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JUDGE & JURY is James Patterson's 37th book. Replete with intrigue, irony, colorful characters and a spot of romance, it is exceptionally suspenseful and engaging. I have long been a fan of Patterson's ability as a storyteller but until now have not seen him develop a plot so craftily. Although it's 419 pages long, JUDGE & JURY is such a page turner that I found myself deep into the book in a short period of time. With a prologue, three parts comprised of very brief chapters (two to five pages each) and an epilogue, the novel moves quickly through the lives of the four central characters.
Opening in Long Island, New York, at the "wedding of all weddings," FBI special agent Nick Pellisante, leading a stakeout, sees and eventually captures Dominic Cavello, "the Boss, the Capo de Tutti Capi." Part one is entitled "The First Trial," where we meet the prospective jurors and judge; some of the funniest testimony I've ever heard can be found within these pages. We also learn that there is no love lost between Nick and Dominic (Dom). Nick is sure that Dom will serve a life sentence in a maximum security facility, while Dom knows that the trial will never conclude with a verdict.
There are no subtleties to Dom's personality, no soft edges, no ability to forgive, and no fear of the law. Amazingly, we see that he can prevail. With his money, power, connections and influence, how can he possibly lose? Charged with murdering a building contractor outside his home, Dom hears the testimony of eyewitnesses admit to their involvement.
Judge Miriam Seiderman presides over the first trial. Knowing that this is a high-profile case and that the proceedings will last eight weeks, every juror asks to be removed from consideration. She asks the group, "Do you have any reason or experience that would prejudice you against an Italian American, or render you unable to reach an impartial verdict if you served on this trial?" Andie DeGrasse, confident that she will be excused, cites her credentials as an actress and a part she played as a dancer at the Bada Bing on an episode of "The Sopranos." Needless to say, she is selected.
The most covert character, Richard Nordeshenko, a Russian mercenary living in Haifa, is hired by Dom to plot and execute his escape from the federal court building. His ingenuity, resources and passion for poker are captivating and add an international flavor to this novel.
All in all, JUDGE & JURY is a well-written and engaging book that truly is hard to put down. It is not too detailed to make us lose our interest but is just detailed enough to make us try to guess the outcome. We know Dom will escape, but two questions follow: How will he do it, and will Nick catch him? Read on...
--- Reviewed by Margaret Fletcher
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