I really wish I had stumbled across this series before reading the third book, Witness for the Persecution by E.J. Copperman. The earlier books in the Jersey Girl Legal Mystery series are Inherit the Shoes and Judgement at Santa Monica. Lawyer Sandy Moss might be a little out of her depth when it comes to Hollywood itself, but she’s savvy as can be when it comes to courtroom maneuvering. And, that’s coming from someone who doesn’t often read legal mysteries.

Sandy Moss intended to practice family law when she moved to L.A. and joined a high-profile law firm. Instead, the former New Jersey prosecutor is the one handling murder cases, and her new one is a doozy. Robert Reeves is the director of the latest movie starring Sandy’s boyfriend. When a stunt performer falls from a crane to his death, Reeves is arrested, although he swears he’s innocent. It’s a tough one for Sandy to defend because she finds her client “dismissive, insulting, condescending, and arrogant”. And, he’s always demanding and arrogant when dealing with her, but Sandy can dish it back just fine. She makes her own demands on the client.

Reeves has a lot of strikes against him. He seems to be married to two women, and his story about that is outrageous. His film crew isn’t too keen on him as a boss, and reputation is everything in Hollywood. He made some nasty remarks about the dead man. And, his arrogant attitude won’t go over well if the case goes to trial. Then, there’s that anonymous video.

If you still remember Perry Mason’s trial scenes with fondness, you’ll love Sandy Moss in court. She’s shrewd, and, as a former prosecutor, she knows what she’d do if she was on the other side of the courtroom. While the search for answers is interesting, in this case, it’s the trial scenes that shine.

As I said, I wish I’d met Sandy and her friends earlier. Her friend, Angie, came to visit from New Jersey, and never left. Sandy’s boyfriend is not quite as over-the-top as I imagine he is as a suspect in the first book. (There’s a reason I’m not spoiling earlier books by providing his name.) Witness for the Persecution is a delightful legal novel set in a world that is already imaginary – Hollywood. The law and humor go hand-in-hand in this enjoyable mystery.

E.J. Copperman’s website is http://www.ejcopperman.com/

Witness for the Persecution by E.J. Copperman. Severn House, 2022. ISBN 9780727850768 (hardcover), 240p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a .pdf to review for a journal.