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Midnight
New Year’s Eve is just another night for Carol Scilingo and Tom Carroway, secretary and law clerk for Judge Canter. The holiday might have been different if single mom Carol didn’t have her young son and aging mother to care for, or if Tom wasn’t struggling with a gambling addiction that’s left him deeply in debt to a loan shark. But here they are, on the last day of the year, waiting for the judge to rule on a controversial union decision so they can go home to their respective homes and watch the ball drop on TV.
Only their day—and lives—take a dramatic turn when Tom finds Judge Cantor dead in his chambers. When a judge dies, the staff keep their jobs until the end of that year. Unless they want to be unemployed in a few hours, Tom and Carol will have to pretend the judge is still alive until midnight. Their plan is simple, until corruption and greed force them into a twisted conspiracy that will unearth their darkest secrets and lies . . .
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
Only their day—and lives—take a dramatic turn when Tom finds Judge Cantor dead in his chambers. When a judge dies, the staff keep their jobs until the end of that year. Unless they want to be unemployed in a few hours, Tom and Carol will have to pretend the judge is still alive until midnight. Their plan is simple, until corruption and greed force them into a twisted conspiracy that will unearth their darkest secrets and lies . . .
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 2, 2013
25 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Egan
5 books32 followers Kevin Egan is the author of eight novels and more than 40 short stories.
His first novel, The Perseus Breed, combined a science fiction story-line with strong mystery genre elements. In the book, Borley Share’s obsessive quest to understand the sudden disappearance of his first serious girlfriend uncovers the existence of an alien race using the Earth as a nursery to raise its young.
Writing as Conor Daly, he published a three-book mystery series featuring Kieran Lenahan, who quit the practice of law to become a golf pro. Bouncing between the professional tour and a sedate country club, Kieran cannot shake the problems that bedeviled his legal career.
In Local Knowledge, a dead client’s testamentary request that Kieran auction a set of rare German golf clubs enmeshes him in a murderous conspiracy with roots in World War II.
In Buried Lies, Kieran is falsely accused of torching his own pro shop on the same day that his long-time caddie falls in front of a train. Only Kieran believes that the two events are connected.
In Outside Agency, Kieran wakes up in a strange apartment next to a woman who happens to be dead. He has no memory of who she is or how he got there, but needs to find out fast to save his own neck.
Writing as K.J. Egan, he published Where It Lies, which features Jenny Chase, a single mom and country club pro. This book opens with the apparent suicide of a greenskeeper, who is survived by his wife and autistic teenage son. When the greenskeeper’s life insurer disclaims its million dollar policy based on a suicide clause, Jenny sets out to prove that the death was murder. Along the way, she uncovers even more horrible secrets.
Writing as Kevin Egan, he wrote three legal thrillers primarily set in the New York County Courthouse in lower Manhattan, where he worked for 30 years.
Midnight, a Kirkus Best Book of 2013, is a noir-ish thriller based on a simple premise: when a judge dies, his staff keep their jobs until the end of that calendar year. So when a judge quietly expires in his chambers on the morning of New Year’s Eve, his clerk and secretary face unemployment by close of business. Neither can afford to be out of a job, so they concoct a deceptively simple plan – smuggle the judge’s body out of the courthouse to make it look like he died at home and after the critical hour of midnight. The plan seems to work – until it doesn’t.
In The Missing Piece, the disputed ownership of a fabulous hoard of ancient Roman silver ends up as the subject of a trial in the New York County Courthouse . The ill-fated first trial ends with a courtroom invasion, the shooting of a court officer, and the theft of an urn worth $5 million. Three years later, the parties re-assemble for the re-trial. The judge is secretly pregnant but determined to handle the trial before moving on to the next phase of her life. The paralyzed officer, convinced that the missing piece never left the courthouse, directs a fellow officer on a literal treasure hunt though the iconic building. Meanwhile, the gunmen are circling with an even more daring plan to disrupt the trial.
In A Shattered Circle, a judge is suffering from dementia, and his devoted wife has successfully kept his condition a secret while scrambling to find a treatment that will arrest his steady decline. Then the bad stuff happens. A persistent private investigator needs to question the judge about the murder of a country lawyer – a crime that has no apparent connection to the judge. An angry litigant has filed a judicial complaint, starting a process that could reveal the judge’s dementia. And a court officer who is trying to exonerate a dying friend of an ancient murder has stumbled across a secret the judge’s wife buried long ago..
Kevin’s short fiction has appeared repeatedly in the following mystery magazines: Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Mystery Tribune, and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. His mainstream stories have app
His first novel, The Perseus Breed, combined a science fiction story-line with strong mystery genre elements. In the book, Borley Share’s obsessive quest to understand the sudden disappearance of his first serious girlfriend uncovers the existence of an alien race using the Earth as a nursery to raise its young.
Writing as Conor Daly, he published a three-book mystery series featuring Kieran Lenahan, who quit the practice of law to become a golf pro. Bouncing between the professional tour and a sedate country club, Kieran cannot shake the problems that bedeviled his legal career.
In Local Knowledge, a dead client’s testamentary request that Kieran auction a set of rare German golf clubs enmeshes him in a murderous conspiracy with roots in World War II.
In Buried Lies, Kieran is falsely accused of torching his own pro shop on the same day that his long-time caddie falls in front of a train. Only Kieran believes that the two events are connected.
In Outside Agency, Kieran wakes up in a strange apartment next to a woman who happens to be dead. He has no memory of who she is or how he got there, but needs to find out fast to save his own neck.
Writing as K.J. Egan, he published Where It Lies, which features Jenny Chase, a single mom and country club pro. This book opens with the apparent suicide of a greenskeeper, who is survived by his wife and autistic teenage son. When the greenskeeper’s life insurer disclaims its million dollar policy based on a suicide clause, Jenny sets out to prove that the death was murder. Along the way, she uncovers even more horrible secrets.
Writing as Kevin Egan, he wrote three legal thrillers primarily set in the New York County Courthouse in lower Manhattan, where he worked for 30 years.
Midnight, a Kirkus Best Book of 2013, is a noir-ish thriller based on a simple premise: when a judge dies, his staff keep their jobs until the end of that calendar year. So when a judge quietly expires in his chambers on the morning of New Year’s Eve, his clerk and secretary face unemployment by close of business. Neither can afford to be out of a job, so they concoct a deceptively simple plan – smuggle the judge’s body out of the courthouse to make it look like he died at home and after the critical hour of midnight. The plan seems to work – until it doesn’t.
In The Missing Piece, the disputed ownership of a fabulous hoard of ancient Roman silver ends up as the subject of a trial in the New York County Courthouse . The ill-fated first trial ends with a courtroom invasion, the shooting of a court officer, and the theft of an urn worth $5 million. Three years later, the parties re-assemble for the re-trial. The judge is secretly pregnant but determined to handle the trial before moving on to the next phase of her life. The paralyzed officer, convinced that the missing piece never left the courthouse, directs a fellow officer on a literal treasure hunt though the iconic building. Meanwhile, the gunmen are circling with an even more daring plan to disrupt the trial.
In A Shattered Circle, a judge is suffering from dementia, and his devoted wife has successfully kept his condition a secret while scrambling to find a treatment that will arrest his steady decline. Then the bad stuff happens. A persistent private investigator needs to question the judge about the murder of a country lawyer – a crime that has no apparent connection to the judge. An angry litigant has filed a judicial complaint, starting a process that could reveal the judge’s dementia. And a court officer who is trying to exonerate a dying friend of an ancient murder has stumbled across a secret the judge’s wife buried long ago..
Kevin’s short fiction has appeared repeatedly in the following mystery magazines: Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Mystery Tribune, and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. His mainstream stories have app
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 7, 2013
Midnight by Kevin Egan begins on New Year's Eve as an uneventful average day in a Manhattan courthouse where the loyal civil servants are finishing work before the new year. Judge Cantor goes into his chambers as usual and is accompanied by his court clerk Tom Carroway and secretary Carol Scilingo. All is well until Judge Cantor quietly passes away in his sleep. Upon discovering he's deceased, his "brainiac" team comes up with the idea that if they can prolong his actual time of death, they will be able to keep the jobs they so desperately need. Tom encourages Carol to go about business as usual since they only need until midnight to secure their jobs for the next year. All is well until it isn't anymore.
Kevin Egan writes an extremely fast paced novel that can be devoured in one sitting. Of that I'm grateful. Things begin to go awry almost immediately when their "well-hatched" plan involve way too many separate interests besides Tom and Carol's.
Based on Tom's issues he's the perfect catalyst to keep this thriller/mystery moving forward, even after the goal of reaching midnight. The only problem with Tom is that he's possibly the most unlikeable character among the plethora of unlikeables. I disliked him with a passion and Carol is too boring to even consider. She's the quinessential single mother that adds nothing to enthusiasm for her. And the rest are cardboard thin.
Despite my gripes with character development I was hooked to Midnight. Kevin Egan wrote an interesting thriller that barely allows readers to digest one shock before supplying another. I can't wait to read what's next from this author. I only urge him to give us characters likeable enough to rally behind and really root for.
Kevin Egan writes an extremely fast paced novel that can be devoured in one sitting. Of that I'm grateful. Things begin to go awry almost immediately when their "well-hatched" plan involve way too many separate interests besides Tom and Carol's.
Based on Tom's issues he's the perfect catalyst to keep this thriller/mystery moving forward, even after the goal of reaching midnight. The only problem with Tom is that he's possibly the most unlikeable character among the plethora of unlikeables. I disliked him with a passion and Carol is too boring to even consider. She's the quinessential single mother that adds nothing to enthusiasm for her. And the rest are cardboard thin.
Despite my gripes with character development I was hooked to Midnight. Kevin Egan wrote an interesting thriller that barely allows readers to digest one shock before supplying another. I can't wait to read what's next from this author. I only urge him to give us characters likeable enough to rally behind and really root for.
September 27, 2013
I have to admit, I absolutely loved the premise of this book. It hooked me when I read the jacket sleeve. I have never heard of Kevin Egan or Midnight before I saw this book at the local library and picked it up. It wasn't the positive reviews on the front and back by established authors, it was this:
...The New York County Courthouse, in Lower Manhattan, has its own rules and traditions. When a judge dies, the members of his staff keep their jobs until the end of that calendar year. So when Judge Alvin Canter quietly expires in his chambers on December 31, his loyal clerk and secretary find themselves in a difficult situation. Their jobs will vanish at closing time--unless they can conceal the judge's death until after midnight...
The dilemma for Tom Carroway and Carol Shilingo is this; how far will you go to keep your job?
Tom is an aspiring lawyer with a gambling addiction. Loan sharks are showing up at the courthouse to collect. Carol is a single mom trying to put herself through college. Neither can afford to be out of a job. So all they have to do is hide the body until the next day. The problem is they are in the county courthouse, surrounded by guards and police. How are they going to pull it off?
To add to the problem, the final item on the judges docket is a decision on a litigation between the courthouse union and the city to increase or decrease pay for the courthouse employees. Everyone in the courthouse wants to know how the judge is going to rule. Union bosses and their henchmen are calling and pounding on the door. The Inspector General is looking into it for tampering and there is an ex-boyfriend of Carol's who happens to be a courthouse guard who just won't go away.
In Midnight no one is exactly what they seem and the simple act of hiding the truth spirals quickly out of control and into something much bigger. I won't go into what, because it is just that good of a novel that it is worth the read.
The question remains. What would you do to keep your job? And are you prepared for the consequences?
...The New York County Courthouse, in Lower Manhattan, has its own rules and traditions. When a judge dies, the members of his staff keep their jobs until the end of that calendar year. So when Judge Alvin Canter quietly expires in his chambers on December 31, his loyal clerk and secretary find themselves in a difficult situation. Their jobs will vanish at closing time--unless they can conceal the judge's death until after midnight...
The dilemma for Tom Carroway and Carol Shilingo is this; how far will you go to keep your job?
Tom is an aspiring lawyer with a gambling addiction. Loan sharks are showing up at the courthouse to collect. Carol is a single mom trying to put herself through college. Neither can afford to be out of a job. So all they have to do is hide the body until the next day. The problem is they are in the county courthouse, surrounded by guards and police. How are they going to pull it off?
To add to the problem, the final item on the judges docket is a decision on a litigation between the courthouse union and the city to increase or decrease pay for the courthouse employees. Everyone in the courthouse wants to know how the judge is going to rule. Union bosses and their henchmen are calling and pounding on the door. The Inspector General is looking into it for tampering and there is an ex-boyfriend of Carol's who happens to be a courthouse guard who just won't go away.
In Midnight no one is exactly what they seem and the simple act of hiding the truth spirals quickly out of control and into something much bigger. I won't go into what, because it is just that good of a novel that it is worth the read.
The question remains. What would you do to keep your job? And are you prepared for the consequences?
October 1, 2013
Meh. It was ok. Wasn't the best plot but it did have it's twists and turns, and kept the pace/action going to the end, but it felt like it was going nowhere, and the characters were a little wooden, I never really cared for them that much. 3 stars, maybe 2 and a half.
February 18, 2013
There are some nights when insomnia actually pays off.
I received an AR copy of Midnight yesterday, and, thanks to a convenient break in my reading line-up, could slip it in right away. The premise is Judge Alvin Carter happens to die in his chambers on December 31. While that might seem a tidy way to end a year, it puts his law clerk and his secretary in a bit of a bind; by the traditions of the New York County Courthouse their jobs would be safe until the end of the year a seated judge dies, but the end of the year is only hours away. Not much help for a financially strapped single mom and a fellow up to his ears in gambling debts. What to do? Simple. Make it look like the good Justice kicked off on January 1 instead.
The plot gets convoluted -- ham-fisted loan sharks, crooked politicians, nasty enforcers, even an ex-boyfriend. Plus, the dead judge goes on a bit of a walk-about.
The author has spent his career in the New York law system, so the scenarios and specifics of the culture rang true. There were only a few moments where my attention wandered because of small details.
So, when I found myself wide awake at half past stupid last night, rather than struggle to resume sleeping, I crept downstairs, made a nice cup of herbal tea, wrapped myself in an afghan, and finished the book. Like Carol and Tom, I tried to turn a losing proposition into a winning one. Only my case was much less of a struggle.
I received an AR copy of Midnight yesterday, and, thanks to a convenient break in my reading line-up, could slip it in right away. The premise is Judge Alvin Carter happens to die in his chambers on December 31. While that might seem a tidy way to end a year, it puts his law clerk and his secretary in a bit of a bind; by the traditions of the New York County Courthouse their jobs would be safe until the end of the year a seated judge dies, but the end of the year is only hours away. Not much help for a financially strapped single mom and a fellow up to his ears in gambling debts. What to do? Simple. Make it look like the good Justice kicked off on January 1 instead.
The plot gets convoluted -- ham-fisted loan sharks, crooked politicians, nasty enforcers, even an ex-boyfriend. Plus, the dead judge goes on a bit of a walk-about.
The author has spent his career in the New York law system, so the scenarios and specifics of the culture rang true. There were only a few moments where my attention wandered because of small details.
So, when I found myself wide awake at half past stupid last night, rather than struggle to resume sleeping, I crept downstairs, made a nice cup of herbal tea, wrapped myself in an afghan, and finished the book. Like Carol and Tom, I tried to turn a losing proposition into a winning one. Only my case was much less of a struggle.
June 28, 2014
Not the typical type of thriller that I pick up, however I was at a Literary Festival in Millbrook, NY, last weekend, met the delightful author, and my mom was kind enough to purchase it for me. As I said, not my usual fair, of murder mystery/horror - this was more what's going to happen next, suspense. Though I do love the lawyer genre, I generally don't go for suspense and I'll admit to putting it down several times over the last few days to let it sit. But I think that's really a compliment, as it was so suspenseful, I had to take a break and walk away. It was very readable, the writing flowed, the characters made sense, and I understood their motivations. I'm really looking forward to reading more of Kevin's work.
November 23, 2019
I wish there were half-stars for rating. This would be a 3-1/2. It was better than three, but not quite four. I did enjoy it and it kept me reading.
Can they keep the judge alive until 12:01 AM on New Years Eve?
Can they keep the judge alive until 12:01 AM on New Years Eve?
May 3, 2018
The unique plot in Midnight is built around the relationship between a law clerk and his judge in a setting I know very well, the courthouses in lower Manhattan. Unlike many crime novels, Midnight opens not with a murder but with the judge’s death from natural causes, which serves as the catalyst for a series of progressively serious crimes. You won’t anticipate the many twists and turns in the domino spiral, set in motion by the slowly unfolding secrets of the characters and their conflicting motivations. Fans of noir and legal thriller will thoroughly enjoy this compulsively readable tale of desperation and consequence. To read my full review and my conversation with the author, click here to go to my blog.
August 23, 2024
Let's say you really, really need your job. You've got debts, people depending on you. The job market is lousy. What if you were going to lose that job unless you did something every instinct tells you not to do? Would you do it?
A pretty easy question when it's a hypothetical. For Carol Scilingo and Tom Carroway, secretary and law clerk respectively for motion judge Cantor, the decision becomes very real. Can they cover for their boss just twenty-four hours so their jobs will last another year?
It seems pretty simple. But of course, if it were simple, the remaining 300 pages or so of the book would be boring and useless, right? So we know pretty early on things are going to take a turn. Then then take another.
Kevin Egan poses a terrific moral dilemma for his characters--particularly Carol--then (as all writers are advised to do) turns the screws tighter and tighter on them.
It's wonderful and tense with some unexpected twists, although I would call it more of a drama than a legal thriller, but that's just me. The setting is in a superior court and the machinations of law do play a role in the plot, but if you're hoping for a Mickey Haller or Perry Mason type of courtroom drama, look elsewhere.
I enjoyed this book and dove right into the free excerpt from the next book, included at the end of this one.
Merged review:
What would you do to keep your job?
Let's say you really, really need your job. You've got debts, people depending on you. The job market is lousy. What if you were going to lose that job unless you did something every instinct tells you not to do? Would you do it?
A pretty easy question when it's a hypothetical. For Carol Scilingo and Tom Carroway, secretary and law clerk respectively for motion judge Cantor, the decision becomes very real. Can they cover for their boss just twenty-four hours so their jobs will last another year?
It seems pretty simple. But of course, if it were simple, the remaining 300 pages or so of the book would be boring and useless, right? So we know pretty early on things are going to take a turn. Then then take another.
Kevin Egan poses a terrific moral dilemma for his characters--particularly Carol--then (as all writers are advised to do) turns the screws tighter and tighter on them.
It's wonderful and tense with some unexpected twists, although I would call it more of a drama than a legal thriller, but that's just me. The setting is in a superior court and the machinations of law do play a role in the plot, but if you're hoping for a Mickey Haller or Perry Mason type of courtroom drama, look elsewhere.
I enjoyed this book and dove right into the free excerpt from the next book, included at the end of this one.
A pretty easy question when it's a hypothetical. For Carol Scilingo and Tom Carroway, secretary and law clerk respectively for motion judge Cantor, the decision becomes very real. Can they cover for their boss just twenty-four hours so their jobs will last another year?
It seems pretty simple. But of course, if it were simple, the remaining 300 pages or so of the book would be boring and useless, right? So we know pretty early on things are going to take a turn. Then then take another.
Kevin Egan poses a terrific moral dilemma for his characters--particularly Carol--then (as all writers are advised to do) turns the screws tighter and tighter on them.
It's wonderful and tense with some unexpected twists, although I would call it more of a drama than a legal thriller, but that's just me. The setting is in a superior court and the machinations of law do play a role in the plot, but if you're hoping for a Mickey Haller or Perry Mason type of courtroom drama, look elsewhere.
I enjoyed this book and dove right into the free excerpt from the next book, included at the end of this one.
Merged review:
What would you do to keep your job?
Let's say you really, really need your job. You've got debts, people depending on you. The job market is lousy. What if you were going to lose that job unless you did something every instinct tells you not to do? Would you do it?
A pretty easy question when it's a hypothetical. For Carol Scilingo and Tom Carroway, secretary and law clerk respectively for motion judge Cantor, the decision becomes very real. Can they cover for their boss just twenty-four hours so their jobs will last another year?
It seems pretty simple. But of course, if it were simple, the remaining 300 pages or so of the book would be boring and useless, right? So we know pretty early on things are going to take a turn. Then then take another.
Kevin Egan poses a terrific moral dilemma for his characters--particularly Carol--then (as all writers are advised to do) turns the screws tighter and tighter on them.
It's wonderful and tense with some unexpected twists, although I would call it more of a drama than a legal thriller, but that's just me. The setting is in a superior court and the machinations of law do play a role in the plot, but if you're hoping for a Mickey Haller or Perry Mason type of courtroom drama, look elsewhere.
I enjoyed this book and dove right into the free excerpt from the next book, included at the end of this one.
March 17, 2014
It's hard not to quip that this is "Weekend at Bernie's Courthouse." A clerk and assistant conspire to hide their judge employer's body for a day; once the new year starts a judge's staff is kept on for the calendar year even if they die or leave their position. So when they find him dead mid-day on Dec 31st they decide, given the current economic condition, to hide his death for a day. This works out not as well as they'd like; thus the book.
The book suffers from this summary; it's hard no to think "who the hell would know that?" But it's not at all out of character for a detail-oriented lawyer working for a fairly elderly judge, and within the book the characterizations never seem forced. Nobody acts in a way they need to in order for the plotline to advance - they act the way you would expect them to, based on their personalities as described.
The book is an okay read; if I have any problem with it it's the fact that this is such a noir story that doesn't seem willing to fully embrace the genre. There's also a mid-book reveal about someone's professional responsibilities that DOES seem a little too convenient, though it flows fine within the story.
The book suffers from this summary; it's hard no to think "who the hell would know that?" But it's not at all out of character for a detail-oriented lawyer working for a fairly elderly judge, and within the book the characterizations never seem forced. Nobody acts in a way they need to in order for the plotline to advance - they act the way you would expect them to, based on their personalities as described.
The book is an okay read; if I have any problem with it it's the fact that this is such a noir story that doesn't seem willing to fully embrace the genre. There's also a mid-book reveal about someone's professional responsibilities that DOES seem a little too convenient, though it flows fine within the story.
July 24, 2013
This is a really fun book based on a unique concept. When Judge Canter dies on New Year's Eve in his courtroom chambers, his staff is in quite a dilemma. As it is the last day of the year they will find themselves unemployed come New Year's Day unless they can make it appear that the Judge died after the year end. His law clerk and secretary decide to hide the body so it appears that he died in the new year, thus saving their jobs for the next year. Complications arise and (so as not to give too much away) I will leave it at that. It is a super quick read that you will not want to put down. I love reading a book that you can feel you are a part of. Kevin Egan does such a good job making the courthouse and lower Manhattan another character in the book. He captures the cast of characters perfectly. As we all know the simplest of plans do not always go smoothly. I enjoyed the twists and turns as you watch the characters learn this for themselves.
March 1, 2014
Two courthouse employees plot to conceal the fact that a judge has died. At first they are simply trying to hold onto their jobs, relying on a quirky custom that dictates they will serve out the remainder of the calendar year. The task begins with a sardonic jollity, but slowly grows darker until it becomes pitch noir. This novel’s greatest strength lies in its atmospherics, conjured with vivid descriptions of the iconic New York County courthouse, with its quirky traditions, secrets, and curious inner workings that are vulnerable to corruption. With overtones that harken back to the works of James M. Cain and Jim Thompson, the novel is operates like the courthouse itself, fitted with contemporary trappings, but steeped in tradition.
August 2, 2013
This was a completely unbelievable, preposterous tale that I just tore through! I usually don't have much patience for out-there plot lines, but this just zipped along, and the problems encountered kept mounting, keeping me thinking how the heck are they going to get out of this mess? At times, it worked to read it as a farce, incresing the entertainment value. The ending was pretty hokey--I really doubt that coyotes would attack someone unless they were rabid, but it made for a funny read. I also think the re-kindled relationsip between Foxx and Carol wasn't very well thought-out. I think it would have been better had they remained friends, with Foxx being a great presence in her son's life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2014
I chose MIDNIGHT by Kevin Egan off the display shelves at the library, finished it today, happy I found it easy to read with short chapters and a plot I could stick with. Tom Carroway and Carol Scilingo work for Judge Canter in a New York courthouse as law clerks but after the judge dies in his chambers, Tom and Carol realize they will lose their jobs at the year's end unless they can keep others oblivious of his passing until midnight on New Year's Eve. A gambling problem leaves Tom in debt and he turns to Dominic, a loan shark, who threatens Tom's as time passes and he hasn't been repaid until Tom learns he will keep his job enabling him to repay Dominic by rewriting a decision favoring the union.
November 15, 2014
Another book that I stopped reading less than halfway through. Premise is a judge dies on New Year's Eve and his law clerks don't want anyone to know until midnight so the county will allow them to keep their jobs for the next year. Since it's NYE, most people in the courthouse are gone. They could simply walk out, lock the door behind them and the judge would be found two days later. Problem solved. But this author wants to complicate it. I don't like complications.
October 7, 2013
When a judge dies on New Year's Eve, Tom and Carol fear they might lose their jobs so come up with a plan to keep the judge's death quiet. But for how long? Soon they find themselves in more trouble than just that! I liked this book more than I thought I would. It kept me entertained and the ending part was really good! You should read it.
(Gerard's review)
(Gerard's review)
November 29, 2013
Didn't like this book at all. Can't remember why I wanted to read it ( probably rec by USA book list). Silly story about a law clerk & secretary who plot 2 hide their judge's death in order 2 save their salaries. This results in several other criminal activities by several other people. It was all pretty far fetched.
August 23, 2014
A great mystery. I was taken from a few pages in. The end was unexpected too. Grey characters all around, who to root for?
December 14, 2025
The premise of this book sounded intriguing and having a background in law, I thought it would be interesting. It started out okay. I could relate to the surroundings and the characters in the courthouse. But the story became bogged down and as it progressed, it became more and more farfetched. I was very disappointed in the ending and it didn't seem to make sense.
December 20, 2013
On New Year’s Eve a judge has a heart attack and quietly dies in his chambers. In order to secure their jobs for another year they cover up his death and plan to reveal it in the New Year. But others have their own agenda and the plan doesn’t work out like it’s supposed to. Egan draws substantial characters, valid motivations and moves the story along at a rapid pace. I couldn’t put my Kindle down.
Merged review:
On New Year’s Eve a judge has a heart attack and quietly dies in his chambers. In order to secure their jobs for another year they cover up his death and plan to reveal it in the New Year. But others have their own agenda and the plan doesn’t work out like it’s supposed to. Egan draws substantial characters, valid motivations and moves the story along at a rapid pace. I couldn’t put my Kindle down.
Merged review:
On New Year’s Eve a judge has a heart attack and quietly dies in his chambers. In order to secure their jobs for another year they cover up his death and plan to reveal it in the New Year. But others have their own agenda and the plan doesn’t work out like it’s supposed to. Egan draws substantial characters, valid motivations and moves the story along at a rapid pace. I couldn’t put my Kindle down.
September 30, 2013
I was enjoying this book, well on its way to a 4-star rating but then the author did something stupid. He had a character unable to see the time on his cell phone because he was in the subway and couldn't get a signal. This is ridiculous. The clock is built into the device, it can use the signal to sync but does not need it to show the time. And I was two-thirds through too!
I have since discovered a workmate who read my review on Facebook had a phone that would not give the user access to normal functions while searching for a signal. Four stars.
I have since discovered a workmate who read my review on Facebook had a phone that would not give the user access to normal functions while searching for a signal. Four stars.
September 7, 2014
Not too deep but entertaining. An afternoon relax-and-read.
February 21, 2014
clumsy
August 30, 2014
Clever idea; almost a caper novel.
October 28, 2013
The relationships lacked chemistry and most of the scenarios weren't believable.
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August 12, 2013i think that i will read about secured events
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews