Beau, a homicide detective, is on a case which looks like there may be a serial killer in Las Vegas. He meets Austin, an IT for the department, at a bar where Austin has gotten himself in trouble and is sloppy drunk. Beau sees Austin home then contacts him later to make sure he is okay. Austin is with Beau when he has to question a suspect 3 hours away. Austin goes with Beau, and they spend the night up there. An idea comes to Beau while spending time with friends which then causes Austin to get into trouble. Will Beau be able to save Austin? Will he crack the case? I enjoyed this story. It seemed as though it needed a little fleshing out. It seemed short to solve a murder and fall in love. I liked Beau. Austin took a little time for me to warm up to as he was a flake though lovable. Beau and Austin seemed to be a case for opposites attract. I look forward to more in this series.

I have appreciated Bryan Stevenson ever since I saw his TED Talk years ago.

 

This story highlights in stark and human terms how broken our criminal justice system truly is. 

I won a signed paperback of Justice Gone by N Lombardi Jr from Freda’s Voice. Thank you Freda and Nick for the wonderful addition to my book stack.

Amazon / Goodreads

 

MY REVIEW

 

OMG. I was raging and saddened for Joey Felton. Fucking animals…a familiar story that has shared more than one headline in our current events…a man beaten to death by the police…a scape goat. A trial where all the biases and failings of the justice system are exposed. A frightening look at out justice system…the good and the bad.

This was a ride and a half and I did not expect it to be this good or turn out this serious.

 

You know everything HAD to have gone to pot for the ship to end in one body, sure. I was ready for an action/adventure sci-fi romp, and in a way, it is that. What surprised me was how hard it goes into the social issues inherent in colonization, how it explores the notion of identity and how it can be more than one thing, going double for entities that work more like a hive. "I'm at war with myself" is a very psychological statement that seems to be a theme for many characters, and ultimately gets very literal in this sci-fi set up.

 

There is also the constant coming back to the duality system of belief, the idea that fate is as it's tossed, and so you might as well choose your step, one after the other (sounds a lot like Taoist beliefs to me, plus the idea of hitzusen). What I found interesting is how it delves into thoughts and intentions vs actions, and obliquely (or at least, what I took from the whole sample of characters) how in the moment of truth you don't know who will be that will make the selfless choice (because when it comes right down to it, sometimes people don't even realize it was the moment of truth till it passed), but also, that past choices define next ones, but not in the way one would suspect (because sometimes, the feel that you chose wrong might make you very, very set and vigilant to choose differently afterwards)...

 

Aaaand, yeah, I got right down philosophical. I think it was all that loooong interrupted chat between Toren and Anaander Mianaai. It made me go "oh, shit" in so may directions. Very interesting.

 

 

 

If suspense has a sense of humor, Lyn will be sure to find it. Claws of Justice dares to be unique. Cute and cuddly finds a way to be an intriguing puzzle. Sunny Shaw doesn't look for trouble it finds her. From adorable kittens to a surprise mystery and an unwanted admirer, life is idling at complicated for her? It couldn't possibly get any worse. Or have I spoke too soon? Lyn uses two of my love of all things furry and a thirst for a good mystery,, to play mind games with my heart. Claws of Justice proves that danger can masquerade as a cuddly addiction.