The Hidden Man by David Ellis

Lawyer Jason Kolarich is still in mourning over the deaths of his wife and daughter. He's barely working when he's hired by a mysterious Mr. Smith to defend Sammy Cutler. Sammy was arrested a year ago for killing child molester Griffin Perlini. Sammy believes that Perlini kidnapped his sister, Audrey, over twenty-five years ago (she was never seen again). Sammy's trial is in one month and Mr. Smith wants Jason to get Sammy off with no continuances, even though he's brand new to the case. Jason and Sammy also share a past. They were best friends when they were young and Jason remembers when Audrey went missing. Jason wonders about Mr. Smith's bosses' motives in rushing to get Sammy free, especially since they are trying to influence his handling of the case. Do they know what happened to Audrey and/or are they responsible for Perlini's death? The Hidden Man is the first book in the Jason Kolarich series. In addition to crafting a good story, Ellis has created a character that the reader roots for, despite his personal and professional flaws . The book will be published next month.