Title:	The Darkest Place
	Author:	Phillip Margolin
	Published:	March 8, 2022, Minotaur Books
	No. of Pages:	320
	Cover Price:	$27.99 Hardcover, $14.99 Kindle

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The Darkest Place is the fifth novel in Phillip Margolin’s bestselling Robin Lockwood series. In this novel, Robin, as a favor to a judge, takes on a pro bono case which ends up having devastating personal consequences for Robin. She goes home to Elk Grove to recover and ends up defending a woman, Marjorie Loman, who is obviously guilty of kidnapping a baby she carried as a surrogate and then assaulting the mother. As the story continues, Robin stays in Elk Grove to finish the trial and uses some of her amazing tactics to win the case. There is also a murder trial involving Loman, and Robin agrees to represent her once again.

The Robin Lockwood series is one of the most true-to-form legal thrillers out there. Margolin knows his way around a courtroom and has the skills to make legal trials fascinating and believable. The Darkest Place is no exception, and readers will find themselves unable to put the novel down. There is constantly building suspense as the two separate plots are resolved, and as is Margolin’s style, the dénouement is a complete surprise. For those who have read the previous novels in the series, Robin’s character is known and loved. But for those just picking up this novel as a stand alone, there is enough in the novel to understand Robin and the supporting characters. Margolin does an excellent job of developing his characters, so it’s okay if readers don’t have the entire background.

This excellent book will make readers want to go back and read the previous books in the series. They are well-written and absolutely spellbinding. This is a favorite series and is highly recommended for anyone who loves a good legal thriller. Margolin has outdone himself again.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.