I read my first book in the Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi series about 10 years ago and, not realizing that it was a series, I actually started with the third or fourth book.  I wouldn't say that I was immediately hooked (legal thrillers aren't my usual favorites), but the characters interested me enough that I found myself going back to the beginning (No Lesser Plea).  Butch himself, I think, is admirable but not especially interesting    His coworkers, on the other hand, are an entirely different story - there's Guma, VT, Roland, and we can't forget Marlene!

By the time that we reach Hoax (the...