JUDGE STONE by James Patterson and Viola Davis.

4* Brutal, sadly all too believable in the orange twat's 2026 USA. Decent storyline; decent, strong females; horrible, racist, hypocritical bandwagon rednecks who're most likely MAGAs.

This book has gone there. It's fiction based on today's USA that's gone backwards in so many ways, bringing out the worst in people who've become emboldened because of that orange twat who's just a mouthpiece for all things horrible, shameful, racist, jealous, wrong and countless other negative adjectives. It's a sad reflection that makes me grateful to be a Brit, although we have a good few twats of our own who're giving Reform acceleration, frighteningly and sadly. But, we at least have backbone and we have courts that will hold people to task.

It's a tale of a Black female judge who's respected by many; hated by many more who're racist, Caucasian, barely disguised MAGAs, including her peers. In one scene where she overhears how her peers describe her, in which she reminds them she's still on the line, if that'd been me, I'd be suing - the beauty of recorded lines.

So there's a court case that no one wants her to oversee. See above for the many reasons, plus the fact that it's about a Black female doctor who carried out an abortion on a raped 13yo who threatened to go find a coat hanger if the doctor didn't help - I kid you not. All the nasties come out of the woodwork. And the DA violates HIPAA to try to scare her and shame her off the case. The worst of humanity is shown, but in the end, the best in people comes through for her. She risks herself, her career and her family to make the right decision.

I loved that the 13yo rape victim seen as expendable and coachable and simply a means to prosecute the doctor, listened so closely to the Bible teachings she'd endured every Sunday. She told the truth, despite being scared and cowed, despite being coached. She showed her strength and her rapists, 2 klan members, were eventually caught. I suspect she could end up the heroine of her own novel one day.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Random House UK/Cornerstone, for my reading pleasure.

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