All Guilty Anyway - by Russell W Johnson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Ivy Collins, a fourth-generation attorney, is the daughter her powerful father never wanted. After growing up chasing approval that never came, Ivy rebels by joining the practice of Lester "The Truth" Williams, a notorious criminal defense lawyer who once bested her dad in court. Ivy expects mentorship and mastery. Instead, she finds a burned-out cynic running a settlement mill where clients are pressured to plea bargain their cases because, as The Truth insists, "They're all guilty anyway."

Ivy plays along until she's assigned to represent Sonia Cabrerra, a Guatemalan immigrant accused of unspeakable child abuse. The case seems open and shut with physical evidence and a devastating confession. However, Ivy some uncovers linguistic and cultural misunderstandings that could lead to a massive miscarriage of justice.

Up against a broken system, Ivy must decide how far she is willing to go to fight for a client when key evidence resides in dangerous, cartel-controlled regions of Guatemala and local witnesses live amidst the constant threat of deportation.

All Guilty Anyway asks whether, in a world built upon bargains and broken people, the truth still stands a chance.