Stunning in its intensity, ‘Beyond Justice’ delivers breathtaking suspense, characters who know they need the Lord, and a bit of romance. The author, an excellent writer, takes a significant, current topic of which people have impassioned views and makes it real to the reader. To me, it will be one of the best Christian suspense novels released in 2017.

Hayden is a young attorney who won an unwinnable case. Her boss now assigns her a case that would change her life and the lives of her best friend, Emilie and Emilie’s cousin Andrew. A young man, Miguel, died at a juvenile facility for those under 18 who are caught crossing the border illegally. His mother came to Texas legally; they were suing for Miguel’s wrongful death.

Hayden’s firm denies her to going Texas for a deposition with the facility’s director. Miguel’s mom wants justice, but his father, who is footing the bill, won’t authorize expenses. There is no documentation of Miguel’s death; all Hayden has is a picture of the murdered boy and a copy of his death certificate. Her firm begins to fire people without reason, one dies mysteriously. Emilie helps research the case through her journalistic contacts. Hayden and Andrew find their mutual interest when Hayden sees that Miguel’s brother is part of a group at New Beginnings, where Andrew helps teens acclimate to their new country.

Hayden is amazing; I like her and Emilie, both complex ladies, the best, then Andrew. They are each open to the Lord’s leading. Andrew is the son of Congressman Scott Wesley who might be up for a vacant senate seat. One thing I could visualize through the author’s writing is Hayden’s sense of wonder when she and Andrew go to the festival of the cherry blossoms.

Two favorite things are how the main characters pray and how their faith is a priority. When one disappears, that one trusts God for rescue, and the others pray and seek the missing one. Another thing I like is how each of the three have their eyes and hearts opened as a result of the case and working with each other, and how the author’s descriptions demonstrate underlying themes.

‘Beyond Justice’ is intriguing, rife with spine-tingling tension that sometimes borders on panic. Plot twists stun the reader with what is revealed and what is still enshrouded. I enjoyed seeing Hayden’s mind work in determining the best legal routes to use while seeing the real people she serves. She knows she can make a difference with this case by getting justice for the boy. A pivotal question, further opening my eyes, was when a guard at the juvenile facility asked Hayden if her concern is about all the boys in the facility, or only about the one who died. He reminds her that the ones who are alive are the ones who need help. Hayden gets it.

What surprises me most are the many facets of the crimes and the many people involved. We are introduced to the person who murdered Miguel and why, and his continued search for a missing item. He grieves the killing, yet is scared of ‘el jefe’. The end is incredibly satisfying, with no loose ends. This reader is looking forward to the author’s next in series! I highly, highly recommend ‘Beyond Justice’ to those who appreciate novels including Christian values, suspense, and ideas that open the reader’s mind about their stand on various hot topics.

From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

A Young Man Dies in an Immigration Retention Center

Hayden McCarthy is a young attorney on her way to making partner. When she’s assigned a wrongful death case against the US government, she wonders whether this will assure her route to partnership or be a roadblock.

The case involves a young man killed in a detention center in Texas. His mother and younger brother crossed into the US legally. Hayden wonders why the older brother was forced to take the illegal immigration route. The mother brings the case wanting to know what happened to her son.

The case exposes divisions within the law firm that frighten Hayden as it becomes apparent that someone wants this case to disappear. Hayden’s life is complicated when she meets her cousin’s roommate. Andrew is attractive, and they’re drawn to each other, but Andrew’s father is a famous congressman, and Hayden doesn’t feel she fits in.

This is a romantic suspense novel, but unlike so many this one spends most of the time unraveling the mystery instead of examining the love life of the main characters. There are no steamy bedroom scenes and the whole novel has a thread of faith running through the characters thoughts and actions.

I recommend this novel if you enjoy a well-written mystery with plenty of suspense. It’s not particularly hard to guess what the underlying problems are, but the pace is fast, the characters interesting, and there are enough twists to keep the story interesting.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Well developed legal drama! I will have to check out more from Putman!

Hayden is known for winning unwinnable cases. She takes pride in everything she does and has not problem fighting through the hardest to get to the truth. When she is handed a case she feels like something is missing and everyone seems to be hiding something. Will she be able to get to the end of it and get her client the justices she deserves. Andrew has a lot going on in his life his dad his is ties to politics and the secret he's keeping from his parents and well the world. But when he gets his cousins help to bring awareness to a cause close to his heart but he has caught the eye of her roommate and the both seem to be working to a goal yet neither seems to be able to get to the bottom of it. Can the come together and help the other or will it be better to keep things the way they are?
I really liked how the book started off it draws you in and you want to know whats going to happen next. However it seems the story was all over the places sometime and left me super confused on why the back and forth and I had a hard time following the storyline sometimes. It would have a really big high(something happening) and then it would have a low(lots of explaining that seems to be a little to much). I did like that toward the half end of the book it picked up and stayed steady throughout and you found yourself sucked back in wanting to know what the author was going to through in next. It overall was a good book but patience is a must.

Thoughts:

In BEYOND JUSTICE by Cara C. Putman, we are into legal suspense with a ferocious kick where time is of the essence!

Legal cases could be a matter of life and death, and when a win means justice, it belongs to Hayden McCarthy.

We are tackling a wrongful death case with a DC up-and-coming attorney whose reputation is both revered and misunderstood. Hayden is coming in with a celebration glow from her win of the not winnable case, and the law partners have their eye on her.

It could be because she is on the road to becoming the youngest partner at this high-powered law firm or it could something far worse.

When Hayden McCarthy, Esquire is handed another case with an impatient air, a thin guise, and an even skinnier file, she’s not sure where she stands as her boss and mentor’s hard-driving attitude seems much different than usual. He’s taking a chance on her to get this case moving, and he lets her know her future could be in jeopardy with a loss.

High pressure is something Hayden is sure able to handle, but this file causes her to question what she has gotten into, as things just do not add up.

A client doesn’t return calls, paper or digitized copies become sparse, and meetings become one-sided conversations, but a picture develops to have Hayden wanting justice.

However, it may be her own firm that wants this case to die.

The questions are only deepening as the stress is getting unbearable, and the Federal Government has their own way to get out of facing justice.

Romance is the last thing Hayden has on her mind, but her friend will see her situation much differently. Her roommate’s cousin and a Congressman’s son should not be seen anywhere near Hayden. Andrew’s face is plastered all over as the DC most eligible bachelor, but her face could get a feature on the DC list of most wanted. Should this case against the government come to only half of what she believes it warrants, she may face their justice for exposing it all.

However, Andrew may be in the same danger that she is facing, and a child is sitting in the middle of all of this mess.

Will Andrew cut his ties and be like the Washington élite, or will he have the heart she believes that he does? In the meantime, can they stay safe long enough for her to figure how deep a murderous cover-up will go?

A story that could be out in today’s headlines becomes suspense-fueled once immigration meets our borders in a different tale than most could ever predict!

***This opinion is my own.***

Preview:

BEYOND JUSTICE by Cara C. Putman places Hayden McCarthy, Esquire in sight as the youngest possible partner in a storied D.C. powerful law firm.

Hayden’s background gives a need for justice, and she takes it on every case. After winning another, she is back to reality as soon as she’s assigned a wrongful death case.

However, this case is coming from a different angle and from a different position as that of those she worked already.

One partner believes in her, but his demeanor seems to say otherwise.

This partner is saying one thing and doing another as Hayden is feeling a pull into the wrong end of this fight. She comes closer to the door of the law firm than to a partnership position when her personal life seems to connect to a file in her hand.

Romance is not in her future, but this relationship is tangible enough to come into an intersection of law and justice and Washington politics. What do one kid, one Congressman, and one friend’s relation have in common? The Federal Government, Washington influences, and one family connects in the scariest of ways.

Problems become greater while Hayden’s fear increases and affiliations become even more dangerous!

Is justice beyond reach or could justice mean she’s going down just to keep politics in the clear? Will anyone help keep her out of the deep-rooted crosshairs?

If she closes this case or suddenly disappears, who will protect the next victim?

Ms. Putman pens a gripping legal suspense novel in her new series. Can't wait for more!

Particularly good for readers who enjoy legal novels. The characters are enjoyable, light on the romance, heavy on legal jargon.

Beyond Justice by Cara Putman is a suspense thriller that deals with legal issues and current events. It is a book I could not wait to read!

This book started off well for me and captured my attention. The intense scene drew me into the story and the mystery piqued my interest.

One of the interesting aspects of this story was the immigration theme. Since immigration is a hot discussion topic right now, it made the story more relatable.

The governmental aspects of this book were also interesting, as Hayden tries to take on the government, yet is drawn to Andrew, whose father is a Congressman.

While there were a number of twists and turns in this book that made for an adventurous read, I did find myself losing interest in the story at times. With all of the different elements in this book my struggle to stay engaged through the whole story surprised me. Overall this was a good book and I’ll probably read the next book in the series.

I love a good mystery especially when it comes to drama, police, and legal arenas. This one hit the mark many of those topics and I was anxious to dive into it.

This is the first book I read by Cara Putman. One of the things I loved about this book is that there’s not a lot of courtroom drama or legalese going on. It’s more focused on the activity surrounding the case of the murdered minor.

This ties in many different aspects from the legal office to Hayden’s roommates cousin, Andrew. Including a lovely attraction factor and some personal life too. There is a strong Christian message throughout the story that is a pleasant addition to lessen the crime aspect.

The author kept the book interesting and moving quickly with many twists and turns coming in from multiple aspects of the case. You were kept on your toes and the blending in of Andrew’s issues and belief in the goodness of people was a strong portion of this story.

Towards the end I had an inkling of the person who may be responsible in this case. The author added in a lot of factors that kept the interest high and kept the reader captivated throughout. What I thought was going to happen was only a small portion of the ending.

The author takes on a touchy subject with grace and weaves a intriguing story that is captivating. I did not put this one down until I was finished!

With lots of suspense and a great plot, the author delivers a solid and engrossing read that is worthy of your time. This is an author I will look for and read again.

Cara Putman has made a modern day problems in Beyond Justice a ripped from the headlines best seller!
Living in today's world with Mexican drug cartels constantly in the news, this storyline is one of today's biggest problem.
Putman brings you into all sides of the story, a 360 in how it effects everyone around them.
This is a terrific story, told like a master!

Hayden McCarthy is in line to become the youngest partner in a prestigious D.C. law firm. She is assigned a wrongful death case against the government. As she tries to solve the mystery of why a young boy was killed while in custody, things begin to heat up. Even though Hayden is fired by a partner in her law firm, she refuses to give up. She continues to help the family until the justice is won! Good legal thriller!

I always enjoy learning something new in a book, though in this case, it was how little I actually know and understand about lawyers. I definitely didn't understand all the terms for parts of the legal process, but it didn't really dampen my enjoyment of the novel; it was clear when things were going well for Hayden and when they weren't. When she was pushing for a particular meeting, I rooted for her, and when she was being stonewalled, I felt her frustration. So even if you don't understand legalese, it's a good story.

I liked how the author brings social justice to the forefront, raising awareness about illegal immigration, but in aspects of it that I've never thought of before--namely, the juveniles who cross the border and get caught. What happens to kids who are caught? How are they treated? How are they reconnected with their families? Do the children receive justice? Though many of these questions aren't answered, it's a big step that they are even being asked.

The prequel novella didn't thrill me, but the author nailed this book. The suspense, investigative work, and various threats to both Hayden and Andrew, as well as friendships and romance, are all woven skillfully together in a story that's hard to put down. This perfectly fit the bill of the legal thriller I was looking for.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free e-book. No review, positive or otherwise, was required, and all opinions are my own.

I've only read one other book by Cara Putman -Shadowed by Grace, a WW II novel - prior to reading this book so it took me a chapter or two to get myself reoriented. Granted, I knew this book was a contemporary suspense but some of the technical legalese confused me, since I know nothing about the law. That being said, now that I've finished the book, the skill and talent Putman possesses to write a thoroughly convincing historical novel and a thoroughly convincing, slightly legal suspense novel astounds me.

This is a well-written, cleverly constructed novel full of twists and turns in the plot, a good dose of romance, and a message for social justice.

Andrew is a likable hero, a congressman's son who's never rocked the boat but wants to make a difference in the world. Hayden is an associate attorney caught in a bigger-than-life case who desires for justice for those wronged.

The book is a fast read; you won't be able to put it down once you start it.

I was given a digital advance reader copy of the book by NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to give a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC of "Beyond Justice" by Cara C. Putman for my honest review.
The genres of this book are Mystery, Thrillers and Fiction. There is a touch of romance as well.
I like the way that Cara C. Putman describes the detention process for juvenile immigrants in the United States.
Although this book is fiction, it makes me wonder how what does go on in juvenile detention centers, especially with immigration being a current topic.
Hayden McCarthy is an attorney on the road for partnership in an important law firm. The partners assign her a case in which the client is a mother who wants to know why her immigrant son held in a detention center in Texas was murdered. The mother has been sent a picture of her dead son on her cell phone. Jorge, the mother's younger son is with her. Both the mother and Jorge are here with legal documentation. Why did the older son come here as an illegal immigrant?
Hayden meets her roommate's cousin, Andrew who is the son of a famous politician. Andrew is involved in a local center for Immigration youth that provides programs for the children. Helping these children is important to Andrew. Jorge is one of the children who comes to his center.
As Hayden gets more involved with the case, there are threats, people are getting hurt, there are break ins for information, and murders. Much of the evidence has disappeared in the Texas juvenile detention center, where Miguel had been killed.
In this story, there are twists and turns and secrets. There is also adventure and excitement.
I enjoyed this intriguing story and would recommend it!

Hayden McCarthy was a lawyer and associate for the firm Elliott & Johnson in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. She had just won a case that was "unwinable." Because of her win, her Mentor, Gerard, requested that she be assigned to another case that could accelerate her career. The client is Maricel Rodriguez, whose older son had been murdered, while in the government's juvenile care. Marciel and her son Jorge had come to the United States legally. Jorge has seen the individual who he thinks has killed his brother and he is terrified. Too many things start to happen during the time that Hayden is researching the murder of Maricel's son. People are killed and it's treated as an accident. Hayden thinks that Maricel's husband is responsible, but why? Why is everyone who comes in contact with this file either dying or something that affects their future seems to happen. Hayden's roommate, Emilie introduces her to her cousin, Andrew, and there is definitely a connection. Andrew is a Congressman's son, but he chooses not to let people know too much about that. He is a Counselor at New Beginning, which is an organization that helps young boys acclimate to the becoming an American and to learn how to acclimate to our customs. Jorge is one of Andrew's young charges from New Beginnings. What will the future hold? Will Hayden ever find out what is behind Miguel Rodriguez's death? What is Miquel's father, Daniel, trying to hide? Will there be a future for Andrew and Hayden? Will Jorge ever get over being terrified? What will happen to the man who is stalking everyone who is involved with the file of Miquel? I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very realistic. I also enjoyed the plot as well, because I could see this type of corruption and bureaucracy actually taking place within government run agencies. This book kept me reading and turning the pages until early hours of the morning. I was definitely not disappointed and you won't be either.

This book was a wonderful and well written mystery that kept you on the edge of your seat. A young man from Mexico is killed, but why? Filled with memorable characters and a good solid mystery this book is a great read. I was surprised at who all was involved in the killing.
This was a great mystery and I cannot wait to read more books by this author.

This is a really enjoyable thriller. Main characters are developed nicely so you get a real sense of the struggles each one faces. The main character, Hayden, doubts her ability to find the truth throughout the book, and at times she doubts her faith in God.

There are three main storylines in the story. They all interact with each other, giving bits of information to the overall story, but they are running parallel to each other until the collide near the end of the book. Hayden notices that strange things begin happening around the office. Not anything in particular really, just a sense that something isn't right. Hayden tries to carry on with her pursuit of justice, wary of dangers that may trip her up along the way.

Hayden smells a cover-up but she can't seem to gain traction or get anyone to listen to her no matter where she turns. She constantly runs into dead ends and deaf ears. She soon learns that her whole career could be riding on this case, and she scrambles to find a way to save herself and discover the truth. I almost got lost in the details towards the end of the book, but overall the ending was satisfying. I would recommend this book to fans of mysteries and thrillers. I received this as a free ARC from Thomas Nelson on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought it was a very well crafted story. . Characters will stay with you long after the book is finished.
Excellent read

Beyond Justice by Carla Putman is a legal thriller with very little courtroom drama. A little romance in this "Christian Book". Writing was very easy. Perhaps more suited for a YA book? I was given an early copy to review.

A well written legal thriller with a message relevant to our society today. I loved the inside view of immigration, especially illegal immigration and government politics laid out in this story. It is not often that I find myself saying, “Yes, yes!” to a fiction novel, but this one had me wanting people to read it that I know will never think about it with an open mind.

The author is a lawyer, which shows in her writing, but doesn’t take away from the story. The lively tale makes me want to read more of her books! If you like suspense, a fight for justice and human interest, pick this one up. There is a slight romantic thread throughout, but it is not the focus of the story at all.

The publishing date on this book is April 4, 2017 and is available for preorder. “Beyond Justice”