Robert Rotstein

We the Jury by Robert Rotstein is a 2018 Blackstone publishing publication.

Wow! What a unique look at the legal process as witnessed from every person involved in a high -profile murder case.

I absolutely love legal thrillers, but over the past several years I’ve found them lacking. Usually, the lawyers have turned into amateur sleuths and there is little or no legal wrangling or even an appearance in a courtroom. I’d become a little frustrated with the genre, but recently, I've seen a show more small, but promising, resurgence in the more traditional legal thriller/ courtroom drama.

This book, however, takes the usual courtroom drama to a new level by allowing the reader to review the entire process through the eyes of the judge, the bailiff, the court clerk, both lawyers, and of course-as the title suggests- the jury.

On trial is a man who admits to killing his wife, but swears it was in self- defense, claiming the battered spouse defense. After weighing the evidence presented, the jurors begin deliberations. Usually, I’m utterly enthralled by the legal jockeying between the opposing lawyers.

But, the most riveting part of this novel, for me, was the journey the jurors took in finally arriving at a unanimous verdict.

This novel was so realistic, I sometimes had to remind myself it was a work of fiction. The difficulties with a likeable judge, who may no longer be fit to do her job was at once terrifying and very poignant.

The lawyers were in many ways typical, but the prosecutor, even though he had political aspirations, was tolerable, especially when compared to the big city lawyer for the defense. The other courtroom mainstays who are often looked upon as minor players, like the court stenographer, for example, got their props a little in this story, too, and that was a nice touch, I thought.

But, again, the real drama took place during jury deliberations. Each of the jurors, which ranged from a member of the clergy, to a housewife, to a retired school principal, all have a voice, some more than others, which is also realistic. I’m not sure I liked the majority of them, but as someone who served on a jury once, this jury was uncannily familiar. My case was a civil trial, not a criminal one, but the diversity on the jury was quite similar, and the case exposed some hidden truths about the people I’d come to know in the week we were shut up together in the courtroom.

There was an ‘insider’ on the jury, someone who worked in the court system, but our foreman was much more suited to the role. Still, I was amazed that after listening to and viewing all the evidence together, that there were so many different opinions when we took that first vote. Then, slowly, and sometimes heatedly, we eventually agreed to a verdict. Since it was a civil trial, however, it did not have to be unanimous and we did still have one hold out. It was a fascinating learning experience, but not one I’m especially keen on repeating.

The story is deeply absorbing, and certainly paints the process in a such a way that it will give readers a lot to think about. It is a very different approach to the legal thriller, but a thriller, it certainly is, with a few curveballs thrown you won’t see coming.

The author did a terrific job with this one. I’m impressed!! show less

This is miles different from the usual courtroom fiction novels in that it allows the reader to be a witness to the entire process. We see it through the eyes of the judge, the bailiff, the court clerk, both lawyers, and of course, as the title suggests...the jury. A man is on trial who admits that he did indeed kill his wife, but he swears it was in self- defense, so his case is totally based on the battered spouse defense. Some of the jurors of course had trouble believing that a man would show more dare offer this as a defense, so I knew that he was more than likely going to have more trouble getting out the trouble he was already in. After weighing the evidence presented, the jurors begin deliberations. I really like court room dramas...ate up Perry Mason and >i> Matlock episodes. I find that I am engrossed in the legal jockeying between the lawyers. However, the most interesting and exciting part of this book, at least for me, was the deliberations and the careful journey that the jurors took in finally arriving at a unanimous verdict. The book is so realistic, that I sometimes had to check again to be sure that it wasn't based on reality and remind myself it was an actual work of fiction. More difficulties came in yet another form that could have greatly affected the case when we learned that even though the judge was likeable, circumstances may have caused her to no longer be fit to do her job. That was at once terrifying and very poignant. The real drama takes place during jury deliberations. The jurors came from all walks of life. One was a member of the clergy, another a housewife, a retired school principal...all had a voice, all went in with an opinion, some more than others, that was also realistic. I liked the majority of them, but as someone who has served on a jury, I found that this jury was extremely realistic. One comment from the book that has stuck with me sums it up pretty well..."Sometimes when the law tries for fair, it misses right". The author did a terrific job with this one. show less

This was a page turner! Ricard is up against a medical corporation for whistle blowing that they were covering up numbers to for being fired because he is Black. This novel has it all. We get to read through the court transcripts, we get an inside look into the lives of each jury member as they fight for what they believe is the truth and who's side they are looking to vote towards. We also get to see a few incidents unfold that has also been brought out showing the good and bad of Ricard as show more well as the good and bad of those in higher positions at MediMiracle Corp. I really kept going back and forth as I read this novel. But then there was quite the bombshells that dropped and changed the aspect of things for both sides. As the jury is nearing a decision, they are called back in for further evidence. A very unusual event but the jury themselves also have a bombshell they are holding close to the chest that they discovered as they were going back through the thousands of pages of documents. This was a very good court read and I highly recommend for those who love court dramas and a story that will leave you thinking for a while after. Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the complementary ebook and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord. show less

This is a quick, easy, but satisfying read. I like the unexpected structure of the story where each chapter is a different juror and court person involved, usually told in first person from their perspective. We learn of the murder and trial through the jury's deliberations and occasional transcript excerpts. We also learn about each person's back story, personality, and biases through their personal chapters.

I also liked that the jurors didn't have names but instead were identified by show more their "job", housewife, clergy, student, etc. That actually made it a little easier for me to keep track of everyone and when I read "housewife", I immediately knew the personality of the character.

There are a few gentle surprises along the way, but the story moves in a nice, linear way to its conclusion. This would be a good summer read and a good option for people who like legal novels with a different way of telling the story. show less