Necessity
THE GREATER OF TWO EVILS
A woman kills her boyfriend, shooting him six times in the back as he walks out their front door. The woman's attorney calls her a hero. Homicide prosecutor David Brunelle calls her a murderer.
The legal doctrine of necessity excuses a crime, even murder, if the harm inflicted is less than the harm prevented, so long as there was no alternative. The killer tells the cops that her boyfriend had a psychotic break and was on his way to shoot up the neighborhood elementary school, intent on slaughtering countless innocents. Brunelle is certain she's lying, but how can he prove it when the only other witness to what truly happened is dead?
It's a race against time as Brunelle battles challenges both personal and professional to find the evidence he needs to refute the killer's story and prove his case, before the jury finds the killer 'Not Guilty' because of the legal defense of NECESSITY.
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Stephen Penner
Stephen Penner is an author, artist, and attorney from Seattle, Washington.
Born and raised near Detroit, Michigan, Stephen was writing murder mysteries and fantasy adventures while still in elementary school. In college, he studied languages and spent a year living in Europe. He attended law school at the University of Michigan and moved to Seattle after earning his law degree.
Stephen began his legal career as a criminal defense attorney in downtown Seattle, appearing in federal, state, and municipal courts throughout the State of Washington. After several years of defense work, Stephen 'switched sides' and became a prosecutor. He has been prosecuting cases for over 25 years, working his way up from misdemeanor offenses, to felonies, and finally to homicides. He has conducted over 100 criminal trials and now trains other prosecutors.
As an author, Stephen pens several series of legal thrillers. The Rain City Legal Thrillers deliver the adventures of attorney Daniel Raine and his unlikely partner Rebecca Sommers. The David Brunelle Legal Thrillers feature Seattle homicide D.A. David Brunelle and a recurring cast of cops, defense attorneys, and forensic experts. And the Talon Winter Legal Thrillers showcase tough-as-nails Tacoma criminal defense attorney Talon Winter and her closest allies. Stephen is also the author of the Maggie Devereaux Paranormal Mysteries, recounting the exploits of an American graduate student in the magical Highlands of Scotland, and several other stand-alone works.
In his spare time, Stephen enjoys painting, drawing, and spending time with his family.
David Brunelle Legal Thriller Series
David Brunelle Legal Thriller Series consists of eighteen primary books, and includes two additional books that complement the series but are not considered mandatory reads. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
