What do you think?
Rate this book
An Invisible Client
For high-powered personal injury attorney Noah Byron, the good things in life come with a price tag—cars, houses, women. That’s why he represents only cases that come with the possibility of a nice cut of the action. But as a favor to his ex-wife, he meets with the mother of twelve-year-old Joel, a boy poisoned by tainted children’s medicine. While the official story is that a psycho tampered with bottles, the boy’s mother believes something much more sinister is at work…and the trail leads right back to the pharmaceutical company.
As Noah digs deeper into the case, he quickly finds himself up against a powerful corporation that will protect itself at any cost. He also befriends young Joel and breaks the number one rule of personal injury law: don’t make it personal. Faced with the most menacing of opponents and the most vulnerable of clients, Noah is determined to discover the truth and win justice for Joel—even if it means losing everything else.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2016
4486 people are currently reading
2735 people want to read
About the author
Victor Methos
73 books2,027 followersVictor Methos is the Edgar Award nominated bestselling author of over forty novels. He has been a criminal and civil rights lawyer in the Mountain West, conducting over 100 trials, and produces two books a year with his dog Fraiser by his side.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 865 reviews
March 31, 2017
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the author Victor Methos for an ARC copy for a honest review.
For high-powered personal injury attorney Noah Byron, the good things in life come with a price tag—cars, houses, women. That’s why he represents only cases that come with the possibility of a nice cut of the action. But as a favor to his ex-wife, he meets with the mother of twelve-year-old Joel, a boy poisoned by tainted children’s medicine. While the official story is that a psycho tampered with bottles, the boy’s mother believes something much more sinister is at work…and the trail leads right back to the pharmaceutical company.
As Noah digs deeper into the case, he quickly finds himself up against a powerful corporation that will protect itself at any cost. He also befriends young Joel and breaks the number one rule of personal injury law: don’t make it personal. Faced with the most menacing of opponents and the most vulnerable of clients, Noah is determined to discover the truth and win justice for Joel—even if it means losing everything else.
Let me say this, I have read Victor Methos book Diary Of An Assassin, an incredible that I loved. After finishing this book, these books could not be more different, but superb books.
An Invisible Client, gripped me from the start, kept at a great pace, and I just wanted to keep reading, I wanted to know how this was going to turn out.
This book has everything, tension, pace, great story, and great characters, and a nice touch of romance.
I cannot recommend this book enough, please dear friend, read this book. I maybe a little soft, but I still love the good v bad, this book has you guessing all the way.
A story that rings so close to the truth it is frightening.
This book is not only one of the best books read this year, but one of the best book read full stop !!
Five star plus. Thanks Victor Methos.
Please do come and do a Q & A for this book with my group " A Good Thriller" on goodreads.
For high-powered personal injury attorney Noah Byron, the good things in life come with a price tag—cars, houses, women. That’s why he represents only cases that come with the possibility of a nice cut of the action. But as a favor to his ex-wife, he meets with the mother of twelve-year-old Joel, a boy poisoned by tainted children’s medicine. While the official story is that a psycho tampered with bottles, the boy’s mother believes something much more sinister is at work…and the trail leads right back to the pharmaceutical company.
As Noah digs deeper into the case, he quickly finds himself up against a powerful corporation that will protect itself at any cost. He also befriends young Joel and breaks the number one rule of personal injury law: don’t make it personal. Faced with the most menacing of opponents and the most vulnerable of clients, Noah is determined to discover the truth and win justice for Joel—even if it means losing everything else.
Let me say this, I have read Victor Methos book Diary Of An Assassin, an incredible that I loved. After finishing this book, these books could not be more different, but superb books.
An Invisible Client, gripped me from the start, kept at a great pace, and I just wanted to keep reading, I wanted to know how this was going to turn out.
This book has everything, tension, pace, great story, and great characters, and a nice touch of romance.
I cannot recommend this book enough, please dear friend, read this book. I maybe a little soft, but I still love the good v bad, this book has you guessing all the way.
A story that rings so close to the truth it is frightening.
This book is not only one of the best books read this year, but one of the best book read full stop !!
Five star plus. Thanks Victor Methos.
Please do come and do a Q & A for this book with my group " A Good Thriller" on goodreads.
August 5, 2023
4.5 Stars
August 31, 2025
Pretty good, but sometimes the lawyer took so many risks that it made me nervous in an unpleasant way.
December 29, 2015
I like reading legal thrillers and the Invisible Client certainly does not disappoint. It is a well constructed story that grips from beginning to end. The Invisible Client is one which brings little financial reward so is of little interest to a lawyer. Noah Byron epitomises the type of attorney who would shun such a client. Except that in the instance of a 12 year old boy seriously harmed by a cough medicine laced with cyanide, Noah acts out of character and not only takes on his cause, but becomes close to the boy.
We see Noah growing as a human being wanting to do the right thing. He ends up taking on a ruthless pharmaceutical company with absolutely no scruples. I loved the story and was glued to the book until it finished. It was well plotted and absorbing. Many thanks to Thomas Mercer, the publishers for a copy of the book via netgalley.
We see Noah growing as a human being wanting to do the right thing. He ends up taking on a ruthless pharmaceutical company with absolutely no scruples. I loved the story and was glued to the book until it finished. It was well plotted and absorbing. Many thanks to Thomas Mercer, the publishers for a copy of the book via netgalley.
November 14, 2017
Came across this book on Amazon deals and bought it for the heck of it, being a sucker for thrillers, especially legal ones. I don't regret it a bit. This was a fantastic book. A law firm takes on a pharmaceutical giant over wrongful death of a child. The lawyer with a one-point goal of being rich and working for money, starts turning over a new leaf when he gets emotionally attached to the victim, a 12 year old boy, risking his career and law firm in the process.
The book grips you from the start and is a definite page turner with a simple but stunning climax. The author being a lawyer himself, brings his experience and expertise in the book which makes it interesting.
Have read similar plots in Grisham's earlier novels. Ever since Grisham has ventured into non-legal stories, I feel a void in this genre. Victor Methos fills the gap. Will check out other Methos books soon.
The book grips you from the start and is a definite page turner with a simple but stunning climax. The author being a lawyer himself, brings his experience and expertise in the book which makes it interesting.
Have read similar plots in Grisham's earlier novels. Ever since Grisham has ventured into non-legal stories, I feel a void in this genre. Victor Methos fills the gap. Will check out other Methos books soon.
January 31, 2016
Great book.
According to the book, an invisible client is a term personal injury lawyers use to refer to people who "lived and breathed but didn't officially exist", who aren't productive members of the society, I believe.
Rich and powerful lawyer Noah Byron is a personal injury lawyer, and he and his firm doesn't take invisible clients. Well, not until his ex-wife (who's about to get remarried, by the way) asks him to talk to his cousin whose kid was ill due to an poisoned cough syrup.
That's how the book starts. What comes next is a fast flowing legal thriller with a touch of romance and a lot of self discovery.
This is a fast read. There are exciting moments that will leave you on edge and there are touching moments that will either hurt or warm your heart. There are a few clichés, too, but nothing that could compromise my enjoyment.
Warning! (Spoilers)
>> <<
I had a lot of fun (and tiny heart attacks) reading this book. It's a fun ride, for sure.
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and author Victor Methos for providing me with an ARC of An Invisible Client in exchange for an honest review.
***
Review also posted on my blog. Link here.
According to the book, an invisible client is a term personal injury lawyers use to refer to people who "lived and breathed but didn't officially exist", who aren't productive members of the society, I believe.
Rich and powerful lawyer Noah Byron is a personal injury lawyer, and he and his firm doesn't take invisible clients. Well, not until his ex-wife (who's about to get remarried, by the way) asks him to talk to his cousin whose kid was ill due to an poisoned cough syrup.
That's how the book starts. What comes next is a fast flowing legal thriller with a touch of romance and a lot of self discovery.
This is a fast read. There are exciting moments that will leave you on edge and there are touching moments that will either hurt or warm your heart. There are a few clichés, too, but nothing that could compromise my enjoyment.
Warning! (Spoilers)
>> <<
I had a lot of fun (and tiny heart attacks) reading this book. It's a fun ride, for sure.
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and author Victor Methos for providing me with an ARC of An Invisible Client in exchange for an honest review.
***
Review also posted on my blog. Link here.
July 8, 2022
Lawyer With a Cause
Review of the Brilliance Audio audiobook edition narrated by Alexander Cendese and released simultaneously with the Thomas & Mercer paperback (January, 2016)
I've picked up several books by prolific author Victor Methos in the past and have found them to be a reliable entertainment, even if somewhat dependent on standard cliches of the lawyer and mystery genres. An Invisible Client is in the 'mercenary lawyer is turned caring and idealistic due to a child and the love of a good woman' sub-genre.
Noah Byron is the lead partner in a firm of personal injury lawyers. He is initially voiced as being cold and mercenary and unlikeable by narrator Alexander Cendese. As a favour to his ex-wife he takes on a client who is of the "invisible client" category, someone with little future earning power and who is therefore considered not a potential moneymaker in a settlement. The case involves the poisoning of a brand of cough medicine with cyanide. The manufacturer insists that it is due to a serial killer who tampered with several bottles on the market. The suspicion is that they are hiding something but can it be proven?
Byron becomes attached to the young boy who is suffering the aftereffects of the poisoning. At the same time a new idealistic lawyer out of law school joins the firm and becomes his assistant on the case. Byron of course gradually falls in love with her as well. Against the objections of his law firm partners he insists on pursuing the 'invisible client' case against all odds. Of course, the pharmaceutical company has a ruthless firm of opposing lawyers at their beck and call, led by one character who wears an eyepatch.
There are several twists and surprises along the way and the narration by Alexander Cendese was excellent in all voices. I particularly liked how his voicing of the unlikeable Byron at the start gradually turned sympathetic during the course of the reading.
I picked up An Invisible Client through an Audible Sale on June 29, 2022.
Review of the Brilliance Audio audiobook edition narrated by Alexander Cendese and released simultaneously with the Thomas & Mercer paperback (January, 2016)
I've picked up several books by prolific author Victor Methos in the past and have found them to be a reliable entertainment, even if somewhat dependent on standard cliches of the lawyer and mystery genres. An Invisible Client is in the 'mercenary lawyer is turned caring and idealistic due to a child and the love of a good woman' sub-genre.
Noah Byron is the lead partner in a firm of personal injury lawyers. He is initially voiced as being cold and mercenary and unlikeable by narrator Alexander Cendese. As a favour to his ex-wife he takes on a client who is of the "invisible client" category, someone with little future earning power and who is therefore considered not a potential moneymaker in a settlement. The case involves the poisoning of a brand of cough medicine with cyanide. The manufacturer insists that it is due to a serial killer who tampered with several bottles on the market. The suspicion is that they are hiding something but can it be proven?
Byron becomes attached to the young boy who is suffering the aftereffects of the poisoning. At the same time a new idealistic lawyer out of law school joins the firm and becomes his assistant on the case. Byron of course gradually falls in love with her as well. Against the objections of his law firm partners he insists on pursuing the 'invisible client' case against all odds. Of course, the pharmaceutical company has a ruthless firm of opposing lawyers at their beck and call, led by one character who wears an eyepatch.
There are several twists and surprises along the way and the narration by Alexander Cendese was excellent in all voices. I particularly liked how his voicing of the unlikeable Byron at the start gradually turned sympathetic during the course of the reading.
I picked up An Invisible Client through an Audible Sale on June 29, 2022.
April 5, 2020
It is always a fast read with a courtroom novel by Victor Methos for me. I am surprised that this book has some romantic touch to it. Reading this while staying at home during the pandemic. A happy ending is what I need right now.
July 4, 2021
An Invisible Client is a person who lives and breathes but does not legally exist. He or she has no value, due to the fact that he or she will never earn any money. Sadly, that description fits 12-year-old Joel to a T. He lies in a hospital, dying from end-stage liver disease after taking a dose of cough medicine. The company that made the product claims it was a case of product tampering, but Joel's mom gets tipped off by an employee of the company: It wasn’t product tampering, and the ‘Pharma Killer’ was created by the company and then leaked to the press. Conveniently, that person was then fired and disappeared off the face of the earth.
Enter Noah Byron - the man who initially turned the case down after a quick calculation of just how much money this case could cost the practice. There was too little evidence and there was too little chance they had against a fairly large pharmaceutical company. Noah tells Joel's mom: “I’m sorry, but the value of this case is just not very high. The loss of your income isn’t as high as I would need to take the case when liability isn’t clear. It’s true that pain and suffering and your medical bills are important, but those numbers don’t add up to much. I’m sorry—you just don’t earn enough.”
The rest of the book is quite the wild and heartwrenching ride. There is a bit of romance but nothing sappy. I recommend it!
Enter Noah Byron - the man who initially turned the case down after a quick calculation of just how much money this case could cost the practice. There was too little evidence and there was too little chance they had against a fairly large pharmaceutical company. Noah tells Joel's mom: “I’m sorry, but the value of this case is just not very high. The loss of your income isn’t as high as I would need to take the case when liability isn’t clear. It’s true that pain and suffering and your medical bills are important, but those numbers don’t add up to much. I’m sorry—you just don’t earn enough.”
The rest of the book is quite the wild and heartwrenching ride. There is a bit of romance but nothing sappy. I recommend it!
February 17, 2017
Unrealistic, preachy and the transformation of the main character was not believable.
August 17, 2021
Victor Methos has written another enjoyable, albeit somewhat predictable, legal novel.
This is an entertaining, quick read, and despite requiring one to suspend disbelief often, that provides a pleasant distraction.
The story contains the typical characters in such novels, including the aggressive, self-confident attorney who seems intent on making as much money as possible, the conservative legal partners in the firm, and of course, the requisite love interest. Predictably, the opposition is filled with condescending, high-priced and elitist attorneys who represent big Pharma. And finally, the innocent victim, who, in this case, is a little boy— an only child whose father was killed while serving overseas— who is dying from contaminated cough medicine.
So, there you have all the makings of a real tearjerker. Methos does a fine job of blending these elements and if you’re looking for something straightforward, uncomplicated, that will distract you from the real world for a little while this might do the trick.
.
This is an entertaining, quick read, and despite requiring one to suspend disbelief often, that provides a pleasant distraction.
The story contains the typical characters in such novels, including the aggressive, self-confident attorney who seems intent on making as much money as possible, the conservative legal partners in the firm, and of course, the requisite love interest. Predictably, the opposition is filled with condescending, high-priced and elitist attorneys who represent big Pharma. And finally, the innocent victim, who, in this case, is a little boy— an only child whose father was killed while serving overseas— who is dying from contaminated cough medicine.
So, there you have all the makings of a real tearjerker. Methos does a fine job of blending these elements and if you’re looking for something straightforward, uncomplicated, that will distract you from the real world for a little while this might do the trick.
.
March 2, 2021
Noah Byron, the main protagonist in this book, takes on big pharma in a case of tainted medication which is making children very sick and caused at least one child to die of complications. I don't read a lot of legal thrillers but I had read and really enjoyed A Gambler's Jury by this author last year. I liked the characters of Noah and Olivia in this book and the story kept me interested. I wasn't riveted by the story and had a bit of trouble buying into Noah's transformation but I'd still recommend this book to a friend and plan to read some of the author's other works. 3.5 Stars!
January 26, 2016
A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Victor Methos returns following Neon Lawyer, with AN INVISIBLE CLIENT, A high-powered personal injury attorney Noah Byron—a fight against a pharmaceutical giant, breaking his number one rule by making it personal—Noah is determined to fight for justice, for a twelve-year-old boy, putting his career and everything he has worked for, on the line.
"Justice will not come until those who are not injured are as outraged as those who are." --Solon, 560BC
A David versus Goliath ---Food manufacturers have a formula to determine where we should live or die. Every bite of food we eat is like rolling a pair of dice. And the pharmaceutical giants. Do they protect or harm?
Unfortunately, under the law, a consumer's value equaled the amount of money that person could have earned in a lifetime, had he or she lived. If the calculation of damages in all the wrongful death lawsuits was greater that the cost of a recall, the manufacturer would recall the product. If the settlements would cost the company less than the recall, then they just ignored the defect.
Noah Byron, a name he chose, after leaving his abusive alcoholic father behind, now a high powered attorney--the head of a growing firm of personal injury lawyers. In an office of twenty-three attorneys and a robust support staff-- Noah Byron started the firm, Bryon, Val, and Keller and in ten years they had become one of the top plaintiff’s personal injury firms in the state of Utah. They had to pick winning cases and the second cardinal sin—do not get emotionally attached.
Under the law, a person was valued at exactly how much money that person could earn. Anyone who hadn’t gone into an Ivy League school, pulled in at least six figures, or had a family business waiting for them was what PI lawyers called “an invisible client” —one who lived and breathed but didn’t officially exist. They did not do invisible clients. The solo practitioners could fight over them.
His ex-wife calls to inform him she is remarrying and asks for a favor. Her cousin Rebecca’s son is sick. Joel Whiting (Herba-Cough Max) victim. From the whole Pharma Killer thing, some psychopath had laced children’s cough medicine with cyanide. Three kids in Salt Lake County had gotten extremely ill, but none had died. Again, Noah’s first thought…the guy would have no money. It would not be worth it.
The boy, Joel was only twelve years old, and the mother was full of anger --she needed someone to talk to. His ex-wife counted on him and believed in him, even though his life was over with her…the kids, grandkids, birthdays and graduations were now a part of her next life with her new husband.
When meeting with Rebecca regarding the situation, she thinks there is something fishy about Pharma-K, and they are covering it up. She thinks this was company negligence, and a cover-up, not some psycho lacing the medicine.
He needed proof. Her boy had been one of the unfortunate ones to suffer because of some sick maniac and she needed to blame someone. She wants him to sue. Sue them so they could never hurt another child. The cops would have to be involved, employees, and investigative journalists? Her son was dying and in renal failure and on the transplant list. The cyanide was not enough to kill him but it did a lot of damage and they would not give him a transplant, even after calling the governor.
She was asking him to take on a case that they would likely lose. He tries to tell her the firm cannot help. She begs him to just talk to them to see what they say. She pulled the family guilt card. He was her last resort and he agreed to talk to them.
His partner thought the case might be a good idea. Maybe a settlement if they were spooked. The most unique part of their company was what they termed their Pharma Future program, a division of the R&D department that hired the top minds graduating from pharmacy schools and chemistry programs around the world, and dumped money on them to come up with new drugs.
He meets the boy and learns his father died in Iraq. A dying boy, who’s as American as apple pie. What jury couldn’t resist him? Even if liability wasn’t clear, if he could get Joel into the courtroom and put him in front of a jury to talk about the pain he’d gone through, to tell the jury about the needles they had to stick into him four times a week and the nightmares…the jury might go for it and give him whatever he asked for.
His kidneys were damaged beyond repair and his liver was damaged as well. Also damage to the heart and lungs that may not even manifest right away. The doctors are unsure of the time he has left. Stage V renal failure – the clock was ticking, and they had to worry about heart failure. He had to settle the case. Noah wanted to fight. He wanted to go to trial. His partners want to take him off the case. If they settled no one would be punished for what happened.
From confusion, vomiting, sleepiness, fatigue, inability to expend energy, migraines, blood in the stool or vomit. Each person had received the same reply, “please return the unused portion to us, and a full refund will be issued.” That way it could not be tested. A system set up to protect those giants.
A little boy pulls on his heart’s strings. His new relationship with Olivia—her haunted past, and his.. "The people are the power, not the money." Olivia begged him to help. He had worked his whole life to be in a place to help people like Rebecca and Joel. Illegal, corruption, cover-ups-- a gamble and he is willing to do whatever it takes.
Monsters: Noah soon learns his father may have been a monster; however, at least he was honest. He is finding there are worse monsters in the world, hiding in broad daylight. Those who put on smiles, shake your hand, and call you their friend. They care nothing about goodness, people or the future. The monsters are not under beds, they are out in the open pretending to be there to help.
Everyone warns him to detach and focus on the money. He is determined to win this case. They worked on contingency, and may not see the money back for eighteen months or more. He sees the Pharma-K guys as scumbags. They hurt children and do not care. People who were supposed to be watching out for consumers were actually the consumer’s biggest threat.
The closer Noah becomes to Joel, the more personal the case becomes. Noah gets creative, and will stop at nothing to bring justice. He does not want this to happen again, he wants plants closed, a foundation, plus he wants to help the other sick kids, better evaluation of products, punitive damages, and to investigate consumer-protection laws. He wants Federal Court --JUSTICE.
Plus in the midst of the drama, Olivia, the new lawyer, and his new partner in crime and a possible new love interest, makes things more interesting.
Having enjoyed Neon Lawyer, Victor Methos delivers another dynamic legal thriller with a flawed main protagonist engulfed in a case-- and knows his way around a courtroom with enough personal and professional mix to make for a compelling read. As a former whistleblower, a huge fan of the underdog-- love bringing the big bad boys down!
Legal thriller fans of Adam Mitzner, Scott Pratt, and John Grisham's Gray Mountain will enjoy, as well as Erin Brockovich, and medical/science dramas.
JDCMustReadBooks
Victor Methos returns following Neon Lawyer, with AN INVISIBLE CLIENT, A high-powered personal injury attorney Noah Byron—a fight against a pharmaceutical giant, breaking his number one rule by making it personal—Noah is determined to fight for justice, for a twelve-year-old boy, putting his career and everything he has worked for, on the line.
"Justice will not come until those who are not injured are as outraged as those who are." --Solon, 560BC
A David versus Goliath ---Food manufacturers have a formula to determine where we should live or die. Every bite of food we eat is like rolling a pair of dice. And the pharmaceutical giants. Do they protect or harm?
Unfortunately, under the law, a consumer's value equaled the amount of money that person could have earned in a lifetime, had he or she lived. If the calculation of damages in all the wrongful death lawsuits was greater that the cost of a recall, the manufacturer would recall the product. If the settlements would cost the company less than the recall, then they just ignored the defect.
Noah Byron, a name he chose, after leaving his abusive alcoholic father behind, now a high powered attorney--the head of a growing firm of personal injury lawyers. In an office of twenty-three attorneys and a robust support staff-- Noah Byron started the firm, Bryon, Val, and Keller and in ten years they had become one of the top plaintiff’s personal injury firms in the state of Utah. They had to pick winning cases and the second cardinal sin—do not get emotionally attached.
Under the law, a person was valued at exactly how much money that person could earn. Anyone who hadn’t gone into an Ivy League school, pulled in at least six figures, or had a family business waiting for them was what PI lawyers called “an invisible client” —one who lived and breathed but didn’t officially exist. They did not do invisible clients. The solo practitioners could fight over them.
His ex-wife calls to inform him she is remarrying and asks for a favor. Her cousin Rebecca’s son is sick. Joel Whiting (Herba-Cough Max) victim. From the whole Pharma Killer thing, some psychopath had laced children’s cough medicine with cyanide. Three kids in Salt Lake County had gotten extremely ill, but none had died. Again, Noah’s first thought…the guy would have no money. It would not be worth it.
The boy, Joel was only twelve years old, and the mother was full of anger --she needed someone to talk to. His ex-wife counted on him and believed in him, even though his life was over with her…the kids, grandkids, birthdays and graduations were now a part of her next life with her new husband.
When meeting with Rebecca regarding the situation, she thinks there is something fishy about Pharma-K, and they are covering it up. She thinks this was company negligence, and a cover-up, not some psycho lacing the medicine.
He needed proof. Her boy had been one of the unfortunate ones to suffer because of some sick maniac and she needed to blame someone. She wants him to sue. Sue them so they could never hurt another child. The cops would have to be involved, employees, and investigative journalists? Her son was dying and in renal failure and on the transplant list. The cyanide was not enough to kill him but it did a lot of damage and they would not give him a transplant, even after calling the governor.
She was asking him to take on a case that they would likely lose. He tries to tell her the firm cannot help. She begs him to just talk to them to see what they say. She pulled the family guilt card. He was her last resort and he agreed to talk to them.
His partner thought the case might be a good idea. Maybe a settlement if they were spooked. The most unique part of their company was what they termed their Pharma Future program, a division of the R&D department that hired the top minds graduating from pharmacy schools and chemistry programs around the world, and dumped money on them to come up with new drugs.
He meets the boy and learns his father died in Iraq. A dying boy, who’s as American as apple pie. What jury couldn’t resist him? Even if liability wasn’t clear, if he could get Joel into the courtroom and put him in front of a jury to talk about the pain he’d gone through, to tell the jury about the needles they had to stick into him four times a week and the nightmares…the jury might go for it and give him whatever he asked for.
His kidneys were damaged beyond repair and his liver was damaged as well. Also damage to the heart and lungs that may not even manifest right away. The doctors are unsure of the time he has left. Stage V renal failure – the clock was ticking, and they had to worry about heart failure. He had to settle the case. Noah wanted to fight. He wanted to go to trial. His partners want to take him off the case. If they settled no one would be punished for what happened.
From confusion, vomiting, sleepiness, fatigue, inability to expend energy, migraines, blood in the stool or vomit. Each person had received the same reply, “please return the unused portion to us, and a full refund will be issued.” That way it could not be tested. A system set up to protect those giants.
A little boy pulls on his heart’s strings. His new relationship with Olivia—her haunted past, and his.. "The people are the power, not the money." Olivia begged him to help. He had worked his whole life to be in a place to help people like Rebecca and Joel. Illegal, corruption, cover-ups-- a gamble and he is willing to do whatever it takes.
Monsters: Noah soon learns his father may have been a monster; however, at least he was honest. He is finding there are worse monsters in the world, hiding in broad daylight. Those who put on smiles, shake your hand, and call you their friend. They care nothing about goodness, people or the future. The monsters are not under beds, they are out in the open pretending to be there to help.
Everyone warns him to detach and focus on the money. He is determined to win this case. They worked on contingency, and may not see the money back for eighteen months or more. He sees the Pharma-K guys as scumbags. They hurt children and do not care. People who were supposed to be watching out for consumers were actually the consumer’s biggest threat.
The closer Noah becomes to Joel, the more personal the case becomes. Noah gets creative, and will stop at nothing to bring justice. He does not want this to happen again, he wants plants closed, a foundation, plus he wants to help the other sick kids, better evaluation of products, punitive damages, and to investigate consumer-protection laws. He wants Federal Court --JUSTICE.
Plus in the midst of the drama, Olivia, the new lawyer, and his new partner in crime and a possible new love interest, makes things more interesting.
Having enjoyed Neon Lawyer, Victor Methos delivers another dynamic legal thriller with a flawed main protagonist engulfed in a case-- and knows his way around a courtroom with enough personal and professional mix to make for a compelling read. As a former whistleblower, a huge fan of the underdog-- love bringing the big bad boys down!
Legal thriller fans of Adam Mitzner, Scott Pratt, and John Grisham's Gray Mountain will enjoy, as well as Erin Brockovich, and medical/science dramas.
JDCMustReadBooks
November 8, 2018
Another Victor Methos novel, another phenomenal read. At the risk of sounding repetitive I cannot stress enough how much I have enjoyed these books and how much of a genuine emotional reaction they have brought out in me. These are far and away some of the best legal thrillers that I have ever read.
Victor Methos has a real talent when it comes to creating characters that I can believe in and root for. Characters who come to life on the page and feel like real people, and so when events happen in the book that affect the characters, I feel affected too and my eyes actually filled with tears at some parts of this story. For an author to do that with a fictional story takes real talent (but, I am an overly emotional person anyway). Victor also has a real talent in creating stories, some of them are based on cases he has worked but to turn those cases into such an addictive and thought-provoking read is not something that can just be done easily. When it comes to looking back over my favourite 2018 reads (almost 200 of them), these three Victor Methos books won’t be far from the very top of the list.
I said the previous two books were my favourites (though they are in fact the later two in terms of publication but all are standalone stories). An Invisible Client might now be my favourite of the three but honestly I’ve been blown away by them all. In terms of characters and story I felt this one hit me the most and had me filling up towards the end. Victor really champions the underdog and where in the other two books we have had lawyers who are on their arse sometimes trying to make ends meet, here we have something lifted out of Suits with a group of mega lawyers who just seek out the money and look for the next case. That is until a mother comes into Noah‘s life with her son Joel who is dying after taking cough medicine laced with poison. What follows is some of the best legal drama I have ever witnessed and I couldn’t get enough of it. I actually found myself picturing Noah as Harvey from Suits which isn’t a bad thing to picture. I loved the journey that Noah went on during this story from a lawyer without a heart who just went after the money to one who completely became consumed by this case after a phone call from his ex-wife.
If you are a fan of legal thrillers then you need to be reading Victor Methos. If you are a fan of reading and love amazing stories then you should be reading Victor Methos. There aren’t enough words to say how much I recommend these stories and how much I have loved them.
Victor Methos has a real talent when it comes to creating characters that I can believe in and root for. Characters who come to life on the page and feel like real people, and so when events happen in the book that affect the characters, I feel affected too and my eyes actually filled with tears at some parts of this story. For an author to do that with a fictional story takes real talent (but, I am an overly emotional person anyway). Victor also has a real talent in creating stories, some of them are based on cases he has worked but to turn those cases into such an addictive and thought-provoking read is not something that can just be done easily. When it comes to looking back over my favourite 2018 reads (almost 200 of them), these three Victor Methos books won’t be far from the very top of the list.
I said the previous two books were my favourites (though they are in fact the later two in terms of publication but all are standalone stories). An Invisible Client might now be my favourite of the three but honestly I’ve been blown away by them all. In terms of characters and story I felt this one hit me the most and had me filling up towards the end. Victor really champions the underdog and where in the other two books we have had lawyers who are on their arse sometimes trying to make ends meet, here we have something lifted out of Suits with a group of mega lawyers who just seek out the money and look for the next case. That is until a mother comes into Noah‘s life with her son Joel who is dying after taking cough medicine laced with poison. What follows is some of the best legal drama I have ever witnessed and I couldn’t get enough of it. I actually found myself picturing Noah as Harvey from Suits which isn’t a bad thing to picture. I loved the journey that Noah went on during this story from a lawyer without a heart who just went after the money to one who completely became consumed by this case after a phone call from his ex-wife.
If you are a fan of legal thrillers then you need to be reading Victor Methos. If you are a fan of reading and love amazing stories then you should be reading Victor Methos. There aren’t enough words to say how much I recommend these stories and how much I have loved them.
February 14, 2019
Personal injury lawyer, Noah Byron, usually only takes cases that will make him lots of money. As a favor to his ex-wife, he agrees to look into a case that he intends to turn down as it will cost too much to try with little hope of actually winning. However, the more he looks into the case of a little boy that was poisoned with cough medicine, the more he realizes something doesn't add up. He smells blood in the water and like a shark, he is determined to find out where it is coming from.
This was a good legal thriller. I especially liked how the case changed Noah for the better. He starts out as a bit of an ass. Between his new associate, Olivia, and his relationship with the victim, Joel, he starts to act more like a human being. I liked the author's writing style and will look for more books by him in the future.
This was a good legal thriller. I especially liked how the case changed Noah for the better. He starts out as a bit of an ass. Between his new associate, Olivia, and his relationship with the victim, Joel, he starts to act more like a human being. I liked the author's writing style and will look for more books by him in the future.
October 21, 2022
"An Invisible Client"- one who lives and breaths but doesn't officially exist.
"Remember one thing above anything else: if you say something confidently enough, people will believe you. Even if you're wrong."
Noah Byron is a personal injury lawyer who represents an eleven year old boy named Joel who was poisoned from a bottle of children's cough medicine. Noah quickly learns that going up against such a large pharmaceutical company is futile.
The more Noah learns about this company the more convinced he becomes that something more sinister is behind these poisonous cough medicines and proving it may just take everything Noah has.
"Remember one thing above anything else: if you say something confidently enough, people will believe you. Even if you're wrong."
Noah Byron is a personal injury lawyer who represents an eleven year old boy named Joel who was poisoned from a bottle of children's cough medicine. Noah quickly learns that going up against such a large pharmaceutical company is futile.
The more Noah learns about this company the more convinced he becomes that something more sinister is behind these poisonous cough medicines and proving it may just take everything Noah has.
March 9, 2016
This is my second book by Victor Methos. In this book Noah Bryce is a personal injury attorney who primarily settles his cases out of court. He has a rule never to take “invisible clients”, which is a legal term for a person that lives but does not legally exist.
In this story his ex wife asks Noah to take on the case of her cousin’s son Joel Whiting who is twelve years old. Joel was poisoned after taking a cough medicine which contains acetonitrile which converts into cyanide inside the body.
The book is well written and the pace is fast. The plot is straight forward with a small twist. Some of the characters appear interesting, and I wondered if the characters would appear in future books. The courtroom scenes are electrifying. The courtroom dialog kept me glued to the book. I always enjoy a story that champions the underdog. Methos has Noah explain the legal jargon so it’s understandable to non legal readers. There is an underlying moral dilemma to the story that adds spice but also food for thought. The book is a great legal thriller which is easy to read. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Alexander Cendese did a good job narrating the book.
In this story his ex wife asks Noah to take on the case of her cousin’s son Joel Whiting who is twelve years old. Joel was poisoned after taking a cough medicine which contains acetonitrile which converts into cyanide inside the body.
The book is well written and the pace is fast. The plot is straight forward with a small twist. Some of the characters appear interesting, and I wondered if the characters would appear in future books. The courtroom scenes are electrifying. The courtroom dialog kept me glued to the book. I always enjoy a story that champions the underdog. Methos has Noah explain the legal jargon so it’s understandable to non legal readers. There is an underlying moral dilemma to the story that adds spice but also food for thought. The book is a great legal thriller which is easy to read. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Alexander Cendese did a good job narrating the book.
June 9, 2016
Inspiring, Emotional, Fascinating, Realistic, Captivating, Impressive & Gripping! A Beautifully Heartbreaking Read! I Loved It!
June 1, 2021
Another book I borrowed from KU on audio. I probably would not have ever come across this book except for a KU audiobook search and thought it would be a nice change of pace to read a little law thriller! This isn't my go to genre but I try it out at least once a year! 3 stars, I enjoyed it OK. For fans of a little Grisham-esque story!
May 29, 2022
Great Gobs Of Gooey Gravy! 😳😯🤯🥺
I fell in love with this novel. With the few characters. I felt so many emotions. This wasn't just a suspense novel! It had depth, heart, true grit and a story that was so believable. I went through every single emotion. This plot was more than I expected in the best way and I adored it. I'm in absolute turmoil with my emotions all over the place.
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Noah is a personal injury attorney who is wealthy and always take the big clients with big dough. But when his ex-wife calls him about her cousin Rachel and how her twelve year old son is terminally ill because of poisoning from a cough medicine, and doesn't believe the gossip about it due to a psycho tampering with bottles but rather something more disturbing, he's intrigue piqued. As he takes on the case and delves deeper, he'll find the costs are much greater than just his firm, his reputation and money.
Be prepared to quite the the ending - especially the last quarter of the book because you may need tissues. I loved how human and real these characters were, how fluidly it flowed and my favourite part being the legal suspense at the heart of it. Methos combined every part superbly and left me with a bittersweet feeling. So well done! But I need dog cuddles now. 🤧
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4.5 / 5 Lilies! 🪷
I fell in love with this novel. With the few characters. I felt so many emotions. This wasn't just a suspense novel! It had depth, heart, true grit and a story that was so believable. I went through every single emotion. This plot was more than I expected in the best way and I adored it. I'm in absolute turmoil with my emotions all over the place.
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Noah is a personal injury attorney who is wealthy and always take the big clients with big dough. But when his ex-wife calls him about her cousin Rachel and how her twelve year old son is terminally ill because of poisoning from a cough medicine, and doesn't believe the gossip about it due to a psycho tampering with bottles but rather something more disturbing, he's intrigue piqued. As he takes on the case and delves deeper, he'll find the costs are much greater than just his firm, his reputation and money.
Be prepared to quite the the ending - especially the last quarter of the book because you may need tissues. I loved how human and real these characters were, how fluidly it flowed and my favourite part being the legal suspense at the heart of it. Methos combined every part superbly and left me with a bittersweet feeling. So well done! But I need dog cuddles now. 🤧
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4.5 / 5 Lilies! 🪷
May 19, 2017
This was the first book I had read from this author but it won't be the last. Attorney Noah Byron grew up hungry, poor, and abused by his father. His abused mom abandoned him to his dad. He wanted to be rich and now he has it all as a personal injury lawyer in a firm he started with 2 friends. They take only cases where they feel sure to win big money.
Noah's ex-wife Tia calls to let him know she is getting remarried and to ask a favor. Her cousin's 12 year old son Joel is in the hospital dying from ingesting children's cough syrup that also sickened 2 other kids. Joel is in kidney and liver failure. The mom is convinced from a conversation with someone who worked in consumer affairs at the pharmaceutical company that it is due to chemicals being sealed into the medicine at the factory and not due to someone tampering with the medicine on the store shelves.
This begins a personal watershed for Noah as he befriends the child and his mother, enters a sweet romance with a newly minted lawyer who was once raped and believes in sex only in marriage, and fights against an evil company, its evil lawyers, and even his own partners who want him to settle since the evidence seems weak and the company has fired most witnesses. Watch and see what Noah does instead!
Noah's ex-wife Tia calls to let him know she is getting remarried and to ask a favor. Her cousin's 12 year old son Joel is in the hospital dying from ingesting children's cough syrup that also sickened 2 other kids. Joel is in kidney and liver failure. The mom is convinced from a conversation with someone who worked in consumer affairs at the pharmaceutical company that it is due to chemicals being sealed into the medicine at the factory and not due to someone tampering with the medicine on the store shelves.
This begins a personal watershed for Noah as he befriends the child and his mother, enters a sweet romance with a newly minted lawyer who was once raped and believes in sex only in marriage, and fights against an evil company, its evil lawyers, and even his own partners who want him to settle since the evidence seems weak and the company has fired most witnesses. Watch and see what Noah does instead!
February 7, 2016
Wonderful, excellent book.
Victor Methos is another excellent author, he did his homework before writing this book. His life experiences woven into every chapter. Noah successful personal lawyer, his hunger for money dictated every case he took. Finally light bulb moment made him see what life/love and success really is. Olivia played big part in this transformation. Took pages of notes and made me put down my Kindle and think. This book is about pharmaceutical company corruption case. Heart warming and sad story, but ending will make you smile, maybe...
Victor Methos is another excellent author, he did his homework before writing this book. His life experiences woven into every chapter. Noah successful personal lawyer, his hunger for money dictated every case he took. Finally light bulb moment made him see what life/love and success really is. Olivia played big part in this transformation. Took pages of notes and made me put down my Kindle and think. This book is about pharmaceutical company corruption case. Heart warming and sad story, but ending will make you smile, maybe...
February 20, 2017
This book is an easy read and somewhat entertaining but EXTREMELY predictable. I also found the character development sadly lacking... you could tell an undercurrent of the relationship between the main character and his 'love interest' but it was never developed... I guess we were just supposed to assume a lot...
Not a bad book... decent if predictable story...
Not a bad book... decent if predictable story...
March 9, 2022
I’ve read a few books by this author now, and his fans seem to all love his lawyer-procedurals the most. This first one seems like a blueprint for the lawyer-as-hero genre. If you like Michael Connelly, I’m sure this author will please you.
I can’t complain about the pace or the corporation-as-evil villainy. I will continue to complain about how these lawyer-heroes are inexplicably adored by their ex-wives (seriously, this is a trope that appears over and over). Ah, well, ‘tis fiction, right? This book is not unpredictable, and sometimes that is just what you need.
File Under: Sick Kids, Evil Corps, and Hero Lawyer Saves the Day
I can’t complain about the pace or the corporation-as-evil villainy. I will continue to complain about how these lawyer-heroes are inexplicably adored by their ex-wives (seriously, this is a trope that appears over and over). Ah, well, ‘tis fiction, right? This book is not unpredictable, and sometimes that is just what you need.
File Under: Sick Kids, Evil Corps, and Hero Lawyer Saves the Day
January 17, 2021
This was a fantastic read. A lawyer putting everything on the line to fight the secrets of a pharmaceutical company.
June 16, 2022
If you love to read law thrillers Victor Methos is the best. His books are usually short and quick reads due to the quality of his writing.
February 18, 2016
This is only the 2nd book that I am reading from Victor Methos. I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. My thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity.
In legal parlance An Invisible Client is a person who lives and breaths but does not legally exists, i.e. a person who is values at how much that person can earn. Anybody who's not gone to an Ivy League school, pulls in at least 6 figures or has a family business waiting for them are an invisible client. In short nobody gives a s**t about them. This legal terminology excludes 99% of the world population, but then who said law had to be fair, it just had to be effective.
Noah Bryce's story is that of a high-flying, personal injury lawyer who has made a life out of settling cases out of courts on behalf of his clients. He is wealthy, successful and at the top of his game. He has only one rule, he does not take Invisible Clients. His ordinary existence is put out of gear when his ex asks him to take the case of her cousin whose son is poisoned after taking a cough medicine promoted by a company called Pharma-K. Medicine which had acetonitrile which converts into cyanide when inside the body.
I will not summarize the book contents, coz it is good enough that people can pick up a copy and read it for themselves. Instead I will summarize what resonated with me. In court room scenes where the prosecution and the defense are squaring off against each other is electric. The arguments made by Noah Bryce are powerful and the are an indictment of how our society has progressed that it no longer even shows a semblance of pity towards the weak and under-privileged.
Our society has become openly and completely biased in favor of the rich and powerful who manipulate the system as they deem fit and the common man is left paying the price for their actions. The recent past is full of such instances, Enron, BP spill, the market crash of 2008 all of these resonates loudly and clearly, so may mistakes but not one culprit or punishment.
Where do we go from here, in the book the fictional Noah Bryce put aside his bias and championed an underdog to the peril of his own health, but where are the real life Noah Bryce's and when will the oppressed be championed??
I will recommend this all those who love legal thrillers, this is a great read and makes me want to pick more from Victor Methos in future.
In the end I will leave you all with a thought from Solon from 560 BC Justice will not come until those who are not injured are as outraged as those who are
In legal parlance An Invisible Client is a person who lives and breaths but does not legally exists, i.e. a person who is values at how much that person can earn. Anybody who's not gone to an Ivy League school, pulls in at least 6 figures or has a family business waiting for them are an invisible client. In short nobody gives a s**t about them. This legal terminology excludes 99% of the world population, but then who said law had to be fair, it just had to be effective.
Noah Bryce's story is that of a high-flying, personal injury lawyer who has made a life out of settling cases out of courts on behalf of his clients. He is wealthy, successful and at the top of his game. He has only one rule, he does not take Invisible Clients. His ordinary existence is put out of gear when his ex asks him to take the case of her cousin whose son is poisoned after taking a cough medicine promoted by a company called Pharma-K. Medicine which had acetonitrile which converts into cyanide when inside the body.
I will not summarize the book contents, coz it is good enough that people can pick up a copy and read it for themselves. Instead I will summarize what resonated with me. In court room scenes where the prosecution and the defense are squaring off against each other is electric. The arguments made by Noah Bryce are powerful and the are an indictment of how our society has progressed that it no longer even shows a semblance of pity towards the weak and under-privileged.
Our society has become openly and completely biased in favor of the rich and powerful who manipulate the system as they deem fit and the common man is left paying the price for their actions. The recent past is full of such instances, Enron, BP spill, the market crash of 2008 all of these resonates loudly and clearly, so may mistakes but not one culprit or punishment.
Where do we go from here, in the book the fictional Noah Bryce put aside his bias and championed an underdog to the peril of his own health, but where are the real life Noah Bryce's and when will the oppressed be championed??
I will recommend this all those who love legal thrillers, this is a great read and makes me want to pick more from Victor Methos in future.
In the end I will leave you all with a thought from Solon from 560 BC Justice will not come until those who are not injured are as outraged as those who are
July 10, 2019
Make space John Grisham
A thoroughly captivating legal thriller that is on par with the best works of John Grisham. Indeed, it's very similar to JG's tale of the wrongful death suite, The Rainmaker - very similar - even the title is JG esque! Nevertheless, if that was your thing, you'll love this book and all the other VM legal thrillers.
A thoroughly captivating legal thriller that is on par with the best works of John Grisham. Indeed, it's very similar to JG's tale of the wrongful death suite, The Rainmaker - very similar - even the title is JG esque! Nevertheless, if that was your thing, you'll love this book and all the other VM legal thrillers.
November 7, 2017
Over the years, I’ve read a few books in the Stanton series, by Victor Methos, but I must admit none captivated, or moved me as much as this stand-alone legal thriller, featuring new characters.
Noah Byron and his 2 partners have built a successful legal practice defending only the winnable personal injury cases. Coming from a dirt poor background himself, he has learned to detach himself emotionally from potential clients. His drive is to get rich and taking cases that will bring a profit to his company. It is also clear that Noah is not a bad guy, whenever he wins a big case, he readily hands out bonusses to his entire staff of 70 employees.
The thing we need to understand is there’s a lot of mathematics going on before lawyers take on a case. Calculating what a client is worth is a big factor in this type of litigation. What is referred to as an invisible client, is actually a client that will not generate a big payout in court. Isn’t that sad?
That all changes when Noah is asked to look into the case of Joel Whiting, a 12 year old boy who took a cough medicine that was supposedly tampered with. The boy’s kidneys and liver are failing and the odds aren’t good. Little by little, Noah gets more involved in the case and he can’t help himself but to help this invisible client, going against his self-imposed rules of detachment.
As always, Methos succeeds into painting sympathetic characters, without delving too deep into their souls. I really enjoyed this book. The legalese was very understandable and the court scenes were absolutely compelling.
Noah Byron and his 2 partners have built a successful legal practice defending only the winnable personal injury cases. Coming from a dirt poor background himself, he has learned to detach himself emotionally from potential clients. His drive is to get rich and taking cases that will bring a profit to his company. It is also clear that Noah is not a bad guy, whenever he wins a big case, he readily hands out bonusses to his entire staff of 70 employees.
The thing we need to understand is there’s a lot of mathematics going on before lawyers take on a case. Calculating what a client is worth is a big factor in this type of litigation. What is referred to as an invisible client, is actually a client that will not generate a big payout in court. Isn’t that sad?
That all changes when Noah is asked to look into the case of Joel Whiting, a 12 year old boy who took a cough medicine that was supposedly tampered with. The boy’s kidneys and liver are failing and the odds aren’t good. Little by little, Noah gets more involved in the case and he can’t help himself but to help this invisible client, going against his self-imposed rules of detachment.
As always, Methos succeeds into painting sympathetic characters, without delving too deep into their souls. I really enjoyed this book. The legalese was very understandable and the court scenes were absolutely compelling.
August 13, 2017
OMG! Look what I read..
So, I’m always complaining about books written in the FIRST PERSON and how I can't stand them but occasionally I have to try one. I did read the first book in this series, The Neon Lawyer, which WASN’T written in the first person so I had to read and listen to this, too. And I think the reason I enjoyed it so much was because the author didn’t use “ I “ so much that it drove me crazy.
This was about the lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company that tried to hide the fact that they messed up and got someone killed and tried to hide it by saying a serial killer tampered with bottles and put arsenic in them. It was a great courtroom drama, with a 13 year old boy that brought the whole thing to an end. (And I will admit that I did cry when the only death happened in the story.)
I liked Noah and Olivia a lot. I liked his ‘never give up’ attitude and Olivia being right by his side when everyone wanted him to settle and he just wouldn’t do it. I liked the partners, Marty and Raimi. As well as Rebecca and her son Joel.
There was no sex and the F-bomb was used 8 times.
As to the narration: I love Alexander Cendese as a narrator. His voices and emotions are great!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 865 reviews