Hardcover
$28.56

Paperback
$19.99

$28.56 with 5 percent savings

List Price: $30.00

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Monday, October 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

$$28.56 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Details

${cardName} not available for the seller you chose

${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}.

Ships from

Amazon

Sold by

WISEMAN GOODS LLC

Returns

FREE 30-day refund/replacement

Payment

Secure transaction

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

$12.05

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

Very Good condition.Crisp pages. Clean cover and pages. Book shows minimal shelf wear. No highlighting/marking. Not Satisfied? Contact us to get a refund. Very Good condition.Crisp pages. Clean cover and pages. Book shows minimal shelf wear. No highlighting/marking. Not Satisfied? Contact us to get a refund. See less

FREE delivery October 22 - 27 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Or fastest delivery October 21 - 23

$$28.56 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Details

${cardName} not available for the seller you chose

${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}.

Sold by Giant Giant and Fulfilled by Amazon.

Add to List

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (56) from $2.28 + $3.99 shipping

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Richard North Patterson

Follow

Trial Hardcover – June 13, 2023

by Richard North Patterson (Author)

1,304 ratings

See all formats and editions

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$28.56","priceAmount":28.56,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"28","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"56","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"SDgn6uIhN8pYr1svihA59FWZv%2BbnvBQxpGbRA8AMv5dn4pVbTimw%2BriwuMSPxAjms0segWpiFR2QZ7pI77VrcMj0ENE3gvJbIOc9%2F12sOUgLZ1B6PlODIn6AEDjcVAyZl%2FoygeGcRREFidUiDGnIbjoID6GScxNNvpqzOARoeDudsDrDQ6tLzHlE7Dm2A9t%2B","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$12.05","priceAmount":12.05,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"12","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"05","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"SDgn6uIhN8pYr1svihA59FWZv%2BbnvBQxndu4Tr2bozckxTvOh842zZ6QeWQIce0KRnhnP5NQKMY6Xm3DFcPdFqZcpNsk0W4akIcZ%2BU5I%2BVZnVMC2S0YVJVQhEDc2wP9AX2qLik2X2bcWvy7YI9FNfW4Y%2BzRmNJU5xaC09laWp%2F592e2cGfrGUA%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Trial confirms Richard North Patterson’s place as “our most important author of popular fiction.”

In a propulsive narrative that culminates in a nationally televised murder case, Trial explores America’s most incendiary flashpoints of race.

A Black eighteen-year-old voting rights worker, Malcolm Hill, is stopped by a white sheriff’s deputy on a dark country road in rural Georgia. His single mother, Allie, America’s leading voting rights advocate, restlessly awaits his return before police inform her that Malcolm has been arrested for murder. In Washington D.C., the rising, young, white congressman Chase Brevard of Massachusetts is watching the morning news with his girlfriend, only to find his life transformed in a single moment by the appearance of Malcolm’s photograph. Suddenly all three are enveloped in a media firestorm that threatens their lives—especially Malcolm’s.

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard North Patterson is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-two prior novels, including the number one New York Times bestseller, Protect and Defend, as well as a nonfiction narrative of the 2016 presidential campaign. Formerly a trial lawyer, Patterson’s numerous awards include the Edgar Allan Poe Award. Critics have called him “one of the best in the business” and “our most important popular novelist.”

Between 2015 and 2021, Patterson was a regular columnist for national publications, noted for his widely read commentaries on American politics. Concerning his novel, Balance of Power, President Bill Clinton said, “Richard North Patterson has a keen eye for how Washington really works,” while Senator Edward Kennedy called it “a great read by a masterful writer.” Trial is his first novel in nine years.

Patterson lives on Martha’s Vineyard and in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife, Dr. Nancy Clair.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Post Hill Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 13, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1637588062
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1637588062
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.45 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #839,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #285 in Legal Thrillers (Books)
- #449 in Political Fiction (Books)
- #1,462 in Multicultural & Interracial Romance (Books)
Customer Reviews:
1,304 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Richard North Patterson

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

RICHARD NORTH PATTERSON is the author of The Spire, Eclipse and fourteen other bestselling and critically acclaimed novels. Formerly a trial lawyer, he was the SEC liaison to the Watergate special prosecutor and has served on the boards of several Washington advocacy groups. He lives in San Francisco and on Martha's Vineyard with his wife, Dr. Nancy Clair.

Customer reviews

1,304 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers find the book compelling from the first few pages, praising its masterful storytelling and fascinating court tale. They appreciate the writing quality and find it thought-provoking, with one review noting how it educates readers about historical issues. The character development receives mixed reactions, with some finding them compelling while others describe them as cliché. Several customers express concerns about the book's political content, finding it too biased.

Select to learn more

Pacing Story quality Thought provoking Writing quality Character development Accuracy Political content

27 customers mention "Pacing"24 positive3 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book compelling and engaging, with one customer describing it as an extraordinary page turner.

"Excellent author who never disappoints. Great read." Read more

"...And Trial does not disappoint. It is compelling with deep character analysis...." Read more

"...I was immediately captivated by the construction of Patterson's work, which unfolds beyond my imagination, and bought all of his previous Japanese..." Read more

"...politically conservative but I actually read the whole book and found it thrilling...." Read more

20 customers mention "Story quality"16 positive4 negative

Customers praise the compelling story of this courtroom drama, with one customer noting its masterful storytelling and another describing it as a fascinating tale of love.

"...on Patterson's thorough research from various sources, gives the story breadth and depth...." Read more

"This was a lovely story to read and very compelling for the times...." Read more

"...The characters are so engaging, and the plot so compelling. We can only hope that Richard North Patterson will have another great read for us soon." Read more

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book until the final 10 pages. The story was over and it seemed the author did not trust the reader to come to their own..." Read more

14 customers mention "Thought provoking"12 positive2 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, with one customer noting how it educates readers and opens their eyes to different viewpoints, while another highlights its in-depth analysis of historical issues.

"...With that said this book really opened my eyes to view the other viewpoint, I mainly found this novel to be a thrilling story that kept my interest..." Read more

"...intriguing and suspenseful. A most compelling and thought provoking read for our day." Read more

"...Great plot and story Characters developed nicely Helpful discussions of the two races in the modern era that we are now living" Read more

"The story in The Trial is compelling and insightful, spoiled slightly by poor editing...." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book.

"Good writing Great plot and story Characters developed nicely..." Read more

"Richard North Patterson has written a special book, in that it incorporates so much that needs to be addressed in this country early and often...." Read more

"...Richard North Patterson is not only a terrific writer, but he typically makes me think about the issues that are integral to the story...." Read more

"Excellent author who never disappoints. Great read." Read more

11 customers mention "Character development"7 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them compelling while others describe them as cliché.

"...by a liberal author but that didn't bother me because I liked the story and the characters. Are the characters cliche ?..." Read more

"This book was a fantastic waste of time. 100% predictable plot. Hackneyed characters. Politically biased in a manner that had zero ambiguity...." Read more

"...It has characters you believe in and care about. It is perhaps the best...." Read more

"This book is impossible to put down. The characters are so engaging, and the plot so compelling...." Read more

6 customers mention "Accuracy"4 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the accuracy of the book, with some finding the trial portrayal authentic and one noting the dramatic events are couched in procedural accuracy, while others find it unrealistic.

"...The trial portrayed is authentic, intriguing and suspenseful. A most compelling and thought provoking read for our day." Read more

"...Unfortunately, it fails as a work of fiction, and is a tedious read." Read more

"...as a Black man for the last 65 years, I have no doubt this is an accurate depiction of what they must face every day...." Read more

"...So there’s a lot of real stuff in this book … and it’s a great story. Could be a movie, a great one." Read more

7 customers mention "Political content"2 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed views on the book's political content, with several finding it too political and biased, while one customer appreciates its liberal perspective.

"Very left-wing, liberal point of view. Too biased...." Read more

"...all white folks and their leaders are virulent, over-the-top, cartoonish racists...." Read more

"I enjoyed the story line that combined politics and people dynamics with realism...." Read more

"...100% predictable plot. Hackneyed characters. Politically biased in a manner that had zero ambiguity. It was hard to get through...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.

Mikio Miyaki
best work to date
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2024
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Richard North Patterson is one of my favorite authors. I think “Trial” is his best work to date. My first encounter with his work was the Japanese translation of “Degree of Guilt.” I was immediately captivated by the construction of Patterson's work, which unfolds beyond my imagination, and bought all of his previous Japanese translations. Since “Eyes of Child”, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of his new work. Since the publication of “Fever Swamp” in 2017, he had not released any new works, and I felt a certain sense of Patterson loss.

“Trial” is a courtroom novel, as the title suggests. However, the underlying motif is, as always in Patterson's novels, love between men and women and familial love. In the undercurrent of the story, there is the figure of Black Juliet, which Allie played when she was at Harvard University. Allie is a black woman who disappeared in front of Harvard university student Chase 19 years ago. Chase, now a congressman, sees Allie's son, 18-year-old Malcolm, on television as the murderer of a white police officer, and sees a glimpse of himself in his younger days. He travels to Georgia, suspecting that Malcolm is his son. What verdict will the jury give on the circumstances that led 18-year-old Malcolm to shoot and kill a white police officer? As always, Patterson brilliantly incorporates into the story the atmosphere that dominates American society, the deeply rooted discriminatory attitudes in the southern state of Georgia, the hardships that befall black people living in Georgia as a matter of course, the Blue Georgia movement and the various ways in which those around it respond to it.

According to information on the Internet, Patterson had a lot of trouble finding a publisher willing to publish this book. It seems that this is why “Trial” was published by PostHill Press, a publisher that is unfamiliar to most people. Most of the opposition was that white people should not be involved in writing novels that speak for minorities, and it seems that major publishers were swayed by such opinions and were hesitant to publish the book. Each episode, likely created based on Patterson's thorough research from various sources, gives the story breadth and depth. I was able to deepen my understanding of the differences in consciousness that are still deeply rooted among people from all walks of life in the United States.

Read more

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Kdog59
thrilling
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2024
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Most readers who identify politically as conservative write this novel off as liberal mush. But they admit that they didn't even read the whole book. Well I am politically conservative but I actually read the whole book and found it thrilling. Yes, I could tell early on that the story was being told by a liberal author but that didn't bother me because I liked the story and the characters. Are the characters cliche ? yes but that did not detract- I mean how many fictional stories are told with factual characters -that takes away from the romance of the story. As far as predictability, I for one had no idea which way the story was going. In fact I never wanted to put the book down because of my curiosity. To be honest, about halfway through I was bothered by the fact that all the conservatives in the story were racist violent white supremacists and all the other good democrats were pure as the driven snow. That except for the young defendant the main characters were almost perfect. However, this book gave me the chance to see things through someone else's eyes. Namely the murder defendant and his mother, grandmother and lawyer who were all black. I really felt their anguish and their predicament. So, for this I am grateful that I read the book. I disagree that we have not progressed a lot regarding race in the last 60 years. I mean the majority of Americans voted for a black president in 2008. I know that racism exists but believe the majority of our country is not racist. With that said this book really opened my eyes to view the other viewpoint, I mainly found this novel to be a thrilling story that kept my interest right to the last sentence.

Read more

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Robert Schwartz
lovely story
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2024
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This was a lovely story to read and very compelling for the times. However, it was filled with grammatical errors, misspellings and even incorrectly names (Hall vs Hill). You would think that such a well known author could have a competent editor working with him.

Read more

Helpful

Report
dr. gerri sweder
A Terrific Read
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2023
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Ken
This is a terrific read. It is a legal thriller dealing head-on with the racial issues which bedevil our entire country. It has characters you believe in and care about. It is perhaps the best. Richard north of Paterson‘s long list of excellent novels.
The story is about the son of a Harvard educated black woman, who is the leader of a get-out -vote organization in Georgia. Her son is stopped on a dark backwards road by a sheriffs deputy. The stop results in the death of the Deputy and the capital murder charge against the sun. It also results in a white liberal congressman from Massachusetts first learning about his illegitimate son and becoming involved in his trial as well as with his former lover at Harvard.
Patterson gives us the thoughts and feelings of his three main characters in the face of the racist environment confronting them. Readers will understand them, be informed by them and feel their genuineness. He also gives us the engaging love story of the main characters, both in their college days, and then, in the midst of the turmoil of the trial.
As to the trial itself, after taking a long leave from writing novels, Patterson re-emerges as the masters storyteller of legal trials. The trial portrayed is authentic, intriguing and suspenseful.
A most compelling and thought provoking read for our day.

Read more

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Amazon Customer
a spectacular read
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This book is impossible to put down. The characters are so engaging, and the plot so compelling. We can only hope that Richard North Patterson will have another great read for us soon.

Read more

Helpful

Report
Jeffrey H. Howard
Top-notch
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Good writing
Great plot and story
Characters developed nicely
Helpful discussions of the two races in the modern era that we are now living

Read more

Helpful

Report

Top reviews from other countries

Saurabh Soparkar India
a good book but I expected more from this fine author
Reviewed in India on June 28, 2023
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Liked plot and the beautiful flow of expression. However end was abrupt and and an anti climax. However a very burning problem nicely brought out.

Read more
Report
Patricia Mainguy
Avid reader's book.
Reviewed in Canada on July 26, 2024
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
I liked the introduction and couldn't put it down. Caracters well described. I could imagine their faces. Big surprise near the end. Great ending.

Read more
Report
Amazon Customer
Fantastic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2025
Verified Purchase
Fantastic, because of its breadth of intelligence and understanding about the importance of scale and example is to a full life within our complex world: in family, local community, county or town, region, nation and global location! I look forward to the film!?

Read more
Report
Monica
Product placement?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 3, 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I read a lot of RNP's books a while ago and loved them. However, I got a little way into this and he mentioned an artist who is a friend of his. Peter James also does this and I find it too irritating for words. Is this a story? or is it a plug for your friends and relations?

I don't know what the rest of the book was about, but I couldn't bear to go on with it. I'm sorry.

Read more
Report

See more reviews

Sorry, there was a problem.

Sorry, there was a problem.

Image Unavailable

Follow the author

Trial Hardcover – June 13, 2023

Purchase options and add-ons

Frequently bought together

Frequently purchased items with fast delivery

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Product details

Videos

About the author

Richard North Patterson

Customer reviews

Customers say

Select to learn more

Images in this review

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.

5.0 out of 5 stars best work to date

5.0 out of 5 stars thrilling

4.0 out of 5 stars lovely story

5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific Read

5.0 out of 5 stars a spectacular read

5.0 out of 5 stars Top-notch

Top reviews from other countries

3.0 out of 5 stars a good book but I expected more from this fine author

5.0 out of 5 stars Avid reader's book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic

3.0 out of 5 stars Product placement?

best work to date

thrilling

lovely story

A Terrific Read

a spectacular read

Top-notch

a good book but I expected more from this fine author

Avid reader's book.

Fantastic

Product placement?