Proof
- Judith D Collins
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
By: Jon Cowan
Narrator: Andrew Eiden
Simon & Schuster Audio
ISBN: 9781668051139
Publisher: Gallery Books
Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: 06/24/2025
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ARC)
“Cowan has combined the best parts of classic legal thrillers, with an unexpected new lead character that brings the genre into a new generation.” —JAMES PATTERSON
From a writer and executive producer of Suits comes a riveting and gritty legal thriller about murder, cover-ups, redemption, and Los Angeles—perfect for fans of #1 bestselling authors John Grisham and Scott Turow.
As a disgraced lawyer with a drinking problem that he doesn’t view as a problem, Jake West is coasting on what’s left of his charm and money. He used to be the kind of lawyer who could convince anyone of anything—until he decided to take on his father’s biggest client and prove his dad was corrupt. Now Jake finds himself almost at rock bottom, and that’s before his ex-best friend is murdered and Jake is accused of the crime.
In a desperate bid to save himself, Jake must sober up and search for the real killer, whom he suspects might be hidden in one of the case files of his father’s illustrious law firm. As he delves into a labyrinth of lies and corruption, Jake teams up with an eclectic group of equally broken people as they all must skirt the law in order to find the proof he needs…no matter the personal or professional cost.
My Review
From one of my favorite shows, "Suits,"—the mega=talented writer and producer Jon Cowan delivers a dazzling knock-out debut legal thriller, PROOF and a kick-off to a new series, featuring charming attorney, Jake West, who has landed himself in the middle of a murder investigation and more in this twisty game of cat-and-mouse that will have you anxiously awaiting #2.
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About...
Jake West is an LA disgraced lawyer flawed with plenty of demons and a drinking problem. He is witty and charming and he screwed up his marriage with Cara and his relationship as a father with his eight-year-old son, Aaron, and thirteen-year-old daughter, Chloe.
Currently in his forties, Jake West, a once-respected attorney, has hit rock bottom. He took on his father's biggest client and proved his dad was corrupt, now censured at work. Then, his ex-best friend, Rich Kaplan, is murdered in the car sitting with him outside the courthouse. Someone knocked on the window with a flashlight, and when Jake rolled down the window, he was shot and left with the gun. Now, Jake is accused of the crime. And it gets even more complex, with layers of mystery and suspense.
After all, he was a witness, not a suspect, but someone was setting him up for murder.
This will certainly shock him back to reality. He must sober up and find the real killer (that may be hidden in one of the case files of his father's law firm. What case was Rich working on?
West digs into the last case Kaplan was handling. Even though he has no experience in criminal law, he is defending Tiana Walker, who says she is innocent, who was accused of setting a fire that killed two of her three children. He takes over the case, and things become more suspicious.
Amid a web of secrets, lies, corruption, and murder, Jake must find the PROOF he needs to find the real killer, save himself, and help his client in this razor-sharp whodunit. The plot is complex and intense, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you try to unravel the mystery.
My thoughts...
Absorbing. Entertaining. Unputdownable!
Legal thrillers are my JAM - my favorite genre (reading, movies, and TV shows). I was over the moon delighted to discover Cowan (the producer of my all-time favorite SUITS and spin-off Suits LA) was coming out with a new legal thriller series, PROOF, and it exceeded all expectations!
This was a read in one sitting for me, and I was up all night. Hooked from page one to the ending and dying for the next in the series. You may not like the flawed Jake at the beginning, but as his character develops, you will find yourself rooting for him before you turn the last page.
Smartly written, with a twisty plot that keeps you guessing, fast paced, intriguing, intense, set in the glamorous bustling city as a backdrop, Jake is a hot new leading character and a cast of fascinating supporting well-developed characters you will devour.
PROOF has it all from crime, mystery, suspense, corruption, betrayal, murder, politics, bribery, murder, courtroom drama, well-developed characters, snappy, witty dialogue, and moral dilemmas that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
A compelling and gritty legal thriller exploring themes of redemption, justice, and greed, while Jake's character navigates complex legal battles and personal demons on the road to redemption.
An impressive debut from a pro! I highly recommend and hope this is an upcoming long-running series. (and TV series)
Recs...
PROOF is for fans of SUITS and Suits LA, and those who enjoy works by John Grisham, Scott Turow, Michael Connelly (Lincoln Lawyer), Bosch, and Prime Video TV series, Goliath. A fan of them all.
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing a gifted advanced review copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I also purchased the hardcover, a classic for any home library.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 24, 2025
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Praise
“Proof is the kind of fast-paced cinematic thriller a great Hollywood screenwriter like William Goldman or Joel Coen would write…Cowan has combined the best parts of classic legal thrillers, with an unexpected new lead character that brings the genre into a new generation.”
—JAMES PATTERSON
“Intriguingly terrific. Terrifically intriguing. A truly riveting legal thriller.”
—KATHY REICHS, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Temperance Brennan Bones series
"It’s perhaps no surprise that Cowan—a longtime writer and producer on Suits—has delivered a terrific legal thriller." —The New York Times
"A terrifically tense legal thriller...Cowan manages to make his deadbeat lead easy to root for, and pairs nuanced characterizations with a deliciously serpentine plot. Readers will hope this is the start of a long-running series." —Publishers Weekly
"With a fast, edge-of-your-seat pace, Proof is a rollercoaster ride that fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow will enjoy. Beyond the thrills, though, Proof also looks at the impact of alcoholism, strained father-son relationships, and how the criminal justice system often takes advantage of the poor and powerless. Highly recommended." —Booklist
“Amazing…Although Proof marks Jon Cowan’s debut as a novelist, his arrival on the literary scene is anything but tentative. The dialogue crackles with authenticity, the pacing keeps you turning pages late into the night, and the cast of deeply layered characters has much to reveal…this is a must-add to your summer reading list.” —The Best Thriller Books
About the Author
Jon Cowan is a veteran television writer, showrunner, and executive producer with extensive experience in the legal thriller genre. He has written for hit shows like Suits, Suits: LA, Private Practice, and Bones, has written pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros., NBC Universal, and 20th Century Television, and has recently adapted the works of both John Grisham and James Patterson. Jon began his career as a playwright, getting his MFA from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. Proof is his first novel. He lives with his family in Los Angeles, where he’s hard at work on the next Jake West novel. READ MORE
