Robert Metry

A Jury of Peers Robert Metry

Kirkus Reviews says of A Jury of Peers ? ?In a chilling opener that ranks among the better introductory set pieces of today?s blockbuster thrillers?courtroom and otherwise?the novel sets the mood of local tragedy without a useless word? Given the complex range of events and the density of the plot, readers might expect flat, eye-glazing prose, but the pacing remains quick and punchy as it transitions from courtroom to character and is generously rendered in elegant writing unusual for the genre... Yes, it hits all the typical beats, but Metry handles them so deftly that even the?in retrospect?telegraphed revelation will surprise and satisfy those who love thrillers, as this book delivers classic elements of the genre.? With one foot planted in the real world and the other treading the fantasy domains of Internet role-play, this fast-paced legal thriller delves into the digital world?s impact on reality, identity and justice, and how twisted perceptions can pervert the truth. Two young cousins have gone missing. As the desperate parents await the local sheriff, the pitch-black is ripped by lightning and a thunderclap that drowns out the snarling of dogs foraging along the riverbank. After the little boys are found felony charges are brought against 16-year-old Joseph Khalil, the genius and socially misfit son of an immigrant doctor and the daughter of the county?s most powerful family. Joseph is a master at Internet role-play games, where commonplace violence and fictitious identities serve to isolate him from real world human interactions and their consequences. Legendary attorney Maxie Giuliano and his brilliant associate, Susan Wycov, take up Joseph?s defense, pitted against a vengeful prosecutor who pursues a conviction at all costs. Joseph upsets his crack legal team at every turn and rebels against a justice system he believes cannot give him a fair trial. As the trial date nears Joseph slips his electronic monitor and sets out to find justice on his own terms. The story spirals to a startling conclusion that leaves Maxie and Susan to deal with the fallout on them and on the legal system they are sworn to serve.