Eight stars
James Patterson and Aaron Cooley present this great Audible Original piece, a gripping legal thriller that is sure to pique the interest of the listener. Told in a format some might call ‘radio drama’, the story uses a number of voice actors to depict the thrilling tale of a newly appointed Associate Justice to the US Supreme Court and the blackmail scheme that is taking place to ensure a favourable vote. As Justice Beth Garner tries to get to the bottom of things, she learns a great deal about herself along the way. A great story that kept me hooked until the final moment. Patterson and Cooley have shown they make a great collaborative team.
It is all celebrations as Justice Beth Garner is sworn in as the newest Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, a lifetime job that will allow her to work independently and adjudicate the law. However, she is soon blackmailed about voting a certain way on her first case, one that appears to have others, including the Chief Justice, in the same situation. Justice Garner cannot handle this, relying on the Court’s impartiality, and wants answers.
As Justice Garner makes her way through the lies and deceptions, she is stymied when the Chief Justice urges her to fall prey to the blackmailers and simply let things go. However, she cannot do that and soon learns, with the help of her clerk and some private investigating that there is murder and deception around every bend. With the group upping its threats, Justice Garner can only watch and hope that she can reveal it all before the Court must rule on the case and cement the decision into law.
At the heart of the matter is a mystery liaison the Chief Justice had many years ago with a woman he dearly loved. While Justice Garner cannot speak to the affair, she knows the Chief Justice better than many and cannot stand to see him so torn up. As the pressure mounts, everyone awaits the Court’s decision on the matter and many wonder how Justice Garner will vote on her first Supreme Court case. A chilling story that was both impactful and quick to resolve, exemplifying the authors’ stellar job with this piece.
I always enjoy reading new collaborations with James Patterson, more to see how the second author will fit into the larger Patterson rubric. Aaron Cooley did a wonderful job with this piece whose format serves a listening audience. The story moved quickly and left little time for the listener to gather their thoughts. Rather, it sped along and gained even more momentum as the story amped up its drama. With great characters and a plot that left little to fault, Patterson and Cooley show that they have all the elements for a stunning thriller.
The plot twists kept the story on point and left the listener wanting more. With each chapter something emerged that might not have been predicted. I cannot help but wonder if we will see more collaboration between the authors, as they know how to present a story, with many twists and keeping the momentum steamrolling ahead.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Cooley, for a wonderful legal thriller.
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