A murder investigation draws firebrand attorney Samantha Brinkman into her boyfriend’s past in this novel of high-risk suspense by bestselling author Marcia Clark.When it comes to relationships and self-preservation, defense attorney Samantha Brinkman has always been cut and run. But it’s different with her new lover, Niko, an ambitious and globally famous entrepreneur. Sam is putting her faith … putting her faith in him. She has to. He’s also her new client—a suspect in the murder of an investor whose shady dealings turned Niko’s good life upside down.
He had the motive: revenge. As did many others who banked a fortune on the wrong man. That’s a point in Niko’s favor. So is his alibi for the day of the slaying. Until that alibi mysteriously disappears. As Sam’s feverish search for another viable killer begins, the investigation only leads deeper into Niko’s past and its secrets.
From the darkest suspicions to final judgment, fighting for Niko is Sam’s job. To do it, she must risk everything on a man who could make all her worst fears come true.
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Fast paced!
I didn’t realize Marcia Clark, yep, that Marcia Clark had written so many novels. I remember her as the prosecutor in the case of the century. So I had to pick this book up. I’m glad I did. The writing flows well and kept me interested throughout. I hadn’t read the others in this series, but Sam Brinkman is an intense character. The ending satisfied and I’m interested in reading the other books in this series.
Sam is a crack legal mind. She knows her stuff and is tenacious. Her boyfriend is in trouble, his mother’s been scammed and the world sure looks bleak–all seemingly because Sam took a vacation. Crazy, huh?
There are a couple of plot points throughout this story and the author does a good job of weaving them together. It seemed a bit odd and almost too easy when some of the pieces seemed to fall into Sam’s lap. She also has a tendency to skew the lines when it comes to staying totally legal. That said, it showed her tenacity. The author also manages to blur the lines, too. Things aren’t black and white in life and neither are they in this book. I rather liked that the author kept the plot human in that respect.
If you’re looking for something in the vein of John Grisham or Scott Turow, this might not be what you’re wanting, but if you’re willing to take this book on it’s own merits–and I highly suggest you do–then you won’t be disappointed. A gripping read. Recommended.
My Favorite Morally Challenged Defense Attorney Again Is Challenged Both Professionally and, As Expected, Morally
The novel opens with Sam, the morally-challenged defense attorney, on the beach in Bora Bora with her love interest, Niko. Upon return to reality, she learns from Niko that he lost a bundle when his investment firm loses everything in a cryptocurrency trade. He can absorb the lost, but he had convinced his mother to invest her entire life savings with this investment firm. Even though Niko reassures his mother that he will cover the loss, she suffers another and very serious stroke. Then, one of the firm’s owners is murdered and the other disappears and suspected also to have been murdered. What little evidence that exists all point to Niko. The novel launches from this starting point. Sam not only is juggling her love life and her future with Niko, trying to defend Niko and find another plausible suspect, but she is defending a repeat offender before a very unforgiving judge, and trying to find a rapist of a madam’s young daughter.
My attention was captured quickly. I wanted to keep reading at every chance I had. There are plenty of twists, turns and misdirections that in the beginning seem to be digging a deeper hole for Niko. Returning are her lovable officer manager and best friend, Michy, her investigator and hacker, Alex, her biological father, a detective in the LA Police Robbery/Homicide Division, and an evil from her past.
The B-storylines are rich and extensive. Various aspects of Sam are revealed in her dealings with her office mates, her father, and especially Niko. The author wove these storylines into the main storylines seamlessly, and usually in normal discussion that occur between these characters. I have read the previous three novels in this series, I learned more, may be relearned a little, about all five characters.
There is some sex, but not graphic. Vulgar and questionable language is at a level that some readers may feel uncomfortable. I did not have any problems with the level of these. The violence is described second hand, so that should not be an issue. If you have read and enjoyed the previous novels, this next issue should not be a problem. I mentioned this issue in my first sentence above. Sam is quite morally challenged as well as two other of the main characters. Sam routinely makes the wrong decisions and seems to be fine with it. Reader beware.
The reading of this novel was easy as the action flowed. There were many dead ends that may make it seems to be slower. I enjoyed how the author wove the three main storylines to show how harried Sam was during this novel’s timeline. While it is a common technique, I liked Sam’s sharp and cutting asides. Lastly, all the hanging threads were tied up by the end of the novel.
Overall, this novel was a very satisfactory read for me. I rate it with five stars. Also, if you have not read any of the previous novels, do not fear starting with this one first. Adequate background has been provided so you should not have a feeling that there is something missing.
I have received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
Samantha Brinkman is a lawyer that doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty, so when her boyfriend, Niko, becomes a murder suspect she sets out to find the real culprit and clear his name. She discovers Niko has lots of secrets, but so does she. In fact, her investigation takes her straight into the path of the demon of her nightmares, the man who molested her as a child. The end is great when she kills two birds with one stone. I love the characters in this series. Alex, the hacker, Michelle, the bestie, and Dale, her cop father, all make this series entertaining and fun.
There were some definite inconsistencies with this one that I am hoping will be remedy by the time this novel goes to print. In once case, Samantha takes an Uber to work, a few paragraphs later she’s driving to the jail to visit with a client, but then a few paragraphs after that, she’s talking about having to take an Uber home. Then she makes plans with her father, sets a time, but when she calls him a few pages later, suddenly the time has been changed as though it was never set to being with.
On the whole, it was a good addition to the story. I love watching Samantha in action (even though I often didn’t agree with how she went about things), but I do wish we got to see more of her in court, or actually being a lawyer. This entire book she seemed like she was more doing the work of a PI or a Detective than she was a lawyer (not to mention things that would get her disbarred at the least if she were to be found out).
Overlooking those things, this was another one of those stories that this author is so good at weaving together. She manages to do a lot of showing instead of telling, making you feel like you a part of this story. And, as typical with this series, she manages to tell two completely different stories that while they stand alone, they also completely intertwine with each other.
I believe this story will appeal to those who enjoy well-written thriller novels, and I can’t wait to read more from this author!
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Final Judgment by Marcia Clark is a magnificent mystery with a few suspects, lots of motives, and twists that I didn’t see coming.
Will Sam save her love, Niko?
Samantha Brinkman
Sam is a defense attorney in Los Angeles. She is also our sleuth; Sam is assisted by Alex (her hacker) and Dale (her Dad the cop). Alex and Sam work well together. They have been doing this for a while, you can tell by their familiarity with each other. Sam isn’t your regular defense attorney. She has a thing about justice, and even though she gets some shady guys out of trouble, Sam isn’t afraid to do whatever is necessary to help justice along.
The thing I like most about Sam is she is broken, not perfect. Yet, she has those that she loves, and they are the ones that she keeps close to her. Sam’s life hasn’t been peaches and cream, but she has figured out how to deal with it for the most part. As for negative traits that Sam may have, I didn’t find anything that would make me not want to be her friend, mostly the opposite.
The Mystery
I was blown away at the complexity of the cases that Sam and her team were working. The main case is the murder of Bryan and the possible murder of Tanner, Niko’s (Sam’s boyfriend) stockbroker friends, and partners. Since Niko, is the main suspect at this time, Sam must know the truth. Then there is the rape of a teenage girl at a party in which the girl wasn’t supposed to be. Sam and Alex are trying to figure out who could have done this.
Sam’s Team
The ex-hacker Alex’s way of finding information and his relationships with so many people help them in their hunt for the truth. Michy is Sam’s best friend, office manager, personal assistant. Basically, Michy keeps Sam’s professional life in check. Ok, she is also the one that keeps Sam from hiding from the world. Then we have Dale, Sam’s Dad. They recently connected and are quite a bit alike. Dale helps Sam with some specific things, all off the record, of course. Together they make a fantastic group, who right the wrongs in the world, at least that’s what I am calling it.
Five Stars
I found Marcia Clark’s writing voice unique, and her style refreshing. I enjoyed following the story through Sam’s perspective. The story is different and exciting. It kept me on my toes, and I couldn’t stop thinking about whodunit. Therefore I am giving Final Judgment by Marcia Clark five stars. And recommending it to all of you mystery/thriller readers out there.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Final Judgment by Marcia Clark.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove.
Until the next time,
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
I really liked it
It was a good book but I have a real problem with the main character (hero?) being above the law. Ms. Clark perhaps was a prosecutor and yet develops a lawyer main character thinks murder, serial murder, is ok. I have to wonder if she might be basing this fictional lawyer on herself. I won’t be reading any more of Ms. Clark’s books!
It was great
Good character development and good plot twist.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for a free Advanced Reader’s Copy of FINAL JUDGMENT by Marcia Clark in exchange for an unbiased review.
Samantha Brinkman is a criminal defense lawyer in the Los Angeles area. She is very savvy and not above bending the law a bit to help get her clients shorter sentences or acquittals. She has a past that has left her scarred on a deep emotional level and not able to sustain close relationships. Now she seems to be falling in love with Niko who is an entrepreneur. After his life and the life of his mother are severely impacted by shady, criminal investors, Samantha is afraid he may have killed them as a form of revenge. Will her lover become a notorious client for her?
This novel is the fourth and final one in a series, but the author does an amazing job of putting in just enough back story to make it stand well on its own.
Samantha is developed fully with her flaws and nightmares. Her law office staff add extra depth to the plot. I am not usually a big fan of first person narrative, but this story would not work anywhere as well in any other form.
I love Marcia Clark’s look at L.A. with its traffic woes and local food. You couldn’t pay me enough to drive in that city. I also was amused by Samantha’s beverage of choice, Patron Silver. I have never had any, but it sounds like a perfect nightcap.
Despite the completeness of this book, you will want to read the other three in this fabulous series to get the full flavor. Most people remember Marcia Clark from the OJ Simpson trial. She has gone on to do many TV interviews, create quite a few TV series and written many bestselling novels. I will be looking forward to more tales from this very talented lady.
Samantha Brinkman, Attorney, is back again with a boyfriend in tow. Nico is a well-to-do entrepreneur. He is also Sam’s client.
He’s now become a person of interest in the murder of an investor who made off with a lit of money … Nico’s, the friends he recommended, his own mother, as well as many others. When another investor disappears, the cops start looking for the victims, and they’re paying really close attention to Nico.
Nico has some secrets from the past … secrets he’s not shared with Sam.. at least until now. As Sam’s feverish search for another viable killer begins, the investigation only leads deeper into Niko’s past and its secrets.
This has been an excellent series … I just wish the author could write as fast as I read. It’s action-packed with surprises here and there. I like these characters and how they relate to each other. Samantha is suspicious of Nico … is he lying? Could he have murdered for revenge? Nico may have his secrets, but so does Sam …. and she’s not willing to share those. Sam also has a unique relationship with her father … a man she only met recently…and who happens to be a detective.
Although 4th in the series, this one stands easily as a stand alone. There’s just enough information about Sam’s life that will whet your appetite for more. I highly recommend starting at the very beginning.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the advance digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
#Final Judgement #NetGalley #Thomas & Mercer
This is the fourth book in the Samantha Brinkman series and Ms. Clark delivers another edge of your seat thriller. The story starts with a investment scheme gone bad, murder, rape and revenge with Samantha’s boyfriend Nikko looking like the number one suspect in a murder. . Samantha and her associates Alex and Michy, with plenty of help from Dale, Samantha’s police officer father are hard at work investigating all leads to prove that Nikko is innocent and keep him out of prison. Samantha has bent the law in the past to see that justice is served when the courts have failed her. Will she bend the law again to save Nikko from a life sentence in prison? Plenty of twists and turns this is a very enjoyable read. I am already hoping that Ms. Clark will write more books in this series.