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  • Cut-Throat Defence

  • Jack Kowalski 1
  • By: Olly Jarvis
  • Narrated by: Jason Done
  • Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (19 ratings)
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Cut-Throat Defence cover art

Cut-Throat Defence

By: Olly Jarvis
Narrated by: Jason Done
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Summary

There is no man richer than a man without a price...

Jack Kowalski is a young and newly qualified barrister, who finds himself working on the biggest drugs importation trial ever played out on English soil. With the assistance of his equally inexperienced instructing solicitor, Lara Panassai, Jack argues a savage cut-throat defence a risky tactic where the defendants blame each other and quickly embroils some of the most eminent QCs in the land.

As the son of Polish immigrants, the sensitive Kowalski has always found it hard to fit in, with a sense of inferiority and constant nervousness in Court. Now he must face his demons and fight not only for his clients but for his very future at the Bar.

But when the defendant then unexpectedly absconds, Jack and Lara must fight on regardless, following a tip that leads them out of the courtroom and into Manchesters seedy underworld crime bosses, strip clubs, corrupt lawyers and all manner of hidden sins.

As the case grows darker with each new discovery, who in this viper pit of deception can Jack and Lara trust?

Olly Jarvis is a writer and criminal defence barrister, originally from London but now working in Manchester. Drawing on his experiences, he writes both fiction and non-fiction with a particular understanding of the pressures and excitement of life in the courtroom. He wrote the highly acclaimed Radio 4 drama Judgement, and wrote and presented the BBC documentary Mum Knows Best. He is also the author of Death by Dangerous. Olly has two children and lives in Cheshire.

©2021 SAGA Egmont (P)2021 SAGA Egmont

Critic reviews

Thetautly-written, tensethriller weaves together the fates of crime victims, gangsters, cops and lawyers often culminating ina realistic courtroom drama.
-- Manchester Evening News

A legal thriller in the great Grisham tradition genius author!
-- Gyles Brandreth

The violence in the criminal underworld of Manchester is presented in scenes which are short and shocking.Cut-Throat Defenceisan excellent read.
-- Simon Brett, author and CWA Golden Dagger winner

What listeners say about Cut-Throat Defence

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Good Courtoom Drama

I have seen a damning review of this but I have to say that, if you like a courtroom drama, this one is well written and well read. It does hold the listener from beginning to end and, whilst the plot line may not be the most original in the world, it does have the ring of truth about it and is all the more compelling for that. I had read The Genesis Inquiry by the same author which is completely different and somewhat more far fetched but both are excellent. I shall be looking for more by this author.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

Really enjoyed the story, which is gripping at times, and the pace is perfect, very well read

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent. Great follow up series if u like Charles Holborne or Benson and De Vere

Having read all of John Fairfax’s Benson & de Vere, and Simon Michael’s Charles Holborn legal thriller series, this was perfect as a next stop. Introduces us to a flawed hero, Less confident than some of the others I’ve read. And it’s all about the decisions he makes that reveal his character, and that of his solicitor sidekick as well. Great twists and turns. Bit of head hopping, but hopefully this will go as the series continues. Bought book 2 straightaway. Particularly likes the world created around Kowalski.
Brilliant narration as well, with super variations on dialogue, not just completely different accents Read in the same tune with the same rhythm like some narrators do.
Well done

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it

Relationships between characters great. Main characters very likeable. I’m going to read the next books and I’m looking forward to them a lot🍀🍀🍀🙂

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent courtroom drama.

Good character development, excellent plot and first class narration. Looking forward to more. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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Sorry to say…

Because I’m sure author worked hard but this is an awful book. Simplistic repetitive story, cliche ridden and turgid.

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