For Cause by Mark Shaiken is a legal thriller set in the Bankruptcy Court. Josephina Jillian Jones, 3J to most, is a bankruptcy lawyer based in Kansas City. When her firm takes on what seems like a simple case of an oil exploration company being denied a negotiated line of credit by a consortium of banks, she files a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy case on behalf of Paxton Energy to allow them to continue to pay their operating expenses and their payroll. It is a case she has no doubt her firm can win. That is, until a video surfaces of the Paxton Energy CEO admitting to a laughing audience that his company regularly overinflates its assets to ensure it gets the credit lines with its banking group. With her case in tatters and the CEO, Remmy Paxton, swearing that the video is fake, she has a very short time to uncover the truth before Paxton Energy collapses. Desperate for proof of the video’s non-authenticity, she is forced to turn to an unlikely source for help: the head of Kansas City’s criminal underworld, Robbie McFadden. Has she opened a dangerous door that might threaten her career and even her safety?

For Cause delves into a legal world that few readers will ever have experienced. I love novels that educate as well as entertain, and this was illuminating. Mark Shaiken created a fascinating character in Josephina Jillian Jones, a strong, independent lawyer who is not afraid to delve into the darker side of the law. I loved that despite her obvious courage and commitment to her client’s needs, she also had a softer, more naïve side that came out and made her more relatable. The author, as a former bankruptcy lawyer himself, is well educated in this aspect of the law, and his knowledge comes through on every page. The author seamlessly weaves the meaning of legal processes and court proceedings into the narrative. Despite this being a legal thriller, there is no shortage of fast-paced action outside the courtroom to keep readers engaged. A well-written, well-thought-out, and compelling read with plenty of twists and turns. Readers will finish this book feeling satisfied. There is an excellent twist in the tail that will get readers excited about the next iteration of 3J’s journey. I will be looking forward to the next episode. I thoroughly enjoyed this relaxing read and highly recommend it.

In For Cause, Mark Shaiken gives readers a twist with a plot inside a court dealing with bankruptcy cases. There are limited car chases, a few deaths, but plenty of wheeling and dealing. Josephina Jillian Jones, or 3J, is an African American working together with her mentor, Pascal, fighting for Paxton Energy. Behind the scenes, there is corruption at the highest level, an ignominious fight between the banks and the oil company that is several generations old. 3J is driven to ask for help from a notorious mobster to delve deeper and discover the truth. She treads a dangerous path as she seeks to expose the people behind the scenes and discover their motives. A video, which may be fake, is a nice touch, bringing the scenario right up to date. This all leads to an exciting and edge-of-your-seat climax.

I really enjoyed For Cause by Mark Shaiken, as the bankruptcy case featured a new aspect of the law. His characters are real, and I liked every single one of them, even the mob boss, who has a very soft heart under the bluster. However, having helped 3J, he will now call in the favor, I suspect, in the next book in the series. I like books that include facts I did not previously know. For Cause explains the workings of the bankruptcy courts, the intricacies of the oil business, and also describes the state of Kansas and its towns. More cerebral than many books in the crime genre, this is a refreshing read with plenty of tense moments, highs, lows, and a hint halfway through that had me wondering. It is well written, and I would advise readers not only to pick this one up but to check out the other four titles in the series.