A page-turner for your ears!

It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a legal crime thriller as much as Justice Denied. The story, told from the perspective of an honourable judge who finds himself compromised and having to make difficult choices, is fast paced and keeps you really engaged. It’s clean that it is written who actually understands the justice system and legal procedure, without getting too heavily bogged down in it.

While it’s a pretty heavy story involving kidnapping, murder, corruption and drug cartels, the richness of the inner-monologue of the protagonist is what really makes the book stand. The author’s descriptive writing style enables the listener to see and understand the various characters in the book. The dialogue is often witty, and some of the protagonist’s observations actually made me laugh aloud (which my partner found slightly annoying since I was listening to it with my AirPods while making dinner).

Different characters are read by different people and that variety helps the listener keep track of who is who. The cartel’s lawyer, McMaster, sounds pretty legit-like a shrewd old lawyer with a bag full of tricks and a scotch always at the ready. The bail bondsman, Cornejo, comes across as a gentle giant and loyal friend.

The main narrator’s voice, however, is the most appealing which is good, since he not surprisingly does most of the talking. It is so nice to listen to and is exactly what you would expect in a younger small town Kansas judge -folksy, thoughtful and matter-of-fact.

My partner commented that the reader had a really “listenable” voice and is ready to give Verdict Denied a listen now, having heard bits and pieces and my kitchen chuckles.

I’m eager to know what is next for Joel and hope he features it whatever Ruhl is working on next, as this story is definitely worthy of a series!

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