An exciting book, moderately page-turning about the killing of a politician and the legal case against the wife implicated in the murder.

Narrated from the perspective of the wife and the various legal teams, it artfully takes the reader through the evolution of the case and the interrelated stories.

Comey has nailed it. This is a high octane ride as the action moves between courtroom, murder suspects, background investigations and the mob. Absolutely every you could wish for in a thriller. There’s no doubt that Comey had brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to this story. It’s complex and multilayered with much detail about in-house squabbles between law enforcement agencies as well as authentic courtroom scenes.

The trial scenes are dramatic and I felt I was inside the head of the defending attorney. He’s thinking on his feet as he struggles to defend his client and the reader understands his conflicts. Every character is different and very real. I’d say they’re drawn from life and Comey is clearly a gifted and original storyteller. There’s violence, humour, drama. I love the mob stories and the way those strands are drawn together makes a compelling tale. Cant wait for more from Comey; he’s an astonishing talent.

This was a really good debut from this author with an authentic background of FBI and courtroom procedure.

I enjoyed this book, I thought the story was interesting and I was invested in knowing the outcome. I look forward to more books from this author

Firstly this was written by a fromer FBI director and I think that adds a real layer of reality and authenticity. I found this to be a great courtroom drama and thriller which is full of detail, and incredibly engaging. This was slow at times and there are some very wordy parts however if you stick with it there's an engaging thriller with a great ending. I think this is a good start to a series which has set out a great group of characters I can't wait to see develop and learn more about, next time I think a faster pace would make me rate higher though to amp up the suspense.

I guess I should recuse myself from giving a review because courtroom dramas are like catnip to me. However, I won't go down that path. Central Park West combines police work, the FBI, cross agency squabbles, the mob, political corruption and courtrooms, all in a first rate thriller. The characters were interesting and the plot just kept on giving, right until the end. The novel had pace, interest, twists and a liberal dusting of human fallibility to make a most satisfying read.

This is former FBI director's fictional debut, a thrilling courtroom legal thriller, packed with the kind of indepth details that one might expect from his long years of experience at the FBI and with the mob, which lend an unmistakable aura of authenticity to the text. Nora Carleton is a single mother to daughter, Sophie, and a federal Assistant DA who has mobster Dominic 'The Nose' D'Amico in her sights, and indeed it looks as if he is set to go down with the persuasive testimony of a witness at his trial. Out of the blue, D' Amica springs a surprise when he offers up the information that the murder of disgraced New York ex-Governor, Tony Burke, at his exclusive luxury home was committed by the mob.

However, Kyra 'Killer Kyra' Burke, who hated her sleazy husband and let everyone know it, is on trial for his killing, in what looks like a slam dunk of a case, being represented by lawyer Andrew Parker, convinced of her innocence. Nora can no longer rely of D'Amico for any further information when he is murdered, but she is not going to let this go. She and her crack team of investigators, the larger than life Benny Dugan with his invaluable experience of the mob, the FBI's committed Jessica Watson, and her supportive boss, Carmen Garcia, race against time in an effort to find evidence that would substantiate the former mobster's claims. It's eye opening to watch them deploy all the means in their hands in an effort to prevent a miscarriage of justice, with a guilty verdict inexorably hanging over Kyra's head. This all leads to the high profile trial of a female mob contract killer.

The level of details that Comey provides might not appeal to some readers, but for me it is this that makes his fictional debut stand out in a crowded field. I particularly liked the characters of Nora and Benny, in a twisted narrative that depicts humans in all their flawed states, and where people may not always be as they first appear, and in echoes of the complexities and darkness of the real world, not everyone faces justice for what they do. I imagine, given how successful his first foray in the world of legal thrillers has been, that it will not be long before Comey returns with another gripping page turner. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I wan't sure what to expect with James Comey's first foray into the world of fiction but he was wise to start with a legal thriller, leveraging on his experience as a federal prosecutor and FBI director. Central Park West was well-written. Whilst it may come across as somewhat pedantic in parts, as someone who isn't familiar with the NY justice system and the thin veneer of cooperation which exists between federal and state, I appreciated the detailed character and location descriptions. The plot is original and fast-paced - almost like a Grisham novel/movie. I look forward to reading Comey's next book.

What a brilliant and authentic courtroom drama – I loved it! You can tell immediately that it was written by someone who’s spent many years working inside the complex legal system. It certainly shows that Mr Comey has been there and done it. I was hooked from the start. Murders, mafia and twists galore. A fascinating read with really strong characters, and it would be great to see Nora, Benny and the team in a sequel. It’s a good job that I kept reading this novel – it was quite complex and if I’d had a break from it I think I might have lost track of what was going on. The ending wasn’t quite what I’d hoped, but I know it happens. Oh, and from now on I’m going to be very careful with my Morrisons card! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this exciting read – I’ll be looking out for more from this budding author.

I was very curious as the author knew what he was talking about. The result is an interesting plot, a bit too wordy and slow at times.
I enjoyed it and couldn't wait to know who-did-what-and-why
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Federal prosecutor Nora Carleton is leading the high-profile mafia affiliated case against Dominic “The Nose” D’Amico. However, things take a puzzling turn when D’Amico offers evidence in another prominent case. Kyra Burke is facing life imprisonment for the murder of her disgraced predator of a husband, ex-Governor Antonio (Tony), Burke. Can what D’Amico has to say blow the case against Kyra Burke out of the water?

I admit to curiosity to see what the infamous James Comey, former director of the FBI, could come up with in this genre. First and foremost, his credentials and knowledge definitely add layers of authenticity to the storytelling. I do like the character of Nora and those that work for her, especially Benny Dugan. Some of the courtroom scenes are good, especially later on in the book and the ending is also a good one with well thought out twists and is what raises my rating to three stars.

However, the definition of a thriller is a play, film or novel with an exciting plot involving crime or espionage. Well, we have the crime, we have a decent premise but the excitement gets lost for me as does the pace. Why? Well, first of all Mr Comey is very wordy and I mean very wordy to the point of being pedantic. He has clearly consumed a great deal of Alphabetti spaghetti with the amount of acronym after acronym which is laboriously explained so I glaze over. I think it’s a case of knowing too much and wanting to get it all in with painstaking precision. There are a lot of characters to get your head around and a couple of them feel like stereotypes. My eyes go to the ceiling on several occasions as he repeatedly gives us the style of characters pronunciation of certain words so it becomes ga-bidge.

So, you’ll gather that James Comey’s foray into fiction isn’t a resounding success for me but others disagreed so be sure to check the more positive reviews.

Ps. What is it with the rugs?? An in FBI joke?

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Aria and Aries for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I love books by authors who have been there and done it. I think this is because I really enjoy 'procedural' novels which deal with the intricate, granular details of institutions and organisations and I think you can tell when an author have lived it or just researched it.

And no-one more than James Comey can claim to have been there and done it.

This novel is about the murder of a disgraced, former New York governor and his wife who is on trial for his murder. It is also about a Mafia boss also on trial and the connections between these two cases.

Whilst the level of detail may be to everyone's taste, I loved it. The novel really takes you into the complex legal system in America as well as being a thrilling novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries, Head of Zeus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.