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Joe Dillard #8

Judgment Cometh: And That Right Soon

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A Supreme Court Justice is found cut into pieces in the back of a pick-up truck.

Three other judges have already gone missing.

In the eighth installment of Scott Pratt’s bestselling Joe Dillard Series, Dillard is hired to represent the man driving the pick-up. As Dillard delves into the case, he comes to believe his client is not guilty. But who is? Who has been kidnapping and killing judges all over the state of Tennessee?

The search for that answer leads Dillard and his friend, Sheriff Leon Bates, down a path so dark and so dangerous to a villain so evil, it will change both Joe and Leon forever -- if they manage to survive.

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2016

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1206 people want to read

About the author

Scott Pratt

47 books1,561 followers
Scott Pratt is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Bestselling Author whose books have sold more than five million copies. He was born in South Haven, Michigan, and grew up in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from East Tennessee State University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee. He lived in Johnson City, Tennessee until his tragic, untimely passing in November of 2018.

This page is maintained by his family. We're finishing up all of the projects he was working on when he passed away. If you'd like to stay up to date on that progress, or if you'd just like to say hello, you can visit us on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/19664...

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5 stars
9,150 (56%)
4 stars
5,306 (32%)
3 stars
1,423 (8%)
2 stars
281 (1%)
1 star
136 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 648 reviews
Profile Image for Jean.
1,810 reviews791 followers
October 28, 2021
I have enjoyed reading this series. I particularly find it more realistic because of the family problems Dillard faces, such as his wife’s breast cancer, his sister’s addiction; and, to offset the bad with good, the success of his children.

The book is well written, the story moves fast as the book is short. My only negative comment is personal one; I am just burned out on the topic of serial killers. Therefore, I gave the book only three stars rather than the four stars it probably deserves. I am looking forward to the next and final book of the series.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is five hours and forty-five minutes. Tim Campbell does an excellent job narrating the series.
Profile Image for Holly Haze.
801 reviews9 followers
September 19, 2017
I wish more people knew about Pratt. Joe Dillard is one of my favorite characters. Pratt writes with such ease. It has never taken me more than a day to finish one of his books. Dillard goes against a mean ass judge hunting down a mean ass serial killer. We learn the connection midway through this one. I love Dillard's family. The side story of his wife's ongoing battle with cancer, his son, his German Shepherd (you had me a woof)...and I of course like his cohort, Leon. This is seemingly the last of the Dillard series as Pratt has penned a new series with Darren Street, which I just ordered!! I'll embrace it because Pratt can do no wrong. I will be leaving this book in the little mini free library box on the street corner so I can spread the goodness.
Profile Image for GymGuy.
300 reviews19 followers
February 12, 2017
Have to say that I've enjoyed all of Pratt's novels including this one. I've enjoyed the basic storyline as well as the family situations. I would have given this 5 stars except for it seemed a little over-the-top at times, other than that just a great, exciting story. Not much lawyering in this one. More action and suspense and trying to figure out whodunit.


Profile Image for Tom S.
422 reviews2 followers
May 19, 2019
This is a good fast paced legal thriller series. Fast reads, and interesting.
Profile Image for DMREAnne.
80 reviews
May 20, 2018
I have read the first 8 books of the Joe Dillard series, and outside of Conflict of Interest (not a bad read, but not as fast paced and entertaining as the others), I loved them all, until now. Sadly I really loved the majority of Judgment Cometh, it was a fast paced, entertaining page turner, though the crime was more gory than I typically like. I thought the only real drawback to the flow of the story was the ongoing issues of Dillard’s wife, who has had cancer through out the series. I don’t mean to be heartless, and I do have sympathy for the dread and pain this family is in, but in most of the books it doesn’t add anything necessary to the main plot of the story. I feel that in many cases it actually disrupts the progress of the novels. If its purpose is to show Dillard’s strong family ties/love, that was well expressed in the first two novels. Once the cancer went into remission I would have preferred that it been left there, not brought forward time after time, book after book. Toward the end of Judgment Cometh Pratt did use his wife’s extreme illness in a role to present the idea that Dillard may be making bad decisions based on his own emotional turmoil. The resulting effect lead to an ending that dropped my star rating from a four to a three.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT…. As I stated, I loved this book until the ending. I don’t mind rogue cops, etc. Example Harry Bosch in Michael Connelly’s series is certainly one, but I love the Bosh series. The ending of this book, however, goes to extremes. It was just too much breaking of the rules, which for me, made it unrealistic and disappointing.
Profile Image for Tracie Payne.
711 reviews37 followers
October 12, 2016
I really enjoyed this book a lot. Is the story very mysterious? Somewhat. Did I know who is behind it? Pretty much. But I didn't care, I enjoyed the story telling and I think Joe Dillard is a very interesting guy with questionable ethics. Now I'm going to start from the beginning of this series and listen to books 1-7.
497 reviews3 followers
September 27, 2016
Eh. This one went off the rails for me. Very little courtroom drama. Joe Dillard suddenly morphed into Harry Bosch which didn't make sense to me. The ending felt forced and unrealistic. I hope Scott Pratt returns to the courtroom.
39 reviews
August 18, 2016
Another great story from Scott Pratt

I would recommend this work of art to all who believe in justice for all. Believable characters who become your family.
Profile Image for Dosha (Bluestocking7) Beard.
604 reviews46 followers
June 25, 2019
This is one of my favorite series. I am sadly coming to the end of it with only one more book to go. I cannot begin to describe all of the different back stories that make this book hard to put down. Just when you think you may be getting tired of looking for the bad guy, Pratt comes up with family drama on the side that keeps the interest alive. This particular book has a character that is more sick than in the prior books of this series and the family drama is evenly disbursed throughout the book on both sides of the law.

I am going to read all of his works and am still very sorry to have learned recently that he passed away last year.
5 reviews3 followers
June 26, 2018
I enjoy this series, particularly as I am an attorney and Mr . Platt gets those pesky legal details correct

The plots are plausible and the personal details make this series work. I recommend this author to those looking for a good read .
Profile Image for Alexandra.
47 reviews40 followers
May 24, 2024
I love this author and this series. Might not be a high review for everyone but they keep my attention, get me out of reading slumps and I absolutely love stories about lawyers.
Profile Image for Gloria ~ mzglorybe.
1,210 reviews128 followers
August 13, 2016
Loved this latest installment of the Joe Dillard Series. Author Pratt can't write them fast enough for me. Joe never disappoints. He is such a good person, always risking his own peace of mind and body to help someone in need.

This had a bad-ass bad guy, who committed horrendous crimes, and one of them is in the opening scene. In sexual abuse scenes, author Pratt isn't descriptive to the point that it turns your stomach to read it, but you get what's going on. It's a minor part of the story line, but a relevant one.

As a loyal reader of the series, I am totally invested in the Dillard family characters, and I hope Pratt is working on book 9. We just need to know how (or should I say "if") his wife beats her cancer, which doesn't look good based on what went on in this installment. We also care about his son Jack and his girlfriend Charlie, and other members of Joe's family who have stepped in to help with Caroline (the cancer victim) and Joe, to keep his law practice running. Loved it and look forward to anything this author writes.

(Note: I am admittedly stingy with 5-star ratings, (this is as close as it gets) as I feel they have to be an exceptional, unique, well researched, and artistically crafted piece of work to earn that 5 stars.)
26 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2016
Scott has done it once again!

Another great legal thriller. Joe Dillard is always in the middle of a hairy situation and uses legal savvy, brute force,cunning and his good buddy to help him save the day. I have been waiting to read this book and have not been disappointed
Profile Image for Chris Auer.
80 reviews1 follower
June 5, 2017
Definitely didnt want to see this series end. This book I couldnt put down and read within 24 hours of starting it. Joe Dillard is an awesome character and this series turned boring court stuff into interesting side stories throughout.
Profile Image for David Highton.
3,678 reviews30 followers
June 18, 2022
Another tale in the Joe Dillard series sees him defend a young alcoholic found with body parts in his pick up, leading to a wider investigation. This sees Dillard, sick with worry about his wife’s cancer, drawn in beyond his initial brief.
Profile Image for Brittany Barraza.
44 reviews1 follower
November 26, 2016
Pratt doesn't disappoint, yet again! Joe Dillard is back, and it's the same thrill rides as before from page 1.
6 reviews
April 8, 2017
Great read!

Have really enjoyed the Joe Dillard series. Always a great plot and great character development. Book 8 was one of my favorites. Waiting on book 9.
187 reviews7 followers
July 2, 2021
Another enjoyable read

This series is a guid way tio get a personal or personable account of what it's like loving someone who's been diagnosed with cancer, and it spreads, and learning about different treatments, drug mixes, etc,, that a person goes through. Many women writers of mystery and thrillers are often gigged for including romantic relationships in their books, but they're a part of life, as insidious as personal hygiene. Now, this book doesn't get into that, but it doesn't skirt around the disease nor does it discount how that makes a man feel when his partner has it, nor the way a man may react which doesn't make sense to a woman, perhaps, but becomes understandable when viewed through the lenses provided here.
That's just part of the personal side of things that typically happen outside of the 9-5 drudgery where our story starts from: his chosen profession of lawyer. He's been a criminal defense attorney, got disgusted with that and became a criminal prosecuting attorney, and hit disgusted with that. He gives us great insights into a system i became disillusioned with during my own divorce when my lawyer said that the judgments in the county in which i lived were "inconsistent." I do believe, from that and another piece of information innocently related to me by my 1st grader, that what he euphemistically was saying was that the judges there could be bribed. One of the pleasures of this series is seeing the clashes of wit and law that take place with the judges.
This particular book has a lot of judges in it, and many of them have gotten away with blasphemy and abusing Lady Justice. I guess that's why she's blindfolded, so she can't see what they're about to do next to her.
I was raised in a protected household, and naive about the abundant of liars and cheats, etc., that existed in the world. I knew that anyone could be untrustworthy, but the extent of the lie, with intent to deceive as well as cheat, another person, was alien to me.
If you ever enjoyed Lee Child's Jack Reacher Books - what I call revenge books for those of us who can't take revenge when justice is not served, so we enjoy seeing it served up by one of our well-trained ex-military heroes, then you'll enjoy this series, and especially this book, for that.
It's not in the style of Lee Child's Jack Reacher book. This is no lone warrior who falls accidentally into an unjust situation, or is targeted for other reasons. This is a family man with a strong and well-defined sense of right or wrong, who wants to do what he can, in his little party of the world, to make the world a little bit better than it was, by bringing the guilty to justice, and no longer defending the guilty, as he was doing at the start of the series. He pulls you through huiss thought process, too, and he battles the calls for working the system from different sides, navigating the politics that seem to matter more than justice.
Thanks, Scott Pratt, for sharing your knowledge and insights into these things with us.
Profile Image for Samyann.
Author 1 book84 followers
September 17, 2023
Legal, investigative, and police procedurals. Joe Dillard is a criminal defense lawyer with flaws - specifically, a short fuse nearly always directed toward someone anyone would like to punch out. Joe is fiercely defensive of his family, particularly his wife. From early in the series, Caroline's battle with cancer is almost another character. The legal community respects Joe, and he has influential friends, including the local sheriff and law enforcement, rare for a defense attorney. Each book consists of a stand-alone story of rape, murder, missing people, mobs, addicts, crooked cops, devious politicians, amoral judges, and more - each story is unique and creative. Read in sequence for continuity and character development.

Liked. Stories! It's just a great series with excellent, page-turning plots. No sex, no objectionable language. No trouble discerning who is speaking to whom. Narration and production are fine.

Not so hot. Not much! Bumped the audio speed on the iPhone to 1.4 - a preference, not criticism.

The series consists of 10 full-length novels. Books 1-4 and 5-8 are available in two box sets, books 9 and 10 in separate purchases. Well worth the investment. Written by Scott Pratt, narrated by Tim Campbell, over 70 hours of listening in unabridged format, released from September 22 through June 2023.

Looking for a good series? Here ya go!!
Profile Image for Mary Cushnie-Mansour.
Author 63 books88 followers
February 18, 2021
"Judgment Cometh" earned five stars for me. I don't actually believe in vigilante scenarios, but when faced with the sort of criminals that are out there, maybe this is the way to go. I love the continued close relationship between Joe Dillard and his good friend, Sherrif Leon Bates - they are both seekers of truth and justice and tend to step over lines to get to the root of the evil.
As the books in this series move forward, so do the lives of the characters we have come to love - especially Caroline, who is inflicted with a cancer that is eating away at her body. I keep thinking this might be the last book she will be in - but, then, whatever would Joe do without his anchor?
Getting into the story - false accusations ... crooked cops ... stepping over boundaries ... all to catch a demonic killer. I will be sad when the final book in this series comes to an end; however, that might mean I will get some work done around my house!
Once again, I suggest you pour a cup of your favourite beverage and curl up in your chair for a few hours to digest "Judgment Cometh." Well done, Mr. Pratt.
29 reviews
July 17, 2021
A conscientious but green deputy pulls over a drunk diver and in a legally compromised search finds the remains of a Tennessee Supreme Court Judge. Theres a lot of this kind of stuff going on in the Volunteer state. A green but venal sheriff figures to pin the whole mess on the driver. His lawyer Joe Dillard gets him off easily enough on a technicality. Dillard decides he's the one to get to the bottom of the attacks on the judges. Arresting the real perp is only the beginning. And thats where the story come of the rails. Dillard pays lip service to the constitution, but both he and his pal Leon, a sheriff in another jurisdiction do not hesitate to violate the founding document in going after the perp and his boss. . Readers will not be surprised when the identity of the one pulling the strings is revealed. the novel dissolves in a series of preposterous violent acts. Im giving a third star because there is darkly amusing account of the perp's van breaking down , forcing him to find alternative accommodations for himself and the judicial corpse he was transporting.
Profile Image for Nolan.
3,631 reviews38 followers
November 17, 2024
The young, newly minted deputy sheriff pulled the drunk over initially because of his erratic driving. He got curious about what was in the guy’s truck and, despite having no warrant or probable cause, he peaked in the back. He found plastic bags with a cut-up human body inside. So drunk is the driver that he cops to the bags. The publicity-hungry sheriff in the county figures he has perhaps even a serial killer on his hands, and he can’t wait to talk to the press about it.

But Joe Dillard, who is watching his wife waste away from the ravages of cancer, takes the guy’s case. There was way too much that was procedurally wrong about the arrest, and Dillard believes he can get his client off on that basis alone.

The dead guy turns out to be a state supreme court judge, and he’s not the only judge to die in recent months. Joe determines, with the help of his friend, Leon, to investigate the killings.

Soon, Joe is staring down the dark alleys of sex slavery and human trafficking, and the horrors he encounters will keep you reading.
657 reviews
June 15, 2019
Good But Not the Best of This Series

If you are a fan of this series, it’s hard not to fall in love with the Dillard family. The relationship between Joe and his wife Caroline has always been inspirational. However at this juncture Caroline’s unrelenting battle with cancer has begun to take its toll on Joe, clouding his decision making.
At the heart of the story is the death of four judges and who is responsible. After successfully defending a falsely accused man joe is determined to find the real killer. As the pieces begin to fall into place, perhaps a tad too easily and conveniently, we hear a story of sexual perversion and evil.

The story moves between Dillard’s home situation and the case, bringing no in familiar characters. However as interesting as the story is, the resolution seems rushed and somewhat improbably simplistic. It feels like steps in the process have been skipped.

Nonetheless it’s a book that will keep you reading late into the night.
Profile Image for Nenette.
865 reviews62 followers
September 9, 2017
This review is for all the books in the series. High-star ratings all the way from the first to the eighth installment! For a couple of weeks, it was like I was in a legal fiction festival, and I still couldn't get enough! Joe Dillard: brave, a loving brother, husband and father, a top-notch criminal defense lawyer...sans the cancer, any woman would want to be his wife, Caroline.

Each installment dealt and focused on a case, with sub-plots as good as the main one. Of course, Joe would still be standing in the end, though for a while, and just a little, you'd thought otherwise. I didn't care so much for uber intelligent complications as long as I was enjoying myself. Great plots, excellent story telling; though the kindle versions could benefit from some more grammar and spell checks.

Scott Pratt, you've earned another follower.
Profile Image for Mark O'brien.
258 reviews5 followers
June 21, 2025
I had a big problem with his book. It's well written and the plot is convoluted enough to be interesting, as Pratt's books usually are.
My objection is something that is done far too often by Pratt and other writers in his genre: They write as if it's OK for the good guys to trample the constitutional rights of the bad guys and maybe dish out some extra bruises and kicks, too.
No explanation needed. The end justifies the means, and let's not worry the reader with any unsettling look at what the book writes about so enthusiastically. So the sheriff can torture an inmate and Joe can trick a suspect by making her think he is the prosecutor who can promise a deal. Then they smirk about it.
Sorry. I don't think these are cool guys. I want cops and prosecutors who are smart enough to catch bad guys by legal means. I don't want cops and prosecutors to become criminals themselves.
71 reviews4 followers
August 9, 2025
I've been a criminal defense attorney for almost 54 years. I've gone to courts all over California, and met a lot of people. Joe Dillard is an enigmatic figure. He fights for justice in the courtroom, overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles with solutions that are plausible. Mr. Pratt writes an exciting story, and this one brings back old characters who never lose their luster. There's a certain vigilante flavor to the story, but, maybe Machiavelli was right when he suggested that the ends justify the means. It's not the way I roll, generally, but in this case, I'll forgive Joe Dillard and Sheriff Leon Bates for their transgressions.
I also admire the love that Joe has for his wife, Caroline and his children and grandchildren. I've enjoyed all of the books in the series, and recommend them.
Profile Image for Linda.
1,036 reviews
February 27, 2020
This was another fast paced and exciting tale of Joe Dillard, his family, and his friends. I liked it better when he was practicing law instead of his personal form of justice. We know the murderer of the judges is a truly bad guy. It took me a bit to figure out who had hired the hit man but it didn’t dampen my enthusiasm for the book. I read it all in one day. I could not put it down. I hope Caroline wins her battle because I can’t imagine Joe without her by his side. These may all be stand alone books but it helps the reader if he/she has the background besides starting with Book 1 sets the theme. There sure are a lot of evil people in the author’s files. To be a lawyer is to see the darker side of humanity.
202 reviews3 followers
November 12, 2020
Favorite in series

Ok, TBH, I've probably said that about each book in the series, but it's true. They just keep my attention to the end and that comes too soon for me. I won't recap story, others can do so, but will say I highly recommend Mr Pratts work. The fact that my buying power is limited and I take advantage of lenders library means I have taken several months to read all his books at only one selection a month. Gives me something to anticipate and I do appreciate all his books on there.
I guess these can be stand alone stories, but there are several recurring characters and knowing their backstory is recommended. But I'm eagerly awaiting #9. Love Joe Dillard and his family and friends!
Profile Image for Dr. Alan Albarran.
345 reviews11 followers
November 4, 2024
Number 8 in the Joe Dillard series by the late Scott Pratt, a writer that has brought many readers pleasure for his characters, plots, and many twists.

Dillard is back, this time defending a drunk driver illegally stopped who just happens to be carrying the chopped up remains of a Tennessee state judge in a pair of containers in the back of his truck. The judge is one of four mysterious deaths of circuit judges, but the only body.

If Dillard's client didn't do it, then who did? The clues come together quickly as Dillard again partners with Sherriff Leon Bates to find the real criminal and bring him to justice. All of this going on while Dillard's wife is in the final stages of her batter with cancer and Dillard's son and daughter-in-law are seriously injured in an automobile accident.

Short, easy reads and a great way to pass the time.
Profile Image for Nancy Silk.
Author 5 books82 followers
October 6, 2017
"A Great Legal Mystery Thriller"

This awesome suspense drama grabbed me right from the beginning. In the back of a pick-up truck a body is found ... cut to pieces, contained in plastic bags. It's a Supreme Count Justice and he's not the only one; more judges in the state of Tennessee have been murdered. The owner of the pick-up truck has hired Joe Dillard as his defense attorney. He and Sheriff Leon Bates work the case which leads to the very evil killer. This is an absolute thriller and the excitement will not let you close the book. Scott Pratt is very talented and I plan to read every one of his novels. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 648 reviews

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