The Case Against William, by Mark Gimenez

Mark Gimenez is one of those authors whose books draw me in.  His Texas settings come to life, his characters are believable yet colorful, and the stories keep me reading into the wee hours.  The Case Against William is no exception.  Football superstar William has been accused of murder, and his dad, a has-been beach bum of a lawyer comes to his defense.  Family drama, legal drama, football drama, all add up to a most entertaining read.

In a vein similar to The Perk, Gimenez talks about big-time high school and college football with an interesting mix of reverence and downright, almost blasphemous, skepticism.  I happen to know that he lives just a hop, skip, and a jump from the home field of one of the most dominant high school football programs in Texas, so he probably knows what he's talking about.  I liked this line, describing William's post-game interview: "He looked up and pointed his index fingers to the sky, as if to thank God.  As if God had made that throw.  As if God could give a sh-- about a football game, particularly a college game."  Ouch.  (I know Baylor's RG3 isn't the only player to do this, but I couldn't help but wonder if Gimenez had him in mind.)  Football plays a big role in William, and Gimenez paints a vivid picture of the life of an up-and-coming football star.

He probably had even more fun doing background on the character of Frank, the once powerful lawyer who now lives on the beach in Rockport, mostly drinking his life away.  ("Really, honey, I have to go fishing in Rockport as research for my next novel!")  Frank's career downfall came from defending an athlete who was accused in a case similar to William's, so getting back to the point of defending William makes the crux of the story.  Frank's beach bum friends provide the comic relief, adding to the story and the case with their various skills and backgrounds.

Like his previous books, The Case Against William showcases Gimenez's love of Texas and his strong handle on entertaining legal fiction.  The plot is pretty straightforward, but with plenty twists and late revelations, along with a nicely done, satisfying climax.  Put this one on your list.