A recent trend in the book publishing industry has been celebrities teaming up with renowned writers. Last year, we had the unexpected pairing of Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon, as well as Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan. This year, Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis and the world’s #1 bestselling author, James Patterson, have joined forces.

Perhaps it was Davis’ time on her Emmy-winning series, “How to Get Away with Murder,” that gave her the bug to write her own work of crime fiction. The result is the stunning new novel JUDGE STONE. The Patterson framework is in full effect here --- short chapters ending in high-octane cliffhangers that keep the narrative hurtling forward like a runaway train threatening to fly off the tracks straight through to the finale.

"If I closed my eyes and just listened to JUDGE STONE, I would have sworn that John Grisham wrote it. It features the same level of legal intrigue, not to mention the southern setting, that his readers know so well."

The controversial incident that drives this story occurs at the very start of the book. In Union Springs, Alabama, Dr. Bria Gaines is visited in her office by a school nurse and 13-year-old Nova Jones, who wants to get an abortion. The specifics behind the pregnancy are not yet revealed, as Nova appears terrified of her mother finding out the truth. They collectively make the decision not to involve the police as Alabama law is specific and quite harsh regarding abortion.

Next we are introduced to Judge Mary Stone, a Black woman who presides over her courtroom in Union Springs while also running her family homestead and farm with her sisters. It’s not long before the events from the beginning of the novel will be exposed and lead to the trial that will change the lives of everyone involved, as well as this small town. Gaines is arrested on charges of a Class A felony for performing an abortion. The case, which will end up in front of the judge, bears no middle ground and surely will fire up the citizens of Union Springs.

The Governor of Alabama and the DA attempt to persuade Judge Stone to step away and allow a larger court to oversee the trial, but she refuses. Meanwhile, Gaines is approached by a defense attorney from Georgia who convinces her to allow him to defend her. The prosecution is a team handpicked by the DA, a formidable duo who the judge knows will hold nothing back to ensure a win.

As preparation for the trial commences, the hotbed of reaction from the public is more than Judge Stone initially anticipated. Riots and protests are just the tip of the iceberg in a case that also produces the murder of a key witness, as well as the firebombing of the judge’s home and farm. At both locations, the letter K is left behind, possibly to reference the long-standing KKK that still looms over the southern US.

The case itself is full of intensity and surprises, with the question of who impregnated Nova still not fully realized. Judge Stone vows to see the trial to its end, despite the adversity she has faced. She refuses to buckle to the ways of the law and intends to find justice for all involved.

If I closed my eyes and just listened to JUDGE STONE, I would have sworn that John Grisham wrote it. It features the same level of legal intrigue, not to mention the southern setting, that his readers know so well. That the story came from the imaginations of Viola Davis and James Patterson is a triumph and shows that this unlikely duo struck gold with their impressive collaboration.