You Have The Right to Remain Silent: Zachary Blake Legal Thriller # 8 is a work of fiction in the legal thriller subgenre and is the latest installment in the series. It is aimed at mature readers and was penned by author Mark M. Bello. The book follows Blake as he defends a conservative media figure who has been charged with the murder of her progressive politician husband. As Zachary’s team works to find holes in the prosecution’s arguments, they enlist the help of controversial jury specialist Shari Belitz, a person about whom Zachary has reservations, but with his client's life on the line, all bets are off as they mount their defense.

I’m always a little concerned about reading books so far along in a series I’m not overly familiar with, but author Mark M. Bello is a talented writer who is able to tell the eighth story in a series whilst making sure that newcomers will be able to enjoy the book as a standalone tale. The case at hand is an intriguing thriller that masterfully opens up as the story unfolds, while the team pushes further into the mystery. I particularly enjoyed the character of Shari, who provided a very engaging adversarial dynamic for Zack to contend with whilst trying to keep his client out of harm’s way. Overall, You Have The Right to Remain Silent is an exciting and dynamic mystery with a colorful cast of characters championing for justice for a woman wrongly accused. Just when the team seems to have a handle on the case, the story manages to twist unexpectedly, keeping protagonist and reader alike on their toes throughout.

Mia Folger was a radio talk show host and political activist married to two-time Congressman Brad Crawford. The couple loved each other, but their marriage was rocky. Mia attended psychotherapy sessions with her doctor, Harold Rothenberg, and returned to a horrifying scene. She found Brad dead from exsanguination in their home. Mia shut down and went into a catatonic state. She was also charged with first-degree murder, courtesy of her husband’s vindictive legal assistant and the media. But how could Mia triumph if she couldn’t contribute to her defense? Leave the job to Doctor Harold, Attorney Zack, P. I. Micah, Jury Consultant Shari, and Reed, the tech guru, to work their magic! You Have The Right to Remain Silent by Mark M. Bello will blow your mind!

Could a situation be more horrible than the inability to defend yourself against the murder of a loved one, especially with all evidence pointing at you? Was there a perfect crime? Cheers to Mark M. Bello, a fantastic writer, for blessing me with the novel titled You Have The Right to Remain Silent. This book is the eighth installment in the Zachary Blake legal thriller series, and I couldn’t love it more. It felt like I was watching a perfectly curated crime show, and I couldn’t put down this book. Wow! The assemblage of a genius crack team, unpredictable twists, and knotting of loose ends were testimony to the author’s bright legal mind. The blend of psychology and law was like a well-oiled machine. Understand how the human mind works, and you’re home free. Shari was the MVP of this novel! The writing style, pace, suspense, and sprinkle of humor, especially in the courtroom, captivated me. I was waiting to exhale. I’m in awe, Mark. Great job!

When Mia Folger, a prominent radio talk-show host and political activist, comes home drunk after a revealing psychotherapy session with Dr. Rothenberg, she discovers her husband's body in their bedroom. Mia becomes hysterical and has a catatonic episode from which she does not seem to recover. In You Have The Right to Remain Silent (Zachary Blake Legal Thriller # 8) by Mark M. Bello, two-term congressman Bradley Crawford is found by his wife, dead and mutilated. She is the prime suspect in his murder, and soon pressure is placed on the detectives to arrest her, even if she is comatose. Her doctor believes she is innocent and contacts Zachary Blake, the "King of Justice" with whom he is good friends. Zack is intrigued and takes the case pro bono. He and his investigative team, led by Micah Love, must uncover exactly what happened on the day of Crawford's death. Zack hires loud-mouth Shari Belitz, a New York trial psychologist, on Micah's advice. Together this capable team discovers leads the police did not consider and how far a woman scorned will go to feel vindicated.

In this suspenseful legal thriller, the inner workings of a criminal case are explained so that the reader understands what is happening. Many legal thrillers tend to gloss over the technical parts of the court cases and why some evidence is admissible and some not. The addition of Shari Belitz brings a sizzling rapport with Blake and complements his character and approach to cases. Mark Bello thoroughly explains the techniques used in gathering and securing evidence, the importance of chain of custody, and the methods used in the courtroom to help or hinder witnesses. You Have the Right to Remain Silent is an engaging and thrilling story in which enough background is given so that the novel can be read as a standalone or part of the Zachary Blake series.

You Have the Right to Remain Silent: Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series # 8 by Mark M. Bello follows Zachary Blake (Zack - the King of Justice), who might finally have a case he cannot crack. His friend and savior Dr. Rothenberg asked Zack to represent Mia Folger, a conservative talk show host and the prime suspect in the brutal murder case of her husband, Congressman Bradley Crawford. There was only one issue: Mia was in the hospital, catatonic, and unable to prove her innocence. Zack knew he was brilliant but realized that he needed help with this case. He enlisted Reed Spencer, Micah Love, and reluctantly added jury consultant Shari Belitz, whose reputation rivaled his own. With the best minds working on a single case, Zack and his team shouldn’t have a difficult time proving Mia’s innocence. But someone was trying very hard to get Mia convicted. Could the brilliant Zack work his magic in Mia’s favor?

I have read Betrayal at the Border, the seventh novel in the series, and to say I was hooked would be an understatement. True to Mark M. Bello's style, this unique legal thriller/murder mystery had me glued to my Kindle until the end. The plot was fantastic, the suspense of Crawford’s murder and how every piece of evidence pointed to Mia’s guilt had me questioning everything. Zack’s brilliance was on display once again as he struggled to prove the innocence of a woman who wasn’t capable of defending herself. Of course, that meant he had to work with Shari, a new character who challenged Zack's wit. I loved the interaction between these two and the obvious tension between them. As always, I was immersed in the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed You Have the Right to Remain Silent and loved every moment.