him.
—gwen shrake
