I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman must defend a former classmate and discover if she ever knew them at all in author Gail Olmsted’s “Class Reunion: Keep Your Friends Closer”, the latest entry in the Raising the Bar Series.
The Synopsis
She befriended me. She betrayed me. Now, she needs me.
A phone call from jail pulls attorney Lennon Gallagher back into a past she’s spent years trying to escape. Complicated doesn’t begin to describe the bond between Lennon and the caller, a former law school classmate. Now, Erin stands accused of the very violence Lennon has spent her career fighting against. It’s a conflict of interest, but isn’t everyone entitled to competent and effective legal defense?
What starts as a plea for help spirals into a murder trial that threatens to incinerate Lennon’s professional reputation as well as her upcoming marriage. Guided by her best friend, seasoned lawyer Miranda Quinn, Lennon digs for the truth, only to find a mountain of evidence that points to Erin’s guilt. The cost of loyalty is high, and the stakes are even higher as Lennon questions if Erin was ever truly her friend.
But does that make her guilty of murder?
A story of friendships, true and false, and going the extra mile for the ones we love.
THE REVIEW
They say that when it rains, it pours, and the latest legal thriller from this amazing Author does an incredible job of embodying that. A character-driven narrative, this book expertly weaves legal drama, personal growth, and tense crime thriller elements. The balance the author found between exploring the protagonist’s personal life and the struggles she faces along the way, along with the questions and mysteries behind the case, keeps readers on the edge of their seats for much of this book.
What always stands out to me in these books is how readers who have enjoyed the series as a whole can be just as engaged or entertained by the novel as someone coming into it without having read the previous entries. The case and the character dynamics stand on their own, and the emotional pull of Lennon as a protagonist and the question mark that is Erin keep the reader hungry for more as they delve deeper into this mystery.
THE VERDICT
Compelling, thrilling, and wildly entertaining, author Gail Olmsted’s “Class Reunion” is a must-read legal thriller. The twists and turns of the story, along with the witty dialogue, connections to established characters in the series, and a mystery that slowly unravels, bringing haunting revelations, will have readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in this legal series. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to preorder your copy today or grab it on October 1st, 2026!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Gail Ward Olmsted was a marketing executive and a college professor before she began writing fiction on a full-time basis. A trip to Sedona, AZ inspired her first novel Jeep Tour. Three more novels followed before Landscape of a Marriage, a biographical novel featuring landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, a distant cousin of her husband’s, and his wife Mary. Olmsted enjoys writing about quirky, wonderful women in search of a second chance at a happy ever after. When not writing, she loves being on the water, especially in a kayak. She is well known for her blonde brownies, and coffee is her love language. For more, visit her at gailwardolmsted or on Facebook at gailolmstedauthor.
https://www.instagram.com/gwolmsted
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