Scan barcode
reneesmith's review against another edition
4.0
Sam, the main character, is a savvy, bighearted, sometimes amoral, mess, who survived horrific childhood trauma to become a fast-talking lawyer, who tries to stand up for other down-and-outers. I can’t imagine someone further from my world, but maybe the thought of that hurting young girl who no one stood up for makes me root for her—even when she’s breaking the law. So I’m a fan.
(I’m not sure why, but sometimes I wonder what would happen if she ended up in the same story as Jack Reacher!)
Sometimes gritty yet entertaining listen!
(I’m not sure why, but sometimes I wonder what would happen if she ended up in the same story as Jack Reacher!)
Sometimes gritty yet entertaining listen!
nixbix_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. I thought that the story itself was good, but I didn't like some of the characters & the way they acted. I also suffered from coming in at book 4 of the series. If you are a fan of the series, you will like it.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
gabschaf's review
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Definitely had a different vibe than the other books in the series since Sam was a lot closer to the murder. I didn’t feel like Niko got a lot of exposure in earlier books, so it felt unnatural that he was such a main character. Read in 3 hours, 23 minutes
jen_baroness_mom's review against another edition
5.0
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Final Judgment by Marcia Clark is a magnificent mystery with a few suspects, lots of motives, and twists that I didn't see coming.
Sam is a defense attorney in Los Angeles. She is also our sleuth; Sam is assisted by Alex (her hacker) and Dale (her Dad the cop). Alex and Sam work well together. They have been doing this for a while, you can tell by their familiarity with each other. Sam isn't your regular defense attorney. She has a thing about justice, and even though she gets some shady guys out of trouble, Sam isn't afraid to do whatever is necessary to help justice along.
The thing I like most about Sam is she is broken, not perfect. Yet, she has those that she loves, and they are the ones that she keeps close to her. Sam's life hasn't been peaches and cream, but she has figured out how to deal with it for the most part. As for negative traits that Sam may have, I didn't find anything that would make me not want to be her friend, mostly the opposite.
I was blown away at the complexity of the cases that Sam and her team were working. The main case is the murder of Bryan and the possible murder of Tanner, Niko's (Sam's boyfriend) stockbroker friends, and partners. Since Niko, is the main suspect at this time, Sam must know the truth. Then there is the rape of a teenage girl at a party in which the girl wasn't supposed to be. Sam and Alex are trying to figure out who could have done this.
The ex-hacker Alex's way of finding information and his relationships with so many people help them in their hunt for the truth. Michy is Sam's best friend, office manager, personal assistant. Basically, Michy keeps Sam's professional life in check. Ok, she is also the one that keeps Sam from hiding from the world. Then we have Dale, Sam's Dad. They recently connected and are quite a bit alike. Dale helps Sam with some specific things, all off the record, of course. Together they make a fantastic group, who right the wrongs in the world, at least that's what I am calling it.
I found Marcia Clark's writing voice unique, and her style refreshing. I enjoyed following the story through Sam's perspective. The story is different and exciting. It kept me on my toes, and I couldn't stop thinking about whodunit. Therefore I am giving Final Judgment by Marcia Clark five stars. And recommending it to all of you mystery/thriller readers out there.
Will Sam save her love, Niko?
Samantha Brinkman
Sam is a defense attorney in Los Angeles. She is also our sleuth; Sam is assisted by Alex (her hacker) and Dale (her Dad the cop). Alex and Sam work well together. They have been doing this for a while, you can tell by their familiarity with each other. Sam isn't your regular defense attorney. She has a thing about justice, and even though she gets some shady guys out of trouble, Sam isn't afraid to do whatever is necessary to help justice along.
The thing I like most about Sam is she is broken, not perfect. Yet, she has those that she loves, and they are the ones that she keeps close to her. Sam's life hasn't been peaches and cream, but she has figured out how to deal with it for the most part. As for negative traits that Sam may have, I didn't find anything that would make me not want to be her friend, mostly the opposite.
The Mystery
I was blown away at the complexity of the cases that Sam and her team were working. The main case is the murder of Bryan and the possible murder of Tanner, Niko's (Sam's boyfriend) stockbroker friends, and partners. Since Niko, is the main suspect at this time, Sam must know the truth. Then there is the rape of a teenage girl at a party in which the girl wasn't supposed to be. Sam and Alex are trying to figure out who could have done this.
Sam's Team
The ex-hacker Alex's way of finding information and his relationships with so many people help them in their hunt for the truth. Michy is Sam's best friend, office manager, personal assistant. Basically, Michy keeps Sam's professional life in check. Ok, she is also the one that keeps Sam from hiding from the world. Then we have Dale, Sam's Dad. They recently connected and are quite a bit alike. Dale helps Sam with some specific things, all off the record, of course. Together they make a fantastic group, who right the wrongs in the world, at least that's what I am calling it.
Five Stars
I found Marcia Clark's writing voice unique, and her style refreshing. I enjoyed following the story through Sam's perspective. The story is different and exciting. It kept me on my toes, and I couldn't stop thinking about whodunit. Therefore I am giving Final Judgment by Marcia Clark five stars. And recommending it to all of you mystery/thriller readers out there.
Other Books in the Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Final Judgment by Marcia Clark.
Until the next time,
This Guest Review is for Baroness' Book Trove.
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
dockie's review
5.0
Always a good read
I enjoy these books so much. They are very well written, love the details plots, a great whodunnit, keeps you guessing and a good ending. So good!
I enjoy these books so much. They are very well written, love the details plots, a great whodunnit, keeps you guessing and a good ending. So good!
bookbolt's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kkread's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sweetlybsquared's review against another edition
3.0
Sam Brinkman is a sassy, smart defense attorney with a not-so-happy past. She tries to do what’s actually right for justice in a lot of cases, especially when the law doesn’t mete out what she feels is appropriate punishment. While this could make her a crazy character, instead it made it sound like she deserves a fist bump.
Ms. Brinkman also had great relationships with each of the other people in her law office. Her ‘bestie’ from childhood was her office manager (and anything else that needed to be done). A previous client who had proved his computer and research skills was her investigator. The respect and admiration they all demonstrated for each other was enjoyable to witness. Great characters can often make a book a better read.
Although it was book four of the Samantha Brinkman series, this book stood alone just fine. There were references to events in her past, but it wasn’t easily discernible if the events were featured in previous books, or just memories from her past.
This book was a great summer read, with a satisfying ending. I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to those who enjoy contemporary fiction and legal thrillers. I’d also be interested in checking out the previous books in the series, and other novels by this author.
Ms. Brinkman also had great relationships with each of the other people in her law office. Her ‘bestie’ from childhood was her office manager (and anything else that needed to be done). A previous client who had proved his computer and research skills was her investigator. The respect and admiration they all demonstrated for each other was enjoyable to witness. Great characters can often make a book a better read.
Although it was book four of the Samantha Brinkman series, this book stood alone just fine. There were references to events in her past, but it wasn’t easily discernible if the events were featured in previous books, or just memories from her past.
This book was a great summer read, with a satisfying ending. I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to those who enjoy contemporary fiction and legal thrillers. I’d also be interested in checking out the previous books in the series, and other novels by this author.
fawnersob's review against another edition
2.0
I usually love Marcia Clark’s books, but I just wasn’t feeling this one. While the storyline was interesting, I felt like the book dragged and had a lot of subplot lines that could have been removed.
canada_matt's review against another edition
4.0
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Marcia Clark, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
After a hiatus, Marcia Clark is back with another strong Samantha Brinkman legal thriller that hits home more than the other books in the series. While on vacation with her boyfriend, Niko, Samantha is rushed back to LA to deal with an investment issue. It would seem that Niko’s mother was taken in by a cryptocurrency scam that saw her lose a great deal of money. While they two men heading up the investment are apologetic, they are not confident about being able to reimburse their clients. Niko takes this less than calmly and Samantha soon sees a darker and more intense side. When one of the investors turns up dead in his home, all eyes turn to Niko, as the cause of death is internal decapitation, skill Niko knows well. All the same, Niko proclaims that he is innocent, though admits he is trained to kill when needed. Samantha agrees to represent him and the search for the truth begins. While Samantha handles some of her other legal work, the office team begins digging a little deeper, only to discover that Niko has a past in Chicago that he likely did not want discovered. As Samantha must digest this, things begin looking worse for her client as the court date approaches. Lies and deceit are nothing a defence attorney likes in their client, but when it’s a boyfriend, it is exponentially worse. Samantha will have to make a few choices as Niko’s guilt looks more likely. Will she choose wisely for all involved? A wonderful story that keeps the reader guessing. Recommended to those who have enjoyed this series (and all of Clark’s work), as well as the reader who needs a legal thriller that can be digested with ease.
I have long enjoyed Marcia Clark’s work, as she reinvent herself after the infamous trial that made her a household name. She works hard to create relatable characters and stories that can be easily enjoyed, even if they touch on some controversial subjects. Samantha Brinkman has been a wonderfully complex character, as the four novels in the series have come to show her. She is strong-willed, but also vulnerable when it suits her. She is gritty and determined without being cold. This story pushes her into a realm she might not have known before and requires that she make choices that will clash with her emotional well-being. Other characters help to push the story forward, while complementing Brinkman in a variety of ways, which enriches the overall experience. The story is strong and kept me pushing forward. Perhaps it is that there has not been a novel in a few years, but I was hungering for as much as I could get in short order. A mix of chapters kept me wanting to push ahead and I was impressed with all Clark had to offer. I hope there is more to come soon, as this is one fan who is not as patient as some.
Kudos, Madam Clark, for another winner. I cannot wait to see what’s next for Samantha or your other projects.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
After a hiatus, Marcia Clark is back with another strong Samantha Brinkman legal thriller that hits home more than the other books in the series. While on vacation with her boyfriend, Niko, Samantha is rushed back to LA to deal with an investment issue. It would seem that Niko’s mother was taken in by a cryptocurrency scam that saw her lose a great deal of money. While they two men heading up the investment are apologetic, they are not confident about being able to reimburse their clients. Niko takes this less than calmly and Samantha soon sees a darker and more intense side. When one of the investors turns up dead in his home, all eyes turn to Niko, as the cause of death is internal decapitation, skill Niko knows well. All the same, Niko proclaims that he is innocent, though admits he is trained to kill when needed. Samantha agrees to represent him and the search for the truth begins. While Samantha handles some of her other legal work, the office team begins digging a little deeper, only to discover that Niko has a past in Chicago that he likely did not want discovered. As Samantha must digest this, things begin looking worse for her client as the court date approaches. Lies and deceit are nothing a defence attorney likes in their client, but when it’s a boyfriend, it is exponentially worse. Samantha will have to make a few choices as Niko’s guilt looks more likely. Will she choose wisely for all involved? A wonderful story that keeps the reader guessing. Recommended to those who have enjoyed this series (and all of Clark’s work), as well as the reader who needs a legal thriller that can be digested with ease.
I have long enjoyed Marcia Clark’s work, as she reinvent herself after the infamous trial that made her a household name. She works hard to create relatable characters and stories that can be easily enjoyed, even if they touch on some controversial subjects. Samantha Brinkman has been a wonderfully complex character, as the four novels in the series have come to show her. She is strong-willed, but also vulnerable when it suits her. She is gritty and determined without being cold. This story pushes her into a realm she might not have known before and requires that she make choices that will clash with her emotional well-being. Other characters help to push the story forward, while complementing Brinkman in a variety of ways, which enriches the overall experience. The story is strong and kept me pushing forward. Perhaps it is that there has not been a novel in a few years, but I was hungering for as much as I could get in short order. A mix of chapters kept me wanting to push ahead and I was impressed with all Clark had to offer. I hope there is more to come soon, as this is one fan who is not as patient as some.
Kudos, Madam Clark, for another winner. I cannot wait to see what’s next for Samantha or your other projects.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons