The One-Eyed Judge by Michael Ponsor

9781504035132

391 Pages
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
Release Date: June 6, 2017

Fiction (Adult), Legal Thriller

Sidney Cranmer is a professor of literature. The FBI raided his home and found child pornography. Denying any knowledge of materials and claiming his innocence, he asks Clair Lindermann for help. Claire’s boyfriend is David Norcross, a federal judge. Unfortunately, David cannot help Sidney since he will be hearing the case. He regrets his chance to recuse himself from the case especially when Claire becomes involved.

The story flows well, and the characters are developed. It is written in the third person point of view. This is the second book in the Judge Norcross Novels. If you enjoy legal thrillers and books by John Grisham, you will like this book.

THE ONE-EYED JUDGE is the second novel in Ponsor's acclaimed Judge Norcross series.
The details of the US legal system - how it works (and doesn't), the people who work in and around it - are once again excellently portrayed. (Ponsor was a US district judge for 30yrs, and his intimate knowledge of the system is clear - like all good writers, though, the details don't get in the way of the story.)

THE ONE-EYED JUDGE is another excellent, well-paced and thought-provoking legal thriller. If you're a fan of John Grisham and others of that ilk, then I highly recommend reading Posner's novels.

(You don't *have* to start with THE HANGING JUDGE, but you'll probably want to read both of the books, so may as well start at the beginning.)

Recommended.

I really enjoyed Michael Ponsor's first book, The Hanging Judge, so I was excited to read The One-Eyed Judge as well. Mr. Ponsor writes books that takes place in the town next to the one I grew up in, so it hits close to home for me, which makes it a more interesting read since I know of the places he writes about in his books. This book, however, hit a little too close to home for me as I know someone currently serving time for a similar crime and I could not read too much of this book. I really tried to get past it, but the content just wasn't for me. I do hope to read and review future books of Mr. Ponsor, hopefully with a different topic. I really appreciate the opportunity to read this book and I wish I could have finished the book to do a proper review but this just wasn't for me. I'm giving a 3-star rating simply because I was unable to read the book. Crime content aside, I'm sure it's a great book.

REVIEWED BY SUNNY

Once again, I enjoyed Judge Norcross and the command he demonstrated in his court room. In the second book by the author with David Norcross, I found his professional nature well-written and his character complex. This story had another disturbing case that was troubling to all involved, but as usual, not all that it seemed. There were a variety of characters that brought depth to the case and to the book. At times it brought some complexity that may not have been necessary, but the loose ends were well tied up by the conclusion of the book.

I enjoyed how the personal life of Judge Norcross was more thoroughly shared and the impact it had on the story. His girlfriend Claire and his nieces definitely added to the drama of this mostly crime focused book. Sid, the one accused of the crime, was a very unique character. His oddity made him feel like an underdog and an easy character to root for, even with the awful charges against him. I also enjoyed the variety of personalities the author gave to the criminal team that fought both sides of the case. They made the court room exchanges and many others scenes entertaining.

This is my second time reading a book by Michael Ponsor, after The Hanging Judge, and once again it has been a good experience. This story concerns a college professor accused of possession of child pornography. But the story goes beyond that into the workings of the college campus as well as the personal life of the principal character, Judge David Norcross. He is not always on the page, but sooner or later, everything returns to his courtroom. The accused is a somewhat eccentric man, a fact which stands against him as the legal case goes forward. Eccentricity should not be a damning character trait but it might be.

There are multiple side stories which might seem tangential initially but eventually are shown to be integral to the important central theme: the trial of Professor Cranmer. I did have some ideas of my own while reading, but then I was privy to some information that the police did not know. It's fun to be a reader!

I enjoyed the trial segments, the points of law, the investigation, the personal areas of the major characters...which broadens many aspects of the book beyond the basic criminal issue. I will read the next book Ponsor writes. He knows the system as he has worked within it.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review

An Amherst professor is arrested by the FBI for receiving child pornography but he denies ordering it. His colleagues don't believe it but have noticed he's been different since his mother died. One of his colleagues and friends Claire is dating the Judge assigned to the case. When the FBI discover the Professor specialised in the works of Lewis Carrol who some speculate was a child predator because of the pictures he took of young girls it makes them even more suspicious. This was a well written legal thriller my only complaint was I wish there were more courtroom scenes.

The One-Eyed Judge is the second novel written by Michael Ponsor, a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Massachusetts, about Judge David Norcross, also a Massachusetts federal judge. As I loved Ponsor’s first novel, The Hanging Judge (see review dated October 28, 2014), I jumped at the opportunity to read The One-Eyed Judge. And once again, Ponsor does not disappoint.

Child pornography. That is the gruesome crime with which Professor Stanley Cranmer is charged. Ironic, as Cranmer is an English professor at Amherst College, specializing in Lewis Carroll. After the case is assigned to Judge Norcross, his life is thrown into turmoil – and not just because his girlfriend is a colleague and friend of Cranmer’s.

While reading The One-Eyed Judge, I was reminded of what I wrote while reviewing The Hanging Judge: as a lawyer and former federal judicial law clerk, Ponsor’s fiction is just the sort of book that I usually avoid. But, Ponsor masterfully incorporates his many years of experience on the federal bench, and The One-Eyed Judge is a realistic and gripping legal thriller.

I thoroughly enjoyed The One-Eyed Judge, and I cannot wait to read the next Judge Norcross novel.

I presume many people would shy away from reading a novel concerning the topic child pornography. I counted myself among them. But I was intrigued why an author might choose such an unpleasant topic and how it would be handled. Would such a novel be an enjoyable read, considering the subject? I admit I was rather dubious, but I knew the author was a judge and felt his perspective would be at least edifying. It was, and it also turns out he can skillfully tell a story. I was engrossed within the first few pages. The tale he weaves is convoluted and complex. Just when you think you might have things figured out, you find otherwise. He is a writer who is thoughtful and precise with the words he chooses, but not dry and dull. He paints with words with a flair that embraces the senses. Yes, there are a few paragraphs where those words are painful to take in. But it gave me a much deeper understanding of what the people who must deal with child pornography in their careers or as jurors face, and truly underscored how wretchedly tough it is. And for the person who might erroneously be caught up in the legal system for something he was innocent of, it's a nightmare, and therein lies the tale.

The topic of child sexual abuse is not something I look forward to reading about. For that reason I was a little slow getting into this story. I'm glad I hung in there as it developed into a suspenseful and thrilling read on many levels. The characters carried over from "The Hanging Judge" were familiar, but reintroduced well. Ponsor has a good understanding of human nature. it shows in the interactions between the characters. All were definitely complex and very realistic. The writing is clear and easy to digest. The ending was a mixed blessing, and kept the door open for more.

A Child Pornography Trial and a Family Tragedy

An Amherst professor, Sidney Cranmer, is caught in an FBI sting. Cranmer receives a DVD containing child pornography which he says he never ordered, but the FBI believes differently. Cranmer’s specialty is Lewis Carrol who some believe was a pedophile because of the pictures he took of young girls, naked or partially clothed. This specialty leads the FBI to believe that Cranmer also enjoys child pornography.

Judge David Norcross is assigned the case. He hasn’t rescued himself and now he’s caught in a dilemma. His girlfriend, Claire Lindermann, is a professor at Amherst and a friend of Cranmer. She believes he’s not guilty which puts a strain on her relationship with David. To make Norcross’ life more difficult, his brother is injured in a plane crash that kills his wife leaving David with two young nieces who he feels unprepared to care for. Having children is a contentious issue in his relationship with Claire. He doesn’t feel able to care for children, and she wants to be a mother.

This is an excellent legal thriller. The plot has a number or twists. It’s very difficult to figure out what’s happening until near the end of the book. Probably the best part is the realism of the courtroom scenes. The author, Michael Ponsor, spent thirty years as a US district judge. He uses this background to give an authentic tone to the novel.

The characters of David and Claire are realistic. People with careers trying to decide whether to make a family late in life have particular difficulty deciding whether their careers are compatible with being parents. I thought the author handled this difficult topic with great sensitivity. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy legal thrillers with well developed characters and authentic background.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

This was a well-written, fast-paced legal thriller. Professor Sidney Cranmer is arrested by the FBI, accused receiving child pornography. U.S. District Judge David Norcross is assigned to preside over the case. His girlfriend, Claire Lindemann, teaches in the same dept as the professor and believes he is innocent. A personal tragedy in the Judge's life leaves him responsible for his two young nieces. There are several storylines in this book, and they end up intersecting. I found this book hard to put down and enjoyed it very much. It can be read as a standalone book, though it is the second in a series featuring Judge Norcross. I now plan to read the first book, and look forward to reading more books in this series as well as others by this author.

We are introduced to the case of Sid Crammer who has been accused of having child pornography, though he doesn't remember looking at anything like that or ordering anything that deals with that crime. Judge Norcross has to listen to all that is given to him from the government who is pursuing Crammer to Crammer's lawyer who is trying to defend him. This isn't just a open shut case, it seems that there is more there than meets the eye. While Judge Norcross is trying to do his job he is dealing with things being thrown his way. From his nieces who need him to his girlfriend who wants to start a family. We see how Norcross deals with all this going on while trying to make sure that he handles this case with carefully dotted t's and i's. At first it seems that Crammer is guilty of what he is being accused of, but what happens when someone can actually give evidence that will set him free, and is he truly free?
We do get to see how child predators work via the internet and it is scary! I think the author did a wonderful job with doing his research and bringing this story to life. As far as characters go I felt they were well developed

A rip roaring action adventure that had me spinning, the pages were flying by so fast. The book actually had me sweating while reading about the white water part of the trip and when the husband was trying to climb that cliff. That really had me holding my breath!

An excellent read that I could not put down. And, these bad guys are REALLY bad! I kept hoping for something bad to happen to them.

Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Judge Norcross find himself embroiled in a child pornography case brought against his lover's neighbor and regrets that he did not recuse himself. Norcross's life is further complicated by a family tragedy that requires much of his time and attention. Ponsor creates an unpredictable story and brings his experience as a judge to create an engrossing story that tested my preconceived ideas of pedophilia. This is Ponsor's second Norcross novel this one inspired me to promptly buy the first, THE HANGING JUDGE, which was equally good.

I struggled with this book pretty much from the beginning. Yes, it deals with some rough subject matter, but that wasn't the issue. Really, I just couldn't deal with the slow approach to telling the story. I like books that have a decent amount of action, or at least ones where there is something happening all the time and to be honest, there were times in this book where reading it felt like watching the grass grow.

The book does get more exciting in places, but then it slows down again for periods, so it was a mix of enjoying parts of it more than some other parts. I didn't dislike this book, and I'm glad that I read it, but I think it requires a good deal of patience to get through it.

Overall, it was an interesting book for the most part.

This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Michael Ponsor's newest legal thriller, "The One-Eyed Judge," is a gripping story that is difficult to put down. Judge David Norcross must preside over a disturbing case involving a college professor accused of possessing child pornography. This book is much more than a courtroom drama, and many factors contribute to make the story a compelling read: the judge's romantic interest is a colleague of the accused, and Judge Norcross must deal with the upheaval resulting from a personal tragedy. The question of what is photographic art versus pornography comes up as well. As unsettling as the subject matter is, I recommend this book. Ponsor's ability to weave a story that is complicated yet easy to follow makes him one of my favorite authors.

Meh. DNF at 35%. The writing itself was good and the premise could have been interesting. However, progress in the main plot line was slow and plodding and ain't nobody got time for that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so good! The title drug me in and Mr. Ponsor did not disappoint. I loved this book and will definitely add it to my collection

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

From the first page, this fictional story about Judge Norcross was capturing. This story focused on a case involving Professor Sidney Cranmer and his entanglement with a child pornography charge. The story takes several turns, of which I was compelled to keep reading!

The characters are well developed. Some are likeable and some are not, which is a testament to great writing. The connections between the characters are handled well and not cliché.

As the main plot unfolds, there are several side storylines that develop. While the end wraps upthe case, as most of these courtroom dramas do, the side storylines leave open more possiblities for Judge Norcross' character development.

I really enjoyed this book, experiencing feelings of intrigue, excitement, disgust, anticipation, relief, and warmth. It's rather long, but all details were relevant to the plot and storylines. A good read!

A interesting book from the view of a judge. This topic, judge's view, has not been a large topic of fiction. "The One-eyed Judge' is very entertaining.