“This book sparkles like a jewel in a cosmic clockwork—an uplifting gift to readers everywhere.” — Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior
Why are the churches closed on Christmas Eve in Florence’s San Frediano district? This mystery perplexes an acclaimed American poet who journeys to the fabled city seeking inspiration. The proprietor of his hotel, raconteur Alberto Giannotti, reveals that it has nothing to do with the holiday—and everything to do with poetry.
With charm and Tuscan flair, Giannotti relates the story of Pietro Begnini, who was blessed with the sign of the sonnet. He wants to become a poet and marry his beloved Sophia—but a devastating blow from a jealous enemy, the Grand Inquisitor for the Academy of Poetic Arts, sends him reeling throughout Italy and beyond. Pietro meets the great genius Leo (from Vinci), the doomed beauty Lucy (eventually a Borgia), the publishing pioneer Aldus Manutius, the poetry instructor Vito (the Vituperative), and the renowned pirate Jean-David Neu, the Italian Flail. He is even tempted by The Evil One. But eventually, Pietro returns to Florence for one last chance to achieve his dreams.
If you cherish passion, perseverance, or poets, you’ll be enthralled by this enchanting story of what one man can achieve for love. The Florentine Poet is bestselling author William Bernhardt’s most personal and unique work, illuminated by Brian Call’s delightful illustrations.
When her shocking new case hits too close to home, can Kenzi prevent a miscarriage of justice?
Kenzi Rivera wants her day in the sun. Now the highest-earning name at her father’s firm, the spitfire attorney is furious her brother was chosen to manage the practice. But she steps up anyway to handle her dad’s messy divorce… only to see his wife charged with his mistress’s murder.
Facing a smug prosecution team that has compiled a mountain of incriminating evidence, Kenzi once again calls on her tight-knit group of unique female friends to dig up the facts. And when their research uncovers cheating, hacking, adult films, and sex trafficking, the fiery lawyer fears the true culprit is closer than anyone believed.
Can Kenzi unmask a killer before she’s stabbed in the back?
Shameless is the shocking third book in the Splitsville Legal Thriller Series. If you like tenacious heroines, scandalous crimes, and endless twists and turns, then you’ll love William Bernhardt’s darkly fascinating story.
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When a scandalous divorce trial interferes with a ruthless killer, can one tough lawyer find the truth before she becomes the next victim?
Kenzi Rivera is classy, compassionate, and ready to buck the status quo. Sick of being patronized by judges and undervalued by her own firm, the no-nonsense Hispanic attorney boldly takes on a high-profile divorce for a tech-world “throuple.” But the case turns toxic when leaked nudes of her client go viral and ruin her reputation.
Determined to help this woman already battling a debilitating neurological disorder, Kenzi is caught off-guard when her new client’s partner is strangled. With damning evidence massing at an alarming rate, vindicating her troubled client may be impossible.
Can Kenzi discover whose hands are covered in blood before the jury brings back a guilty verdict? Can she make this right before the killer makes her the next target?
Exposed is the compelling second book in the Splitsville Legal Thriller Series. If you like dark courtroom drama and tense mysteries, then you’ll love William Bernhardt’s powerful page-turner.
'Exposed has everything I love in a thriller: intricate plot twists, an ensemble of brilliant heroines, and jaw-dropping drama both in and out of the courtroom. William Bernhardt knows how to make the law come alive.'
-- Tess Gerritsen, NYT bestselling author of the Rizzoli & Isles crime series
A struggling lawyer. A bitter custody battle. A deadly fire. This case could cost Kenzi her career-and her life.
Kenzi Rivera is furious. Passed over for promotion at her own father's firm, the talented divorce lawyer is tired of fighting chauvinism every single day. When a desperate scientist begs for help getting her daughter back, Kenzi can't resist...even though this client is involved in Hexitel, a group she calls her religion but others call a cult.
Kenzi uncovers evidence of disturbing practices at Hexitel involving large sums of money, servitude, and sex. She also learns her client's lab has been plagued by death threats and cutthroat competition. After the workplace burns to the ground and her client is charged with murder, the ambitious attorney knows there is much more at stake than a simple custody dispute.
Can Kenzi find a path to the truth before she's trapped in a maze of death?
Splitsville is the dramatic first book in the Splitsville Legal Thriller series. If you like gutsy heroines, diverse characters, and page-turning suspense, then you'll love William Bernhardt's twisty tale.
Buy Splitsville and strike a blow for justice!
"Splitsville is a winner-well-written, with fully developed characters and a narrative thrust that keeps you turning the pages. William Bernhardt has not only written another expert legal thriller, but once again he has his fingers on the realities of the modern legal system, and his portrayal of a female lawyer struggling to succeed is honest and compelling.' Gary Braver, bestselling author of Tunnel Vision and, with Tess Gerritsen, Choose Me
He has one chance to find the facts he’s searched for his entire life. All he has to do is prove his Number One enemy is not a killer…Daniel Pike has devoted his legal career to ensuring that no wrongly convicted person dies in prison like his father did. But he’s still no closer to uncovering his painful family secrets. And after a terrible twist of fate, he’s hired to defend his arch-nemesis who’s been charged with a gruesome murder…
With a string of grisly clues placing his client squarely in the frame, Pike’s investigations incur the fury of a powerful and callous cartel. After a key defense witness is brutally slain, not even this talented attorney stands a chance of convincing the jury that his client’s hands are not blood-stained. And the cartel’s next target is Pike…and everyone he loves.
Will Pike’s most challenging assignment destroy everything he’s struggled to achieve?
Final Verdict is the sixth book and the riveting conclusion to the Daniel Pike Legal Thriller Series. If you like spellbinding courtroom drama, startling revelations, and jaw-dropping action, then you’ll love William Bernhardt’s edge-of-your-seat finale.
Buy Final Verdict to bring the gavel down today!
This time, Dan’s putting everything on the line. Will his dangerous scheme reveal a killer…or cause a fatal injustice?Defense lawyer Daniel Pike believes he’s closer than ever to proving his late father was no murderer. But with key witnesses snuffed out and his archnemesis pulling all the strings to ensure no one talks, his frustration is about to boil over. His only remaining option is a high-stakes gamble to force the arrogant powerbroker onto the witness stand.
Risking the wrath of a ruthless cartel, Pike relentlessly pursues the evidence he desperately needs. But as he uncovers his own family’s shocking history and navigates a blossoming romance, the determined attorney finds himself back in the courtroom on the losing end of the biggest case of his life with many lives hanging in the balance—because someone has become judge, jury...and executioner.
Will Pike’s pursuit of justice destroy him when he learns the tragic truth?
Judge and Jury is the sensational fifth novel in the Daniel Pike Legal Thriller Series. If you like David-versus-Goliath stories, stunning twists and turns, and genius court moves, then you’ll love William Bernhardt’s gripping fight.
Buy Judge and Jury and uncover the truth today!
How do you create a fictional world that readers will want to visit? How do you paint a picture that springs to life on the page? William Bernhardt explains how to use description and setting to enhance your story without slowing the pace. Bernhardt discusses showing without telling, providing descriptive details that inform character, and integrating visuals and action with 'stealth description.' In his direct, no-nonsense style, Bernhardt explains how to use all five senses to create a fully realized portrait.
William Bernhardt is the bestselling author of more than fifty books, including the bestselling Daniel Pike novels. Bernhardt is also one of the most sought-after writing instructors in the nation. He has received the Southern Writers Gold Medal Award and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award, which is given 'in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large.' In 2019, he received the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Red Sneaker Writing Center provides a free e-newsletter, podcast, workshops, retreats, and an annual conference to help writers achieve their goals. What's a red sneaker writer? A committed writer seeking useful instruction rather than obfuscation and attitude. Red sneakers get the job done and so do red sneaker writers, by paying close attention to their art and craft, committing to hard work, and never quitting. Are you a red sneaker writer? If so, this book is for you.
If he loses this case, the consequence is death…
Ever since his father’s wrongful incarceration, defense lawyer Daniel Pike has defended the innocent at any cost. But he’s stunned when his archrival DA is found shot dead and brutally crucified. And after Pike himself lands in jail for the crime, he smells a terrifying setup.
Fearing he’ll suffer the same fate as his parent, the determined attorney uncovers evidence that the DA was involved with a sinister sex-trafficking ring. But with the prosecution presenting an ironclad case against him, it’s clear someone wants Pike out of the way. And if they can’t get him with a lethal injection, they may resort to bullets…
Can Pike get to the truth before he’s condemned to die behind bars?
Twisted Justice is the tense fourth novel in the Daniel Pike Legal Thrillers series. If you like dark conspiracies, heart-stopping suspense, and courtroom battles against the odds, then you’ll love William Bernhardt’s breathtaking tale.
Buy Twisted Justice to escape death row today!
What must a writer know to survive in the modern publishing world?In this volume, William Bernhardt tackles essential topics that, while smaller in scope, are nonetheless necessary to a contemporary author's survival. How do you create a memorable series character? Should you write in the first person? What does 'Show, don't tell' really mean? How do you add suspense? Bernhardt also discusses legal issues confronting writers and marketing concerns, such as the all-important book description for online sales pages. Bernhardt tackles these eleven topics with his usual direct, no-nonsense style, telling writers what they need to know without wasting their time.
William Bernhardt is the bestselling author of more than fifty books, including the bestselling Daniel Pike novels. Bernhardt is also one of the most sought-after writing instructors in the nation. He has received the Southern Writers Gold Medal Award and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award, which is given 'in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large.' In 2019, he received the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Red Sneaker Writing Center provides a free e-newsletter, podcast, workshops, retreats, and an annual conference to help writers achieve their goals. What’s a red sneaker writer? A committed writer seeking useful instruction rather than obfuscation and attitude. Red sneakers get the job done and so do red sneaker writers, by paying close attention to their art and craft, committing to hard work, and never quitting.
Are you a red sneaker writer? If so, this book is for you!
A billion-dollar inheritance. A relative’s suspicious reappearance. Can Dan dig up the secrets of the past before he’s buried six feet under?Attorney Daniel Pike’s flashy courtroom antics have earned him plenty of enemies--but also freed many innocent people. When he learns that the same crooked cop who got his father locked up for life is testifying in a contested-identity suit, Daniel takes the case. But it won’t be easy to prove his client is the long-lost heir to an immense estate since the young man can’t remember the last fourteen years…
His civil litigation becomes a criminal trial when another heir is violently murdered and the mysterious amnesiac looks like the prime suspect. Battling vanishing evidence, political interference, and a brutal attack on his life, the savvy lawyer knows he’ll need to put on his best performance yet.
Can Dan clear his client’s name and inheritance? Or will they both pay with their lives?
Trial by Blood is the third book in the nail-biting Daniel Pike legal thriller series. If you like sinister conspiracies, brash attorneys, and dark-alley danger, then you’ll love William Bernhardt’s page-turning novel.
Even the most unique and interesting characters will not engage readers if their journey-the plot-fails. In this book, bestselling author William Bernhardt reveals the secrets that will keep readers riveted to the page. He explains the importance of matching character to plot and the key distinction between surprise and coincidence. Bernhardt discusses how to enrich your story by layering three levels of conflict and, in the final chapter, analyzes the primary plot structures that have delighted readers since the first story was told. The book also includes exercises designed to help writers apply these ideas to their own writing.
The court of public opinion found her guilty. But one attorney resolved to change the verdict...Attorney Daniel Pike knows the dire consequences of crossing the government. So when rising political star Camila Perez faces charges in a gruesome quadruple homicide, his instincts sense a frame by powerful rivals. But Dan and the Last Chance Lawyers may have a hopeless case when the police discover damning evidence scrawled at the crime scene in blood...
Sorting through incriminating clues in the horrifying murders, Dan pieces together a dark conspiracy. But just when it seems he might have a rebuttal, a social media leak sparks a nationwide outcry for conviction.
Can Dan foil the vicious scheme before Perez and her career go up in flames??
Court of Killers is a standout book in the gripping Daniel Pike legal thriller series. If you like intricately plotted suspense, gritty courtroom drama and surprising twists and turns, then you'll love William Bernhardt's captivating novel.
Buy Court of Killers to hear a determined lawyer unmask a murderer today!
