‘Red Verdict’ by James Comey

Published by Head of Zeus,
4 June 2026.
ISBN: 978-1035922710 

Nora Carleton is Deputy United States Attorney for New York Southern District.  During her career she has prosecuted a variety of criminals including dangerous gang leaders and domestic terrorists.  It’s just as well, because in this novel she finds herself working on a perilous case involving ruthless Russian agents who are intent upon stealing U.S. military secrets. 

The story begins as Edgar Perez goes to his favourite restaurant, tucks into his favourite dish, and promptly dies!  When first responders arrive on scene, they find that some other diners are also in a critical condition.  The casualties are taken to hospital where a sharp-eyed medic discovers traces of what might be a nerve agent on the body of the deceased.  She alerts the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and further tests suggest that the victims have been exposed to Novichok, a noxious chemical favoured by Russian assassins.  It then transpires that Perez worked for Grand Central Avionics, a firm making armed drones for the United States Military.  A working theory proposes that Perez has been passing military information to Russian handlers, that he somehow failed them, and that he was killed as a warning to other assets.  

FBI undercover agents are already working to confirm their theory and mop up any more Russian assets and/or handlers they can find.  The problem is that any prosecution they bring forward could get tangled up in counterintelligence red tape.  Meanwhile, the fact remains that a cold-blooded murder has been committed on U.S. soil and a routine criminal investigation will facilitate this in a timely and appropriate manner.  Nora’s boss, U.S. Attorney Carmen Garcia, agrees.  She’s none too pleased that there’s been such a brazen attack on American citizens in her own back yard and authorises Nora and her team to handle the case in the normal way whilst the undercover operation continues.  It will be difficult as well as dangerous. 

The characters in the novel fall into two camps.  The international or home-grown criminals and spies are, with few exceptions, depicted as unpleasant human beings.  Relatable characters include the law-abiding citizens of New York and particularly those who work to uphold the law on the streets and through the courts.  Whilst these folk are not always flawless, they try to do the right thing, and it is pleasant spending time with them.  Nora, appropriately, inspires the most empathy as she juggles motherhood and employment.  She is fully committed to doing her job with energy and integrity and invariably puts others before herself.  Nora’s team are tight and supportive of each other.  They rub shoulders with some terrifying people in tense situations, but carry the burden lightly, professionally and, when appropriate, with humour. 

Red Verdict is the fourth Nora Carelton thriller.  It can be read perfectly well as a stand-alone novel.  The fascinating courtroom drama at the heart of the narrative includes just the right amount of technical detail for the reader to feel they have learned something about America’s judicial system without being overwhelmed.  James Comey’s knowledge is awesome, his research is meticulous, and his storytelling thoroughly engaging.  

A super read and highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Dot Marshall-Gent

James Comey was born in New York City and attended the attended the College of William and Mary and the University of Chicago Law School. He worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York, prosecuting organised crime figures, and worked on terrorism cases as assistant DA in Virginia. He served as the seventh Director of the FBI from 2013 until 9 May 2017, when he was fired by President Donald trump. 

Dot Marshall-Gent worked in the emergency services for twenty years first as a police officer, then as a paramedic and finally as a fire control officer before graduating from King’s College, London as a teacher of English in her mid-forties.  She completed a M.A. in Special and Inclusive Education at the Institute of Education, London and now teaches part-time and writes mainly about educational issues.  Dot sings jazz and country music and plays guitar, banjo and piano as well as being addicted to reading mystery and crime fiction.