Reviews

The Judge Hunter by Christopher Buckley

micahsmith26's review against another edition

5.0

Christopher Buckley is so good at weaving together brilliantly funny satire and genuine heart. With “The Judge Hunter,” he manages to do it while also tying it to truly captivating true events (along with plenty of fictional ones, of course). It’s a great blend of American history, comedy and thrilling adventure, held together by characters that you truly grow to love. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

showell's review against another edition

2.0

I loved a lot of things about this book. The story was light-hearted and fun (despite the grisly deaths of a few characters), and the writing reminded me at time of Wodehouse. I was fully prepared to give this book four stars, until...

Near the end Buckley slips into the head of Repent, a Native American character converted to Christianity by one of the colonists. We're only there for a couple of pages. The first few paragraphs are ok, but then the writing changes. It recaps the story to date from Repent's perspective in a very simple style that to me reads as if Buckley is trying to make us think that Regent is an idiot. And I am just not in the mood for that sort of stereotyping. Worse, those pages--the only ones we spent in Regent's head--weren't even needed. They gave us no new information. Buckley could have skipped those pages entirely, and the story would have been just fine.

hoboken's review against another edition

4.0

Comic historical fiction. Christopher Buckley doesn't miss. Old New Amsterdam as it became New York--a time I certainly know little about.--native New Yorker that I am. And set largely in the area of southern CT where Buckley grew up. Imaginative, lively, funny, well researched. Part of Buckley's project to write a book each set in the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The Relic Master was the first, which I will now read while I'm waiting for the rest.

mommamia's review

adventurous funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

dogtrax's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this historic yarn by Buckley, who infuses a story based on facts with his usual humor. Also, for me, the setting of New England (and Southern Connecticut, where I grew up and remember Judge's Cave on West Rock) made is even more interesting.

skybalon's review against another edition

4.0

Second in a series of fun historical novels, this one dealing peripherally with the beginning of the American in the 17th century. Sure the language used at times is anachronistic, but it is all part of the fun ultimately. Worth the read.

rojo25's review against another edition

2.0

Didn’t care for it. Certainly didn’t find it humorous. I thought it was silly nonsense. I did enjoy the description of colonial America. The New Amsterdam to New York transition was interesting stuff. But, the rest jdid nothing for me.

ap1rela's review

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

ingypingy2000's review against another edition

4.0

Dry humor and it took me forever to get into this book, but I actually ended up enjoying it quite a bit!

blueshadow80's review

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Minor: Sexual assault