Juror #3 (Ruby Bozarth #1) (2024)

James Patterson collaborates with Nancy Allen to bring readers an exciting legal piece that will keep the questions coming until the final pages. Ruby Bozarth is a recent grad of Ole Miss Law School and has a desire to save the world. Hanging her shingle in a small town, she is used to defending misdemeanours and the like, most of which are simple cases. However, when a judge earmarks her to become the attorney of a local murder suspect, Ruby discovers that the law can be quite the beast. Darrien Summers is a waiter at the local country club and is summoned to a back room by text. When he arrives, he discovers the dead body of the woman he has secretly been seeing. What makes this scandalous in Mississippi is not that she is married, but that Summers is black and the victim is white. Cutting her teeth on all that is a murder defence, Ruby ends up working alongside the aunt of her former fiancé, a man she still cannot stomach having loved. While picking a jury, Ruby comes across a potential juror who seems to be acting very oddly. However, he makes it onto the panel and soon is captivated by the evidence in the Darrien Summers trial. Working her magic, Ruby inserts some doubt and hopes that she can win. However, something odd happens in the middle of the trial, involving that same Juror #3, which turns the case on its head. While Ruby tries to come to terms with the outcome, her aforementioned former flame finds himself in his own legal hot water and Ruby is thrust into her second major case in a year. Will she find a passion for the work of a criminal defence attorney or is this just one hell of a ride? Recommended for those who enjoy some of Patterson’s better collaborations and need a quick read to pass the time.

I quite enjoyed this one-off by Patterson and Allen, which worked well and seemed to get better with each passing chapter. Ruby Bozarth is that young lawyer who is as wet behind the ears as they come. However, her gumption and determination to do what is right seems to open a path towards a successful legal strategy. She trips and stumbles, but is always looking to better herself, rather than be the pompous woman that feels she can do no wrong. With a little backstory and much development throughout, the reader will likely grow to admire this Mississippi girl and all her quirks. The secondary characters work well, no matter their role in the piece, to pave the way towards an entertaining legal thriller that has a few twists few would expect. While not entirely traditional Patterson—super short chapters with a cliffhanger at each page turn—the story works well and the reader can remain engaged. Allen is to be applauded for keeping the story from turning into anything tepid, as I have found Patterson collaborations usually hinge on the second author to make or break the piece. What I did find interesting, though I debated keeping it out and allowing others to decide for themselves, is that this book almost acts as two BookShots in one—that clever Patterson project of short story writing—as the first case is completely divorced from the second, with that mystery juror firmly rooted in the early case. I waited and pondered why these two stories were pressed together, though I suppose others can chime in and offer their insights, after they have read the piece.

Kudos, Mr. Patterson and Madam Allen, for an entertaining read. I hope you will work together again soon.

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A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

It’s everyone’s worst nightmare: to be accused of and arrested for a crime you didn’t commit. And then to make matters worse, your lawyer is inexperienced, the prosecuting attorney is a smug know-it-all, and the judge is uncompromising. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? I thought so too.

I started reading with good intentions to make this a quick read. It’s Patterson, short chapters, lots of white space, no problem, right? Ha! It took me over a month to finish this book. It’s actually 2 different stories in one book that finally in the end are linked by a very weak and flimsy thread. It felt like 2 separate Bookshots that happened to feature the same main character. I won’t even provide you with a tease for the 2nd case as I found it boring and the plot improbable.

When you reach the point where the story shifts over to the next case, you’re confused and you stay that way until the end as you try to decipher just how these 2 storylines go together. I kept on reading thinking I had missed something – I did set this book down for a week sometimes before I picked it back up so I just figured my memory was not the best.

Alas, no, I did not miss anything. This is simply 2 short stories revolving around the same lawyer presented as one full length story. While each story would have been a decent Bookshot, they didn’t work together. There wasn’t an established tie-in between the two, the supporting characters are not developed, and the rushed endings for each case made for an unsatisfactory read. I would have rated these slightly higher if they were Bookshots, but I expect more out a full length novel. I can really only recommend this to those who love the Bookshots stories. If you find Bookshots to be hit or miss, then mark this one down as a miss and move on to your next read.

Just not what I want when I pick up James Patterson.

I like, and was looking for; that quick hook, page-flipping pace and compelling conundrum. Also, that I can basically read it with one eye on the book.

To me, this felt disjointed, a bit distracted and quite determined. Probably, I'm just grumpy.

Feels like two stories in one with the main character weak in mind and spirit. This does not help the story. More backbone would have added significantly. 6 of 10 stars

3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really liked kicking my reading challenge off with a trusty James Patterson book! I think I’ve done that in years past as well.

This was a decent legal “thriller” for me. I loved the main character, Ruby Bozarth and especially loved Aunt Suzanne. She was feisty and funny!

Juror #3 was your standard JP book - quick and easy to read with short, cliffhanging chapters. It seemed as though I read two different novellas in the same book. Same characters, different storyline. Kinda cool, but it also made the endings seem a bit rushed. I would have preferred each story be it’s own book. What a great two book start to a series it would’ve been!

On that note, I really hope this does turn into a series. Ruby is a tough, no frills kinda girl who I found to be very entertaining!

THE WORST “JAMES PATTERSON” BOOK EVER!! This book was simply shockingly bad! I have read Patterson’s books for years and I know that when he “co-authors”, most of the work seems to be written by the other writer, but I can’t believe ANY professional author wrote this garbage. I thought I would be reading a “Grisham-esque” type of book. Instead, I read drivel. NO fleshing out of any character in the book; ridiculous portrayals of southern bigotry; asinine plots and even more asinine resolutions. Really really terrible. I’m so glad I borrowed it from the library so it didn’t cost me anything. My recommendation? Save your money, and your time, and run away from this book. I would give it negative stars if I could.

3.5 stars, actually.

Picture this: It's the deep south, where conventional wisdom dictates that whites and blacks don't hang around in the same social circles. Beautiful white woman and a hunky black ex-jock defy said conventional wisdom (several times, most recently in a beach cabana). White woman gets brutally murdered. Black man gets charged with said murder. Snarky judge assigns defense to newbie white female attorney. Client insists he's innocent and refuses to take a plea. Case heads to trial with odds (including the jurors) stacked against a win. Anyone hear a familiar twang?

Yup, me too. The only surprise is that it's not by the author I'd have expected.

Nonetheless, the plot makes this a better-than-just-tolerable read; the only other surprises, I guess, come as said newbie white female attorney, Ruby Bozarth, learns who she can trust. Otherwise, the story follows her efforts to be taken seriously by the judge, prosecuting attorney, jurors and even her client (she's already given up on her snooty rich racist ex-fiance, Lee Greene).

Problems begin at the voir dire, when the prosecutor runs roughshod over Ruby's juror choices; in particular, she's suspicious about the person seated as Juror #3 (wow, that would make a great book title)! But from out of the blue comes her ex-fiance's Aunt Suzanne - an established, blustery local attorney strongly reminiscent of TV's fiesty, oversized but oddly lovable Harry Enfield, played by Kathy Bates. Then, out of the blue blood appears said ex-fiance - wearing an orange jumpsuit. It seems he's been accused of murdering a beautiful young woman. Despite his disdain over Ruby's boots-on-the-ground lower-class social background, her inexperience and his family's misgivings, he insists that as his attorney, only she will do.

Right off the bat, Ruby gets Greene's trial moved from Vicksburg, Mississippi, to her tiny town of Rosedale to avoid media contamination of the jurors - a venue that seems to assure that this case somehow will intersect with that of the cabana-killer. It does, at least marginally, and after investigations make the truth hard to swallow and threaten her very life, Ruby - and the second-time-around jury - get to the truth.

Conclusion: An ending that begs for more details, but overall not half bad; so if you enjoy books with a legal bent, don't hesitate to give it a go.

I want a series with Ruby and Suzanne! They were an amusing team! Juror #3 took one heck of an entertaining spin when the photo evidence and phone call evidence got displayed, and boy did it get displayed in flourishing way. The second case involving Ruby’s ex-fiancé and Suzanne’s nephew was also fascinating because of so much coming to the forefront so quickly. However, the fiancé crime plot was pretty predictable. Felt like Ruby was a moron for accepting that drink. That combined with the predictability is why I deducted a star.

My quick and simple overall: this is actually one of the best Patterson co-authored books I have read in a while. The characters really made this book!

Well, in spite of the great reviews, I could not bring myself to give this book more than two stars. The first half was interesting, but once Juror #3 was identified, the book fell flat. The dialogue was very trite; the characters flat and shallow. I really did not believe the story line at all and did not care how it would finally mercifully end.

My New Years Resolution

was to stop finishing bad books. I'll give it a 100 pages then put it in the DNF column.
Page 127 game over!

This book was an insult to my intelligence. A complex story told in the most overly simplistic way.
It made me angry that the authors and publisher would try to sell this garbage to the unsuspecting public.

Ruby passed the bar 8 months ago and a judge handed her a capital murder case.
You expect me to believe this? Ruby didn't know how to file a motion of discovery. I knew that by watching Law and Order. Vinny Gambini and his fiance Mona Lisa Vito could have done a better job! Oh! Can you say inadequate counsel. When the cellphone rang in the juror box i literally laughed.

Shame on James Patterson for putting his name on this garbage. It's time to retire.

I love a flawed character and Ruby is an outrageous hot mess who comes into herself growling like a junkyard dog! A good legal story with kind of a simple construction but highly entertaining!

Great legal thriller ans even better by James Patterson. Always know it is going to be a good read.

I had A LOT of problems with this book. I was hopeful in the beginning. Ruby Bozarth seemed like an interesting character, a baby lawyer who kind of sucked at her job and was barely scraping by. We're introduced to her as she is losing her supposedly slam-dunk case, and the text makes it clear that it's not the first case she's lost. I found that a welcome change from the swaggery big-dick lawyers legal thrillers usually have.

But that was where my enjoyment ended.

This book is not one coherent narrative the whole way through. It is 2 novellas smushed into one book. The first half is about a murder case involving a black man falsely accused of murdering a white society queen. It is a very disappointing story for me.

Patterson and Allen take what should be a very serious and important subject, one that could be spun in a way that highlights the inequity of our legal system and the lingering effects of Jim Crow in the rural South, and takes the cheapest and most cliched track. It lacks any of the depth necessary to make the story worthwhile.

Ruby also shows herself to be the most naive person ever to exist. She has no clue how to do anything and has to basically be coached by everyone around her on how to do her job. There is one part where she finds out that the guy she's dating is part of a white supremacist group and confronts him about it. He tells her that, oh no, he's just PRETENDING to be part of the group for a case study. He offers no proof of this. None. And her response is, oh okay he didn't seem like a bad guy anyway. Oh my GOD

After the conclusion of the first part of the book, it immediately goes into the second mystery. Like, 5 minutes later. Oh NO, her jackass ex is in jail for killing a prostitute! Of course he is.

So we plod along, forced to deal with his extremely racist family and with his extremely garbage attitude. Blah blah, big conspiracy involving petty revenge and a meth ring. Then her jackass ex wants to get back together and she tells him where he can stick it. The end.

I absolutely did not like this book. It was not at all well written and it was clumsily plotted out. Give it a miss.

now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.

Wow !!! James Patterson is back. This book was brilliant. I loved it. A great story line great characters. It had it all. His co writing was getting very boring for a while but this one has worked out well. Keep it up.

Reminded me of an early John Grisham. Loved the fast pace courtroom drama.

I thought this book was just okay.

I wasn’t sure what to expect w/this as I haven’t read many of Patterson’s bookshots, but I ended up liking it.

I did this on audio & the narrator Megan Tusing did an amazing job. I know that’s why I enjoyed it much more.
Ruby, Shorty & Suzanne are all very likable characters. You can’t help but root for Ruby & her plucky attitude even though she’s in over her head.
I liked that aspect b/c lawyers had to start somewhere so it was a nice change to read about someone just starting out instead of the more experienced ones in the typical legal thrillers.

The story was more about the trial as opposed to the mystery of who really done it. That was a nice change also.
There was also some humor. Poor Ruby…always needing a pen…. (that cracked me up!)

When I thought it was over, I checked to see that I was only on chapter 31. I must say, I was curious what more was going to happen as I thought the issue of “juror #3” had been settled.
The narrative continued on seamlessly.

the 2nd case w/Lee was more obvious so I figured that one out.

Another fantastic standalone novel by Patterson, and co-writer Nancy Allen.

I flew through Juror #3 in two sittings! The court cases were extremely addicting!

My only complaint is that this seemed to be more of two stories than one with only a single teeny tiny thread randomly thrown in at the end to connect them. I would have liked there to be more congruity.

This one was not a winner and I would not recommend it. Almost half way it seems to end with the closure of a major plot. Then it continues with another storyline but with the same characters. It should have been labeled short stories in my opinion.

Wonderful. Plausible plots; and a newcomer, Ruby Bozarth. I hope she is developed as a character into other books. Wonderful.

Newly-admitted to the Mississippi bar, Ruby Bozarth returns to Rosedale, Mississippi and unexpectedly finds herself appointed by the court as the defense counsel in a racially-charged murder case.

Realistic characters people this courtroom drama that’s a sort of coming-of-age for a brand new attorney thrown into a high-profile murder trial. Trademark short chapters keep the tension-filled plot racing along as they pull the reader into the telling of the tale.

Ruby’s two cases, tied together by Juror Number Three and by Ruby’s heartfelt defense of her client, show the young woman’s gutsy determination and her growth as an attorney. She’s a character readers will find themselves rooting for as she gives every bit of herself for her clients. Mounting suspense and unexpected revelations keep the pages turning. Don’t miss this one.

Highly recommended.

2.5 stars

I though this was an ok read, but had a few issues with it. Mainly that it felt very choppy and disjointed. The book actually feels more like 2 short stories rather than one story, with only a very tenuous link joining them.

I had a love/hate relationship with the main character Ruby. I enjoyed her doggedness and determination, but also thought her very naïve and short sighted. The plot itself was flimsy and a bit too obvious for my liking.

However, once I started the book, I wanted to finish it. So it held my attention, but I won't be rushing off to read any more James Patterson books anytime soon.

Oh so average. Oh wait, I like average and this didn't quite get there. Lots of motivational and plot gaps, incredibly stupid main character, and once again a Patterson plot that relies more on coincidence than investigation. Let's not even address the fact that this looks like 2 novellas pasted together. I keep hoping for another of those flashes of brilliance Patterson once exhibited

Excellent book. Twists and turns that you don't see them coming. Glad I picked this thriller by James Petterson.

Can anyone suggest me his best novel ever? Can't wait...

This 2018 legal thriller from author Patterson and co-author Nancy Allen may very well turn out to be the beginning of a series. Fledgling attorney Ruby Bozarth starts her career with some incredible luck, both good and bad. This novel feels as if it were two novellas that Allen had in the drawer and were patched together for a successful presentation to co-author Patterson's huge fan base. The two cases are too similar to appear in the same novel and there is no dramatic bridge between them. Ruby, her mentor Suzanne, and her new boyfriend Shorty are appealing characters though and they may well have a future together.

Ruby Bozarth, a newcomer to Rosedale, Mississippi, is also fresh to the Mississippi Bar--and to the docket of Circuit Judge Baylor, who taps Ruby as defense counsel in a racially charged felony. The murder of a woman from one of the town's oldest families has Rosedale's upper crust howling for blood, and the prosecutor is counting on Ruby's inexperience to help him deliver a swift conviction. Ruby's client is a college football star who has returned home after a career-ending injury, and she is determined to build a defense that will stick. She finds help in unexpected quarters from Suzanne, a hard-charging attorney armed to the teeth, and Shorty, a diner cook who knows more than he lets on. Ruby never belonged to the country-club set, but once she nearly married into it. As news breaks of a second murder, Ruby's ex-fiancé, Lee Greene, shows up on her doorstep--a Southern gentleman in need of a savior. As lurid, intertwining investigations unfold, no one in Rosedale can be trusted, especially the twelve men and women impaneled on the jury.

2.5⭐️
In collaboration with Nancy Allen this James Patterson read like a two-part legal (but very predictable) saga. Unfortunately some of the issues of the first case, a novice under-dog white female attorney defending the colloquial ‘down-on-his-luck black football star’ seem to be forgotten in the second part. Don’t forget...set in the Deep South.(Mississippi)...The same young attorney finds herself defending a capital murder case in two weeks (Part I) now miraculously gets to defend her ex-fiancée...you guessed it from the ‘WASP’ brigade (Part Is) in yet another capital murder case (6 months). Think you can work out how this one goes.
Likeable characters, an extremely easy and predictable read, don’t go in excepting anything realistic and you’ll enjoy a good interlude between actual thrillers.

This is the first time I have ever not finished a James Patterson book. This story was too easy to predict. Not like either of his I have read before and not in a good exciting way. This story was not twisty or suspenseful at all. All in all in my opinion it was pretty boring and I didn't even finish it. Sry just my opinion. A young lawyer gets thrown into a murder case even though she has never tried one before. Then the story seques into a second case that she gets into.

Really enjoyable Patterson book! I loved the main character and her attitude towards life! She was quite refreshing. This was a legal thriller and actually is like two stories in one. Ruby has her first case that she gets through (her first criminal case ever!!). Then she gets another call right after to defend her ex-fiance. That one was actually a little easy to figure out but I still enjoyed it. I loved the way the title of the book plays into the stories!!

A fun book with a rookie lawyer taking on a first criminal case. Good characters and plot. If this will be a new series I'll be reading more.