Batman: Blind Justice

Book Description

When Bruce Wayne refuses to allow illegal mindcontrol experiments to continue at Wayne Technology, he finds himself charged with being a traitor. During the police investigation, Wayne is forced to confront memories of the various people who trained him to become the feared Dark KnightBatman. Wayne not only must clear himself, but also protect his secret and save his company from ruin. Batman screenwriter Sam Hamm makes his comic-book debut with BATMAN: BLIND JUSTICE, introducing new elements to the Batman legend including the character of Henri Ducard, played by Liam Neeson in 2005s smash film Batman Begins.

Customer Reviews:

But Justice is Blind. Blind as a BAT........2007-07-19

I'll keep this short and sweet.

If you are like me, collecting Batman Graphic Novels, then make this your next purchase. Elements of this story somewhat reminds me of an early take on the Knightfall trilogy. I liked this graphic novel, I can still even remember some of the one-liners from it. This story exposes the reader to the Inner demons that Bruce faces everyday and the various people who trained him to become the feared Dark Knight. Buy it now~ Enough Said :-)

A Batman story that should be better known.......2007-06-30

I can't remember when I first read this - I must have borrowed it from a friend several years ago. I remembered liking it but I had forgotten just how damned good it really is. It's not as well known in the Bat Canon as stories like Miller's Year One, Moore's The Killing Joke or Morrison's Arkham Asylum, but perhaps it should be. While the overall quality does fall short of those works, the underlying themes are as powerful and refreshing. Hamm looks at Batman as someone whose motivations are less noble than they are a product of his self-indulgence in his suffering. While there are more and more stories of Batman's inflexible self-righteousness - especially in portrayals of an older Batman - Hamm attempts to take a closer look at what is behind that result. Many of the new breed of Batman writers who want to portray him more harshly still end up painting his shortcomings as justifiable within the bigger picture; Hamm seems to want to question the truth of that.

Also, this is the story that gave us Henri Ducard, who like Ra's al Ghul is a much more interesting character than what we got in Batman Begins. Don't get me wrong - I liked the movie and the character that was actually in the movie, I just wish the writers had used different names.

An interesting and novel approach.......2006-10-12

This work in the Batman series is a good mixture of philosophical intrigue, action, and mystery. The tale starts as a villain named "The Bonecrusher" dies twice and seems to keep coming back. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne is accused of being a communist traitor against the US.

Perhaps most interestingly of all, the way the writer characterizes the Batman/Bruce Wayne relationship is very interesting. The writer goes as far as to suggest that Bruce would sacrifice certain moral and ethical standards to keep his life as the Batman. The result is a strange ambivalence toward the Dark Knight that few writers have been able to make me feel towards him. The plot contains a very interesting allegorical addition.

I think this is one of the best Batman graphic novels in terms of writing. Another additional interest is the character Ducard, who helped train Bruce. This book is an interesting challenge to a sometimes long list of overdone Batman cliches.

Had the potential to be much better than it was.......2006-03-03

This trade reprints Detective Comics 598-600 and was written by screenwriter Sam Hamm who wrote the script for the first Tim Burton Batman film. Be sure you read the forward Hamm wrote to get his take on the Batman character.

The gruesome death of a night watchman leads Batman to confront a new villain named Bonecrusher who uses sound as a weapon. Just as Batman is about to capture him he commits suicide. Later Bonecrusher turns up again to commit another crime and again kills himself rather than get caught. All of this leads to a personal crisis for Bruce Wayne as he tries to help a woman find her long lost brother who used to work at Waynetech. Bruce uncovers a member of a covert agency working within his company conducting illegal experiments, but when he tries to expose him he is accused of being a communist spy and arrested. With the help of some fake evidence and a detailed list of people and places Bruce dealt with while training for his war on crime Bruce finds his life on the verge of collapse and his secret identity soon to follow.

This story suffers from characters that never really get developed and in my opinion should have been reworked or discarded in favor of other ideas. The reason this book is worth reading at all is because it introduces the character of Henri Ducard. We learn something about the young Bruce Wayne from Henri's perspective as well as find out why he decided to train Bruce. We also see why Ducard thinks Batman attracts a certain kind of unstable criminal. This story also gives us an interesting take on Batman's relationship with Commissioner Gordon and how much Gordon knows or thinks he knows about Batman. There is also an element of irony involved in Bruce's past as it is implied some of his training was at the hands of criminals.

One of the best Batman stories.......2005-10-23

This is easily one of the best (if not the best) Batman graphic novels I've ever read.

Justice Blind? Ideals and Realities of American Criminal Justice (2nd Edition)

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a great analysis
glad I ordered it
The Best Available

Justice Blind? Ideals and Realities of American Criminal Justice (2nd Edition)
Matthew Barnett Robinson
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0131137875

Customer Reviews:

a great analysis.......2002-01-30

This book was assigned to me by my professor. I did not believe the argument of the book at first when we went through it in class. But as we went through the semester, the argument that was made was built from chapter to chapter. I noticed that I was actually reading the book and that I could understand it well. It is a textbook but it is not like most textbooks. I learned a lot in the class and think that most of the argument in Justice Blind is correct. What I liked most about the book is that it is easy to read even though it has so many details about crime and criminal justice.

glad I ordered it.......2001-06-01

When I ordered Justice: Crimes, Trials, and Punishments by Dominick Dunne I saw the book, Justice Blind? It sounded interesting (even though it is an academic type book) so I ordered it.

Because I am not a student parts of the book were hard for me to read. Overall though it is still worth the money. The author argues that the criminal justice system is a massive failure. His book provides a ton of evidence and is fair.

I best like the way the author builds his argument from chapter to chapter. And the book is not written from an "expert" approach. He sounds like a normal person using normal language. Anyone who votes should read this book.

The Best Available.......2001-05-29

This book is simply superb.

Similar but much better than other great books such as The Politics of Injustice, What's Wrong with the Criminal Justice System, and The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison. If you like these books, you'll love Robinson's critical criminal justice text.

What sets this book aside from the rest is the author's detailed analysis of virtually every aspect of today's justice system. Robinson concludes that the justice system fails to do justice and reduce crime; he tells why and then goes beyond this and offers concrete suggestions for reform.

Amazon.com

Virginia Lanier gets the fourth adventure of her heroine, Jo Beth Sidden, off to a brisk start, and keeps up the pace with her canine trackers all the way to a thrilling conclusion in the murky interior of the Okefenokee Swamp. Jo Beth is a steel magnolia who talks as tough as she is, packs a gun, and saves her softest feelings for man's best friends. In Blind Bloodhound Justice she solves a 30-year-old crime in less time than it takes to train a posse of law enforcement officers in the fine points of handling search and rescue dogs. That process alone is worth the read, but Lanier's fans have a lot more in store for them: another confrontation with her crazed, abusive ex-husband Bubba, a continuation of her on-again off-again romance with handsome sheriff Hank Cribbs, and the miraculous recovery of a blind-from-birth bloodhound who has a special place in Jo Beth's heart. Lanier's first mystery, Death in Bloodhound Red, was published when she was 63 years old, and it won a passel of awards, including the Agatha, Macavity, and Anthony. A southern Georgia resident, she writes so knowledgeably about the Okefenokee that the reader can feel the pull of the quicksand and the sting of the chiggers, and while her heroine is a bit too sharp-tongued and belligerent to be particularly lovable, her canine characters are totally captivating. --Jane Adams

Book Description

Legion of fans will cheer the return of wisecracking sleuth Jo Beth Sidden and her remarkable canine pals in Blind Bloodhound Justice, the fourth installment in Virginia Lanier's award-winning mystery series. In Blind Bloodhound Justice, Lanier gives readers what they have come to expect - a masterful combination of personal experience, authentic southern charm, unforgettable characters along with a healthy dose of adventure.

What do you do when you're trying to forget about the fact that it's been three months, six days, and five hours since you quit smoking, that there's no significant man in your life except your homicidal ex-husband Bubba, and that it's 35 degrees, a temperature most Georgians never have to contend with? Well, if you're anything like Jo Beth Sidden, the toughest breed of Georgia Peach, you get yourself mixed up in some crazy adventure, hop in your van with your trusty bloodhound sidekick and start nosing around.

Jo Beth's latest pursuit takes her back 30 years when she's asked by the sheriff to "quietly" look into one of the town's most crimes ghost stories - the kidnapping and murder of a nanny and child. It seems that the man convicted of the murders has been bounced out of the big house for health reasons, and now rumors are flying about who is moving back to the town to live in the house where it all took place. Of course, it wouldn't seem right for the sheriff to be seen poking into a crime from 1965, so as usual, it's up to gutsy Jo Beth and her fearless bloodhounds to track down the truth and expose the real killer.

Meanwhile, a search-and-rescue call plunges Jo Beth, along with her partner and friend Jasmine and two of her best bloodhounds, into the Okefenokee Swamp to track the mysterious disappearance of a mother and child. As night draws nearer, the search draws the rescue party deeper into dangerous and unforgiving territory, closer to a chilling discovery and face to face with death.

And as if she didn't have enough to do, Jo Beth continues to conduct her now-famous tracking seminar for bloodhound handlers, mends a friendship that has been put to the test, and narrowly escapes an encounter with Bubba, a man bent on nothing short of murder.

Virginia Lanier has done it again -- in the midst of all the tantalizing plot twists and quirky characters, Jo Beth stands out. Her wit, her southern feminism, her compassion and her humanity all make her character and this series the best of its kind. Even the most seasoned mystery lover will be left panting.

Customer Reviews:

I'm surprised and disappointed that no one else.......2004-06-19

is offended by Lanier's outdated, inaccurate, and incredibly ugly stereotyped depiction of a mentally disabled person as a vicious killer who is physically repulsive and morally corrupt. Mentally disabled people are far more likely to be the victims of crimes than they are to commit them, and they are no more prone to physical violence than the average person.

Lanier's having come of age at a time when our society treated the handicapped as less than fully human does not excuse her for having perpetuated such a negative image. Unless she spent her adulthood in social isolation, surely Lanier had ample opportunities to observe people with a variety of handicaps, both mental and physical, going about their daily lives in much the same manner as she herself did.

To resort to a nasty and downright false representation of the mentally disabled as a plot device suggests a serious lack of both imagination and knowledge on Lanier's part. I rather enjoy the other books in her "Bloodhound" series, which makes this offering all the more disappointing. I would like to think that Lanier came to realize that she had unfairly maligned the mentally disabled and regretted having fallen back on a such a negative stereotype instead of coming up with a more creative plotline.

There are other flaws in "Blind Bloodhound Justice." The main story line wasn't much of a mystery this time, with the solution to the three-decades old murder jumping out at the reader almost immediately. A likeable character featured in previous books is done away with and then rarely mentioned again, much less mourned. Further, for a woman who lived in a southern state, Lanier seems surprisingly uninformed about the use and spelling of uniquely southern words such as "y'all" (used as a plural only, please, and written and pronounced as one syllable rather than two as in "you all"). And as always, many of the characters are described in Lanier's trademark stereotypes - though none quite as ugly and false as that of the mentally handicapped woman - which some readers may find at least tiresome if not actually offensive. Aside from an unexpected development concerning one of Jo Beth's dogs, this book in Lanier's series is, unfortunately, not worth adding to the reader's personal collection. Check this one out from the library.

Another great installment.......2003-04-04

Just want to recommend this book, I actually enjoyed it more than the others. Well told, and after reading the other books in this series, you are really feeling like you know the characters and can identify with them. The very end is wonderful, and I can't wait to read the next.

Not to be Missed.......2002-07-23

I started the Virginia Lanier series on the recommendations of the customer reviews. I wasn't disappointed. How interesting could a series be that spotlights the raising and using of bloodhounds in the field? I too wondered and happily found out. The only thing I can add to the other reviews is that after having bought all the books, I learned not to read them back to back. Although throughout the books, she earns the love and respect of not only current, but new friends and people she works with, her personal life is not always the most uplifting. Would I still recommend the series? -- it's not to be missed...

Superb Reading.......2000-08-08

I have read all of Virginia Lanier's books (date of review 8/7/00). All five are full of excitement and suspense as well as romance and humor.

Being a dog lover myself, I was fascinated by the nuances of caring for, training, and working with bloodhounds.

I just finished her last book in the series and I will sorely miss Jo Beth and her adventures into the swamp with her magnificent dogs. I am eagerly awaiting the next one!

House on Bloodhound Lane.......2000-07-09

Virginia Lanier grabbed me by the lease, sent me with Jo Beth and her bloodhounds on many a search through territory I'd never experienced before and she returned me safely to Bloodhound Lane. I've read the 1st four in the series and can't wait for the next edition. May there be many many more. .

Color-Blind Justice: Albion Tourgee and the Quest for Racial Equality from the Civil War to Plessy v. Ferguson

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Albion Tourgee: Overlooked 19th century civil rights hero
Albion Tourgee

Color-Blind Justice: Albion Tourgee and the Quest for Racial Equality from the Civil War to Plessy v. Ferguson
Mark Elliott
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0195181395

Book Description

Civil War officer, Reconstruction "carpetbagger," best-selling novelist, and relentless champion of equal rights, Albion Tourgee battled his entire life for racial justice. Now, in this engaging biography, Mark Elliott offers an insightful portrait of a fearless lawyer, jurist, and writer, who fought for equality long after most Americans had abandoned the ideals of Reconstruction. Elliott provides a fascinating account of Tourgee's life, from his childhood in the Western Reserve region of Ohio (then a hotbed of abolitionism), to his years as a North Carolina judge during Reconstruction, to his memorable role as lead plaintiff's counsel in the landmark Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson. Tourgee's brief coined the phrase that justice should be "color-blind," and his career was one long campaign to made good on that belief. A redoubtable lawyer and an accomplished jurist, Tourgee wrote fifteen political novels, eight books of historical and social criticism, and several hundred newspaper and magazine articles that all told represent a mountain of dissent against the prevailing tide of racial oppression. Through the lens of Tourgee's life, Elliott illuminates the war of ideas about race that raged through the United States in the nineteenth century, from the heated debate over slavery before the Civil War, through the conflict over aid to freedmen during Reconstruction, to the backlash toward the end of the century, when Tourgee saw his country retreat from the goals of equality and freedom and utterly repudiate the work of Reconstruction. A poignant and inspiring study in courage and conviction, Color Blind Justice offers us an unforgettable portrayal of Albion Tourgee and the principles to which he dedicated his life.

Customer Reviews:

Albion Tourgee: Overlooked 19th century civil rights hero.......2007-05-30

If you're interested in civil rights history, the Civil War or Reconstruction and you have never heard of Albion Tourgee, Mark Elliott's Color-Blind Justice is a must-read.

Even if you know a lot about this period and Tourgee is a familiar name, this book will tell you much that you don't know and may dispel some myths popularized in other, lesser histories of the period.

The book is deeply researched with lots of new details from the personal letters and papers of Tourgee, who in the post-Civil War period was nationally famous and had the ear of a striking number of important figures, including several U.S. presidents all the way up to Theodore Roosevelt.

Tourgee is a great character. He was born of humble beginnings in northeast Ohio in a Christian family that were early white abolitionists who originally hailed from Massachusetts. He was one of the first wounded in the Civil War, run over by wagon and paralyzed, but remarkably he returned to action before the war's end. These early experiences and influnces shaped a world view that he held tightly to throughout his life in the turbulent post-war political debate.

Deeply idealistic about the opportunity to remake a slavery-free south, Tourgee moves his family to North Carolina, one of the Radical Republican "carpetbaggers." But unlike many others who came from the north, Tourgee did not hope to profit or exploit the south for personal gain. He was inspired by the ideals of the Civil War as a fight for justice. He became a judge and a political leader, helping write much of the new North Carolina constitution. He adopted a mixed race child and hired blacks to work for his businesses.

This attracted the attention of the early Ku Klux Klan, but Tourgee bravely refused to relent in the face of threats. Fascinatingly, he crossed paths with a young Thomas Dixon, even advising the future Klan leader kindly about his writing, only to later see Dixon become a force for evil in the south and a propaganda whiz who clouded public opinion by repeatedly challenging Tourgee's work. The infamous "Birth of a Nation" film that glorified the Klan mocks Tourgee in its early frames.

Tourgee wrote in northern newspapers about the true nature of reconstruction, which had an undeservedly bad reputation in the north. After 16 years in North Carolina, he left discouraged and moved north. A novel based on his experience -- A Fool's Errand -- became a national best seller, dispelling many of the misconceptions about reconstruction, if only for a brief period.

Now famous, Tourgee wrote articles prolifically and became a strong voice for civil rights, even founding a mixed race organization that was the pre-cursor to the NAACP.

But there was little Tourgee could do to stem a political backlash, a national weariness of reconstruction and the problems of the south in the late 19th century. To his great frustration, northerner's largely stood by as the south reinstituted white supremecy through "Jim Crow" laws.

In a final effort to defy this trend, Tourgee led the charge to challenge a Louisana law that forced racial separation on trains in what became the famous "Dred Scott" case. Tourgee was the lead counsel arguing brilliantly before the U.S, Supreme Court that the idea of segregation was an absurd state policy in clear violation of the Constitution.

Dred Scott lost before the Supreme Court in a 7-1 decision that at the time was a devestating setback for civil rights. And a despondent Tourgee left the U.S. to live out his years and die and France. But over time the case became seen as one of the worst high court decisions of all time. Tourgee's arguments became the basis for challenges to segregation that ultimatley would triumph with Brown vs. Board of Education.

There are other biographies of Tourgee. What makes this one unique is the detailed analysis of the evolution of his thinking about race, politics and social issues. Elliott adeptly shows how practical and political considerations sometimes shaped Tourgee's opinions and at other times thwarted him when he stood on principle.

To understand the racial turmoil of the 20th century, and to better know nature of racial tension in America today, Tourgee's story is crucial and Elliott's book is instructive.

Albion Tourgee.......2006-12-13

Albion Tourgee comes alive in this riveting biography, which emphasizes his role in the post Civil War era. It is a must read for any student of U.S. History.

Blind Justice: A Novel of Suspense (Ben Kincaid)

Average customer rating:

Ben Kincaid is the new and improved Perry Mason
A GREAT EASY READ!!!!!
Blind Justice in search of a plot
A Lot of Fun to Read
Easy, enjoyable read

Blind Justice: A Novel of Suspense (Ben Kincaid)
William Bernhardt
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345486978
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Book Description

Out of corporate life and on his own, lawyer Ben Kincaid sees the seamy side of the law every day. There's no glamour and little reward when it comes to defending the lowlifes who beat down his door. But when a friend is set up for murder, Ben has no choice but to enter the world of hardball litigation and face a judge who despises him in a trial he is guaranteed to lose.

BLIND JUSTICE is a riveting, emotion-packed thriller in which guilt and innocence remain obscure and justice is a matter of opinion.

Customer Reviews:

Ben Kincaid is the new and improved Perry Mason.......2003-12-05

One of the best series in the last years, this book has it all: suspense, great characters and humor. You will not be disappointed with Ben Kincaid and his assistant Christina!

I have continued to read the series (my next book is Naked Justice) and the quality has been outstanding in all the books. This is a highly recommended read!

A GREAT EASY READ!!!!!.......2001-10-18

What a great book. No, it is not scary, no it does not use a lot of ugly, ugly words, no it will not keep you up at night from being scared. It is a really good mystery that will hold your attention and make you want to skip pages to find out how it will end. Ben is a good attorney that has people on his mind and not money. Christina is a good character. I liked her and Jones and Loving. I really hope these four form a group, "family" if you please, that will be in book three. Ben is not afraid to fight the people in charge, he will tangle with any one and sometimes in very funny ways. Who else would let chickens stay in his office for a while? Can't wait to read the next one.

Blind Justice in search of a plot.......2000-12-12

There is simply no credible plot in this already very thin story. There are occasional glimpses of humor and interesting content, but as a whole the books falls flat because it is just too lacking in plot and character development. It reminds me of the books for teenagers that I used to read as a youngster. The plots were often marked by facile manipulation, but I read them with fascination because every development was interesting. Grown-up readers should expect a lot more from a lawyer-thriller.

A Lot of Fun to Read.......2000-07-24

Logically the second in this series, this is the book in which Ben Kinkaid's staff joins him. At the beginning he has only Jones, then Loving joins his staff, and finally (after Ben proves her innocent of a murder charge) Christina. The plot is well constructed, and Ben and Christina make a great pair.

Easy, enjoyable read.......1999-03-10

This book won't keep you awake at night. It's very easy reading and, I'm afraid, quite forgettable once read. Although I do enjoy reading the "Justice" series, it's certainly not for the challenge. I keep seeing Ben, Christina and Jones in a TV series. The characters are likeable and sometimes very funny. It has also been fun seeing them develop from book to book.

Average customer rating:

Locked room mystery with a blind detective
Engrossing Historical Debut
Surprisingly engaging
A delightful discovery
Great Period Piece!

Blind Justice (Sir John Fielding)
Bruce Alexander
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425150070

Customer Reviews:

Locked room mystery with a blind detective.......2007-08-31

It is somewhat cliched and I did work out the plot (but not some of the reasons and twists) fairly early but this books' strengths are more in the evocation of that period of England (Georgian) rather than the actual mystery.

Sir John Fielding is a very interesting character with lots of depth. He has a lot of compassion and tries to use it wisely. He's the magistrate of the Bow Street Court, co-founder of the Bow Street Runners and blind from a naval accident. He's based on the real man, who was blind, did all these things and wore a black band on his forehead to signify that he was blind (a quick perusal of the British Portrait Gallery will supply a portrait)

This story is told from the point of view of young Jeremy Proctor, who has only recently lost his father to a mob, and is brought up before Sir John on spurious charges. Sir John uses him as his eyes during the mystery. Lord Goodhope is found dead in his library, of a gunshot wound, the door locked behind him. Sir John isn't sure of the truth of this and starts looking into the issues.

It's a well written story that firmly evokes the period. I was unfortunate in that the cover I had in the edition I read had a more Victorian scene on the cover than Georgian, so I was a little adrift in time when starting, but when I got my bearings I truly enjoyed this story that evokes the period very well.

Engrossing Historical Debut.......2007-04-19

The year is 1768 and 13 year old Jeremy Proctor has just been orphaned. Setting out on his own, he arrives in London and immediately falls prey to a scheme to get him arrested for theft. He is saved by the wisdom of Judge Sir John Fielding, who takes an interest in the lad. Since Jeremy knows how to set type, Sir John decides to set him up as a printing apprentice. But before that can happen, the two get involved in a murder.

Sir Richard Goodhope was found dead in his study with the door locked. Everyone is quick to dismiss it as a suicide except the widow, who insists that it is indeed murder. Only a careful observation from Jeremy convinces Sir John of this fact. Since Sir John is blind, he needs help observing things, and Jeremy's careful observations are just what he needs. The two form an unlikely team and begin gathering clues. Unfortunately, those clues make little sense. Can Sir John piece them all together?

I have had this book for simply ages but hadn't read it. That was a huge mistake. I was gripped from the very beginning and had a hard time stopping. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. The plot slows down briefly on occasion to develop the characters. The result makes for a stronger story. The narration by an adult Jeremy remembering what happened adds an unique touch. And the historical period is brought to life without slowing things down.

I've already bought book two. You can bet I won't wait years to read it.

Surprisingly engaging.......2007-04-11

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book - not because the person who recommended it to me (like I might be wary of future recommendations from some people) but just because the plot, as summarized on the back, was just 'eh' to me. I didn't think I would become as wrapped up in the characters as I did. Indeed, the idea of them initially left me feeling flat, but the way they were written was very compelling. And I must admit the narrator character is excellent, if a bit over-done at times (mock humility and over reassurance now and then). They mystery was good and tidy, if not surprising in the end (I had guessed the ending quite from the start, actually, and the fact that I still enjoyed the book despite that is a testament to the writing - besides, there's more to enjoy than just the main storyline).

A delightful discovery.......2007-02-04

Bruce Alexander does a spectacular job bringing the streets of 18th century London alive in this, the first of the Sir John Fielding mysteries. Perhaps because the main character is blind, or because Alexander is a gifted craftsman, all of the other senses are dramatically heightened. I could *hear* Sir John speaking, questioning informants, thieves, etc. I could smell some of the dirtier aspects of London, I could hear the din of the crowd at market, see the areas of London that were visually pleasing and smell those that were not. The single most important task that any author has when writing historical fiction of any genre is to bring that period alive. And Alexander does.

He also gives us a brilliant "detective" - Sir John Fielding, the blind magistrate of Bow Street, an immensely likeable and quick thinking man who is able to "see" more than others, in some cases, because he pays attention to the other four senses that many people take leave of when their eyes are open. Relying on four out of five senses, as opposed to one out of five, Sir John finds himself better armed than most for inquiries.

The story is told through the eyes of thirteen-year-old Jeremy Proctor, who finds his way to London after the grossly unjust murder of his father - killed by spending too many days (unfairly so) in the stocks. He is brought before Sir John immediately upon his arrival to London, part of a scam of an independent thief taker - put Jeremy behind bars, and the thief taker gets a bounty. Sir John "saw" through the charade, and took Jeremy under his wing, intending to find him a trade such as his father was teaching him: printing.

But a murder gets in the way of that, and Sir John, for the moment, requires Jeremy's presence to assist him, and finds that Jeremy possesses a keen eye and a sharp mind. So Jeremy becomes Sir John's assistance into the investigation of Lord Goodhope.

It starts out so simply - the murder - that I was sure it would be solved within a matter of a few pages, and then the real mystery would come out. But Goodhope's murder was the real mystery, and (as any good murder mystery should) with each layer we peel away the circumstances surrounding the murder becoming cloudier, and more and more people seem to be implicated.

In a detective story such as this, the author needs to have a good grasp of how interrogating works, and it was delightful watching Sir John interview the cast of characters that may or may not have had anything to do with the crime. By "a good grasp", I mean that the detective, Sir John in this case, should understand that each person needs to be treated differently in order to bring out the desired answers. Alexander handles this masterfully. Indeed, the interrogations were often the most enjoyable parts of the book.

Unlike many mysteries, where the characters aren't deeply developed, Alexander spends time with all of the main characters, fleshing them out as real and believable. You begin to enjoy the time that you're spending with his characters, and indeed, when I closed the book, I did regret it (and hastily ordered the next few in the series - and I'm not even a big mystery buff).

Great Period Piece!.......2006-07-07

This first in the Sir John Fielding mystery series is a good one. Mr. Alexander portrays his period (1768 and onwards) very realistically, and we get a good look at the Bow Street Runners which were the earliest form of a police force in 18th century London. The narrator is an appealing 13-year old boy by the name of Jeremy Proctor. And we have Sir John, who, though blind, does not miss much when dealing with crime and those who have committed it. This is a locked-room mystery, but as we read it gets even more difficult to determine motive, opportunity, and of course suspects. I look forward to reading further books in this series. I think I've found a gem of a series.

Average customer rating:

Good Legal Thriller
An excellent thriller!
James Scott Bell Rocks
Five Stars! Is that All I'm Allowed?
Rises Above the Stereotypes it Uses

Blind Justice: A Novel
James Scott Bell
Manufacturer: Broadman & Holman Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0805421610

Customer Reviews:

Good Legal Thriller.......2005-12-16

This is the first book that I have read by James Scott Bell. It won't be the last.

'Blind Justice' is a legal thriller with colorful characters and an interesting storyline. It also features people who are struggling with issues of faith, the existence of God, personal battles, and even spiritual warfare.

The story has quite a few unexpected twists and turns and is definitely a page turner.

If you have not read anything by Mr. Bell, I would recommend checking this out.

An excellent thriller!.......2004-03-05

Blind Justice was my first exposure to James Scott Bell, and I have to say I was impressed. While there were definitely a few places he could have "upped" the suspense, overall it was a good story. I read it over the course of two days and found it hard to put down once it really got started. Some folks don't appreciate his comparisons to John Grisham, but I consider it a compliment for him. If you are into legal thrillers, then this is definitely one you'll want to pick up. The very concept of a lawyer having a mentally handicapped client who swears the devil came into the room and killed his wife should be enough to keep most readers hooked (I know it was enough for me). The ending is good, and the main character's evolution from start to finish is believable. All in all, I recommend this one. It was definitely good enough to warrant reading another one of his books.

James Scott Bell Rocks.......2003-03-11

A story that reminds me of old. Fascinating plot, murder, and intrigue without sex or cussing.

This story starts with the return of Howie Patino.
A man, who's been working in Alaska, coming back to his wife (Rae)in smalltown California. Poor Howie doesn't receive the homecoming he expected.

Upon arrival, his wife let's him know that she is pregnant with someone else's child. During the course of the next several minutes, after her shocking revelation, a fury of evil is unleashed upon Howie and Rae.

This is a story about a man wrongly accused of savagely stabbing his wife and his washed up alcoholic attorney, Jake Denney,(a childhood friend) asked to defend him.

This story has excellent character development as well as plot twists. We see a man, jake Denney, who comes to the end of self and his journey to finding God.

Five Stars! Is that All I'm Allowed?.......2002-02-23

Well, I can't rate this book a "10" so I'll settle for a "5". I truly appreciated not having a lot of fluff to sift through; everything was relevant to the story.

The main character, Jake has a strong sarcastic wit. The author does a great job portraying him as being consumed with alcohol. It shows how his law practice, family and his life suffer at the hands of his addiction. He's definitely not the "good guy" in the story - a nice change from the typical novel.

Rises Above the Stereotypes it Uses.......2001-08-15

After thoroughly enjoying James Scott Bell's "Final Witness," I was a bit let down with this book. I'd rate it 3 1/2 stars if I could. Bell's use of first person never reaches the level of Lawrence Block, whom he admits to emulating to some extent. Block's humor is sharp and dry, whereas Bell's seems semi-sharp and semi-dry--at least in this story. The lawyer, Mr. Denney, is the stereotypical hard-drinking lawyer, fighting his inner demons. I've read enough legal thrillers to have tired of this character. Nonetheless, by the end of the story, Bell gives Denney depth and creates sympathy and...I found myself caring.

The story revolves around Howie Patino, a simple-minded man and former schoolmate of Denney's. Howie is charged with the brutal murder of his wife and Denney comes to his aid. Along the way, Denney struggles with his belief, or lack of belief, in God, and his burgeoning feelings for Howie's sister. Many potential conflicts are presented. Not all of them are carried out, but at least the book doesn't present all easy answers. Denney's struggle of faith is credible and I found myself warming to the story even as it ended.

Book Description

From "surviving ground zero in the nuclear family," to "feeling fear at the Fall Fair," to "quelling a taste for champagne on a tap-water budget," Gordon Kirkland writes about survival - survival in the '90s, that is.

Looking back, Kirkland acknowledges his life has always been filled with laughter. He comes from a family who was like "Monty Python's Flying Circus meets Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in." It's no surprise then, that he was able to meet tragedy in his life - three debilitating car accidents within four years - with determination, courage and good humour. In the years following his accidents, laughter helped Kirkland cope with the stress and pain of his slow and difficult recovery, and the knowledge that he would not be able to walk again without the assistance of forearm crutches. Laughter also gave him the inspiration he needed to start writing stories about his own life, and the desire to share them with others.

Just five years after becoming a syndicated columnist, Kirkland published his first collection of humour. Justice is Blind--And Her Dog Just Peed in My Cornflakes contains nearly four years of the best of Kirkland's newspaper column "At Large." Here is his uproarious and hilarious outlook on such celebrated topics as "married bliss" (not always an oxymoron), legal interpretations for parents of teenagers ("readers will be pleased to know that asking a teenager to set and/or clear the table doesn't constitute an affront to their civil liberties"), the habits of "commutus obnoxiousi," (more commonly known as Other Drivers), and the difficulties of buying a simple cup of coffee ("the plain old run-of-the-mill cup of coffee should be put on the endangered species list"). Always honest, always irreverent, Kirkland strives to give his readers the opportunity to laugh with him, at him, and hopefully, at themselves.

Customer Reviews:

Whimsical humor for the 90's and beyond........1999-10-19

Just what we all need - more humor, and very funny tales of our everyday deeds and misdeeds - his, hers, mine, and yours. Looking forward to more of Gordon Kirkland's witty insights about daily life on planet Earth.

Blind Justice: A Murder, a Scandal, and a Brother's Search to Avenge His Sister's Death

Average customer rating:

KEEPS YOUR INTEREST

Blind Justice: A Murder, a Scandal, and a Brother's Search to Avenge His Sister's Death
Ray Gibson , Edie Gibson , and Randall Turner
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Criminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Murder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Shattered Hopes: A True Crime Story of Marriage, Murder, Corruption and Cover-Up in the Suburbs

ASIN: 0312063067

Customer Reviews:

KEEPS YOUR INTEREST.......2002-04-17

The authors tell the story of Dianne Masters in an interesting prose that will keep you entertained, which is necessary because the book is over 400 pages.

Apparently, this book was the basis for the 4-hour movie that periodically shows up on TV. While the movie presents a one sided view of Dianne Masters as the victim of her husband, Alan Masters, the book does point out some negative aspects of her life.

The biggest drawback of the book is the lack of access to anyone close to Alan Masters. Therefore, the author provides a rather shallow picture of Alan Master's viewpoint.

If you have seen the movie, the book does fill in many blanks left by the film and provides background information filmmakers leave out because of time restaints.

Average customer rating:

John Morgan Wilson scores again!

The best of his first five; and excellent series

My Favorite Justice Novel to Date

Really over the top

Darkest of a dark series

Blind Eye: A Benjamin Justice Novel (Benjamin Justice Novels)
John Morgan Wilson
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Hard-Boiled | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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Moth and Flame: A Benjamin Justice Novel (Benjamin Justice Novels)

Revision of Justice (Benjamin Justice Mysteries)

Justice at Risk: A Benjamin Justice Mystery

Rhapsody in Blood: A Benjamin Justice Novel (Benjamin Justice Mysteries)

The Limits of Justice (Benjamin Justice Mysteries (Paperback))

ASIN: 031230921X
Release Date: 2004-10-14

Book Description

Benjamin Justice, a disgraced journalist in his mid-forties, is slowly putting his life back together. Under contract to write his tumultuous life story, Justice is trying to put all the elements of his life into perspective for the first time. When trying to locate his childhood priest, however, he runs into a bureaucratic stone wall. Then his best friend's fiance, a Lost Angeles Times columnist, is killed in a tragic and suspicious hit-and-run accident shortly after trying to aid Justice in his search. Reluctant at first, Justice soon finds himself in the midst of a complex case involving a decades-old child murder, a powerful and controversial cardinal, and elements of his own dark past.

Customer Reviews:

John Morgan Wilson scores again!.......2007-02-22

Another first rate thriller from John Morgan Wilson in the Benjamin Justice series......This novel involves intrique with the Catholic Church and was a page turner from start to finish...highly reccomend!

The best of his first five; and excellent series.......2006-06-23

I discovered John Morgan Wilson several months ago through a magazine article. Thank heaven I saw it.
He's in my top 3 fiction writers, with Elizabeth George and James Lee Burke.
This novel is incredibly powerful, full of good emotion, drama and characterization. Like most of Wilson's books, the ending is no surprise. These are not really mysteries, for the tales are more about ethics, morality, rage, the impact of personal history on present day actions and more.
No one escapes a critical eye here - the gay community, Catholic church, the police, and more. But there is balance, veracity, and believeability.
Elizabeth George is unbeatable at character development and Burke at developing sense of place, but Wilson puts together great characterization, story lines and drama to suck you into the world of his novels. It's books like this one that reveal how far Wilson's craft has come to rise over that of Sue Grafton and other best sellers.
This particular book of Wilson's easily makes my top 5 favorites of all time.
Read them all from in order of publication.
Paul

My Favorite Justice Novel to Date.......2006-05-02

Whenever I'm asked who my favorite authors are, John Morgan Wilson is consistently in the top three. And Blind Eye is a great example of why. I am woefully behind in this series, and only recently completed Blind Eye. JMW is a beautiful writer and his portrayal of a man possessed by a legion of personal demons is realistic and remarkable. I may not want to have dinner with Benjamin Justice, but I feel such empathy for him and root for him every step of the way. The portrayal of Justice's best friend, Alexandria Templeton, is just as well drawn and she is a great character worthy of her own series. The Benjamin Justice series may be too gritty for some, but the elegant writing and the gut wrenching humanity of the characters make every page worthwhile.

Really over the top.......2005-03-30

This latest book by John Morgan Wilson manages to be extremely timely, relevant and although, written with his usual skill, quite unbelievable. Wilson's protagonist, Benjamin Justice, is in the process of writing his memoirs and while delving into his past and searching for information about the priest who sexually abused him as a child, he starts upon a series of catastrophes and mayhem.

First, his best friend's fiancé is assassinated; though in the beginning his death is considered an accident. There is a hired assassin and skullduggery and corruption in the highest echelons of the Catholic Church. The story proceeds pell-mell to a quite unbelievable conclusion.

As always, Wilson imbues Justice with depth and humanity and compassion and his friends and neighbors are delightful and entertaining. But unfortunately, this foray by Justice is just a little too much over the top. Hopefully, his next adventure will return to some semblance of reality

Darkest of a dark series.......2004-11-29

So if I stayed up until 3:00 a.m. to finish this, does that mean it's a good book? Yes, it certainly is.

This is a Benjamin Justice novel, and Ben is going through his usual angst. He's broken up with his last partner, and is coping with his HIV meds, while trying to write his autobiography. He decides that he needs to track down the whereabouts of the priest who molested him when he was twelve years old. Though he discovers the man has since died, he also discovers that there were more victims. Then a reporter who is helping his investigate, and who writes a column about priest molestations, is murdered, and it looks like the Archdiocese, which tries to bribe Justice into silence about the priest, itself may be involved.

With Wilson, there is no black-and-white, only shades of grey. Even a vicious killer's back story hints at some reasons for sympathy. Justice struggles with his history, feeling guilt for things he did (and didn't do) as a child that are affecting the present. In what will surely offend some people, pure evil here is confined to the hierarchy of the Catholic church. It is not only the molestations and the cover-ups, which could be taken from any headline, but the total lack of empathy and caring, the hypocrisy, that makes these men evil. This is one of the darkest of a dark series.

And well worth reading.

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