A Final Judgment: A Ron Shade Novel

Publishers Weekly

Despite a less than credible plot, Black's third novel (after 2004's Windy City Knights) to feature Chicago kickboxer Ron Shade, has its charms, not least a street-smart, likable hero. Shade, an ex-cop turned PI, reluctantly takes work from his least favorite kind of client, a lawyer, and from the police lieutenant who helped boot him off the force. Lieutenant Bielmaster wants Shade to keep a paroled ex-con away from Bielmaster's daughter, hinting that Shade might get reinstated in the PD in return. Defense attorney Rick Walters recruits Shade's help on a civil wrongful death suit, an attempt to get a measure of justice for a murdered woman whose husband was acquitted, possibly because of a corrupt judge. In his minimal downtime, Shade takes a crack at the world heavyweight kickboxing championship. He faces pretty fierce competition in the ring, but nothing as lethal as the attempts on his life that result from his involvement in the trial. (Oct.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

A Chicago shamus and world-class kickboxer juggles a pair of intriguing cases and a chance at a title bout. On the same morning, private-eye Ron Shade gets two very different job offers. Lawyer Rick Walters hires Shade to help with a civil case. Esteemed physician Todd M. Gooding has escaped conviction for the murder of his wife, Laura, largely because of renowned defense attorney Mason Gilbert's brilliance. Walters's preparation for a wrongful-death suit has been hampered by the suicide of his investigator John Tunney. Less congenially, Shade is asked by his cop pal George to help Lt. Bielmaster, whom Shade remembers without affection from his days on the force. Bielmaster's daughter Grace has fallen for petty criminal Tim Knop, and Shade's task is to scare the kid off, within the law. He's lukewarm about the assignment, but the sight of Bielmaster ill in a hospital softens him. Shade's knee injury has slowed him down and caused a bit of a weight gain, but his busy schedule makes gym time an additional challenge, even though his trainer, Chappie, is determined to get him into fighting shape for a title bout. Tunney's suicide looks suspicious. Knop doesn't appear to be the thug Bielmaster imagines. And does Shade have a prayer against the Russian behemoth Sergei Seleznyov?Black's smooth style makes Shade's third escapade (Windy City Knights, 2004, etc.) brisk and entertaining.