Authors: James Patterson and Mike Lupica
Publisher: Little Brown
ISBN: 9780316569934
James Patterson’s collaborations are known for their brisk storytelling, fast dialogue, and tightly wound suspense. In The Hamptons Lawyer, co-written with sports journalist and novelist Mike Lupica, the duo shifts their attention from high-profile city thrillers to the privileged enclaves of Long Island’s Hamptons.
What emerges is a legal thriller that blends Patterson’s trademark pace with Lupica’s sharp ear for class, ambition, and the politics of wealth.
The story introduces readers to Hamptons attorney Jack Caruso, a well-connected lawyer who thrives in the glamorous yet cutthroat environment of New York’s most exclusive beach playground.
Jack is no ordinary small-town attorney; he’s the man the rich and powerful turn to when scandal looms and reputations need saving. But when a murder rocks the high society circles he serves, Jack finds himself caught in a dangerous game where loyalty, justice, and self-preservation are all in conflict.
At its heart, The Hamptons Lawyer is a character study as much as it is a murder mystery. Jack is not a hard-boiled, cynical investigator in the vein of classic noir, nor is he an idealistic courtroom hero. Instead, he’s a pragmatic insider who understands the compromises required to stay afloat in a world run by money and secrets. Yet as the plot unfolds, Jack is pushed to reconsider the boundaries of his moral compass — especially when someone he cares about becomes entangled in the case.
The book succeeds most in its setting. Patterson and Lupica vividly paint the Hamptons not just as a summer escape but as a gilded stage where power is flaunted, grudges simmer, and appearances mask deeper darkness.
Readers can feel the salty air, see the sprawling estates behind manicured hedges, and sense the sharp divide between the wealthy elite and those who serve them. This tension fuels much of the novel’s energy, making the backdrop almost a character in itself.
As with most Patterson novels, the chapters are short, dialogue-driven, and designed for momentum. The pacing is relentless — ideal for readers looking for a weekend page-turner rather than a leisurely literary experience.
Lupica’s influence is evident in the dialogue, which crackles with wit and feels more grounded than some of Patterson’s other collaborations. The courtroom and investigative scenes, while not overloaded with technical jargon, strike the right balance between accessibility and credibility.
If there’s a drawback, it lies in predictability. Patterson’s formula, while reliable, can at times feel too familiar. Veteran thriller readers may anticipate certain twists or find the resolution a touch convenient.
Jack himself, though well-drawn, sometimes treads the line of archetype: the charming lawyer with a hidden conscience. Still, the novel’s energy and style compensate for these minor shortcomings.
Ultimately, The Hamptons Lawyer is classic Patterson: sleek, fast, and built for entertainment. But with Lupica’s touch, it also offers sharper social commentary and more nuanced characters than some of his other team-written efforts.
Readers who enjoy legal thrillers set against a backdrop of privilege, secrets, and moral ambiguity will find this a satisfying ride. It may not reinvent the genre, but it delivers exactly what it promises — a stylish, compulsively readable thriller in a setting as glittering as it is treacherous.
As a fast-paced legal thriller with a glamorous setting, The Hamptons Lawyer balances suspense and social intrigue, making it a worthy addition to Patterson’s vast body of work.