The Final Judgment (Mass Market Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Richard North Patterson frequently rejects the label "legal thriller" for his novels, and The Final Judgement works hard to transcend this limiting category. A cleverly assembled murder mystery told with rich prose ("Moonlight refracted on the still, obsidian waters of the lake and traced the pines and birches and elms surrounding it. The only sound Brett heard was the rise and fall of James's breathing.") and filled with a cast of quirky small-town New Englanders, the novel ultimately succeeds through Patterson's talents as a writer, not just as a plotter.

As in many of Patterson's best novels, The Final Judgement draws on flashback sequences to ground the story and establish key characters. Forty-five-year-old Caroline Masters, a minor figure in Degree of Guilt and Eyes of a Child is the narrative center, and much of the suspense in the novel derives from the slow unwrapping of her past--the death of her mother and estrangement from her father. In the opening of the novel, Caroline is waiting for a message from the White House appointing her to the U.S. Court of Appeals, when, instead, her long-distant father gives her a call. Her niece has just been named the primary suspect in the murder of her boyfriend. The college-age Brett Allen was found naked, passed out from drugs and alcohol, with a knife in her hand, and covered in her boyfriend's blood. The family wants Caroline to return to New Hampshire to defend the girl.

The perils that face Caroline multiply quickly. By taking the case, Caroline clearly jeopardizes her chances for the Court of Appeals appointment. And by returning home, she must inevitably face the accumulated memories and resentments of the New Hampshire crowd, including Caroline's high-school boyfriend who is the prosecuting attorney. But her niece's life is at stake. Ultimately, The Final Judgement is a tale of the deep and twisted history of a New England family, but it is told in a captivating style that is--despite Patterson's reservations about the rubric--"thrilling." --Patrick O'Kelley

From Publishers Weekly

Patterson's legal thriller of a lawyer defending her niece against a murder charge was a PW bestseller for seven weeks.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (November 27, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034540498X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345407610
• ASIN: 034540761X
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,594,894 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MY FINAL JUDGMENT -- IT'S A "10", February 27, 2001

By	Nancy Martin (Pennsylvania (orig. NY)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Final Judgment: A Novel (Random House Large Print (Cloth/Paper)) (Paperback)

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 fascinating character. If you decide to do this, you have some excellent reading ahead of you.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Among Hist Best, January 17, 2000

By	Oldie but Goodie (Western US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Final Judgment (Hardcover)

While not the "standard fare" for Richard North Patterson, this was among his best novels. The characterization he brought to Caroline Masters and Sandy Stern was eloquent. In prior novels, Caroline was a supremely distant character whose history is now revealed and helps explain her behavior and mien in earlier novels. Sandy Stern continues to be something of an enigma, but he comes out being more "human" by the end of the tale.

As for the plot, I daresay there are a few flaws, most of which seem to come out during the lake scene. Beyond that, this novel is an extremely good read for those who enjoy not only plot, but character development as well. If character development is NOT something the reader enjoys, this is probably not the book for them.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read, September 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Final Judgment (Hardcover)

Just wanted to say how much I loved Patterson's The Final Judgement. This has to be the best book I've ever read - one I couldn't put down. The character development here was tops! Yes, this was a courtroom drama, but more it showed how lives and destinies can be influenced by outside sources, like one's parents. Carolyn Masters was wonderful, dear compassionate, intelligent. I also fell in love with Brett. In fact, I want to read more about those two. I almost sense Patterson has left me hanging. Right now I'm going through withdrawls, and find I'm still thinking about this book weeks after I finished it. I will search out his other books for sure.