published 2/17/26
I love a good legal thriller and Worse Than a Lie delivers. I’ve not had the pleasure of reading Ben Crump before and was delighted to meet Beau Lee Cooper- this is the first book in a series. Mr. Cooper is everything you want in a civil rights attorney- he’s passionate, he’s knowledgeable, and his morals are shaped by the early 60s when he was in his formative years of creating his personal code. He’s jaunty with a fedora that harkens back to Thurgood Marshall and was raised in the gritty, deep red state of Texas. He takes cases all over the U.S. and wanders into the worst police political system in the world in Cook County, Illinois- also known as Chicago. Set during the 2008 election of President Obama, the narrative is fresh and a great look at the times around the election. Police corruption is well-known and even celebrated in Chicago- but the thin blue line harms one of their own. Be forewarned, the language can be triggering- especially if you’re sensitive to race baiting and overt racism. This unflinching look at how the police will back their own will leave you remembering that time through a veiled lens, which only makes today’s environment look so much more unforgiving.
Thank you, Ballantine Books, for offering this ARC through NetGalley to provide an honest review.
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