Rating: 
Summary: A fabulous read!
Review: All I can say is "Wow". Jim Bell's new novel DEADLOCK is a book that grabs hold in the first paragraph and doesn't let go. With a riveting plot line that takes off on the premise of a Supreme Court judge converting to Christianity, it read like something right out of the front pages. I love it when I learn something from a book too, and it was fascinating to see how the Supreme Court works and all the politics involved in decisions. I can't recommend this book highly enough!
Rating:
Summary: A fabulous read!
Review: All I can say is "Wow". Jim Bell's new novel DEADLOCK is a book that grabs hold in the first paragraph and doesn't let go. With a riveting plot line that takes off on the premise of a Supreme Court judge converting to Christianity, it read like something right out of the front pages. I love it when I learn something from a book too, and it was fascinating to see how the Supreme Court works and all the politics involved in decisions. I can't recommend this book highly enough!
Rating:
Summary: Great Legal Thriller!
Review: I discovered Jim Bell a few years ago when a friend suggested Blind Justice. Having enjoyed that one, I recently bought Deadlock. I found Deadlock to be very enjoyable as its highly possible storyline is quite engaging. There's an interesting twist, too. A good read!Deadlock also ignited my real-life concerns about upcoming Supreme Court nominees.
Rating: 
Summary: A Thrilling "What-If" Political Novel
Review: James Scott Bell has answered the ultimate political what-if question. What would happen if the swing voice on the United States Supreme Court, the darling of the elite eastern media and the hero of center-left Democratic party, undergoes a change of heart and becomes a dyed-in-the-wool conservative? And what if her conversion occurs just as she is appointed chief justice? In a thoroughly Christian thriller, James Scott Bell delivers a heart-pounding suspense that paints all sides of the political canvass. Bell is clearly conservative politically and yet he doesn't offer weak, straw-man arguments for the other side. Neither does he create stick-figure belivers who can only offer easy cliques. He gives a heroine who makes the slow journey towards God and a pastor whose only checkered past gives him a heart for souls in need and a compassion for the hurts of those around him. James Bell weaves the everday life of common Americans with the inside-the-beltway intrigue that makes Washington, D.C, the most suspicious place in the world. Deadlock is a solid Christian novel that asks the right questions, keeps the heart pumping, and weaves a sure, but subtle Christian theme throughout.
Rating:
Summary: Great Legal Thriller!
Review: James Scott Bell has done it again, providing yet another fast-paced, riveting read, this time setting the book in the halls of the Supreme Court and Congress. Being a Marylander, I was wondering if Bell would be able to nail that "inside the beltway" feel of DC. He did. I learned more about the Supreme Court, and in an entertaining way, reading this novel than I've ever learned in school. The main character, Millie, a liberal justice, is written with such care and sensitivity. Though her views were diametrically opposed to my own when the novel opens, I found myself loving the woman anyway, due to the fact that Bell paints her as a human being with wonderful qualities. Deadlock takes the high road in character-development, refusing to demonize her entire character because of differing political views. Bravo, Jim, for writing a novel regarding issues without a heavy hand. The story speaks for itself.
Rating:
Summary: A Gripping Read
Review: James Scott Bell has done it again, providing yet another fast-paced, riveting read, this time setting the book in the halls of the Supreme Court and Congress. Being a Marylander, I was wondering if Bell would be able to nail that "inside the beltway" feel of DC. He did. I learned more about the Supreme Court, and in an entertaining way, reading this novel than I've ever learned in school. The main character, Millie, a liberal justice, is written with such care and sensitivity. Though her views were diametrically opposed to my own when the novel opens, I found myself loving the woman anyway, due to the fact that Bell paints her as a human being with wonderful qualities. Deadlock takes the high road in character-development, refusing to demonize her entire character because of differing political views. Bravo, Jim, for writing a novel regarding issues without a heavy hand. The story speaks for itself.
Rating:
Summary: ENTERTAINING, ENLIGHTENING
Review: James Scott Bell tackles a fascinating dilemma: What if a Supreme Court Justice becomes a Christian right before appointment as chief justice? The one who holds tie-breaking power has changed her worldview. Bell handles the social debate with excellence and entertaining form. I meant to do a quick read, but had to peruse every word. The woman who had a knack for "beating God back with a stick," must scramble to open herself up to faith and the perplexity of answering why she's become the bait in a vicious public battle. Great enlightenment for anyone who'd like to understand the people behind the politics.
Rating:
Summary: For lack of a better word: WOW!
Review: James Scott Bell's writing has never let me down. This novel had everything: a page-turning plot, interesting history, intelligent dialogue, intriguing questions to ponder, touches of humor, and even a lovely romance tucked between the suspense and action. Most of all, it had succint, witty, crisp writing. It made me smile and it made me cry. I couldn't ask for more in a book.
Rating:
Summary: Great insights
Review: One of the best things about Bell's writing is that it gets you thinking about issues that matter in a way that is not preachy. This book is no exception. It has a great setup in the idea of a liberal supreme court judge suddenly having her whole life changed by God. What's that going to do to all the political calculations people have made? There are some great plot twists and the characters are true to life not stereotypes. The book also has some great insights about the legal system and the way the supreme court works. I liked the subplot, which pits a young African American lawyer against one of the biggest law firms in the South over what happens in abortion clinics. It made the book two legal thrillers in one!
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable for legal thriller fans
Review: The first book by James Scott Bell I read was "Blind Justice". It was a fast-paced book that was heavy on action, and it held my attention. "Deadlock" was the second one I read, and it was a very different novel. While "Blind Justice" could be considered a legal thriller, "Deadlock" would have to be more of a character study. There's honestly not a lot of action here, nor is there a lot of courtroom action (one subplot deals with an abortion case, but it has the majority of court time in the book), but there is a lot of character growth. The change in Millie is believable and paced well, and I have to say doing it any differently would have been a little too "fictionalized" for my taste. I only have two complaints, one major and one minor. The only true down spot I didn't like was the ending. There was an undercurrent of unrest in the Supreme Court with her change, and she makes a decision and gets help for it...then changes her mind a few chapters later. We are set up for an awesome showdown, and then it never happens. I realize that it was making a statement about her character and belief in the court, but it still seemed to cheat us just a little. The only other minor complaint is that one of the characters is described as looking like Denzel Washington, and that just never sits well with me. I think the fun of a novel is deciding your own players for the parts in your head, and when an author goes ahead and tells us who's playing this character, it sort of robs the fun of it. It's sort of like he's saying "I don't feel like describing this character, so here's who it is." I'm not saying that was Mr. Bell's intent, but it's a matter of personal preferences. Another novel I read did that for every single character ("This guy looks like a young Harrison Ford," and "She looked like Sharon Stone"), and I haven't liked it since. Again, that's just a minor complaint and I didn't even take that into consideration while rating this book. Other than that, there's not a lot to complain about. The revealed identity of one of the characters caught me completely by surprise, and I have to give a thumbs-up for that one. It fit perfectly into the story, and it made another character's decision late in the book make sense. I'll definitely be picking up more of Mr. Bell's books in the future, and I recommend this one.
|
