SHE’S OUT TO KICK BUTT — THE BAD GUYS MIGHT NEED RESCUING.
In his most complex—and harrowing—case yet, Minneapolis criminal defense attorney Marc Kadella has inadvertently poked a whole den of bears—a psychopathic billionaire who’s trafficking in kidnapped teenagers, and—worse yet—the lawyers who’re abetting him.
When Marc’s associate, Connie Mickelson, asks for his help with a case, the lovable curmudgeon signs up to defend a high-profile law firm in what appears to be merely a moderately distasteful sexual harassment lawsuit involving the firm’s main rainmaker.
But as Marc’s kickass investigator and lady love, Maddy Rivers, and P.I. Tony Carvelli peel back the layers of misdeeds by the accused, they find this well-established, politically-connected law firm is up to its neck in the criminal operations of a monster known only as “Chicago”.
The operation begins in Mexico with a cartel that’s kidnapping teenagers on their way to a better life in America. But tragically, some of them fall into the grasp of “Chicago”, and are taken to his private island, where they’re subjected to an unimaginably brutal fate reminiscent of The Hunger Games—only with no winners.
Recognizing a worthy opponent, “Chicago” has Maddy kidnapped and finds himself in the dilemma of a man who has captured a wolf with his bare hands—sooner or later he’ll have to let it go—thus providing a gripping, action-packed, and very satisfying conclusion.
Happily, there’s also a generous store of curmudgeonly banter between Marc and his sharp-tongued legal associate, and a special treat for those romantics who’re rooting for Marc and Maddy.
This is not only the next Must Read for fans of the nitty-gritty, nuts-and-bolts expertise of legal eagles John Grisham and Richard North Patterson, and, of course, Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason—but also for fans of kickass female sleuths. Maddy is something else!
About the author
I try to write a story that is thought provoking, entertaining and has an over-arching theme that is contemporary. I then create a plot (sometimes more than one) to showcase the book’s theme. My books normally contain a larger than normal number of characters mostly because there is a lot going on in the story. I also prefer to use my characters to tell the story through their dialogue and actions. I am not a big fan of novels that are page after page of third person narration. I also have a sense of humor that some people think may be a little odd that I allow into my writing.
As a fan of the genre of courtroom dramas and legal mysteries I have read all of the big name, very successful authors that write within it. Most, not all, have obviously never been in a courtroom, conducted a trial or represented a live human client. I try to be as realistic as possible although I do admit to occasionally using my literary license, mostly to move the story along.
At any rate, thank you for your patronage and I hope you found my books to be interesting, entertaining and a bit informative.
Dennis Carstens was born Worthington, MN a small town in the Southwestern corner of the state near South Dakota. He has lived most of his life in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. As such he is a member of the long-suffering fraternity of Vikings, Twins, Wild and Timberwolf fans. He received a BA from the University of Minnesota and his J.D. from a highly respected private law school, William Mitchell, in St. Paul. He is also a veteran of the USAF having served during the Vietnam war but was among those fortunate not to have been sent to Vietnam itself.
