Wyatt Blake, district attorney turned defense lawyer, faces his first murder trial from the dark side. He’s representing Ryker Brando, a wealthy rock climber charged with murder for cutting the rope of his climbing partner, causing him to hurtle to his death. Colorado’s “Choice of Evils” defense will determine whether Wyatt can get Ryker off even though the man who fell was having an affair with Ryker’s wife. Wyatt, a widower with a six-year-old daughter, faces his own choice of evils in his personal life, as he battles grief and guilt over the tragic death of his wife. Fans of Scott Turow, John Grisham and Scott Pratt will love Wyatt Blake. “A sharp, twist-filled legal thriller . . . with layered characters, ethical charged dilemmas, and compelling courtroom drama, the novel offers both intellectual engagement and emotional impact. For those who enjoy thoughtful, well-paced narratives grounded in legal realism, this is a standout choice.” Literary Titan “Morley Swingle delivers a well-planned twist.” Kirkus Reviews “Morley Swingle proves that some lawyers can actually write entertainingly.” Harry Levins , St. Louis Post-Dispatch “Swingle writes with wonderful literacy.” Lithuanian Librarian "In the treacherous peaks of the Colorado Rockies, where truth hangs by a thread, former prosecutor Wyatt Blake must descend into the crevasse of human betrayal to defend a man accused of cutting his climbing partner's rope, all the while confronting his own ghosts. Gripping and atmospheric, this high-stakes thriller will keep you hanging until the last revelation." --Twist Phelan, Thriller-Award Winning Author "I planned to read Choice of Evils slowly while talking it along on vacation. Instead of nursing it, I burned through it nonstop. I couldn't put it down. From crime scenes to courtroom drama, Swingle's legal thriller should come with a caution label: WARNING: IF YOU START, YOU WILL STAY UP LATE!" --Nancy Cole Silverman, Author of Shadow of Doubt " Choice of Evils , by Morley Swingle, is a sharp, twist-filled legal thriller that follows Wyatt Blake, a former district attorney turned defense lawyer, defending a millionaire accused of murdering his best friend during a rock-climbing trip. Set in the snow-draped peaks of Colorado, the story weaves courtroom drama, moral gray areas, and emotional backstories into a compelling tale of justice, loss, and the fine line between right and wrong. "What really pulled me in wasn't just the whodunnit mystery; it was Wyatt himself. He's a flawed, smart, funny, sad guy who's trying to stitch his life back together after losing his wife in a freak skiing accident. His inner thoughts are dry and biting, like when he watches a potential client chew his nails and thinks he hasn't "encountered scissors in months." That kind of dark humor is sprinkled throughout the book and made me both laugh and wince. I felt his grief when he hides the photo of his daughter before meeting the accused murderer, Ryker Brando. Swingle writes without melodrama. "Ryker Brando is a chilling character; detached, calculating, and unnervingly composed. He openly admits to cutting the rope that led to his best friend's death, yet displays no visible remorse or emotional turmoil. Instead, he presents his actions with stark, matter-of-fact reasoning. This emotional flatness makes him difficult to read, let alone sympathize with, yet it's precisely this ambiguity that gives his character such power. Swingle resists the urge to paint Ryker as a clear-cut villain; instead, he challenges the reader to grapple with the unsettling logic behind Ryker's choice. "Two people die, or just one," Ryker says, and you're left genuinely unsure of what you might have done in his place. The novel's treatment of the "choice of evils" defense is not only compelling but also intellectually provocative, presenting legal nuance in a way that's accessible without ever oversimplifying. "The courtroom scenes are particularly well-executed. Unlike many legal thrillers that get bogged down in tedious procedural detail, Swingle's narrative moves with precision and energy. His legal expertise is evident, but what stands out even more is his ability to translate that knowledge into sharp, engaging drama. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue crisp, and the legal sparring, especially between Wyatt Blake and his successor, Chad Coburn, is both intense and layered. Coburn, a former NFL linebacker turned district attorney, brings an aggressive, politically charged edge to the proceedings, making their confrontations not just legal battles, but deeply personal and ideological clashes. "The supporting characters are also given room to shine. Nikki, Wyatt's resourceful and sharp-tongued secretary, adds both levity and depth, underscoring Swingle's talent for creating memorable, multidimensional personalities. By the final chapters, I found myself fully invested, not just in the outcome of the case, but in the broader question