Beyond Justice Paperback – April 27, 2010

This book had a great plot and characters. The one problem was the wrong wording, typos and even wrong character names that spelling and grammar check would have caught. I can't stand reading something published with such simple mistakes. I could edit it better.

Every page caught my attention. Though I did not lose my children I did lose my wife quite suddenly. She was not murdered, but was on a ventilator for 5 days and every day I prayed Lord give me another tomorrow. I liked how you weaved sin, forgiveness and death that challenged your character's belief in salvation through Jesus' death on the cross. I liked the way you used scriptures to point to Jesus and challenge me in my what I believe about what the bible says about forgiveness and how hard it is to walk my talk-belief!

This is an edited review. When I first read this book, I was under the impression that it was a new author writing self-published Christian thrillers. For that, I was willing to overlook the problems in the book and focus primarily on the good points. However, having seen how the book is being sold in the market place, as well as other issues, I have changed my view and am writing this review instead:First, let me say that this book attempts to do two things that I appreciate in Christian literature. First, it attempts to covey the gospel. I appreciate that. Second, it attempts to step outside the cookie cutter, life is wonderful mold most contemporary Christian fiction fits into. Granted, if the author is trying for gritty realism, he is no match for Flannery O'Connor, but for current Christian fiction, he is trying. I'll give him that.Now the problems.The MarketingIn all fairness, how a book is sold should not be part of its review, except for in this case, marketing is what Joshua Graham is all about. His "best selling" status is based on the marketing and marketing alone. Thus, it is fair game. It is hard to believe that Joshua Graham is not expecting his book to look like a John Grisham book. The name, the typeface, the cover graphics, etc. All of it mimics John Grisham books. His newest release is being co authored by a "Jack Patterson." One only needs to scan the 1-star reviews to see how well this ploy has worked.Also, every negative review of this book is immediately marked with a "not helpful" tag. Yes, some keyboard warrior working on behalf of Mr. Graham is making sure that the people who have been mislead, or have serious issues with the book are seen as less helpful. At present, my original review had 3 out of 3 helpful votes. Watch and see what happens.There was a time when Christian artists of all varieties used their art to the glory of God. Painters created masterpieces. Poets wrote epics that have survived the ages. Musicians wrote hymns that people have worshiped with for centuries. To write a Christian novel and apply such cheap marketing tactics is a long way from the glory of God.The StoryNow, let me address the story. There is the basis for a decent story here. A man is wrongly accused of a crime he did not commit. He must fight to be exonerated and at the same time finds redemption and peace in his soul. That is the makings of a find story. It has been done over and over again, but only because it is a great story. So, what does Mr. Graham bring to it? Nothing new. Only plot holes, incredibly stupid villains, and lazy acts of God turning points make this story. Top that off with some horrible research about prisons and the legal system and a complete lack of proofreading and you have a book.I said before that I appreciate that Mr. Graham has attempted to step outside of the box and be a bit more gritty. That does not mean using colorful language. That is cheap. A realistic portrayal of the struggles of the character would do so much more that the occasional "B****" or "D***."The TheologyThe theology of this book is weak. I am a Christian. I am a pastor. I believe in miracles. I believe in the miracles of the Bible and I believe in the miracles that I have seen the Lord do in my own life. That being said, the miracles depicted in this book do not serve to show God working in the life of its main character. They are bizarre, even compared to the miracles of the Bible. For example, one case is a Bible that glows and scares a guard. Where is such a miracle recorded in scripture? I wish that Christian authors could portray God working without resulting to these devices. After all, do Christian not believe that the Holy Spirit works all the time. Do Christians not believe that God is working all things to His glory? Where are the subtle, still small voices? If Christian authors would portray those things, they would do far more in sharing the Gospel than they do now. Show us redemption. Show us peace! Show us how this works even in struggle!I long for the days when Christians are represented in literaute once again by the likes of Tolkien, Lewis, and O'Connor (to name a few). But Graham? No thanks.

I've never written a book review before due to one simple reason, I've never felt enough compulsion to do so. I read approx 30-35 novels per year and although many of them are very excellent, this novel by Joshua Graham completely took me to levels and areas that I never expected any book to do. Maybe it's because the story wasn't what I expected but more than likely I'd have to say that the story is so brilliantly written and laid out that the number of surprises, twists and turns, etc. was a huge welcome to me, especially when i feel that i am fairly good at figuring out how and where a author is trying to take his readers.Not only did this book surprise me over and over again as well as being a top notch "mystery" book but there was another aspect that I hesitate to mention much detail about as I don't want to ruin it for anyone reading this review. Instead of going into details I'll simply put it this way...MORE-SO then ANY OTHER BOOK I'VE EVER READ, this book caused me to look at many things that I hold important to be looked at it in a much BETTER light. I is my OPINION that anyone that reads this book will be a much better/happier person for doing so. This story and author affected me in such a positive way, (please keep in mind that i was a very happy person prior to reading this book), that my previous happiness seems to pale in comparison to how this story stirred something within me that i thought had simply disappeared as I've aged, for the record I am in my mid-forties. I don't expect everyone to have the same reaction to this book that I had as we each have our backgrounds, strengths & weaknesses which I believe all play a role in how each of us reacts to things, (especially something as varied as someone's OPINIONS), however, if any reader even gets or feels a hint of what I felt after reading this book then they will know exactly what I'm speaking about.I have not read any of Joshua Graham's other works but intend to do so very soon solely due to how much I enjoyed, BEYOND JUSTICE.My only concern is that i cannot imagine that any other book will cause a "stir" in me the way BEYOND JUSTICE has, but thats a risk definitely worth taking. After all, regardless of whether his other works are as good as BEYOND JUSTICE, I'll still always have BEYOND JUSTICE as my new measuring stick for all others to try to measure up to. Thank you, Joshua Graham, for authoring such a wonderful, inspirational, work of art that will forever be considered one of, if not THE best book I've ever read.

Managed to plough through this book very quickly, but although it is good paced book with a fast moving story it does lack a bit of character depth and in my experience that leads the reader to not care too much for the characters and this was true for this. Although Hudson goes through a lot i didn't actually feel sorry for him much.It is a decent action packed and drama filled story but it is quite mainstream and i could imagine it being a 'straight to dvd' type movie.I genuinely liked the book, but feel the story could've been enhanced. If it had more Brit Grit it would have been so much better.The only other aspect i disliked is it is quite religious-y, particularly towards the end and i felt it made the story a bit more unbelievable as it associates almost everything to Gods words and the characters perceptions of this, all for good. If these parts of the story had a darker, gritter edge it would've made a better story and enhanced the psycho madness. As it was, it was all a bit too nice considering what actually happens is disturbing and shocking.Worth a try but don't expect too much.

An excellent and very moving read. What can I say, definitely a. Book for our time. I recommend whole heartedly that every one should read this book, it can only make you a better version of yourself.

Not very good - drifts from being charged with a terrible crime to a religious re-awakening with all sorts of goings on in between. I read it - doggedly going from one confusing happening to another, finding characters in it either unbelievably good or unbelievably bad, and finished it wondering if it was the worst book I'd ever read. I think it may be. Nonetheless it's confusing, peculiar and rambling. I couldn't recommend it.

How anyone could compare this to Grisham I don't know. The premise is interesting but the writing is dreadful. The lead character is irritating and spouts unconvincing, clunky dialogue.There is some poor editing which makes the story nonsensical, at one point the prison guard brings in a newspaper story Sam may be interested in but on the next page it is Rachel who has brought it in. His son goes from having auburn hair to cornsilk with no mention of a hairdresser.Altogether a very unsatisfactory book, unfortunately for me I have to read to the very last page once I've started so my advice is don't bother to start!

This is a difficult book to try to classify but I suppose the best way I could describe it is rather than a legal-thriller it comes across as a god-thriller. The main character is afraid that people will proselytise to him yet that seems to be what the book does to the reader. The story and characters are so influenced by the "God" element that the entire book comes across as a sermon rather than a novel. The mystery aspect of any good thriller is the thing which drives the reader to keep turning the pages but in this case it's almost morbid fascination that achieves this, wondering what miracle the author will include next to pad out the ineffectual plot and skeletal characterisation. If it is a legal thriller you are looking for then this is not the book for you. The legal side of the book is very lightweight and unbelievable but if you wish to be preached to about God and his mysterious ways then I would recommend it.