The police say Kaylene Adams was a murderer–but Emilie Wesley will stop at nothing to clear her client’s name and protect the innocent daughter Kaylene left behind. To the world it seems obvious: Kaylene Adams killed her daughter before taking her own life. Attorney Emilie Wesley knows a different story: Kaylene would never hurt anyone and was looking for a way out of a controlling, abusive … controlling, abusive relationship. Her death shakes Emilie’s belief that she can make a difference for women in violent marriages. Self-doubt plagues her as she struggles to continue her work in the wake of the tragedy.
Reid Billings thought he knew his sister–right up until he learned how she died. He discovers a letter from Kaylene begging him to fight for custody of her daughters if anything should happen to her. No attorney in her right mind would support an uncle instead of the father in a custody case, but Kaylene’s letter claims Emilie Wesley will help him.
Thrown together in the race to save Kaylene’s surviving daughter, Emily and Reid pursue the constantly evasive truth. If they can hang on to hope together, can they save a young girl–and find a future for themselves in the process?
“This is the way legal thrillers are meant to be–compelling, intelligent, and deeply satisfying.” –Randy Singer, author of Rule of Law
“A legal thriller that takes on a burning social issue and the role of faith and strength in meeting that challenge. Like all good storytellers, Cara Putman makes you care. She is at the top of her game with Imperfect Justice.” –James Scott Bell, bestselling author of Romeo’s Rules
- Legal romantic suspense with inspirational elements
- Second book in the Hidden Justice series but can be enjoyed as a standalone
- Book length: approximately 92K words
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
more
I loved the struggle to get to the truth.
Christian romantic suspense.
Need a hero? Not to fear — Reid Billings, brother of Emilie’s late client — is steadfast in many things, including belief of his sister’s innocence.
Enjoyed the story. Story line is fairly realistic and I could relate since I am a retired legal aid domestic violence attorney and did the exact kind of work the heroine did.
The ending wrapped up a little too quickly. I would have liked to hear more about Kinley and Reid and the development of their relationship. Also author provided no explanation or follow up information as to why Rhoda lied about her meetings with Kaylene.
It was a good clean read. With several twists, a bit predicatable but good.
Through a tragic situation there is hope and true love can be found.
Imperfect Justice by Cara Putnam is a great mixture of suspense, romance, and a legal thriller to keep a number of unique and different fans happy. She didn’t compose this novel to fit into one tiny little genre. It fits across a number of them. I enjoy stories that feature strong women who are seeking justice for other characters and for themselves.
The writing is clear and concise. I had no problem figuring out what Emilie’s issues were. Putnam does a great job at dragging me into her personal and professional life and allowing me to travel with her as she struggles through her cases. Putnam does a great job at bringing me into the setting. Living in Indiana like Putnam, it was nice to see a familiar sports team like the Colts mentioned.
The romance was sprinkled into the story between Emilie and Reid Billings. It was not overwhelming or take over the story. Emilie and Reid’s romance was slow going, but Putnam allowed them to actually explore their feelings like a real-life couple would. I didn’t gag or flip through the pages while the romance was going on.
The plot with hunting for resolution for Kaylene and her daughters was exciting and kept me flipping the pages. I really enjoyed how Putnam told the story of seeking justice without really smacking upside the head with a resolution that I was told. The characters of Emilie and Reid worked really well together to solve the mystery. I enjoyed spending time with the plot and was fascinated as the story moved along. If I wasn’t so busy, I would have jumped in and finished the story quickly.
Overall, Imperfect Justice is a unique story that mixes well with the romance and the suspense. I wanted to know and hoped that Kaylene would get her deserved justice by the end of the novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Imperfect Justice by Cara Putnam from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
Even more edge of your seat than Beyond Justice. This is a fantastic book that deals with spousal abuse and a stalker, but is so realistic that it hit to close to home for me, as I lived through these circumstances in my past. Ms. Putman deals with these sensitive issues in a caring way that draws you into the story and you can’t put it down. I loved the character of Attorney Emilie Wesley, as her grit and determination to seek the truth while dealing with her own issues is heroic. She is strong & determined, but shows her softer side and compassionate character also. She can be witty, charming, flirty, hard, and non bending all in the same chapter. You will love and respect her as she grows and opens up like a flower thirsty for rain to the attention of Reid. The written words are put together like pieces of a puzzle to give you the full picture. A must read, as it is gripping, intense, page turning, and gives you enough legal jargon to understand without inundating you.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Guild. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. I was not required to give a for a favorable review. It was great to read the second book in this series. To see that Emilie was doing wonderful things for women trying to get out of bad situations brings truth to the topic of what happens. But even Emilie has things she is trying to work out in her own life she is still trying to find out what happened to one of her clients. Thank you Cara for writing a book that makes you think while reading. I look forward to what happens next in the group of women who graduated from law school and are making a difference in the world.
This is one of those stories that kept me up late at night reading it because I just had to know how it ended. I really enjoyed the romance between Reid and Emilie as well as the suspense of them trying to prove that Reid’s sister did not commit the crime everyone thought she did. Throw in a stalker and a little girl in trouble and I was hooked. 4 1/2 stars. Full review at my website.
I received this book complimentary as a participant of the Litfuse Blog Tour. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are my own.
Wow! This is one of those stories that you probably won’t want to start unless you are where you can finish it without putting it down. This is the second book in the Hidden Justice series, but can be read as a stand alone. I do recommend reading the first books in the series not only to get further background on the characters but also because it is a good one also. This author certainly knows how to combine intriguing characters, romance, legal suspense and action and write a story that had me hooked from the first pages. The title of the book certainly captures the them of the story. I certainly will be looking forward to the next book in the series. I was given a copy of the book by the author, but a positive review was not required. The opinions expressed are my own. Toe the reader who enjoys good legal suspense, this is a definitely a book you will want to read.
Cara Putman has woven a tale of heartbreak, courage, and resolve to fight for justice, all with their heart on their sleeves.
This book has a bit of everything, from stalking, controlling, murder, abuse, and then those who want to be there to help those in need. What starts out as just a job of being a lawyer and helping those in horrible situations, ends up being life changing, fighting the all consuming pain and grief and hopeless at not being able to change the past.
The bad part about this book is once you turn the first page you will be hooked, and nothing better get in the way, yes this is an enjoyable, powerful read.
I received this book through the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.
Imperfect Justice by Cara Putnam is the second book in her Hidden Justice series. An attorney, Cara, certainly knows how to craft a legal thriller that will grab the reader from the first page until the very last word.
In Imperfect Justice, attorney Emilie Wesley, whom we met in the first book of the series, is working for a shelter for abused women and their children. Her job is to make sure all legal aspects of assisting a women to leave the abusive relationship, are all properly executed. While their stories haunt her, she is proud to have helped so many women begin lives anew.
There is one client, Kaylene, for whom circumstances seem particularly heinous; shelter staff worked with Kaylene for months before she would agree to begin the process of leaving the relationship. On the day that Emilie was to meet Kaylene at court to appear before a judge to obtain a restraining order against her husband, Kaylene seems to disappear. Distressed, Emilie tries to find Kaylene before her court appointment is over.
She soon learns that Kaylene has been arrested for shooting her husband and her daughters, wounding her husband and one of the daughters, killing the other daughter. Kaylene dies in the shooting.
Emilie knows something isn’t quite right with the video that is being shown on television over and over again, across the entire country. After Kaylene’s brother contacts her, they begin their own investigation of what really happened, except someone doesn’t want them to find out.
Will they find out before the wounded daughter is released from the hospital and her father disappears with her forever? Desperate to find the truth, Emilie pursues the truth, even when her job at the center becomes tenuous.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Cara Putman writes another suspenseful legal thriller that will keep your attention. In the second book in the series (which could easily be read by itself), Putman continues with wonderful characters. Their friendships, their faith and lessons being learned will draw you into this story. The added romance is a nice touch too. The storyline contains domestic abuse and I appreciate how the author handled the subject matter carefully and with a solid knowledge base. For those in difficult relationships, encouragement can be found. The novel is certainly worthy of book club discussions. I can’t wait for the next book. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
Imperfect Justice by Cara Putman is another legal thriller with a twist of psychological suspense which will keep you turning the pages. Emilie Wesley is an attorney who works for Haven, a nonprofit organization which helps women and children break free from their abusive homes. She has a stalker, someone has been watching her, but she can never see the face. Is she working too many hours and the stress making her fearful?
Emilie is worried because her client Kaylene Adams has missed her appearance at court to file for a protective order against her husband. Later Emilie receives a call that Kaylene and one of her daughters is dead. It appeared that Kaylene had shot her two daughters and then killed herself. There is a short phone video which caught a few seconds of Kaydence Marie falling across the steps and Kaylene falling in the yard with a gun in her hand. The youngest daughter Kinley survived but is in a coma. It is hoped she can tell the police what happened in that home when she regains consciousness. The ME, detectives and police have agreed Kaylene was the shooter. Emilie just cannot believe this scenario. Emilie decides to contact Kaylene’s brother and let him know of her suspicions. Reid Billings had not been as close with his sister and her family in recent months. He did not think Kaylene was capable of the actions which had been splashed in the headlines and on the news. He prays that God will help him understand what has happened.
I won’t post spoilers, but the story progresses and the suspense grows. There is tension at Emilie’s office, her stalker is always watching, and Reid finds a box of things Kaylene had left at his home two months before her death. There is a card with instructions for Reid if he should be the one opening the box.
This is a very good thriller with characters you love and some you won’t. I appreciate the faith based fiction that is so well written!
This book started out good but I quickly lost my interest. It just wasn’t good after awhile. I couldntveven finish it