CBA Record September-October 2026

on Allison. Told across two timelines, the novel is an exercise in expert misdi rection that lawyers, in particular, will appreciate. Keep Them Close is another outstand ing entry in an already impressive body of work. Ellis has a gift for introducing characters who seem familiar enough, only to reveal hidden motives and unex pected connections as the story unfolds. His plots are carefully constructed, with clues that reward attentive readers with out giving away the ending. Just when you think you have solved the mystery, Ellis deftly changes the landscape, leav ing you eager to turn the next page. Although Ellis’s legal experience lends authenticity to his stories, his novels are never limited by the courtroom. They are stories about loyalty, betrayal, family, ambition, and the consequences of choices. The legal issues provide the framework, but it is the human element that drives the suspense. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue crisp, and the charac ters believable, making Keep Them Close another thoroughly satisfying read. One of the hallmarks of Ellis’s writing is consistency. More than two decades after his debut, he continues to produce novels that surprise readers while remain ing grounded in believable characters and compelling storytelling. That is no small accomplishment in a genre where readers often think they have seen every twist imaginable. Having followed David Ellis’s novels from the beginning, I continue to look forward to each new release. Keep Them Close more than lives up to the high stan dard he has established. If you are looking for entertaining, fun, page-turning reads, consider put ting David Ellis’s novels on your book shelf and keeping them close.

SUMMARY JUDGMENTS

REVIEWS, REVIEWS, REVIEWS!

KEEP THEM CLOSE

by David Ellis Reviewed by Daniel A. Cotter

T here are authors whose books you read because of the plot, and there are authors whose books you read because you know you are going to enjoy the journey. David Ellis belongs squarely in both camps. Serving on the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, since 2014, Ellis has built a well-earned side line reputation as one of today’s premier thriller writers with novels that are intel ligent, meticulously plotted, and nearly impossible to put down. I first met him when his debut novel was released, an acquaintance that grew into a friendship. We had the opportunity to interview one another—Ellis inter viewed me following the publication of The Chief Justices, and I interviewed him after the release of one of his earlier novels. Having reviewed each of his novels over the years, I have seen his writing evolve

while still maintaining the qualities that first attracted readers to his work. Watching his career as both a jurist and novelist has been especially reward ing because, despite his success, each new novel demonstrates an author who con tinues to refine his craft. Keep Them Close is a domestic thriller centered on one twisted family. Allison is a powerhouse attorney trapped in a mar riage to Finley, a serial cheater she cannot quite bring herself to leave. Her brother, Luke, once a baseball phenom before a high school accident derailed his playing career, now coaches at the collegiate level, but when he steps in to help a woman he is pursuing, he lands in serious legal jeop ardy. Allison rushes to shield him. Then Finley turns up dead, the investigation threatens to expose the siblings’ darkest secrets, and investigators set their sights

Daniel A. Cotter is a member of Aronberg Goldgehn, a past CBA President, and a CBA Record Editorial Board member.

42 September/October 2026