Customer Reviews

Judge Fogg

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Randy O'Brien's first novel, Judge Fogg, provides an informed view of Nashville and its race relations from a most unusual perspective: that of a black judge, Charles Fogg, who has risen from the "mean streets" of that supposedly genteel city in the 1960's to become a respected sergeant in the police force and then, after law school, an even more respected judge--but one with a secret that threatens his supposed integrity as both judge and man. Excellent character study that sweeps across the latter part of the twentieth century and its evolving social and racial currents. "Othello in the new Old South" might be too grand a subtitle to offer--but it comes close. Well worth the read.

Randy O'Brien's first novel is a fast-paced page-turner. The twists and turns keep you guessing, and just when you think you are finished with a character he or she pops up again years later. I don't know how many times I said, "Wait a minute, this person was introduced a long time ago and now they're back!"

Randy is a master of description. You can just see the characters and locations. The descriptions get a bit gritty at times, but that's life.

I live just south of Nashville, the location for the story, and Randy's descriptions are dead on. I found myself thiniking, "Yep, I know just where that street is." At one point I got out a Nashville map and traced the routes the charcters were taking! And his description of how Middle Tennesseans respond to the least hint of snow was exactly on target.

Randy O'Brian did a excellent job with his first novel of the Judge Charles Fogg. A history lesson, excitement and shock all in one novel. The reader doesn't know what to expect from any of the characters in the novel for page to page. A wonderful book that the reader will not be able to put down.

With totally unpredictable twists and turns in every chapter, "Judge Fogg" is indeed a thrilling read. You may think you know where the plot is going, but you'll be surprised every time. And you'll never guess the ending. Randy has done a masterful job of weaving history and fiction into a plausible and fulfilling story. Nashville area residents will particularly appreciate the rich detail -- both geographical and cultural in nature. Completely believable and large-as-life characters make "Judge Fogg" a true page-turner.

Randy O'Brien has written a superbly crafted novel about a totally compelling character who gets in the crusher early and stays there until the very end. The voices are distinct, the surprises come fast and furious, and it moves like a rocket sled on rails. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. The main character and the world he lives in are not what we're used to seeing, and therein lies the delight. A killer book.