FATAL JUDGMENT BY IRENE HANNON

FATAL JUDGMENT by IRENE HANNON is the first book in the GUARDIANS OF JUSTICE series. It is a fast-paced thriller with a strong Christian message.
Deputy U.S. Marshall Jake Taylor is placed on protective duty and is surprised to find that Elizabeth Michaels, the high profile judge he is protecting, is his best friend Doug's widow. He has pre-conceived ideas about her because of the derogatory remarks Doug made to him about her, however his opinion changes as he gets to know her better. What starts out as a purely professional relationship turns into something more. The truth is that, just as her murdered sister Stephanie's husband abused his wife physically, Liz's husband abused her mentally.
Jake has more or less given up on God because of his wife's death, and Liz understands how he feels as she was tempted to do the same when Doug died.
The Taylor family are very close and are all involved in law enforcement in one way or another. Their mother is a godly woman and they were brought up in a Christian home. Cole is a detective and Alison works in child services. Stephanie was Liz's only living relative and she feels desperately lonely when she is alone in the condo where she is being kept safe until the killer is apprehended. She is drawn to Jake and he becomes her lifeline to normalcy. She looks forward to his visits and they come to trust one another and open up to one another. Jake has to put up with some subtle teasing from his siblings and his co-workers as it is obvious that he and Liz have feelings for one another. They are both looking forward to being able to pursue a romantic relationship once the case is solved.
Liz has developed a strong faith in God over the years and she encourages Jake to take up Alison's invitation to go to church with her. It is when Liz is in mortal danger that his childhood faith in the Lord is re-awakened.
The characters are well portrayed and their relationships with one another and with the Lord come through strongly. The importance of family and friends, of forgiveness, kindness and understanding, shows throughout the story.
We see how a diabolically clever killer, with weird anti-government ideas, has his plans thwarted by the very government agencies he is trying to expose! I can highly recommend this book. I have read the next two novels in the GUARDIANS OF JUSTICE series, where Cole's and Alison's stories are told, and can highly recommend them as well.











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