‘An Equal Justice’ Is Reminiscent of Grisham’s Best [REVIEW]

A newly-minted lawyer suits up to tackle a dangerous case in Chad Zunker’s An Equal Justice. (Photo courtesy Canva)

A prestigious law firm. A rookie lawyer. A dark maze of lies and violence. When a young graduate scores his dream job, it could be the answer to a longtime prayer—or the first step toward a dangerous end—in Chad Zucker’s new legal thriller, An Equal Justice. 

Thomas & Mercer

David Adams didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth. In fact, he had more in common with the young orphan Pip than the powerful attorney Jaggers, in Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations. Nevertheless, having just graduated from Stanford, David is eager to begin his career as a lawyer, and when he’s snatched up by Austin’s most prestigious firm, Hunter and Kellerman, it seems like he’s finally on the right track.

Gone are the days of begging for scraps, now he has everything he has ever wanted: a luxury SUV, a high-rise condo, and even an extravagant salary. The sky is the limit as far as the top partners are concerned, and they are quick to prod him in the direction he’d always dreamed of going. Up.

Then one of David’s colleagues—a fellow associate—commits suicide, but only after issuing a dark warning in the hours just before his death. Suddenly, David is sent down an unexpected path, one which leads him to the underbelly of the city and into the Camp, a secret community where homeless outcasts dwell. His heart goes out to them and their plight, and he soon gets the feeling that they hold the key to a dark conspiracy.

When one of David’s street friends is murdered, his own world unravels even more. Now he finds himself caught between the the life he wants and his nagging conscience which is persistently prodding him to pursue justice no matter the personal cost to himself.

It is no secret that John Grisham lit a fire under author Chad Zunker. From the time Chad read Grisham’s The Pelican Brief after graduating high school, Zunker was hooked on the legal thriller. And after reading An Equal Justice, it is impossible not to make comparisons between the two writers. I almost think that the only difference between the two is that Grisham played baseball while Zunker played football. Otherwise, the similarities are almost eerie. Both authors deliver immersive, suspenseful, character-driven novels populated by both altruistic and shady attorneys. Both write stories that take a hard look at under-served portions of the population. And both authors realize a good yarn can be told without loads of sex and language, and even manage to keep the violence “off screen.”

That being said, An Equal Justice is a story which will definitely earn Zunker a faithful following. David Adams is a likable character akin to The Firm‘s Mitch McDeere, one we feel comfortable following as he builds his life after college and strives to make a place for himself in the world. And yet, despite his desire for worldly possessions and success, he has a moral compass that is refreshing and strong, one which makes us appreciate his sensitivity and understanding when it comes to the people he encounters. It’s a story that stands out, particularly in the midst of our current political climate, for it reminds us that good can triumph over evil, and that it is vital for each of us to get our priorities straight and our houses in order. If you can’t get enough of Grisham’s work, then you definitely should pick up An Equal Justice. You just might realize that you’ve met the king of the legal thriller’s heir apparent.

Chad Zunker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chad Zunker is the bestselling author of the Sam Callahan thriller series, which includes The Tracker, Shadow Shepherd, and Hunt the Lion.

Chad studied journalism at the University of Texas, where he was also on the football team. He has worked for some of the country’s most powerful law firms and also has invented baby products that are sold all over the world.

He lives in Austin with his wife, Katie, and their three daughters and is hard at work on his next David Adams legal thriller.

For more information on the author and his writing, visit ChadZunker.com, like him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.

AN EQUAL JUSTICE
By Chad Zunker
222 pp. Thomas & Mercer. $15.95

Purchase An Equal Justice at one of these fine online retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, IndieBound, and Powell’s.

An Equal Justice is brought to you in association with Little Bird Publicity.