Michael Stagg Books in Order: Nate Shepherd Legal Thrillers and Mason Pierce Mysteries
Michael Stagg writes legal thrillers built around courtroom battles, criminal investigations, and cases where the evidence may not tell the whole story. His experience as a trial lawyer gives his fiction a strong connection to the legal system, with attorneys forced to question witnesses, challenge assumptions, and look beyond the obvious explanation.
If you enjoy novels where a lawyer must uncover the truth while defending a client against serious accusations, the Nate Shepherd series is a natural place to begin. This guide lists Stagg’s books by series, explains where the shorter companion story fits, and covers his newer Mason Pierce novels.
1. Nate Shepherd books in order
Eight main legal thriller novels, plus one prequel short story
The Nate Shepherd series follows an attorney who takes on difficult criminal cases in and around Carrefour, Ohio. Nate often finds himself defending people who appear guilty on the surface, only to discover that witness testimony, physical evidence, and the motives of those involved tell a more complicated story.
The main novels are best read in publication order. The Evidence is a short prequel that introduces Nate’s earlier legal work, so you can read it before the first novel or save it as an extra after meeting him in Lethal Defense.
1. Lethal Defense (2020)
Nate Shepherd leaves the security of a large law firm and takes on a high-profile murder case as local counsel. What begins as a professional opportunity becomes personal when the case brings back painful memories from his past and threatens to expose secrets that could endanger both Nate and his client.
2. True Intent (2020)
Nate defends a woman accused of murdering a wealthy man she had been dating. The victim’s powerful family is determined to see her convicted, and Nate must challenge the evidence while trying to protect his client from more than just a prison sentence.
3. Blind Conviction (2020)
A farmer is accused of attempting to murder his brother’s fiancée after a vicious attack leaves the woman near death. Nate takes the case despite a mountain of evidence against his client, then investigates the competing motives and family tensions that may reveal a very different version of events.
4. False Oath (2021)
Nate takes on another difficult criminal defense in which the available evidence appears to point firmly toward guilt. As he examines the case, he must question the reliability of the accusations and uncover the facts that could change the outcome.
5. Just Plea (2022)
A nonprofit organization becomes entangled in a fatal hit-and-run investigation, and its leader faces accusations that could destroy both a career and a cause. Nate works through the conflicting accounts and financial questions surrounding the case to discover what really happened.
6. Lost Proof (2023)
Nate represents a man accused of killing a young reporter during a burglary. The police have physical evidence linking the suspect to the crime, but Nate begins to suspect that the case involves more than a robbery gone wrong.
7. Swift Judgment (2023)
Nate faces another legal battle in which a quick conclusion could have devastating consequences. The case tests his ability to examine the evidence carefully, challenge assumptions, and protect a client whose future depends on the truth coming out.
8. Cruel Sentence (2024)
The eighth main novel continues Nate’s legal work and the personal relationships that have become part of the series. It is the latest published Nate Shepherd novel as of October 2026, making it the current stopping point for readers following the series. A further Nate Shepherd installment has been listed as forthcoming for 2027.
Where does The Evidence fit?
The Evidence (2020) is a short story set before Lethal Defense. It follows Nate Shepherd and his colleague Mitch Pearson during an earlier case, offering a glimpse of Nate’s legal work before the events of the first full-length novel.
Because it is a prequel rather than a full-length installment, it is optional. If you prefer to follow the main story as readers first encountered it, start with Lethal Defense and return to The Evidence afterward.
2. Mason Pierce books in order
The Mason Pierce series is a separate legal thriller series. Mason begins his legal career at a powerful Michigan law firm after spending years working in his family’s construction business. His practical experience becomes especially useful when a case requires him to investigate how a real-world accident happened, not just argue the legal issues in court.
1. The Concrete Alibi (2025)
A restaurant patio collapses, leaving people dead and the owner facing criminal charges and a major civil lawsuit. Mason is assigned to defend the owner and investigate the cause of the disaster, but evidence from the wreckage points toward a much older mystery. As someone appears determined to keep the truth buried, Mason’s investigation puts his career and family at risk.
2. The Cinderblock Associate (2026)
This is the second Mason Pierce novel, scheduled for release on November 4, 2026. As of October 26, 2026, it has not yet reached its listed publication date, so readers should check its release status before looking for a copy. Read it after The Concrete Alibi to follow Mason’s series in order.
The Mason Pierce books can be read separately from Nate Shepherd’s cases. If you enjoy legal thrillers where the attorney’s investigation reaches beyond the courtroom, however, this newer series is worth adding to your reading list.
Which Michael Stagg series should you read first?
Both series focus on legal cases, but they offer slightly different starting points.
- For courtroom drama and criminal defense: Start with Lethal Defense, the first Nate Shepherd novel.
- For a shorter introduction to Nate: Read The Evidence, the prequel short story.
- For a newer legal thriller series: Begin with The Concrete Alibi, the first Mason Pierce book.
- For the most complete reading experience: Read each series in its own publication order. You do not need to finish one series before starting the other.
About Michael Stagg
Michael Stagg is the pen name of an author with more than 25 years of experience as a trial lawyer. His background in litigation informs his legal thrillers, which focus on criminal accusations, courtroom strategy, witness credibility, and the work required to uncover what actually happened.
Stagg’s fiction is particularly suited to readers who enjoy legal mysteries in which the attorney does more than argue a case. His protagonists investigate evidence, challenge the prosecution’s version of events, and deal with the personal consequences of defending clients whose guilt may not be as obvious as it first appears.
His two main series, Nate Shepherd and Mason Pierce, both centre on attorneys facing complicated cases, but each has its own lead character and story world.
Frequently asked questions about Michael Stagg books
What is the first Michael Stagg book to read?
Start with Lethal Defense (2020) if you want to read the Nate Shepherd legal thrillers. If you prefer the Mason Pierce series, begin with The Concrete Alibi (2025).
How many books has Michael Stagg written?
Michael Stagg has published eight main Nate Shepherd novels and one related prequel short story, The Evidence. His Mason Pierce series has two books listed, including The Concrete Alibi and The Cinderblock Associate, which is scheduled for November 2026.
Should I read The Evidence before Lethal Defense?
You can, because The Evidence takes place earlier in Nate Shepherd’s career. However, it is optional, and Lethal Defense is the recommended starting point for the main series.
Are the Nate Shepherd and Mason Pierce series connected?
They are separate series with different main characters. You can read either one without completing the other first.
What is the latest Nate Shepherd book?
Cruel Sentence (2024) is the latest published main Nate Shepherd novel as of October 2026. A further installment has been listed as forthcoming for 2027.
What is the latest Michael Stagg book?
The Concrete Alibi (2025) is his latest released novel in the Mason Pierce series as of October 26, 2026. The Cinderblock Associate is scheduled for November 4, 2026, so its release is still upcoming at the time of writing.
What genre does Michael Stagg write?
Stagg primarily writes legal thrillers, combining courtroom drama with criminal investigations, mysteries, and suspense. His novels are a good fit for readers who enjoy stories about defense attorneys, disputed evidence, and high-stakes cases.
Final Note
Michael Stagg’s books are a good choice if you enjoy legal thrillers where the evidence does not always tell the full story. The Nate Shepherd series offers eight main novels and a prequel short story, while the Mason Pierce series introduces a different attorney and a new set of cases.
For your first read, start with Lethal Defense and follow Nate Shepherd’s cases in order. If you want a newer series to explore alongside it, begin Mason Pierce’s story with The Concrete Alibi.
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