In this fast-paced, sexually charged thriller, a newly appointed judge is caught up in a gritty case involving a brutally murdered woman as well as a blackmail scheme involving an overzealous femme fatale determined to sleep her way to the top of Detroit's society page.

Detroit was once considered the murder capital of the nation, and as fresh-tothe-bench Judge Mathis discovers, it may be living up to its name. In one of the city's most horrific crimes ever, a young single parent has been discovered decapitated in an alleyway, with her head located several blocks away. The police are stumped until the arrest of a drug dealer promises to reveal vital information about the case. The only problem? The drug dealer won't talk to anyone but Judge Mathis.

The dealer demands privileges and assurances of safety from Mathis, who refuses to bend his moral code and give in to the conditions, setting the investigation back to square one. But Mathis isn't about to give up and finds himself unable to stop thinking about the case. So he sets out on the streets, using his savvy and connections to uncover the motives and means that led to the woman's death. Crossing paths with people from his past who have decided to benefit from criminal activity, Mathis stands up for the innocents who cannot defend themselves. From establishing a drug rehabilitation center to helping the youth through a mentoring program, Mathis is much more than a judge, for he once walked on the wrong side of the law as well.

Drugs and murder are not the only issues that Judge Mathis must contend with. An overambitious assistant district attorney has decided to use her feminine wiles to sleep her way to the top with several of the most powerful men in Detroit. Using sex as a weapon and blackmail as the ultimate threat, she has caught them all up in a web of deception and Judge Mathis must help his close friends to salvage their lives before her game becomes deadly.

Customer Rating:
Summary: not what it seems
Comment: I was excited about this book. I love the judge's show so I thought the book would be a good read. I tried several times to read it but kept putting it down. I tried to skim parts (about his life) and read the essence of the book. That didn't work. I just had to stop reading it. It was a disappointment.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Your Past is Always A Part Of Your Life
Comment: Amazon Rating: 3.5

After being sworn in as the youngest Judge on the bench in Detroit, Judge Greg Mathis, in Street Judge, sets out to make a change in the city where he grew up. Known as the Murder Capital, Detroit has become a violent place to live. On his first day on the bench, the police ask Judge Mathis to speak with high profile drug dealer, who also happens to be an acquaintance from his past. The information that he gives Judge Mathis could solve the murder of a young woman but there are complications and political cover-ups involved. Judge Mathis sets out in his own unique style to find the truth without jeopardizing his moral code to himself and the oath that he has taken.

Street Judge was a very interesting story to read. Written in first person, the reader gets the impression that he/she is actually having a conversation with Judge Mathis instead of reading a book. Since I was given a review copy of the book, I assumed that this was a book of fiction but it is not. Street Judge is indeed a true story of Judge Mathis' life and a story of murder, mystery and political crimes and cover-ups. He also introduces readers to his non-profit organization, Young Adults Asserting Themselves and Sheila's House, which help addicts that are seeking help. The ending of the memoir/autobiography was a bit rushed and put a damper on the conclusion for this reader. All in all, fans of Judge Mathis will like this story

Reviewed by: Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub

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