Judge & Jury

by James Patterson, Andrew Gross

Andie DeGrasse, an aspiring actress and single mom, is not your typical juror. Hoping to get dismissed from the pool, she tells the judge that most of her legal knowledge comes from a bit part curling around the stripper's pole in The Sopranos. But she still ends up as juror number 11 in a landmark trial against a notorious mob boss.

The judge is terrified of the defendant.

The case quickly becomes the new Trial of the Century. Mafia don Dominic Cavello, known as the Electrician, is linked to hundreds of gruesome, unspeakable crimes. Senior FBI agent Nick Pellisante has been tracking him for years. He knows Cavello's power reaches far beyond the courtroom but the FBI's evidence against the ruthless killer is ironclad. Conviction is sure thing.

So is the jury.

As the jury is about to reach a verdict, the Electrician makes one devastating move that no one could have predicted. The entire nation is reeling, and Andie's world is shattered. For her, the hunt for the Electrician becomes personal, and she and Pellisante come together in an unbreakable bond: they exact justice - at any cost.

The verdict: Run for your life.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

419 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 2006

About the author

Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sigh...I'm throwing the proverbial noose over my neck with even a three star rating of this book. (I was even tempted to give it a four star...let me tell you why)

Prose? Non-exsistant. Plot? Follows the correct sequence...but really let me get to my point: James Patterson is the grown-up version of Nancy Drew for crying out loud.

It's not going to intellectually better you, it's not going to be mentioned in conversation with Harvaaaaahd literature majors, and it's not going to win you any points with that guy or girl at the Cornell bars anytime before Satan drops an icy cold turd.

But dammit...the man makes you turn pages. If I can give him anything, it's that. You almost hate yourself for doing it, because really, it's like the Bearnstein Bears for the 20-60 demographic. Sucks you in like CRACK though.

I hate the man for doing it. But then I respect and love how easily he can hook you with the most simple of plot basis and character development. Makes me think I can make millions on writing...but then there are those of you out there reading this laughing your ass off.

Long short? Easy read...as in 300+ pages you blow thru and then realize its over...and you're disappointed. Thats why he gets such a rating. Damn you Patterson, you are a guilty read. Someday they'll teach courses on you in colleges on how to dupe the masses into loving your ish with little work but until then...hats off and touche Patterson. TOOOOUUUUCHE.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

FBI Special Agent Nick Pellisante, head of the organized crime unit in New York City, has been after elusive mob boss Dominic Cavello for a long time.



Cavello is the worst of the worst - a sadistic vengeful brute who knows no limits. So it's a red letter day when Nick and his team nab the disguised Cavello, who's pretending to need a wheelchair, at his niece's wedding.



Nick is avidly anticipating Cavello's trial, where he's sure the killer will be convicted and put away for life.

The potential jury pool includes a single mother and aspiring actress named Andie DeGrasse. Andie, who has a young son and auditions to go to, schemes every which way to get out of jury duty.....but is chosen in the end.



As Andie and her fellow jurors hear testimony from 'rats' that have sold Cavello out, it looks like the crime lord will probably be found guilty.



Meanwhile Cavello, who has criminal contacts all over the world, wants to make sure he'll never be convicted. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say the book is divided into several sections, two of which are 'first trial' and 'second trial.'

The story has an interesting set of characters, including an eastern European thug who lives in Israel with his wife and chess prodigy son; a mob killer who cracks jokes during his testimony.....and makes the jury laugh; a woman who picks up the wrong guy at a bar; and an array of judges, jurors and criminals.







The book was zipping along just fine until somewhere after the second trial, where the plot went over-the-top and entered unbelievable land. I don't want to give away spoilers so I'll just say Cavello is more evil than Satan and an untrained civilian goes after deadly mobsters. These exaggerated plot points make it impossible (for me) to suspend disbelief.

Still, this is an imaginative thriller, good entertainment for a few hours. Oh.....and there's a spot of romance, for folks who like that kind of thing. 😊💜💕

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the best entries from the Patterson stable but it was entertaining.

Nice main characters, Andy and Nick, meet at the trial of a major criminal who then escapes from the court room with a lot of resultant deaths. One of the dead is Andy's son and the pair set out to kill the two men responsible. The story moves fast with short chapters and lots of action.

The epilogue is superb and the book finishes on a well planned high. A good book but not a brilliant one.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Page turner! Hooked from the start. One of Patterson's better books in my opinion.

Four stars.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was definitely a page turner and I can see how Patterson is considered a master of the genre. It is my first time reading one of his books and I have a feeling they will be a bit formuleric (is there such a word)? You know what I mean .... It all sort of got a bit predicable towards the end and you could see how it would make a good film - a lot of his books have been made into films but not sure if this one has. I will definitely read more books by him... might be a bit cheesy in parts but sometimes cheese is good! Honestly I don't think the heroine's character would have done what she did in the end... then again, it's fiction so I just went with the flow and suspended the disbelief.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was soooo good...It was combination of action, suspense, it was sad and happy parts...It had to do with a man being tried to sentence him to time in prison...But this man was such a powerful man that he had pulls even from inside...He made things happen, scared people off the case and made people die...but none of it can be linked to him until one detective who was smart enough to think outside the box...A nailbiting experience and A must read!

[Lilyan · Rating 2 out of 5]

So. Much. CHEESE! How? How is Patterson an International Best-Selling author??! How is this book a bestseller? It's below average.

The plot was a good thriller plot. We have a mobster, a hit man, a federal agent and a hot single mother. Not the recipe for a timeless novel, but a good enough setting for a crime novel. But oh my, the writing was so average, with random exclamations thrown in. The dialogue was cheesy and the events were ridiculous! It was like watching an Indian movie where the main character beats up 20 guys single handed then jumps over 3 buses parked next to each other.

I guess it was an OKAY book. But it's a far cry from being a bestseller! It's just insulting for this book to be anywhere near the best seller stack.

Denis Lehane, now that man can write Thrillers.

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit I’m becoming a huge fan of James Patterson, whether they are solely written by the man himself or co-authored either way I’m loving every book. Judge and Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross had enough tension to keep me on the edge of my seat and the killer, an evil son of a b****, would scare the pants off of anyone, he certainly scared the beejeebers out of me.

Short and sharp chapters makes it a fast read which I loved and oh my gosh, loved the whole mob trial plot, lots of action involving a jurist and an FBI agent, great courtroom drama and vile gangsters makes this a compelling read.

*Book #39/72 of my 2019 coffee table to-read pile challenge, cont. 2020

[Mandy F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first James Patterson book that I've read. Now I see what the fuss is all about. My mother-in-law is a HUGE fan of his work and I borrowed this copy from her while visiting over New Years when I had a sleepless night and couldn't find the book I brought on the trip. I really enjoyed it. This was not part of his series with Alex Cross or the women's detective literature either. It had a ton of action in it with lots of twists and surprises. As I was reading I could picture it all, like I was watching a film. In this case, it was a bit like watching a mafia movie like "Goodfellas" with a bit of "A Few Good Men" in it - a great combination. I like that the chapters are short in his books. I could cover 50 pages in an hours and feel like I really dug deep into the story. Next time I visit my MIL, I will borrow another of his books.

[Lorrea - WhatChaReadin'? · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Andie gets called up for jury duty, she is dreading it. She doesn't want to be a part of this trial at all. During jury selection, she tries her best to not get called, but unfortunately for her, she gets a seat in the jury box. The trial is for a mob boss who has killed numerous people and gotten away with it every time. Nick Pellisante is the FBI agent who has been hunting down Dominic Covello for years now. Finally he has him in jail and awaiting trial and he can't wait to see him put away for life. When the jury gets sequestered, it doesn't stop Covello from having his people get to them. Will he get away with murder again or will he finally face his fate?

I have enjoyed James Patterson books for a long time. His books aren't always the best, but they are great for a quick read and lots of entertainment. Having Joe Mantegna read this story made it even better. Criminal Minds is one of my favorite shows so I could relate to the reader on this book. I plan on catching up on all of my James Patterson reading in the new year. I'm already caught up on the Women's Murder Club series.

In this book, I like the way that Andie handles the situations that are put to her. She is a mother and very strong willed. The relationship she develops with Pellisante along the way helps them both in their lives. A quick book to enjoy on my way to and from work.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

My biggest complaint is that the second to last chapter of Judge & Jury had a weird, unnecessary “twist” to it where two characters behaved very out of character. It’s painfully obvious that Patterson and Gross were trying to tie up loose ends and disguise it with contrived badassery, hence the three-star rating.

Other than that, Judge & Jury is an okay book. It’s the literature version of junk food - quick, easy, and relatively satisfying. It’s also nice that Judge & Jury is just a stand-alone novel.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Mystery is a Disappointment Yet, MR. Patterson can do better.


I'm not sure what has happened to Mr. Patterson's writing skills, but it seems to me that a majority of his novels that he has co-wrote with someone have been real duds. I just finished reading his latest release, "The 6th Target and that was another real dud. All I can say to Mr. Patterson: "I have enjoyed many of your earlier novels, would you get serious and start creating well-written stories that you certainly have the talent to conceive."

In the story "Judge and Jury", I almost got excited and began to read pages non-stop, but then the story started to fall apart again. At this point I was reading the scene where the mob leader is on trial for murder. Does he care? No. He just solves the problem by hiring an assassin to destroy the bus that the jury panel is riding on. Murder an entire jury? I just shook my head, wondering who was next: the judge, the DA?. I know this is fiction but the scenes should have some resemblance to the real world. Then we have Nick Pellisante, the FBI agent in hot pursuit of the mobster all over the world with a bank account that seems to have no bottom to it.

It's not a terrible read, but I do feel that it is not a super mystery read. If you are a die hard fan of Mr. Patterson, you may find it an enjoyable read.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judge and Jury is obsession, greed and revenge. Single mum Andie DeGrasse did not want to be on jury duty and tried everything in her power to get out of it. Nothing work and Andie became a juror. An event happens that rock Andie DeGrasse world and this when Nic Pellisante become involved with Andie. The readers of Judge & Jury will continue to follow Andie and Nic to find out what happens. Also, the readers of Juge & Jury would be surprised with the ending of Judge & Jury.

I enjoy reading Judge & Jury. Has always James Patterson and Andrew Gross did a fantastic job of portraying the characters and intertwine then with each other. Judge & Jury is well written and researched by James Patterson and Andrew Gross. I like the way James and Andrew describe their settings that allow me to become involved with the plot and the characters.

The readers of Judge & Jury will learn the heartache that parents have with the loss of a child. Also, the readers of Judge and Jury will learn the procedures and problems jurors had when they became part of a highly visible murder case.

I recommend this book

[Viji (Bookish endeavors) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't believe it took two authors to write this.!! I mean,any average or slightly below-average guy could've written this while half asleep.. And Patterson is someone so popular and widely-read.. It was a quick read because there wasn't much content and you could easily turn the pages without missing anything.. You didn't need such a lot of pages to write this short story.. The copy I have is a hard-bound one and it really made me feel like hitting my own head with it as a warning for me not to pick up Patterson any time soon..

[Onceinabluemoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 oh this was fun, it's been ages since I read a page turning suspense novel, forty years ago i read them all, now I just get them for my husband. We started this as an audio book in the car, it sounded like a play with real gunshots, sirens, music and other sound effects, which would have totally unnerved me if I was driving! I have never read Patterson, but was so thrilled with gross' s the one man I wanted to give this a go. For me, is was a fast paced Saturday matinee kind of feeling, over 100 chapters, all cliff hangers of fun! For its genre I totally enjoyed this mobster romp and stomp around the world.

[Breann Bianco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazingly well written (as always). I love how the the suspense leaves you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end. JP is such a talented writer, all of his books just fascinate me and put me into his world. And I'm glad Andie and Nick got together...which I kind of assumed but hey, with James, there's never a dull moment ;)

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Patterson book written by Andrew Gross.
Another decent read straight out of the James Patterson book factory, usual formula, fast paced, short chapters and in this case it works.

[Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typical engrossing Patterson/Gross collaboration. Booms, bangs, quest, romance and victory. You like bloody. This book provides plenty. Yup, another great summer read.

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Judge and Jury” by James Patterson and Andrew Gross is a lukewarm mystery thriller. A mob boss, Dominic Cavello, the baddest of the bad guys, goes on trial for multiple murders in and around the City of New York. Nick Pellisante, FBI Special Agent for organized crime, is responsible for Cavello going to trial. One of the jury members, Andie DeGrasse, single mother and part-time actress, makes every effort to get off the jury but in the end decides that it is her duty, a decision she soon comes to regret. Disaster strikes during the early part of the trial. Nick and Andie are thrown together through circumstances and a common desire to see justice done and also to extract revenge. What follows is a quick series of exhilarating events that take the reader to far-flung destinations in pursuit of a deadly mission. The story has many exciting moments, some a bit unrealistic, particularly toward the end; howe“Judge and Jury” by James Patterson and Andrew Gross is a lukewarm mystery thriller. A mob boss, Dominic Cavello, the baddest of the bad guys, goes on trial for multiple murders in and around the City of New York. Nick Pellisante, FBI Special Agent for organized crime, is responsible for Cavello going to trial. One of the jury members, Andie DeGrasse, single mother and part-time actress, makes every effort to get off the jury but in the end decides that it is her duty, a decision she soon comes to regret. Disaster strikes during the early part of the trial. Nick and Andie are thrown together through circumstances and a common desire to see justice done and also to extract revenge. What follows is a quick series of exhilarating events that take the reader to far-flung destinations in pursuit of a deadly mission.
The story has many exciting moments, some a bit unrealistic, particularly toward the end; however, it’s a fun, and quick, read with lots of short chapters.ver, it’s a fun, and quick, read with lots of short chapters. Overall a good book--I enjoyed it very much!!!

[Joanne Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. FBI agent Nick Pellisante has spent a great deal of time trying to getting Dominic Cavello in front of a jury. Andie DeGrasse a single mother has found herself on said jury. Neither of their lives will be the same again.

There are points in this book that are way over the top - there is not enough of them to stop my enjoyment of the book - but they are there. I liked the two main characters and I had no problem hating Cavello. If you read Patterson and his co authored books you know what you are getting, faced paced book with short chapters. This is one of the betters ones that I have read.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the unabridged audio of this book. My sister passed it my way when she was done. When she handed it to me she said, "Give it a few chapters before you give up on it. It starts out slow." I put the CD in during a long car drive and was hooked from the very beginning. I didn't think it started slow, and I listened to the entire thing in a couple days. Some parts of the story were predictable, while others caught me by surprise. It was a fun guessing game to see how many pieces of the plot I could guess correctly. The twists and turns were awesome, and well thought out. The two characters Nick and Andy were easy to love. You couldn't help but root for the good guys with these two. He was determined, caring, loyal and honest. She was independent, wild and funny. I guessed right from the start that Nick and Andy would form a bond, but was unable to guess where it would take them, but was happy with where it did. The sound effects and music within the audio of this book was okay, though there were times when I could have done without so much of it. I like the gun shots, or screeching of tires, but the slow songs during the romantic scenes was a little cheesy. The end was NOT what I expected. Parts were, but other parts were not. Before the last CD, I'd give this book a 4.5 star rating. However, the ending ruined it a little. I cannot totally explain without spoilers, so I'll let you judge for yourself if you check out this book.

[Patrick Gibson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my first James Patterson book (I think—because I get the impression they are all alike, and if so, I may have read others but purged them from my limited memory capacity). This tale starts as a legal thriller, but a major twist occurs a little over 100 pages into this book that takes the novel into a completely different direction. After this twist, the book's pace really picks up, and I thought the climax of the novel was very exciting and well done.

I think most people who buy a Patterson book know what they're getting into. This is not a "literary" novel and it does not pretend to be one. JUDGE & JURY is instead a fun, light read -- the reader is rewarded with fast-paced action and thrills, with a lot of twists and turns along the way. I am amazed that authors get away with 127 chapters—each two and a half pages.

If fun is what you're expecting, then I think Patterson really delivers the goods with this book, more so than some of his previous novels which I may or may not have read). Recommended for a plane ride or waiting in the dentist office.

[Kulpreet Yadav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judge and jury is a spellbinding thriller. It doesn't get better than this, that’s what I thought as I finished the last page. Nowhere in the narrative, which is woven around a good plot, there was any beating about the bush. The liked the short sentences too.

Dominic Cavello, a mafia don, is arrested by the narrator, Nick Pellisante of FBI. But not before he kills two agents of his team. During the trail the bus bringing the jurors is blown up. All save one, Andie DeGrasse, die in the blast. Andie, on that fateful day, had her 10 year old son on the bus too and he is charred beyond recognition. Cavello is moved to a maximum security prison and another trail begins after 6 months amid unprecedented security. Yet, Cavello escapes. The investigations turn cold soon. Nick works overtime and with the help of Andie is able to track down the man who was hired by the don to blast the bus. From him they learn which corner of the planet Cavello is hiding. In a gripping climax Nick and Andie kill him.

Superb book, this is a must read if you love high voltage action.

[Simon Cleveland · Rating 2 out of 5]

*** This review contains spoilers ***

With Patterson it's either hit or miss. This one is a miss.
The story revolves around an FBI agent, a juror, a mafia don on trial and a whole lot of bad writing. I tried to get into the story, but it was neither an interesting courtroom drama (like Grisham's) nor an action packet mystery thriller like some of Harlan Coben's stories.
While the FBI agent is desperately trying to see a convicted don, he indirectly becomes the reason for the death of juror number 9's young son. Time moves forward and as expected, the FBI agent falls in love with the juror, the mobster escapes bail and we are left with a grueling read (chapter 40 through 110) to find out where he's hiding and how the agent and the mother will get their vengeance.

Do yourself a favor and skip this one. Instead, read some of Grisham's books...ANY of Ghrisham's books.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just flat out enjoy James Patterson's mystery writings. Judge and Jury brings us into the courtroom as a well known mobster is put on trial. No one wants to be on that jury. He continues to draw us in by stating there's nothing he can do to anyone while in jail; but then things happen to the jury, to families of jurists, and to law enforcement. Join the thrill of the chase as the lead detective hunts him down, again, in foreign countries. This man might have been in jail, but it doesn't mean he wasn't in contact with his associates. Makes you wonder if the $5 a day one receives for jury duty is enough to endure long days, being sequestored, being away from family, and facing a brutal killer.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a thriller by James Patterson I did however read one of his romance books called Susans diary for Nicholas and I found that exceptional. So I decided to read a thriller by him and he quickly became of my favorite authors. James Patterson writing style is unique when I read the judge and Jury I couldn't put it down and I couldn't wait to see what happened next.I felt like I was sitting in the court room with the jury.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 or 3 stars...couldn't decide. Parts were okay, but other parts were ridiculous. I ultimately gave this 2 stars, because 2 authors wrote this and thought it was good (it's really not). Maybe this will balance out the folks who somehow believe this is a 5 star piece of work. (Go read a John Sandford!)

[Kemp · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is fine if you're in the middle seat of a 4 hour flight with no where to go.

The characters are stereotypical and lack depth. The plot is mostly predictable and without intrigue or suspense.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by James Patterson and his minions. It is a wonder that they ever convict any of these mob bosses.

[Toby Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite Patterson ever!