JUDGMENT by Joseph Finder
Joseph Finder is one of those very good writers who has never had that breakout novel. You know the type that shoots to the head of the best seller lists and stays there for more weeks than you can count. He certainly is not alone in that fact, and he has had more than his share of novels that made the best seller lists. Still because he is so talented I expect the big book is going to happen for him one day.
But it won’t be with his new novel JUDGMENT. This book is a well written story that certainly hits all the thrill factors that are required. We have a prominent judge betraying her better judgment by slipping into a romantic dalliance outside her marriage. It isn’t something she has a habit of doing. This is her first time to stray. Wouldn’t you know it, the guy she picks turns out to be a man who threatens her with blackmail.
What he wants in return for staying quiet is for her to rule a certain way on a case that is currently before her. If she doesn’t then the group he represents will expose her, and maybe even harm her and her family. Their problem is they picked the wrong woman to pick on. The judge, Juliana Brody, takes her responsibilities as a judge very seriously. Plus her family is everything to her. If this group is coming after her they had better be prepared for a fight.
All of this, which is basically preamble, is super strong and gets the reader into the heart of the story quickly. Finder can create strong characters who are on the side of good and on the side of bad. He does this over and over in this story. Still he has to try to get Juliana out of her predicament and when he begins that part of the story things don’t go as well, writing wise.
I am not saying some of the things which occur in this book couldn’t happen. We have all read and heard about strange instances that occur in real life situations. However, when you put them in fictional circumstances you meet up with a large group of readers who are skeptics. They want to be able to believe everything that occurs on those pages. Not every situation in JUDGMENT is utterly believable.
There is a lot to like about JUDGMENT. I can not deny I was totally entertained. In truth I thought it was the best book Joseph Finder has written in a while. I just had that picky part of my brain that wanted it to be more believable over all. And I still believe there will come a time when Finder will write a book that will be that smash hit. He has the talent so it is just a matter of time.
JUDGMENT is published by Dutton. It contains 400 pages and sells for $28.00.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
