The Judge
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Published by: Severn House
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Pages: 240
ISBN13: 978-1448310708
Synopsis
1985 Andy is hired by a sitting Judge Ambrose Messer because he is being blackmailed. Messer is a patrician and gentleman of the old school in his sixties. He had an affair with a much younger man and now someone is blackmailing him. Messer is being pressured to rule favorably on cases involving not criminal matters as Andy expects but rather civil liability suits involving companies that have polluted and are being sued. The companies are dumping Toxic waste, using a Mafia controlled waste disposal company.
As he investigates Andy comes to realize that it is a friend of the Judge who is a shady defense attorney, who has been orchestrating it. The shady attorney owes gambling debts to the mob. The Mob uses him and his knowledge of the judge to enact their blackmail scheme.
Roark, who genuinely likes the Judge, struggles to find a way to free him from the situation he is embroiled in. He ends up tangling with Mafia soldiers and other violent, shady, people. Along the way he also ends up romantically involved with either the Judge’s daughter or his clerk (Romantic Lead TBD). This case will also force Andy to call his once close friend Danny Sullivan who is a Mafia lawyer. Andy will guilt trip Danny into helping him extricate the judge. Andy will also call-in favors from fellow Special Forces Veteran and friend Chris, possibly relocated to Boston. Andy will also need help from his unrequited love interest FBI Special Agent Brenda Watts.
This will take Andy from the back hallways of the courts and judges’ chambers to seedy parts of Boston and the suburbs. From Back Bay to Providence, RI. The North Shore will figure in as well, possibly Cape Cod as well.
Add on GoodreadsPraise
"...deft and (a word you don't see much in this genre) gracious crime novel…"
–Booklist
"A smooth, atmospheric mystery with a shamus you’ll root for."
–Kirkus
Excerpt
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