Desperate to keep his law firm afloat, attorney Steve Conroy has agreed to take the case of convicted criminal, Johnny LaSalle, particularly since there's a lucrative retainer connected with taking this case. After interrogating Johnny LaSalle, Steve wonders, "Could this be his long lost brother who was kidnapped at age seven from their bedroom and never found?" Is it possible to unravel the world of corruption and redeem his firm and a possible relationship with a long-lost brother?

At the age of five, Steve Conroy saw his seven-year-old brother kidnapped from the very bedroom they shared. His brother was never found. And the guilt of his silence that night has all but destroyed Steve's life. Now thirty years old with a failing law practice, Steve agrees to represent convicted criminal Johnny LaSalle, an arrangement sweetened by a lucrative retainer. It's not long until he discovers that this con man might just be his missing brother. Desperate for his final shot at redemption, Steve will do anything to find the truth. But Johnny knows far more than he's telling, and the secrets he keeps have deadly consequences. Now Steve must depend on an inexperienced law student whose faith seems to be his last chance at redemption from a corrupt world where one wrong move could be his last.

James Scott Bell, a former trial lawyer, is the bestselling author of Try Dying, The Whole Truth, No Legal Grounds, Deadlock, and Sins of the Fathers. A winner of the Christy Award for excellence in Christian fiction, he lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Cindy. Visit his website at www.jamescottbell.com.

The Whole Truth by James Scott Bell is the thrilling tale of a man desperate for truth and stability in the midst of his crumbling life, where nothing is what it seems to be. Steve Conroy is a struggling criminal defense lawyer with a troubled past. When Steve’s brother, who was kidnapped and supposedly killed at age 7, suddenly reveals that he is alive and wants Steve in his life again, Steve is pushed into a group he isn’t sure he wants to be a part of. Steve must face the painful secrets of his past and move on to decide who to trust, what to believe, and where he stands.

With short chapters and paragraphs, The Whole Truth is easy to read and keeps the reader’s attention well. Most of the novel moves at a fast pace. Part 3 starts off sprinting and never looks back. There are plenty of gunpoint and knifepoint moments to keep the story action-packed and suspenseful.

The Whole Truth has several twists and an intriguing plot. The discovery of Steve’s long-lost brother Johnny (formerly Robert) is the trigger that sets the plot in motion. Throughout the novel, Steve tries to understand Johnny’s background and current position. He is torn between wanting to trust and love his brother and not wanting to get involved with the people in Johnny’s life.

Steve Conroy is an L.A. lawyer and recovering cocaine addict. His practice is struggling, and his whole life seems to be going downhill until he meets a very wealthy client, a religious ex-con, who claims to be the brother whom Steve thought had been dead for 25 years. After being convinced that Johnny really is his brother, Steve becomes the lawyer for Johnny and his other family, the followers of Eldon LaSalle, who want his legal counsel to help set up a church. Soon enough, Steve realizes that Johnny’s group is really a racist cult made up of ex-jailbirds. Because of the pay and his brother, Steve stays on the job. The more of the truth Steve uncovers, the more skeptical he becomes of the whole operation. When lives come into jeopardy, including his own, Steve musters all his courage during a final showdown with the LaSalle-ites.

Steve is haunted by his past. His childhood was scarred by the death of his family. His addiction to cocaine in recent years ruined his career and his marriage. Steve is dealing with the finalization of a divorce with his wife Ashley, and he knows he needs to move on, yet he still cares about her. Steve is very susceptible to temptation, and has a hard time letting go. However, he shows intelligence, determination, and courage throughout the story. He has a witty sense of humor that doesn’t seem to amuse some people. Steve’s most stable relationship is with his sponsor, Gincy, a godly man who encourages him and helps him overcome his addictive urges. Sienna, a law student Steve hires, becomes helpful and welcome company to the lonely lawyer. Johnny LaSalle may be Steve’s brother, but there are many secrets surrounding him and his new family. He is powerful and manipulative, but likable and genuinely cares about Steve. Johnny’s adoptive father, Eldon LaSalle, is the leader of his own cult, greatly respected and feared, and never questioned. He does despicable things in the name of God.

The Whole Truth is an intriguing, suspenseful novel. Its spell-binding plot will keep readers on the edge of their seats. I would recommend it for both male and female readers, especially those who enjoy law stories, mysteries, or thrillers. -- Laura Coulter, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

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