"We, the jury" is about the opposite of its name--it is about a fragmentation of voices, vs. a union. These are the voices of the criminal justice system--the lawyers, the jurors, the judge, the court staff, even the Net gossiper--telling the story of a murder trial and its outcome. What's good: We have the ability to consider a mystery while navigating the story of the modern jury trial. We can feel the author's point, that within a trial stories we'll find a billion smaller stories. We have as well a personal saga of the grief and decline of a main court figure. (Again, note, a coming apart, not a moment of a single voice.) What's not as effective: While I liked several of the characters, I don't think I felt for any of them other than the tragic figure at the center.

So, all in all, an intriguing idea, but not one of the greats. For this, I'm using the literal definition of GoodRead's star system--3 being I liked it.

Note: This book was provided to me for an unbiased review by NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book. Reading different perspectives of each juror was very interesting. It was slow in certain places and the ending want completely satisfying to me but I do not think this could have been handled any better.

Mirror Mirror On The Wall....Who’s the FAIRIST of them all?

It is said that juries have something that machines still lack-a sense of moral responsibility.

But, do they really?

When each juror is bringing their personal animosities and biases to the deliberation room, can a just verdict really be reached?

Is winning more important than justice? Would you rather convince your fellow jurors to see things your way, than admit that perhaps your initial thoughts may have been wrong and change whether you will vote to convict or acquit?

David Sullinger has been accused of murdering his wife in self defense, just before their 21st wedding anniversary. His wife, Amanda was once his 11th grade history teacher. They first slept together when he was 16 or 17 years old....their children disagree on which parent was “Satan”.

The judge has just instructed the jury that David Sullinger just killed Amanda with malice aforethought. She left out the words, “It is for you to decide whether,” (David Sullinger just killed his wife Amanda with malice aforethought.)

Do you think this jury or any, would not already have some strong opinions just based on these facts alone?

Do you?

Meet your jurors:

Juror #1 A records manager in an insurance company
Juror #6. An architect
Juror #17 A Housewife with 3 young children
Juror #11. A college student
Juror # 29. A jury consultant
Juror #33. A grandmother who wears hearing aids...
Juror # 43 A clergyman
Juror #52 An express messenger/actor

This is a unique legal drama that shares with the reader, not only your jurors perspectives, but also those of the Honorable Natalie Quinn Gilbert, her clerk, Mick, the bailiff- Bradley Kobashigawa, both lawyers, and even a blogger whose job is to entertain..not to be objective.

I loved hearing from them all, but it’s TERRIFYING to realize how much the personal lives, bias, and personal agendas, can affect the outcome of a trial!

Who will prevail?

Will justice be served?

I would thank to thank Netgalley, Blackstone Publishing and Robert Rotstein for the ARC I received in exchange for a candid review! This title was just released on Oct. 23rd 2018 and I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy legal dramas!

#67 We, The Jury, by Robert Rotstein, is a riveting courtroom drama written from the perspective of the judge and each of the jurors, as well as employees. A domestic violence murder trial, the twist is that the husband/defendant is claiming spousal abuse and self-defense. Released October 23. Rated it 4 stars.

I have to admit, I'm concerned. Did I get super into this because of my job, or because of its own merits?

I work in a courthouse. I don't have anything to do with trials and juries, but I'm surrounded by judges, lawyers, district attorneys, court reporters. I nod pleasantly at jurors when I have reason to be around them, and I crack jokes with clerks and bailiffs all the live long day. This is my world represented here.

On the other hand, I've only ever served on one jury. And it was for something comparatively minor. Certainly not for a husband smashing his wife in the head with an axe.

This book is really cool, one way or the other. It's the story of a murder trial, told from the perspective of a lot of different people. From the judge to the bailiff to the court reporter, and all eight jurors individually. This is the story of David and Amanda Sullinger, a toxic marriage that ended in a gruesome murder. But was it self defense of a battered spouse, or the cold blooded murder by an abusive spouse?

I was worried the multiple POVs were going to be a problem, but far from it. Because this was POVs of one very controlled circumstance, the multiple views worked, and they worked brilliantly. I found myself alternately sympathizing with David and finding him innocent, then thinking he was a piece of shit and hoping they threw the book at his lying ass.

The twist is good. The twist is so good, so delicious. But it's a gentle twist, just the right amount, to make the story all the richer.

I think I am going to be in the minority here and say that this book just was not for me. At all.

It took everything I had in me to finish We, The Jury. I honestly considered not finishing it at all but I really wanted to give it my best possible attempt to see it through to the end.

I absolutely loved the uniqueness of this book and how well written it was. Rotstein took such an interesting approach to breaking down a criminal trial by focusing on the members of the court and the jury during the deliberation process rather than by putting the focus on the accused and the prosecution/defense itself. I thought that was a brilliant way of writing and it’s what piqued my interest in this book in the first place.

So…if I loved the idea and the writing was so well done, why was this book not for me? Well the answer’s in the question itself, isn’t it? It turns out this book just wasn’t for me. While I was immediately drawn in by the idea of a courtroom drama that largely focuses on the jury members, as it turns out, I just didn’t care. The different points of view throughout the book didn’t bother me as much as the fact that I just wasn’t interested in what their view actually was. Turns out I really am more interested in the lawyers presenting their evidence and hashing it out in the courtroom. This was pretty early on in the book for me too so there’s a reason why I struggled to finish.

While I wasn’t interested in the Judge’s late husband or the guard’s obsession with working out, I did find the Sullivan case intriguing and did enjoy parts of the deliberation process. I’ve never been in for Jury Duty so it was interesting to get that perspective.

Though this book was definitely not for me, I’m still going to rate it at 3 stars because Rotstein really did such a great job that I know so many legal junkies will absolutely fall in love with this book.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book to read and provide my honest opinion.

I thorough enjoyed We the Jury by Robert Rotstein.
David Sullinger is on trial for the murder of his wife. Instead of the usual legal thriller the author has given us a unique view into the legal system. The story is told by many different narrators - members of the jury, the court reporter. The prosecutor, the defence lawyer and more. And we get an insight into the judge who has recently lost her husband, is suffering emotionally and doubting her mental acuity. Rotstein writes very well - each character was fully developed to the extent I felt I was in the jury room with the annoying foreperson and in the heads of the jury as they deliberated. I would certainly recommend this book to anybody who loves legal thrillers.

Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

My rating 3.5 stars
Release date: 10/23/18

Not your traditional legal-drama novel. This reminded me more of a "Bull" TV episode as it focuses on the jury and others in the courtroom, the judge, bailiff, court reporter, etc. It gives us insight into what they're thinking as they move along in the courtroom, and in the deliberation quarters. I give the author a 4-star rating for originality, but a 3-star for entertainment -- therefore my 3.5 rating.

This legal drama is sometimes a comedy-drama, although the crime itself is not comedic in any way. A man is accused of murdering his wife with a pick-axe, which turns out actually to be a mattock. He claims to be an abused husband who feared for his life. HIs daughter vouches for him, his son claims he is the abuser.

This brings to light what a jury really does have to go through when trying to reach the truth of a matter, how difficult this can be when all the jurors have different takes on a what they've heard or not heard. Not an easy task, but also makes us wonder (as stated in the novel) why the decision of innocence or guilt of an alleged crime is not decided by professionals in law, the attorneys, judges and so on, that have studied and know the law, as opposed to a jury of non-professionals, a jury of the defendants "peers," simple people that are janitors, teachers, actors, housewives, plumbers, who don't know anything about the law. It certainly does make one think. We are certainly reminded that even those versed in the law are not exempt from life's unexpected twists, they are people too, just like us.

My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy and post an unbiased review of this work.

"On the day before his twenty-first wedding anniversary, David Sullinger buried an ax in his wife’s skull. Now, eight jurors must retire to the deliberation room and decide whether David committed premeditated murder—or whether he was a battered spouse who killed his wife in self-defense."

If you like thrilling courtroom drama, then you’ll like this book. The trial is told through multiple point of view’s. Not just the Jurors, which I thought it would only be through the POV of the jurors but also the Judge, the Court Clerk, the Bailiff, The Defense Counsel, and a few others. It sounds like a lot of people to be reading through the eyes of but it was so well written that it doesn't get jumbled or confusing. I loved how thought provoking and original this story was.

Thanks to #NetGalley for this ARC of #WetheJury
Pub Date: 23 Oct 2018

I gav this novel a chance and read it all the way through even though it is my least favorite kind of narration. It presents with a jury trial of a man accused of killing his wife and pleading self-defense. The author then uses the technique of allowing each juror to be the narrator and includes the court clerk, the bailiff, and the judge to have their turn also. When the jury finally makes their decision the author throws in a twist to conclude the book.

This is a story about a murder trial. The defendant murdered his wife. Those are the facts of the matter and are uncontested. It is up to the jury to decide whether it was a premeditated murder or a justifiable homicide because the defendant was a battered spouse. Rotstein starts the book just before the jury is given the case to deliberate.

This is a very interesting book because Rotstein tells it from the perspective of the jurors and the court’s personnel – judge, bailiff, the court’s clerk, and the court stenographer. Each of these individuals gets a chapter (or more) of his/her own, and the book is told in the first person. The reader gets to see what each juror thinks of the case, the opinions each juror has of their fellow jurors, and problems each has. Each chapter is fairly short – two or three pages for the most part – so it is a fast and fascinating read. The reader can easily discern the difficulties of a jury trying to decide who to believe among the witnesses, how to weigh the opinions of their fellow jurors, and whether to believe the defense team or the prosecutor.

If you like courtroom drama, you’ll be sure to enjoy this book.

David Sullinger is on trial for the murder of his wife of 21 years. His wife happened s to be one of his high school teachers. She left teaching and went into a high-end real estate agent and made a great living while David for some reason couldn't hold a job to save his life.
They have two children, one Lacy who is a very poised young woman who supports her father throughout the trial and as soon as she becomes of age, she uses her inheritance to hire a high profile attorney who has adopted the defense of a "battered husband syndrome" for David and has turned this trial into a media frenzy. The youngest child, Dillion is on the side of the prosecution which has a totally different POV regarding his parent's marriage and turns out to be just another blight for the bumbling prosecutor.
The judge is suffering from personal issues that cause her to make some colossal mistakes during the trial.
This trial was only supposed to last a few weeks and it ends up being double that, the jury, of course, has started forming alliances during the trail.
When the jury finally gets the case, the battle is on.
Mr. Rotstein has done a great job of giving the POV of this trial by everyone who is involved in the case from the Judge to the Court Reporter. The diversity of the jury makes this even more enticing. He gives you a bit of background of each jurist without giving too much away.
I could totally relate to the happenings in the Jury room having served on a week-long jury, it can get pretty brutal in there. The nice little old lady that is polite during the trial turns into a virtual tiger when deliberations start. I found myself getting upset with several of the jurists.
I found this book was very cleverly written and if you like legal thrillers this is a great read. It's different from any legal thriller I've ever read; this book stays inside the courtroom. The mystery is solved, it's the verdict and the personal agendas of the jurists that is the basis of this book. As I stated above this book is very well written and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Disclosure: I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, the opinions I expressed above are my own.

4.5*
WOW! How refreshing! A completely innovative and original twist on a courtroom drama.

A case study revealing all the pieces of the puzzle that make up the judicial system.

For those of us who read legal thrillers - we’ve all been accustomed to the courtroom drama told from the perspective of lawyers and defendants. This book turns things sideways with a unique approach to covering a major trial.
This trial is dissected and told from the point of view of everyone involved. The judge, the bailiffs, the attorneys and every member of the jury.
So captivating in fact, that the actual crime itself becomes secondary to those who follow its journey through the judicial system

David Sullinger is on trial for the murder of his wife Amanda.
He put an ax through her head, claiming it was self-defense. Gruesome.
His claim - He was the battered spouse, and Amanda was trying to kill him! Fighting for his life, he’s hired one of the most elite defense lawyers in California and is fully prepared for trial.

Fans of any of the legal drama shows such as Law and Order or even Dateline will surely love this book! Unputdownable says it all!

With so many characters and views involved, I was concerned that keeping track and staying focused might prove to be difficult. Well...I didn’t have a single problem! In fact, I grew rather fond of both the judge and her bailiff, with all their behind-the-scenes struggles.
The Judge, wrestling with serious personal issues, and the bailiff caught between his courtroom duties and respect for the judge he works so closely with. It rang so believably true that it touched a deep sympathetic chord for me. Just the kind of insider information we’re never privy to!

Now the Jury - how fascinating (and frightening) to see what everyone brings into that jury room. Their past history of personal demons and hardships. Biases and tolerances. Each jury member had their own story and unfortunately, their own agenda. All flawed, all very human characteristics.

Robert Rotstein has put together the most unique legal thriller I‘ve ever read. Both the characters and story-line had a vast amount of credible depth, drawing you in completely. Right there within the courthouse. A fly on the wall taking in every single nuance of the courtroom drama!

If legal thrillers and crime fiction are your thing then this is a must read!

A profoundly enjoyable buddy read with Susanne!

And a thank you to Matt. Without your outstanding review I would never have come across this novel.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley & Edelweiss and Robert Rotstein for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and Robert Rotstein for the ARC to review. I enjoy law and criminal trial type books. I have never been on a jury, so I was really interested in reading this book. It starts with the facts of murder trial, and then the jury being sent off to deliberate. I like that this book is from the jury's perspective. Each jury member gives there point of view. I really enjoyed this one.

4 Thrilling Stars!

David Sullinger is on trial in Sepulveda County, California for murdering his wife, Amanda. He claims that he was a battered spouse and that it was in self-defense.

It is up to eight jurors to decide if he is guilty. The Jurors include: a housewife, an architect, a student, a clergyman, a jury consultant, a former high school principal, an express messenger and the foreperson.

During the trial, testimony is given by David’s daughter Lacey and his son Dillon. The testimony given by David and Lacey Sullinger are nearly identical. Therefore, if you believe Lacey Sullinger, do you automatically believe her father? Dillon’s testimony is contradictory to Lacey’s but he is also unreliable. Who do you believe? Was David Sullinger credible?

It is up to the Jurors to decide:

“The truth is, it’s very difficult to tell through observation whether someone is lying.”

The Trial is told via multiple POV’s: that of the Jurors, the Judge, the Court Clerk, the Bailiff, The Defense Counsel, The Paralegal, the Prosecutor, the Tabloid Journalist and the Court Reporter. Believe it or not, the story being told through so many viewpoints is done seamlessly and kept me on my toes from the first. It is about how those individuals interact that makes “We, the Jury” different from other Courtroom Dramas.

I can attest to the fact that:

“Cases are won by spinning facts, appealing to prejudices…. when possible quibble, deflect, distract. Challenge the credibility of the most credible witnesses..”

Simply put, I had insight into this novel that perhaps others might not. I have worked in the legal field for twenty-three years, specifically in the area of Litigation and have attended quite a few Jury (and courtside) trials in the course of my career. I was analyzing this book left and right and have a few thoughts about what coulda, shoulda, woulda (but they will be left unsaid). Regardless of that, seeing this from all angles is absolutely fascinating and I commend Robert Rotstein for making “We, the Jury” such a fabulous and intriguing read. His character development is spot on and I was completely enthralled from start to finish. This is one book that I highly recommend for those who like courtroom dramas and well written thrillers!

This was a buddy read with Kaceey. Kaceey picked this one and boy am I glad she did! 

Thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and Robert Rotstein for a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on Edelweiss, NetGalley, Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram on 10.11.18.

A quick, engrossing court room read. A behind the scenes look at a deliberating jury. A judge under pressure. All this added up to a great read that will keep you interested till the very end.

I loved, loved, loved this book! I work in the court system (I don't want to say which side) and this book was an intriguing look at the perspectives of the people involved in a criminal jury trial, such as the Judge, the prosecutor, the defense attorney (and her paralegal), the bailiff, the court clerk, and the court reporter. The case at issue is a murder charge, where the husband is charged with murdering his wife. His defense is the battered spouse syndrome, and the star witnesses are the couple's two children, and each tell a very different story about their parents' relationship.

I read this book in less than 24 hours, which is very rare for me. Each chapter offered a different perspective, as well as other ways of telling the story, such as partial transcripts and legal memos to move the story along. This really worked for me and I found it kept the book interesting and fresh.

I will definitely put this author on my list of must-reads and pick up his next book!

*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Author Rotstein has taken an ordinary murder trial and by presenting it through the points of view of 14 people, jury members, court personnel, and the judge has made it fresh and suspenseful. All is not what you think it is — or is it? Particularly fascinating are the perspectives of the 8 jury members. Rotstein virtually puts the reader into each of their seats, akin to but even more effective than the intersections we see from a more objective perspective in the wonderful play Twelve Angry Men. We, the Jury reads quickly, except for the occasional odd word that doesn’t seem quite right. This novel will appeal to die-hard readers of legal thrillers, of course, but will also be of interests to readers looking for a new take on what is really an old story. What goes on behind the closed door of a marriage is never quite what we imagine it to be.

We, The Jury, by Robert Rotstein, is a courtroom drama about spousal abuse and self-defence. The defendant has admitted killing his wife but claiming self-defence as she was physically and mentally abusing him. This book focuses on the jury and is told from their perspective, along with the views of the judge and courtroom officials.

On the day before his 21st wedding anniversary unemployed David Sullivan killed his successful real estate broker wife by smashing an axe into her head! A rather brutal way to die. 8 members on the jury must now decide whether it was premeditated murder or if he was a battered spouse and killed her in the heat of the moment in self-defence.

What should have been a straightforward case isn’t. Testimony from the defendant’s own children is contradictory, with each child (ages 16 and 17) claiming the other parent was Satan, allegations of severe physical abuse, adultery, and incest. If that wasn’t enough, the jury must also overcome personal conflictions within the jury room.

Overall, I found this to be an excellent, well-written courtroom drama. Written from the perspective of the members of the court (Judge, bailiffs, court reporter and jurors) it gives a unique take of a crime drama. It exposes the bias, prejudices, personal animosities and how the jurors have to fathom out the truth from the fiction and ultimately who they believe while trying to make the right decision and not just going along with the pack.

There is an eclectic mix of characters that make interesting reading and drawing you into the book. Each chapter goes back and forth from a member of the cast of characters, hearing their own viewpoints on the case as well as their thoughts on their fellow jurors.

A well-thought out book written in a different style than standard courtroom dramas that makes it unique and interesting.

Well worth a read.

I’m a bit of a law junkie. I love legal thrillers and anything to do with the criminal justice system. In fact, I even volunteer every year to be the defendant in a first degree murder case in a mock trial for a criminal law class at a local law school (not to brag, but I have been found “Not Guilty” twice). This fiction book We, the Jury was so much fun. Unlike a typical legal thriller, the book alternates perspectives between many participants in the trial from members of the jury to the judge to the court reporter and bailiff and legal teams. It’s better than being a fly on the wall in the jury room because you’re inside the head of the jurors and other participants. The format showcases the effects of issues like the impact of witnesses in person vs. the court transcription read back, jury interpretations, and jury interactions. I would not want to be a defendant for real because of all of these factors that could impact the jury’s decision.
Thanks to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and the author Robert Rotstein for an advanced electronic reading copy.