Review of Night’s Redemption by Stephen Bentley

Night’s Redemption: A Detective Matt Deal Thriller Book 5

Night’s Redemption tells the story of a small-town lawyer who risks everything to seek justice for an innocent man, like Atticus Finch in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Night’s Redemption is set in current-day Montana, whereas the setting of ‘Mockingbird’ is 1960s Alabama. Ignorance, fear, greed, and corruption are still trying to control people’s lives.

Jimmy Grant left the life of a biker gang member in Florida where his handle was Night. With help from the FBI Witness Protection Program, Jimmy flees trouble in Florida to become a lawyer in Cut Bank, Montana. Jimmy assumes a new persona as an attorney and changes his name to Walter Williams.  He’s now settled into a mostly peaceful life with his mother, Rose. Walter agrees to take a case to defend an autistic Black man who is accused of rape. Walter sets out to learn about Samuel Greene, his client, so he can build a defense. But the town has already charged Samuel Green, and their verdict is guilty as charged even before a trial.  Sheriff Matt Deal was previously a detective in Florida where he knew Walter. The two men recognize each other at the courthouse. Instead of hiding from the past, they become colleagues. Matt is a supporting character in this story.

Matt vows to help Walter take down the evil that has long controlled their community. Susan Adams, Walter’s fellow prosecutor and friend, also joins in the fight to help Samuel Green regain his freedom and good name. Walter finds his redemption at last through fighting racism and preventing his client from going to prison.

I really liked Night’s Redemption. Walter is an intriguing character. The court room drama is very realistic. It can be read as a standalone or as part of the Detective Matt Deal Thrillers series. I’ve read books 1-5 of this series, and I’m looking forward to reading Manhunt which is Book 6. Bentley is an excellent author. I highly recommend this book!

Stephen Bentley is a former U. K. detective and barrister. He uses his experiences and knowledge to write crime fiction. Before starting out as a fiction author, Bentley wrote his autobiography about his years as a detective on the police force. Undercover: Operation Julie – The Inside Story: A Gripping True Crime Story of Britain’s Biggest Drug Bust. Some of his other crime series are Steve Regan Undercover Cop Series, L.A. Cyber Noir Mysteries, and the Last Message Trilogy.