The Liberty Docket Is Out — And the Next Case Is Already Moving

Today I’m excited to say it plainly:

The Liberty Docket is officially out. ⚖️

This one matters to me because it’s my first standalone legal thriller—new courtroom, new cast, new kind of pressure—but still the same obsession I love writing about: what happens when the system starts protecting itself instead of the truth.

If you’ve been following along for the Mercer universe, this is a great “jump-in-anytime” case. No homework required. Just open the file and step into the courthouse.

Read more about the book here:
→ /the-liberty-docket

Available now:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FWRP4P2M

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-liberty-docket-derek-fermin/1148765117?ean=9798260366615

What’s Next: The Juror’s Lie (In Development)

While The Liberty Docket is out in the wild, the next standalone is already taking shape:

The Juror’s Lie is in development.

Twelve jurors. One hidden agenda. And a woman who didn’t join the jury to find the truth—she joined it to weaponize the verdict.

This one is designed to be tense, fast, and claustrophobic in the best way: the jury room, the whispers, the side-eyes, the tiny moments that feel harmless until you realize they’re part of something bigger.

You can follow the progress here:
→ /the-jurors-lie

Shadow Network: Book Two Is Still Building

For my David Mercer readers: Shadow Network is moving forward.

Book Two picks up in the wake of everything that detonated in Inheritance of Lies. The sealed case may be exposed—but the machine behind it doesn’t die. It adapts. And when it adapts… it starts cleaning up.

That means higher stakes, sharper pressure, and the kind of courtroom and off-record maneuvering that doesn’t leave fingerprints.

More on the sequel here:
→ /shadow-network

Bonus Files, Extras, and More to Come

I’m also continuing to build out the “extras” side of this world—things that feel like they belong in a real case file: behind-the-scenes updates, bonus materials, and content meant for readers who love digging into the edges of the story.

If you want the best updates (and occasional surprises), the email list is the place to be.

Get release updates here:
→ / (scroll to “Be first on the next case.”)

Thank You

Seriously—thank you for reading, sharing, and messaging me about these stories. Every time someone tells me “I couldn’t put it down,” it fuels the next case.

The Liberty Docket is out now… and the next file is already on my desk.

More soon.
— Derek