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Judge, Jury, & Executioner #6
Fratricide
Safety takes a back seat to profit. Until it crosses the line.
Shipyard deaths. Labor complaints. Fear. Intimidation. Rivka gets called in to sort things out, investigate the safety issues, mediate the dispute.
What she finds isn’t a negotiation at all. She puts on her Magistrate hat and gets to work sorting out crimes made to look like accidents. Her biggest challenge is finding out who is honest.
Rivka ends up in a court of law, prosecutor and defender, fighting both sides of a new and intricate legal question. When fists and firepower have to give way to intellect and reason, Rivka and her team must rise to the challenge.
Magistrate Rivka Anoa is the legal eagle you want on your side. No better friend. No worse enemy.
Get it today.
Judge, Jury, & Executioner is a stand-alone series in the Kurtherian Gambit Universe. No previous books need to be read. Just lock in your seat-belt, grab your favorite drink and be ready for your socks to be blown off.
--- PLEASE NOTE ---
*** This book contains cursing. Perhaps humorous cursing, but cursing nevertheless. If this offends you, perhaps this book isn't for you.
- GenresScience Fiction
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2019
202 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Craig Martelle
326 books7,878 followersVisit Craig's web page, craigmartelle.com for the latest posts and updates or find him on Facebook, Author Craig Martelle. Send an email to craig@craigmartelle.com to join his mailing list for the latest on new releases, information on old releases, and anything related to his books.
I see my other lives, a career in the Marines, those damn hand-written tests in law school, a business consultant, as if they're stories from a book. I see my books as if I lived there, as if I were friends with the characters. All things we remember are behind us, only those we imagine lie before.
I'm not sure which place I prefer, but I don't have to choose. They live together in my mind. My books have some award nominations, they have bestseller tags across multiple countries. I write about justice, honor, and loyalty because that's what I care about. My stories are mostly set within worlds that haven't been, but could be. We have to be ready for when those times come.
No matter where I went, I always had a book with me. Thanks to 21st Century technology, I now have hundreds of books loaded on my phone and always with me. This breakthrough allows me to binge read my favorites. How many books would I have read on deployments had I not had to have a physical book with me? I paced myself so I wouldn't finish too quickly.
We aren't encumbered like that now. I love the works of Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, JRR Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and so many more. I have been compared to Andre Norton and that is humbling - she was an incredible author with a huge list of novels to her credit. With every new book, I aspire to live up to those that you, the readers, have compared me to.
Through a bizarre series of events, I ended up in Fairbanks, Alaska. I never expected to retire to a place where golf courses are only open for four months out of the year. But that's the way it is. It is off the beaten path. My wife and I get to watch the northern lights from our driveway. Our dog has lots of room to run. And temperatures reach fifty below zero. We have from three and a half hours of daylight in the winter to twenty-four hours in the summer.
It's all part of the give and take of life. If we didn't have those extremes, then everyone would live in the sub-arctic.
I see my other lives, a career in the Marines, those damn hand-written tests in law school, a business consultant, as if they're stories from a book. I see my books as if I lived there, as if I were friends with the characters. All things we remember are behind us, only those we imagine lie before.
I'm not sure which place I prefer, but I don't have to choose. They live together in my mind. My books have some award nominations, they have bestseller tags across multiple countries. I write about justice, honor, and loyalty because that's what I care about. My stories are mostly set within worlds that haven't been, but could be. We have to be ready for when those times come.
No matter where I went, I always had a book with me. Thanks to 21st Century technology, I now have hundreds of books loaded on my phone and always with me. This breakthrough allows me to binge read my favorites. How many books would I have read on deployments had I not had to have a physical book with me? I paced myself so I wouldn't finish too quickly.
We aren't encumbered like that now. I love the works of Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, JRR Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and so many more. I have been compared to Andre Norton and that is humbling - she was an incredible author with a huge list of novels to her credit. With every new book, I aspire to live up to those that you, the readers, have compared me to.
Through a bizarre series of events, I ended up in Fairbanks, Alaska. I never expected to retire to a place where golf courses are only open for four months out of the year. But that's the way it is. It is off the beaten path. My wife and I get to watch the northern lights from our driveway. Our dog has lots of room to run. And temperatures reach fifty below zero. We have from three and a half hours of daylight in the winter to twenty-four hours in the summer.
It's all part of the give and take of life. If we didn't have those extremes, then everyone would live in the sub-arctic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
April 9, 2020
This book is part of the series within a series set in the Kurtherian Gambit Universe. Craig Martelle and Michael Anderle did a great job creating a world and characters you can believe in and get excited about. If you enjoy this series, try the main series, it will take you on a trip...!!!
December 5, 2022
I did not really like this book. The story is simply pretty bad.
There are still several of the good parts that I do like in this series. In particular Rivka and her kick-ass team and how she takes down assholes that think they can stand in the way of her investigations.
But the story is really rubbish. For starters, the book blurb is quite misleading. That in itself is not a bad thing since these big companies are bad stories are really tiresome. The story is not really about that though. The story is really about AIs. Especially rouge AIs.
Unfortunately the author seems to use the story to send political messages and the AIs are more or less a substitute for group XYZ whatever, that the reader are supposed to care about in our real society. About half way through the book turns into a bunch of legal rubbish and court proceedings about the rights of AIs in the society.
What is really making the story rubbish though is that the author is making several statements in the book to the effect that the end justifies the means. Seriously? Committing murders, which is what we are talking about in the book, should be accepted because it “gains visibility to the cause”? No fucking way! This is how the criminals occupying streets, trashing shops etc. are reasoning and it is in no way acceptable.
To add insult to injury the author lets the murderous rogue AI actually get away with it because, at the end, we should apparently have come to understand that it was really a rather nice AI just wanting to be heard. What the fuck?
There are still several of the good parts that I do like in this series. In particular Rivka and her kick-ass team and how she takes down assholes that think they can stand in the way of her investigations.
But the story is really rubbish. For starters, the book blurb is quite misleading. That in itself is not a bad thing since these big companies are bad stories are really tiresome. The story is not really about that though. The story is really about AIs. Especially rouge AIs.
Unfortunately the author seems to use the story to send political messages and the AIs are more or less a substitute for group XYZ whatever, that the reader are supposed to care about in our real society. About half way through the book turns into a bunch of legal rubbish and court proceedings about the rights of AIs in the society.
What is really making the story rubbish though is that the author is making several statements in the book to the effect that the end justifies the means. Seriously? Committing murders, which is what we are talking about in the book, should be accepted because it “gains visibility to the cause”? No fucking way! This is how the criminals occupying streets, trashing shops etc. are reasoning and it is in no way acceptable.
To add insult to injury the author lets the murderous rogue AI actually get away with it because, at the end, we should apparently have come to understand that it was really a rather nice AI just wanting to be heard. What the fuck?
May 23, 2020
Law and Order at its best
Craig Martelle has outdone himself with this fast paced, hard to put down until finished book that I had to finish in one sitting. Rivka sets out to find out who is killing off the workers and what if it’s not one of the workers, what is she to do. I absolutely loved where this book took the reader and was even questioning things myself as I was reading it. Martelle did a brilliant job marrying everything together which in my book, makes it the best in this series yet! WELL DONE
Craig Martelle has outdone himself with this fast paced, hard to put down until finished book that I had to finish in one sitting. Rivka sets out to find out who is killing off the workers and what if it’s not one of the workers, what is she to do. I absolutely loved where this book took the reader and was even questioning things myself as I was reading it. Martelle did a brilliant job marrying everything together which in my book, makes it the best in this series yet! WELL DONE
June 6, 2022
I thought that Slave Trade was great, but Fratricide beats that hands down!
This story had me thinking hard all the way through. It wasn't the usual Rivka and Crew story of running and blood - although there was still plenty of running involved, which is par for the course where Rivka is concerned!
This wasn't just a story about murder. This was a story about how we define others in our lives and, to paraphrase what Craig said himself, in the Author's Notes, you can only define something, when you learn to understand it - and to understand something, takes a shared language, in which to define it!
I loved this story more than all the previous ones in the series, until now. It brought to light our human behaviours, and in how we judge others through our own understanding of life.
It brought to light that age old question as to how we determine what life actually IS - a question that I've read, and pondered on, all the years of my reading life, but especially since I discovered, and started reading Asimov, Bradbury, & Clarke, when I was ten!
I was affected greatly by those stories, some of them written even before I was born, but I've always had that question in the back of my mind, answered though it was, for me, as soon as I could work out, myself, what were the right questions to ask.
This story brought all those thoughts back to me, and I can now see why I've never lost that fascination with AI's and robots, and androids!
Something I think humanity will always find it so.
Although the court case, out of necessity, had to be short, it kept me glued to the page, and watching Rivka desperately determined to do her best by her AI friends, was heartwarming.
This is a must-read book for anyone, like me, who is also fascinated by the idea of electronic life forms, and I can guarantee you as good a read as anything else bringing these ideas to life, once more!
So, because this book is finished, I did my usual, and looked at my reading list to see what book I should read next, and that is book four of Enemy of my Enemy: Vengeance!
I admit that I'm very tired, after reading so intensely, so I'll start my new read after I've had a good sleep.
Which puts me in mind of Philip K. Dick's novel, that I read just a couple of years after it was published: 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'
I bet they do!
This story had me thinking hard all the way through. It wasn't the usual Rivka and Crew story of running and blood - although there was still plenty of running involved, which is par for the course where Rivka is concerned!
This wasn't just a story about murder. This was a story about how we define others in our lives and, to paraphrase what Craig said himself, in the Author's Notes, you can only define something, when you learn to understand it - and to understand something, takes a shared language, in which to define it!
I loved this story more than all the previous ones in the series, until now. It brought to light our human behaviours, and in how we judge others through our own understanding of life.
It brought to light that age old question as to how we determine what life actually IS - a question that I've read, and pondered on, all the years of my reading life, but especially since I discovered, and started reading Asimov, Bradbury, & Clarke, when I was ten!
I was affected greatly by those stories, some of them written even before I was born, but I've always had that question in the back of my mind, answered though it was, for me, as soon as I could work out, myself, what were the right questions to ask.
This story brought all those thoughts back to me, and I can now see why I've never lost that fascination with AI's and robots, and androids!
Something I think humanity will always find it so.
Although the court case, out of necessity, had to be short, it kept me glued to the page, and watching Rivka desperately determined to do her best by her AI friends, was heartwarming.
This is a must-read book for anyone, like me, who is also fascinated by the idea of electronic life forms, and I can guarantee you as good a read as anything else bringing these ideas to life, once more!
So, because this book is finished, I did my usual, and looked at my reading list to see what book I should read next, and that is book four of Enemy of my Enemy: Vengeance!
I admit that I'm very tired, after reading so intensely, so I'll start my new read after I've had a good sleep.
Which puts me in mind of Philip K. Dick's novel, that I read just a couple of years after it was published: 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'
I bet they do!
August 25, 2021
Book 6 in this neat series. In this one a new space station is being built. Normally things are so well set up that only minor injuries might occur but in this case five workers are murdered so Rivka and her group get called in.
In order to investigate all the work has to stop which means a mob chases her and the others because they are made since they won't get paid unless they actually work.
Rivka also now has a bigger ship with lots more room and more firepower which will be something she will probably need before long.
The investigation is carried on, there's another problem, there's an orange cat and the perp is finally caught but that trial will be very important and even brings in the High Chancellor. The outcome of the trial could have effect on the entire Federation.
I especially like the way the trial was carried out, the main issue it dealt with, how people involved considered what to do if the judgment was guilty and how even that very complicated factor was explored in a very intelligent manner.
Not so much physical fighting in this book but it was fighting of and intellectual manner that was just as good and just as important.
In order to investigate all the work has to stop which means a mob chases her and the others because they are made since they won't get paid unless they actually work.
Rivka also now has a bigger ship with lots more room and more firepower which will be something she will probably need before long.
The investigation is carried on, there's another problem, there's an orange cat and the perp is finally caught but that trial will be very important and even brings in the High Chancellor. The outcome of the trial could have effect on the entire Federation.
I especially like the way the trial was carried out, the main issue it dealt with, how people involved considered what to do if the judgment was guilty and how even that very complicated factor was explored in a very intelligent manner.
Not so much physical fighting in this book but it was fighting of and intellectual manner that was just as good and just as important.
January 1, 2020
One of the BEST Books I have read and enjoyed in a long time!
First, I seldom write a review ever. I don’t take time because I have so many things I enjoy doing. Second, this book deserves a review. Fratricide deals with equality under the law, even when the law to deal with the issue doesn’t exist. In a series of books there is usually one book that I consider to be a “hinge”. It allows the series, the characters and story line, to move in a yet to determined direction. Fratricide is one of those books. Fratricide lays the foundation for future stories to go in multiple uncharted directions. The characters can be developed much more definitively and graphically which now includes the AI’s. The possibility for people and AI’s to engage in moral and ethical conflicts is greatly enhanced. My highest praise to the author, “Well Done!”.
First, I seldom write a review ever. I don’t take time because I have so many things I enjoy doing. Second, this book deserves a review. Fratricide deals with equality under the law, even when the law to deal with the issue doesn’t exist. In a series of books there is usually one book that I consider to be a “hinge”. It allows the series, the characters and story line, to move in a yet to determined direction. Fratricide is one of those books. Fratricide lays the foundation for future stories to go in multiple uncharted directions. The characters can be developed much more definitively and graphically which now includes the AI’s. The possibility for people and AI’s to engage in moral and ethical conflicts is greatly enhanced. My highest praise to the author, “Well Done!”.
January 27, 2020
One of my new favorite books
Think back to Kurthurian Gambit and WWDE. As soon as I read that I made my son read it. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but that seemed totally plausible and frightening. Now, to today and our increasing dependence on our computers and how they are evolving. Alexa, Siri, Bixbi, Google they are always listening.Isaac Asimov 's I Robot was groundbreaking and one of the classics of Sci Fi. This book is right there. It provokes thought and contemplation of our future and path with AI's. It is a snapshot of the future.
Think back to Kurthurian Gambit and WWDE. As soon as I read that I made my son read it. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but that seemed totally plausible and frightening. Now, to today and our increasing dependence on our computers and how they are evolving. Alexa, Siri, Bixbi, Google they are always listening.Isaac Asimov 's I Robot was groundbreaking and one of the classics of Sci Fi. This book is right there. It provokes thought and contemplation of our future and path with AI's. It is a snapshot of the future.
March 11, 2020
Exceptional tale. The issues confronted are some that many, myself included, believe humanity here on earth will be forced to consider in the future (and that time may be coming more quickly than one might think.) The Court proceedings were extremely interesting. Once it clicked into my brain housing unit what was about to occurred, 31 years of experience as a trial lawyer kicked in, and I am happy to say Craig hit every argument and possible pitfall for either side that I could imagine. Well written, suspenseful and thought provoking. Read it!
May 6, 2020
I loved this book! Great everything: Plot, action & characters
It's rare that you run across a book that literally has it all: great plot, great action, great characters (main & supplemental), but Craig & Michael definitely pull it off!
Frankly, I never expected to like any sort of legal story, but to my very pleasant surprise I loved it. Keep it up the great work Craig & Michael!
It's rare that you run across a book that literally has it all: great plot, great action, great characters (main & supplemental), but Craig & Michael definitely pull it off!
Frankly, I never expected to like any sort of legal story, but to my very pleasant surprise I loved it. Keep it up the great work Craig & Michael!
April 8, 2023
Book 6
Book 6 was a fun read and had errors throughout. The characters and plot developed well and had a few nice twists in it. They must find a murderer on a space station being built. After 5 deaths they are called into help find find the person responsible. It is a lot of back and forth, and a few tangents to get to the point , but overall fun to read. I look forward to the next book.
Book 6 was a fun read and had errors throughout. The characters and plot developed well and had a few nice twists in it. They must find a murderer on a space station being built. After 5 deaths they are called into help find find the person responsible. It is a lot of back and forth, and a few tangents to get to the point , but overall fun to read. I look forward to the next book.
January 20, 2020
Great as always
Rivka in this adventure is called upon to put her lawyer persona to the test. Her crew is bigger. She has the largest ship of the magistrates, and she is bringing the AI's into the federation .Not as much physical action but great insights into how Rivka sees good, bad and the application of justice.
Rivka in this adventure is called upon to put her lawyer persona to the test. Her crew is bigger. She has the largest ship of the magistrates, and she is bringing the AI's into the federation .Not as much physical action but great insights into how Rivka sees good, bad and the application of justice.
January 27, 2020
Really excellent!
This is my favorite book in this series so far. I have enjoyed the interplay of characters and issues so far and that has kept me reading although sometimes the violence in space opera is too much for me. But I am very glad I read this far as I really loved the issues considered in this story.
This is my favorite book in this series so far. I have enjoyed the interplay of characters and issues so far and that has kept me reading although sometimes the violence in space opera is too much for me. But I am very glad I read this far as I really loved the issues considered in this story.
March 4, 2020
Your Honor
Rivka and team have to find a serial killer. After eliminating all suspects, the remainder is a big surprise. She finds herself at the center of Federation wide storm. I like the action and humor. New plot lines are covered in the series. The legal logic was interesting. I look forward to the next book.
Rivka and team have to find a serial killer. After eliminating all suspects, the remainder is a big surprise. She finds herself at the center of Federation wide storm. I like the action and humor. New plot lines are covered in the series. The legal logic was interesting. I look forward to the next book.
December 13, 2020
Interesting developments
After finishing book six, I am enjoying the team more and more. Less prose devoted to exposition, more devoted to plot development. And what a plot this time. Craig got an excellent balance this time between legal procedure and action in solving this crime and setting up for the next installment. This is one I will read again
After finishing book six, I am enjoying the team more and more. Less prose devoted to exposition, more devoted to plot development. And what a plot this time. Craig got an excellent balance this time between legal procedure and action in solving this crime and setting up for the next installment. This is one I will read again
February 18, 2022
Okay read,again.
Think that this is a rewrite of part or the Bethany Ann series when they determine AIs are alive and create and kids for them. They left EIs and any AIs who wanted to served on shi
ps, consequently this story line repeats and seems to contradict the earlier story line. Don't think this story needed to be written, again.
Think that this is a rewrite of part or the Bethany Ann series when they determine AIs are alive and create and kids for them. They left EIs and any AIs who wanted to served on shi
ps, consequently this story line repeats and seems to contradict the earlier story line. Don't think this story needed to be written, again.
January 17, 2020
Judge, Jury & Executor Book 6 Gets 5 Stars
As I noted in my review of Book 5 in this series the series to date (then) had accumulated 25 stars - well now it has 30 stars.
Spoiler Alert: this being my third or possibly fourth pass through the series Book 7 gets 5 stars too.
As I noted in my review of Book 5 in this series the series to date (then) had accumulated 25 stars - well now it has 30 stars.
Spoiler Alert: this being my third or possibly fourth pass through the series Book 7 gets 5 stars too.
February 12, 2020
An intriguing and compelling tale/
What a superbly interesting read! It takes an interesting whodunit and spins it into an ethical treatise!! All while keeping it interesting and page turning. Keep them coming, this is a fantastic series.
What a superbly interesting read! It takes an interesting whodunit and spins it into an ethical treatise!! All while keeping it interesting and page turning. Keep them coming, this is a fantastic series.
March 2, 2020
Legal Adventures
A wordy but deep legal case this time but i think one that in a future would all to likely happen.
Perhaps a bit of prescience here but i enjoyed the way it was done and so im happy although this one may be a bit too legal sided for some.
A wordy but deep legal case this time but i think one that in a future would all to likely happen.
Perhaps a bit of prescience here but i enjoyed the way it was done and so im happy although this one may be a bit too legal sided for some.
September 29, 2020
Just...
No spoilers...
THIS IS THE BEST SERIES EVER.
My apologies for shouting, however, now that I’ve stated the obvious, you don’t need to hear more from me, just, read the book.
No spoilers...
THIS IS THE BEST SERIES EVER.
My apologies for shouting, however, now that I’ve stated the obvious, you don’t need to hear more from me, just, read the book.
June 4, 2021
Another Great Story
Well finally, Rivka gets to try a case before a judge and boy, what a case. Truth be told I have never been interested in trials but this one was riveting. Loved it. Enjoy.
Well finally, Rivka gets to try a case before a judge and boy, what a case. Truth be told I have never been interested in trials but this one was riveting. Loved it. Enjoy.
June 7, 2021
Is an AI a person, legally in the eyes of the law?
An Interesting subject. I believe that mankind will be faced with this question in the foreseeable future. This requires more pondering.
An Interesting subject. I believe that mankind will be faced with this question in the foreseeable future. This requires more pondering.
July 26, 2021
The Case of Fratricide
This was more of a courtroom drama as Rivka is called in to rule over a wild, dangerous mob of liars. She has to extract the truth which won't be easy. I liked this book.
This was more of a courtroom drama as Rivka is called in to rule over a wild, dangerous mob of liars. She has to extract the truth which won't be easy. I liked this book.
April 5, 2022
excellent
Got a few hours to burn, read this book fast pace sf/legal tale. Lots of connotations that can easily be read in to today’s society. Read in two sittings a true page turner.
Got a few hours to burn, read this book fast pace sf/legal tale. Lots of connotations that can easily be read in to today’s society. Read in two sittings a true page turner.
July 2, 2020
Yay for AI fun
I liked this book and recommend the series. It s fun, the characters are interesting, and there is always plenty of action and twists to keep your interest.
I liked this book and recommend the series. It s fun, the characters are interesting, and there is always plenty of action and twists to keep your interest.
October 13, 2020
Great series
Such a great series! I was so excited to find out that I hadn’t read each of the books in this series.
Such a great series! I was so excited to find out that I hadn’t read each of the books in this series.
February 23, 2021
Blood or running
Galaxy wide betting on a court case. Real people and lawyers that aren't foolish. Start w book one that will allow more
Galaxy wide betting on a court case. Real people and lawyers that aren't foolish. Start w book one that will allow more
February 24, 2021
A nice series
This series has great characters as well as an intriguing storyline. Follow the crew as they bring justice to the universe
This series has great characters as well as an intriguing storyline. Follow the crew as they bring justice to the universe
Read
September 30, 2021enjoyed the back nd forth between legal and not so legal activities. seems like the series has gotten bogged down with similar activities as previous books.
September 8, 2022
Fantastic. Love this universe
February 11, 2023
A law case! No blood too!
Had to get them married, is there a ring? Will AI's be able to own property? Could have AI owned ships doing business!
Had to get them married, is there a ring? Will AI's be able to own property? Could have AI owned ships doing business!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews