The Local, Hartstone - B+

                     This is a fabulous legal thriller written by an accomplished screenwriter. Jimmy Euchre is a patent lawyer practicing in Marshall, Texas in the Federal District Court. The EDTX attracts patent cases from around the country and the local bar works closely with larger out of town firms. One of Jimmy's clients is accused of murder, and wants Jimmy to represent him. He works with a lawyer from NY who had been in the US Attorney's office and together, they pull off the defense. This novel is a fun read with insights into Texas, with particular attention paid to how a small town far from the big cities has become one of the three busiest courts for patent issues in the US. Recommended.