Author:John McNellis

Publisher: Hubbard House

ISBN: 978-1-7363525-1-9

John McNellis’s debut work of fiction, O’Brien’s Law: A Romantic Thriller, is set in San Francisco and opens when a wealthy older man, Malcolm Knox, is found dead in the bathtub in his penthouse hotel room. The room was full of valuable art, antiques, and a safe with tons of bearer bonds and stock certificates. Suspicion arises about whether it was an accident or if someone was after Knox’s fortune.

Knox was a tricky fellow. No one trusted him, and the feeling was reciprocal. Did he accidentally fall into the shower and drown? After all, someone was about to receive quite a fortune.

The story takes a different turn as we discover information about the esteemed legal practice of Drummond, Upton, and Isherwood.

The firm’s partners are considering the overbilling of Malcolm Knox’s nephew, John Malcolm Knox. John is the trustee for his two sons, who are the beneficiaries of their grand-uncle’s estate. He had engaged the Drummond law firm to go after a crooked attorney, Edward (Teddy) Fitzgerald, whom he believes swindled his uncle’s estate to the tune of fifty million dollars in bearer bonds and stock certificates, all in street name.

Fitzgerald has been appointed as the executor of Malcolm’s estate, but his reputation is far from admirable. For example, to gain admission to law school, he paid his brilliant roommate to take the Law School Admission Test. The roommate passed with flying colors. And within the legal community, judges and fellow attorneys despised his rowdy courtroom antics.

John Malcolm threatened to report the Drummond law firm to the State Bar for overbilling him for over a year. He believed they did nothing for him. The firm provides him with a year’s worth of free associate time to appease him. With agreement from his partners, the firm's star litigator John Buckley, a Yale Law School graduate, designated Michael O'Brien, a first-year law graduate, to take on his case

They are fully aware of O’Brien’s inexperience, and requesting him to take care of their difficult client was not precisely a bonus. Though this did not prevent them from “selling him into servitude.” As for John Malcolm, he was content with their offer.

O’Brien is a resilient individual who hails from Boston. His childhood was marked by constant battles to defend his late father’s reputation, causing him to develop a quick temper and proficiency in boxing. His explosive anger often lands him in trouble, as exemplified by a recent lawsuit resulting from a bar altercation. 

Despite his limitations in legal matters, he acknowledges them and struggles with self-doubt. He suspects that one of the senior partners at his law firm bears ill will towards him, leading to his assignment to the Knox case as a deliberate act.

John Malcolm is well aware of O’Brien’s weaknesses and resolves to oversee and ride him hard. O’Brien could not have expected the challenges he would face or the difficulties he would have to endure while dealing with John Malcolm.

On top of O’Brien’s tumultuous professional life, his romantic life is also a roller coaster ride. His girlfriend Roxanne has broken up with him, but he quickly develops feelings for Mary Beth Eliot, an attractive woman who owns multiple restaurants and a house. Despite O’Brien’s infatuation, Mary Beth is hesitant and keeps their relationship at a distance. To complicate matters further, she has a charming boyfriend whom she rarely sees, yet still harbors strong feelings for him.

As the legal proceedings continue, Fitzgerald drops a bombshell about John Malcolm’s sons, creating more questions about the truth behind their inheritance. This revelation comes as quite a jolt to O’Brien, who is uncertain of the truthfulness of Fitzgerald’s claim.

McNellis has effectively created a protagonist who is not merely captivating but also multi-dimensional and relatable. With a proper harmony of tension and playfulness, the story keeps the reader engaged from kickoff to the end. And McNellis loses no time in organizing the tale, deftly scattering breadcrumbs along the way, and leaving us with many unanswered questions.

Throughout the narrative, McNellis masterfully places us in the scenes, immersing us in the world he has shaped and making us experience first-hand the characters’ emotions. From the tense moments of ambiguity to the heartfelt instances of connection, every moment seems convincing and sincere.

In summary, McNellis has crafted an engaging work of fiction, with a well-constructed protagonist, a perfect combination of suspense and humor, and an immersive plot that sustains the reader’s interest.

Follow Here To Read Norm's Interview With John McNellis