The Judge

by Peter Colt

When a Boston judge is being blackmailed, Andy Roark must find out who is behind the threat before lives get ruined in this thrilling mystery featuring the Vietnam veteran turned private investigator.

"Fans of Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels . . . will be eager to see more of Roark" Publishers Weekly

"Roark is genuinely likeable (not too tough, but not a patsy)" The New York Times

Boston, 1985. With the late December cold comes a new job for ex-military operative turned private investigator Andy Roark. Boston judge Ambrose Messer is being blackmailed, and he needs Roark's help to stop the culprit.

Messer is judging the bench trial of a chemical company accused of knowingly dumping chemical waste in an unsafe manner, causing birth defects and cancer. The evidence against them is overwhelming, but the message from the blackmailer is If you don't want the world to know your secret, the chemical company wins. Messer doesn't want to let a threat corrupt his judgement . . . but then again, he could lose everything if his secret comes out!

Judging his client to be a man with morals, Roark plunges into action, determined to find the blackmailer before it's too late. But the disturbing, unexpected revelations he uncovers make him a target of some very dangerous people, who soon seem determined not only to wreck the life of his client, but to destroy Roark's too . . .

Written by a US Army veteran and New England police officer, this new instalment in the Andy Roark mystery series will appeal to fans who love a hard-boiled protagonist with a complex backstory and a plot filled with unexpected twists and action-packed scenes.

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2024

About the author

Peter Colt is currently a police officer in a small New England city where he has worked since 2007. He spent over twenty years in the Army reserve and was deployed to Kosovo in 2000, where he was attached to the Russian Army. He was deployed to Iraq in 2003 and again in 2008. He was fortunate to get to know many Vietnam vets and U.S. Army Special forces soldiers. He lived on Nantucket Island from 1973‑1986. He’s currently working on the next Andy Roark mystery.

Reviews

[James P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy Roark Returns

Boston Private Investigator Andy Roark returns. This book is part of a series that I recommend but it can certainly be enjoyed as a stand alone.
By way of background, the Roark series is set in the 1980’s. Author Peter Colt has captured the vibe of the era. Thankfully , there are no obvious anachronisms. Even better, there is precious little presentism.
Roark is a Vietnam combat veteran. He spent three years as a Special Operations Group soldier assigned to interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh trail in areas officially off limits to American soldiers. Again, the author has done his research. He treats Roark’s experiences respectfully. Not idealized. But more importantly not demonized. The war experience defines Roark’s character.
His Boston can be a very dangerous place. Roark has the standard P.I.police and federal contacts. They occasionally smooth the way but no miraculous saves. Our hero has faced corruption, organized crime, and run of the mill villains. Each book has an enigmatic female character with whom Roark gets involved….sometimes as romantic partner…sometimes as villain.
He is not a super hero. He doesn’t win every fight. He is an Everyman, scarred by war who perseveres regardless of the consequences.
In this adventure, a Judge is being blackmailed. Its1985/96 and the Judge has been photographed with a gay lover. Roark’s task is to identify the blackmailers, secure the compromising photos, and protect the Judge from career ending scandal. We follow Roark as he roams the Boston area, eventually identifies the culprits, and resolves things. There are twists and turns, some nice misdirection, threats, attacks, and of course a little romance. Colt’s descriptions of Boston are nicely done. And, again he has captured the ambience of the eighties.
As a retired career prosecutor, I look for plausibility in this genre. Colt provides enough plausibility. The book is enjoyable. It’s not Jack Webb’s Dragnet or Parker’s Spenser. Somewhere in between. And that’s fine. I recommend the book and the series.

[jeff popple · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those after a good old-styled 1980s PI novel, Peter Colt’s The Judge certainly delivers the goods.

Set in Boston in 1985, it opens with ex-military operative turned private investigator Andy Roark, being offered a new job. Boston judge Ambrose Messer is being blackmailed, and he needs Roark’s help to stop the culprit.

Messer is judging the bench trial of a chemical company accused of knowingly dumping chemical waste in an unsafe manner, causing birth defects and cancer. The evidence against them is overwhelming, but the message from the blackmailer is clear: If you don’t want the world to know your secret, the chemical company wins. Messer doesn’t want to let a threat corrupt his judgement, but then again, he could lose everything if his secret comes out.

Roark agrees to the job and quickly plunges into action, determined to find the blackmailer before it’s too late. But the disturbing, unexpected revelations he uncovers make him a target of some very dangerous people, who soon seem determined not only to wreck the life of his client, but to destroy Roark’s too.

This is a very competently done and entertaining PI novel. The plotting is a bit formulaic, but Roark is a good narrator and there are some decent surprises, and gunfights, along the way to the exciting conclusion. The 1980s milieu is nicely evoked, and Colt’s descriptions really make you feel the cold and slippiness of a Boston winter.

An enjoyable, quick read that reminded me of the better PI novels written in the 1980s by authors like Robert Parker and Les Roberts. I also really liked the ‘drone view’ cover.

See full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/m...

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Judge by Peter Colt

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Severn House and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Boston, 1985. With the late December cold comes a new job for ex-military operative turned private investigator Andy Roark. Boston judge Ambrose Messer is being blackmailed, and he needs Roark's help to stop the culprit.

Messer is judging the bench trial of a chemical company accused of knowingly dumping chemical waste in an unsafe manner, causing birth defects and cancer. The evidence against them is overwhelming, but the message from the blackmailer is If you don't want the world to know your secret, the chemical company wins. Messer doesn't want to let a threat corrupt his judgement . . . but then again, he could lose everything if his secret comes out!

Judging his client to be a man with morals, Roark plunges into action, determined to find the blackmailer before it's too late. But the disturbing, unexpected revelations he uncovers make him a target of some very dangerous people, who soon seem determined not only to wreck the life of his client, but to destroy Roark's too . . .

My Opinion

The Judge is the fifth book in the Andy Roark Mystery Series but I have read it as a standalone. Peter Colt has written an entertaining thriller that was easy to read. An enjoyable novel.

Rating 4/5

[Doug Yonce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good PI action thriller that took a little too much time in introspection. Roark takes a judge as a client when the man in the robe finds himself being blackmailed. Ex-cons, shady lawyers, probation officers, court clerks, and others make appearances in a variety of roles in a story that entertains. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher who voluntarily provided an hour review.

[Vicky Hughes · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first introduction to this character, whom I enjoyed, as well as the 80’s Boston setting. The story however was a bit simplistic and there was a lot of repetition and mansplaining. A nice book but could have done with a lot more intrigue and excitement. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy.

[Janaya Kabamba · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked tbe premise but this just wasn't for me. I think I may be too much of a millennial but the whole over the top straightness and whatever just made my skin crawl. It all felt a but blah and like I was being mansplained to by the kind of guy who now goes on about how "you can't say anything anymore". It was fine but just not for me

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and gripping thriller that kept me on the edge. It surprised me and I was kept guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Augie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Judge is a good read, but not great in my opinion. It’s a story about the Boston PI Andy Roark taking on a case involving the blackmailing of a judge.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tries hard but doesn't quite hit the spot

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The PI, The PO, and all the rest

This story would make a great ensemble movie. Lots of wonderful characters, twists in the story line, a tumultuous romance and some gun fire. Not the best ending but very, very enjoyable.

[Marcus Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, enough twists and turns to keep reader involved.

[Likestotravel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read, active story, superficial characters, reminding me of Spenser books… I enjoyed it for entertainment and the descriptions of Boston scenes and landmarks. Plot and characters were not well-developed with some jarring disconnects. Best if read for fun and not taken too seriously.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read this ARC.