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Street Judge
Presiding over a Detroit murder case in which a drug-dealing suspect will talk to no one but him, a newly appointed judge refuses to compromise his moral code when the dealer demands privileges and protection in exchange for information. By the author of Inner City Miracle.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 20, 2021
I felt the book was well written, but lacked intensity as a thriller, which was as it was portrayed. It was more a biographical/fictional account of Mr. Greg Mathis' past life. If it was a full fictional account with different names and similar circumstances I would have accepted it more. Then, the characters could be used to go in different directions and boxed into the past life of real people. I am looking forward to more fictional works from the judge if they were completely different characters with different experiences. Now. I will read Inner City Miracle with an open mind to the fictional account and hope to enjoy it.
January 16, 2017
I enjoy watching Judge Mathis' show with my grandmother, as we both enjoy law and government. Previously knowing Judge Mathis' background very briefly, I somewhat expected the plot of the story to be quite graphic and exposing. I enjoyed the message of the story of how one can make their life do a 360º flip and the authentic reality of the events. With that being said, however, I feel as though the book is definitely geared towards adults, as there were themes that I did not quite understand or were appropriate for my age.
February 24, 2009
At first, reading about his political office movement ceremony, where Judge Mathis was the youngest judge in Detroit, Michigan. He also speaks briefly about his wife, Linda, and four children. It makes me wonder, is this a true story, but written into a novel format.
And then, we get into the sensual thriller--death of Sheila. Autopsy states that cocaine was found in her blood levels, and her cousin Darwin Washington makes her sound like an angel. Darwin Washington, Michigan Chronicle's journalist, begs for Judge Greg Mathis help--he does not believe she was a drug-user, but was slain to her horrendous death. Still looking into this case, in the meanwhile, he and Gram founded a center for young people (YAAT—Young Adults Asserting Themselves) and drug rehabilitation center called Sheila's House in a drug-infested, dilapidated neighborhood. Thus far, I am waiting to see what the verdict is.
You have to love Greg Mathis wife, Linda, she is surreal with her comments when talking to her husband and dear friend Barbara (heroines with a wealthy inheritance). She also has encouraging words, heart felt sincerity, and makes her sound so lovely. His cousins are strung out on crack. One of his cousins, Darryl, believed he was well-off, comes to Mathis' home at 4:53am in the rain with his daughter Gail, to ask for money. Instead, Darryl confesses a long three year secret that opens a can of worms about him and his wife, Evelyn, but still wants the best for his daughter Gail. He pleads for Greg and his wife, Linda to take care of his thirteen-year old daughter. Not only does Greg Mathis cases are about drug possession, drug-trafficking, prostitution, and other criminal-related allegations, but now has to face decisions with his own family members on drugs and prostitution.
His legal assistant, Maggie, is a diamond in the rough. She was the librarian, plain Jane type that transforms into a beautiful woman with hotness, since she wanted to be noted for her expertise and intelligence, not based on her beauty. I can relate to this!
Moreover, we are also waiting to see what happens to Carolyn Otto, known as the legal Jezebel (seeking power, position, and prestige in the legal profession), who is also has racist tendencies but will do anything even sleeping with a black man to gain such power. She has unwitting participants in her pornographic tryst: Aaron Dennis (mayor of Detroit, second most powerful man and billionaire) and Gram Olson (wealthy businessman--president and CEO of a Fortune 500 company). These porn tapes of having sex with these men were sent to Judge Mathis, his friend Gram, and now Aaron. What does she really want?
In this book, we are also trying to tie in some unjustified cases against young black male Timothy, and finding the murderer of Sheila Morgan's brutal death. Twists everywhere from middle to the end of the book--good ending.
4.5 stars, some parts of it was so moving and compassionate, I nearly cried while reading this certain page of the novel.
And then, we get into the sensual thriller--death of Sheila. Autopsy states that cocaine was found in her blood levels, and her cousin Darwin Washington makes her sound like an angel. Darwin Washington, Michigan Chronicle's journalist, begs for Judge Greg Mathis help--he does not believe she was a drug-user, but was slain to her horrendous death. Still looking into this case, in the meanwhile, he and Gram founded a center for young people (YAAT—Young Adults Asserting Themselves) and drug rehabilitation center called Sheila's House in a drug-infested, dilapidated neighborhood. Thus far, I am waiting to see what the verdict is.
You have to love Greg Mathis wife, Linda, she is surreal with her comments when talking to her husband and dear friend Barbara (heroines with a wealthy inheritance). She also has encouraging words, heart felt sincerity, and makes her sound so lovely. His cousins are strung out on crack. One of his cousins, Darryl, believed he was well-off, comes to Mathis' home at 4:53am in the rain with his daughter Gail, to ask for money. Instead, Darryl confesses a long three year secret that opens a can of worms about him and his wife, Evelyn, but still wants the best for his daughter Gail. He pleads for Greg and his wife, Linda to take care of his thirteen-year old daughter. Not only does Greg Mathis cases are about drug possession, drug-trafficking, prostitution, and other criminal-related allegations, but now has to face decisions with his own family members on drugs and prostitution.
His legal assistant, Maggie, is a diamond in the rough. She was the librarian, plain Jane type that transforms into a beautiful woman with hotness, since she wanted to be noted for her expertise and intelligence, not based on her beauty. I can relate to this!
Moreover, we are also waiting to see what happens to Carolyn Otto, known as the legal Jezebel (seeking power, position, and prestige in the legal profession), who is also has racist tendencies but will do anything even sleeping with a black man to gain such power. She has unwitting participants in her pornographic tryst: Aaron Dennis (mayor of Detroit, second most powerful man and billionaire) and Gram Olson (wealthy businessman--president and CEO of a Fortune 500 company). These porn tapes of having sex with these men were sent to Judge Mathis, his friend Gram, and now Aaron. What does she really want?
In this book, we are also trying to tie in some unjustified cases against young black male Timothy, and finding the murderer of Sheila Morgan's brutal death. Twists everywhere from middle to the end of the book--good ending.
4.5 stars, some parts of it was so moving and compassionate, I nearly cried while reading this certain page of the novel.
December 2, 2015
I liked the fast paced action and decisiveness of the main character, as well as the quick brushstrokes of penmanship used to draw the supporting cast. I liked the touch of romance without the slap-in-your-face obviousness of many other writers. I liked the smooth segue between sets of action.
What I didn't like was, in several places, the segue was not as smooth, and it took a bit of thought to realize where "the judge" was in his narration.
A good solid story with a strong conclusion, with the only real negative was the motivation of the blackmailer was never revealed. However, the murder was solved, the criminals stopped, and the realistic, foot to the ground style let us know that not everything is rosy and perfect when the story ends.
Excellent job with only those two small things to bring the rating down from a solid 5 to a bit above a 4.
What I didn't like was, in several places, the segue was not as smooth, and it took a bit of thought to realize where "the judge" was in his narration.
A good solid story with a strong conclusion, with the only real negative was the motivation of the blackmailer was never revealed. However, the murder was solved, the criminals stopped, and the realistic, foot to the ground style let us know that not everything is rosy and perfect when the story ends.
Excellent job with only those two small things to bring the rating down from a solid 5 to a bit above a 4.
October 30, 2008
I was not crazy about this book at all. Basically, Judge Mathis is hooked on uncovering the murderer of this young woman. But he threw in, among other things, this blackmailing scheme which took up a great deal of the plot of the story, however when the extortionist was discovered we were kind of left hanging as to the exact motives behind the blackmail. Also we were left hanging when the identity of the murderer was discovered, was there an arrest? a conviction? what? The story dragged a bit with all these irrelevant inserts and then ended abruptly without any clear conclusion.
October 6, 2016
I read this because I always loved watching his show. It's different than what I normally read but it was really good.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews