Customer Reviews

The Judgment

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My Father William J. Coughlin, who died at the early age of 62, did not write this book. Although the publisher wants you to believe he wrote and finished this book on his death bed. This is completely untrue. The rights were sold by a family member to the publisher and another writer from the west coast was hired to write this. My father had a great idea regarding a story he wanted to write, but there is not one parargraph in this entire book that my Father wrote.

The publisher is just trying to sell you on the name and his success from his previous novels.

If you would like to read a couple of very good books William J. Coughlin did write: Try "Shadow of a Doubt" or : "Death Penalty"

I expected a true thriller. Scott Turow had said "Vintage Coughlin. Sharp, tight and full of suspense." I found this book to be none of these. It took forever to get started and once it got going the outcome was predictable and offered no suspense.

I have read a number of Coughlin's books. Some are better than others, but this one proves again, as do his other novels, that Coughlin is among the best of the lawyer-novel authors. His plots are always interesting and developed; his writing is very good; there is humor and sophistication to a degree that is rare in this genre.

Motor City lawyer Charley Sloan is tired because he is working on two high profile cases that impact his relationship with his girl friend, Detective Sue Gillis. In one case that Sue is directly working on, someone is murdering little children in a bizarre manner. It seems that after killing the youngsters, the perp cleans the corpses and their clothing, and gently places them in plastic. He then puts the wrapped up bodies in the snow as if they are sleeping angels. Charley's other case involves defending the Detroit police chief from the charge of embezzling one million dollars.

Though stretched to the limit, Charley continues to investigate both cases. With the serial killer case, he hopes to identify the killer so his currently rocky relationship with Sue can move forward. In the police chief case, Charley needs to find out who has set his client up to take the fall while the real criminal pockets the cash. Both cases are dangerous, but that will not deter Charley from seeking out the truth.

THE JUDGEMENT is a great posthumous legacy from William J. Coughlin, one of the top writers of legal procedural in the nineties. The much maligned and flawed Charley is a great protagonist and the support cast is one of the best ensemble companies to grace a novel. Though the story line initially appears to be contrived, in the hands of a master like Mr. Coughlin, it becomes a fast-paced, dazzling one sit-reading experience.

Harriet Klausner

This is the first book by Coughlin that I have read. It was engaging and enjoyable but not a pageturner. Coughlin spins two parallel but unrelated stories through the book. This leaves the reader to wonder if the two story lines will come together in the end or remain separate vehicles that develop the main character, Charles Sloan. As the novel progresses in a somewhat meandering fashion, the reader comes to know Sloan, who is a lawyer of keen mind and thought process, a recovering alcoholic, and, at times, a tortured soul. The story is able to hold the reader's attention but the ending is rather predictable. The story is written in the first person perspective of Sloan, much like the Paul Mandriani novels from Steve Martini. Personally, I will seek out a Martini novel before I again reach for Couglin.

Recovering alcoholic attorney is involved in two different cases. In one he is representing assistant police chief who's accused of stealing money used to pay drug informants. The charges seem to be political in nature. In the other, he is called into to represent various suspects being questioned in murders of seven year old children. The child murders cause him to question God although he is a lapsed Catholic and also cause him to slip in his alcohol recovery program. In the end, He's able to vindicate the police chief and secrets of the police chief's past are revealed. In the other, he discovers who the child-murderer is (really not too hard to figure) and confronts him.

This is one of the finest novels I've ever read. While at one point I may have given "The Judgment" only four stars, I quickly decided against the score. Coughlin may or may be the author, however, I surely wish I knew who wrote this fine story of innocence and struggle.

Despite some creepy and very graphic scenes, I enjoyed this book. I have to admit, however, that I suspected the murderer from pretty early on. I did not, however, suspect the story that unfolded in the last couple of pages.

There were really two story lines running concurrently, with no connection other than Sloan. This format wasn't distracting, just a bit hard to reconcile once in a while - like reading two books at once.

After reading the comments by Mr. Coughlin's son on this site, I will go find some of the books he really wrote and check those out.

From attorney to writer in one magnificent stroke, this man captures the reader in the first sentence. As a defense attorney, he is well versed in the skill of sinking his teeth in and not letting go. His books are his courtroom where he flourishes. As a forensic professional myself, I could not find one instance where the prose, dialogue or terminology missed it's mark. Patricia Cornwell was the preview and William Coughlin is the standing ovation!