The Shadow of Justice

Rating:
Summary: Uncertainty and ambiguity, clearly evoked
Review: A terrific novel. The main characters - the Miami trial judge who writes the first person narrative, a criminal defense lawyer whose moral ambiguity conflicts with his lawyerly competence and obligations, and a police officer (who, though dead as the novel begins, is brought to life through the recollections of the judge and attorney) - are as well crafted as the apparently simple plot, which leads to a complex moral dilemma and an unexpected, but understandable outcome. Equally well depicted are the tension between what law requires and justice demands, the scruffy not-quite-dignity of Miami's trial courts, and the course of a brief, "routine" drug possession trial, the intersection where the book's characters and themes collide. The book's lawyer-author clears away the resulting wreckage with skill and insight, while leading the reader to ponder what he would have done, had he been in the place of each of the three main characters as they chose the paths that the book has them follow.

Rating:
Summary: A Rare Treat
Review: Hirsch has written a wonderful legal thriller. In The Shadow of Justice, a Miami judge must confront the incomprehensible, violent crime of one dear friend and the awful corruption of another. The intelligent narrative works as an exceptionally fast-paced suspense novel and an excellent primer on criminal law. It's not often one gets an inside look into the seamy side of Miami from such a literate storyteller, one who quotes Tennyson and Proverbs with equal finesse. A terrific read!

Rating:
Summary: Legal treat
Review: The Shadow of Justice is a tantalizing beginning for a new author. One can hardly wait to turn the pages to find out what happens next to Judge Clark and his cohorts in the Miami legal scene. The interspersing of cultural nuances that are so mandatory to the flavor of the city only whet one's appetite for the story to follow. Full of surprises, this book had me interested from the beginning to the end. Can't wait for the next book.

Rating:
Summary: a realistic engrossing novel
Review: This is a fantastic novel. I couldn't put it down after I bought it. This book is quite unique, presenting a REALISTIC portrayal of the criminal justice system - something most novels about lawyers and thier cases just don't provide. I thouroughly enjoyed it.