The Final Judgement

Yes this book deserves 5 stars, the first time I read it. I find this extremely disturbing, as one reviewer said i.e. releasing books as if they were new. They have done this with all the best reads one can find. I was shopping at a local Walmart lately and noticed a group of women, like myself, who are additcted to "reading" discussing this problem. For example this author Richard North Patterson,s books, also the whole series of Kay Scarpetta Mysteries, authored by, I believe, Patricia Cornwall, and all were upset by this phenomenom. Some other people were unaware this is happening, so now when people are browsing paperbacks, in particular, I warn them how old the book really is. There are many elderly readers, whose memories are not the best, and this only is creating confusion in their lives. O.K. The book was great. Does that mean we are suppose to "forget" that we even read it before. I think not. This is a bad marketing ploy, and detrimental to senior citizens, especially. Are they being targeted? I cannot answer this question, but if that is the idea behind it, making money is not the most important thing in life. The same goes for CDs that are essentially the same old, same old, in new packaging. Shame on those who are money-grabbers. As the Bible states "the love of money is at the root of all evil". Be careful out there, and God Bless.

I love Richard North Patterson's books and have read every one as it has been released. I was very disappointed to realize this is just an old book that has been re-titled. I think it's a poor way to get money from loyal readers. I loved it the first time, but I was duped this time!

I think I may now have a new favorite author(sorry John Grisham). Five hundred pages is quite a lot to read, but I hated for this book to end. Patterson's books have more twists and turns in them than a blind driver without a map. He kept me guessing until the final pages. My wife read this book and thinks he is totally incredible also. We can't wait to read his next book!

When I give a book a five star rating, it means on a scale of 1-10, I have rated it an 8, 9 or 10. Believe me, very few books reach the "10" level but this one did. It's a case where Richard North Patterson's writing prowess is clearly evident.If you've followed any of his earlier books, you'll know that he likes to bring back characters that he's already introduced you to in previous novels. The Final Judgment centers around one of my personal favorites, Caroline Masters, a character who put herself through law school and spent 15 years as a public defender before being appointed to a minor judgeship in the San Francisco Municipal Court. This appointment leads to a judge's dream. A high profile televised case is thrown in her lap where a well-known journalist is accused of killing an equally famous novelist. By the end of this trial, which occurs in Patterson's Degree of Guilt, Masters is a celebrity. Many offers pour in and Caroline chooses the one that would serve her ambitions and accepts a partnership in San Francisco's largest law firm. With the strength of this law firm behind her, in Eyes of the Child she ends up defending another high profile defense attorney who is accused of murder, once again putting her in the public eye.As Final Judgment opens, we meet Caroline once again as she is waiting for the phone call that could change her life -- an appointment to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals which would put her one step away from her true goal in life -- a Supreme Court nomination. Just when it seems that Caroline's life is finally on track, she is summoned back home to New Hampshire to defend her niece who is accused of murdering her boyfriend. She hasn't been back there in over twenty years. Prior to this book, Caroline's private life has been an enigma. The only thing that the reader knows about her is that she is very fair, self-confident, intelligent and beautiful. We know virtually nothing about her personal life until it is finally revealed in this book. Richard North Patterson takes us back twenty-three years to Martha's Vineyard where Caroline's trust in her family was once shattered. In coming back to New Hampshire to defend her niece, it will be the first time she has seen her half sister and her father since then. What follows is a trial that proves Caroline's ability beyond a shadow of a doubt but also shows us the compassionate side of this possible future appellate court judge. This is an emotional story that starts out with Caroline finally realizing her dream of a high court judgeship yet could easily end with her finding herself empty handed as this trial becomes very public and her secrets could be revealed possibly ruining her chance to achieve her ultimate goal.Of course, you have to read this book to find out if she ever makes it to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. I might even suggest reading all three of these books in order so you can appreciate, as much as I have, the development of this fa

From start to finish, The Final Judgement kept me guessing! There were so many plot twists and sudden turns, to say it was a rollercoaster ride would be an understatement. I have read North Patterson's other books but this one makes Caroline Masters human in a way that the others did not. She is not just a middle-aged, never-married, stoic judge but a passionate woman with a torid past. She risks her life's goals to help a family she long ago freed herself from and the outcome is shocking! Pick this one up on a quiet evening and you won't want to put it down