Review of While the Jury Waits
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Review of While the Jury Waits
Gio was a confident defense attorney, and his reputation for success kept him financially secure. However, he lost all of his bravado when he had to defend his lover, Nicoletta “Nicky” Bianchi. Nicky was on trial for murdering her former boyfriend, Charles Blackwood. During the trial, the prosecution used forensic evidence from Inspector Shirley’s investigation. When questioning Inspector Shirley, Gio latched onto her inexperience and destroyed her credibility. Gio gambled his chances with Agnes McAllister, who refused to give her testimony until she was on the stand. Gio’s apprehension dissolved quickly. Agnes’ testimony absolved Nicky, and she was found not guilty.
Gio needed to find who framed Nicky. While he was looking through Blackwood’s residence, he encountered a young investigative journalist seeking the truth. Emily and Gio entered the bedroom and were shocked to see the bloody drapes. Emily spotted a baseboard with a carved logo filled with blood. Looking out the window, Gio spotted someone dressed in all black on the street was staring at them. Together, Gio, Emily, and Nicky were digging deeper into Blackwood’s business associates. Every piece of evidence led them closer to danger. Threatening messages and a mysterious stalker filled everyone with fear. The residents of Ravenwood were hiding something sinister. Despite the apparent danger, the trio were determined to uncover the dark presence that kept the people silent.
While the Jury Waits is a mystery thriller exposing the darker parts of Charles Blackwood’s business deals. When I read the first chapter, I thought Gio was a narcissistic person. However, Dr. Tony Vercillo continued to develop Gio’s character into a more relatable person in the subsequent chapters. The descriptive details of Gio’s emotions are shown in his physical responses and visual hallucinations. For example, when Gio saw the person staring at him, that image manifested in a dream that caused him to wake up with a fever. Gio reacted realistically with his responses to fear, anxiety, and worry throughout the book.
The only suggestions I have for While the Jury Waits are personal preferences. I would have liked to see more development of the supporting characters. For example, Emily wasn’t as driven as I would have expected an investigative reporter to be. The second suggestion was the repetitive statement “They were prepared to deal with any challenges that came their way.” Including this in several chapters slowed the pace of the story.
I rate While the Jury Waits four out of five stars. The deduction of a star was based on the lack of supporting character development and repetition. I found the quality of my reading experience increased with the suspense and the unpredictable plot. The uncertainty of identifying the guilty party made it impossible for me to predict the conclusion. I was stunned by the ending.
I recommend this book to young adults who enjoy reading murder mysteries. The residents of Ravenwood were reluctant to divulge information. Because of the graphic description of the murder scene and profanity, While the Jury Waits may not appeal to readers who dislike thrillers. Why was Blackwood killed? Who framed Nicky?
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While the Jury Waits
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