Saugus author inks third legal thriller

SAUGUS – Saugus author J.R. Reardon has written her third book, “Advice and Consent,” which was just released this summer and is the third in a series of legal thrillers.?This one is a little bit different from the other ones because it has a little bit of medical and political thriller in it too,” said Reardon, 41.The book centers around the fictional Supreme Court Justice Sean McNaught, a recurring character who is the crucial swing vote on a divided court, said Reardon. After he decides to retire, the president sets out to find his replacement, but the search is marred by rejections and a wave of terrorist attacks targeting Supreme Court Justices and members of Congress.The story also deals with a 13-year-old girl, Angelica Hernandez, who is in a courtroom waiting for the sentencing of a man who attacked her. But the attacker disappears and since she knows more about the crime than she told, she?s in danger.?Basically the characters are scrambling to protect this girl, the country is trying to figure out who?s behind these terrorist attacks ? it?s a big complex puzzle that people have to figure out what?s going on,” said Reardon, who is also a lawyer. “I actually gave myself two migraines writing this book.”Reardon said she has always loved to write since she was young, and credits her mother and grandmother for taking her to story hours at the local libraries in Melrose and Stoneham.?I really started writing stories in third grade,” said Reardon.Before moving with her husband to Washington, D.C. about eight years ago, Reardon took some time off from her Stoneham-based legal practice, which is when she said she really picked up her writing.?I couldn?t sit still,” Reardon said. “You go from working thousands of hours a week to nothing. So I wrote a law review article for Suffolk University. I had already written the first book in the series, ?Confidential Communications,? right out of law school but had to put it aside. My husband said, ?Why don?t you have some fun and expand it,? and I did.”From there Reardon had the book published and even did some book signings.?Next thing I know I had people emailing me from all over the place asking when the second one was coming out,” Reardon said. “The second book came real fast, like in six months. This third one I?ve been working on for a while.”Around the same time Reardon gave birth to her daughter Ashley, now 7, and last year welcomed her son Sean, who is now 14 months old. In 2010, Reardon published her second book, “Dishonored.”Reardon credits her experience as a lawyer with helping her find the time to write.?I think after being a lawyer it helps because you have to allocate your time,” said Reardon. “My daughter Ashley is in fifth grade right now so that frees up some time for me. My son Sean is 14 months, but I kind of have him on a schedule.”Reardon also frees herself up by doing all of her writing on a legal pad.?I?m archaic,” Reardon said. “I write it out. If I do one chapter I can walk around with it so I can sit on the floor with my son and he can watch TV and I?m just editing. I?ll tell him, ?Let mommy finish this scary scene then we?ll read a nice book about Elmo.?”When it comes to her own reading habits, Reardon said she?s “all over the place,” but noted she?s always been drawn to mysteries.?I do follow what the Top 10 are and I get suggestions from friends, but I love mysteries,” Reardon said.?When I was down in D.C., I would pick up something by Robert Parker or Dennis Lehane because not only do I like the mysteries but it was also like taking a little trip back home.”Copies of “Advice and Consent” are for sale at The RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, N.H., The Book Rack in Newburyport and Porter Square Books in Cambridge. The book is also available online at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].