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Ben Kincaid #2
Blind Justice
Out of corporate life and on his own, lawyer Ben Kincaid sees the seamy side of the law every day. There's no glamour and little reward when it comes to defending the lowlifes who beat down his door. But when a friend is set up for murder, Ben has no choice but to enter the world of hardball litigation and face a judge who despises him in a trial he is guaranteed to lose.
BLIND JUSTICE is a riveting, emotion-packed thriller in which guilt and innocence remain obscure and justice is a matter of opinion.
"Bernhardt is a master legal tour guide, taking the reader through the labyrinth of the judicial system of America's heartland."
—Mostly Murder
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1992
800 people are currently reading
525 people want to read
About the author
William Bernhardt
96 books511 followersWilliam Bernhardt is the author of over sixty books, including the bestselling Daniel Pike and Ben Kincaid legal thrillers, the historical novels Challengers of the Dust and Nemesis, three books of poetry, and the ten Red Sneaker books on fiction writing.
In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring writers. The Center hosts an annual writers conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. More than three dozen of Bernhardt’s students have subsequently published with major houses. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.
Bernhardt has received the Southern Writers Guild’s Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (University of Pennsylvania) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (Oklahoma State), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." He has been nominated for the Oklahoma Book Award eighteen times in three different categories, and has won the award twice. Library Journal called him “the master of the courtroom drama.” The Vancouver Sun called him “the American equivalent of P.G. Wodehouse and John Mortimer.”
In addition to his novels and poetry, he has written plays, a musical (book and score), humor, children stories, biography, and puzzles. He has edited two anthologies (Legal Briefs and Natural Suspect) as fundraisers for The Nature Conservancy and the Children’s Legal Defense Fund. OSU named him “Oklahoma’s Renaissance Man.”
In his spare time, he has enjoyed surfing, digging for dinosaurs, trekking through the Himalayas, paragliding, scuba diving, caving, zip-lining over the canopy of the Costa Rican rain forest, and jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet. In 2013, he became a Jeopardy! champion winning over $20,000.
When Bernhardt delivered the keynote address at the San Francisco Writers Conference, chairman Michael Larsen noted that in addition to penning novels, Bernhardt can “write a sonnet, play a sonata, plant a garden, try a lawsuit, teach a class, cook a gourmet meal, beat you at Scrabble, and work the New York Times crossword in under five minutes.”
In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring writers. The Center hosts an annual writers conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. More than three dozen of Bernhardt’s students have subsequently published with major houses. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.
Bernhardt has received the Southern Writers Guild’s Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (University of Pennsylvania) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (Oklahoma State), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." He has been nominated for the Oklahoma Book Award eighteen times in three different categories, and has won the award twice. Library Journal called him “the master of the courtroom drama.” The Vancouver Sun called him “the American equivalent of P.G. Wodehouse and John Mortimer.”
In addition to his novels and poetry, he has written plays, a musical (book and score), humor, children stories, biography, and puzzles. He has edited two anthologies (Legal Briefs and Natural Suspect) as fundraisers for The Nature Conservancy and the Children’s Legal Defense Fund. OSU named him “Oklahoma’s Renaissance Man.”
In his spare time, he has enjoyed surfing, digging for dinosaurs, trekking through the Himalayas, paragliding, scuba diving, caving, zip-lining over the canopy of the Costa Rican rain forest, and jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet. In 2013, he became a Jeopardy! champion winning over $20,000.
When Bernhardt delivered the keynote address at the San Francisco Writers Conference, chairman Michael Larsen noted that in addition to penning novels, Bernhardt can “write a sonnet, play a sonata, plant a garden, try a lawsuit, teach a class, cook a gourmet meal, beat you at Scrabble, and work the New York Times crossword in under five minutes.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
June 29, 2020
So I enjoyed this book quite a bit, I feel like I like the first book in the series better. But I really like the way that the story pulled together in the end of this one. I think it was almost the ending that should’ve been there at the end of the first novel in the series. But then again who am I to judge? They were a lot of twist interns in this case as well as read hearings but everything worked out in the end and I’ll admit that I was along for the ride more than I was trying to figure things out because quite honestly there are so many twists that I got a little bit turned around. But that’s OK because that’s what a good book is for. I’m looking forward to continuing on with this series because I really think that I’m going to enjoy it.
July 29, 2016
Funny and witty, a very fast read. Nice for the deck today, but I do prefer a little more substance from my writers. Not very believable. But still, fun.
May 5, 2020
I went into this book without high expectations; I was not looking to have a revelation or to learn anything about myself or to better understand the world. This book was simply a means to be entertained for a moment. With that in mind, it delivered perfectly. The conflict has enough tension and movement to keep me engaged, the characters are unique enough to be interesting and vivid, and the mystery was compelling. However, the ending has a bit to be desired. The last two chapters are unfair, in the words of Misery's Annie Wilkes. The way in which the narrator wraps up all conflicts in a tidy little bow is not justified. The conclusions aren't set up in a way that even hints that way, but rather, it was like the author decided to release his deus ex machina so that there is no tension upon finishing the last page.
May 21, 2023
Ben Kincaid has now set out on his own. When a friend is accused of murder, Ben steps in to help.
This book was much better than the first one in the series, though I doubt that a legitimate lawyer would represent someone who was becoming a close personal friend. The number of twists and turns may lack credibility, but it is so creative and so much fun to read that I had to give this four stars. I am now feeling much more optimistic about what's to come in the series.
This book was much better than the first one in the series, though I doubt that a legitimate lawyer would represent someone who was becoming a close personal friend. The number of twists and turns may lack credibility, but it is so creative and so much fun to read that I had to give this four stars. I am now feeling much more optimistic about what's to come in the series.
May 9, 2018
The plot line was full of holes, but you end up liking the characters, especially Kencaid and his "staff." As someone who has read many mysteries, the issues not addressed by the prosecution and Kencaid are too numerous to ignore. Compared to Michael Connelley's Lincoln Lawyer series, the plot is just not up to snuff. But Blind Justice is a quick read and you find yourself laughing at some of the things that happen in the story. So if you can tolerate a plot that makes you say to yourself "why didn't Kencaid do this or that," it is a book you can enjoy primarily because of the characters.
October 10, 2019
Campy characters, campy story, campy humor, weak court scenes, campy result.
It was just okay. The second book in the series confirms suspicions I had while reading the first - don't expect a whole lot and you won't be disappointed.
It was just okay. The second book in the series confirms suspicions I had while reading the first - don't expect a whole lot and you won't be disappointed.
April 28, 2020
There’s better...
I grew up in Tulsa and enjoy legal procedural. The author has many, many books to his credit. If they all are as flat and stereotyped as the first two in this series I’ll pass. I’m not saying I could personally write better myself, but I’ve certainly read better.
I grew up in Tulsa and enjoy legal procedural. The author has many, many books to his credit. If they all are as flat and stereotyped as the first two in this series I’ll pass. I’m not saying I could personally write better myself, but I’ve certainly read better.
October 28, 2019
Fair at best. The solid continuous beat down of Ben and his case for 270 of the 300 pages wore me down. I would like to see a little light along the way. Finished fine.
May 27, 2025
Tulsa lawyer Ben Kincaid, newly ousted from corporate law, has opened his own practice on the seamier side of town being all that he can afford. Ben's clientele tends to be some rather questionable characters with little money to pay an attorney, thus the flock of chickens inhabiting Kincaid's outer office, payment for services rendered. When a good friend, Christina, is accused of murdering a well-known importer, Ben steps in to help with a case he knows he has very little evidence to get Christina acquitted. She was found in the man's apartment seemingly drunk enough to have passed out, the victim at her feet with 4 gunshots to the head and the murder weapon conveniently near at hand. She remembers nothing except arriving at the man's home. The FBI believes she is guilty and Ben feels the victim's shadowy connection to a drug cartel may have played a part in the crime. Kincaid with try every trick in the book to have his friend released and her name cleared.
It has been quite a while since I've read a book by Bernhardt, an author I have enjoyed for several decades now. I've always enjoyed his Ben Kincaid series and the well-defined characters. There is always a lot of humor in the stories which make the mystery even more fun.
It has been quite a while since I've read a book by Bernhardt, an author I have enjoyed for several decades now. I've always enjoyed his Ben Kincaid series and the well-defined characters. There is always a lot of humor in the stories which make the mystery even more fun.
August 31, 2022
Picked this one up because I mixed up my series. I thought this was the second book in a series that I felt might be promising. When I realized it was a different series (the author who keeps describing a character’s colorful leotards when he means tights!) I figured what the heck… let’s see how this goes… things could smooth out in the second outing. Well, how it goes is: Bernhardt can’t quite decide whether he’s writing a sitcom or a legal thriller. Unfortunately everything is over-the-top and the story becomes neither a comedy nor a thriller.
Courtroom drama is contrived with a judge who was so biased that when he summarily denied Kincaid’s motion by saying it was a “lamebrained recommendations” I would not have been surprised if he’d said “muahahaha” afterwards. Perhaps Bernhardt thought this was comedic but I found the bullying and taunting uncomfortable.
Bottom line: the humor and banter becomes old quick, the drama is contrived and unrealistic (I can’t decide if Bernhardt did it on purpose to be funny but it wasn’t funny or dramatic…just annoying).
Courtroom drama is contrived with a judge who was so biased that when he summarily denied Kincaid’s motion by saying it was a “lamebrained recommendations” I would not have been surprised if he’d said “muahahaha” afterwards. Perhaps Bernhardt thought this was comedic but I found the bullying and taunting uncomfortable.
Bottom line: the humor and banter becomes old quick, the drama is contrived and unrealistic (I can’t decide if Bernhardt did it on purpose to be funny but it wasn’t funny or dramatic…just annoying).
November 23, 2021
"Blind Justice", second in the Ben Kincaid series, sees his friend Christina facing trial for a grisly murder.
His investigations only seem to prove that, whether she is guilty or not, Christina's going down for a very long time.
While "Primary Justice" spent little time in the courtroom this time the case features prominently. The bad news for Ben is that the judge is none other than his former boss at Raven, Tucker & Tubb, Richard O. Derek.
It's a good read for a day when you want to be entertained rather than thrilled or perplexed by complexity. There's a cast of interesting characters, some good one-liners, a couple of interesting set-piece scenes, and Bob's nemesis, Giselle!
I thought that there were some problems with the evidence presented, in particular with the lack of gunpowder residue and, secondly, whether the several sets of gloves were ever tested.
But, wth, I enjoyed it - not quite as much as "Primary Justice" but enough for 3.5 Stars.
His investigations only seem to prove that, whether she is guilty or not, Christina's going down for a very long time.
While "Primary Justice" spent little time in the courtroom this time the case features prominently. The bad news for Ben is that the judge is none other than his former boss at Raven, Tucker & Tubb, Richard O. Derek.
It's a good read for a day when you want to be entertained rather than thrilled or perplexed by complexity. There's a cast of interesting characters, some good one-liners, a couple of interesting set-piece scenes, and Bob's nemesis, Giselle!
I thought that there were some problems with the evidence presented, in particular with the lack of gunpowder residue and, secondly, whether the several sets of gloves were ever tested.
But, wth, I enjoyed it - not quite as much as "Primary Justice" but enough for 3.5 Stars.
March 11, 2022
I love it when writers have the talent that lets them create seemingly hopeless scenarios and slowly walk and weave their way out of that situation. This is a great legal thriller, and the characters are fascinating.
Ben Kincaid struggles as book two opens. He’s trying to make it on his own, and one of his clients is paying him in chickens. A female friend of his, a flamboyant legal assistant, has a bad-boy boyfriend. Ben worries about her, and while their relationship is platonic, some small part of him wishes it weren’t. Invited to the apartment of her bad-boy man toy, the woman takes a sip of some wine he left for her, assuring her that he would be home soon, apologizing for the delay. She drinks a bit, falls asleep, and wakes up kneeling over his dead body. It looks like she killed the guy. But not so fast.
This is good writing that keeps you tuned in and involved. This is a good series, and I’m looking forward to reading book three.
Ben Kincaid struggles as book two opens. He’s trying to make it on his own, and one of his clients is paying him in chickens. A female friend of his, a flamboyant legal assistant, has a bad-boy boyfriend. Ben worries about her, and while their relationship is platonic, some small part of him wishes it weren’t. Invited to the apartment of her bad-boy man toy, the woman takes a sip of some wine he left for her, assuring her that he would be home soon, apologizing for the delay. She drinks a bit, falls asleep, and wakes up kneeling over his dead body. It looks like she killed the guy. But not so fast.
This is good writing that keeps you tuned in and involved. This is a good series, and I’m looking forward to reading book three.
August 28, 2021
This is the 2nd in the series about Ben Kincaid. He had left the prestigious law firm (well he was fired) and has now started his own legal services. Just one employee that helps out doing his clerical work, Jones. That last payment Ben received was in chickens!! Yep, they gave him chickens. So they are running around his office.
This time Ben is going to have defend his best friend, Christina. She has helped him out before on some cases. Christina has been accused of killing her date..She was invited over to his apartment, as he told he would be late. She fell asleep and when she woke up, his dead body was laying next to her.
Then the FBI arrived and she has just picked up the gun that killed him.
I really am enjoying this series and you do get that Perry Mason minute!!
This time Ben is going to have defend his best friend, Christina. She has helped him out before on some cases. Christina has been accused of killing her date..She was invited over to his apartment, as he told he would be late. She fell asleep and when she woke up, his dead body was laying next to her.
Then the FBI arrived and she has just picked up the gun that killed him.
I really am enjoying this series and you do get that Perry Mason minute!!
May 29, 2024
I've read so many books set in the big cities of the world, it was fun to come across one with the decidedly less familiar setting of Tulsa, Oklahoma. I haven't read the first book in this series, but it didn't seem as though I needed to. The author provided enough background to allow me to understand why a young, talented attorney had such a scroungy practice. Light reading, some predictable humor, good pace. The book dragged at the end because the full explanation of the crime ran to several pages and included, as the saying goes, "facts not in evidence." I don't like mysteries that have to be explained all at once in a long narrative after the real murderer has confessed. I might read another book in the series the next time I'm looking for some fluff.
October 20, 2024
This book was often boring. Why? Because it’s so repetitious. Because so many continuing jokes (the chickens running around the office, for example, get old fast). Because the main protagonist, attorney Ben Kincaid, keeps losing the fights he gets into, in court and elsewhere, until near the end of the book. The judge is out to get him and so is the prosecution. Actually so is almost everyone. Most are willing to play dirty and they do. Ben does have one early success, if you can call it that, when he wins a measly $10,000 judgment for an injured client. It got real dull reading about Ben’s continuing defeats. The ending was decent and some characters were fairly interesting, but not enough to rescue this poorly plotted novel.
July 31, 2021
This story takes over where the 1st one left off. Ben has gone into private practice and just finished a trial where he won. Christine, a paralegal that he worked with in his last job, has been arrested for murder and wants him to represent her. The evidence in the case does not look good for her and the judge that is assigned is an old acquaintance that he ran into trouble with in his old job. The judge seems to take the side of the prosecution and Ben decides that the only way to free Christine is to find the real killer.
Follow Ben in his pursuit of information that will point him to the true killer. The ending is another one that will surprise you.
Follow Ben in his pursuit of information that will point him to the true killer. The ending is another one that will surprise you.
January 11, 2020
It seems Bernhardts writing is very similar story to story. The same lines even. I do like the extra story at the end that I didn’t quite expect. Same story different people. Even though the two books I’ve read; Murder One and Blind Justice, both Ben Kincaid books, have the exact same storyline. From all his mess ups in court, the judge not liking him and giving him a hard time, the up hill battle and framed client (I skim over those parts that I feel are to similar) and just get to the story, which in the end I like.
January 13, 2022
Another Good One
The second in the Ben Kincaid series was very enjoyable. This time his client is in his close circle and it looks like a lost cause. However, Ben and a few compatriots pull together a good defense after all. And Ben looks forward to seeing paying clients in his future. I must say that Christina has a very similar personality to Abby, the original lab nerd in NCIS.
The second in the Ben Kincaid series was very enjoyable. This time his client is in his close circle and it looks like a lost cause. However, Ben and a few compatriots pull together a good defense after all. And Ben looks forward to seeing paying clients in his future. I must say that Christina has a very similar personality to Abby, the original lab nerd in NCIS.
March 31, 2021
Absolutely loved it!
Small time lawyer takes on FBI and former employer turned judge in a real page turner of a legal battle. With the odds stacked against him Ben Kincaid takes on everyone (including the mob) to try to win his court case against incredible odds. It was a very light but satisfying read. I definitely want to read more about Ben Kincaid and his escapades
Small time lawyer takes on FBI and former employer turned judge in a real page turner of a legal battle. With the odds stacked against him Ben Kincaid takes on everyone (including the mob) to try to win his court case against incredible odds. It was a very light but satisfying read. I definitely want to read more about Ben Kincaid and his escapades
June 18, 2023
"Out of corporate life and on his own, lawyer Ben Kincaid sees the seamy side of the law every day. There's no glamour and little reward when it comes to defending the lowlifes who beat down his door. But when a friend is set up for murder, Ben has no choice but to enter the world of hardball litigation and face a judge who despises him in a trial he is guaranteed to lose."
October 18, 2024
That's entertainment! The book was all over the place and seemed to allow behaviors and situations that would never be accepted or tolerated. My favorite character was Wolf; I think he has potential. I didn't read the first book of the series and probably won't read any of the others but this one passed the time, made me think and gave me a chuckle or two.
June 1, 2019
Page Turner
Quick read. Page turner with the occasional surprise quip that caused a laugh out loud. Embarrassing when one is sitting in a public place, but fun anyway. Colorful characters, and story that had me guessing until the end.
Quick read. Page turner with the occasional surprise quip that caused a laugh out loud. Embarrassing when one is sitting in a public place, but fun anyway. Colorful characters, and story that had me guessing until the end.
January 21, 2021
Murder and mayhem
Fast moving thriller. Falsely accused murderer, prejudiced judge. Add in drug dealers, liars, a security guard with a drinking problem, add them up. Sum is this great tale you just have to finish before putting it down.
Fast moving thriller. Falsely accused murderer, prejudiced judge. Add in drug dealers, liars, a security guard with a drinking problem, add them up. Sum is this great tale you just have to finish before putting it down.
March 8, 2021
I am surprised by all the five star ratings; they are definitely not warranted. This is an average book. In some respects an attempt at humor; in other respects an attempt at a mystery. The character development was spotty, at best.
March 8, 2021
Intriguing and enjoyable story.
This is a story that has many intriguing twist and turns that is sure to keep you entertained and guessing. The author has done a very good job of writing a story about a lawyer’s challenges on how defend his client.
This is a story that has many intriguing twist and turns that is sure to keep you entertained and guessing. The author has done a very good job of writing a story about a lawyer’s challenges on how defend his client.
April 4, 2023
This is some better than the first in this series, but not much! There were a couple of actually funny one-liners, but there is still way more farce than I appreciate and it often falls pretty flat. Still book 3 stays in my TBR pile.
October 11, 2023
Good book but...
You really need someone to proof read your manuscript. Way too many errors. If you take the time to write a good story, why not take the time to make sure it's not full of errors?
You really need someone to proof read your manuscript. Way too many errors. If you take the time to write a good story, why not take the time to make sure it's not full of errors?
October 3, 2024
old fashioned
I tried to get through the book but for a lawyer he did ridiculous steps for the case that made no sense and I couldn’t finish reading it. The book did not flow. Old fashioned phrases.
I tried to get through the book but for a lawyer he did ridiculous steps for the case that made no sense and I couldn’t finish reading it. The book did not flow. Old fashioned phrases.
October 24, 2017
If you are looking for a courtroom drama where they are working on solving the case while it is being tried the Justice books are the best.
July 21, 2018
I think this was a very interesting book. Ben is an interesting lawyer and one I will be reading about in the future.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews