Blending decades of real-world legal experience with a keen sense for storytelling, Richard Danzig brings a unique voice to the thriller genre. After over four decades as a litigator, he’s channelled his inside knowledge into the Chance Cormac series – fast-paced legal dramas rooted in authenticity and fuelled by character. His latest novel, Against All Odds, continues this momentum, tethering high-stakes international content, financial crime, and deeply personal stakes. To celebrate the release of Against All Odds, What We Reading sat down with Richard to discuss everything from the journey from the courtroom to the page!
Thanks for speaking with us, Richard! First off, tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to the world of writing.
Thanks for the invitation. I am an attorney, author and artist. I was a litigator for over 40 years and have now written four books in the Chance Cormac legal thriller series. I always felt that my experiences as a lawyer would make for good fiction.
Talk to us about Against All Odds. What’s it about, and how was the process of writing it?
Against All Odds finds Chance Cormac defending a doctor who has been illegally detained. He seeks her release after she is imprisoned in El Salvador. At the same time, Chance’s investigator and a criminal attorney are defending two young Wall Street bankers who are involved in fraudulently fixing e-games. Chance’s goddaughter is the victim of cyberbullying and Chance is unable to come home to help her. The process of writing my books is always the same. There is no outline or storyline. The books write themselves when I sit down at the computer.
What is the number one goal you want your work to have with readers?
To portray Chance Cormac as an ethical lawyer dedicated to the justice system.
What do you think makes you stand out as an author?
My experience as a lawyer and my sense of humor.
What would you say has been your biggest success so far?
My first three books have all been best-sellers on Amazon.
If you could go back in time to one book you read for the first time, what would it be and why?
“Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurtry. Brilliant characters, dialogue and adventure in the Wild West.
What’s one tip you would give your younger self if you had the opportunity?
Explore every opportunity. Excellence is rewarded.
And finally, what do you hope the future holds for you and your writing?
A book based upon some of the supporting characters in the earlier books. Getting a pilot made of a TV series based upon the Chance Cormac books to be called “Brooklyn Law”.
Follow Richard And All Of His Work On His Website, Instagram, Or Amazon
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
