Judgment

Juliana Brody is a Massachusetts Superior Court judge whose husband, Duncan, is a tenured professor. As a child, Juliana grew up too soon, since her mother drank excessively and her father was emotionally distant. Ever the dutiful older sister, she took it upon herself to keep a watchful eye on her brother, Calvin, whose transformation into an enraged and self-destructive young adult horrified her. A serious transgression comes back to haunt Judge Brody while she is presiding over a civil suit involving Rachel Meyers, formerly the general counsel for Wheelz, a Boston-based ride-hailing company. Rachel, the plaintiff, refuses to settle, since she wants the public to know that her sleazy boss, CEO Devin Allerdyce, made "demeaning show more comments" and "unwanted sexual advances" to her on numerous occasions. When she refused to give in to his demands, Allerdyce fired her.

In Joseph Finder's "Judgment," Juliana becomes the target of a potentially ruinous blackmail scheme. If she rules in favor of the defendant, then an unnamed adversary is threatening to publicize a compromising video that could undo everything that she has worked so hard to achieve. Although most people would cave under such enormous pressure, Juliana fights back. She seeks assistance from, among others, her close friend and mentor, Martha Connolly, who urges Juliana to hire a skilled and tenacious private investigator, Phil Hersh. Furthermore, Brody risks her life and the well-being of her family when she uncovers a pattern of financial malfeasance, widespread corruption, and violence, all orchestrated by a shadowy mastermind.

"Judgment" is a "ripped-from-the-headlines" tale of unbridled greed, lust, and interference by a foreign government in America's political, judicial, and economic institutions. On the home front, Juliana desperately tries to save her faltering marriage and worries about her rebellious sixteen-year-old son, Jake. In addition, she wrestles with her conscience when she is tempted to break the law that she has sworn to uphold. Still, Judge Brody recklessly forges ahead, like a female David trying to defeat a fearsome Goliath. "Judgment" is an occasionally diverting and fast-paced thriller that features a strong heroine who is smart, courageous, and resolute. However, the final chapters are so far-fetched—Juliana devises an outlandish scheme that no one in her right mind would attempt to carry out—that the novel ultimately veers off into the realm of fantasy. show less

“Judgment” by Joseph Finder poses the question “How much will a mother, wife, judge, do to protect her family?” It is a story rich in complexity and moral challenges. Judge Juliana Brody is Chicago on a business trip when she meets Matías Sanchez. It was just one night, but a night that will change everything about her life forever.
Juliana’s husband, Duncan, is a professor at New England Law. There were a few problems in their marriage, if she were being honest, that were bigger than that one incident, three years previously. Daughter Ashley, eighteen, is working in Africa during a “break year” between high school and college. Jake, sixteen, is in remission from childhood leukemia, but like a shark’s fin in the water, show more the possibility of a relapse always lurks around. He is in academic trouble at school and is using marijuana via a vape pen. Very soon, none of these problems will matter.
Judge Brody is handling several cases, but one, “Rachel Meyers v. Wheelz,” is complex, troubling, and taking too long. A young woman is suing a hot new ride‑hailing start‑up for sex discrimination. In the midst of the proceedings, a new member of the defense team is introduced, Matías Sanchez. She slowly understands that she has been used, seduced, set up. Then, someone is dead.
The plot revealed as Juliana Brody sees the world. Readers learn about her, her family, and her work. Little details make the characters come alive, what they wear, what they eat, and what they like to do. Finder creates tension that permeates even everyday activities; fear and danger hang on every page, over every mundane event, in every conversation, and around every corner. Readers connect with Brody, become part of the process, make discoveries, weigh choices, and fear the outcome. The body count rises as layer after layer of deception is peeled away to find the rotten evil core. Readers keep turning pages searching for clues, and looking for options and solutions. Then, there is a plan.
Finder has created a complicated web of double cross, espionage, financial impropriety, and international conspiracy at the highest levels. “Judgement” is a compelling story of corporate misdeeds, corruption, and just plain dirty work of the utmost nastiness. Readers should plan time wisely because once one starts reading, it is impossible to put down. I received a review copy of “Judgement” from Joseph Finder, Dutton, and Penguin Publishing Group. show less

Juliana Brody is a Massachusetts Superior Court judge whose husband, Duncan, is a tenured professor. As a child, Juliana grew up too soon, since her mother drank excessively and her father was emotionally distant. Ever the dutiful older sister, she took it upon herself to keep a watchful eye on her brother, Calvin, whose transformation into an enraged and self-destructive young adult horrified her. A serious transgression comes back to haunt Judge Brody while she is presiding over a civil suit involving Rachel Meyers, formerly the general counsel for Wheelz, a Boston-based ride-hailing company. Rachel, the plaintiff, refuses to settle, since she wants the public to know that her sleazy boss, CEO Devin Allerdyce, made "demeaning show more comments" and "unwanted sexual advances" to her on numerous occasions. When she refused to give in to his demands, Allerdyce fired her.

In Joseph Finder's "Judgment," Juliana becomes the target of a potentially ruinous blackmail scheme. If she rules in favor of the defendant, then an unnamed adversary is threatening to publicize a compromising video that could undo everything that she has worked so hard to achieve. Although most people would cave under such enormous pressure, Juliana fights back. She seeks assistance from, among others, her close friend and mentor, Martha Connolly, who urges Juliana to hire a skilled and tenacious private investigator, Phil Hersh. Furthermore, Brody risks her life and the well-being of her family when she uncovers a pattern of financial malfeasance, widespread corruption, and violence, all orchestrated by a shadowy mastermind.

"Judgment" is a "ripped-from-the-headlines" tale of unbridled greed, lust, and interference by a foreign government in America's political, judicial, and economic institutions. On the home front, Juliana desperately tries to save her faltering marriage and worries about her rebellious sixteen-year-old son, Jake. In addition, she wrestles with her conscience when she is tempted to break the law that she has sworn to uphold. Still, Judge Brody recklessly forges ahead, like a female David trying to defeat a fearsome Goliath. "Judgment" is an occasionally diverting and fast-paced thriller that features a strong heroine who is smart, courageous, and resolute. However, the final chapters are so far-fetched—Juliana devises an outlandish scheme that no one in her right mind would attempt to carry out—that the novel ultimately veers off into the realm of fantasy. show less

Can one choice change your life? You bet! Just ask Juliana Brody. Superior Court Judge, and the star of Judgment. The new suspense legal thriller from the master of fiction entertainment - Joseph Finder.

A single choice. A lapse in judgment. Just one change your life. Just ask Juliana Brody. Superior Court Judge, wife, mother of two, and the star of Joseph Finder's latest stand-alone, suspense-legal-thriller.

Far from home, attending yet another boring conference Juliana will discover she forgot to pack her good judgment. Sitting at the bar, two drinks in, talking to a hot stranger. You already know where this is going, don't you? Yep! Straight to his place.

Their lust spent and the benefits of alcohol long since evaporated, the two part show more company. Juliana assumes she can return home, rededicate herself to her family, and never think of the stranger again. Amid all the hustle and bustle of an up and coming judge's world, a case on her docket was gaining national attention. Breezi (the fictional equivalent of Uber) CEO was being sued for sexual discrimination and the spotlight was on Juliana. Calling the courtroom to order the judge notices a familiar face at the defense table. Could it be? Yes it could and it was -- seated at the defense table was the hot stranger from the bar. Now things get really interesting.

It was all a setup. Their hot dalliance had been videotaped. Breezi intended to win this case and they wanted the judge to make sure they did. As long as Juliana played along the tape would remain confidential, and no one would ever be the wiser. However, if she refused, her career, her family, life as she had known it would be gone. She had no choice, right? She had to rule in their favor and keep her family safe. But could she really do that? Would she?

What follows is a cat and mouse game that will keep you ferociously turning pages to find out what is going to happen next. Joseph Finder's stories have an ounce of realism, for every three ounces of fiction. Judgment's plotline could easily be the lead story on the six-o-clock news tonight. Finder is able to erase the line between fact and fiction. He weaves a beautiful web that ensnares you. Then silky thread, by silky thread, he deconstructs the web revealing the bad guys and their true motivations. It is a hypnotic, fun, action-packed journey second to none.

Ever since I read Paranoia, I have been hooked. (That was way back in -- well, it has been a few years.) Joseph Finder does his homework. His books are always relevant in some way. His writing is smooth and fluid. No hiccups or stop and starts. The short, crisp chapters add to the tension, giving the dialogue a sense of urgency. The characters are well thought-out, three-dimensional, and genuine. Like 'em or hate 'em, the good, bad, and the ugly too - all of them feel real. While there are times when reality must be suspended in order to fully enjoy the ride, that's what good fiction is supposed to do - take us away from our reality and entertain us for a couple of hours. Joseph Finder does that better than most. He is a master entertainer. I always look forward to his books. Even though I have to wait a year, sometimes longer - his writing is worth the wait.

Happy Reading,

RJ show less

There are a handful of authors that are on my Must Read list, and Joseph Finder is one of them. Judgment is why. Sure, sometimes the characters aren't very likable and behave in a way I wish they wouldn't, and some of the books are better than others. But always, always, always, without fail I am so caught up in the story that a few chapters in I cannot put the book down and read straight through.

Even though the circumstances might not fit into my boring, normal life, the danger seems very real. Judgment is a product of our current times but also an age old story: a one-time lapse, a bad decision, that just keeps spiraling, and morals that start to shift to adapt to that spiral.

Another quality addition to my Joseph Finder library.

My rating: 4.5 Stars

Judge Juliana Brody made a decision that would most certainly threaten her judgeship, family and her very life. While away at a conference, Juliana makes the errant decision to sleep with someone. Once in a lifetime. They will put it behind them. Not so.

Back on the bench, Juliana has a difficult case ahead of her. She is presiding over a sex-discrimination case. This case has garnered national attention. What’s more is that Juliana has been set up. The man that she had the one-night stand with shows up in her courtroom making the most unreasonable demands. Make a certain decision in her current case, or a video of their sex-filled night will be released everywhere. It is not just the man she had an affair with has show more something against her, what Juliana has to be aware off is that strings are being pulled that could bring everything crashing down.

Something stinks at a very high level. People are dying. Is Juliana safe? What of her family? No doubt her judgeship pales in comparison to those very people that are close to her heart. Other than here glaring indiscretion, Juliana is fairly happily married and she will do just about anything to protect her marriage.

The case involves the most nefarious of individuals, Russian Mafia. The head of the organized crime family will go to any extent necessary to get Juliana to make a certain ruling. The interests concerned are directly related to the sex-discrimination case and if Juliana doesn't rule as they are blackmailing her to, far-reaching effects will be felt in more than one way.

I thought I knew how this book would end up and was prepared to go for a lower rating. However, the twists and turns were nothing less than chilling and this indeed flavored my rating. Not only was I impressed by the writing of Joseph Finder - the plot, the characters, the ending - the acknowledgements led credence to this well-crafted tale. I certainly look forward to reading much more by this prolific, bestselling and very masterly author again.

Many thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and to Edelweiss for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.com. show less

Yes, Mr. Finder still has it. Not that I doubted him but it has been a little while since I have read a book from him. This is bad on my part. Mr. Finder is in the top ten of my favorite authors.

Right from the first pages of starting this book, I was hooked. The pacing of the book is really good. There wasn't much downtime if any. The storyline was interesting. In addition, the characters helped to make the story. However, it was Juliana that really was the star of the story. She did not back down without a fight. No matter how many scare tactics that were sent her way.

If you are looking for a good thriller or have never tried a Joseph Finder book, then, you need to pick up a copy of this book. There is no "judgment" to reading this show more book. The only "judgment" brought down on you is that you have good reading taste in books by picking up a copy of this book. show less