Published July 2021

Published July 2021

A secret family legacy becomes a ticking time bomb …

Skyscraper developer, Quincy Witherman, has continued his family’s two-hundred-year practice of hiding assets in Switzerland. Now, needing protection from his creditors, he hires bankruptcy lawyer Josephina Jillian Jones – 3J – but fails to disclose the Swiss assets to 3J, his bankers, the IRS, and the bankruptcy court … all felonies. 3J knows in her gut that something is wrong. So does Witherman’s banker, Stacy Milnes.

Will anyone catch Witherman?

AWARDS WON

REVIEWS

“A collision of two unscrupulous people . . . . [T]tightly written, tautly paced, and absolutely absorbing. . . . [A]n exciting, entertaining novel. . .”

Mark Lardas – Ricochet

“. . . [O]ne of the most unique, brilliant, and compelling thriller novels that I have ever had the pleasure of reading! . . . Five stars.”

Red Headed Book Lover

“[A]n original suspense novel that brings readers up close and personal with bankruptcy law and the world of high-stakes real estate development.”

Indies Today

“Shaiken’s intricately engrossing debut installment in his legal thriller series, featuring the endearing bankruptcy lawyer Josephina Jillian Jones offers a clever, compelling plot coupled with financial intrigue. . . . skillfully captures the rhythms of the busy life of Kansas City while making legal and financial minutiae comprehensible. This is a rousing outing from a talented author.”

BookView

“[A]n intellectual work of genre fiction that skillfully blends the legal, mystery, thriller, and drama aspects together to form a deep and layered novel that is also smoothly penned and enjoyable to dive into. . . with Shaiken’s keen eye for detail leaving no stone unturned and no question unanswered.”

Readers’ Favorite – K.C. Finn

“A superb critique of the banking investment mentality. . . . Shaiken’s most impressive achievement in Fresh Start is to allow all the financial and courtroom wheeling and dealing to seem complicated and convincing, and yet always have it make sense..”

BookViral

“. . . The constantly shifting perspectives between the main characters keep you on your toes and ensure you get every aspect of the story from all the different points of view. . . [T]he line between right and wrong is sometimes blurry, where the good guys might be the bad guys and vice versa – very much like real life, where perception plays a big role. A very enjoyable thriller.”

Readers Favorite – Anne-Marie Reynolds

“A gripping and thought-provoking bankruptcy legal mystery, well-crafted and well-written.”

Readers’ Favorite – Saifunnissa Hassam

“[A]nyone who enjoys a suspenseful legal mystery will love this one. I could hardly put the book down. It was full of intrigue.”

V on Goodreads

“Thrilling twists and turns where the reader will feel like they actually know these people in a world that is not always right-or-wrong…or fair.”

Henry C. / Amazon.com Review

“The characters and plot are so realistic, it’s a challenge to remember this is a work of fiction.”

JSShopper / Amazon.com Review

Fresh Start is a legal thriller unlike any I’ve read before, providing the reader with not just a front row seat, but a fly on the wall view into all aspects of a large corporate bankruptcy case with international intrigue.”

Tracey M. / Amazon.com Review

“. . .the research is meticulous, the scenes are vivid, and the character development rivals Leonard and McMurtry. Anyone who is interested in banking, law, real estate development, or just great fiction should read it.”

Paula L. / Amazon.com Review