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Inheritance of Lies

Book One · David Mercer Series

Inheritance of Lies

A full-length legal thriller about sealed files, corrupt power, and one attorney who refuses to stay quiet when the system tells him to sit down.

Some files don’t get lost. They get sealed.

When David Mercer leaves the Jackson County DA’s office to join his uncle’s elite Kansas City law firm, he expects a cleaner life — better cases, better money, and fewer bodies in his rearview.

What he finds instead is a sealed court file tied to his past, a missing client, and a corporate trail that doesn’t just dodge accountability — it designs outcomes. Rulings don’t happen by chance. They’re purchased, engineered, and enforced.

As David pulls on the first loose thread, he uncovers a network of shell companies, rigged decisions, and vanishing whistleblowers. The firm he just pledged loyalty to may be the front door to something far bigger — and far more dangerous — than corruption.

  • Book one in the David Mercer legal-thriller series.
  • Perfect for fans of high-stakes courtroom drama and political conspiracies.
  • Directly follows the events set in motion in The Sealed Deal.
Full-length legal thriller
Legal, political & corporate intrigue

What readers are saying

I don’t usually read legal thrillers, but this book hooked me from the first chapter. Totally worth losing a little sleep over.
— Olivia Ramirez, 22 · Barista
The courtroom scenes are razor-sharp and the ethical dilemmas stayed with me long after I finished. Perfect for class discussion.
— Marcus Turner, 37 · Teacher
After a 12-hour shift, I need a book that grabs me fast. This one didn’t let go. “Just one more chapter” turned into 3 a.m.
— Brenda Collins, 51 · Nurse
The conspiracy unfolds layer by layer. Every twist feels earned. One of the smartest thrillers I’ve read in a long time.
— Jamal Peterson, 29 · Software Developer
The legal angles, the investigative grit, the human cost — it all rings true. You can tell the author knows this world.
— Harold Greene, 60 · Retired Detective
The pace reminded me of my own high-pressure shifts. I kept thinking, “You are not putting this down.” I didn’t.
— Tyler Grant, 34 · Paramedic

Where this case falls in the Mercer universe

01
The Sealed Deal Short prequel · David before Mercer & Holt
02
Inheritance of Lies Flagship novel · The first major Mercer case
03
Shadow Network Book Two · The machine behind the firm

You can jump in right here with Inheritance of Lies — the prequel and Book Two just deepen the trail you’ve already started down.

What kind of legal thriller this is

Three pillars that define Inheritance of Lies at a glance.

Pillar 01
Courtroom Heat
High-pressure testimony, judges with no patience, and attorneys who know one bad question can sink a case.
Pillar 02
Deep Conspiracy
Shell companies, dark money, sealed files, and a system that doesn’t just bend the rules — it rewrites them.
Pillar 03
Human Cost
Family pressure, burnout, and the line between “doing your job” and “being complicit” when you know the game is rigged.
The truth wasn’t buried. It was sealed — and someone made sure it stayed that way.