Judge & Jury

Perfecting the mobster's attitude, as well as that of the FBI agent tracking him, could be difficult for some, but innuendo, accent, and timing are Joe Mantegna's trademarks in narrating, and he does a superb job here. Nick Pellisante comes alive as the emotionally burdened agent, as does Andie DeGrasse, the not-so-willing juror, as their lives become entangled while the Mafia don laughs in the face of the law. Using wise-guy accents for the mobsters and a sincere tone for the agent, Mantegna weaves this story flawlessly, bringing the listener into a gritty world in which the villains get the upper hand, but only for a short while. D.L.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

July 31, 2006
Bestsellers Patterson and Gross (Lifeguard) once again deliver what their fans expect in this slapdash revenge thriller. When mob godfather Dominic Cavello is finally brought to trial by FBI agent Nick Pellisante, his longtime nemesis, the accused is strangely unconcerned even as a parade of his former criminal associates finger him as having ordered a hit on a corrupt businessman. The gangster's plan to intimidate the decision-makers at his trial reaches its climax when he arranges for a bomb to blow up the bus transporting the jury. The sole survivor teams up with Pellisante to make Cavello pay. Numerous legal howlers that would be obvious even to those who only know about trials from watching Law and Order may annoy some readers.

October 30, 2006
Bestsellers Patterson and Gross (Lifeguard) once again deliver what their fans expect in this slapdash revenge thriller. When mob godfather Dominic Cavello is finally brought to trial by FBI agent Nick Pellisante, his longtime nemesis, the accused is strangely unconcerned even as a parade of his former criminal associates finger him as having ordered a hit on a corrupt businessman. The gangster's plan to intimidate the decision-makers at his trial reaches its climax when he arranges for a bomb to blow up the bus transporting the jury. The sole survivor teams up with Pellisante to make Cavello pay. Numerous legal howlers that would be obvious even to those who only know about trials from watching Law and Order may annoy some readers.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2006
Judge and Jury" gets off to a slightly slow start but delivers plenty of twists and turns. FBI agent Nick Pellisante has finally done the impossible: captured Mob boss Dominic Cavello. The jury is selected and Cavello's trial progresses smoothly\emdash it seems the conviction Pellisante is hoping for is within his reach. Several formerly loyal henchmen now sitting in jail strike deals with the prosecution and testify about the savage murders Cavello ordered, and Pellisante takes the stand to detail how Cavello shot two of his colleagues while trying to elude capture. But Cavello has hired Richard Nordeshenko, a methodical and calculating killer, to make sure the trial never concludes. Nordeshenko carries out his plan with brutal efficiency, leaving a wake of devastation in his path. Pellisante is crushed by the abrupt end of the trial and determined to make sure that the retrial isn't similarly derailed, but Cavello and Nordeshenko have an even more diabolical plan in store this time around. A compelling hero and a truly evil villain distinguish this exciting read. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)