Reviews
A lawyer turns sleuth to help a homeless youth uncover the story behind his mother's murder....The motives and murders in Easley's debut fit together like a set of nesting dolls, with each resolution leading to a new case. Cal comes across as an average guy who's just trying to lend a hand., "The motives and murders in Easley's debut fit together like a set of nesting dolls, with each resolution leading to a new case. Cal comes across as an average guy who's just trying to lend a hand."- Kirkus "Easley's legal thriller debut, the first in a projected three-book series, is perfect for John Grisham fans. Although heavily draped in character stereotypes and social issues, his briskly paced and satisfyingly complex David vs. Goliath story will hold readers rapt from start to finish." Library Journal "MATTERS OF DOUBT is a fast, fun read with a fascinating defendant and our hero, Cal Claxton, a small town lawyer who risks his life to solve a big time cold case." Phillip Margolin, New York Times bestselling author of SLEIGHT OF HAND. "In Cal Claxton, Warren Easley has created a character you can root for -- a man who has experienced loss but still believes in a better future, a lawyer who vigorously pursues justice for the most vulnerable clients. MATTERS OF DOUBT proves that legal thrillers can indeed be thrilling." - Alafair Burke, author of IF YOU WERE HERE. "Warren Easley renders his character Cal Claxton--a cook, a counter-puncher, and a fearless pursuer of justice--with warmth, deft restraint, and a pleasing tinge of noir. You will eagerly turn the pages to see if this wise ex-L.A. prosecutor can defend the vulnerable and solve the crime, to see if he is going to blow his budding romance, and, not the least, to discover the fate of his dog and best pal, Archie. I await the next Cal Claxton book with great anticipation."--Dean King, national best-selling author of Skeletons on the Zahara and The Feud "Easley makes Portland and the nearby wine country come alive in this smart mystery. A quicksilver page-turner with endearing, well-drawn characters you won't forget, Matters of Doubt is one to savor like a fine Oregon Pinot. Looking forward to more investigations with reluctant sleuth Cal Claxton."--New York Times best selling author, Rosalind Noonan "In Matters of Doubt, Warren Easley tells a tale at once universal and strikingly Portland, a city that can feel like a small town with more than its fair share of dark secrets. With deft strokes, Easley paints a lush mural of the city and its denizens, one rich with photorealistic detail yet infused with an evocative impressionism-from the hope and hopelessness of life on the streets to the insular corridors of PDX power elite. In ex-LA prosecutor Cal Claxton, Easley gives us the quintessential Oregon transplant, an outsider seeking solace in a place suspicious of outsiders, a man whose wits, compassion, and love of great coffee help him find his way. Cal is a character I hope to see lots more of, from a writer with the chops to keep surprising us for years to come." -Bill Cameron, Spotted Owl Award-winning author of COUNTY LINE "From the first knock on Cal Claxton's door to the final resolution, Warren Easley keeps us in the hunt for information leading to the killer or killers that are central in "Matters of Doubt." Along the way we are confronted with questions about the legal system, the plight of the homeless, especially among young people, the exploitation of women, the healthcare system and how the commercial media drives public opinion. All wrapped up in a very entertaining whodunit." --Kent McCord, Actor and Retired Reserve Los Angeles School Police Department Lieutenant. "A fun, suspenseful tale... unexpected plot twists... real, likeable characters, especially Cal and his loyal dog Archie... an entertaining winner!"--Don Eckhardt, author of The Hannibal e-Puzzle, MATTERS OF DOUBT is a fast, fun read with a fascinating defendant and our hero, Cal Claxton, a small town lawyer who risks his life to solve a big time cold case., In Cal Claxton, Warren Easley has created a character you can root for -- a man who has experienced loss but still believes in a better future, a lawyer who vigorously pursues justice for the most vulnerable clients. MATTERS OF DOUBT proves that legal thrillers can indeed be thrilling., Easley's legal thriller debut, the first in a projected three-book series, is perfect for John Grisham fans. Although heavily draped in character stereotypes and social issues, his briskly paced and satisfyingly complex David vs. Goliath story will hold readers rapt from start to finish., "Warren Easley has created a character you can root for-a man who has experienced loss but still believes in a better future, a lawyer who vigorously pursues justice for the most vulnerable clients. Matters of Doubt proves that legal thrillers can indeed be thrilling. " - Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author, A lawyer turns sleuth to help a homeless youth uncover the story behind his mother's murder.Attorney Cal Claxton moved to Dundee to take it easy after he retired from working for the city of Los Angeles. Though Cal anticipates that he can spend time working on his fly-fishing now that he's deep in Oregon, his plate is soon full of the jobs you'd expect to find in a small town. When a teenager comes to Cal begging for him to investigate a case, Cal tries to explain that investigating's not in his job description. The kid, a rebellious Portland youth who goes by the name Picasso, wants someone to look into his mother's death since he knows the police aren't taking the case seriously. Picasso is convinced his mother's former boyfriend Mitchell Conyers is the one responsible for her death, and he is ready to back up his beliefs with action. Cal tries to soothe Picasso while trying to find out if Mitchell's sleek exterior hides more sinister motives. Meanwhile, Picasso spends his nights with other transients and his days painting a mural of hope on the exterior of a local free health clinic. These days of freedom may be over when he stumbles on a murder for which he is the prime suspect.The motives and murders in Easley's debut fit together like a set of nesting dolls, with each resolution leading to a new case. Cal comes across as an average guy who's just trying to lend a hand., ""The motives and murders in Easley's debut fit together like a set of nesting dolls, with each resolution leading to a new case. Cal comes across as an average guy who's just trying to lend a hand.""- Kirkus ""Easley's legal thriller debut, the first in a projected three-book series, is perfect for John Grisham fans. Although heavily draped in character stereotypes and social issues, his briskly paced and satisfyingly complex David vs. Goliath story will hold readers rapt from start to finish."" Library Journal ""MATTERS OF DOUBT is a fast, fun read with a fascinating defendant and our hero, Cal Claxton, a small town lawyer who risks his life to solve a big time cold case."" Phillip Margolin, New York Times bestselling author of SLEIGHT OF HAND. ""In Cal Claxton, Warren Easley has created a character you can root for -- a man who has experienced loss but still believes in a better future, a lawyer who vigorously pursues justice for the most vulnerable clients. MATTERS OF DOUBT proves that legal thrillers can indeed be thrilling."" - Alafair Burke, author of IF YOU WERE HERE. ""Warren Easley renders his character Cal Claxton--a cook, a counter-puncher, and a fearless pursuer of justice--with warmth, deft restraint, and a pleasing tinge of noir. You will eagerly turn the pages to see if this wise ex-L.A. prosecutor can defend the vulnerable and solve the crime, to see if he is going to blow his budding romance, and, not the least, to discover the fate of his dog and best pal, Archie. I await the next Cal Claxton book with great anticipation.""--Dean King, national best-selling author of Skeletons on the Zahara and The Feud "Easley makes Portland and the nearby wine country come alive in this smart mystery. A quicksilver page-turner with endearing, well-drawn characters you won't forget, Matters of Doubt is one to savor like a fine Oregon Pinot. Looking forward to more investigations with reluctant sleuth Cal Claxton."--New York Times best selling author, Rosalind Noonan ""In Matters of Doubt, Warren Easley tells a tale at once universal and strikingly Portland, a city that can feel like a small town with more than its fair share of dark secrets. With deft strokes, Easley paints a lush mural of the city and its denizens, one rich with photorealistic detail yet infused with an evocative impressionism-from the hope and hopelessness of life on the streets to the insular corridors of PDX power elite. In ex-LA prosecutor Cal Claxton, Easley gives us the quintessential Oregon transplant, an outsider seeking solace in a place suspicious of outsiders, a man whose wits, compassion, and love of great coffee help him find his way. Cal is a character I hope to see lots more of, from a writer with the chops to keep surprising us for years to come."" -Bill Cameron, Spotted Owl Award-winning author of COUNTY LINE "From the first knock on Cal Claxton's door to the final resolution, Warren Easley keeps us in the hunt for information leading to the killer or killers that are central in ""Matters of Doubt."" Along the way we are confronted with questions about the legal system, the plight of the homeless, especially among young people, the exploitation of women, the healthcare system and how the commercial media drives public opinion. All wrapped up in a very entertaining whodunit." --Kent McCord, Actor and Retired Reserve Los Angeles School Police Department Lieutenant. "A fun, suspenseful tale... unexpected plot twists... real, likeable characters, especially Cal and his loyal dog Archie... an entertaining winner!"--Don Eckhardt, author of The Hannibal e-Puzzle, A fast, fun read with a fascinating defendant and our hero, Cal Claxton, a small town lawyer who risks his life to solve a big time cold case., Attorney Cal Claxton has relocated from Los Angeles to a small town near Portland, OR, and is adapting to a quieter lifestyle. Or he was, until a young muralist from Portland named Danny Baxter (better known as Picasso) comes to him for help. Turns out Picasso's mother, investigative journalist Nicole Baxter, disappeared when her son was quite young, sending him into a rabbit warren of foster homes and, eventually, life on the street. Now, eight years later, Nicole's body has been recovered from the bottom of a reservoir. As the cold case thaws, Nicole's former boyfriend is murdered, and Picasso is the prime suspect. Cal, ever the Good Samaritan, wades into a complicated story filled with high-profile bad guys and vulnerable innocents. VERDICT Easley's legal thriller debut, the first in a projected three-book series, is perfect for John Grisham fans. Although heavily draped in character stereotypes and social issues, his briskly paced and satisfyingly complex David vs. Goliath story will hold readers rapt from start to finish.
