A Kind of Justice

A Kind of Justice by Renee James is definitely a unique read. Bobbi Logan is a transgender who is finally comfortable in her own skin when her life seems to fall apart. A hateful cop named Wilkins is determined to link her to the death of a very prominent man in the community. During the course of his investigation not only does Wilkins' preconceived ideas change toward transgender people but Bobbi's change toward him.. This is such a beautifully written book with so many messages that I really did not want it to end.

This book really has something for everyone. The suspense of watching Detective Wilikins build his case against Logan was beautifully balanced with the romantic aspects of the book and wondering whether Bobbi would rekindle an old love with her ex-wife, or begin a new adventure with Officer Phil. A Kind of Justice will also appeal to those who like stories about everyday women juggling the demands of modern life, from family and friends to dealing with discrimination, owning a business, and trying to weather an economic crisis - except in this case, there's a dash of mystery and murder thrown in!

Bobbi Logan, owner of a very successful posh beauty salon and herself a celebrated transgender hair stylist in Chicago seems to have everything going her way-that is until her business almost fails during the recession, her ex wife runs into serious problems causing her to move back in with Bobbi and the fact that a prejudiced police detective is hell bent on pinning a 5 year old murder on her. This book is a mystery as well as an emotional journey wherein Bobbi gets all the support she could ask for from the transgender community even while the community suffers through the heartache and struggle to be accepted. Can the detective who hates gays in general and is particularly bigoted against transgenders succeed in his quest to find her guilty of this old murder or can he be won over and learn to understand and accept the transgender community? That is the catalyst of this book-a very important issue in our world today. This is a very good read.

Bobbi Logan is a transgender woman and has just become one of Chicago's most celebrated hair stylist finally comfortable with who she is. Then the Great Recession hits and drags her business to the brink of failure. Bobbi's ex-wife also needs her help coping with a family tragedy. The police officer returns trying to successfully convict Bobbi of John Strand that happened five years ago..

What a fantastic character Bobbi Logan is. Born in the wrong body. This is an insight into the world of transgenders. A very good mystery with a great ending.

I would like to thank Net Galley, Oceanview Publishing and the author Renee James for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

”There’s how you look and there’s who you really are.”

Love of women. James love of women shows throughout the whole book. It is a gentle love caring of the non perfect moments as well as the perfect ones. Ok I have to admit that James idea of women and what they are and how they should be is a bit stereotypical for me, starting from the dainty handshake, going on to the impossibly high heels, shorts skirts and cleavage. But more than that it’s the idea of how women think, feel and act portrayed in the book which I’m not fully on board with. I want and need the freedom to be me without having to fit myself into the tight boxes of how I should be to be a woman. I am not sure if this is an author’s view or an American view. A little example, I wouldn’t dream of seeing a hairdresser in high heels here and they usually have some sort of salon uniform. The hairdressers in Bobbi’s salon worked in high heels, short dresses and flaunted assets.

I liked Bobbi and how James paints her but for me her best work was with Wilkins who totally stole the show for me. James builds his slow transformation bit by bit and I loved this unfolding. I enjoyed this part of the story the best.

I only became aware that this was a second book in a series after I started reading. I continued reading because I saw that friends who read and enjoyed the book, had not read the first book either. I found that this did not deduct from the story. The story appeared complete on it’s own and James gives enough background to satisfy my questions.

There are few books out there that have me contemplating life, crying, laughing and just plain wondering how life would be for me if I weren't me. PS: This is not an 'inspirational' book, but it's inspiring in its own way.

This is the second book I've ever read with a trans character as an MC, and considering the fact that I can barely remember the first one, I had very little hope for this book.
And then I meet Bobbi, Wilkins, Cecelia, Betsy and Lisa and all I could think was OH MY GOD! The characterization is one of the best qualities of this book. there were lots of characters and the POV was confusing at first but after 3% in I eased into it and the feels smacked me.
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Like I said there were lots of characters but they were all unique, full of living and had their own story, that contributed to the main story even when it wasn't obvious. each character came with their own backstory, subplot and issues. All the while tackling the murder of a bastard that really doesn't deserve anyone paying for his death.

The main plot follows Wilkin (A homophobe and transphobe) who plans to convict Bobbi for the murder of John Stand (AKA the dead guy, AKA abusive sonofabitch AKA Transphobic bastard that should burn in hell for all the shit he did to Transwomen).

The beauty of this is that Wilkins starts off a bastard and slowly as he interviews witnesses to pin down Bobbi he begins to interact with strippers and prostitutes both gay and trans, as he spends time with hem he begins to see that they are just like every other person, he also begins to see how much of a bastard he was.

I would be happy if the story ended there but then the author threw in another subplot -Wilkins sickness, at first I want in the east bit remorseful because he kinda deserved it for how he treated the LGBT community but at the end I realised that he was just a guy who never got a chance to really look at people and just see people instead of seeing ‘fags’ 'tranny’ 'freaks’ and once he did I felt guilty because no one deserves cancer… except for John Strand but the bastard is dead (If you ask me, he got off easy. I would take a trip to hell just to beat the crap out of him)
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While the case was always in the background, one of the surface plots was Bobbi dealing with the economic meltdown and the effect it had on her salon, her love-life or lack off, her ex-wife Betsy who's husband's death forced them to live together. I also got to watch Bobbi pine after Phil, to be honest, it was kinda sad to watch those two beat around the bush.

I expected the ending but it still felt like punch to the gut (It also made me realize that my idea of true love might be a bit skewed)
Seriously, this book is a gem, Five stars and maybe a date with the author... I'll settle for an interview though.

I’ve read lots of books with gay/lesbian/bi characters but this was my first one with a transgender character and I was very curious to see how it would flow. I was especially curious because the book is written from her point of view which helps someone who does not have that much familiarity with transgendered people get a greater understanding. I was hooked from the first chapter because the author has a great writing style and has written a character you want to get invested in.

This is a charmingly written mystery that has the surprising ability to take the reader on an emotionally satisfying journey. Reading about the violence faced by transgender people simply for being who they are was so heartbreaking and a stark reminder of the reality people like Bobbi face every day. I admired the main character, Bobbi, a great deal and it helped give me insight into a world I did not have that much experience with before. The ending is beautiful and was thankfully satisfying, I just can’t imagine a better written conclusion for this book.

As a woman I thoroughly enjoyed reading a powerful story about a fellow female who fights back to survive and overcome adversity to change her life. If we all had a little bit of her strength this world would be a better place.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I must say it took me a number of chapters to get used to the narration. Not only is this story told in present tense, it also alternates between first (Bobbie) and third person (Wilkins).

The most enjoyable, or should I say moving part of this story for me, was the insight into Bobbie’s life as a transsexual woman. Bobbie’s story is so gut-wrenchingly authentic, I wouldn’t be surprised to discover the author has walked a mile in Bobbie’s shoes.

QUOTE - She can see me as the woman I am to the very depths of my soul, but others will see me as a dickless man, and see anyone who loves me as some kind of pervert.

As per the blurb, Wilkins’ has reopened a five-year-old murder case and his number one suspect is Bobbie. This part of the story was so-so for me, so I’m not going to rehash it.

With the story being set in the 80’s, the plot also focuses on the recession and how hard it hits people and business. Speaking of, the hairdressing salon and supporting characters were also a treat.

I know cancer is a widespread issue, but the fact three characters in this story had the dreaded disease struck me as odd. Two of the characters I didn’t know, so it didn’t upset me, the other I didn’t like so again I didn’t find it distressing, therefore don’t let the C-word stop you from picking up this compelling story.

Summary – This story made me think, made me feel, and stayed with me for days after turning the last page.

Actual rating 3.5 stars. Reading this book has been an incredible experience for me. I've never read a book with a transgender woman as the main character before, and discovering that the author is also a transwoman made me go for it.

Bobbi Logan is a transgender hairdresser and a police officer is after her, trying to convict her for the murder of a sexual predator ( or an abusive, disgusting, misogynistic piece of shit). The book is a bit slow and not much happens throughout its course. The plot's dragging and a bit boring at times.

Bobbi herself however is a masterpiece. She is hilarious, kind and fair, often vulnerable and self-conscious. James was managed to create a very authentic character, an actual human being and not a caricature or a stereotype.

What really made the book for me was its diversity and its representation of the transgender community; most main and secondary characters were women and more importantly, transwomen and queer women and women of colour. Every character was three-dimensional and unique, never falling into a stereotype.

Overall, even if this book has disappointed me as a crime/mystery read, it definitely didn't disappoint as a book about the lgbt+ community and the daily struggles of queer people.

trigger warning: the book contains transphobic and homophobic slurs, as well as mentions of r*pe

I didn’t realize this was the second book in the series, despite it clearly stating that in the title. Although, I don’t think it’s necessary to have read the first in the series, I did find myself wondering about the details of Bobbi’s back-story. As a result, there is a strong possibility that I will go back and read “Transition to Murder.” Having said that, I was sucked into “A Kind of Justice” from the outset. Bobbi Logan could have been written as a caricature of a stereotypical transgender woman. However, the author takes the time to make sure Logan is a well-developed and interesting character, juxtaposed against Detective Wilkins who is vulgar, crude, and obviously bigoted against the LGBTQ community. As the reader, we get to see the story develop from two distinct points of view: Logan’s and Wilkins’.

On a personal note, I found it interesting that I assumed based on Wilkins attitude that he was white, when in fact he is black. This made me re-evaluate my own point of view/prejudice. I was also happy to see Wilkins’ character development throughout the storyline. The author was able to move him from being a completely bigoted arse to a somewhat sympathetic character in a manner that felt natural.

Overall, I was impressed with the flow of the story and the characters themselves. I’d give this 4 stars and I will definitely keep an eye out for new stories coming from Renee James.

Not my usual reading, I admit, but so not disappointed. Not only a mystery but a journey into a very real human condition and the ramifications of being different and how society views these differences with contempt. Although, society is getting better, but still has a long way to go.
The main character, Bobbi takes you on a journey into the sinister side and the acceptance of a few in the Transgender community. Thought provoking, I cried, laughed and quite frankly was pissed at the injustices Bobbi was forced to endure as a Trans-woman. Having my fair share of suffering in the past for being a Lesbian, I could relate to a degree. I honestly had no idea how heart wrenching being Transgender and the difficulties they face on a daily basis with not being accepted as neither a man nor a woman. At least being a Lesbian, I might be called names and what have you, but I'm still looked upon as a woman, but I digress.
Bobbi is a character I feel many will connect with, she is full of wit and compassion even at the worst of times. All she wants is what we all want-to love, to be loved, have a family, a business and left alone to live her life-Unfortunately, there are those out there who will not allow her this peace. Made even more complicated with a Trans-phobia Detective stalking her.
I don't wish to spoil the story, all I can say is, read the book, a superb novel which leaves me craving more.

I read this book during our summer holiday, and I am so sorry that I couldn't write my review immediately after I had finished it. It would have been much longer and maybe more helpful.

The best thing about this book is Bobbi Logan. I am not completely "virgin" in regard of books with transgender characters, but I have never read a book with a transgender woman as a first-person narrative. And to be in Bobbi's head was a great experience. Because Bobbi Logan is a wonderful character that you won't forget and who maybe helps you to learn a bit more about transgender people.

Bobby Logan was born as a man, but in the wrong body. She was married to a woman in her previous life, came out as gay - though was never really sure she was a girl, she was only sure she wasn't a boy - then later she made the permanent step of gender reassignment surgery.

Now, 5 years after her transition she is a star hairdresser and an owner of a beauty salon in Chicago in the midst of the economic crisis, she is over forty, tries to rebuild her relationship with her ex-wife, is probably without a chance in love with a man who everyone is in love with, and a main suspect in a murder case.

A Kind of Justice is not only a brilliantly written mystery, but it is an emotional and fascinating story about a fantastic character you'll fall in love with. It is impossible not to feel with/for Bobby.

I truly hope that this book will find many many many fans.
It is so different from everything I read, in a WOW way, I can't recommend it highly enough.


Great mystery.

Great characters.

Great writing.

Great plot.

A Kind of Justice by Renee James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, how fortunate to be able to read about such a colourful person, Bobbi Logan is a very talented stylist, she also owns one of Chicago's top hair salons, the one thing that makes Bobbi stand out, is, she is statuesque and transgender, her life is far from dull. She is loved by family and friends alike, and admired in the community for the success she has worked so hard for, little does she know this about to change. A detective is determined to pin a murder on her, John Strand, was a sexual predator, he was murdered 5 years ago, to some though, he was a pillar of the community, and Bobbi is entering a nightmare, within a couple of weeks she is fighting for her business as the recession takes hold, her ex wife desperately needs her help, and the detective is building a case against her, this is a journey through the transgender community, their struggle to be accepted, the heartache they experience , the families drawn into this diverse community, and their triumph's , You will get right behind Bobbi, and those close to her, sometimes you will be frustrated with certain characters as we wait to find out, will justice prevail and who is the real killer?.... Renee James has I would imagine, drawn from her experience in writing this book, it now makes me want to read the first book. Thank you to Netgalley and Oceanview publishers for a copy of A Kind Of Justice in exchange for an honest review.

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I read the first few paragraphs of this book and I was hit by the realisation that this was going to be a really great mystery, and that one book would not be enough. It has an excellent plot, rich characters, suspense, emotions and grit, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

This is a brilliant murder mystery story with vivid and multi-dimensional characters and a great pace. Right from the word go I was drawn into the world of Bobbi Logan a trans woman who is also a sister, aunt and popular hairdresser. The story has a kind of edgy feel to it but discloses nothing until the very end.

Is the heroine the murderer? If she isn't then who is? Who killed the evil John Strand, violent murderer and abuser of women?

Bobbi's life has not been easy. She was a married man before her transition and although Betsy, her ex wife, is still in her life and cares for her, Bobbi yearns to be accepted by others. She yearns for a deep and true love of her own, and this was so palpable in the book that I could feel it. Bobbi experiences what everyone feels when they live alone but yearn for love - both men and women.

In any case life is good because Betsy's daughter from her second marriage regards Bobbi as an aunt and Bobbi now has a chance to own her hair salon. Life might be unfulfilled in all sorts of way but the future overflows with light and potential. Unfortunately that light darkens and becomes overcast as an enemy from the past, a transphobic detective, seeks to pin Strand's murder on Bobbi and the darkness from the past threatens to overwhelm the brightness of the future.

Detective Wilkins doesn't really regard himself as transphobic. He is just determined to resurrect an old murder case and close the case like a good cop should. The murder of John Strand, a respected business man, has continued to trouble him. He is sure that Bobbi Logan is the murderer and is determined to do all that he can to pin the murder on her. Five years ago Bobbi's friend was murdered and Bobbi was raped by two thugs linked to John Strand. As Detective Wilkins tracks down clues and witnesses, it seems as if John Strand was not the upstanding member of society that people believed him to be, but instead was man who hungered after trans women and subjected them to violence and oppression. No one misses John Strand but Detective Wilkins believes Bobbi Logan did it and should pay for her crime.

So just when life should be light for Bobbi she is faced with shadows from the past and a persecuting police detective who is determined to make her pay for something she didn't do. Bobbi is staring the loss of her business in the face and the loss of her friendship with Betsy, and the many employees who rely on her will lose their livelihoods.

The most frightening thing is that the murderer is still alive and who knows whether this will put Bobbi and those she loves at risk.

I really enjoyed reading this. First of all it is a great mystery which increases in suspense and gathers pace as the story progresses. I really appreciated the way the story is told from the perspective of a trans woman, holding back no punches and exploring the real violence that many trans people face in our world today. This is a story that has roots in reality. Violence against trans people is real and the author brings this to life without compromise.

I also enjoyed this because it is clever in the way it depicts the main characters as human, with joys and pains of the past which shape their responses to the present. Both Bobbi and her ex-wife Betsy have suffered loss in different ways and yet seeing the bond they share creates a hopeful dimension in the story.

Bobbi is a beautiful character. As she seeks to understand what it is to be a woman she goes through the pain of yearning for real love that so many people face. She also faces the pressure of being a professional woman with a career, family and the need to juggle that with community responsibilities and personal fulfilment.

And so for me this is going in my list of exquisite reads for 2016 because it was not only a great mystery but also a story about a woman who manages to survive and overcome adversity and violence, and live through monumental change.

I needed to know about Bobbi Logan from the very beginning and so I also took the time to order the first story, but this second story is complete in itself and can be read as a stand alone. It is an excellent story in so many different ways and a pleasure to read.

Many thanks to the author and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy via NetGalley.

This isn't the kind of book that I would have chosen if not labeled s mystery story. But I think it has opened my eyes to the attitudes and behaviors suffered by transgender people. I actually was not very involved in the story in the beginning but could not put it down by the end. The main story is a cop close to retirement has decided to close a five year old murder case that he believes the murder is a transgender female out for revenge. The story is told from both the cops point of view and the female. It is also a story of deep love between women as friends, sisters, and employees. At times the story is heart rending and other times it's glorious. I would highly recommend this story for its endeavor for each of the main characters to find out who they really are other than as whom others might believe them to be. Unusual but offers life changing oppotunities

This book just really hit the spot. Very happy to see a book come up in a genre that just happens to have a transgendered woman as the lead.

It's a murder mystery where Bobbi Logan who is a star of a hair stylist who has her own salon... but the detective who was bound and determined to pin a murder on her 5 years ago, resurrects his efforts.

Add on to that the Great Recession impacting her business. Her attempts to make the next major steps in her business and stay afloat.

And above all, maintain her existing relationships and beginning opening herself to being able to make new ones as a post op woman. She's very filled with self-doubt and I loved how the transgender community helped each other. Bonded with each other. And also had their spats and feuds.

It felt very authentic and I hope it really is. Not certain if the author is transgendered herself but I'm not looking as it doesn't and shouldn't matter. It's a great murder mystery and that's all anyone needs to really pay attention to.

I did think that the writing was a bit weak at times in the first half. I can't speak as to the second as I was too engrossed to notice if any. My joy at seeing yet another community of people finally get a starring role, and well done at that made it a no-brainer to give it a 5 anyways.

Irrelevant but I have to confess. Bobbi is white but I could only particular the lovely Laverne Cox in my mind.

Will be marking this as one of my best reads of 2016.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And I very much look forward to anything Renee James writes in the future.

what a book

After receiving the book from Net Galley I realized it was the second book in a series. I had to go back and read the first one, and I am glad I did, though you really did not have to in order to enjoy this one. The book does build on the events of the first book but a lot of it is rehashed in case you were not able to read the book. Bobbi Logan, a trans woman and hair stylist has gone through a lot in her life and she is not allowed to enjoy anything with a detective from the previous book who is making her life a living hell, by trying to pin a crime on her.

The book shines in the personal drama and life of the main characters. All are painted in great detail and are fully drawn real life characters that we can believe live off of the page. I believe that the "mystery" is the weakest part of the book and there seems to be a "deus ex machina" quality to the overall tone of that aspect, but as a continuing character study it is brilliant and is allowed to shine. I do look forward to the further exploits of Bobbi Logan.

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Renee James, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

Against all odds, Bobbi Logan, a statuesque transgender woman, has become one of Chicago's most celebrated hair stylists and the owner of one of the city's poshest salons. She is finally comfortable with who she is, widely admired in her community, about to enjoy the success she deserves. Then her impossibly perfect life falls apart. In the space of a few weeks, the Great Recession drags her business to the brink of failure, her beloved ex-wife needs help in facing a terrible tragedy, and a hateful police detective storms back into her life, determined to convict her of the five-year-old murder of John Strand—pillar of the community—and a sexual predator. As the detective builds an ever more convincing case against her, both of them will be shaken by revelations—about themselves, about their own deeply held secrets, and about the bizarre ritual murder of John Strand.

A KIND OF JUSTICE is the second novel in Renee James's Bobbi Logan series. While the first book does not need to be read prior to reading this book, it still should be. A series is always better when read in order.

This was my first James novel and my first trans novel, and I really enjoyed it. It was a brilliant mystery that really tugged at your heartstrings for so many reasons. I also felt a deep connection with the main characters struggles because of the horror we see the LGBT+ community face in society today. You definitely don't need to be a member of the trans (or LGBT+) community to truly enjoy Bobbi's story. James really shines at the end of the novel. I feel like endings are so hard to write, and James gave us a realistic, satisfying ending. Overall, I enjoyed this one and would read more.

I’m having a complicated reaction to this book. To start with, I didn’t know it was a sequel until I went to Goodreads to review it, after finishing it. So, now I wonder what I missed, having not read book one. One the upside, the fact that I never felt I was missing anything until I knew there was a previous book means it stands alone just fine.

Secondly, I liked Bobbi. I loved her relationship to her ex-wife. I thought it was one of the sweetest things I’ve read in a while. It wasn’t perfect, they had some issues to work through. But work through them they did and made a family of sorts and I LOVED that. I liked that Bobbi had close platonic friends and that generational differences within communities was addressed. Not to mention that she was a tad older than the average heroine.

I disliked the detective, but appreciate the transformative journey he went through. I liked the possible love interest and that the book doesn’t end with an unrealistic perfect Happily Ever After. It might get there, but wasn’t at the end of this novel.

I liked that this book isn’t just a murder mystery with a transgendered main character. In a very real way, it’s about being a transgendered woman around whom there is a mystery. It’s why I picked the book up in fact.

Having said that (and here is my complication because I don’t want to sound like I’m saying, ‘the trans book was just too trans’), I felt bludgeoned by Bobbi’s transgenderism. Trans/transsexual/transgender/transwoman/transwomen/tranny is used 197 times in the 320 page book, not counting that the charity is called TransRising and any time it’s talked about but not named. Now, my issue isn’t with the individual words or subject that I felt bludgeoned by, but that I felt bludgeoned at all.

I don’t want to take away from the importance of Bobbi’s real world experiences. They are important. I rather just mean the writing was heavy-handed at times and the constant emphasis on one aspect of the character, even an important one that would be expected to effect every area of her life, blotted out some others that in a mystery novel needed more page-time to develop.

Other than the occasionally heavy-handed writing and the fact that I thought the book was slow at times, I mostly really enjoyed it (even having not read the first book). I’d be more than happy to read another story by James.

Great book. Very intriguing. Definitely a subject for this time and age. Highly recommend

I don't usually enjoy mystery type novels, but the main character really pulled me forward all through the book. I really loved the narration and found myself enjoying this one a lot.

After I got used to the narrating style of the book I really started to love it. It has so many beautiful messages about how people can change their mind towards each other and about acceptance. I enjoyed it a lot and would definitively recommend it.

A transgender crime mystery book.

Robert Logan was a successful 40-something businessman, married without children. He transitioned into Bobbi Logan , a woman who has become a hairstylist running a successful salon. Bobbi's life is anything but simple- her ex wife and daughter are now living with her. The hairdressing business Bobbi runs is suffering due to the recession, and to top it all she's being investigated by Detective Sergeant Wilkins who has reopened a 5-year-old murder case of a man called John Strand, he is convinced that Bobbi is the killer.

A Kind of Justice is a unique written mystery, it is also an emotional roller-coaster ride that leaves you to fall in love with the characters. This book will give you an insight into the transgender world, and make you think about life.

Thanks to NetGalley and everyone involved for letting me read this.