Legal thrillers that put the system on trial.
Derek Fermin writes grounded, high-stakes legal thrillers built on conspiracies that are fictional but feel entirely plausible. His books focus on the pressure, politics, and courtroom maneuvers that appear when the rules stop protecting the people they were meant to serve.
A single sealed case. A nationwide conspiracy.
Case by case, David Mercer learns that the system he swore to serve was engineered to protect power, not people. Follow the trail from one suspicious client to the shadow network running beneath the courts.
Other courts. Different verdicts. Same stakes.
Step into new courtrooms with judges, jurors, and attorneys who are one bad ruling away from losing everything. Each book stands alone—you can start with whichever case calls to you.
The Liberty Docket
A federal judge receives a desperate letter from a death-row inmate that cracks open a forgotten case— and suggests the real conspiracy has been hiding in his own courthouse all along.
The Juror’s Lie
Twelve jurors. One hidden agenda. And a woman willing to burn a trial to the ground to expose the truth about her sister’s murder.
The Pro Bono Client
A burned-out junior associate is forced onto a pro bono defense for a homeless man accused of stabbing a hedge-fund star— only to discover that every attempt to walk away triggers a “random” tragedy in her life… and her client seems to know her future.
News & updates
What’s happening now
The Liberty Docket is out now
The stand-alone judicial thriller is officially live. If you like tense courtrooms, buried files, and a system that fights back—this is the new case to open.
The Juror’s Lie released Feb 10, 2026
Twelve jurors. One hidden agenda. The jury box is packed with secrets—and the verdict isn’t clean.
The Pro Bono Client releases Apr 21, 2026
A white-shoe associate takes a pro bono case she can’t drop—without consequences. Release day is Apr 21, 2026.
Shadow Network: Book Two is moving
The Mercer series continues—revisions are tightening the conspiracy, sharpening the courtroom tactics, and raising the stakes after Inheritance of Lies.
Fiction that cross-examines the system.
This is the home base for Derek Fermin’s legal thrillers, including the David Mercer series and his standalone novels.
Derek Fermin
Derek Fermin writes high-stakes legal thrillers where justice isn’t just a verdict—it’s a battle.
A lifelong fan of crime fiction and courtroom drama, Derek brings a sharp eye for suspense and a knack for unraveling conspiracies that hit close to home. His debut series follows David Mercer, a former prosecutor turned private attorney, as he digs into corruption, power, and the price of truth—all set against the gritty backdrop of Kansas City.
When he’s not plotting legal showdowns, Derek’s likely hunting down true crime documentaries, building his next LEGO masterpiece, or connecting with readers who love their thrillers razor-sharp and emotionally charged.