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lynnea713's review against another edition
2.0
I found the story too predictable. It felt like a story I've read before and was rather bored with it.
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
A missed opportunity for a literary conversation about capital punishment!
Raul Fernandez sits on death row as he insists on his innocence up to the very moment of his execution. Jack Swyteck, a brilliant Miami defense attorney has been contacted by a disguised man who convinces him of Raul’s innocence by providing proof that HE is the actual killer of the person whose murder is sending Fernandez to a session with Old Sparky. His father, Florida’s governor, rejects Jack’s plea for a last minute commutation of the death sentence and Fernandez is executed at the appointed time in spite of Jack’s belief in his innocence.
The balance of the book is an admittedly good quality legal thriller that sees the real killer’s attempts at revenge against Jack and Harold Swyteck play out to a final slam-bang conclusion in the Caribbean waters off the tourist laden shores of Key West.
The action scenes, in particular those leading up to the climax and the denouement that I just mentioned, are fast moving and entertaining but, for my money, they’re just a little bit over the top and too Hollywood to be completely convincing. On the other hand, the political details of the state governor's unfolding bid for re-election and the minutiae of the murder trials in which Jack is involved both as defense attorney and, believe it or not, as a defendant are downright gripping. Last but not least, the details of Jack’s faltering romance with love interest Cindy Paige is heartwarming and convincing without straying anywhere near maudlin.
Last but not least, while the entire story line positively screamed for a substantive discussion of the value and validity of capital punishment in the 21st century, author Grippando steadfastly avoided the near occasion of any such conversation, either between him and his readers in the form of side-bar essays or between Jack and Harold, a criminal defense attorney and the state governor who signs the warrants to authorize the executions. A missed opportunity I think and THE PARDON was the worse for it!
Nonetheless, if legal thrillers are your cup of tea, I’m happy to recommend you add this one to your list.
Paul Weiss
Raul Fernandez sits on death row as he insists on his innocence up to the very moment of his execution. Jack Swyteck, a brilliant Miami defense attorney has been contacted by a disguised man who convinces him of Raul’s innocence by providing proof that HE is the actual killer of the person whose murder is sending Fernandez to a session with Old Sparky. His father, Florida’s governor, rejects Jack’s plea for a last minute commutation of the death sentence and Fernandez is executed at the appointed time in spite of Jack’s belief in his innocence.
The balance of the book is an admittedly good quality legal thriller that sees the real killer’s attempts at revenge against Jack and Harold Swyteck play out to a final slam-bang conclusion in the Caribbean waters off the tourist laden shores of Key West.
The action scenes, in particular those leading up to the climax and the denouement that I just mentioned, are fast moving and entertaining but, for my money, they’re just a little bit over the top and too Hollywood to be completely convincing. On the other hand, the political details of the state governor's unfolding bid for re-election and the minutiae of the murder trials in which Jack is involved both as defense attorney and, believe it or not, as a defendant are downright gripping. Last but not least, the details of Jack’s faltering romance with love interest Cindy Paige is heartwarming and convincing without straying anywhere near maudlin.
Last but not least, while the entire story line positively screamed for a substantive discussion of the value and validity of capital punishment in the 21st century, author Grippando steadfastly avoided the near occasion of any such conversation, either between him and his readers in the form of side-bar essays or between Jack and Harold, a criminal defense attorney and the state governor who signs the warrants to authorize the executions. A missed opportunity I think and THE PARDON was the worse for it!
Nonetheless, if legal thrillers are your cup of tea, I’m happy to recommend you add this one to your list.
Paul Weiss
marinazala's review against another edition
3.0
** Books 163 - 2014 **
well, in summary it is story about a man named Raul Fernandez who being got death sentenced from Governor Harry Swyteck. however, a day before he got sentenced Jack Swyteck, an freedom institute lawyer come to his dad, harry and convinced him that actually raul is innocent.. unfortunately, his dad not believe at all
two years has passed, suddenly someone framed Jack as the killer of Eddy Goss (his former client) and his girlfriend, cindy also left him.. together with his dad, they try to found out who is the real murder and who is framed him?
I will give 2,7 of 5 stars for this novels! :)
well, in summary it is story about a man named Raul Fernandez who being got death sentenced from Governor Harry Swyteck. however, a day before he got sentenced Jack Swyteck, an freedom institute lawyer come to his dad, harry and convinced him that actually raul is innocent.. unfortunately, his dad not believe at all
two years has passed, suddenly someone framed Jack as the killer of Eddy Goss (his former client) and his girlfriend, cindy also left him.. together with his dad, they try to found out who is the real murder and who is framed him?
I will give 2,7 of 5 stars for this novels! :)
johnnyb1954's review against another edition
3.0
The plot is pretty well crafted - the villain manages to put a lot of roadblocks in Jack’s way. It was a long book, maybe it needed to be, but I skimmed through a lot of description and don’t miss anything essential. The characters are two dimensional - I never really liked Jack. The final showdown is hokey as Jack suddenly gets just what he needs just when he needs it. The epilogue is a joke. “What a horrible ordeal. Oh well, let’s just move on and be happy.”
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
2.0
I know I read it, but a month later, I can't remember a dang thing about it.
Not a particularly ringing endorsement.
Not a particularly ringing endorsement.
xkay_readsx's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
I had the abridge audio version. I like this series and have only read a few recent work of the author. It's nice to get to know Jack Swyteck and his governor father from the beginning.
I had the abridge audio version. I like this series and have only read a few recent work of the author. It's nice to get to know Jack Swyteck and his governor father from the beginning.
ncrabb's review against another edition
4.0
My friend, dawn, reviewed this in 2014 and said he was late to the party. I feel a particular kind of poignant chagrin because here we are, eight years later, and now I'm the one who is even more late to the party. The party would be an admiration for and review of this first book in the Jack Swyteck series. After I finished this, my admiration for narrator Ray Foushee grew exponentially. I have always loved his narrations, and when he came to Ohio to speak to the state convention of the American Council of the Blind in 2014, he made me look good as the president knowing he was there. The reality is he made me look far better than I was in that assignment, but that's grist for another mill.
If you read this with your iPhone or iPad, you would do well to take it to an Apple store first to ensure that all the little micro screws and glue points are as solid as they can be. The author builds so much suspense in preparation for the ending of this book that the plot alone may have the power to rip out and rearrange circuits inside your device if it's not well and thoroughly put together. Perhaps I exaggerate just a bit, but it really is only just a bit. And when you add Foushee's excellent narration, I can almost see a scenario wherein these things combine to yank about the circuitry of your device.
Jack Swyteck and his dad, Harry, haven't seen eye to eye since Jack was small. Jack's stepmother once drunkenly enhanced the rift, but the father did nothing to mend it. As the book opens, a Cuban immigrant is about to go into the electric chair. Accused of a murder he did not commit, he vehemently maintained his innocence to the end. Jack Swyteck, his attorney, exhausted All the court proceedings and appeals. Then, he gets the call that changes everything. The individual hires Jack as a client so that he may tell him things in strict confidence. He tells Jack that the Cuban immigrant isn't the real killer. He, the new client, is. Jack's dad is the governor of Florida at the time, and Jack, despite the estrangement between him and his dad, appeals to him nonetheless to get the verdict overthrown. The governor sneeringly refuses. The man dies. The killer vows to get revenge on Jack and his dad.
The plot grows increasingly suspenseful and seemingly hopeless for Jack. The killer arranges it such that Jack is the suspect in a murder trial. This is the same Jack who, days earlier, employed a technicality that meant freedom to a confessed killer. The entire state of Florida was outraged by his legal maneuverings. Then, the man whom Jack helped free died because of a brutal murder. Whoever killed the guy does a great job of setting Jack up for the crime. Now the tables have turned. Jack is the defendant in a murder trial for a killing he did not commit. That's exactly what this killer wants. He wants Jack to feel the same horror that his brother felt when the brother died on death row years earlier and the governor would not overturn the appeal.
The suspense that leads up to the ending of this really is memorable and vivid. If you've not explored this series, it's time to start with the first book. I most emphatically will read the next book in this series in a few weeks. I just can't do these back-to-back. I don't want to burn out on the character. So suspenseful and vivid is this that I found myself yelling at my book player at the author as if he could hear me. “You'd better not kill that woman!” I found myself exclaiming aloud. The only way you learn whether in fact the author ignored me is to read the book.
If you read this with your iPhone or iPad, you would do well to take it to an Apple store first to ensure that all the little micro screws and glue points are as solid as they can be. The author builds so much suspense in preparation for the ending of this book that the plot alone may have the power to rip out and rearrange circuits inside your device if it's not well and thoroughly put together. Perhaps I exaggerate just a bit, but it really is only just a bit. And when you add Foushee's excellent narration, I can almost see a scenario wherein these things combine to yank about the circuitry of your device.
Jack Swyteck and his dad, Harry, haven't seen eye to eye since Jack was small. Jack's stepmother once drunkenly enhanced the rift, but the father did nothing to mend it. As the book opens, a Cuban immigrant is about to go into the electric chair. Accused of a murder he did not commit, he vehemently maintained his innocence to the end. Jack Swyteck, his attorney, exhausted All the court proceedings and appeals. Then, he gets the call that changes everything. The individual hires Jack as a client so that he may tell him things in strict confidence. He tells Jack that the Cuban immigrant isn't the real killer. He, the new client, is. Jack's dad is the governor of Florida at the time, and Jack, despite the estrangement between him and his dad, appeals to him nonetheless to get the verdict overthrown. The governor sneeringly refuses. The man dies. The killer vows to get revenge on Jack and his dad.
The plot grows increasingly suspenseful and seemingly hopeless for Jack. The killer arranges it such that Jack is the suspect in a murder trial. This is the same Jack who, days earlier, employed a technicality that meant freedom to a confessed killer. The entire state of Florida was outraged by his legal maneuverings. Then, the man whom Jack helped free died because of a brutal murder. Whoever killed the guy does a great job of setting Jack up for the crime. Now the tables have turned. Jack is the defendant in a murder trial for a killing he did not commit. That's exactly what this killer wants. He wants Jack to feel the same horror that his brother felt when the brother died on death row years earlier and the governor would not overturn the appeal.
The suspense that leads up to the ending of this really is memorable and vivid. If you've not explored this series, it's time to start with the first book. I most emphatically will read the next book in this series in a few weeks. I just can't do these back-to-back. I don't want to burn out on the character. So suspenseful and vivid is this that I found myself yelling at my book player at the author as if he could hear me. “You'd better not kill that woman!” I found myself exclaiming aloud. The only way you learn whether in fact the author ignored me is to read the book.
lakegirllinda77's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.75