A PSYCHOPATH’S BACK ON THE STREETS—AND HE’S OUT FOR REVENGE… a series of violent criminal cases are overturned—and some of the Twin Cities’ nastiest chickens come home to roost.
We promise: you’ll need to read this one to the end.
Thirteen years ago, Jimmy “Little” Oliver was an accomplished (although diminutive) career burglar. He was no character out of Ocean’s Eleven, but he was reliable. And he knew how to case a joint. His partner was Howie “Big” Traynor, a bit younger than his cohort, and far more ruthless. Truth be told, Howie was a sociopath—and he scared the hell out of everyone, Jimmy included.
So when a home robbery-gone-wrong ended up in murder, Jimmy didn’t think twice before turning his partner in. And rising-star criminal lawyer Marc Kadella was saddled with Howie’s defense.
Marc was torn about his work for Howie—his first homicide case—but even he was relieved when Howie was put away for forty years… Until, a decade later, his case is re-opened. Seems the former tech in the BCA lab was falsifying DNA evidence to collude with cops in putting away suspected violent criminals. And now not only Howie, but a handful of wrongfully-accused felons, are back out on the streets.
Marc and his longtime buddy PI Tony Caravelli don’t buy Howie’s come-to-Jesus act. And when an appeals judge with ties to the overturned cases winds up crucified in his own front yard, they’re convinced a dangerous killer has been wrongfully exonerated.
Carsten’s wry dialogue and gritty realism shine here as Marc and his old friends in the police force band together to solve a series of brutal murders at the hands of a psychotic vigilante who isn’t slowing down. This is a unique kind of killer: one who knows the police force and takes a terrifying amount of pleasure in keeping them on their toes. One by one, lawyers and judges connected to the exonerated criminals turn up dead. And Marc’s pretty sure he’s next.
A heart-racing legal thriller reminiscent of iconic hard-boiled puzzlers by John Grisham, Richard North Patterson, and Erle Stanley Gardner. This one will keep you guessing all the way to its gripping conclusion…and shaking in your shoes.
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Took awhile to figure out witch person did it! Was a great to read!
was kept intrigued until the very end
I found this a difficult book to critique. We find out about Marc’s very first case, which he loses, and his client is sent to prison. Twelve years later, we find out that this scary person has been released because the DNA evidence had been falsified and the sample was destroyed. Then a new serial killer shows up and starts operating. All of the characters we have grown to expect show up in this book. The author uses the crime spree to deepen their character development and does a nice job of it. The changes of point of view are managed very well with none of the confusion that can sometime bedevil readers trying to keep track of where they are in the story. The word portrait of the serial killer is chilling and the grand finale of the book, in the killer’s point of view, is especially chilled. I can’t say this was an enjoyable book, but I am certainly glad I read it.
3 Star
Certain Justice is the fourth book in the Marc Kadella Legal Mysteries Series by Dennis Carstens. It is a legal mystery, with murder, psychopath, court procedure, drama, intrigue, interesting characters, and some suspense.
A convicted psychopath who had been sentenced to 40 years in jail has his case reopened and is later released when the DNA evidence is overturned. Four other prisoners are also released due to the DNA slipup. But things get intense when judges, jury members and law enforcement officers are being targeted by a serial killer. Has Marc got a target on his back? Read the story to find out.
Love this series
This was just a great book. I don’t care to share too much info like some do as they almost give the story away.
Just suffice it to say read it for yourself.
You won;t be disappointed
Wonderful author!
I love these Kadella novels and the twists and turns. I will read all of them now as they are such great entertainment.
Great book series
Keeps the reader in suspense to the end! A great read.
This series is very good, the characters are fairly well developed, and there’s always a big surprise, sometimes even shocking, in what happens in the course of the story. My only complaint is that this author was not well served by whoever (if anyone) helped him with editing. I’d love to offer to edit all his books for him because I think they’re good books and could be better for the reader!
This was a very fast moving and action filled book but it gave me nightmares.
Well paced but a little predictable. Good ending idea spoiled a little by an attempt at irony
I would not read again.
Ok
Keeps you guessing if innocent or truly a danger to society. Serial killer thriller at its best……
Very interesting and good book.
Excellent read.
I really like this author. I actually fell in love with the main character. I can’t wait to read the rest of his books.
Very easy read. Enjoyed the characters.
Excellent series