A seemingly simple assault case spirals into a complex web of violence and deception in this bold debut thriller. Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid walks into her office in Portland's Drug and Vice Division one Monday morning to find three police officers waiting for her. A thirteen-year-old girl has been brutally attacked and left for dead on the city's outskirts. Given the lack of evidence, most lawyers would settle for an assault charge; Samantha, unnerved by the viciousness of the crime, decides to go for attempted murder. But, as she prepares for the trial, she uncovers a dangerous trail leading to a high-profile death penalty case, a prostitution ring of underage girls, and a possible serial killer. And, she finds her judgment-not only in matters of the law but in her personal life-called into question. In Samantha Kincaid, Alafair Burke has created a complex, appealing character-a woman consumed by a sense of justice, who is also tough enough to take on a man's world. Seamlessly juxtaposing courtroom scenes with those of criminal investigation, Judgment Calls reveals not only an insider's knowledge of the criminal justice system but a fresh new voice in the world of crime writing.
"Alafair Burke has been on the front line in the courtroom and the streets, and brings her world alive in this exciting first novel."
Linda Fairstein
"Captivating. Alafair Burke is a wonderful writer, with the kind of style and confidence I most admire. I'm a big fan and look forward to the next novel in the series."
Sue Grafton
"Judgment Calls expertly shows that the most gripping drama is not found in the courtroom but in the places where choices get made, in the shadows cast by politics and corruption and human desires. Burke comes out of the gate with a first novel that proves she's got what it takes and will be sticking around."
