This book was rather uninteresting

. I have been making an effort to get back into reading James Patterson's works, but unfortunately, this particular one was just extremely cheesy

. It lacked the engaging plot and captivating characters that I had come to expect from his books

. The story seemed to be filled with clichés and predictable twists, which made it difficult for me to stay interested

. I found myself skimming through pages, hoping for something more exciting to happen

. However, it never really did

. Overall, I was quite disappointed with this book and will probably think twice before picking up another James Patterson novel in the future

.

Sigh...

I'm almost throwing the proverbial noose over my neck by giving this book even a three-star rating. (I was actually even tempted to give it a four-star. Let me tell you why.)

The prose? It's non-existent. The plot? It follows the correct sequence, but really, let me get to my point: James Patterson is the grown-up version of Nancy Drew, for crying out loud.

This book isn't going to intellectually better you. It's not going to be mentioned in conversation with Harvard literature majors. And it's not going to win you any points with that guy or girl at the Cornell bars anytime before Satan drops an icy cold turd.

But, dammit...the man makes you turn the pages. If I can give him anything, it's that. You almost hate yourself for doing it because, really, it's like the Bernstein Bears for the 20 - 60 demographic. It sucks you in like CRACK though.

I hate the man for doing it. But then I respect and love how easily he can hook you with the most simple of plot basis and character development. It makes me think I can make millions on writing. But then there are those of you out there reading this, laughing your ass off.

Long story short? It's an easy read. As in, you breeze through 300+ pages and then realize it's over, and you're disappointed. That's why he gets such a rating. Damn you, Patterson. You are a guilty read. Someday they'll teach courses on you in colleges on how to dupe the masses into loving your stuff with little work. But until then...hats off and touche Patterson. TOOOOUUUUCHE.

Judge & Jury was a relatively quick read, but unfortunately, the writing left much to be desired. It was rather hammy and at certain points, bordered on the ridiculous.

For instance, on the very first page, the authors describe Pellisante observing a conga line at a wedding. They write, "Meanwhile, the grinning, affable groom did his Gowanus Expressway best just to hang on." The addition of this reference seemed completely unnecessary as the line would have been perfectly understandable without it. In fact, it made me laugh out loud. It appeared that it was included solely to ensure that readers knew, without a doubt, that Pellisante is a true New Yorker, since he frequently compares things to New York landmarks.

The courtroom scenes were passable, but I found it strange that the crowd would be laughing at witnesses discussing the crimes they had committed. This seemed out of place and rather inappropriate in a courtroom setting.

Overall, I had the impression that both authors simply threw slips of paper into a few hats and then cobbled together a plot that they could extend over as many chapters as possible, without resorting to having just one paragraph per page. It felt like a rather lazy and unoriginal approach to writing a novel.

As is customary with James Patterson, this is a non-stop action-packed book.

From the very first page, readers are plunged into a world of excitement and adventure. The story unfolds at a breakneck pace, with one thrilling scene after another.

But what really sets this book apart is the love story that is thrown in for good measure. Amidst all the chaos and danger, two characters find themselves drawn to each other in a way that is both unexpected and heartwarming.

Their relationship adds an extra layer of depth and emotion to the story, making it not just a tale of action and adventure, but also a story of love and sacrifice.

Overall, this is a book that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and beautiful love story, it is a must-read for fans of James Patterson and anyone who loves a good thriller.

This Mystery is a Disappointment
Yet, MR. Patterson can do better.

I'm not sure what has happened to Mr. Patterson's writing skills, but it seems to me that a majority of his novels that he has co-written with someone have been real duds. I just finished reading his latest release, "The 6th Target" and that was another real dud. All I can say to Mr. Patterson: "I have enjoyed many of your earlier novels, would you get serious and start creating well-written stories that you certainly have the talent to conceive."

In the story "Judge and Jury", I almost got excited and began to read pages non-stop, but then the story started to fall apart again. At this point I was reading the scene where the mob leader is on trial for murder. Does he care? No. He just solves the problem by hiring an assassin to destroy the bus that the jury panel is riding on. Murder an entire jury? I just shook my head, wondering who was next: the judge, the DA? I know this is fiction but the scenes should have some resemblance to the real world. Then we have Nick Pellisante, the FBI agent in hot pursuit of the mobster all over the world with a bank account that seems to have no bottom to it.

It's not a terrible read, but I do feel that it is not a super mystery read. If you are a die-hard fan of Mr. Patterson, you may find it an enjoyable read. However, for those who are looking for a truly engaging and well-crafted mystery, this one may not quite hit the mark. I hope that Mr. Patterson will return to his former glory and start producing novels that are as captivating as his earlier works.

I simply have a profound enjoyment for James Patterson's mystery writings.

"Judge and Jury" transports us into the courtroom where a renowned mobster is on trial.

No one has the slightest desire to be on that jury. Patterson continues to engage us by stating that the mobster claims there's nothing he can do to anyone while incarcerated; however, soon enough, strange things start to occur to the jury members, to the families of the jurors, and even to the law enforcement personnel.

Embrace the excitement of the pursuit as the lead detective tracks him down once again, this time in foreign countries.

This individual might have been behind bars, but that doesn't imply he wasn't in communication with his cohorts.

It makes one wonder if the measly $5 a day that a juror receives for their duty is sufficient to endure the long days, being sequestered, being separated from family, and facing a ruthless killer.

Judge & Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross is truly a horrible book.

It is extremely difficult for me to fathom that it took two individuals to pen this work. The story is not only lame but also goes beyond the realm of believability. The characters within it are flat and completely lifeless, lacking any sort of depth or charm.

The cover of the book features an image of someone running. I firmly believe that this serves as an excellent illustration of what people should do when they come across this book. They should run away from it as fast as their legs can carry them!

There is simply nothing redeeming about this novel. It fails to engage the reader, fails to create any sort of emotional connection, and ultimately leaves one feeling disappointed and cheated.

Avoid this book at all costs if you are looking for a good read.

This was my first James Patterson book that I've read.

Now I see what the fuss is all about.

My mother-in-law is a HUGE fan of his work and I borrowed this copy from her while visiting over New Years.

It was a sleepless night and I couldn't find the book I brought on the trip.

I really enjoyed it.

This was not part of his series with Alex Cross or the women's detective literature either.

It had a ton of action in it with lots of twists and surprises.

As I was reading, I could picture it all, like I was watching a film.

In this case, it was a bit like watching a mafia movie like "Goodfellas" with a bit of "A Few Good Men" in it - a great combination.

I like that the chapters are short in his books.

I could cover 50 pages in an hour and feel like I really dug deep into the story.

Next time I visit my MIL, I will borrow another of his books.

I'm eager to explore more of his works and see what other exciting stories he has to offer.

The short chapters make it easy to pick up and put down, which is perfect for my busy schedule.

I'm also curious to see if his other books have the same level of action and twists as this one did.

Overall, I'm very impressed with James Patterson's writing and I can't wait to read more.

The first half of the story was rather good.

It had me hooked from the start, with its engaging plot and well-developed characters. I was really looking forward to seeing how the story would unfold.

However, suddenly the remainder just coasted along without much inspiration.

The plot seemed to lose its direction, and the characters became one-dimensional. I found myself getting bored and losing interest in the story.

I don't always think that Patterson's books are off the charts, but this one was rather disappointing for me.

I had high hopes for it, but it just didn't deliver. I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing that the author had put more effort into the second half of the book.

Overall, I would say that this is not one of Patterson's best works, and I would not recommend it to others.

This story seems to have all the ingredients that could potentially make it an action-packed movie. However, it fails to live up to expectations.

The writing is rather lackluster, lacking the excitement and energy that one would expect from such a story. There isn't much mystery to keep the reader engaged, and it doesn't build up any thrilling or suspenseful moments.

As the story progresses, Nick and Andie take a turn for the worse towards the end. They start to act completely out of character, which makes it difficult for the reader to believe in their actions.

It is around this point that I finally realized the true meaning of the title. But by then, it was too little, too late. The story had already lost my interest, and I was left feeling disappointed.

Overall, this story had the potential to be something great, but it just didn't deliver. It needed more depth, more excitement, and more believable characters to truly engage the reader.

This book was truly outstanding.

It was a remarkable combination of action, which kept the reader on the edge of their seat, and suspense that made the heart race. There were both sad and happy parts, adding depth and emotional complexity to the story.

The plot centered around a man who was being tried and sentenced to prison time. However, this man was incredibly powerful and had influence even from within the walls of the prison. He managed to make things happen, scared people away from the case, and even caused people to die. But, mysteriously, none of these actions could be linked back to him.

That is, until one detective emerged, a detective who was smart enough to think outside the box. This detective's efforts led to a nail-biting experience that had the reader hooked from start to finish.

In conclusion, this book is an absolute must-read for anyone who enjoys a thrilling and engaging story.

It is with a profound sense of sorrow that I award this novel a meager 2 stars.

I observe that this book was initially published in 2006, and I'm inclined to assume that perhaps at that time, the author was rather inexperienced in co-authoring standalone novels.

Potential readers, beware and do not be misled by the effusive praise of numerous reviewers. They surely cannot be well-versed in the true caliber of Patterson's work.

"Judge & Jury" did possess the fundamental traits typically associated with Patterson: short chapters filled with cliffhangers, a fast-paced plot, a psychopathic or sociopathic antagonist, a law enforcement officer as the protagonist, simple language, and both a prologue and an epilogue.

These elements are what earned it the 2 stars and managed to propel me to the conclusion of this novel.

Patterson must have left the remainder of the work to Gross, because the despicable and pitiable nature of this story was truly, well, gross.

I usually breeze through Patterson's novels within a span of 24 hours to 3 days on average. However, I limped through this one over a period of 8 days.

Oh, how I rolled my eyes at the tired clichés, scoffed at the blatant impracticalities, and guffawed at the pitiful and naïve female main character.

The plot holes were so glaring that I actually expected there to be a sequel or an entire series.

Among all my disappointments with this novel, the unfeasible situations were the most unbearably rotten.

A "bad guy" as bad as the one described in this book would not be dealt with in such a laissez-faire manner in the United States post 9-11.

The crimes depicted would surely be a matter of national obsession.

Every character had their luck (predictably) fall into their laps. The romance was cheesy, and the thought processes were simply implausible.

I believe my point has been effectively made. I'm glad that I've read a wide variety of Patterson's subsequent co-authored standalone novels because I know that Patterson is capable of much better than this.

Again, this is Patterson from 2006, so I'll let this one pass.