A different kind of legal thriller. Not about a courageous defense attorney defending an innocent man, but a judge with a past. Judge Al Roth has everything going for him--great job, loyal friends, and a beautiful woman who loves him. When a congressman threatens to expose a murder Roth helped commit when he was stationed in Cold War Germany, he stands to lose everything. Roth instinctively turns to Jake Gertner, his boyhood friend in Detroit, who’ll do anything for him. But Jake has his own problems. Unless Roth can find a way of manipulating a murder trial, Jake will get whacked by the mob himself. Fast paced story with penetrating cross-examination, shrewd backroom maneuvering, murder, and revenge.
Al Roth and Jake grow up in Detroit, they were part of the 12th street gang. They served during the Cold war in Germany, Al after the war become a lawyer and then judge. When he was threatened to be exposed by a congressman, ask for his best friend's help. Congressman not only takes bribes, also attacked Al's soon to be wife Linda. Jack has a mob problem and needs Al's help. They solve each other's problems, some not so innocent people killed. Chapter 47; Al and Jake talking about a person they both don't like and say "Will Rogers didn't know him." One of the famous quotes of him was " I never met a man I didn't like." But my favorite timely quote of Will Rogers is "We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others." Do recommend this book highly.
This book was a disappointment. While the main character appeared amiable, he was a thug trying to pretend he had values. The characters all sounded alike, lacking a vocabulary. The plot was limited.
Main Characters: Judge Al Roth – Judge in Orange County, California Superior Court. Jake Gertner – Mob hit man with no conscience, enjoys intimidation and killing. Linda – Roth’s naïve girlfriend, one of very few decent people in the story.
Judge Roth’s Law is the story of an anti-hero. Roth is a manipulative, self-serving egomaniac who can rationalize setting up a murder to protect his best friend who is a cold-blooded killer. He and Jake grew up aspiring to be like the geriatric members of the old Purple Gang they hung out with in Detroit. Some of the stories characters get the punishment they deserve while others escape justice and continue their murderous ways. Roth continuously lies to Linda whom he professes to love and will marry. His actions toward her are totally controlling. But she accepts it. The plot centers around a murder contract Jake Gertner failed to complete because the target was confined to jail for his own murder charge. Roth cooks up a plan to get the target freed on bond so he is accessible to Gertner. The action is fast and entertaining with several involved plot twists. A large number of fragmented, incomplete sentences are used, but I didn’t find them objectionable.
The editing is good with only a few minor errors. Sentence structure is good. Details of court procedure indicate a knowledge of the court system. The plot is intense, complex and interesting.
Judge Roth’s Law is a well told tale where a fragment of justice is achieved illegally.
This review was provided in exchange for a free book. Vigilant Reader Book Reviews.
It is an odd sensation to read a book hoping the main character and his henchmen get shot. Morality blows about like a leaf in the wind. "Bro-love" trumps all. The attempt at moral justification is anemic. Courtroom dialog makes one cringe....I know it was supposed to but it was heavy handed. Title is an oxymoron..