Book Review: Justice Gone by N. Lombardi Jr
Media Type: ebook
Title: Justice Gone
Author: N. Lombardi Jr
Publisher: Roundfire Books
Pages: Paperback; 336
Release Date: February 22, 2019
Source: Author
Genre: Legal Thriller
Content Warning: Violence and graphic language
HDB Rating: 4*
Recommended to: Readers who enjoy a good who-dun-it with a serious commentary on our current justice system.
The courtroom scenes are wonderfully written…the characters are well described and the author paints a picture of each in the mind of the reader…Strong plot, strong characters and a strong writing style that I really enjoyed. This one is a definite “thumbs-up.” Strongly recommend! I look forward to reading additional works by N. Lombardi, Jr.
Kim M Aalaie, Author’s Den
One of my favorite suspense novels of the year. It will make you question the legal system.
The Eclectic Review
The courtroom action is excellent, trimmed to the most gripping parts of the trial, with plenty of emotional impact…a fairly realistic portrayal of the way small-town US society works…a fast-moving story with plenty of dramatic moments, and a big twist in the final pages.
Crime Review
“When a homeless war veteran is beaten to death by the police, stormy protests ensue, engulfing a small New Jersey town. Soon after, three cops are gunned down.
A multi-state manhunt is underway for a cop killer on the loose. And Dr. Tessa Thorpe, a veteran’s counselor, is caught up in the chase.
Donald Darfield, an African-American Iraqi war vet, war-time buddy of the beaten man, and one of Tessa’s patients, is holed up in a mountain cabin. Tessa, acting on instinct, sets off to find him, but the swarm of law enforcement officers gets there first, leading to Darfield’s dramatic capture.
Now, the only people separating him from the lethal needle of state justice are Tessa and ageing blind lawyer, Nathaniel Bodine. Can they untangle the web tightening around Darfield in time, when the press and the justice system are baying for revenge?”
This is a harrowing tale of how one tragic event can set in motion a series of problems and events that forever change the people involved. This intriguing take on the struggles of veterans, homelessness, PTSD, and police use of excessive force is an important part of our current culture. With a surprise ending, you won’t want to miss this story. Fair warning, there are some very graphic violent parts of this story. They are important to the story, but I did have to put the book down for a bit to collect my thoughts after the first few chapters.
Our main character, Tessa, is a great example of a flawed human who is seeking justice for her friend/client. This story touches on so many facets of post-war life for veterans and how counseling, homelessness, and PTSD can all coexist. The struggles of assimilating and dealing with the stress of having been in life or death situations is well represented. Tessa has struggles of her own, but is determine to find the truth and protect those closest to her.
The author does an incredible job portraying the important parts of the process of the justice system. From the incident itself, to the council meetings, the grand jury inquiry, and eventually the trial against Donald Darfield. There’s enough information provided without getting too drawn into the legal nitty gritty that it becomes stale.
This isn’t a feel good story, but it is an important one. I recommend getting this book and preparing yourself to deal with your own thoughts and emotions on how we as a society treat those who have gone to war, and how sometimes our justice system fails. You won’t regret it.
Author Nick Lombardi Jr. has spent over half his life in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, and he speaks five languages. An event in California in 2011 in which a homeless man was beaten to death lead Nick to write his newest novel, Justice Gone. Nick now lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
