The Judgment

Rating:
Summary: "Only God can invent such stories" (Page 424)
Review: This is one of the finest novels I've ever read. While at one point I may have given "The Judgment" only four stars, I quickly decided against the score. Coughlin may or may be the author, however, I surely wish I knew who wrote this fine story of innocence and struggle.

Rating:
Summary: "Only God can invent such stories" (Page 424)
Review: This is one of the finest novels I've ever read. While at one point I may have given "The Judgment" only four stars, I quickly decided against the score. Coughlin may or may be the author, however, I surely wish I knew who wrote this fine story of innocence and struggle.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not great?3 ½ stars
Review: This is the first book by Coughlin that I have read. It was engaging and enjoyable but not a pageturner. Coughlin spins two parallel but unrelated stories through the book. This leaves the reader to wonder if the two story lines will come together in the end or remain separate vehicles that develop the main character, Charles Sloan. As the novel progresses in a somewhat meandering fashion, the reader comes to know Sloan, who is a lawyer of keen mind and thought process, a recovering alcoholic, and, at times, a tortured soul. The story is able to hold the reader's attention but the ending is rather predictable. The story is written in the first person perspective of Sloan, much like the Paul Mandriani novels from Steve Martini. Personally, I will seek out a Martini novel before I again reach for Couglin.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not great¿3 ½ stars
Review: This is the first book by Coughlin that I have read. It was engaging and enjoyable but not a pageturner. Coughlin spins two parallel but unrelated stories through the book. This leaves the reader to wonder if the two story lines will come together in the end or remain separate vehicles that develop the main character, Charles Sloan. As the novel progresses in a somewhat meandering fashion, the reader comes to know Sloan, who is a lawyer of keen mind and thought process, a recovering alcoholic, and, at times, a tortured soul. The story is able to hold the reader's attention but the ending is rather predictable. The story is written in the first person perspective of Sloan, much like the Paul Mandriani novels from Steve Martini. Personally, I will seek out a Martini novel before I again reach for Couglin.