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Judgment Calls

Samantha Kincaid, Book 1

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Judgment Calls

By: Alafair Burke
Narrated by: Betty Bobbitt
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About this listen

 An apparently simple assault case spirals into a complex web of violence and deception in this bold debut thriller.

Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid walks into her office in Portland's Drug and Vice Division one morning to find the sergeant of the police bureau's vice unit waiting for her. A 13-year-old girl has been brutally attacked and left for dead on the city's outskirts. Given the lack of evidence, most lawyers would settle for an assault charge; Samantha, unnerved by the viciousness of the crime, decides to go for attempted murder. But as she prepares for the trial, she uncovers a dangerous trail leading to an earlier high-profile death penalty case, a prostitution ring of underage girls, and a possible serial killer.

In Samantha Kincaid, Alafair Burke has created a complex, appealing character. Seamlessly moving between courtroom and criminal investigation, Judgment Calls reveals not only an insider's knowledge of the justice system but a fresh new voice in the world of crime writing.

©2003 Alafair Burke (P)2004 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Suspense Thriller & Suspense

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Editor reviews

Things aren't as simple as they appear in this thrilling debut from Alafair Burke, the daughter of James Lee Burke, one of the most popular mystery writers of all time. When Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid begins work on what is seemingly a simple assault charge, the intrepid attorney uncovers a mess of illicit and dangerous activity, including a possible serial killer. Performed with an energetic authority by the veteran narrator Betty Bobbitt, Judgment Calls is a suspense-filled audiobook that will keep listeners' hands frozen above the pause button. This debut is sure to prove the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Critic reviews

"Narrated in a crisp first person and injected with good-natured humor, the book is tightly plotted and detail laden." ( Publishers Weekly)
"First-rate, suspenseful entertainment...we'll be hearing more from tough, tart, sexy, high-minded Samantha Kincaid." ( Washington Post)
"Burke blends courtroom drama and criminal investigation with surprising aplomb, and she uses her Northwest setting to good advantage." ( Booklist)
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It took me longer than normal to get into this novel, then I realised why .... Narrator was Australian. This put me off slightly as it was my first time hearing a novel read by an Australian. The story was really good, very well written and set at a good pace.

Brilliant First Novel

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Don't compare Alifair with her father James Lee and you won't be disappointed. Let's be fair very few writers working today compare with James lee Burke so this isn't a criticism.
It's an assured thriller. Solid, believable, characters well developed and plot twists not telegraphed.
Maybe a little too solid and unexciting for the genre but I will certainly read more to see how she grows as a writer.
Only real criticism is the terrible narration. The woman has the most irritating voice and accent. No gravity, power or subtlety just a finger nails down the blackboard scratchy hesitant delivery.

Solid debut

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A writer I will continue to follow ,I enjoy the certainty and uncertainty of her main protagonists many thank for the good reads to come

Story with a final twist that cleverly pulls all together

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Alafair Burke out Cornwell's Patricia Cornwell. Both of her lead female characters (Samantha & Ellie) are well worth reading. Read them. Or better still, listen to them, they are narrated really well.

Brilliant Female Lead

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This was way too graphic for me. The narrator was good, but the frequent slip into Aussie accent detracted from an otherwise competent performance.

Too much information

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Please don't take my star rating as a guide as I'm only on Chapter 3 of the book so have, as yet, no idea whether it's a good story or not. However I am reviewing the book in advance solely because of the reader. Betty Bobbitt has the absolutely perfect voice to read text books. If I didn't know better I'd swear I was listening to a forensic psychology text book. Her voice is dry and monotone and plainly boring. Also, I'm fairly - but only fairly - tempted to pop into the library to see if Alafair Burke actually wrote the laughing into the story or whether this was added by Betty. Not that it matters, I will listen for a while longer but cannot imagine being able to listen to the end - I've dozed off twice already and have had to rewind

Narrator issues

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