The Heart of Justice [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

William J. Coughlin (Author), Dick Hill (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1995

The federal judge has before him a case of epic proportions and enormous implications - an unprecedented corporate takeover war. In a staggering turn of events, Judge Murray finds himself trapped by his love for his new wife and his dedication to the law. His decision, no matter how it turns out, will change the course of his life with everything on the line: his honor, his reputation, his marriage, even his own skin. First as a man, then as a judge, he must confront what is at the heart of justice.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A corporate takeover leads to a moral dilemma in this archly written but truncated posthumous novel from Coughlin (In the Presence of Enemies). The dilemma belongs to Judge Paul Murray, who unwittingly has received his recently acquired position on the federal bench thanks to his new wife, beautiful socialite Hope Scott. Hope asked powerful corporate raider and old boyfriend Jordan Crandell to recommend Paul for the judgeship; Crandell obliged. Now Crandell is in a headline-grabbing legal fight with takeover king Lew Valentine to buy up the computer company Starwares. As fate and plotting would have it, the Starwares case ends up in federal court, with Paul presiding. Coughlin devotes most of the novel to building up a world where amoral types like Crandell and Valentine will be judged by people who are flawed but essentially moral and upright, like Paul. But what the author offers is nearly all setup: instead of giving it the space and weight it deserves, Coughlin deals with Paul's moral dilemma?to rule on the case or to step down??in only a scant few pages. Perhaps Coughlin's death in 1992 is the reason behind this sketchy and unsatisfying climax; otherwise, the book is a sharply observed tale of self-interested sharks who tear away at each other during a corporate takeover. 75,000 first printing; $75,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This Information Age legal drama opens incongruously with the judge and his socialite wife interrupted in bed by a threatening telephone call. Extensive flashbacks into a world of political favors, corporate intrigue, and New York society follow. The judge proves incorruptible; the marriage continues happily; the lawyers make money, and the businesspeople all lose. In his dramatic reading, Dick Hill changes tone, pace, and pitch to bring conniving businesspeople, savvy lawyers, and the humane judge to life. However, abrupt changes in sound volume make road listening a bit annoying. Furthermore, this listener found the fuzzy, faraway sound quality added to denote telephone conversations obtrusive. Overall though, The Heart of Justice is an absorbing story. Recommended for large popular fiction collections.?Juleigh Muirhead Clark, Coll. of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Va.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Unabridged Library Edition; Unabridged edition (March 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561002453
• ISBN-13: 978-1561002450
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.2 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,659,023 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DISAPOINTED!, November 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Heart of Justice (Mass Market Paperback)

I just recently discovered Wm. Coughlin by reading "The Judgement". I loved it and started searching for others. I read Heart of Justice after reading 5 others and cannot believe this was written by the same aurhor as the others. It is far inferior and I'm sure not written by a man (not saying a man could do better) as the way characters are depicted implies to me a woman is writing the prose.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars May be a phony one?, July 7, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Heart of Justice (Mass Market Paperback)

This one was published after the author died over one or two years. It's a totally bad story and bad writing. Didn't look like a genuine work of Coughlin's

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Who wrote this book??? Surely, NOT William Coughlin., August 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Heart of Justice (Mass Market Paperback)

This book could not possibly have been written by William Coughlin!! The writing style is completely different...and greatly inferior to his. The plot is slow and ponderous, and the dialogue is dull and amateurish compared to his other books. It's a shame that his name has been attached to a book that is so poorly written.