The Hanging Judge

By: Michael Ponsor

Narrated by: Rich Orlow

Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

When a drive-by shooting in Holyoke, Massachusetts, claims the lives of a Puerto Rican drug dealer and a nurse at a neighborhood clinic, the police arrest a black drug dealer. With no death penalty in Massachusetts, the US attorney shifts the double homicide out of state jurisdiction into federal court so that he can pursue the death penalty.

The Honorable David S. Norcross, who has been on the federal bench only two years, now presides overthe first death penalty case in the state in 50 years. He must contend not only with an ambitious female prosecutor and a brilliant veteran defense attorney, but with a citizenry outraged at the senseless killing of a white hockey mom- not to mention the pressures of the media, anti-death penalty protesters, vengeful gang members, and the million other things that can go wrong in a capital trial.

Michael A. Ponsor takes readers into the courtroom and beyond, presenting with great sensitivity the points of view of the defendant and his wife; the victims' families; law enforcement officers; witnesses; and the judge who, while still coming to terms with the death of his wife, begins a relationship with a woman he is not sure he can trust.

©2013 Michael Ponsor (P)2013 Recorded Books

Not Left Hanging

Not bad…just meh. A rather convoluted way to tell a story that was good for the just the current-day aspects of the story. There was no need for the distracting flashbacks to the 1800s; the substance of that message could have been added to Novotny’s story line to reinforce why he was so morally outraged and indignant about aspects of the criminal justice system.

Am looking forward to listening to the next book in the series but will read and listen to some other things between now and then.

Overall, a C+

Realistic

This is my first experience with this author and narrator. Apparently, the author is a retired Federal Judge, which adds authenticity to the story.

The book is well written and the characters are realistic and interesting. The plot is well thought out. This legal fiction has a feeling of being real, probably because of the author’s experience in the courtroom. The main theme is the death penalty which is a common issue in recent legal thrillers. I am impressed by the author’s ability and skill. I will be looking for more books by Ponsor.

The book is twelve hours and fifty minutes. Rich Orlow does a good job narrating the book. Orlow is an Emmy nominated actor and a Golden Earphone Award winner.

A fresh, engaging courtroom drama

In some ways, this was a standard courtroom crime novel. A murder occurs, and we think that the suspect (a former drug dealer who seems to have turned his life around with a degree, a wife, and a child) is innocent, but you never know. I used to love that genre, but too often find myself bored with something I feel I have read too many times. This novel intrigued me because it was written by a judge, with a judge as the protagonist. The novel did not disappoint me. It had a rookie author freshness to it that I enjoyed, and I liked the judge perspective on a capital case. The main characters were believable and the plot moved at a good pace. Only a couple things held this back from being a 5 star book. Some of the secondary characters move in and out of the novel too quickly, and I would forget who they were. The author wanted to share true facts in the local history of capital punishment, but some went on too long. That said, I think that most fans of courtroom fiction will enjoy this. The narrator was especially excellent, differentiating voices so well. One warning - it is clear early on that the author is anti-capital punishment. Most of the reviewers who panned this book were clearly bugged by this, so if that is your political belief, be forewarned.

Awesome and thought-provoking

I loved this book. I wasn’t expecting to like it at all, based on the reviews - and that’s why I’m writing this review. The story is excellent and very interesting, and the judge’s perspective on criminal trial practice is kind of unique. Not many novels out there that are penned by sitting federal judges, I think. It’s really well done. That said, the book argues pretty unapologetically against the death penalty so, if you’re a fan of “capital punishment” (a euphemism that I will never use again, thanks to Judge Ponsor’s story and characters) then maybe you should skip this book. Then again, if you’re a fan of the death penalty then maybe you should listen and see if it challenges your opinions.

I had thought the book would be better.

Where does The Hanging Judge rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Not as good as I thought. I would consider it an average story. Readable but not great. I was not compelled to keep reading.

Would you recommend The Hanging Judge to your friends? Why or why not?

Maybe. If I felt they would find it more entertaining.

What about Rich Orlow’s performance did you like?

He was average in this book reading.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

nothing

Not a legal thriller

Meh... This is definitely not a legal thriller, and to the extent that it's a story about a murder trial, it's offers a Sunday school version. But if you enjoy of stories saturated with political correctness, there's much to like here.

At bottom, it's a superficial, mediocre crime story about relationships (mostly the judge's), but without compelling characters and one that lacks any interesting detail about the crime, the investigation, the legal theories or the trial--no courtroom prowess, examinations, arguments or strategies.

Nonetheless, the reader was absolutely magnificent--I was in awe. He's likely the best I've ever heard. He performs multiple diverse characters seamlessly and flawlessly, putting you right in the midst of the scene. His reading makes you feel like you're watching a movie. It's probably worth listening to the book just to hear the reader-- he's really that good. Too bad such masterful work was wasted on this book.

Good for a anti death penalty book

Would you try another book from Michael Ponsor and/or Rich Orlow?

Very good book if you can get past the agenda. Almost quit listening it was so hardcore anti death penalty. Guess he doesn't know anything about prisoners in with life with no parole. Some are the most violent due to nothing to lose.

Difficult to follow

I tried several times to get into this book. I repeated chapters but just cannot follow it. Lost interest completely.

Not good

As a professor of preaching I tell student you can’t get more airplanes in the air than you can safely land. Of all the Audible books I’ve listened to this author could use that advice. More than once I considered quitting and asking for a refund. The initial trial narrative was okay but there were so many hanging issues not resolved and then really disconnected outcomes from the trial. Good novels have a cohesive quality to them. This on failed at every level in that regard.

alonzo

I bought this book (credit) on the basis of previous reviews, it was in my view little short of appauling, I have obviously missed the point. For me it was tedious, the characters shallow much of the dialogue trite, in short I am sorry I used a credit.

The plot lacked all credibility. On the evidence presented how the defendant could be bought to trial is beyond me,the use of history the 19th. century murder trial was surely a book filler; for me it contributed nothing to the case in point .

The naration did nothing to improve the book