Published by Blackstone Publishing on January 14, 2025

A True Verdict milks the comedic side of people whose political viewpoints dictate their opinions about subjects that have nothing to do with politics. A discharged employee’s claim of whistleblower retaliation and race discrimination is turned upside down by the novel’s end. Robert Rotstein uses melodrama and silly plot twists to lighten the story, but by the end, sharply divided jurors share an aha moment and unite in a mutual desire for justice — whatever that turns out to be.

Told from multiple points of view, the story follows jury deliberations at the end of a civil trial. Most chapter narrators are jurors, although significant contributions are made by the lawyers, the judge, a judge’s law clerk, a lawyer’s assistant, and a blogger. Occasional excerpts from transcripts acquaint the reader with key trial testimony.

The plaintiff is Ellison Picard. Both his first and last names will be recognizable to science fiction fans. Picard is a young Black man with a spinal fracture that confines him to a wheelchair.

Picard worked for MediMiracle as a statistician. MediMiracle is a startup drug company that has developed only one product, but it will be revolutionary and extraordinarily profitable if it works. The company claims that the drug cures all addictions — drugs, alcohol, sex, whatever. If the product works, it will clearly save lives.

Picard claims he reviewed the drug’s post-approval testing data and discovered a life-endangering side effect that is disproportionately harmful to Black patients. He claims he blew the whistle, that he was fired for doing so, and that the company invented a story about his violent behavior to justify his discharge. He sued the company for race discrimination and for violating a law that protects whistleblowers.

The company claims it fired Picard because he attacked his employer’s CEO in the company’s lobby. Like many disputes that go to trial, the truth depends on which side’s witnesses the jury believes.

After a transcript excerpt sets the scene, the story begins with the eight jurors filing out of the courtroom. Picard’s lawyer, M. Bailey Klaus, introduces the reader to MediMiracle’s CEO and founder, Peyton Burke, “a Forbes Magazine billionaire, stylish, attractive, and not yet forty years old” who “doesn’t fear losing. What mega-rich sociopath does?”

The lawyer representing MediMiracle and Burke does fear losing. She worked under Klaus’ supervision at his former firm before she stole his clients. Her performance in the trial will either enhance or destroy her self-esteem, not to mention her continued employment if she costs her firm its biggest client.

We then meet a quirky group of jurors. Two will not last long after they are caught in an amusing violation of the rules governing juror fraternization. The remaining jurors are a veterinary technician, a scientist, a retiree who is fighting a losing battle against a lung disease, a cleaner who has been a naturalized citizen for two decades, a far-right furniture store owner, and a far-left editor. They disagree about everything, sometimes with colorful language. One juror sees Burke as an admirable role model for women while another regards her as an arrogant bitch.

The political opinions of the jurors who have any are exaggerated for comedic effect. Even funnier are the jurors who base their decisions on factors that are just as irrelevant as politics. The cleaner brings the most common sense and the least prejudice to the jury room.

Much of the story involves the bickering of jurors who initially have difficulties setting aside their preconceptions about the parties, the lawyers, and each other. Additional humor comes from the issues that sidetrack the jury. In my favorite example, a juror explains that facial expressions are indicative of lying by telling detailed stories about relatives or boyfriends who made those expressions.

The story touches upon serious questions of racial identity, racism, and corporate disregard of employees' rights. It uses those questions as a backdrop for humor, not to explore burning social issues. Some readers might find some of the humor to be offensive, but Robert Rotstein offends the left and right with equal vigor. Readers who relax and laugh at the parts they find funny will probably like the book in the end.

Subplots include Klaus’ misunderstanding of his assistant’s feelings about him and the law clerk’s hilarious attempts to influence the judge’s decisions in the case. They add to the story’s goofiness.

A True Verdict could be used to teach a course in small-group decision-making. Each juror has a different style. One is pushy. One is insecure. One is accusatory. One is timid. They have almost nothing in common except a desire to carry out a civic duty as best they can.

Will the jurors set aside their differences and dig through the evidence until they find something they can agree to be true? The story is too biting to be pollyannish, but it’s told with good humor. It pokes fun at people of all political persuasions while reflecting the hope that most people can overcome divisive issues and behave decently when it matters.

RECOMMENDED

I love a good courtroom drama, and this one absolutely delivered. From the very first page, a sense of unease settled over me, growing with every twist and revelation.

Just when you think you know who to root for—trust me, you don’t.

The multiple POVs were fantastic, offering insight into a cast of deeply flawed, utterly compelling characters—each more messed up than the last. The dual timelines, shifting between the sequestered jury and the courtroom proceedings, added to the tension brilliantly.

I hated most of the characters, but in the best way—the kind where you can’t wait to see them get what’s coming to them. And that ending? Utterly satisfying on so many levels.

I closed the book with a smirk, already eager to read more from this author.

I’m a sucker for multiple POV’s and this book certainly had it – a little too many in my point of view, making it hard to keep everything straight. It became better when I got in the groove though. This legal story was told from the perspective of the attorneys, judge, plaintiff, defendant, all eight jurors, and even the court reporter. We learned more about the case from court transcripts too. It ended fabulously with twists and turns galore!

I loved Rotstein’s 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑂𝑢𝑡-𝑜𝑓-𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝐿𝑎𝑤𝑦𝑒𝑟, and once again, he has brought us back into the courtroom for a gripping and thought-provoking legal thriller.

Ellison Ricard, a disabled Black man, is suing MediMiracle Corporation on the grounds of wrongful termination. He was employed as a research analyst for the pharmaceutical company when he discovered that their primary drug used to combat addiction resulted in more lethal side effects in African Americans than any other patient group. He claims he was terminated not only to keep this data hidden but also because of his race.

The narrative is told mainly through the jurors' eyes and some courtroom transcripts. As the drama unfolds, we learn a little about each juror, hear their deliberations, and even hear some of their inner monologues.

The case becomes interesting and complex, as it triggers hot debates among the jurors - race being one subject, as well as the drug's pros and cons.

For most of the book, I was enthralled by the jurors, who were only denoted by their occupations. They brought their opinions, baggage, and beliefs to the table, and you saw how they affected their judgment. But the ending… I did not see that coming, and it calls many things into question—including the truth. This is why I love reading Robert Rotstein; he keeps you thinking and isn’t afraid to discuss hot topics.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @blackstonepublishing and @robertrotstein for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook via NetGalley

What a bonkers journey.

I should probably make a chiro appointment, what with all the whiplash.

Question: Who can you trust?
Answer: No one.

I loved the book’s premise (racism and drugs and lies oh my!), its unconventional structure, and it’s cast of characters.

I can’t say I LIKED all (any?) of the characters, but they were well-drawn.

With a few bits of inner dialogue, the author conveyed everything you needed to know.

This is my first of this author’s work, and I’m happy to see he’s a robust back catalogue into which I can delve.

You guys. This could be ripped from the headlines. It had me wondering if I was reading fiction or nonfiction.

The reader is dropped into a jury room at the start of deliberations and learns of the happenings of the case and trial based on their discussions.

I’ve been reading a lot of books lately that are new but I feel I’ve read before. This felt fresh. It’s a twist on the courtroom drama.

You get to know the players and realize how much their lives and moods play a part. The chapters represent someone in the trial and instead of using their name as a heading, it’s their job. Emphasizing how much the jurors are a part of it.

And those twists! Just when you think you are reading to find out what they determine, wham.

While I started out thinking 12 Angry Men, this had some pretty timely issues. It will have me thinking the next time a see the outcome of a trial.

Time has been a little short for me lately so I read when I could and listened when that worked better. They went all out with the audio with a full cast that really brought the story above and beyond. The voices spot on matched the characters and made it easy to follow. Sometimes listens with this many characters become a little tedious keeping track of them all but I had no problem.

If you are a fan of the OG courtroom drama with a little bit of a modern twist, this needs to be on your tbr.

As an attorney - the whole concept of jury duty just fascinates me. I’ll never get chosen - no lawyer in their right mind would want an attorney they can’t control in the jury box. The other jurors will look to that attorney for guidance and you just never know.

I love that we got the perspective of all the jurors and other key players, and that we were given trial transcripts as well. The book was so cleverly structured. The jurors were all so different - educated, uneducated, different political backgrounds, different genders and ethnicities. Truly a perfect storm in a sense because everyone had such strong opinions and they were all so valid (in my opinion anyway).

And that ending! If you love a courtroom drama - go read this book!

If you are a fan of legal thrillers or court TV, then you should definitely enjoy A True Verdict. I went into this book blind and ended up reading it in one sitting.

The story is told from the POVs of everyone involved in a civil court case, the two opposing attorneys, the judge, the staff, the plaintiff, the defendant, and what I found the most interesting, the entire jury of eight. We even get court transcripts of some of the testimony.

At first I was a little confused with all the POVs, but at about the 3rd or 4th chapter I got it and just sat back and enjoyed the ride.

The court case is about a black wheelchair bound whistleblower who claims the miracle drug of a pharma corporation that helps opiate users, can also kill some who are non-white. He was fired for being violent but claims he was fired for whistleblowing and racism.

I found the jury fascinating as they couldn’t seem to agree on anything and clashed often. The ending was nothing that I expected and very surprising and twisty.

*Thanks so much to partners Blackstone Publishing, NetGalley, and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted eARC and for including me on the booktour!*

I loved this legal thriller especially the way it was told from so many points of view, yet still retained the air of mystery. The different personalities and lifestyles of the jurors were fascinating and the case itself was very intriguing. There were a few very surprising twists and the ending was very satisfying. I listened to the audiobook read by a full cast that made it an amazing experience.

I have never read a courtroom mystery structured like this and I really enjoyed it. I have always wondered what happens in jury deliberation so I loved how the reader learned about the case through transcripts and jury deliberation. There are a lot of characters involved but they were easy to keep straight and all had unique personalities. The evidence that was revealed and how the lawyers expected the jury to interpret it kept me guessing the whole time. I received a copy of this book as a gift. All opinions are my own

I haven’t read too many legal proceeding thrillers but I have to say this one was anything but boring. The author has a fantastic way of making any predictions entirely impossible, especially with fast moved pacing and constant twists. The atmosphere was another wonderful thing, you feel like you’re in the jury room while the decisions are unfolding. Ellison Ricard is filing a lawsuit against his former employer, MediMiracle Corporation. And all is most definitely NOT as it seems.

This was a page turner! Ricard is up against a medical corporation for whistle blowing that they were covering up numbers to for being fired because he is Black. This novel has it all. We get to read through the court transcripts, we get an inside look into the lives of each jury member as they fight for what they believe is the truth and who's side they are looking to vote towards. We also get to see a few incidents unfold that has also been brought out showing the good and bad of Ricard as well as the good and bad of those in higher positions at MediMiracle Corp. I really kept going back and forth as I read this novel. But then there was quite the bombshells that dropped and changed the aspect of things for both sides. As the jury is nearing a decision, they are called back in for further evidence. A very unusual event but the jury themselves also have a bombshell they are holding close to the chest that they discovered as they were going back through the thousands of pages of documents. This was a very good court read and I highly recommend for those who love court dramas and a story that will leave you thinking for a while after. Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the complementary ebook and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

If you enjoy legal thrillers then you will definitely want to pick this one up. I was hooked! I love a good courtroom drama!! The court case is about a whistleblower and a drug company that has manufactured a drug that can help with opiate addiction, but it could also hurt others who are of different races. The author describes all of the characters, such as the judge and jury, plaintiffs and defendants. I found the case so interesting. There's all kinds of twists and surprises throughout that totally caught me off guard. You'll also get to read the court transcripts which I thought was cool. The ending was a complete shocker for me. Did not expect that. Rotstein is a new to me author, and I cannot wait to read his backlist in the future!

Thank you to the publisher and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

If you enjoy legal thrillers then definitely pick this up. It's fast paced and almost addictive. It kept me glued to the pages and the pace was the way I enjoy my thrillers. I thought the writing was very good and the ending was my favorite part. Looking forward to reading another book by this author!

This book is a race against the clock and will take you to a non stop adventure to fantastic European destinations.
Beleive me when I say that once you start you won’t be able to stop reading, fast-paced, thrilling and epic.

𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝘆 is part of the Buck Reilly Adventure Series but can be read as a standalone.

I LOVED the way this book uses court transcripts and through the eyes of people affiliated with a civil court case. The story is told as the jurors are deliberating. I enjoyed the fact that the jurors are not referred to by their name but by their occupations.

The court case itself is compelling as it is about a whistle blower for a company making a drug that gets rid of drug addictions. The book deals with race, the corporate world, and how jurors bring in their own preconceived notions and baggage into the jury room.

This is also a fast moving legal thriller with some pretty big twists along the way.

Queue ~The Verdict by Joe Jackson
"... Wonder what the jury has to say
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting..."

Are you a court drama fan? I definitely fit the bill, having watched my fair share of everything: Law and Order (the original!), Bull, The Practice, and Fairly Legal, to Perry Mason Reruns, Ally McBeal, LA Law, and yes, even Night Court (does that count?). So, when I was asked to read an ARC of a court drama, it was a no-brainer. (But, tbh, it was one of my first court drama novels).

I was hooked from the very beginning, as the novel opens as a court document, the stenographer’s notes. I WAS a part of the process. As I read the proceedings, I felt like I was sitting next to each and every juror. I truly loved the way Rotstein not only cinematically set the novel, but also technically and narratively captured the emotions, the dichotomy of every moving piece and person in the court room.

I must admit while I was completely drawn in and devoured over half the book before I looked up, I did get a little lost in the weeds with the court clerk. But without giving away anything, I see how her role was important to the overall outcome, and I look forward to celebrating the release of this novel this Tuesday! As Robert Rothstein is a new-to-me author, I’ve already added his back list (including his co-authorship with James Patterson), and I really hope there will be a new novel in his future for me to read!

Thank you to @robertrotstein and @suzyapprovedbooktours for my electronic copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#Bookstagram #read #JANUARYReads #FreeReview #booktours #BookReview #ATrueVerdict #readingonthebrink

Wow, I didn't see that ending coming!
It's obvious the author knows a thing or two about courtroom proceedings and what happens in jury rooms while deliberating. I was on a jury once and the deliberations were as contentious and my thoughts on some of my fellow jurors were just as baffling as they were in this novel. To say the least it was very relatable. I really enjoyed the way the story was crafted and told through the multiple POV's of the participants. With the back and forth in the deliberations it was a mystery how or if the jury would come to a consensus to reach a verdict which created tension and propelled the story forward. If you enjoy legal thrillers that get into the heads of the characters and have surprising twists asking the way, I recommend this intriguing novel.

This is a masterpiece of a book! The story opens after a trail is given to the jury to deliberate. Each juror has a POV but they are only identified as their juror number and occupation. We also hear from the lawyers and judge from their POV, but a very small amount compared to the jurors. The author includes transcripts of testimony, which I loved reading. As a fan of trial fiction this book was a perfect read. The author did a wonderful job telling the story in a unique and interesting way and throwing in a few twists, especially at the end. I would definitely read more books by this author.

Robert Rotstein, the Author of “A True Verdict” has written an intriguing and riveting Legal Thriller. The genres for the book are: Legal Drama, Crime Thriller, and Suspense. There are secrets, lies, twists and turns and some shocking conclusions. The author vividly describes the dramatic, complex and complicated characters. In detail, the author describes each of the characters in detail, including the plaintiff and the defendent, the jurors, the judge, the court room staff, and the significant others. MeriMiracle Corporation manufactures Sophrosyne. which is a cure for opiate addiction in Caucasions. It is a new “Miracle Drug” that is claimed to save lives, yet there is a debate that it can harm and be deadly to other races. The themes surrounding the trial are racial discrimination, drug use, class differences, sexism, greed and political views. The two opposing attorneys, once worked with each other. The jury members are dysfunctional, and don’t agree on anything. Secrets and lies are discovered, and last minute witnesses are shocking. I promise you won’t get over the shocking ending, which is quite thought-provoking. I recommend that you read this book.