Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Whilst for obvious reasons Marcia Clark is a familiar name to me, I have never read a legal thriller by her before. After reading 'Final Judgment', I will soon rectify my error in judgement in browsing past her name when searching a certain retail website for my latest edge of your seat thriller. This was a truly addictive read that says much about Marcia Clark's fertile imagination and undisputable ability to entertain her readers. The story begins with an investment scheme gone wrong and inevitably ends with murder, with the crux of the narrative revolving around the efforts of our main protagonist, Samantha Brinkman, to rescue her boyfriend, Niko, an entrepreneur from the fallout of these events. As Brinkman becomes more and more involved in Niko's world she must consider the uncomfortable question of Niko's culpability in the events that simultaneously threaten both their lives. In a romping fashion, Marcia Clark draws us into the story with some aplomb and although this requires a certain suspension of belief on the part of the reader, it is a undoubtedly a fun journey to what is a very satisfying conclusion.

This is not a traditional thriller in the vein of John Grisham, but as a variation on this genre this is a thrilling, absorbing read.

Summary:
When it comes to relationships and self-preservation, defense attorney Samantha Brinkman has always been cut and run. But it’s different with her new lover, Niko, an ambitious and globally famous entrepreneur. Sam is putting her faith in him. She has to. He’s also her new client—a suspect in the murder of an investor whose shady dealings turned Niko’s good life upside down.
He had the motive: revenge. As did many others who banked a fortune on the wrong man. That’s a point in Niko’s favor. So is his alibi for the day of the slaying. Until that alibi mysteriously disappears. As Sam’s feverish search for another viable killer begins, the investigation only leads deeper into Niko’s past and its secrets.
From the darkest suspicions to final judgment, fighting for Niko is Sam’s job. To do it, she must risk everything on a man who could make all her worst fears come true.

This is the fourth novel in the Samantha Brinkman series by Marcia Clark. Marcia Clark is well-known for her unsucccessful role in the O.J. Simpson prosecution for the alleged murder of his wife and her boyfriend. Subsequently Clark has become a successful author of legal thrillers.

Samanatha Brinkman and her boyfriend Niko Ferrell are relaxing at a South Pacific resort when he receives a phone call alerting him that an investment that he recommended to his mother and some friends has gone badly awry. They go rushing back to the States to try to sort things out. It turns out that the two individuals in the Gold Strike scheme, Bryant and Tanner, have "lost" everything and they each blame the other for the debacle. Niko's mother Sophia has lost her life savings and ends up in hospital after a stroke. Bryant ends up murdered and Samantha and her colleagues at Brinkman and Associates decide to pitch in and investigate what has happened. Matters become more complicated when the second principal in the scheme, Tanner, goes missing and the police are unable to locate him. As a result of some circumstantial evidence Niko becomes a person of interest in the police investigation and Sam digs into his past in an attempt to exonerate him. But she learns things which make her suspicious. The plot thickens before matters are resolved. An interesting novel. A good read.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

Fast-paced and action-packed, there is never a dull moment with this non-traditional legal thriller by Marcia Clark, in which an investment scam quickly turns to murder, rape, and revenge. This is the fourth book in the Samantha Brinkman series and suffice it to say Samantha’s approach to the law is far from orthodox. So, don’t expect a traditional legal thriller, as you might even say, Samantha is more than willing to give the law a little nudge when it looks like justice might not be served. This tendency to nudge the law means that our protagonist had more than a few skeletons in her closet and these skeletons seem to always find a way to resurface. This means that it is helpful to have read the earlier books in the series before you tackle this one, but not required. The author provides enough background so that you never fill lost. I can say this because I have read only one other book in the series and this one is by far the better of the two. A fun read that kept me entertained even if once or twice it required the suspension of disbelief.

I thought this series was over so imagine my surprise and albeit excitement when I saw another Samantha Brinkman book!!! Woohoo, keep them coming Marcia Clark!

Sam returns in the fourth edition to this legal thriller series and I highly recommend you read them in order. Getting pulled into what starts as an investment scandal, but quickly results in murder, evidence seems to keep pointing to her boyfriend Niko. Could he actually be a killer? As she tries to prove Niko innocent, she finds out more about him and wonders if she ever truly knew him.

I love Sam, Michelle (a.k.a "Michy") and Alex. The character development in this series is fantastic. I feel that I personally know them. Sam herself is a very interesting character and shall I say a bit unorthodox ? I hope there will be more. I would definitely be on board for book 5!

A big thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy of this book!

Samantha Brinkman returns in the fourth book of Marcia Clark’s series. This time she must grapple with the possibility that her boyfriend Niko could be a killer. Using the skills of her best friend Michelle and her investigator Alex she tries to find the truth in the midst of increasing evidence that points to Niko’s guilt. Although interesting in some parts the book overall is not as good as the previous three. Brinkman remains an intriguing character, though, so if there was a fifth book in the series I would give it a chance.

Questionable morals, classic whodunit case, enough legal procedures to be interesting but not so much that it slows down the pace of the story. This isn't my favorite of Marcia's work, not even my favorite of the Samantha Brinkman series, but it was good and obviously I enjoy Sam so it was a must read!

<spoiler>What I most enjoyed in this book was when Michy fully called Sam out for murdering her attacker. It was one of those moments where you're like HOLY SHIIITTT, it's about to go down. She didn't end up telling her, but the fact that Michy inferred it, said it aloud, and made several remarks about Sam not caring whether or not Niko was the culprit was great. I'll be interested to see how Marcia develops that plotline over the course of the next book(s), because I could see Brinkman & Associates becoming a full on murder squad and I'm here for it.</spoiler>

This book is the 4th in the Samantha Brinkman series and I highly recommend reading them in order. This one wasn't my favorite as it was hard to follow and I am not certain that all was resolved or tied together at the end but having said this, it's a good mystery and I like following the development of these characters. This author knows her subject matter and it shows in the realistic plot line. I would definitely read a 5th if she writes one. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Another great Samantha Brinkman book. This is a legal thriller series as Brinkman is an attorney and at times a little unorthodox. This book keeps you guessing from one page to the next. Liked it a lot!! Thanks to #netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC

I have read several of Marcia Clark’s books and enjoyed them. This one failed to engage me. The plot was convoluted and in the end the outcome was unbelievable. The author also failed to tie all the story lines together into a cohesive whole. The original stock swindle deteriorated into a personal vendetta and hints of previous revenge murders. Also, the constant repetitions about lack of sleep, coffee drinking, driving and computer hacking gave the novel an underlying monotony I found tiresome and boring. Not her finest effort.

A page turner for sure... good for a a rainy cold afternoon to curl up and get lost. She tells a good tale and it reminds me of the stories my friends in the DA's office used to tell about their daily life, but at a faster pace.

Not like the usual lawyer book. Lots more of day-to-day “grunt work” of getting the job done. Sam does an excellent job of keeping all the plates spinning in what starts off as an investment scandal, but works its way through murder, rape, and revenge.

Final Judgment is the fourth book in the Samantha Brinkman legal thriller series. I can certainly see how this would appeal to another reader, but it simply wasn't to my taste what with the endless descriptions of blue scrunchies and the latest fashions.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. I hope to read more books by this author.