ALL GUILTY ANYWAY
by Russell W. Johnson
September 28 – October 9, 2026 Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
Ivy Collins, a fourth-generation attorney, is the daughter her powerful father never wanted. After growing up chasing approval that never came, Ivy rebels by joining the practice of Lester “The Truth” Williams, a notorious criminal defense lawyer who once bested her dad in court. Ivy expects mentorship and mastery. Instead, she finds a burned-out cynic running a settlement mill where clients are pressured to plea bargain their cases because, as The Truth insists, “They’re all guilty anyway.”
Ivy plays along until she’s assigned to represent Sonia Cabrerra, a Guatemalan immigrant accused of unspeakable child abuse. The case seems open and shut with physical evidence and a devastating confession. However, Ivy uncovers some linguistic and cultural misunderstandings that could lead to a massive miscarriage of justice.
Up against a broken system, Ivy must decide how far she is willing to go to fight for a client when key evidence resides in dangerous, cartel-controlled regions of Guatemala and local witnesses live amidst the constant threat of deportation.
All Guilty Anyway asks whether, in a world built upon bargains and broken people, the truth still stands a chance.
Praise for All Guilty Anyway:
“A genuine page-turner with a cast of quirky but loveable characters and thought-provoking themes. A masterpiece of legal fiction.”
~ Reedsy
“A brisk but thoughtful and timely legal thriller.”
~ Kirkus Reviews
“While All Guilty Anyway is a slam dunk for legal thriller junkies, it possesses enough moral and emotional depth to engage a far broader audience. Highly recommended.” “Russell Johnson delivers a fantastic courtroom drama.” “ALL GUILTY ANYWAY raises timely questions about immigration, structural inequities, and our fraught legal system, all while being a brisk, entertaining read.” Genre: Legal Thriller Russell W. Johnson is a fiction writer and North Carolina attorney. His debut story, “Chung Ling Soo’s Greatest Trick,” was published by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in January 2015 and won the Edgar Award’s Robert L. Fish Memorial prize for best short story by a new author. Since then he’s been published in a number of outlets and recently won the West Virginia Writers Association’s Pearl S. Buck Award, as well as first place for book length fiction. www.russellwjohnson.com Book Formats: ePub, Print
~ bestthrillers
~ J.D. Trafford, writer of the “No Time” series
~ Joanna Pearson, author of Bright and Tender Dark
Book Details:
Published by: Red Adept Publishing
Publication Date: April 28, 2026
Number of Pages: 282
ISBN: 9781971903019 (ISBN10: 1971903019)
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Red Adept PublishingAuthor Bio:
Catch Up With Russell W. Johnson:
Amazon Author Profile
BookBub – @rwjwriter Tour Participants:
Tour Host Info:
Hosting Options: Reviews Only
Giveaway: There will NOT be a tour-wide PICT Giveaway
More: According to the author All Guilty Anyway is considered to be R-level content or less. Readers may still encounter potentially sensitive material. If you have specific trigger or content concerns, please contact Partners in Crime Tours directly for more detailed information.Join In:
To sign up for the tour please complete the form below. If you have questions or problems email Wendy at wendy@partnersincrimetours.com. Thank you for your interest in this tour.
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