“A sizzling, fast-paced read that drew me in and kept me turning pages right to the end. Joey Hartstone paints a vivid picture of a small-town Texas court where old feuds and allegiances mean anything can happen."

—William Landay, New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob

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“The Local has everything I love in a book. It’s a thriller, a whodunit, and a sexy courtroom drama. It’s a real page-turner with fascinating characters that takes place in my home state of Texas. Enjoy!”
—Woody Harrelson
 
“Unraveling a fraught legal system page-by-gripping-page, The Local is an extraordinary and unforgettable powerhouse of a debut. Hartstone’s masterful storytelling and switchblade-sharp wit make for a piercing and wildly entertaining thriller about the fragility of power—and the feverish and cruel desperation of those who wield it. An absolute must-read.”

—P.J. Vernon, author of Bath Haus

“A spectacular courtroom thriller that kept me turning pages like the best of Grisham or Turow. I loved everything about The Local except for the hours of lost sleep when I couldn’t put it down. Let’s hope that Joey Hartstone is working on a sequel, because I can’t get enough of these characters.”

—Michelle King, co-creator of The Good Wife, The Good Fight, and Evil

“A compelling and fast-moving novel dealing with the conflict between friendship, family loyalty, and duty to the law. Hartstone kept me guessing right till the end.”

—Lisa Ballantyne, author of The Guilty One

“Joey Hartstone is a consummate storyteller. In The Local, he crafts a razor-sharp thriller reminiscent of the best of Grisham. Filled with simmering tensions, abiding rivalries, and the heady atmosphere of small-town southern America, it’s slick, smart and—to my delight—undeniably sexy.”

—Kia Abdullah, author of Take it Back