Lethal Intent by Cara Putman Series: Hidden Justice #5
Published by Thomas Nelson on January 12, 2021
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Romance / Suspense, Fiction / Christian / Suspense, Fiction / Legal, Fiction / Romance / Clean & Wholesome
Pages: 336
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If they expected silence, they hired the wrong woman.
Caroline Bragg’s life has never been better. She and Brandon Lancaster are taking their relationship to the next level, and she has a new dream job as legal counsel for Praecursoria—a research lab that is making waves with its cutting-edge genetic therapies. The company’s leukemia treatments even promise to save desperately sick kids—kids like eleven-year-old Bethany, a critically ill foster child at Brandon’s foster home.
When Caroline’s enthusiastic boss wants to enroll Bethany in experimental trials prematurely, Caroline objects, putting her at odds with her colleagues. They claim the only goal at Praecursoria is to save lives. But does someone have another agenda?
Brandon faces his own crisis. As laws governing foster homes shift, he’s on the brink of losing the group home he’s worked so hard to build. When Caroline learns he’s a Praecursoria investor, it becomes legally impossible to confide in him. Will the secrets she keeps become a wedge that separates them forever? And can she save Bethany from the very treatments designed to heal her?
This latest romantic legal thriller by bestseller Cara Putman shines a light on the shadowy world of scientific secrets and corporate vendettas—and the ethical dilemmas that plague the place where science and commerce meet.
“I loved Cara Putman’s Lethal Intent and rooted for her heroine Caroline Bragg through every twist and turn. This legal thriller perfectly captures what it’s like to grow from law clerk to lawyer, and when Caroline finds herself faced with a heartbreaking ethical dilemma that leads to the corporate battle of her life, she confronts the challenge with strength and resources she never knew she had. Putman seamlessly blends the story with a wonderfully inspiring romance, too. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Lethal Intent!” --Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestelling author of 30 novels, including her upcoming, After Anna.
“Intriguing characters. Romantic tension. Edge-of-your-seat suspense. And a fast-paced ending that will leave you exhausted (in a good way!).” —Robert Whitlow, award-winning author of Promised Land
Thank you, Cara Putman, for always bringing the suspense. We got stalkers, body counts, and more twists than a trip to Silver Dollar City. It seems odd, after so many stories, that we are closing out the Lawyer Cult, um, I mean Hidden Justice Gals. I’ve been waiting (im)patiently for Caroline and Brandon’s story through a few books now. And while it didn’t disappoint, it did make me second-guess myself on a lot of things.
I honestly thought that they had met the night of the babysitting gig, but apparently they knew each other before, in a casual kind of way. I thought she was already part of Savannah’s lawyer cult, but apparently she was clerking for a judge before going to work for Praecursoria. It threw me off that I don’t really have Savannah there pressuring her to join the rest of the gals in- I hate to say it, but it just fits for me, the Lawyer Cult. The rest of the ladies were there with their own little updates on their lives, careers, and romances. Another thing I want to drop in is the information around HeLa cells. Little-known fact about me: I have weird random interests and remember weird random facts that have no relevance in my everyday life. Somewhere along that weird line, I learned about HeLa cells. Not only the who/what/when/where/why, but also the controversy that goes with it. While there was just enough in the book to understand the very basics, I wish it had been earlier in the story, with maybe more depth in a follow-up. If I hadn’t already known, I’d have been all over The Google wanting to know more.
There was a lot to unpack, and outside of all the things above, I loved their story. I love that Putman doesn’t rush the romance but lets it develop naturally and isn’t always wrapped up in a neat, pretty bow at the end but allows room for future growth to a natural ending. While I wish there was more resolution for Brandon’s personal story with his group homes, I understand why there wasn’t, but I’m still interested to see how it pans out. I do feel like Caroline’s work story was a bit too neat; there was still room for after-growth and change there as well. I was kept on the edge of my seat through it all, and I’m sad to see these ladies go without any updates for me. But it’s natural, and that’s why I loved it even more.
About Cara Putman
Since the time I could read Nancy Drew, I have wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 I attended a book signing at my local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, is history. There I met Colleen Coble. With prompting from my husband, I shared my dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, I’ve been writing books.
In addition to writing, I am an attorney, lecturer at a Big Ten university, active in women’s ministry, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, my husband and my kids. I graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School (JD), and Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management (MBA). You can learn more about my books at https://www.caraputman.com.
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