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Jersey Girl #2

Judgment at Santa Monica

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Hollywood stars, sunshine, stabbings . . . New Jersey prosecutor turned LA family lawyer Sandy Moss is back with a bang in the second book in this fun, witty and fast-paced cosy legal mystery series.

The last person family lawyer Sandy Moss expects to walk into her courtroom, right in the middle of a trial, is TV star Patrick McNabb: prime suspect in her first (and she hopes, last) murder case.

Sandy knows what Patrick's like. Friendly, overconfident, dazzlingly handsome . . . and a well-meaning menace. But his request seems harmless enough. His dear friend Cynthia is getting divorced, and he thinks Sandy's perfect for the job. She accepts - because he's Patrick and there is no denying him.

But of course it's not that simple. Soon Sandy's tangled up in yet another murder - and Patrick, who's currently playing a private detective on TV, believes he's essential to solving the whole thing . . .

Fast-paced, funny and larger than life, with a joy of a protagonist who could give Perry Mason a run for his money (Kirkus Reviews), JUDGMENT AT SANTA MONICA is a perfect escapist read and a great choice for fans of legal mysteries and TV shows.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2021

22 people are currently reading
133 people want to read

About the author

E.J. Copperman

34 books841 followers
Librarian note: E.J. Copperman is the pen name for author Jeff Cohen

E.J. Copperman is a mysterious figure, or has a mysterious figure, or writes figuratively in mysteries. In any event, a New Jersey native, E.J. has written for such publications as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, American Baby and USA Weekend. Night of the Living Deed is the first E.J. Copperman novel. It will be followed in 2011 by An Uninvited Ghost, the second in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series.

E.J., having worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, magazine editor, and screenwriter, writes stories that combine humor and mystery with just the right amount of spooky supernatural happenings and a large doses of Jersey attitude.

Sound like we’re being evasive? Well, the fact is that E.J. Copperman is the pseudonym of a well-known mystery novelist, now embarking on a new type of story that includes some elements of the supernatural as well as a fair number of laughs. And the Copperman novels will have a different attitude, a different setting and completely different characters than anything that has come before, so E.J. really is a new author.

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5 stars
74 (27%)
4 stars
102 (38%)
3 stars
72 (26%)
2 stars
15 (5%)
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4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Andrea.
1,475 reviews24 followers
April 19, 2022
I like this series. It's entertaining, it's light, and the plotting is good and I enjoy the characters. This is the second book in the Jersey Girl series, and Sandy Moss is representing two different clients, a woman accused of running a prostitution ring online and a woman accused of murdering her mother-in-law by stabbing her with a TeeVee award. Sandy is also warding off various attempts on her life and trying to figure out her new lifestyle and relationships in LA. I have not read either of these straight through; I tend to put them down a few times, probably because they're fun but the pacing seems a little slow and the stakes also feel pretty low. I enjoy these but I wouldn't call them riveting. That said, I would read the third in this series. Not every book has to keep me on the edge of my seat, and these are fun.
5,984 reviews67 followers
March 9, 2022
I'm tempted to classify this as a New Jersey book, though it takes place entirely in Southern California. But Sandy, the lawyer who narrates, will always be a Jersey Girl, as is her bestie, Angie, who relocated to help Sandy, who left criminal law behind in New Jersey for the more lucrative family law practice she's joined. Actor Patrick McNabb brings a beautiful star to Sandy because Cynthia's lawyer really messed up her divorce settlement. That shouldn't be a problem, until Cynthia is arrested for murdering her mother-in-law, who was the cause of the divorce. All the evidence seems to be against her, until Sandy starts investigating--and being shot at. If you like Stephanie Plum, you'll relate to Sandy, too.
Profile Image for Sydney Book.
20 reviews
June 21, 2025
Alright alright! I liked this. Although it felt very drawn out at times, was slow paced, and the characters were a bit annoying at times, I couldn’t stop reading it because the mystery had me hooked. I needed to find out who did it. And there were way too many parts to put together. I’m glad I stuck around. Copperman wove together this plot strategically and skillfully, never revealing too much. Even with multiple additions and turns to the case, it ultimately stayed on track and led to a satisfying yet unexpected ending
Profile Image for Susie Kline.
119 reviews8 followers
January 19, 2022
I notice the lower stars are doing reviews. I only finished the book because I wanted to know whodunnit. And I had guessed early on. So no big surprise. This is a big tell, no show book. The characters aren’t engaging. I got a Stephanie-Plum-wanna-be vibe. It just didn’t excite me at all.
Profile Image for Kimberly #Audiofile.
2,567 reviews29 followers
January 4, 2023
i dont actually understand the relationship between the mmc and fmc in this series
3 star listen
The murder mystery part of this book was good tho i really liked the court part of the story.
Profile Image for Gail C..
347 reviews
August 20, 2021
According to the author’s note at the end of this book, “If you’ve read any E.J. Copperman or Jeff Cohen books, you are a member of my tribe…” Count me a dedicated member if that’s the case. This book is fun, it’s funny, and it contains one good mystery and one really enjoyable twist, or maybe two; but that would be telling.

This is the second book in the legal mystery series that features Sandy Moss, New Jersey lawyer who has transplanted herself to Los Angeles. While I didn’t read the first one, it’s not necessary as there are sufficient explanations of characters who appear in both books to answer any questions I might have and the mystery itself is contained entirely within the book. Based on my enjoyment of this book, and now being a recognized tribe member, I’m thinking I will need to pick up the first book in the series and give it a read in the near future.

Sandy narrates the book, and opens by explaining her activities in the courtroom on behalf of a suburban housewife who has been accused of prostitution. The outcome of the case, absurd as it is, somehow goes against Sandy, which leaves her confused, frustrated, and planning her next strategy. While this is taking place, Sandy also describes her roommate, Angie, her best friend and another New Jersey transplant, who has moved in with Sandy and is currently unemployed. That situation leaves open the opportunity for some snarky”New Jersey” sarcasm that Sandy peppers throughout the entire book which adds to the humor and lightheartedness of the entire book.

There is a second recurring character in the book, Patrick, who is described as a Hollywood handsome leading man on television. In the previous book, Sandy apparently saved Patrick by proving not only did he not commit murder; but also she demonstratedby discovering who did. Now Patrick thinks Sandy can do no wrong and when fellow actor Cynthia is accused of murder, of course Patrick hires Sandy to resolve the situation.

There are several points revealed along the way, including: Why is Patrick paying Cynthia’s attorney fees? What kind of job is Angie going to get? Is Patrick really in love with Sandy as he is now declaring? and Why does Emmy, Patrick’s former fiance, keep tagging along everywhere they go? If that’s not enough, there are questions like who is sending people to attack Sandy? and What does Detective Lieutenant Trench know about it all and why won’t he tell Sandy? To answer any of these questions in this review would spoil the reader’s delight at having them unfold as they read and experience it firsthand. They are here to encourage readers to get the book and find out for themselves.

The characters are well drawn and presented, even at the same time they are what one might consider “Hollywood or LA Bigger than life”. It’s easy to get wrapped up in their activities and accept the action, even if a small portion of your brain may be saying, nah...that wouldn’t really happen, would it? Regardless, you are likely to decide it doesn’t matter, you just want to pick up the book and enjoy the story.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants their mystery a little on the lighthearted side. There are times when I found myself laughing out loud even though a part of me was trying to solve the case at the same time. It was fun to invision Sandy through her self-description of a “Jersey ‘Girl” who is just over the line in terms of cheeky, just brazen enough to pull off a few less than respectful comments in court, and overall to take on anybody and any situation with a belief that she can at least handle it and, at best, beat you at your own game. Is she arrogant? No, just New Jersey smart and confident. My thanks to Canongate Severn House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy for review. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Margie Bunting.
871 reviews41 followers
August 22, 2021
Sandy Moss is settling into her career as an attorney in a family law firm in Los Angeles, having left her New Jersey prosecutor job behind. She has one murder case under her belt, but she can't shake Patrick McNabb, a popular actor who was the defendant in the aforementioned case. He's convinced himself he's in love with her, and that he can be helpful with her next case . . . because he has played a lawyer on TV.

Sandy is defending a woman who is accused of prostitution when Patrick insists she also take on the case of Cynthia,. an actress who has been arrested for stabbing her (soon to be ex-) mother-in-law with a TeeVee Award statuette. It's up to Sandy to figure out why Cynthia couldn't possibly have been the murderer, while she and her team sort through everyone else who might have had a reason to wish the victim harm, including her son, her art gallery clients and even the police.

I wouldn't say this series qualifies as cozy, since Sandy works in law enforcement, but it is certainly "murder mystery lite." And this is a genre in which E.J. Copperman excels. The characters and the plot are entertaining, the violence isn't graphic, and the courtroom scenes are convincing. It's a great way to spend a day, and I look forward to reading the first book in the series and future installments.

My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for giving me the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
Profile Image for Linda Smith.
992 reviews23 followers
February 1, 2022
This is the second book in the Jersey Girl Legal Mystery series and is every bit as entertaining as the first one. Since so many of the same characters appear in both novels, I would suggest reading Inherit the Shoes first. Sandy Moss left her job as a New Jersey prosecutor to get away from the violent cases that she took to court. She believed that life in a family law firm would be less stressful. But it appears that she is destined to become embroiled in murder trials whether she wants to or not. It also seems that her life is in danger on a regular basis. Sandy is concentrating on two unrelated cases when our story opens. She is representing a suburban housewife charged with prostitution for flirting with an undercover cop in an online chat. While in the middle of that trial, her friend Patrick McNabb shows up in the courtroom. He insists that Sandy must represent his sister, Cynthia Sutton, in her divorce. Cynthia, like Patrick, is also an actor. Her previous attorney had agreed to some outrageous demands by the soon to be ex-husband. There is no saying no to Patrick and Sandy agrees to help. But the next thing she knows, her new client has been arrested in the murder of her mother-in-law. So much for the family law profession. I love the humor that E.J. Copperman brings to his books and intend to read some of his other works. Hollywood needs to start optioning the rights.
369 reviews2 followers
September 16, 2022
This is a charming book with an attractive narrator, attorney Sandy Moss, well-drawn supporting characters, decent courtroom scenes, and massive plot holes that I had difficulty overcoming. Ex-client and friend, TV star Patrick McNabb, brings his friend, Cynthia, to Sandy. Cynthia is facing murder charges. The victim is her mother-in-law and the evidence is overwhelming. Sandy and friends try to uncover the clues and evidence the police overlooked. But Sandy's life is full of distractions. She has another case involving a housewife whose online flirting turns into a prostitution charge, one that the district attorney is taking way too seriously. Her friend Patrick has expressed romantic interests, and her best friend has new job with pluses and minuses. The dialogue is fresh and funny, and there are some good plot twists. The big problem with the book is the ending, which takes 15 ponderous pages to explain, relies on evidence not available to the reader, and exposes a totally incompetent police investigation, that failed to look into obvious things like bloody footprints. So the book is 90% fun and 10% bleh.
2,316 reviews41 followers
July 17, 2021
Reads fine as a standalone!
What’s a Jersey girl doing in California? If she’s Sandy Moss, she’s a lawyer who left the prosecutor’s office behind and headed West to practice family law. When Hollywood golden boy Patrick McNabb asks Sandy to take on the divorce of his friend, she couldn’t say no, though she wishes she had.

Sandy was supposed to have left murders behind in New Jersey and her she is again, wrapped up in yet another murder. To make things worse, Patrick is playing a PI on TV and insists that he is integral in solving the murder. OH BOY!

Being a Jersey Girl myself, I’ve enjoyed E.J. Copperman’s Haunted Guest House series based on the Jersey shore and had to read this one. It’s not quite as endearing to me since it’s not based in New Jersey. But hey, we Jersey Girls stick together and I do love the way the author writes her mysteries. I’ll be back for more!
Profile Image for Jean-Luc.
362 reviews10 followers
October 11, 2021
Stylishly written and higly entertaining whodunit set in and around the LA area and masterfully led by a feisty family lawyer hailing from New Jersey, a smart young woman that never gets overwhelmed by the whacky events that keep piling up around her and that keep threatening her sanity from the start. A fiendishly plotted romp with enough slapstick to keep the reader in stitches for a few hours, a cast of delightful and sympathetic characters, lots of goofy situations, weird criminal shenanigans, unexpected murder weapons and lots of Southern California clichés

A marvellous and worthy addition to this new series full of surprises, lots of verbal pyrotechnics and much needed laughter👍 I simply can't wait for the next installment! So please go for it and enjoy it without any moderation!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Canongate/Severn for this terrific and really whacky fictional treat!
755 reviews5 followers
July 25, 2021
Family lawyer Sandy Moss and TV star Patrick McNabb are back! After clearing Patrick of a murder charge, he's convinced that Sandy is the perfect lawyer to help his friend Cindy with her divorce settlement. When Cindy is found at the scene of her ex-mother-in-law's murder, In addition to looking into who wanted the mother-in-law dead, Sandy is also working on a client's appeal involving a police sting. To complicate matters, it appears that someone wants Sandy dead. Of course, Patrick feels that due to his role as a lawyer, he is a qualified investigator.
Fun read with interesting characters and a surprise twist.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
716 reviews
October 19, 2022
A totally entertaining judicial cozy mystery. The main character, Sandy, is a lawyer defending two women in separate cases. As the trial work continues, people keep trying to shoot her. Why would anyone want Sandy dead and is it related to either of the two cases? Meanwhile, the love interest (is it one?) is a bit tiring, but that is what Sandy thinks too.

One of the things that make this so hilarious is Sandy's snarky commentary. Sometimes to the people around her, sometimes it is an internal dialogue, and once in a while it is to us the reader. Love it!

The ending was very convoluted and very surprising. Who would have thought....!
Profile Image for Karen.
2,094 reviews45 followers
August 15, 2022
This was a fun quick read.

I have book three ready to go but wanted to read this series in order.

These are very likeable characters and they seem to actually know their respective jobs and do them well.

Patrick is full of surprises, and Angie's new job was absolutely no surprise to me.

I worked in an LA Law firm in the 80's, but it was not as free spirited as this one.

I don't know how accurate the court room scenes are, as I have not yet served on a jury.

I borrowed a copy from the public library.
Profile Image for Ryan Hoffman.
1,215 reviews2 followers
May 27, 2023
This is a very funny and interesting mystery with a female protagonist. Jersey born Los Angeles area lawyer Sandy Moss finds herself in the middle of two cases. What is a woman accused of running your prostitution ring in the other one is a woman accused of murdering her ex mother-in-law. The blood is very funny, fast and witty, is it offer to light mystery to solve, bordering somewhere between cozy and humorous. As was with the previous and first book in the series this was fun. This one was also entertaining.
51 reviews
October 4, 2025
Judgment at Santa Monica by E.J. Copperman started with an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it didn’t fully deliver. The pacing dragged in several places, and the mystery felt a bit predictable rather than suspenseful. The courtroom scenes, which could’ve been gripping, came off more flat than intense.

I also struggled to connect with the characters—they felt more like caricatures than fully developed people, making it hard to get invested in the outcome. While there were a few witty moments and the setting was nicely described, it wasn’t enough to keep me fully engaged. Overall, it had potential but just didn’t hit the mark for me.
Profile Image for Ursula S.
560 reviews35 followers
May 10, 2022
This was a fun book. Lots of interesting court strategy. I can't say I was convinced about the "romance" going on. The male characters were more vivid than the female characters--although some were very quirky and somewhat caricature-ish. It was generally a quick read, so I added a star for the pacing.

I'm curious as to what will happen next in the series. Hopefully the author will make me care a little bit more about the main love interest.
Profile Image for Linda.
404 reviews
August 16, 2022
No. I can't do it. I can't finish this book. I even read about a quarter of the way in. How can an author that wrote a great series - The Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries - all of which I've read like 3 times - go on to write a series I can't stand? The characters have no character. I'm not going to torture myself. Thank goodness I got it as an ebook for free from my library. I'm gonna take a break from books and read a magazine. That's all.
270 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2023
The protagonist is grating. Lots of "In New Jersey, this is how things are, and it's better than here." Typical "oooohhhhh HE can't POSSIBLY be in love with ME. I am DOWDY." Please stop.

Other reviewers have pointed out that the protagonist is a bit "not like the other girls." She is constantly putting down other women she perceives as more attractive or successful. It's unnecessary at best, harmful at worst.
121 reviews
July 9, 2024
This is my new favorite mystery series. The plots are interesting and page turning worthy. The characters are real, funny, and smart. And, no foul language is needed or indeed used so far in the first two books of the series which is a point winning notation for sure! If you like Janet Evanovich's main character Stephanie Plum or David Rosenfelt's main character Andy Carpenter, you will like this series.
Profile Image for Renee Winter.
465 reviews18 followers
July 22, 2021
Have enjoyed every book I've read by this author. This one continues the excellence. Awesome characters in believable settings. Lots of twists and turns. Fast paced fun read with intrigue galore. You are going to love Sandy Moss the protagonist. Thanks #netgalley, #CanongateBooks and #SevernHouse for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
Profile Image for Maria.
3,130 reviews101 followers
March 3, 2022
This story was funny and engaging. I enjoyed the behind the scenes view of how lawyers prepare for cases and the courtroom scenes. Sandy is smart and has a great sense of humor. Where this story lost points is with Patrick, who is supposed to be a sort of sidekick but was just annoying for me. Still, the mystery was well written and I liked the story enough to continue with the series.
679 reviews3 followers
October 30, 2022
Another fun romp with lawyer Sandy Moss. This time she is defending an actress who by the way is Patrick McNabb’s sister against a murder charge. We get to know Sandy better. I really thought something would develop with Detective Trench but no go. For now she is heading toward bliss with Patrick. The murder was twisty. The side case where she defended a woman falsely accused of prostitution was annoying because she actually was a prostitute.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Annarella.
14.3k reviews166 followers
October 3, 2021
Another highly entertaining and well written mystery by this author, this series is becoming a favorite.
It's engrossing, fun to read, and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
I had fun and it's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Profile Image for Sue.
35 reviews
April 16, 2022
This is the first book I've read by this author and plan to check out more of his. The mystery had a lot of turns and kept me guessing. The pacing was good, action interspersed with the main character offering humorous side quips.
Profile Image for Maddy Barnard.
708 reviews3 followers
July 25, 2022
Personally, I felt like the main character was very much an "I'm not like other girls" person and that ruined the book for me. The mystery was pretty predictable. The character development and interactions was pretty weak.
Profile Image for Chaitra.
4,609 reviews
November 17, 2024
I prefer this author's Haunted Guesthouse series, but I do like the courtroom part of this series. That's not to say I don't like Sandy or Patrick, I do. They're hilarious, and I liked the side cast in this one also.

133 reviews1 follower
December 29, 2021
This is entertaining and features a lawyer from the big c ity who has transferred to Santa Monica. It has many twists and turns as she defends a friend on a charge of murder.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews

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