Blood Money by Scott Pratt

In Pratt’s sixth Joe Dillard legal thriller, he introduces Charleston (Charlie) Story a young country girl lawyer, who becomes Joe’s associate.  Charlie brings with her a client, Roscoe Barnes whose son, Zane is trying to prove him mentally insane.  Zane has learned that his great grandfather back during prohibition hid some gold bars on his rocky, mountainous property that belonged to a Philadelphia gangster.  Both old man Barnes and the gangster die before they can retrieve the gold now thought to be worth over fifty million dollars.  Zane’s real estate development business is in trouble and he’s keen on the gold baling him out.  Problem is Zane and his dad, Roscoe don’t get along so Zane is petitioning the courts to commit Roscoe to a mental institution.  Roscoe has hired Charlie his neighbor and family friend to represent him.  On the day of his hearing, Roscoe takes a dive head first off the courthouse roof.  His will leaves his 500 acre property including the gold to Charlie.  Attached to the will is a map pinpointing the location of the hidden treasure.  The publicity brought on by the gold gets back to the Philly gangster’s ruthless and greedy descendants.  So Charlie is caught in an ethical dilemma and legal battle as well as in a web of danger and intrigue.

Meanwhile Joe is representing Jordan Scott, a young black man who shot and killed a white police officer who was attempting to rape Jordan’s girlfriend.  Scott has proof that the policeman is a rapist but the cop’s political connections kept him from being arrested.  Scott caught the officer in the act and shot him as he ran away.  Since Scott shot the officer as he was retreating, the district attorney is pressing charges.  Joe has his hands full as he prepares for trial while advising Charlie and caring for his ailing wife Caroline.

I continue to be impressed with this author.  His characters are imperfect but likable.  His plots are complex but plausible and his pace exhilarates the reading experience.  Scott Pratt is quickly moving toward my top ten list.