Rating: 
Summary: Not just another book
Review: D.W. Buffa keeps you interested. I usually only have the time to read books on the train commuting to and from work but found myself making time at home to find out what happens next. At the end of this book you will have an appreciation for the human mind and heart and the events that can drive one to insanity. There is a point in this book where you realize how weak we are and how motivated we can be at some time or the other, and what motivates us.The author allows you to picture every event in our minds and some point puts a clear picture of every character. The clarity in his words doesn't leave you wondering what he means but lets you know exactly what he means and the effect it will have on the reader. D.W. Buffa leaves you wanting more.
Rating: 
Summary: Did We All Read The Same Book?
Review: Definately not one of Buffa's best. It appeared not even the author knew which direction he was headed midway thru the novel. Poor characterization and a cheap ending.
Rating: 
Summary: criminal immunity
Review: dour themes- mental illness, alcoholism, homelessness, child abuse- depicted more for shock value than insight. sparks fly in some courtroom scenes.
Rating:
Summary: so so
Review: FLAW? Why didn't Joseph Antonelli stop them from committing Elliott Winston to an insane asylum when he was charged with Antonelli's attempted murder? Wasn't he called as a witness? Didn't he have any say so as to whether Winston would be charged or not? Couldn't he have refused to press charges? Or am I wrong? Why didn't he do anything to help his good friend Winston? I mean Antonelli hired Winston cuz he thought he was the best young lawyer going and as the years go by comes to really like this kid. Yet stands by and does nothing when Winston needs him. He doesn't even visit him in the asylum for 12 yrs. Doesn't make any sense to me. What kind of a friend is that? Doesn't make the character of Antonelli very appealing. I've read a couple of Buffas's Joseph Antonelli books and have yet to really feel/know any of the characters. For such a successful lawyer he doesn't seem to have his act together, do any serious investigating etc. . He just seems to stumble onto information.
Rating:
Summary: Probably should be 3 1-2 stars, but ...
Review: For all its flaws, the book holds your attention. Buffa nicely weaves past and present, even though the protagonists narration of the past is not like anyone would talk. Still, a reasonably intelligent court-thriller, with an interesting last paragraph. A nice summer read, but probably for next summer _ save your $$$ for the paperback. In summary: there's a lot worse out there in this genre.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book That Is Hard To Put Down
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. It had just the right amount of action, mystery and romance. A wonderful story.
Rating: 
Summary: This Is As Good As Fiction Writing Ever Gets
Review: I suppose that Buffa's novels are characterized as "Legal Thrillers" akin to Grisham, etc. But his writing is so superior that it transcends the genre. If you hate legal thrillers, you will still love his books. He is that good. I read them all; every cop/lawyer/serial-killer/etc novel that is published. Buffa is the top of the line. If you decide to read his books, do not read this one first; it is the third of a series and you'd only cheat yourself. Start with the first one, etc. I'm not giving a synopsis of the plot because its too good to give away. And you sure don't see the ending coming. Just GREAT!!
Rating:
Summary: WARNING! Bad writing ahead...
Review: I was in the mood for a light bit of suspense fiction... nothing brilliant, but a good airport read. Seeing all the positive reviews this book had gotten, I figured I'd give it a try. WOW... what a mistake! Buffa spends the first 70 pages setting up back-story. The writing is so bad that it's actually funny at times. I read passages aloud to my friends to show them just how bad it was. Now, maybe it evolved into something remarkable in the second half, because I only made it halfway through before deciding that life is too short to spend on something this bad. But I'll tell you this.. although I don't think Grisham is a "great" writer, per se, at least he knows how to keep things moving along and his dialogue (isn't bad). Grisham is entertaining, in a 'light' kind of way. Buffa, however, is not.
Rating:
Summary: A gripping story of madness and revenge.
Review: In D. W. Buffa's latest novel, "The Judgment," two judges are brutally murdered. The first is Calvin Jeffries, a brilliant but sadistic judge who had many enemies. The second murdered judge is Quincy Griswald, Jeffries's replacement on the bench. Jeffries's murderer turns out to be a homeless man who apparently kills himself while in prison. Griswald's accused murderer is also a homeless man, and attorney Joseph Antonelli decides to defend this man whom he believes to be innocent. Antonelli is convinced that the deaths of the two judges are not coincidental and he is further convinced that Elliot Winston, a former attorney who was horribly betrayed by Jeffries, is somehow connected to these deaths. How can Elliot be responsible, however, when he has been locked up in a state mental hospital for over a decade? Complicating Antonelli's life is the sudden reappearance of Jennifer Frazier, his first love and a girl whom he has never been able to forget. Jennifer and Antonelli try to reestablish a loving relationship, but they face a formidable obstacle. Jennifer suffers from manic-depression, and her condition can deteriorate at any time. Buffa's courtroom scenes are exciting, as Antonelli uses every tactic he knows to cast reasonable doubt on the prosecution's case against his child-like client. "The Judgment" has some clever elements and Buffa conveys an important message about the elusive nature of justice in this world. The ending, however, is way over the top. Buffa resorts to melodrama and illogical plotting to give his book a slam-bang ending. Notwithstanding this weakness, however, "The Judgment" is an engrossing legal thriller.
Rating:
Summary: Well-deserved Edgar nomination
Review: In the first paragraph of D. W. Buffa’s novel, defense attorney Joseph Antonelli states that he hated Judge Calvin Jeffries. He considered him to be one of the most evil men he has ever met. The only reason he is attending the funeral of this murdered judge was because people was seeing this as an affront to the American judicial system. A homeless suspect is arrested and later commits suicide in his cell. Case closed. Three months later a second judge is killed in a similar way and circumstance. Everybody thinks that this is a copycat killer but Antonelli is not convinced. He has his own suspicion as to what really happened and he intends to use it as a defense for his client. Buffa does an excellent job with character development. One gets to know Joseph so well that we can’t help but root for him. Elliot Winston also plays a role in this novel. He is a former law associate of Antonelli who ‘wronged’ Judge Jeffries and is now serving time in a mental institution. Finally, there is the character of Judge Jeffries. He is already dead by the first page but one can’t help but feel revulsion toward this man. Jeffries was a self-serving megalomaniac who loved to ruin people’s lives. The novel is a story about revenge. How it was done, why it was done, and who had it done. It will give you chills down your spine once you learn the truth. I was a little sad at the ending but I can understand the circumstances in Buffa's writing as to why he did what he did. It is one of the best mystery novels I have read in a while and I am glad it received an Edgar Award nomination for best novel.
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