Directed Verdict [Paperback]

Randy Singer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 16, 2009

In Saudi Arabia, two American missionaries are targeted by the infamous religious police—Muttawa. The man is tortured and killed; his wife arrested on trumped-up charges before being deported to the United States. Compelled by the injustice of her plight, young attorney Brad Carlson files an unprecedented civil rights suit against Saudi Arabia and the ruthless head of the Muttawa. But the suit unleashes powerful forces that will stop at nothing to vindicate the Arabian kingdom. Witnesses are intimidated and some disappear; jurors are bribed; and a member of Brad’s own team may be attempting to sabotage the case. As Brad navigates a maze of treachery and deception, he must gamble his case, his career, and the lives of those he loves on his ability to bring justice to one family, challenge the religious intolerance of a nation, and alter the course of international law. Directed Verdict is a Christy Award–winning novel.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There is plenty of room in evangelical Christian fiction for fresh voices, and debut novelist Singer is a promising one. The story opens with some fairly graphic violence as Sarah and Charles Reed, missionaries to Saudi Arabia, are tortured for their Christian faith and framed for cocaine use. Charles dies, and after returning to the U.S., Sarah's life insurance company refuses to compensate her for his death, citing his "addiction." Desperate for the means to raise her two children, she hires attorney Brad Carson, who seizes the opportunity to sue the nation of Saudi Arabia for their persecution of the Reeds. The resulting lawsuit ends up in the courtroom of the Hon. Cynthia Baker-Kline, a prochoice judge who had an earlier run-in with Carson over a prolife protester he represented. Despite opening the novel with a few stereotypes, Singer eventually smashes others, as in his depiction of Carson's legal secretary (who, with her overweight physique, pack-a-day cigarette habit and constant scowl is no Della Street). There's the requisite witnessing, but some suspense as to who does and doesn't convert to Christianity. The pacing would have been improved by some judicious pruning and tightening, but the story is compelling, and the reader is left guessing until the last chapter about the identity of a potential double-crossing informant. Legal thrillers are gaining ground in the evangelical Christian market, and this is an agreeable addition to the genre.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

In the face of injustice, one person committed to a holy cause can make a difference. This is the story of how one lawyer, confronted with the martyrdom of a Christian missionary, stands up to injustice despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, two American missionaries are targeted by the infamous religious police?the Muttawa. The man is tortured and killed; his wife arrested on trumped-up charges before being deported to the U.S.

Compelled by the injustice of her plight, young attorney Brad Carson files an unprecedented civil rights suit against Saudi Arabia and the ruthless head of the Muttawa. But the suit unleashes powerful forces that will stop at nothing to vindicate the Arabian kingdom. Witnesses are intimidated and some disappear, jurors are bribed, and a member of Brad?s own team may be attempting to sabotage the case.

As Brad navigates a maze of treachery and deception, he must gamble his case, his career, and the lives of those he loves?including brilliant co-counsel Leslie Conners?on the ability of his team to bring justice to one family, challenge the religious intolerance of a nation, and alter the course of international law. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Reprint edition (April 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414331541
• ISBN-13: 978-1414331546
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More 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. Visit his Web site at www.randysinger.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Grisham style legal thriller, only deeper and better., August 13, 2004

By 

Michael Erisman (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Directed Verdict (Paperback)

Randy Singer has a style that is similar to John Grisham, with legal issues developed into in a novel. However, this book has more twists and turns, multiple plot lines, and tackles deeper issues than greed. The basic premise is about a woman who wants to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for the torture and death of her husband by their police. A lawyer and his new aid attempt to take on more than just a powerful government. This brings up international law issues, as well as issues of faith.

I found it hard to put the book down, and was racing to the end. The characters are well defined, although the antagonists are perhaps a bit one-dimensional. The best aspect of the book is the compelling storyline, and the plot twists that are unexpected and keep the reader guessing.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes legal thrillers and good novels that are fun escapes. Despite the fact that Randy Singer is not well known yet, with books as good as this one that deserves to change.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As good as Grisham's "Testament", October 18, 2002

By 

MF King (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Directed Verdict (Paperback)

Do we really need another John Grisham? Lovers of great fiction, especially legal thrillers, will say a resounding YES! And those who've read "Directed Verdict" will say,"Randy Singer is the new Grisham." This is a great read from page one. The settings are vivid. The characters and dialog are so real I can hear them. And, the story line, although growing out of the very real religious persecution in Saudia Arabia, is uplifting and heartening. You know a book is good when you think about it when you're not reading it, longing to get back to it...that's Directed Verdict. I loved it! Hey, Mr. Singer, when's book 2 coming out?

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Novel, December 16, 2006

By 

S. Peek (Rocky Mountains, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Directed Verdict (Paperback)

It is unfortunate that Randy Singer is not more well known. He is an excellent writer.

'Directed Verdict' is really a superb novel that is very difficult to put down. It begins with severe religious persecution in Saudi Arabia by the Muttawa - the Saudi religious police. They have targeted an American missionary couple with unspeakable brutality.

Sarah Reed, who is the surviving wife of the couple, pushes for legal recourse in the States to expose their tactics and hopefully prevent more terror directed against Christians.

She hires legal ace Brad Carson and his team who are rather unconventional, but very tenacious. The story contains numerous plot twists. Every time I thought I had the story figured out, it took another turn.

This book is on a par with Grisham's best - his first few novels. Actually, this is even better than that as Singer addresses much more important issues - those with eternal significance.

I highly recommend this book. If you haven't read Randy Singer yet, you don't know what you're missing.