My opinion : 

Dead by Proxy is a high-octane, addictive legal thriller that pulls you right into a high-stakes web of survival and suspense. Written by Manning Wolfe, whose deep background as a lawyer shines through in her impeccable knowledge of the judicial system, the story doesn’t follow a straightforward whodunit formula. Instead, it kicks off with a shocking murder that sets off a brilliant domino effect, constantly shifting gears and throwing fresh hooks at you just when you think you have a handle on things. We follow the protagonist, Byron, as he scrambles to navigate a lethal situation, eventually adopting a completely assumed life under the alias Quinton. It’s a fast-paced cat-and-mouse game where the stakes keep escalating until you hit a massive, unexpected twist.

There is so much to love about this book; it crackles with energy and completely re-energized my love for the legal thriller genre. Manning Wolfe’s world-building is incredibly immersive; her vivid descriptions of New York City and the various places Byron visits are so well-rendered that you feel like you’re standing right there in the moment alongside him. The pacing is remarkably fast, packed with twists, turns, and exceptionally well-written characters who keep you thoroughly invested. I loved how the narrative structure avoids traditional mystery tropes, instead delivering a cascading sequence of surprises that kept me on the edge of my seat. Finding this author felt like a total win, and it’s easily become one of my favorite discoveries in the genre.

While the book is an absolute ride, it has just a couple of minor speed bumps. In the first couple of chapters, I found myself struggling a bit to wrap my head around the fact that the lawyer and his client have incredibly similar-sounding names, which caused some initial confusion. Additionally, the narrative occasionally leans so heavily into rich, detailed descriptions that the pacing felt a tad bogged down in places. Because the core story is so fast-paced and gripping, there were moments where I found myself wishing I could just jump forward because I was so desperate to find out what was going to happen next.

Ultimately, Dead by Proxy was a fantastic experience. While it does wrap up on a bit of a cliffhanger that leaves a few things hanging, it only left me completely pumped to pick up the next book in the series immediately. It’s a brilliantly crafted, energetic thriller that delivers memorable characters, sharp legal authenticity, and genuine suspense. If you are looking for a straightforward, slow-burn mystery, the formatting here might surprise you, but if you want an action-packed legal thriller that keeps the surprises coming right until the end, this one absolutely delivers. Manning Wolfe has proven she knows exactly how to command the courtroom and the page