The Justice Game

by Randy Singer

After the target of an investigative report storms a Virginia Beach television station, he kills one of the anchors before the SWAT team takes him down. Following the victim’s funeral, her family files a lawsuit against the gun company who manufactured the killer’s weapon of choice. The lawyers for the plaintiff and defendant—Kelly Starling and Jason Noble—are young, charismatic, and successful. They’re also easy blackmail targets, both harboring a personal secret so devastating it could destroy their careers. Millions of dollars—and more than a few lives—are at stake. But as Kelly and Jason battle each other, they discover that the real fight is with unseen forces intent on controlling them both.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Legal Thriller, Thriller, Christian, Mystery, Suspense

392 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 29, 2009

About the author

Randy Singer is a critically acclaimed author and veteran trial attorney. He has penned nine legal thrillers, including his award-winning debut novel Directed Verdict. In addition to his law practice and writing, Randy serves as a teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He calls it his "Jekyll and Hyde thing"—part lawyer, part pastor. He also teaches classes in advocacy and ethics at Regent Law School and serves on the school's Board of Visitors. He and his wife, Rhonda, live in Virginia Beach. They have two grown children.

Reviews

[Paul Weiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been a great legal thriller but ...

THE JUSTICE GAME opens with a proverbial and literal bang!

Larry Jamison, crazed and bent on revenge, crashes into a news studio and guns down investigative news reporter Rachel Crawford. The brutal murder having taken place in front of a television audience, there is no question as to the identity or even the guilt of the murderer. But author Randy Singer uses this open and shut murder case as a springboard to investigate the legal and sociological implications of the second amendment to the US constitution, the rights and responsibilities inherent in gun ownership, and, most important, the liability implications inherent in the manufacturer's sale of weapons to retailers that are known to ignore the legislative requirements surrounding a gun sale.

The phrase "straw sale" refers to the sale of a gun to a "front" buyer who nominally fulfills the legal requirements in terms of background, security check, residency and so on but whose intention is to pass on the gun for a fee or re-sell it to a buyer who couldn't make that legal grade. Of course, an enormous percentage of these "straw sale" weapons are ultimately employed in criminal activity. THE JUSTICE GAME explores the question of whether a gun manufacturer bears a legal responsibility to police the actions of its retailers and to restrict the sale of weapons to dealers known to irresponsibly or, worse yet, intentionally cater to straw buyers.

Larry Jamison will have his day in court but it isn't today. Rachel Crawford's grieving husband and his clever attorney, Kelly Starling, have sued the gun manufacturer for wrongful death. And you can be sure that, if the verdict goes against the company, the punitive damages well into the multi-million dollar range will be crippling. A young, ambitious and astonishingly flamboyant attorney, Jason Noble, defends CEO Melissa Davids and her successful firm.

There IS a verdict in the novel and while you may not agree with it, you will NOT be able to say that Randy Singer didn't do a "bang-up" job in presenting the evidence in a fair and balanced manner. Beyond a thrilling courtroom presentation of the evidence of a controversial topic ripped from today's headlines, Singer also tells an interesting story of a number of side issues that would relate to such a trial - jury selection and the use of mock juries; enormous financial gains and losses that would hinge on the verdict of such an important trial; jury tampering; lobbying and so on.

So why only three stars?

Frankly, I just don't understand why Randy Singer would choose to sully the pages of a perfectly good novel (scratch that ... make it an excellent legal fiction) with distracting right-wing Christian sermonizing and posturing! In particular, the blatant injection of pro-life and anti-abortion propaganda, however brief that intermission might have been, stood out as nothing more than a bizarre aggravating distraction from a plot that should have been moving full steam ahead. It wasn't a fatal distraction that destroyed the novel but I certainly could have done without it.

Present the case, present the story, exercise your rights as an author and write in your own verdict and conclusion ... but, for goodness' sake, let me decide whether I agree with it without the addition of the sermon. It just gets in the way!

Recommended.

Paul Weiss

[Keiki Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was it the 'inspired by actual events'? Or, was it the fact that the issue personally hit home with the author? Or, could it have been that readers actually decided the ending?

I am not sure which of these, perhaps all three, created an anxious desire in me to read Randy Singer's newest novel 'The Justice Game'.

The story begins with the cold blooded killing of Rachel Crawford, a television news reporter. In a Virginia Beach news studio, just before Rachel can deliver her report on the evening news, a deranged killer, Larry Jamison barges into the studio killing at will on his path to his intended victim, Rachel Crawford. Jamison is killed by the SWAT team that arrives but not before Rachel Crawford dies while the camera's roll.

What follows is the focus of the novel. Two ambitious attorney's arguing one of the hottest issues of our day, gun control.

Jason Noble, ambition and audacious at times, defends MD Firearms in a lawsuit brought against them by Rachel Crawford's husband. The plaintiff's attorney, Kelly Starling, is equally ambitious. Apart from the competing lawyers positioning themselves to further their careers, much is at stake when the final decision is rendered.

There is the matter of 'shadow juries' such as the multi-million dollar company called "Justice Inc", which has a great deal at stake in Crawford v MD Firearms. The questionable history of both attorney's open the door to black mail, kidnapping, and even murder from the choices they've made. All make this a great legal thriller.

Why are legal thrillers so appealing? My answer would be that I simply enjoy a great whodunnit. The novels I've enjoyed most were those that present a unique plot with believable characters, uncommon and interesting approaches to the justice system, and the wisdom to overcome to the end. In this novel, Randy Singer has accomplished this and added the aspect of shadow juries to an already polarizing political topic.

Many know Randy Singer to be a Christian and would anticipate (if not expect), a one-sided storyline when dealing with such a volital topic. Not true in this novel. The reader is presented with facts of a case, prompting one to at least consider the opposing viewpoint. It is a very fair account accentuating the appeal of both sides fairly.

Responding to a question of how do you reconcile being a Christian and a lawyer, Randy Singer responded "I had to trust God to bring the cases to me that I should handle". With that same wisdom and before he wrote the ending of "The Justice Game", Randy Singer prepared a video of closing arguments and allowed his readers to decide the verdict, in effect allowing the ending to be written by his readers. A very interesting and engaging way for a writer to end his novel.

I recommend this work highly for characters, the plot, and the unique engagement of the reader and the sincere faith aspect woven throughout the storyline. A great read for us who enjoy legal thrillers and a blessing as well because the reader does not have to endure profanity or vulgarity.

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were aspects I liked about this novel such as the concept of shadow juries (never heard of this before) and character Bella, but overall, didn't love this one. I've enjoyed other Randy Singer novels much more than The Justice Game.

[C.J. Darlington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a real-life case attorney Randy Singer tried ten years ago, The Justice Game artfully portrays both sides of the gun rights debate. Interestingly, Singer didn't set out to convert anyone. He told me, "I wanted to write a book so balanced that both sides would look at it and say, `That fairly represents our case.'"

The Justice Game opens in TV news reporter Rachel Crawford's point of view. A crazed gunman named Larry Jamison, the subject of a scathing news report, barges into the studio and shoots Rachel dead. The crime is clearly caught on film, but it's not the killer who ends up in court during The Justice Game. Rachel's grieving husband sues the manufacturer of Jamison's assault weapon for her wrongful death. He believes they are responsible since they knew the gun store who sold the weapon was known for illegal straw sales.

But this story isn't about Rachel as much as it's about young and ambitious defense attorney Jason Noble and up-and-coming prosecutor Kelly Starling. Both believe in their clients. Both are on top of their games. And both have pasts worthy of blackmail. Mix in the intriguing concept of a cutting edge company who predicts the outcome of trials for financial gain using shadow juries, and you have a true Randy Singer plot--full of delightful twists and turns you never saw coming.

Pay careful attention during the beginning chapters. Because so many of these concepts are unfamiliar, and many key players aren't introduced until later in the story, there's the potential for confusion. But there's also a great glimpse into the fascinating aspects of shadow juries and we come to understand why gun control is such a visceral issue to so many. At times you'll find yourself nodding in agreement with the defense as they present their case; then you'll empathize with the prosecution as they present theirs. Which just goes to show Singer has succeeded in what he set out to write--a novel that evenly presented both sides.

The Justice Game doesn't feel like an issue novel. We're never pounded over the head with its message. Instead, we're subtly led to our own conclusions as we examine the facts. Should a gun manufacturer be held responsible for a crime committed with one of their guns?

Before Singer finished writing The Justice Game a four minute interactive promotional video was created that presented the closing arguments of his fictional case. Then readers were asked to cast their vote on the verdict, and that would become the ending of the book. Their decision would be final. According to Randy the side that started out ahead stayed ahead.

Randy singer is one of the best Christian legal thriller writers out there in the purest sense. His complex plot spins and colorful, realistic characters combine to bring us a rich reading experience in The Justice Game.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a first-time author for me. I found the story interesting and easy to follow along with. There were a couple of times that some of the legal terminology got lost on me, but the writing was done in a way that it wasn't a distraction.

This is Christian fiction which I knew going in and really enjoyed that aspect of it. There is some scripture shared that works well with the story at the time it's mentioned. There are real-life situations that occur regarding people and their relationships, some gun violence, physical attacks, and thoughts of suicide. None of it is very descriptive or written in an untasteful way.

One of the scenes at the end had me doing a fist pump in the air for the way some of the characters handled the situation despite how they may have felt about the ones they were going in after. It was definitely a movie-worthy moment.

Rating: PG-13 -gun violence, physical attacks, some implied profanity, mention of suicide
Language: clean read, no use of profanity or deity
Recommend: yes

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a legal thriller that is personal for the author. The book opens with a note from the author explaining that 1988 a student at the Christian school, where his wife taught and children attended, a 15-year-old student opened fire with a semiautomatic handgun. He killed a teacher and wounded the assistant principal. The “straw purchase” that allowed the student to obtain the weapon became the central issue of The Justice Game.

In other mysteries the authors draw the adversaries as cartoon heroes and villains. They set up easy to hate figures in order to prove their point. Singer doesn't do this. He purposely addresses both side of the gun control question. Singer states, “My goal is not to make converts...but to fairly present both perspectives and let the reader decide.” To that end he posted video versions of both closing arguments and allowed viewers to vote on the verdict. Singer then used that verdict as his conclusion.

The book opens with the murder of investigative reporter Rachel Crawford. The murder takes place on live television. The gunman is immediately shot by the SWAT team. It turns out that the murderer purchased his rifle illegally through a middleman from a gun store. The store owner goes to prison on a plea deal. Eventually Rachel's husband decides to seek justice from the only party left—The gun manufacturer. He isn't seeking a payout for himself and vows to donate the proceeds.

Jason Noble is the hot-shot young lawyer for the defense. Noble has just lost his job at Justice Inc. for being too good. Noble has been trying parallel cases for shadow juries. The shadow juries, selected to perfectly mimic a real jury, return their verdicts first. This allows Justice Inc. to advice investors whether or not to buy or sell company shares. When Jason proves to be a better lawyer than those in the real cases he looses his job. After establishing his own law firm Justice Inc. recommends Noble as the defense attorney.

For the plaintiff is Kelly Starling. Starling is also a veteran of Justice Inc., now the rising star at a large D.C. law firm. She takes the Crawford case pro bono. She connects to the victim and her fight to help young women caught in the web of human trafficking. She approaches the case with a sincere desire for justice.

Jason Noble and Kelly Starling have something else in common. They are both being blackmailed in an attempt to control the case. They both have something in their pasts that could devastate them personally and professionally. Who is the person pulling the strings and what is he trying to accomplish? The professional ethics of one of the attorneys changes the dynamics of the trial and the blackmail scheme. This causes a violent, desperate reaction.

The Christian aspect of the story is not heavy handed, but is present. In certain questions Singer doesn't attempt to give black and white answers. Neither is it the fluffy, romance many readers think of when they look for “Christian Fiction.” Importantly, The Justice Game is not about religion. It is about loneliness, the difficulty of flawed family relationships, and what the past has to teach us. Without being preachy or self-righteous it has an important message about forgiveness.

A great read for those who enjoy legal thrillers.

I was given an ARC of this book.

[LadyCalico · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot express how much I loved this book. I hate to even try to analyze it since it had several weaknesses that were were hard to believe and drew away from the realism of the book (e.g. all the time, money, and energies that Jason couldn't afford wasted on the mock juries--for what, really, Lassiter had already proven himself less effective than an experienced lawyer's, like Case's, instincts; why didn't either Jason or Kelly report the threatened blackmail early on when they had little to lose--as far as they knew, the word of themselves and multiple respectable supportive backers against a sleazy scandal website with zip credibility--but whole bunches to lose if they didn't report it ASAP, why would Jason hire Rafael, whom he strongly distrusted, at rates he couldn't afford, when the trusted Bella was offering him a better alternative) but I was enjoying my read so much that I chose to put my doubts aside and just go with it. As the story progressed, the various elements pulled together much better and the last fifth of the book was so intriguing that nothing short of a housefire could have made me put it down. The whodunnit wasn't that hard, but it was a question of how were Kelly and Jason going to get out of this mess with their lives, reputations, and careers still viable.

[Waurla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason and Kelly, two young lawyers with a very bright future but disturbing secrets in the past.
This is the first book I have read in a long time and it was a perfect combination of suspense, mystery and drama.

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the idea for the story was quite clever, but the book never really grabbed my attention, and life is too short to read books that are sometimes a slog to get through, so I never finished it.
The writing wasn't bad, the story interesting, but I couldn't connect with the characters.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this John Grisham-like legal thriller, written by a Christian author. There were Christian themes, but not all characters were believers, the center of the story is a complex moral issue, and the plot was not easily predicable. I will definitely read more from this author.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading The Justice Game, I was a bit concerned that I was going to be reading a book with a lot of legal jargon and that it was going to be a rather dry book. It didn’t take long for me to see that I was quite mistaken. This book is not just about the lawsuit that is brought against the gun manufacturer MD Firearms. This book is also about two very ambitious and driven young lawyers whose personal lives are in turmoil.

Jason Noble and Kelly Starling are being blackmailed because of decisions made in their pasts. The author draws the reader into their personal dramas and this adds much more depth to this already gripping story. It was difficult to watch Jason and Kelly go through all the stress of the trial and the stress of the blackmail. I found myself really liking both attorneys, although I did take a side.

This is a different kind of book, one that I found to be very interesting. I was fascinated by the legal process and by all the details of this case. This was the very thing I was worried about not liking, but instead, I was captivated by it. Randy Singer is a talented author who can make each page of a story interesting.

Both sides of the gun control debate are presented in this book and the reader is able to draw his or her own conclusion about this issue. This book never felt like a political book or that the author had a bias in either direction. The author allowed the reader to decide what the verdict would be in this case, which I thought was a very clever way to write a book. I applaud Randy Singer for the care that was taken in writing this story and for the research and detail that went into this book.

Overall, The Justice Game is a fantastic legal thriller. The front cover of the book has a quote from Publisher’s Weekly that says “Singer is every bit as enjoyable as John Grisham”. Having read several John Grisham books, I can honestly say, that I enjoyed The Justice Game so much more. I highly recommend this book if you want a really good legal thriller. It will leave you feeling like you can’t turn the pages fast enough. By the way, I also really liked watching the video on Randy Singer’s website that shows the closing arguments of the case. It’s a must see and The Justice Game is a must read.

[Elizabeth Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

**content review at the end**

Yes, I'll admit, there was lots of confusion on my part. Do not ask me how many times I re-read the case parts at the beginning of the book. But hey! Now I understand some court terms.

I was so torn between Jason and Kelly. I felt like I could only like one of them, but found myself cheering and crying with them both.

My personal view of the case was very much on Mr. Crawford's side, but as I kept reading I wasn't so sure. Singer gave us details, good arguments on both sides. He even added depth to the side characters.

Honestly, there is a lot of content in this book. Not so much that it put me off reading, but if you're sensitive to violence you may need to skip a few pages.



**Content Review**

Violence- shooting, blood, threats, multiple deaths, mentions of poisoning, people are beat up, car accident, someones smooshed body, someone almost drowns, description of what happens when your Achilles tendon is cut and a threat to do so

Spiritual- sarcastic mention of a mission from God, mentions of going through hell/hell, church, communion, mention of gods, some Christian characters (who talk about their faith), repentance and forgiveness

Sexual- porn site (blurred out), mentions of affairs, mentions of divorce, mention of prostitution and pornography, mention of a kiss, implied sex scene, affairs, an abortion

Language- hell (as "I'm going through hell" and comparisons), mentions of people cursing

Drinking/drugs/smoking- beer, a lady was supposedly was taking drugs, smoking, unused cigarettes

Other- betting

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Crawford is a television reporter for WDXR. She is hoping to really make it big at the station. The piece she is about to break tonight will hopefully help her chances. The story is about human trafficking. The owner of a The Surf, Larry Jamison was supposedly luring women to America. In the middle of telling the story, Mr. Jamison barges into the television station and starts shooting people. The SWAT team come but just before they apprehend Jamison, he kills Rachel. Rachel was twenty-three weeks pregnant.

Now her husband, Blake Crawford wants to sue MD Firearms, the company who manufactured the gun Jamison used. It really isn't about the money but about justice. MD Firearms was aware that their guns were getting into the hands of criminals and they did nothing about it. What would happen is that someone would go into a shop wanting to purchase a gun and if the background check on them didn't pass then the shop would give that potential buyer the name of someone who could purchase the gun for them.

Jason Noble works as a criminal defense attorney. His father is not proud of him. He father is a cop. He believes that Jason works for the bad guys. Jason hopes to own his own law firm one day. He is contact to be the attorney for MD Firearms. Jason realizes this could be his biggest break yet. When Kelly Starling is first contacted by Mr. Crawford, she thinks it is a trick. After talking with Mr. Crawford she agrees to represent him in the case against MD Firearms. This is the ultimate battle between good vs. evil. You won't believe how it all ends.

The Justice Game is the first novel I have read by Randy Singer. I can remember what I said as I was picking up this book to read it. I said "I hope this book is as good as it sounds". Let me tell you that it exceed my expectations. The Justice Game reminded me of John Grisham's The Runaway Jury. It had that intense drama, great characters, and a riveting story line. I could definitely see The Justice Game being made into a movie. The best part about this book is that even Christian authors know how to produce really great reads! Mr. Singer has made me a fan

[Cindy Meilink · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are an avid reader of books in the legal genre, you'll love this.

High profile trials are big business and Justice Inc, a company that deals in projecting trial decisions, earns its money by advising investment managers how to invest on the companies affected by trial outcomes.

Jason Noble worked for Justice Inc., playing his lawyer role before shadow juries--juries selected to mimic the real jury--to get to the decision before the actual trial came to a close thus allowing Justice Inc. investors to invest accordingly. He was eventually fired from his position because he was too good, going that extra mile in the trial process and outshining the actual lawyers on the case and affecting the verdict of the shadow juries.

Kelly Starling, another past Justice Inc. employee, had left the company several years ago and was working for a large firm. When a young, pregnant, female reporter gets killed in the studio by an irate man she was investigating, a lawsuit develops against the manufacturer of the weapon and Kelly becomes the lawyer for the plaintiff--the woman's husband.

Jason had opened his own practice and finds himself representing MD Firearms, the defendant in the case.

Both with personal secrets they would rather stay hidden, Kelly and Jason become the victims of blackmail by an individual named Luthor who is attempting to manipulate them and the outcome of the trial.

An engrossing book with an interesting perspective on jury selection and the big business that goes on behind the scenes of major trials.

Recommended.

[Rachel Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I downloaded this book for free for my Sony e-reader.

This book started out great, with a lot of promise. Rachel Crawford is a reporter about to go on the air with possibly the biggest news story of her career when a gun-wielding maniac breaks into the studio with plans to execute her on air. The tragedy leads her grieving husband to sue MD Firearms, a gun maker who kept selling guns to a retailer even though the company knew the store often sold guns illegally.

After the first chapter, there is very little action. Opposing councils Jason and Kelly spend most of their time building their cases, when they're not bickering. A blackmailer threatens both of them with things they'd thought buried in their past, but instead of going to the authorities, they both go along with the blackmailer's commands until the very end, in which there's another action scene. First you have to wade through all the boring courtroom drama though.

I had no idea that this author is also a Christian author when I started reading this book, and honestly while there's not many religious references in this book, there were enough to annoy me. They didn't really seem to have any place in the story, and the characters used their religion as a way to easily forgive everyone by the end of the story which was a little hard to swallow.

Overall, I just found the book incredibly boring. The beginning was great, the ending was okay, but the middle just dragged on and on.

[Christy Trever · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Justice Game by Randy Singer is another suspenseful courtroom spectacular from the master of the genre. When a beautiful pregnant news anchor is shot on camera by an angry viewer, her husband wants to sue the gun manufacturer for allowing their guns to be sold by a dealer who knowingly sold to felons. He hires Kelly Starling to represent him in a case that strikes fear in the hearts of NRA members across the nation. Across the aisle on the defense is Jason Noble, just two years out of law school and trying his very first major case for the gun manufacturer. But there are mysterious forces working behind the scenes manipulating both attorneys and maybe even going deeper into the case, making the case and story explosive. Singer is a master of suspense, dishing out clues little by little, keeping the reader hooked and barely breathing frantic flipping of the pages. Singer did something revolutionary with this novel: he allowed readers to determine the ending. Months ago, he placed a video on his website with the closing arguments of both attorneys and allowed readers to find for or against the gun manufacturer, vowing to allow their decision to shape the book. This is a hot topic in today's politics, but Singer presents both sides fairly, making the ending a surprise and truly satisfying. Nobody does it better than Singer.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Singer at his best. He lays the groundwork for another controversial story and launches right in.



Guns kill people (yes members of the NRA, I can hear your echo) and Singer pushes that in our face from the outset. He tells of a reporter being gunned down for an investigative story about issues within some aspect of American society. What follows is an intriguing fall out and some great storytelling.



When the killer is dead, shot by SWAT, and the gun seller is bankrupt, when can a family turn? Sue the gun makers! Singer plunges into this story looking at just this issue. In a Grisham-esque tale, he finds us a main character who is doing well within his legal job, a lawyer who argues in front of straw juries. Add some controversy and a killer (no pun) story and you have the makings of a great novel. Add an opposing counsel just as interested in winning, and a blackmailer bent on getting the 'right' verdict, and you end up with a great story.



Singer spcies it with bible quotes, but does not push his ideas too strongly, and leads the characters down many rabbitholes best left alone. In the end, you have a story that you will not be able to set down, even late into the night.

[Donna Siebold · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is interesting that this book was written because of a lawsuit Mr. Singer was involved in some ten years earlier. Like the case in this book, a lawsuit against a manufacturer of a product. Can they/should they be held responsible for the manner in which their product is used?

What makes this even more interesting is that this book so closely parrallels the real life murders of Alison Parker and Adam Ward. They were employed by a CBS affiliate in Virginia. Like Mr. Singer's character, Rachel Crawford, these two were killed while their program was airing. The reasons for the murder are different, but the similarities in the events is a bit bone-chilling.

Mr. Singer strove to show both sides of this argument without trying to push anyone to either side. I think, though, that since our environment has gotten so much more violent, that I for one, lean much stronger to the yes, hold them responsible side of the argument.

This is a very intense read.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have become very impressed with Singer's books. There are great stories and characters and complex legal debates. In this one Singer says he set out to purposely try to argue for both sides of the gun control debate and leave it to the reader to decide. He does a good job of accomplishing this goal.

[Erth · Rating 3 out of 5]

now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.

[ꕥ Ange_Lives_To_Read ꕥ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 50%

I never connected with this one.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m rating this one higher than I was thinking halfway through because it really picked up the last 30% or so.

The author did 2 things well:
1. He accomplished what he set out to do, creating an intriguing courtroom drama
2. Presented both sides of the gun debate fairly (if anything, he seemed to lean slightly more liberal than conservative on the issue)

What I did not like about this book were the characters. I found nearly all of them either unlikeable or flat, so even with the few I liked, I still didn’t really care what happened with them. I also disliked the casual misogyny thrown in multiple times. I’m tired of seeing this in so many Christian fiction novels. 

Which brings me to my next point. The religion in this is subtle. That might be a pro or a con depending on what you’re wanting. I probably would have liked a little more, especially concerning a couple specific characters. 

If not for the book club I’m in I never would have picked this up or finished it (a book largely centered on the second amendment isn’t what I’m clamoring to read lol). But because I liked the pacing in the 2nd half and think he did a good job with the court setting, I’d be willing to try another novel or two from Singer. 

11/1/21 - 11/4/21

[Brenda Wharton · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the target of an investigative report storms a Virginia Beach television station, he kills one of the anchors before the SWAT team takes him down. Following the victim's funeral, her family files a lawsuit against the gun company who manufactured the killer's weapon of choice. The lawyers for the plaintiff and defendant--Kelly Starling and Jason Noble--are young, charismatic, and successful. They're also easy blackmail targets, both harboring a personal secret so devastating it could destroy their careers. Millions of dollars--and more than a few lives--are at stake. But as Kelly and Jason battle each other, they discover that the real fight is with unseen forces intent on controlling them both

[Larisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The law of liberty. Mercy triumps over judgment."

The Justice Game is a suspenseful legal thriller that presents both sides about the issue of gun control and the second amendment. The book reminded me of a show I enjoy on t.v. now called "Bull" and mirror jurors.

Singer does a masterful job of presenting both sides of the issue. When the plaintiff's lawyer presents her case, it's compelling, believable, you'll find yourself agreeing with her. When the defendant's lawyer is presenting his, it's equally compelling and believable, you'll find yourself agreeing with him.

The story has just the right amount of suspense to keep you reading. You come to appreciate both of the central characters, their perspectives and the decisions that they ultimately make to help each other.

[Lorri Coburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner and a comprehensive look at multiple sides of the gun debate. The courtroom drama revolves around the widower of a newsperson who was killed by a disgruntled target of her investigation. The widower sues the manufacturer of the gun. Singer does an excellent job of presenting differing opinions without making anyone a villain. He let his readers actually decide the case, which keeps you guessing until the end. I am surprised my library does not have any of Singer's books—I had to get this through the interlibrary loan system. I plan to read more from this author.

[hugo van der wildt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zeer goed. Een rechtbankthriller. In het Nederlands is de titel: de schaduwjury.
Een definitie van een jury: Het zijn twaalf mannen en vrouwen uit de plaatselijke gemeenschap die samenkomen om te beslissen welke client de beste jurist heeft. En daar gaat het over in dit boek. Het stuk dat gaat over de schaduwjury was voor mij het enige zwak punt. Ik verstond niets over de werking van de schaduwjury.
Voor de rest was het spannend en was geschreven met de kennis van zaken. Kan ook niet anders want de schrijver is ook advocaat. Hij kan gerust tussen de grote staan zoals J. Grisham.

[JoAnna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three-line review: Don't bother comparing anyone to John Grisham; it just sets the book up for disappointment. This crime novel (centered around gun violence) starts a bit slow, picks up a decent cadence midway through, and then wraps up so quickly I didn't even follow what the ending was. Also, there were some strange tangential bits that didn't add anything to the story and just muddled the already convoluted plot.

[Debbie Rojas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book! Interesting story, solid characters and plot about gun violence. Regardless of what side you are on, you will like it! It asks the question, should firearm manufacturers be held liable for deaths caused by illegally obtained firearms? I think you will find this story interesting and compelling.

[Pypa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this three stars because I can't give two and a half. I thought this book was really going to be good because the beginning was so exciting. I was wrong. When I got to 53% I just started skimming and I skimmed my way to the end. This really could have been a good book if half of the middle was omitted.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took some chutzpah for Singer to write this one. This is one of Singer’s most personal books. He wrote it after his experience as a lawyer on a second amendment case. Singer does a good job of not being heavy handed and building strong characters to drive a compelling narrative around a thorny issue.