If you have a penchant for Mafia-related stories and the allure of court mysteries, then this is truly your cup of tea.

The world of the Mafia is filled with intrigue, power struggles, and hidden secrets. It's a realm where loyalty and betrayal dance a dangerous tango.

Court mysteries, on the other hand, offer a different kind of excitement. The battle of wits between the prosecution and the defense, the search for evidence, and the anticipation of the verdict all combine to create a thrilling experience.

When these two elements are combined, it's like a match made in heaven for those who love this genre. You'll be on the edge of your seat, following the twists and turns of the story, trying to figure out who's telling the truth and who's hiding something.

So, if you're looking for a captivating read that will keep you entertained from start to finish, look no further. This is the perfect book for you.

FBI Special Agent Nick Pellisante, the head of the organized crime unit in New York City, has been on the hunt for the elusive mob boss Dominic Cavello for a long time. Cavello is truly the worst of the worst, a sadistic and vengeful brute with no limits. So, it's a momentous occasion when Nick and his team manage to nab the disguised Cavello, who is pretending to need a wheelchair, at his niece's wedding.

Nick is eagerly anticipating Cavello's trial, confident that the killer will be convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The potential jury pool includes Andie DeGrasse, a single mother and aspiring actress. Andie, who has a young son and auditions to attend, tries every possible way to get out of jury duty but is ultimately chosen.
As Andie and the other jurors listen to the testimony from informants who have betrayed Cavello, it seems likely that the crime lord will be found guilty. Meanwhile, Cavello, who has criminal contacts around the world, is determined to ensure his acquittal. The story is divided into several sections, including 'first trial' and'second trial'.
The book features an interesting cast of characters, such as an eastern European thug living in Israel with his wife and chess prodigy son, a mob killer who cracks jokes during his testimony and makes the jury laugh, a woman who picks up the wrong guy at a bar, and a variety of judges, jurors, and criminals.
The book was progressing well until after the second trial, when the plot became overly exaggerated and entered the realm of the unbelievable. I don't want to give away spoilers, but let's just say that Cavello is portrayed as more evil than Satan and an untrained civilian takes on deadly mobsters. These extreme plot points make it difficult (for me) to suspend disbelief.
Nevertheless, this is an imaginative thriller that provides good entertainment for a few hours. Oh, and there's a touch of romance for those who enjoy that sort of thing.

Andie DeGrasse, an aspiring actress and single mom, is far from being a typical juror.

Hoping to be dismissed from the juror pool, she boldly tells the judge that most of her legal knowledge stems from a minor role where she was seen curling around the stripper's pole in The Sopranos.

However, despite her efforts, she still finds herself as juror number 11 in a landmark trial against a notorious mob boss.

This situation sets the stage for a thrilling and unpredictable story.

I don't read all of James Patterson's works, but this particular one is truly one of my favorites.

The numerous twists and turns in the plot are so captivating that they kept me engrossed in reading it all day long until I finally finished it.

It's a book that manages to hold your attention from start to finish and leaves you eager for more.

The combination of a unique protagonist and a high-stakes trial makes it a must-read for any thriller lover.

I wanted to give this book a try as I am a huge fan of Patterson's Women's Murder Club Series. I was curious to see how a non-serial mystery from him would turn out. However, this book didn't quite meet my expectations.

The initial set-up was really good, and it managed to draw me into the story right away. But as the plot progressed, I found that the villain was just too extremely evil. There was no way the story could end in a mild or uneventful manner.

The main character being a federal agent, the idea of him going rogue didn't sit well with me. It felt like he was failing because he couldn't catch the criminal through legal means. And the fact that the villain was so much smarter and more ruthless than the good guys made the latter look rather foolish.

Perhaps this wasn't the most suitable standalone mystery for me to begin with. I might have had different expectations if I had started with a different book from Patterson's collection.

This is my very first encounter with a James Patterson book.

I have this impression that all his books might be somewhat alike. If that's the case, I could potentially have read others, but they've been wiped clean from my limited memory capacity.

This particular tale commences as a legal thriller. However, a significant twist unfolds a little over 100 pages into the book, catapulting the novel into an entirely different trajectory.

Post this twist, the pace of the book truly accelerates. I found the climax of the novel to be extremely exciting and masterfully executed.

I believe that the majority of people who purchase a Patterson book are well aware of what they're getting themselves into. This isn't a "literary" novel, nor does it attempt to masquerade as one.

"JUDGE & JURY" is, instead, a delightful, light read. The reader is treated to fast-paced action and thrills, peppered with numerous twists and turns along the way.

I'm astounded that the author manages to get away with having 127 chapters, each just two and a half pages long.

If entertainment and fun are what you're anticipating, then I firmly believe that Patterson truly delivers the goods with this book, perhaps even more so than in some of his previous novels that I may or may not have read. It comes highly recommended for a plane journey or while waiting in the dentist's office.

“Judge and Jury” by James Patterson and Andrew Gross is a lukewarm mystery thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

A mob boss, Dominic Cavello, the epitome of evil, faces trial for multiple murders in and around the City of New York. FBI Special Agent Nick Pellisante, who specializes in organized crime, is responsible for bringing Cavello to justice.

One of the jury members, Andie DeGrasse, a single mother and part-time actress, initially tries to get out of jury duty. But in the end, she decides it's her civic duty, a decision she soon regrets.

Disaster strikes early in the trial, and Nick and Andie find themselves thrown together by circumstances and a shared desire for justice and revenge. What follows is a series of thrilling events that take the reader on a wild ride to far-flung destinations in pursuit of a deadly mission.

The story has many exciting moments, although some may seem a bit unrealistic, especially towards the end. However, it's a fun and quick read with lots of short chapters that keep the pace fast. Overall, it's a good book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

*** This review contains spoilers ***

When it comes to Patterson's works, it's often a hit or miss situation. Unfortunately, this particular one falls into the miss category.

The story centers around an FBI agent, a juror, a mafia don on trial, and a significant amount of poor writing. I made an attempt to engage with the story, but it failed to deliver as either an interesting courtroom drama akin to Grisham's or an action-packed mystery thriller like some of Harlan Coben's tales.

As the FBI agent is frantically trying to visit a convicted don, he inadvertently becomes the cause of the death of juror number 9's young son. As time progresses, and as expected, the FBI agent falls in love with the juror, the mobster jumps bail, and we are left with a tiresome read (from chapter 40 through 110) to discover where he is hiding and how the agent and the mother will exact their vengeance.

Do yourself a favor and avoid this one. Instead, pick up some of Grisham's books...ANY of Grisham's books. They are sure to provide a more engaging and satisfying reading experience.

There is an extremely interesting book that tells the story of an evil criminal. This criminal is completely devoid of conscience and morals, truly a child of the devil. After an entire jury pool is brutally murdered, an FBI agent finally manages to track him down. However, during the second trial, the criminal escapes by using a bomb and hiring a hitman.

The FBI agent refuses to give up and continues to pursue him. Eventually, he catches up with the criminal, shoots him, and leaves him to die and be eaten alive by wild animals. On a human level, it might seem satisfying to take revenge on such a despicable man.

Nevertheless, as we are told in Romans 12 of the Bible, "Do not take your own revenge beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay' says the Lord... Do not be overcome by evil, overcome evil with good." This passage reminds us that we should not seek vengeance on our own, but rather trust in God's justice and respond to evil with goodness.

3.5 Stars

This rating of 3.5 stars indicates a somewhat mixed experience. On one hand, there are aspects that are quite good. Perhaps the product or service has some notable features or qualities that deserve recognition. It might offer a certain level of functionality or performance that meets the basic requirements and even exceeds expectations in some areas. However, there are also areas that could use improvement. Maybe there are minor glitches or inconveniences that slightly detract from the overall experience. It could be that the design is not as sleek or user-friendly as it could be, or that there are some limitations in terms of customization or adaptability. Overall, while the 3.5 stars suggest that there is potential and some positive aspects, there is still room for growth and refinement to reach a higher level of satisfaction.

Patterson is not on the verge of rendering John Grisham obsolete with this venture into courtroom drama.

In his typical frenetic style, Patterson presents a story-driven piece. However, there is more emphasis on the relationship of the characters than in many of his other novels.

The story meanders and twists its way through multiple genres, ultimately not excelling in any one. Nevertheless, it is an uncomplicated book to read, adopting a formulaic approach to mob crime.

It is a straightforward and concise page-turner that is easy to recommend and will be pleasantly forgotten.

Overall, while it may not be a literary masterpiece, it offers an enjoyable and undemanding read for those who appreciate Patterson's style and are looking for a quick escape into a world of courtroom drama and mob intrigue.

This book was amazingly well written (as always).

It truly is a masterpiece. I love how the suspense is built up in such a way that it leaves you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end.

JP is such a talented writer. His ability to create vivid characters and immersive worlds is truly remarkable. All of his books just fascinate me and draw me in, making me feel as if I'm a part of his fictional universe.

And I'm glad Andie and Nick got together. I kind of assumed it would happen, but with James Patterson's writing, there's never a dull moment.

He always manages to throw in unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very last page.

This book is no exception and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

I usually have a great passion for James Patterson books. In fact, he is one of my all-time favorite authors. However, I must admit that this particular book is the one I have enjoyed the least so far.

Perhaps it was my own fault as I had a preconceived notion about this book that was quite far from the truth. I had thought it would be a book centered around a trial, and I was convinced that I would love it. But I quickly realized that the book was nothing like that.

There were indeed some aspects that I did enjoy. It was interesting and captivating at the beginning, with short chapters that were easy to follow. The main characters were lovable, and I could tell right from the first chapter that the villain wouldn't survive throughout the book.

I also appreciate that James Patterson is not afraid to kill off characters that readers care about. I liked the romance between Nick and Andie, and I admired how strong Andie was after what happened to her.

Despite all of the above, there were a few things that I did not enjoy. I disliked the cruelty of some of the characters, and some scenes were too graphically descriptive. There was even a chapter that I felt was completely unnecessary. It made me feel uncomfortable, and I don't like that kind of feeling from a book.

I also didn't like how Nick, the main male character, seemed to have solutions to all the problems they faced and answers to all the questions, while Andie, the main female character, appeared to be unable to do anything without him or his help.

I did like how the book ended, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough for me to give it more stars.