Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Red Verdict by James Comey

I’ve followed this series religiously, so this went straight to the top of my TBR. The author delivered another assured and timely legal thriller, and Red Verdict is one of the strongest instalments yet.

Nora is on top form, supported by a formidable and well honed team who rise to even the most daunting challenges. When a high profile killing with clear Russian hallmarks pulls them into a complex investigation, the case quickly widens into a high stakes clash involving espionage, corporate power and global influence. The author’sinsider knowledge gives the procedural detail real authority, while the pacing keeps the tension tight throughout.

What really stood out was the way the novel reflects on how external forces can infiltrate governments and world powers, blurring the lines between justice, politics and control. It feels timely, unsettling and entirely plausible. The character work remains a real strength, grounding the bigger geopolitical themes in strong relationships and moral conviction.

A sharp, intelligent and compelling addition to a series I continue to love. An easy five stars.

This is another excellent book in the Nora Carleton series. I had to read it straight away.
In this book an defense company executive is murdered by Novichok, a Russian nerve agent, but it looks like they killed the wrong man, and there is still a traitor in the company. With the help of the FBI Russia SVR section, a couple of great new characters, Nora and her team gather the evidence and take the case to trial. It's really interesting in the world of spycraft and politics, and in the management of the case, and I loved the trial. Despite the serious subject matter, there is a lot of humour in the dialogue - Benny is so funny. I really enjoyed spending time with Nora and her team and her family.
Highly recommended.

James Comey has hit the ball out of the park in this his fourth book in the Nora Carleton series of legal thrillers.

The plot is horribly plausible and topical featuring murder by Novichock, and a highly placed traitor revealing classified secrets to the Russians relating to drone technology.

As normal given the author’s back there is much toing and froing and jockeying for post between the various departments responsible for national security but where the book scores highest for me is in the forensic but fascinating description of the trial of the alleged traitor.

As normal there’s much witty repartee between Nora and the immortal Benny and the book was a delight to read.

Highly recommended.

In the opening chapter Edgar gets poisoned by the red pepper flakes brought by a water he has not seen before. This certainly drew me in.
Then there was the character of Nora, which was particularly well drawn.
Then there was the story , which was excellent.
After being hooked in the opening chapter I was drawn into the plot, which was gripping.
Highly recommended.

Nora Carleton returns in a powerful legal thriller involving espionage and betrayal. The Assistant US Attorney works with the FBI following the murder of an industrialist though to be passing secrets. But the story isn't as it first seems.

Nora and her team have their hands tied by national security laws, making the case difficult to prosecute. Working in secret they skirt the edges of the intelligence community to make their case. It's all difficult, full of tension and horribly real.

Red Verdict is a gripping tale from an author who knows the territory well, and the result is an excellent read.

This was my first experience reading James Comey, and Red Verdict proved to be a strong and engaging introduction.

This is an enjoyable, well-crafted legal thriller that feels grounded in authenticity. The story blends legal procedure, crime, and espionage in a way that feels both timely and credible, offering insight into the real-world challenges of counterintelligence, prosecution, and the complex interplay between justice, politics, and global influence.

The procedural detail is clearly informed, lending weight to the investigation and courtroom scenes without overwhelming the narrative. The pacing is steady and purposeful, and the focus on teamwork, jurisdictional tension, and methodical case building mirrors what other readers have praised as one of the author’s strengths.

While established fans of the series will likely appreciate returning characters more deeply, the novel works well as a standalone and remains accessible to new readers. Overall, Red Verdict is a smart, compelling legal thriller that prioritises realism and substance over spectacle, and I would happily continue with future installments in this series.

<strong>I’ll admit it... I didn’t go into <em>Red Verdict</em> with especially high expectations. But I came away genuinely impressed.</strong>

Thank you to NetGalley and <strong>James Comey</strong> for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As this was my first book by James Comey, it took me a little while to find my footing. The early chapters lean into world-building, particularly around the maze of U.S. and Russian intelligence agencies. There are plenty of acronyms, but Comey does a great job explaining them clearly and giving background on the various intelligence communities. That foundation ultimately strengthens the tension as the story progresses.

Once I settled in, the story really took off. What begins as a measured political and intelligence-driven thriller gradually transforms into gripping courtroom drama, and that shift worked brilliantly for me. The investigative threads tighten, the stakes escalate, and suddenly the pages start flying. I read this over two days, which says everything about how invested I became. It’s the kind of book you’re happy to dive straight back into.

Even though this is the fourth installment in the series, it stands alone remarkably well. I never felt lost or behind, which can often be a concern when jumping into a series midstream. That said, I’m now planning to go back and pick up the earlier books.

The character development was a highlight. The relationship between Nora and her teenage daughter Sophie adds emotional depth that grounds the geopolitical tension in something personal and relatable. Benny—her stepdad—was another standout, especially in how he supports both the investigation and the trial. Those family dynamics gave the story warmth and balance alongside the espionage plot.

I also appreciated the subtle (and occasionally pointed) pokes at government bureaucracy. They felt authentic without being heavy-handed... likely a reflection of the author’s firsthand experience.

<strong>Overall, I was thoroughly entertained and pleasantly surprised.</strong> <em>Red Verdict</em> builds deliberately, then delivers intrigue, momentum, and a satisfying courtroom crescendo. If you enjoy political thrillers layered with intelligence detail and fun character interplay, this one is well worth your time.

<em>#RedVerdict #NetGalley</em>

Thanks to James and Netgalley for allowing me to read Red Verdict prior to the publication date.
This is the 4th book in the series, but can be read as a standalone novel, the content of which is very topical and thought provoking. I was hooked from the start of this highly enjoyable tale.

At the heart of the story is Grand Central Avionics, a cutting-edge business with defence contracts to supply high spec military drones with in-built A.I.
When their C.F.O. is poisoned with Novichok, suspicion is directed at the Russians.
As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that Russia has been playing the long game, praying on the vulnerabilities of the politicians and industrialists. They will stop at nothing to obtain the drone code.
Nora Carleton is back in the fold as a Deputy US Attorney. This case will see Nora and her team navigate the different organisations which make up the American Justice System and the machinations of government departments.
As industrial leaders and politicians rub shoulders, secrets and lies abound.
Who will survive the fallout?
The author has explained the complex structure and remit of the government departments.
He also describes the infighting in the Russian spy organisations, whilst hypocritically calling each other cousins.

great characters in a complex and thrilling plotline with a fantastically detailed trial.
nothing not to love!

Have I mentioned how much I love this series? I mean, any book based around law and order is pretty well designed to grab my attention, but given the depth of authenticity that James Comey is able to bring to the story, as well as the fact that in Nora Carleton and her family and colleagues, he has created a superb cast of characters, these books really do just hit the sweet spot for me. I race through them, utterly gripped by the investigations and the action, as well as the brilliant courtroom action that underpins the whole novel. This book in particular cuts quite close to the bone, actions and consequences which are all too believable, with ties to real life cases and a few characters, the senior defence Attorney for one, where I simply cannot imagine where Mr Comey got his inspiration from ...

Red Verdict is based around a very fascinating, and perhaps all too plausible situation. A major player in a US Technology company who is suspected to be a secret Russian asset. Until said person no longer wants to play ball, then they are just a liability. A copious serving of novichok laced chilli flakes and pasta later, and its not long before the respective Government agencies, Nora Carleton and the US Attorney Criminal Division, are all on board determined to stop the passage of some very sensitive drone technology into very much the wrong hands. Now I know it may be very difficult to imagine anyone in a senior post, with strong links to the seats of power in Washington, having any kind of connection to Russia ... but here we are. James Comey makes a very compelling case, and with some very compromising information held by Russia about said asset, it seems that they may just get everything they want.

This is a very serious book. Murder with a nerve agent is no laughing matter and very much grounded in reality, as the references to real world cases in the UK attest. But, thankfully, James Comey is able to inject a good amount of humour into the story, although it's fair to say that this may depend on which side of the current US political divide you sit on. Nora is a fabulous lead character. A single mum whose daughter is living away with her father during the week and only returning home at weekends, she lives for her job, but it doesn't wholly define her. She is strong, independent, and utterly focused with a razor sharp precision in the courtroom as her opponents often find to their cost. And she has a strong team around her, from her boss, US Attorney Carmen Garcia, and colleague, Sean Fitzpatrick, to her family, mother, Teresa, and her colleague, turned Step-father, Benny Dugan. The friendship and banter between Bennt and Nora never fails to bring a smile to my face, and benny, although he may act the tough guy, is surprisingly sensitive and very bit as astute and switched on as Nora. Collectively they make for a formidable team.

I love the glimpse inside the operations of the Federal agencies, and the sense of authenticity that is brought to bare in the courtroom. I am sure some of it if exaggerated for artistic and literary effect, and no doubt much of what really happens behind closed doors is kept off the page for reasons of national security, if not plausible deniability, but it feels real. It is dramatic, frustrating, and eye opening in equal measure. As readers, James Comey puts in very much in a position of knowledge. We are present as the clandestine meetings occur that the federal agents struggle to find the proof of. We know of the existence of a method of coercion, even if it takes the team uncovering the dark truth to expose the actual nature of the threat. And we are taken deep into the heart of the case that the team are trying to build before being led, quite willingly, into the courtroom where we get to watch the intense theatre of prosecution v defence.

I enjoyed the courtroom scenes immensely. These are pitched perfectly, delivering the evidence, and the counter arguments in a way which keeps everything fresh, even where we think we already know what is going on. No chance of this becoming stale, as much because of the entertainment value of the Father-Son defence team, and the very matter of fact, and utterly direct, attitude of the judge presiding over the case. I like Judge Conway. A lot. He has a rather unexpected handicap, not that anyone not in the know could tell. His personality is sharp, and refreshingly honest, a no-nonsense kind of guy who keeps that larger than life characters in the case in check. Speaking of which, I've already mentioned one of the defence team, Mortimer Schacter, and his performance in court is almost comical. His speech patterns, his objections, and, quite honestly, utterly nonsensical ranting, really set me in mind of someone, but I will let you read the book and figure that out for yourself.

This book kept me glued to the page/screen from start to finish. It's got perfect pacing, balancing the need to establish a case and follow through with prosecution without being too repetitive. Given the nature of the threat against the country, the agents involved in the espionage and the murders, there is an undercurrent of threat throughout as well, as well as the constant fear that the senior connections between the defendant and Washington's elite may prevent justice being done. In that sense, I could feel my own frustrations building much as they would have for Nora and the team, the author making me that invested in the idea of justice that the notion of the case going any other way was unthinkable. Whether just desserts are served, well you have to read to find out, but this is one of my favourite books in the series to date and most definitely recommended.

Another brilliant novel in the Nora Carelton series. There is simply no one else who has been there and done it like James Comey and that really comes across in his novels. A great insight into the intelligence services and a thrilling storyline. Loved it and can't wait for more