Just Plea
A bloody van. A motive. No alibi.
Nate’s next case is not looking great.
Attorney Nate Shepherd’s newest client stands accused of a fatal hit and run. While Nate doesn’t believe that the CEO of Carrefour’s largest charity would ever smash into a person and flee the scene, a blood-streaked van says otherwise.
A free-wheeling prosecutor is certain that Nate’s client did it and more, that the killing wasn’t an accident at all. With help from old friends and an intriguing new one, Nate uncovers incriminating acts, secret relationships, and a massive motive that has him scrambling for answers.
As the case gets worse, Nate fights to craft a defense. But as trial approaches, one risk grows until it looms over everything else:
Will Nate destroy his client’s life by saving his freedom?
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Michael Stagg
Before Michael Stagg began spinning gripping courtroom dramas, he lived them. For more than two decades, he stood before juries and judges as a civil trial lawyer, navigating high-stakes cases with the kind of nuance and strategy that now infuses every chapter of his fiction. That firsthand experience—sharp, lived-in, and often unforgiving—forms the backbone of his legal thrillers, where the pressure of the courtroom is more than just a backdrop; it’s a battleground.
His breakout Nate Shepherd Legal Thriller series introduces readers to a world where justice is rarely black and white, and the truth can be as dangerous as any weapon. Set in the gritty, fictional town of Carrefour, these novels blend legal precision with emotional depth, capturing the inner lives of lawyers, clients, and those caught in the crosshairs of both the law and their own pasts. With a writing style that’s taut, unpretentious, and razor-focused on the stakes, Stagg delivers narratives that are less about legal jargon and more about the people behind the cases.
Nate Shepherd
In a town where justice is often murky and every decision has a cost, The Nate Shepherd Legal Thriller Series pulls readers straight into the eye of the storm. At its heart is Nate Shepherd—once a prosecutor, now a defense attorney—whose cases are never just about the law. Each book opens a door into a new legal battle, but it’s the emotional fallout, moral ambiguity, and personal stakes that linger long after the verdict.
Nate Shepherd consists of eight books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

