This book will grab you and not let go until the final page is turned, and then it will linger long after.
We are given a lot of suspense, a little sweet romance, and a feeling of hope for the survival of children, and yet people are dying.
Our young lawyer, Carolyn Bragg, seems excited to be entering a new job after the death of the judge she had been working for, now she is working at a research lab, one that is offering hope where there seems to be none.
She is now in a relationship with retired football star, Brandon Lancaster, who heart is filled with helping foster children. He is devoting his life to helping them with the hope of finding them new homes, but he has a thing for Carolyn.
When one of the deaths hit close to home with Brandon, you begin to feel that they are both in danger, and in the end you wonder whom will survive, and will the culprit be found? Why? You will quickly be turning the pages for answers!
Another great read, you don’t want to miss!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

What do you get when you mix a legal thriller with a medical thriller and add a bit of romance and subtle Christian overtones? You get a fantastic novel, LETHAL INTENT, by Cara C. Putman that is set in northern Virginia.

Caroline Bragg feels her life is moving forward as she and Brandon Lancaster transition from friendship to courtship. She has also just landed a new job as legal counsel for Praecursoria, a research lab that is on the cutting edge with genetic therapies for leukemia treatments for young children. Brandon operates a group foster home for sibling family groups waiting for adoption. One of those children has leukemia and is a candidate for an experimental trial with Praecursoria. Unfortunately, the laws governing group foster homes have recently changed and he may lose the group home he has worked so hard to build.

The characters came to life for me in this book. They were compelling, had great depth, and faced real-world situations that tugged at the heart strings. Caroline and Brandon’s backstories made them feel real and made their actions and dynamics believable. The stakes were high for so many in this novel that it was definitely a page turner. I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster with the characters, experiencing highs and lows just as they did as events hurtled at them.

The writing style quickly pulled me into the novel and I connected with Caroline and Brandon as well as several other characters. The plot was suspenseful, but also heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and insightful at times. As the two story lines became entangled, it also showed the ethical dilemmas many face in the course of their lives. My only quibbles are that the antagonist was a little too easy to determine and I wish that there had been an epilogue that wrapped up a couple of items more cleanly.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading her Hidden Justice Series as well as her standalone novels. The author’s legal experience and her significant medical research into cutting edge scientific trials and FDA approval processes gave this book an authenticity and depth that many lack. It was also filled with lots of hope, warmth, love, friendship and romance against a backdrop of treachery, crimes, ethical dilemmas, arrogance, secrets and more. If you enjoy suspenseful legal and medical thrillers with a bit of romance, then I recommend that you check out this novel and see if you enjoy it as much as I did.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson—FICTION and Cara C. Putman via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for January 12, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

This was an intriguing legal/medical thriller filled with fascinating details. I don't know if the all the information about about cells is real or made up, but either way, the author, Cara C. Putman, did such an amazing job with fleshing out all the information about them that the science certainly seems real.

Lethal Intent is a slow build with great characterization. I feel like I truly got to know the characters. As Caroline delves deeper and deeper into the secrets behind why a little girl isn't responding to treatment and what her new company's involvement is, I became more and more concerned for her safety.

This is one of those books that will have you guessing whether Caroline's choices are good or bad, and find you holding your breath at times.If you like romance--it's also there.

Lethal Intent takes a look into the inner workings of a lawyer who works for a pharmaceutical company. Cara Putnam, who is a lawyer, also writes from firsthand experience. I do enjoy how she crafts a plot that takes a little bit closer looker at all the details that go into working as a lawyer. It was nice to see Caroline's story. I enjoyed seeing her interact with previous characters and seeing her deal with her day job and handling a growing romance. Lucky for me, the story did not completely center around the romance, which is the way I enjoy stories. I do not mind the romance as long it is not the complete focus. The plot had a lot in common with the hunt for the vaccine for Covid-19. I imagined this is what is really going on behind the pages that the public does not see, but the lawyers are scratching their heads wondering how the vaccine can go through the channels so quickly. Putnam does a wonderful job at keeping my attention. I have enjoyed all her novels and can't wait to see what she crafts next.

I received a complimentary copy of Lethal Intent by Cara Putnam from Thomas Nelson Publishing through Celebrate Lit Tours, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Lethal Intent is a edge of your seat thriller that will have reader needing to read the story and finish it right away because they might worry what will happen to the characters when they close the book.

Cara. C. Putman writing style and character development will pull readers in giving them characters to cheer and fall in love with. Her ability to explain medical information without slowing down the story which is impressive.

The story is fast pace but will keep readers hooked with author ability to tell a story that will pull at readers heart stings.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Cara C. Putman Lethal Intent.

“Lethal Intent” was another great read by Cara Putnam! Even though this is the fourth book of the Hidden Justice, this book could be read alone. I have enjoyed every one of the books in this series. I have enjoyed getting to know all the women in these books. I feel like they are lifelong friends!

This book centered on Caroline and Brandon. Caroline is the legal counsel for a research lab, while Brandon has a foster home. Their two worlds end up colliding, in more than one way. This was one of those books that was hard to put down and stays with you even after finishing.

This book has romance, medical, and suspense in it. I was really amazed at how much medical research Cara Putnam must have done for this book.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good, clean, suspenseful read. In fact, I recommend all of Cara Putnam’s books. I haven’t read any of her books that I haven’t loved! I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Brandon, a former NFL player, has founded a non-profit, Almost Home, where siblings can stay until they can be placed without being separated. Caroline is his girlfriend. She has just taken a new job as the lawyer for a bio-tech firm (Praecursoria) researching cutting edge technology for the treatment of childhood leukemia. Because Brandon has invested heavily in this firm, they cannot discuss what is going on with the company. When Bethany, one of Brandon's kids, has a recurrence of leukemia, the only chance she has is the treatment in Praecursoria's Phase I trials. Things do not go as planned. Scientists and doctors who are questioning the procedure and data of this technology start dying. Bethany is rejecting cells that are supposedly her own. As Caroline starts to look into what's going on, will her life be in danger also.

Cara Putman, has done it again in Lethal Intent. It is the perfect blend of science, mystery, and romance. I was allowed to read this on #NetGalley. It is scheduled for release in January 2021.

Lethal Intent, by Cara Putman is book #4 in the Hidden Justice series. This book can be read as either a stand-alone or part of the series. I would recommend reading the first three books before reading this one as Caroline’s friends make multiple appearances, as does Brandon’s, all of whom we have learned more about in the first three books.
Having read the first three books of the series I had high hopes for this book. It does not disappoint, although I felt that it started a little slower than the previous books. The book starts out with Caroline and Brandon going on a date, making the point that they were ready to take their friendship to something more. The friendship begins in the first book, again, making it a more solid read if you start with the first book. Throughout the book they slowly build their relationship, having some bumps and communication issues that they need to work out.
Caroline’s new job is high-intensity and not all is as it seems to be. She finds herself facing opposition at every turn, which is completely unexpected since Praecursoria hired her to be their legal counsel. When things start to go south it is hard for Caroline to determine who is friend or foe, since she has had so much opposition from the beginning of her job.
Brandon is struggling himself, as he waits to find out what the new regulations will be, he is looking at having to revamp his group home. While this is incredibly stressful, he finds himself struggling in his relationship with Caroline when she realizes that he is an investor in her new job, putting added stress on both of them. Especially since one of Brandon’s foster children is in the trial phase that Caroline is working on.
Both Caroline and Brandon have things from their past that they are dealing with, which adds another level of stress to their story. This story has murder, mystery, a light romance, and engaging characters. The story, once it gets moving, is hard to put down. I am not very knowledgeable of legalese, but this book does a great job of describing what needs to be known, without bogging the reader down in extra details. While it is classified as a “Christian” fiction book, little is mentioned of God or religion. Fans of legal thrillers, mystery and suspense books will enjoy this clean thriller. I would give this 3.5 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review, but was happy to do so. All opinions are entirely my own.

Lethal Intent is very well written. Good plot and character dynamics. Ms. Putmam has delivered a very good book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Readers eyes will be opened to the cutthroat world of medical research in this intense drama. Caroline, a newly hired lawyer at Praecursora tries hard to understand the science in the Phase 1 trial for leukemia while fighting to keep the company on the straight and narrow legal path. Within her first week at the new job, three co-workers working on the same project tragically die and the mystery begins. Who is tampering with the trial? Why? Meanwhile Brandon, Caroline's boyfriend has a fight of his on when new federal regulations threaten the survival of his non-profit, Almost Home which helps keep foster siblings together. A foster child of Brandon's is in the leukima trial. Will the treatment work? Will his non-profit survive? This novel will keep readers guessing to the end as the twists and turns leads to the person behind the plot. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I read this through NetGalley's program.

This is the 2nd story that I have read from this author. The 1st one was Flight Risk.

This story begins with Carolyn interview with a Drug company for a position. They are in the process of developing a treatment for cancer in children. She is hired and becomes the company attorney. At the same time, a death of a lead researcher occurs. This individual was working on treating along with Brandon's cousin, Carolyn's boyfriend, a patient that Branon was the foster parent of. Her condition was critical and they were working on having her accepted in a trial program.

After acceptance she was given a treatment which would use her own cells to combat the cancer. At the same time Patrick, another individual was also starting another type of treatment. Unfortunately, Bethany, Brandon's charge was not doing well while Patrick was showing amazing signs. Anna, Bethany's doctor and Brandon's cousin, had concerns regarding whether her cells that were given were not correct. She sent data to Carolyn to look into. Once Carolyn received the information, she needed to get help so she asked for help from Justin and Brian who were part of the drug company's lab team. Begore she was able to get answers, Bethany was killed in an auto accident and Justin was murdered She received no response from Brian.

She still continued researching for information and later felt that she was in danger. She ultimately wound up going to the office on a Sunday to gather data from the lab's computer, but was instead captured by someone else who was in the lab.

In addition to Carolyn's adventure, the story also presented Brandon's efforts at trying to keep siblings that were in the foster program together. It presented a warm picture how a former Professional football player would try to give back to the community and the imposition that new federal regulations were causing.

To discover who the individual was that responsible for attacking Carolyn and what steps Brandon took to try and succeed with his group home, why the killings of Sarah, Anna and Justin happened, then you must read this book.

Woah Woah Woah. Talk about fast reading and wanting to find out what comes next. This is one of those books that I literally could not put down. I found myself trying to read and walk and that's never a good combination.

Caroline lost her job but found a better one. At least she thinks it's better. But then she finds out that her boyfriend is invested in the company she's now working for and that maybe they've got some shady dealings.

This book has lots of different plots and twists that are going to keep you guessing and reading. And most of the characters are intertwined somehow. For instance, the doctor on the latest test product trial with the company Caroline is working for is the cousin to her boyfriend and the doctor of his foster child who is sick with aggressive leukaemia after a relapse. Talk about all the different angles!

The book includes foster care and more importantly foster care within sibling groups and how to keep them together. Brandon is involved in this. You see his brother was placed somewhere else and he still hasn't been able to find him. And so he gives homes to siblings groups with his not for profit. But when laws change can he stay open? Will he lose all his house parents?

Something is going wrong within the company Caroline works for. People are showing up dead. She's being threatened. Her life is in danger and she has to solve the mystery before it's too late and she and others around her all end up dead.

This book is so good. I want a sequel though because I need to see Brandon find his brother. Here's hoping for more!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Another outstanding offering from master romantic-legal-thriller storyteller Cara Putman. Having read the first three books in the Hidden Justice series, I was looking forward to reading this book with high expectations. I have to say it exceeded my expectations! This narrative is an unputdownable blend of suspense, romance, and faith. The engaging characters are likable and realistic. The twists and turns of the plot keep you guessing. The medical aspect of the story is fascinating and reflects extensive research. The foster care strand of the story is emotional, heartwarming, and a bit heart-wrenching. The faith element affirms the spiritual truths of hope and reliance on God in the midst of hard and trying circumstances. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lethal Intent was an intense roller coaster of a ride! Even though I knew everything would work out in the end, in the beginning, I felt as if I was in this new, confusing, anxiety-producing world of leukemia, CAR-T, you name it, it was a new world for me. I really felt as if I was riding right along with Caroline Bragg as she began her tenure at Praecursora's as their Legal Counsel. I felt frustrated for her when she was trying to understand all science behind what Preaecursoria was attempting to do to save lives. I will admit I didn't understand it all, but I was determined to go for the ride. And then there was Brandon Lancaster who was struggling to keep Almost Home afloat all the while date his best-friend Caroline, and he was trying to understand and be there for Caroline when she wasn't all that forthcoming, and he didn't know why she was holding back. It wasn't easy but nothing in life is, even fiction has its hard times. If I could describe Lethal Intent with one word, or maybe two it would be authentic and raw. I haven't read a novel with these vulnerabilities in a long time. Definitely worth your reading time!

I love Caroline's story! It has just the right amount of mystery and relationships. Very interesting story as well. You can always learn something new or interesting, even from a fiction book!! I love this series of books. Be sure you read them all!

Whew! You know, books like these don't help my trust of pharmaceuticals and the medical field :)

The mystery and suspense were good. I picked the right suspect (!!!) and I loved Caroline and Brandon. It was interesting how they both are struggling with feeling like they are worth something to others. Struggling with value and belonging. I don't know that two people could really make a relationship work if they had the same basic struggles but they are so cute and wonderful together!!

Caroline was great about wanting to get to the bottom of what was going on while balancing urgency with doing what was legal and right. I love how Brandon puts people before things and money!!!

I wish we had an epilogue of some kind for more on Bethany and Patrick and to see what happens to Almost Home. I kind of feel like some of the story is unfinished.

The friends were less instrumental in this story as well. Savannah was only mentioned. I love the group that they have, though. So special. Each of the stories of these women tackles a different hard topic and they love and support each other through it all.

This is book 4 in Cara Putman's Hidden Justice series. This could be a stand alone read, but I think getting to know the characters in the other books first makes it more enjoyable. (The main characters in previous titles are minor characters in this title.) I also want to note that Brandon and Caroline's relationship seems to start in Book 1, Beyond Justice.

This title is a romantic suspense legal medical thriller. Yep - it has all of those aspects.

The Romance: Rather than having the couple meet in this story, near the beginning of the book, Brandon and Caroline move their relationship from friends to dating. I actually really liked this approach as it made it unique. There was not the initial flirting that led to a connection. But what was demonstrated is how hard it can be to make time for an honest relationship in the midst of busy lives. Brandon and Caroline learn how to support each other. This is a part of the story. While there is a bit of passion, it is completely appropriate and does not dominate the plot at all.

Suspense: There are many unexpected parts. While this is not a title that makes you need to sleep with the lights on for a few days, there are plenty of heart pounding moments.

Legal: This series has revolved around lawyer friends who are using law to make a positive difference. Each one of the women had a different focus, so I learned more about what all is involved in legal careers. Caroline works behind the scenes to inspect legal responsibilities of a company that is working toward medical miracles. I really did not know anything about this type of law as it generally tries to not involve the courtroom. While there were maybe some parts that I was unfamiliar with, the author explained the ethical responsibilities of medical research in a way that I was able to follow it. This book also talks about why insider trading and conflicts of interest can be challenging to address. My main takeaway is the importance of legal and medical teams working together to protect the rights of patients and their families.

Medical: As for this portion of the book, the focus is on CAR T-cell therapies. ("We genetically modify the patient's own T cells to recognize and fight cancer cells- turn them into those superhero ninjas - then reintroduce them to the body.") I included this quote to show the fact that while the author is delving into areas that may be unfamiliar to many readers, I think she does a fantastic job of simplifying the research goal into understandable terms. Because the basis of the book is talking about the responsibilities of drug research facilities to be responsible with their treatment trials, using some medical terms is important. But I do not feel like this bogs down the book with unnecessary terminology. This is only a small portion of the text.

Thriller: I do think it moves on beyond to suspense due to repeated danger. Death does play a part of the book. But the descriptions are kept to a minimum and are not gory or glorified in any way.

Another theme in this book is the importance of having a strong foster care system. Brandon's goal is to figure out how to support those who help those who are unable to live with their families. I liked how the importance of community was emphasized.

I have really enjoyed this Justice series. The books opened my eyes to how I should be connected to stories taking place in the news. I did feel like this book provided a satisfying ending to all of the stories. While I maybe would have enjoyed having a "character reunion" from the other series titles, not knowing all the details does allow the reader to go back and read the other books later. A few spoilers were mentioned as far as which characters were connected together, but there were not enough details given to take away from the other books.

I do highly recommend "Lethal Intent" as well as the rest of the Hidden Justice books. Thank you to NetGalley and to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read an early copy of this book. This review is my idea. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars for this latest legal thriller from Cara Putman! This book follows Caroline Bragg, an attorney who recently took a job as the staff attorney for a lab that was working on a cure for childhood cancer. As she seeks to keep the company compliant, something is "off" and she can't quite put her finger on it. When files begin disappearing and people start dying, she races against the clock to find answers before anyone else dies, including herself.

One thing that I appreciated about this one was that the romance was a "friends to more" theme and the "more" started in the opening chapter.... so the relationship itself existed throughout the book, but it was building. That felt much more realistic to me. However, that said, there were still elements that seemed "off" in the romance - like when he wanted to tuck a stray curl behind her ear, but didn't feel like he could and I wondered why not since she was his girlfriend? All that aside though, this book had all the right elements of a romantic suspense. There was an ongoing romance (and I loved the fact that the history existed before the book), edge of your seat suspense, a great mystery, not knowing who the villain was/who she could trust, and a whole gaggle of adorable kids. And the science included regarding the cancer treatments was fascinating (and phrased in a way that was understandable). I enjoyed the plot line and the characters. All in all, this is one I'd strongly recommend to fans of inspirational romantic suspense.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was not obligated to provide a positive review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

I was given this book by Netgalley for an honest review-
what someone won't do for money ---
Caroline takes a job as legal counsel for a research lab.
As her boss tries to push experimental trials - Caroline must make sure he does it legally.
As the number of murders in the office increase - Caroline realizes someone has another goal for the research lab -
Can she discover it before another murder?

Lethal Intent by Cara C. Putman is an intense medical thriller that held my interest from start through finish. I appreciate the integrity and faith of the main characters.
Caroline Bragg is a corporate attorney who interviews and accepts a new job. She has never worked for a company in the medical field but feels assured she will be able the learn the protocols needed to apply her legal knowledge for Praecursoria's compliance with the FDA. The company is a relatively new start-up that is focusing on T Cell manipulation and experimentation to help children recover from leukemia. Caroline is excited to feel a part of such a noble endeavor but is met with reluctance among the owners and some of the scientists to meet the legal guidelines before proceeding with the human trials.
Caroline has recently started a closer relationship with her best friend, Brandon. He was a professional football player who is now running a group home for foster siblings. He knew the pain of being separated from his younger brother when his mother died. He has lost contact with his brother and this pain propels him to make sure he can protect as many groups of siblings as possible when they go into foster care. He has used most of his professional earnings to provide a large lodge-type facility with individual cabins for the house parents. The state requirements for funding have changed and this is causing some financial hardships for his group home. Also, he had made investments in a new start-up company, Praecursoria, on the advice of his financial manager.
As Caroline learns more about the new company she works for, she begins to have questions as to why the management is so reluctant to follow her legal advice. When she discovers Brandon is an investor with the company she works for, this causes conflicts in their relationship. She must be very careful what she says about her employer so Brandon will not be implicated for insider trading.
Three employees who work with the T Cell program die within a couple of months. Caroline suspects there is a link and she is determined to investigate. This causes more trouble and danger for Caroline.
I am wondering if there will be a sequel. I would like to know if the relationship between Caroline and Brandon results in a proposal and also I would like to know if Bethany survives the treatment!
Publication Date: January 12, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.