Stephen Penner Books In Order

Publication Order of David Brunelle Legal Thriller Books

Publication Order of Maggie Devereaux Books

Publication Order of Professor Barrister's Dinosaur Mysteries Books

Publication Order of Rain City Legal Thriller Books

Publication Order of Talon Winter Legal Thrillers Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Author, lawyer, and law professor Stephen Penner is a busy man and is from Seattle, Washington. He was born and raised in Detroit, and was in elementary school when he started writing murder mysteries and fantasy stories. During college, he lived in Europe for a year and studied different languages. He moved to Seattle after he graduated from the University of Michigan’s law school with his law degree. He has been a lawyer for twenty years, starting out as a criminal defender (working his way up to small crimes like misdemeanors all the up to murders), but would switch sides and become a prosecutor. Penner has tried around one hundred cases. He uses his expertise to train trial advocacy to law students in Seattle.

He pens the “David Brunelle” series of legal thriller novels. It features a district attorney named David Brunelle and features some cops, forensic experts, and defense attorneys in recurring roles. He also writes a paranormal mystery series that stars Maggie Devereaux, that covers her exploits as an American graduate student in Scotland’s magical Highlands. Penner also writes childrens books and has penned some stand alone novels and some short stories.

Besides writing and doing legal things, he also paints, spends time with his family, and draws.

“Presumption of Innocence” is the first book in the “David Brunelle” series that was released in 2012. A young and innocent girl is killed in a horrific way, and the only evidence that District Attorney David Brunelle has in the case is a full confession that his accomplice gives. Who it turns out is another girl about the same age as the deceased’s age that was also victimized by the killer. Both the killer and the accomplice are charged with the young girl’s murder. She is too terrified of the killer to testify against him, and therefore cannot take a deal. Brunelle has a tough case here, with little evidence and the killer is protected.

Fans of the novel like the characters and felt diverse and interesting. Penner is able to be as accurate on the rules of a criminal trial and procedure, and does not change rules to fit his dramatic elements in his stories. This book exceeded some fans’s expectations. Even though you know who the killer is, it is still a fun ride throughout. Fans felt that this novel had quite the finish and they were able to finish the entire novel in just one day. Some found that they were going to start following the future novels in the series after reading this one. This novel keeps the readers reading throughout the night, and make them wonder what will happen next.

Some did not like all the typos in the novel, and the way that this author does not live up to Grisham’s work. Some felt that the relationship got in the way of things. Additionally, some felt that there were an abundance of f-words in the novel. Some found that the trial was not planned out and who is going to testify in the case was a big guessing game for most. Not to mention the prosecutor just sort of makes things up as he goes along. These things make the novel feel not so realistic.

“Tribal Court” is the second book in the “David Brunelle” series that was released in 2013. The man who killed another man in Pioneer Square is found with blood still on his hands. Both the victim and killer, it turns out, belong to the same Native tribe, and their tribe asserts their right to jurisdiction and Dave Brunelle has to prosecute the case in their Tribal Court. The defense says that the killing was justified and cites “Blood Revenge”, an ancient custom. It turns into a blood feud. Bodies start piling up and Brunelle may be the next intended target. Is he going to live long enough to try the case?

Fans of the novel found that the novel has some good twists without completing jumping, and you will be interested to find out what comes next. Brunelle, by some, was liked, but it was felt that he can be obnoxious at times. It was felt to be a real novel, that does not pull its punches at any point, and tells it like it is. Fans liked the way that the characters interacted with one another. This is quite the series and it is found to be one that some are glad they started following; it delivers just like the one before it.

Some did not like that there were still a lot of mistakes in this novel, and that made this one too hard to read. Parts of the story were uninteresting for some and it made them quit reading. Some did not like the way that Brunelle has a hard time figuring things out when it comes to his love life. Some did not like the way that Brunelle does not seem to think multiple steps ahead of things.

“By Reason of Insanity” is the third book in the “David Brunelle” series that was released in 2013. Brunelle is given a slam dunk case, or so he thinks at first. The defendant in the case killed her mother, everyone is sure; everyone is also sure that she is mentally ill. Brunelle is tasked with holding her responsible for her crimes, even though her defense is trying to avoid that, with the help of psychologist who believes that she is innocent. As the case goes on and there is more and more pressure, Brunelle questions his own sanity.

Fans of the novel got hooked by the characters and what was going on with the plot. Fans felt their blood pumping to figure out how things would be wrapped up by the end of things. This novel will keep fans up at night, trying to finish it and figure out how the thing will end. Fans also enjoyed reading about the heroine in the novel, hoping that she will reappear in future novels.