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Victoria Justice Mysteries #1
Poetic Justice
A riveting debut thriller by Andrea J. Johnson, and the first in the VICTORIA JUSTICE series. Twenty-five year old Victoria Justice has never really gotten over a near drowning at the hands of a high school bully, but has attempted to build her confidence and career as a court stenographer under the mentorship of The Honorable Frederica Scott Wannamaker, the county's first African-American Superior Court judge. But when her old nemesis appears on the court docket, Victoria's carefully crafted world implodes―evidence goes missing, a potential mistrial abounds, and the judge winds up drowned in the courthouse bathroom. Victoria realizes her transcript of the proceedings unlocks everyone's secrets...including the murderer's. Plagued with guilt for failing to protect her mentor, Victoria teams up with Ashton North, the handsome state trooper accused of mishandling trial evidence, and starts to untangle the conspiracy surrounding the case. Meanwhile, the deputy attorney general hangs himself during the Post-Election Festival. Everyone is quick to accept his suicide note as a sign of guilt, but Victoria is convinced the truth behind her mentor's death lies in the trial transcript. Can she suppress her fears long enough to crack the code, find her voice, and avoid the crosshairs of the killer?
- GenresMysteryMystery Thriller
320 pages, Hardcover
Published November 24, 2020
8 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Andrea J. Johnson
13 books30 followersAndrea J. Johnson is the author of the Victoria Justice Mystery Series about a trial stenographer turned amateur sleuth (think Murder, She Wrote meets The Pelican Brief) and the mastermind behind the sensational writer productivity guides Mastering the Art of Suspense, How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery, and How to Craft Killer Dialogue. She has also worked as an entertainment writer for women’s lifestyle websites such as Popsugar and The List and developed content for genre magazines like CrimeReads and The Romance Writers Report. To learn more about Andrea, visit ajthenovelist.com or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky, X, and Pinterest @ajthenovelist.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 21, 2020
I was fortunate to receive an ARC for Andrea J. Johnson's debut novel, Poetic Justice. It's a traditional mystery featuring a court stenographer, Victoria Justice with an interesting plot-line and surprise ending. I highly recommend it.
September 23, 2020
“I was tired of running in circles. I was tired of being the last one to know everything. I was tired of being the studious little court reporter who was on a need-to-know basis. For once, I wanted the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”*
Victoria Justice’s latest case features her high school nemesis as the defendant. Langley’s prank all those years ago left lasting scars on Victoria, and Langley seems hellbent on continuing her vendetta. To add to her day from hell, Victoria’s beloved mentor is found dead, and the murderer may be linked to their most recent case. What’s a smart and savvy woman to do, but find the killer and deliver justice.
Victoria makes a fantastic protagonist. She’s relatable and likable in her pursuit for the truth with supportive relationships with her mentor, mayoral candidate mother, and female friends. Sparks fly between her and the sexy state trooper who busted Langley. The setting with its downtown area and cozy Cake & Kettle restaurant, run by a confidant, work well in the story. The large cast of characters provide plenty of possible suspects as the body count rises.
Johnson’s beautiful writing kept me captivated, as did Victoria’s strength and resolve. The use of a court reporter amateur sleuth was handled brilliantly. The court scenes and Victoria’s court reporter job were nicely balanced with the other locations and aspects of Victoria’s life. Enough of the nuts and bolts of her career were nicely shown without slowing down the story. “Learning a secret language to capture, transform, and transcribe the spoken word into verbatim transcripts was tantamount to magic.”*
POETIC JUSTICE delivers a great character-driven mystery. I look forward to reading more from this promising debut author.
For me, the novel is a four and a half star read, rounded up to five.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books, an imprint of Polis Books, LLC, for providing an Advance Reader Copy.
*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text.
Victoria Justice’s latest case features her high school nemesis as the defendant. Langley’s prank all those years ago left lasting scars on Victoria, and Langley seems hellbent on continuing her vendetta. To add to her day from hell, Victoria’s beloved mentor is found dead, and the murderer may be linked to their most recent case. What’s a smart and savvy woman to do, but find the killer and deliver justice.
Victoria makes a fantastic protagonist. She’s relatable and likable in her pursuit for the truth with supportive relationships with her mentor, mayoral candidate mother, and female friends. Sparks fly between her and the sexy state trooper who busted Langley. The setting with its downtown area and cozy Cake & Kettle restaurant, run by a confidant, work well in the story. The large cast of characters provide plenty of possible suspects as the body count rises.
Johnson’s beautiful writing kept me captivated, as did Victoria’s strength and resolve. The use of a court reporter amateur sleuth was handled brilliantly. The court scenes and Victoria’s court reporter job were nicely balanced with the other locations and aspects of Victoria’s life. Enough of the nuts and bolts of her career were nicely shown without slowing down the story. “Learning a secret language to capture, transform, and transcribe the spoken word into verbatim transcripts was tantamount to magic.”*
POETIC JUSTICE delivers a great character-driven mystery. I look forward to reading more from this promising debut author.
For me, the novel is a four and a half star read, rounded up to five.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books, an imprint of Polis Books, LLC, for providing an Advance Reader Copy.
*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text.
September 25, 2020
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this most awesome novel.
Full disclosure, I am (or was) an audio transcriber for the police in Australia and have worked with court transcribers for seven years (I don't do court though).
That's what attracted me to this book, but I didn't expect to bond with the main character quite so much. I'll freely admit, I was and am continuing to seek out books by women of colour featuring women of colour. I'm tired of my novels so white and male.
Victoria is a mature beyond her years 25 year old and she's really good at her job. She's so good, actually, that she can solve mysteries. Isn't that the superhero we've been waiting for? Yeah, the one that can type. I really liked her, but I hope she learns how to relax in future novels, because her tenseness is catching. Not such a bad thing in a thriller.
So, she's in court and a girl she went to school with is on trial - that would've been the moment I stepped out of the room for a COI (conflict of interest), but that's not how stories get written. There is bad blood between them, but Victoria is a professional and she can type without bias, and the other woman doesn't seem to recognise her straightaway anyway. Later, the judge who has mentored her all her life is murdered. What is the connection? Then the prosecutor suicides in public, no less, or does he? There's a little romance and a little politics and a little scandal, which all reaches a gasping dénouement. It's true. I gasped.
I didn't really guess the whodunit, but nor was I fooled by the red herring. That's a good thing. Really looking forward to the next Victoria Justice adventure.
Full disclosure, I am (or was) an audio transcriber for the police in Australia and have worked with court transcribers for seven years (I don't do court though).
That's what attracted me to this book, but I didn't expect to bond with the main character quite so much. I'll freely admit, I was and am continuing to seek out books by women of colour featuring women of colour. I'm tired of my novels so white and male.
Victoria is a mature beyond her years 25 year old and she's really good at her job. She's so good, actually, that she can solve mysteries. Isn't that the superhero we've been waiting for? Yeah, the one that can type. I really liked her, but I hope she learns how to relax in future novels, because her tenseness is catching. Not such a bad thing in a thriller.
So, she's in court and a girl she went to school with is on trial - that would've been the moment I stepped out of the room for a COI (conflict of interest), but that's not how stories get written. There is bad blood between them, but Victoria is a professional and she can type without bias, and the other woman doesn't seem to recognise her straightaway anyway. Later, the judge who has mentored her all her life is murdered. What is the connection? Then the prosecutor suicides in public, no less, or does he? There's a little romance and a little politics and a little scandal, which all reaches a gasping dénouement. It's true. I gasped.
I didn't really guess the whodunit, but nor was I fooled by the red herring. That's a good thing. Really looking forward to the next Victoria Justice adventure.
February 9, 2021
I got the eARC from Netgalley in exhange for a honest review
It seemed intruiging at first glance, but i found the main character to be annoying and sort of whiny and it became hard to care about the story because of that. I didn`t find any interest in the love interest either.
It seemed intruiging at first glance, but i found the main character to be annoying and sort of whiny and it became hard to care about the story because of that. I didn`t find any interest in the love interest either.
February 27, 2021
Loved this book, couldn't put it down!
November 29, 2020
Victoria Justice is a court stenographer who is dealing with fears of her past from a near death incident in high school. The incident was the turning point for her and changed the trajectory of her life. Those fears culminate when she is forced to face her arch nemesis, Langley Mulligan, during her court trial. Langley, the defendant, is the same person who set the change of events in motion in Victoria’s life. Unfortunate events tie these two together again when the judge, Fredericka Wannamaker, a second mother to Victoria, ends up murdered in the courthouse restroom after Langley’s trial. The arresting officer Ashton North teams up with Victoria to find the killer as everyone else accepts the narratives that makes the most sense. In a race for answers, they may put their own lives in jeopardy.
Poetic Justice is a murder-mystery story that engulfs the readers in the topsy-turvy turn of events. The meticulous details inside the inner workings of the judicial system and operations and intertwined with criminal investigation set this story apart. The deeper we immersed into the story it becomes apparent that everyone that could be a suspect is one and has a motive. The twists and turns keep you guessing to the very end. While the story was beautifully written, it could have benefitted from less over descriptiveness. Sometimes less is more to establish an easier flow and move the story forward. Overall, this novel was an exemplary debut.
Poetic Justice is a murder-mystery story that engulfs the readers in the topsy-turvy turn of events. The meticulous details inside the inner workings of the judicial system and operations and intertwined with criminal investigation set this story apart. The deeper we immersed into the story it becomes apparent that everyone that could be a suspect is one and has a motive. The twists and turns keep you guessing to the very end. While the story was beautifully written, it could have benefitted from less over descriptiveness. Sometimes less is more to establish an easier flow and move the story forward. Overall, this novel was an exemplary debut.
November 18, 2020
Victoria is a court stenographer and what should have been a regular day recording court proceedings turns into a nightmare. First she has to relive a traumatizing incident from her past when the bully who nearly killed her is the defendant in the trial. If that wasn’t bad enough evidence in the trial has gone missing throwing the whole proceedings into chaos. And because that wasn’t enough during a recess Victoria finds the body of her friend and mentor murdered in the bathroom.
Victoria has know Judge Fredericka Wannamaker her whole life as she happened to be her mother’s life long best friend. So this whole thing feels rather personal for her. The only people in the area near the murder scene were State Trooper Corporal Aston North the arresting officer in the trial case, Deputy Attorney General Spencer Stevenson the prosecutor in the case and Phyllis Dodd the head of the lab who processed the evidence. Also in the picture is Maggie the promiscuous clerk and Beauregard Harriston the prickly defense attorney with questionable practices and a history with the judge.
Victoria wants answers she can’t rest until she knows the truth. She feels a bit guilty as she was supposed to meet the judge for tea but a confrontation with Langley, the defendant/childhood bully, delayed her. So she is determined to find out what really happened to the woman she loved almost as much as she loved her own mother. Initially she teams up with Ashton to question everyone that was around that day and could be potential suspects. However after an incident where she is personally attacked and another murder occurs she becomes suspicious of everything and everyone.
The second murder is a staged suicide that nearly wraps everything up with a suicide letter confession. Victoria of course is skeptical having interacted with the victim earlier in the day. But if that person isn’t the killer then who is and is it the same killer in both murders? Is the killer one of the people in the court room that day? It seems like everybody had some kind of issue with the judge and everyone had something to hide. Could there have been someone unaccounted for the court that day?
Was the clue to this mystery hiding in her recoding from the court that day this whole time? Or in the security footage that points towards either one suspect or multiple suspects? A blindspot with the cameras suggest anything is possible. Victoria follows the clues and puts her own life in the line as the bodies are pulling up and the killer is revealed along their motivation for the murders.
I really liked this story it drew me in from the start. Though I did guess the killer earlier on based on a few easy to overlook clues sprinkled throughout the story. All in all it was a good mystery and Victoria was a very interesting character. I also liked the fact that though her mother was a little older and single it didn’t stop her from adopting a child when she decided that she wanted a family of her own. Though I now have to wonder if Victoria will go to law school like her mother wanted after all this mess. I’m excited to see what Victoria gets up to in the future. I love a good mystery that keeps you guessing.
Victoria has know Judge Fredericka Wannamaker her whole life as she happened to be her mother’s life long best friend. So this whole thing feels rather personal for her. The only people in the area near the murder scene were State Trooper Corporal Aston North the arresting officer in the trial case, Deputy Attorney General Spencer Stevenson the prosecutor in the case and Phyllis Dodd the head of the lab who processed the evidence. Also in the picture is Maggie the promiscuous clerk and Beauregard Harriston the prickly defense attorney with questionable practices and a history with the judge.
Victoria wants answers she can’t rest until she knows the truth. She feels a bit guilty as she was supposed to meet the judge for tea but a confrontation with Langley, the defendant/childhood bully, delayed her. So she is determined to find out what really happened to the woman she loved almost as much as she loved her own mother. Initially she teams up with Ashton to question everyone that was around that day and could be potential suspects. However after an incident where she is personally attacked and another murder occurs she becomes suspicious of everything and everyone.
The second murder is a staged suicide that nearly wraps everything up with a suicide letter confession. Victoria of course is skeptical having interacted with the victim earlier in the day. But if that person isn’t the killer then who is and is it the same killer in both murders? Is the killer one of the people in the court room that day? It seems like everybody had some kind of issue with the judge and everyone had something to hide. Could there have been someone unaccounted for the court that day?
Was the clue to this mystery hiding in her recoding from the court that day this whole time? Or in the security footage that points towards either one suspect or multiple suspects? A blindspot with the cameras suggest anything is possible. Victoria follows the clues and puts her own life in the line as the bodies are pulling up and the killer is revealed along their motivation for the murders.
I really liked this story it drew me in from the start. Though I did guess the killer earlier on based on a few easy to overlook clues sprinkled throughout the story. All in all it was a good mystery and Victoria was a very interesting character. I also liked the fact that though her mother was a little older and single it didn’t stop her from adopting a child when she decided that she wanted a family of her own. Though I now have to wonder if Victoria will go to law school like her mother wanted after all this mess. I’m excited to see what Victoria gets up to in the future. I love a good mystery that keeps you guessing.
September 27, 2020
I received this book through NetGalley's ReadNow Program. The story starts with a drug trial going on where evidence presented is not the same as was put into evidence originally. This causes the court to throw out the drug charges and calling a recess so that the parties can discuss a plea deal. During the recess, the presiding judge winds up being murdered.
The judge was Victoria's mentor and she begins to looking into who the killer might be. There are a number of suspects who might have done it. During the election festival, one of the possible suspects confesses and commits suicide. Victoria believes that this was really another murder and continues following leads.
Ultimately, two addition people are killed before all is said and done. The ending will clear all issues up. To find out why the Judge was killed and who the killer of all parties was, then you must read this book. You won't be disappointed.
The judge was Victoria's mentor and she begins to looking into who the killer might be. There are a number of suspects who might have done it. During the election festival, one of the possible suspects confesses and commits suicide. Victoria believes that this was really another murder and continues following leads.
Ultimately, two addition people are killed before all is said and done. The ending will clear all issues up. To find out why the Judge was killed and who the killer of all parties was, then you must read this book. You won't be disappointed.
September 21, 2020
Victoria Justice almost drowned when she was in high school when the class bully, Langley Dean, pushed her in to the pool. Luckily paramedics were near. Now working as a court stenographer, it is ironic that the person on trial is Langley Dean Mulligan. When crucial evidence seems to have disappeared and the trial is halted, Victoria discovers her friend and trial judge The Honorable Frederica Scott Wannamaker dead in the restroom. Fredericka was the county's first African-American Superior Court judge and has been a loving mentor to Victoria. Who would be able to kill the judge, in the courthouse, and get away? State Trooper Ashton North, who was testifying at the trial, will team up with Victoria to find the person responsible for her friend’s death. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
abandoned
February 16, 2023Poetic Justice by Andrea J. Johnson
Victoria Justice #1
9h 54m narrated by Andrea Laing, 320 pages
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Featuring: Court Stenographer, Delaware, High School Bully, Courtroom, Murder
Rating as a movie: R
My rating: DNF @ 12% 1:13:56 Ch. 5 -
Why I quit : I didn't like the feel of this book after the first chapter. I really wanted to like this story and discover what occurred, but it's boring. MC lacks personality, and I'm not feeling the narrator, and I can't go any farther. Each chapter ends on a thought; I find that especially annoying. The best thing about this story is that it has given me the strength to abandon the other book I've been trudging through.
Recommend to others?: I don't know, probably not.
Victoria Justice #1
9h 54m narrated by Andrea Laing, 320 pages
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Featuring: Court Stenographer, Delaware, High School Bully, Courtroom, Murder
Rating as a movie: R
My rating: DNF @ 12% 1:13:56 Ch. 5 -
Why I quit : I didn't like the feel of this book after the first chapter. I really wanted to like this story and discover what occurred, but it's boring. MC lacks personality, and I'm not feeling the narrator, and I can't go any farther. Each chapter ends on a thought; I find that especially annoying. The best thing about this story is that it has given me the strength to abandon the other book I've been trudging through.
Recommend to others?: I don't know, probably not.
November 9, 2024
Would give it 2.5 stars. Except for the twist in the end which I didn't see coming, this book was boring almost all the time. It started well but as I approached half of the book I had a strong feeling of leaving this book halfway. But I probably can't put down a who dun it story. So just to know the end I dragged myself for the second half of the book.
Victoria justice is portrayed pretty weak, not someone you feel rallying behind. The map of the courtroom is also blurry with no clue of what passage leads to what chamber. So hard to guess yourself. You just have to believe what the story tells you.
Would rather not recommend tbh
Victoria justice is portrayed pretty weak, not someone you feel rallying behind. The map of the courtroom is also blurry with no clue of what passage leads to what chamber. So hard to guess yourself. You just have to believe what the story tells you.
Would rather not recommend tbh
February 9, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up. A quick, fun read. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the setting. I also really appreciated this genre centering around Black women as the main characters. In the mystery/court/thriller genres, that’s sadly a rarity. So this was refreshing. Overall, it gave me John Grisham vibes, which is a style that I like (albeit not my favorite). The main downside for me was that I guessed the perpetrator(s) pretty early on. I love an unexpected twist, so that was a letdown. Still a good book though.
October 6, 2023
Victoria Justice is a court stenographer who is dealing with fears of a past near death incident in high school caused my her nemesis. She is forced to face her nemesis in a court trial with her Judge Wannamaker, her mentor and friend. This trial is the beginning of a whole new nightmare for Victoria...and a crime against her mentor thatvshe is desperately willing to help solve.
I wanted to enjoy this book much more, but it was repetitive and mundane. It was just okay. There was no exciting twist and turns.
I wanted to enjoy this book much more, but it was repetitive and mundane. It was just okay. There was no exciting twist and turns.
October 1, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this awesome debut book! Victoria Justice is a kicka** court stenographer. She’s super smart and takes it upon herself to figure out who murdered the judge who was like her second mother. There were some interesting twists and turns! I would definitely love to read more books set in this world or other works by the author.
May 18, 2021
Solid mystery. Some issues with format/editing. Characters are good and lots of threads to pick up in the following books (which I would read.) Having a court reporter as the main character was really fun since I haven't read anything else from that point of view.
November 16, 2021
This was a good book, the author did a good job leaving you to wonder who may have killed the judge. After so many twist and turns you were able to figure it out before it was revealed. Overall good book, I can't wait to read more from this author.
March 3, 2022
The protagonist was a court stenographer. That in itself was interesting. The mystery was interesting enough even though the resolution was a bit muddy. I think and hope Andrea J Johnson, the author will hone her craft and we’ll reap the benefits.
Read
April 28, 2023I’m not sure if it was the narrator or the character, but towards the end, when the storyline sped up and the culprit became obvious, Victoria got on my nerves. “Unpopular Opinion”, but her naïveté was annoying instead of endearing. I’m hope she matures in the next story.
Read
December 5, 2020Really enjoyed this book. The first I've read from a court reporter's viewpoint. Look forward to the next book.
July 30, 2021
Despite the at times incoherent writing, I finished this book. I think I will pass on reading more from this author.
Read
February 1, 2022Categories
Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
The Victoria Justice Series
Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
The Victoria Justice Series
September 8, 2024
Really enjoyed this one. A solid debut effort with a fun heroine and a dense plot. Hope Victoria Justice gets a sequel soon.
September 19, 2025
A well-paced and engaging thriller that stands out for its uncommon courthouse setting, which adds a fresh layer of intrigue to the plot.
May 29, 2022
This was the first ever mystery book that I’ve read and it was a good read. I found my self engulfed in the investigation and trying to discover who the killer was in ever chapter. This book kept me on my toes because I didn’t discover who the killer was until she practically exposed it.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews