I didn't know what it took to be a trial artist. It seems like a job that would be going out of date but as long as cameras are still being forbidden in some courtrooms there will still be a need. I was interested in her stories of how she got to know the people that she drew a bit by observing them closely for so long.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Press/Hanover Square Press for an eARC of this book to read and review.

DNF at 16%. I was uncomfortable with her seeming admiration for Maxwell, a woman who helped to traffic vulnerable minors to wealthy men, but decided to keep reading.

Then I got to the part where she said that Jean Harris was on trial for killing her husband and I had to stop. I don't read or know much about true crime, but I had just read about Jean Harris in Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck (I DNF'd that one too, because of the Jean Harris bit) and was curious and looked up Jean Harris. The internet agreed that Harris was on trial for killing her lover, not her husband.

This author was literally AT the trial. Ok, maybe she was so focused on her drawing that she missed that fact, but what are editors for?

If something so wrong 16% of the way into the book, what else isn't correct?

Interesting premise, but if the items being presented as facts aren't true, that kind of ruins the book for me.

1, I was expecting better from this and am disappointed, stars.

If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a courtroom sketch artist, then read Drawn Testimony by Jane Rosenberg. This book chronicles her 40 years in the business, covering high-profile cases, such as Donald Trump, Ghislaine Maxwell, Martha Stewart, the Boston Marathon bomber, and more.

I thought it was interesting to read about how Rosenberg became a courtroom sketch artist, how she decides what and who to draw, and the challenges that make getting the sketch just right.

Of course, she dishes on what went on inside the courtroom and gives us her perspective of some of the famous people on trial.

If your book club likes to read non-fiction, then this would be a really interesting read. It's the story of a female sketch artist, which gives Rosenberg a different perspective than her male counterparts, and it will spark discussion as you relive some of these famous cases.

Drawn Testimony is published by Hanover Square Press and is available to purchase now. I received a free e-ARC for this review.

Drawn Testimony by Jane Rosenberg

Why I Chose It: I enjoy books that examine the criminal justice system.

This was an interesting take on a courtroom book. This inside look of an artist who had sketched for high profile cases for 40 years was a new perspective.

I enjoyed the insight into the many high profile cases she attended. I also enjoyed how the author walked us through her view when sitting in court. The fact that she was on the lookout for one defining picture for the day/case was insightful. The explanation of the courtroom and its players as art was fascinating to me and required a complete perspective shift on my part.

I struggled with the repetitiveness of the book. While all the cases were different and summarized well, the art focus felt extremely similar: get a sketch of the best moment, use pastels, sketch something out, clean the sketches up, convey emotion with the sketch. I wanted a variety of connections with the different cases.

All in all, if you’re looking for a different take on a courtroom, check this one out. Fans of art-focused reads, courtroom memoirs, and books about lesser known professions will enjoy this one.

Over the years, I have seen countless courtroom sketches and never once wondered about the artists behind those sketches. Moreover, I quickly glanced at them, not paying much attention at all. I guess I always saw them as a poor man's version of a photograph. They only existed because cameras weren't allowed in courtrooms. No more! After reading Jane Rosenberg's book, I now intend to look closely at any courtroom sketches I see, and think of them as being superior to photos taken during trials.

I had no idea all the work and thought that went into making those sketches. No idea that the artist was closely watching facial expressions and body language. No idea that courtroom sketching was a combination of art and psychology. It's not a cushy job, either. Many, many times Ms. Rosenberg has to get up at 4AM so she can stand in line and get a good seat at a trial, and the trials can be all over the country. Who pays her fees? News sources hire her. That's something else I did not know. I never thought about who paid the artists to attend the trials and draw, draw, draw.

The author has covered some of the most famous trials that have made the news. Each case can personally affect her differently, too. She admits she finds the mafia ones entertaining, while having to emotionally detach herself from ones involving the death of children. She covered both the case of the South Carolina mother who drowned her two children in her car, as well as the New York nanny case where two children were stabbed to death. When covering the Ghislaine Maxell trial, the defendant started sketching the author on her legal pad!

Sometimes people complain about her portraits, like Tom Brady's fans did of her first drawing of him in court. Sometimes she sells her sketches to fans who ask to buy them. Sometimes she has weeks to do drawings during a long trial. Sometimes she must do a sketch so quickly she fears it's a bad one, one well below her level of expertise. I found it all fascinating, even though art, particularly drawing, has never been my forte. Whoever knew all the heart and soul that went into courthouse sketches?

The author has been a court artist for many years and she has sat through many famous cases drawing scenes from the cases which we, as the public, see on TV. I never thought to much about the people who do this job and found it really interesting to read about one person’s experience. She has drawn scenes from famous cases such as Harvey Weinstein to Trump’s hush money case to George Floyd’s death and some lesser known cases as well. She gives us her observations not only from the artist’s perspective but her own personal ones as well realizing she can’t let that her influence her work. I will be recommending this book.

Drawn Testimony was a great read! I appreciated the author's insight into being a courtroom artist. super interesting

This wonderful memoir will appeal to so many different types of readers -- definitely artists, and anyone who has ever been curious about the people behind the courtroom art that depicts trials where photography is not allowed. But most of all, this will appeal to anyone who loves to follow a good court case, as the author has been an artist on an amazing array of famous court cases. Fascinating and very well written.

In "Drawn Testimony", Jane Rosenberg delivers a tour de force of courtroom sketch art. Through her various sketches and true crime stories, Rosenberg is able to showcase the range of human emotions that those involved in the court system experience on any given day. Rosenberg also makes a moving case for this art to continue in the digital age by describing the lasting impression that courtroom sketches have on the masses long after the news footage moves on to the next story. It was quite interesting to revisit many famous cases including Bernie Madoff, John Gotti, and Ghislaine Maxwell, among others, through the eyes of a courtroom sketch artist who witnessed all of these cases in person. I would highly recommend "Drawn Testimony" to any true crime fan or fan of a well written story. Rosenberg is a masterful writer and artist!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC!

This book was really interesting. I have been curious for years about the profession of courtroom artist. This book answered so many questions. Some parts were honestly difficult to read, since they are about real life courtroom situations and I did find myself skipping pages. Other parts were handled with a lot of humor, like the Tom Brady incident. Overall, I found this book to be very well written, insightful and informative.
Thank you for the eARC!

A fascinating peek into the courtroom for many infamous cases that spark memories in many of us. The difference in this author’s experience is she sat front row with pastels and paper! Full of deep dives into criminals, celebrities, and victims including intriguing and impressive drawings! If you’re like me and enjoy getting jury duty for the pure fascination of court proceedings, this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and author Jane Rosenberg for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A very interesting peek into what it is like to be a court reporter. We always see them in pictures and on tv but what is it really like? Who knows? Until now. I felt like we really got a good sense of the ups and downs of this unusual job. The emotional toll seemed kind of heavy and i didn't envy her. On the other hand, it did seem like a job where you got to leave at the end of the day and get paid fairly well.

The book sounded like it would be interesting the topic is what drew my attention however upon reading found the book boring and dry