Choke Hold: An Eli Wolff Thriller
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Book Overview
A respected family man is dead. The police call it justified. One stubborn lawyer refuses to let the truth be buried.
In 1981, struggling attorney Eli "Lazer" Wolff, a sharp-witted litigator whose practice survives on odd cases, is barely keeping his struggling practice alive when the death of Hank Ellis pulls him into a case no one wants reopened. Working out of an office above the funeral home owned by his Luther "Bones" Jackson Jr., Eli has learned to laugh at life's absurdities. But beneath the banter and jazz-club camaraderie lies a city fractured by race, politics, and corruption. When Bones introduces him to the grieving widow of Hank Ellis, a respected family man killed after a confrontation with police, Eli finds himself drawn into a case few people want exposed.
As Eli interviews reluctant survivors and uncovers inconsistencies in the official story, he realizes he is not merely pursuing a wrongful death claim-he is challenging a system capable of protecting its own at any cost. Standing beside him are an unlikely circle of allies, including Bones, whose influence within the community runs deep, and Dr. Keiko Tamura, a former deputy medical examiner who knows firsthand how politics can corrupt science.
Against the backdrop of racial tensions, police culture, and the social upheavals of the early 1980s, Eli confronts a world where justice and truth are often adversaries. His investigation forces him into dangerous territory populated by frightened witnesses, powerful officials, and men who believe intimidation is more effective than accountability. As the pressure mounts, Eli discovers that exposing the truth may cost him far more than his career. Every step forward threatens to unleash forces determined to preserve a carefully maintained silence.
Blending legal suspense, social commentary, and richly textured character relationships, Choke Hold explores friendship, loyalty, institutional corruption, and the enduring struggle between conscience and power. At its heart is a flawed but relentless hero whose greatest weapon is neither wealth nor influence, but his refusal to let go once he has taken hold. Through humor, humanity, and mounting suspense, the novel delivers a compelling thriller that asks whether one determined individual can force a broken system to answer for its sins.
Fans of Michael Connelly, Scott Turow, and George Pelecanos will be captivated by this compelling legal thriller that blends courtroom intrigue, social commentary, and unforgettable characters. Choke Hold is a story of friendship, courage, and one man's refusal to surrender when the truth itself is under attack.
And as author Gerald Everett Jones explains, "One practical result of this book's publication could be to encourage debate about whether to bring back the inquest process in police-involved wrongful-death cases. I've read that even some parties in law enforcement and the judiciary think that such a prompt, open process could help defuse public anger and improve communication based on facts rather than rumors."
Recommended for fans of Michael Connelly and John Grisham.
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