After Dark by Phillip Margolin

Published by

Sarah Ann

on

July 8, 2010

After Dark is the fourth novel by Phillip Margolin. His courtroom dramas are usually pretty good!

In After Dark, Tracy Cavanaugh is a smart and successful law clerk who lands a position working under the prestigious Matthew Reynolds, a legendary defense lawyer. It’s not long before Tracy finds herself in the middle of a massive case in which a woman named Abbie Griffen is accused of murdering her husband, who was a judge. Griffen, a famed prosecutor, also coincidentally happens to be Matthew’s love obsession. Thus unravels a complicated story involving murders, setups, and lies, lies, lies.

I’m a big fan of Phillip Margolin, but I can’t say After Dark is one of his better novels. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re a genuine courtroom junkie.

Of all the characters in the book (of which there are TOO MANY, in my opinion), Matthew Reynolds stands out as the most unique. It’s easy to get excited about After Dark when you learn more about Reynold’s character, but the rest of the novel is not very engaging. The barrage of small details and new characters completely overwhelm the story, and it is immensely easy to get distracted.

The ending of After Dark is predictable, but satisfying. There’s no need for me to reveal more, no need for spoilers.

Other recent books by Phillip Margolin include:

What did you think after After Dark? What’s your favorite book by Phillip Margolin?

Last Updated on November 20, 2025 by Sarah Ann

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