Four Women is penned by author Norman Shabel in the legal thriller, crime, and mystery subgenres. Set in 1968 in Miami Beach, the plot involves four women: Helen, Rachel, Mary, and Lilly. These four strong figures go through many twists and turns in life, culminating in a fight against a corrupt real estate developer known as ‘the Austrian.’ Helen, an Auschwitz survivor, and Rachel, who saved Jewish children during WWII, along with their friends, face eviction orchestrated by the developer and his political allies. They seek help from Helen's alcoholic lawyer nephew, Joshua Logan, who must navigate a corrupt legal system to save them and secure justice for another client. Shabel masterfully intertwines history and crime against the vivid backdrop of Miami Beach and rich historical elements from WWII.

The four women's resilience, particularly Helen's and Rachel's harrowing pasts, contrasted sharply with the present-day corruption and greed they faced. Each one of them is beautifully characterized with original, distinctive dialogue touches, and a strong sense of how their attitudes have been shaped by past events. Joshua Logan was also a complex and well-drawn character and one who I became increasingly interested in as the plot continued on its many intriguing twists and turns. The portrayal of systemic corruption in Miami's judicial system was both realistic and enraging, making their struggle feel intensely personal whilst grounding everything in a strong sense of reality. The fast-paced plot was well-timed with moments of strong, emotive tension and sudden twists that kept me on edge, and the mystery surrounding ‘the Austrian’ and his hidden secrets had a satisfying conclusion. Overall, I would certainly recommend Four Women by author Norman Shabel as a compelling thriller with loads to offer readers.

Four Women by Normal Shabel is a legal thriller about four women and a lawyer with an unhealthy dependence on alcohol. It’s 1968 and the scene is Miami Beach. Helen, an Auschwitz survivor, Rachel, savior of 2500 Jewish kids during the war, and Mary and Lily, friends of both women, have spent most of their lives in Miami Beach. Enter “the Austrian,” a greedy real estate developer who wants them out of their homes. Nothing will stop him from getting his hands on their land and he’s prepared to kill to get it. The women turn to Joshua Logan, Helen’s lawyer nephew, to help them stop the evictions but Joshua is facing his own difficulties. Can he go up against bent politicians and an attorney who’s in control of the Miami legal system? And who is “the Austrian?”

Four Women is part of Norman Shabel’s Crime Mysteries series. This is a steady story with a little bit of everything from crime to passion, and plenty of intrigue and suspense thrown in for good measure. The characters are developed well into likable people and there are some touchy subjects dealt with, not least WWII, antisemitism, and the Holocaust. The story also deals with political and legal corruption, most of which probably happens in real life. There is plenty of action here and the plot will keep you reading right to the very end. As far as courtroom dramas go, this is one of the better ones, not surprising given that the author is a successful attorney.

Norman Shabel's Four Women explores the lives of four amazing elderly friends and Joshua Logan, a nephew with an excessive drinking problem. Helen, an Auschwitz survivor, Rachel, a hero who saved 2,500 Jewish children from the Nazis, and their friends Lily and Mary live together in Miami Beach. However, a ruthless real estate developer known as "the Austrian" is trying to evict them from their home as part of his plan to build a hotel. Nothing can stop him because the politicians are on his payroll. The man harbors a dark secret, though. In desperation, the women turn to Helen's nephew, the alcoholic lawyer, who steps in to save them. With a client who sustained a devastating injury at work, a biased judge, and a defense lawyer who has made his life impossible, Joshua is facing a challenging situation. He must deal with his current client's difficult insurance claim while trying to assist his aunt.

Once again, Norman Shabel weaves corruption, greed, and politics into an intricate mystery and legal plot that brings to life the atrocities of World War II. Four Women has strong and convincing characters, making it a compelling must-read. The stories of the victims will touch readers' emotions and make them empathize with the feelings of grief and horror experienced by World War II survivors and victims of greedy individuals. Vivid, skillfully crafted descriptions of the setting and events capture the reader's attention and make the story real and absorbing. The villains are fearless and imposing, while the heroes are daring and courageous. The narrative is easy to read, and you will not want to put it down. A legal thriller where love, war, resilience, and justice are all present, Four Women will appeal to readers who enjoy crime and courtroom dramas, and history enthusiasts!

Four old friends and an alcoholic lawyer were up against a group of Miami Beach politicians and developers in Norman Shabel's novel Four Women. Helen, the aunt of Joshua Logan, resided in a run-down building in South Beach that had seen better days. The sheriff notified Helen and her three friends, who were all in their late sixties or early seventies, that they had to vacate the building by the end of the month. In South Beach, a developer named Horst Hillenbrandt was demolishing existing structures to make way for a new one. Horst had been around for about a decade, and his origins were unknown. Meanwhile, a client of Joshua's was injured when he fell into a vat of boiling sulfuric acid, and Joshua was managing life between his aunt's issue and the trial.

Norman Shabel's Four Women transports us from sunny Miami Beach back to the atrocities of World War II. The chapters switched between the current day and the past of Helen and her three friends. The prior experiences of the three friends were thoroughly explored, and the atrocities and anguish they endured were handled with extreme caution and kindness by the author. Shabel transformed the contentious, contemporary themes of human wrongdoing into an easy, engrossing read by using his vast knowledge of aspects of the civil and criminal justice systems. There is something for everyone in this skillfully crafted courtroom drama: romance, mystery, humor, and sadness. The novel ends on a positive and fulfilling note, even though it deals with some difficult subjects like the Holocaust, sexual assault, greed, and corruption.