"The Grim Reaper is coming to the courtroom—where Daniel Pike and Ben Kincaid may face their final judgment.
In Florida, defense attorney Daniel Pike is stunned when his legal files are ransacked and his lover, Maria Morales, disappears. In Oklahoma, semi-retired attorney Ben Kincaid is horrified when his connection to this apparent abduction endangers the people he loves most. Desperate for help, Pike seizes Kincaid and hauls him on a cross-country road trip to discover what happened to Maria…and why a killer is so interested in a California murder case.
During the journey, Dan and Ben encounter Roswell aliens, San Diego cosplay, snowstorms, barroom brawls, assassination attempts, a cartel rubout, and an old acquaintance now behind bars. But someone dressed as the Grim Reaper is leaving a bloodstained trail of victims from one coast to the other. Every new clue points to a West Coast murder conviction—and a pending motion that might prevent a major injustice. Reluctantly, Dan and Ben agree to represent the defendant who might hold the answers they seek—or might make them the next victims. Will this be the capstone to their distinguished careers—or the final ride into the sunset?
Enthralling for newcomers and fans, Partners in Crime launches a new Daniel Pike series and also features Ben Kincaid, the author’s first fictional attorney returning after more than a decade. If you like spellbinding courtroom drama, unexpected revelations, and jaw-dropping action, you’ll love William Bernhardt’s thrill-packed legal road trip."
"“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."
"In his latest collection, William Bernhardt again demonstrates that he is a true poet, one whose work accomplishes the difficult task of being both accessible and profound. He communicates with grace and illumination, avoiding the obscurity and obfuscation that sometimes causes readers to avoid modern poetry. He writes about the subjects that matter most: personal relationships, family, children, and the challenges of everyday life. Bernhardt is a poet who appeals even to those who think they don't like poetry and is cherished by those who do.
While addressing subjects of everlasting import, Bernhardt's poems are engaging, relevant, and sometimes playful, reminiscent of beloved predecessors such as Billy Collins and Robert Frost. Readers will be struck by the versatility of the poems and the wide range of form. Smart, lyrical, observant, and textured, these poems explain why Rilla Askew (Kind of Kin) called Bernhardt 'a compelling new voice in American poetry' and R.C. Davis-Undiamo (World Literature Today) named him one of 'the nation's literary treasures.'
'William Bernhardt writes with warmth, wit, and a clear desire to commune with his reader. Whether he is working in free verse or in meter and rhyme, Bernhardt makes of poetry a way of connecting person to person. Like Montaigne, Bernhardt is a man consubstantial with his book, and the full range of human feeling is on display in these poems with great honesty and ardent empathy.' —Benjamin Meyers, OK Poet Laureate, Crouch-Mathis Professor of Literature, OBU"
"In this story, William Bernhardt sends his crusading attorney Kenzi Rivera (Splitsville) to solve the mystery of a missing family heirloom—with several lives hanging in the balance. Pull up a chair by the Christmas tree, put on your holiday music, grab a glass of eggnog, and get the Christmas spirit with Kenzi Rivera."
"He writes gunfights and ticking time bombs. But when he’s kidnapped and forced to plan a real-world crime, every plot twist will be explosive…
Dylan Taggart channels his demons through the keyboard. Knocked around by a father who believed weakness was failure, the bestselling suspense author grabs a measure of peace in his gorgeous girlfriend’s arms. But he sees fiction come horrifyingly to life when masked fanatics break in demanding he put his brilliant mind to work and help them steal a secret military super-weapon.
Dylan tries to refuse, but his resolve shatters when they leave his lover for dead and punish him mercilessly. Torn between terror and grief, he starts writing the heist scheme as ordered…while feverishly building a cunningly disguised sabotage.
Can this tortured artist use his own ingenious plotting skills to prevent the death of millions?
Plot/Counterplot is a fast-paced standalone thriller. If you like resourceful characters, intense drama, and endless surprises, then you’ll adore William Bernhardt’s clever caper.
“A man on the run... a woman on the run... in a thriller that hits the ground running... then running faster... then absolutely flying. And you're flying, too, flying through the pages with one of the masters of the modern thriller at the controls. William Bernhardt knows when to soar and when to dive, when to make you sweat and when to let you breathe, when to throw this flying machine into a barrel roll that will absolutely shock you and when to bring you home safe and satisfied. A terrific entertainment.” -- William Martin, New York Times-Bestselling Author of The Lincoln Letter and December '41 "
"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!"
