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“This debut novel by law professor Dobbyn marks the first long-form appearance of legal eagles Michael Knight and Lex Devlin, who've starred in several of the author's short stories... Dobbyn, who knows his characters like the back of his hand, is an engaging writer, and readers who have followed the adventures of Knight and Devlin in short stories will give a small cheer that they've finally made the leap to the hardcover novel.”—Booklist
The first Devlin and Knight mystery
This explosive first novel by veteran short story mystery writer Dobbyn brings to life the legal detective team of Michael Knight and Lex Devlin, who have been featured in a dozen short stories in such magazines as Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Amid the flash and din of Boston’s raucous Chinese New Year’s celebration an elderly man named Chen An-Yong is shot while watching the parade from his Tyler Street window. Anthony Bradley, the young son of an African-American judge is standing across the street at the time and is immediately arrested for the crime.
Michael Knight is a young lawyer who’s going places, but even he is surprised when Judge Bradley asks him to defend his son in such a high profile and politically delicate case. Luckily, Knight finds he has powerful support when a senior partner at his firm, the legendary Lex Devlin, gets involved. Once the foremost criminal defense attorney in Boston, Devlin has mysteriously withdrawn from defense work in recent years. As Knight and Devlin investigate the incident and prepare their client’s defense, the older lawyer’s passion and ability come to the fore, forcing Knight to wonder about and delve into the murky allegations that eclipsed his mentor’s career.
But before he can defend the young Bradley, Knight is forced to enter into the shadow world of gangland Chinatown, where Triads and Tongs rule through fear and intimidation. From the halls of Harvard to the streets of Chinatowns in Boston and Toronto, Knight doggedly pursues an investigation that involves drugs, prostitution, human trafficking and, ultimately, a corruption scandal that could bring down the most powerful people in Boston.
“Readers of early John Grisham and Jeremiah Healy will enjoy Dobbyn's debut for his insider knowledge of the legal system and the defense strategy his protagonists use in court.”
—Library Journal
“Fans of the film True Believer will best appreciate law professor Dobbyn's debut.”—Publishers Weekly
“[Dobbyn] weaves a tale of suspense that will keep the reader transfixed right up to the end.”—I Love a Mystery
"If you like full-speed ahead legal thrillers, you will love Neon Dragon. John F. Dobbyn has created an extraordinary hero in former prosecutor
Michael Knight, an up-from-the-streets kid with two Harvard degrees behind his shingle. The dialogue exchanges crackle, and the humor is truly funny. Run—don't walk—to buy this terrific first novel."—Jeremiah Healy, author of Juror Number Eleven and The Only Good Lawyer
"Neon Dragon lit up my evening. This legal thriller had everything; people I cared for, suspense that kept me on edge, and the rich background of Boston's Chinatown.
A notable debut."—Robin Hathaway, author of Sleight of Hand
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JOHN F. DOBBYN is Professor of Law at Villanova Law School and the author of numerous legal books and short fiction. A native of Boston, he received his J.D. from Boston College Law School and LL.M. from Harvard Law School. He practiced law at Burns & Levinson in Boston before going into teaching. This is his first novel.
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More about author John Dobbyn and Neon Dragon can be found at his website here.
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