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Marc Kadella Legal Mystery #15
Retributive Justice
“BUT THEY’RE MIDDLE-CLASS WHITE KIDS.”
SO WERE THE MANSON GIRLS.At least high-powered criminal lawyer Marc Kadella doesn’t have to wonder whether his client is telling him the truth – his client is his own investigator, Tony Carvelli. Attacked by a group of club-wielding assailants in a dark parking lot, Tony tries to scare them off with his gun but accidentally shoots and kills one of them. Beaten with clubs, manhandled by police, facing a second degree murder charge . . . how did it come to this?
Tate Onelasa is on a mission to ease the spirits of 38 Native Americans hanged in Mankato, Minnesota in 1862 in the largest mass execution in U.S. history. In any case, that’s the story the homeless Native American drifter used to bedazzle the small following of college students he has drawn to him to help him wreak revenge on the white man. The truth at the heart of a spate of grisly murders and assaults is much he’s a sociopath with an equal opportunity murder policy.
Aiyana, raped repeatedly by her white adoptive father, the only other Native American among the followers, has provided the alchemy that transformed the youths from disillusioned, disaffected college students into knife-wielding killers.
In a frenzy of righteous indignation, they execute Aiyana’s adoptive parents, provoking her grandparents into hiring Tony to find her. But the group steps in to eliminate him, the accidental shot is fired, and suddenly Tony is on the receiving end of the U.S. justice system.
No way the team of Kadella, Carvelli, and Rivers is going to take this lying down. The tough guy on the team, gorgeous Maddy Rivers, who’s also Marc’s beloved, shines as she turns over every leaf and stone in the Tri-State area of Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota to find the missing pieces of the puzzle.
A sweet interlude that allows Marc and Maddy a gracious wedding and blissful honeymoon gives the lie to the old saw, “Old lawyers never die. They just lose their appeal.”
There’ll be no appeal in this case. Marc and Maddy pull out every trick in the book to nail this case shut.
SO WERE THE MANSON GIRLS.At least high-powered criminal lawyer Marc Kadella doesn’t have to wonder whether his client is telling him the truth – his client is his own investigator, Tony Carvelli. Attacked by a group of club-wielding assailants in a dark parking lot, Tony tries to scare them off with his gun but accidentally shoots and kills one of them. Beaten with clubs, manhandled by police, facing a second degree murder charge . . . how did it come to this?
Tate Onelasa is on a mission to ease the spirits of 38 Native Americans hanged in Mankato, Minnesota in 1862 in the largest mass execution in U.S. history. In any case, that’s the story the homeless Native American drifter used to bedazzle the small following of college students he has drawn to him to help him wreak revenge on the white man. The truth at the heart of a spate of grisly murders and assaults is much he’s a sociopath with an equal opportunity murder policy.
Aiyana, raped repeatedly by her white adoptive father, the only other Native American among the followers, has provided the alchemy that transformed the youths from disillusioned, disaffected college students into knife-wielding killers.
In a frenzy of righteous indignation, they execute Aiyana’s adoptive parents, provoking her grandparents into hiring Tony to find her. But the group steps in to eliminate him, the accidental shot is fired, and suddenly Tony is on the receiving end of the U.S. justice system.
No way the team of Kadella, Carvelli, and Rivers is going to take this lying down. The tough guy on the team, gorgeous Maddy Rivers, who’s also Marc’s beloved, shines as she turns over every leaf and stone in the Tri-State area of Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota to find the missing pieces of the puzzle.
A sweet interlude that allows Marc and Maddy a gracious wedding and blissful honeymoon gives the lie to the old saw, “Old lawyers never die. They just lose their appeal.”
There’ll be no appeal in this case. Marc and Maddy pull out every trick in the book to nail this case shut.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2023
150 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Carstens
32 books119 followersDennis Carstens was born in Worthington, MN, and has lived most of his life in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. 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. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a retired trial lawyer, Carstens brings these life experiences to his fiction for a dose of realism and accuracy missing from much of the legal thriller genre today.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 27, 2025
RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE
DENNIS CARSTENS
Review by Author Roy Murry
The Retributive novel is my sixth Justice book that I have read since 2022. Carstens uses some of the same complicated and compelling main characters: Maddy, the beautiful detective married to Marc; Marc and Connie, the lawyers; and Tony, the detective.
In this book, Tony kills an attacker, and Marc defends him. Meanwhile, Connie and Marc are working on another case, while Maddy works to save the day,
The main story is about Aiyana, whose family and friends abused her when she was younger, and a group of kids manipulated by an adult. The adult Shama Tate convinces Aiyana and the middle schoolers how to use retribution to liberate their souls.
This suspenseful, multi-story collection culminates in an ending that the reader will enjoy. During the reading, the twists and turns will keep those readers turning the pages.
I will read another of his novels for the thrill of it. See other reviews below: search Dennis Carstens.
DENNIS CARSTENS
Review by Author Roy Murry
The Retributive novel is my sixth Justice book that I have read since 2022. Carstens uses some of the same complicated and compelling main characters: Maddy, the beautiful detective married to Marc; Marc and Connie, the lawyers; and Tony, the detective.
In this book, Tony kills an attacker, and Marc defends him. Meanwhile, Connie and Marc are working on another case, while Maddy works to save the day,
The main story is about Aiyana, whose family and friends abused her when she was younger, and a group of kids manipulated by an adult. The adult Shama Tate convinces Aiyana and the middle schoolers how to use retribution to liberate their souls.
This suspenseful, multi-story collection culminates in an ending that the reader will enjoy. During the reading, the twists and turns will keep those readers turning the pages.
I will read another of his novels for the thrill of it. See other reviews below: search Dennis Carstens.
July 13, 2024
Posing as a shaman, a man who calls himself Tate Onelasa attracts a small cadre of young followers in Minneapolis, hoping to sleep with as many of the girls as possible. Soon he leads these followers on a killing spree, taking the law into their own hands. Things start to fall apart when they attack Tony Carvelli, a private detective who is coming dangerously close to uncovering their secrets. In defending himself Carvelli pulls a gun, and one of the young people is accidentally killed.
Carvelli is subsequently charged with murder. He has strong support in his corner---defense attorney Marc Kadella and his wife Maddie, a fellow ex-cop and private investigator---and the facts on his side. But in a time of widespread prejudice against police and opposition to claims of self defense, will he be convicted anyway? This is another exciting entry in a great series of legal thrillers.
Carvelli is subsequently charged with murder. He has strong support in his corner---defense attorney Marc Kadella and his wife Maddie, a fellow ex-cop and private investigator---and the facts on his side. But in a time of widespread prejudice against police and opposition to claims of self defense, will he be convicted anyway? This is another exciting entry in a great series of legal thrillers.
November 26, 2023
great series
Not the way I would end this series but I hope that means there’s more. I love this authors lack of political correctness but since it is politically correct or okay to attack Christian’s that is my only complaint. For the record chinas people beg for the gospel and Jesus said nothing of the sort to Pontus Pilate. Other than that and the fact that I would hate to be married to anyone of these characters, they are wonderful characters and the story line is great. I hate to end the series as I’ve hate to finish each book. Always wanting more. Keep writing mr carstens. You don’t have to praise god or anything like that but you could just leave us alone. As you say you want us to do
Not the way I would end this series but I hope that means there’s more. I love this authors lack of political correctness but since it is politically correct or okay to attack Christian’s that is my only complaint. For the record chinas people beg for the gospel and Jesus said nothing of the sort to Pontus Pilate. Other than that and the fact that I would hate to be married to anyone of these characters, they are wonderful characters and the story line is great. I hate to end the series as I’ve hate to finish each book. Always wanting more. Keep writing mr carstens. You don’t have to praise god or anything like that but you could just leave us alone. As you say you want us to do
November 12, 2023
Great story, strange ending!
Poor Tony gets caught up during a case and accidentally shoots and kills one of a group attacking him whilst on the ground. The attackers have been a little brain washed a Charles Manson type and his American Indian partner. She had a very bad upbringing with foster parents.
Meanwhile the newlyweds, Marc and Maddy, carry on in the wonderfully humerous style and then Marc obviously becomes the lawyer for Tony.
An enjoyable read again with great descriptions of the court scenes. But, for the first time, I found the ending strange and abrupt. Read it and see what you think.
Hopefully more books in the series mainly to tidy up the ending!
Poor Tony gets caught up during a case and accidentally shoots and kills one of a group attacking him whilst on the ground. The attackers have been a little brain washed a Charles Manson type and his American Indian partner. She had a very bad upbringing with foster parents.
Meanwhile the newlyweds, Marc and Maddy, carry on in the wonderfully humerous style and then Marc obviously becomes the lawyer for Tony.
An enjoyable read again with great descriptions of the court scenes. But, for the first time, I found the ending strange and abrupt. Read it and see what you think.
Hopefully more books in the series mainly to tidy up the ending!
January 11, 2024
Spellbinding for certain
I enjoyed the dialogues of commaraderie between the characters. This novel has a "Charles Manson" like character. The author has to do quite a bit of research to get the facts correct. I do appreciate that in a book. However, something Im noticing about all online novels is a lack of editing. For example, the main character, Marc Kadella, has his name occasionally spelled with a "K". Another has gender pronouns mixed up. The errors don't take away from the story, but it did make me go back to reread passages. The errors were little more than annoyance. That's why I didn't give it the full five stars
I enjoyed the dialogues of commaraderie between the characters. This novel has a "Charles Manson" like character. The author has to do quite a bit of research to get the facts correct. I do appreciate that in a book. However, something Im noticing about all online novels is a lack of editing. For example, the main character, Marc Kadella, has his name occasionally spelled with a "K". Another has gender pronouns mixed up. The errors don't take away from the story, but it did make me go back to reread passages. The errors were little more than annoyance. That's why I didn't give it the full five stars
November 25, 2023
I have mostly loved this series. The first sentence in the teaser talks about Manson. Yes, I have always been obsessed with the Manson story, so I was in! However, that part left a bit to be desired. I wish the author would get back to writing legal/courtroom stories for the entire book, not just the last third of it!
March 15, 2024
Another great legal mystery book in this series!
This book puts Marc Kadella defending his friend , Tony Carvelli, in a murder trial. The victim is part of a group of college age kids being convinced to murder people by a Charles Manson like leader. Many twists and turns to the plot!
This book puts Marc Kadella defending his friend , Tony Carvelli, in a murder trial. The victim is part of a group of college age kids being convinced to murder people by a Charles Manson like leader. Many twists and turns to the plot!
June 3, 2025
Best in the series so far!
I didn’t think I could get so involved in another Marc Kadella mystery but Retributive Justice sucked me I like a vacuum! Dennis Carstens has matured his characters, and, in my opinion, his writing style, to make these people jump off the pages for me. A captivating and emotional roller coaster!
I didn’t think I could get so involved in another Marc Kadella mystery but Retributive Justice sucked me I like a vacuum! Dennis Carstens has matured his characters, and, in my opinion, his writing style, to make these people jump off the pages for me. A captivating and emotional roller coaster!
October 6, 2023
One of the best of Carstens ls last 5 or 6 books in this series
A fast moving story with lots of things going on at once. The main characters have a great vibe and the story is interesting. If you are a fan of the Marc Kadella series,you will enjoy this story.
A fast moving story with lots of things going on at once. The main characters have a great vibe and the story is interesting. If you are a fan of the Marc Kadella series,you will enjoy this story.
June 26, 2025
Trouble by the score
With arrogant cops and a Charles Manson type cult leader this story has many twists. One suspect with amnesia after being pushed off a cliff and enough evil people to last a lifetime, this story kept me engaged from start to finish.
With arrogant cops and a Charles Manson type cult leader this story has many twists. One suspect with amnesia after being pushed off a cliff and enough evil people to last a lifetime, this story kept me engaged from start to finish.
August 3, 2025
Book 15 in the series
Tony Carvelli is working on a case when he is attacked and beaten by a group of young people. The reason for the attack is described clearly. He shoots one of the attackers, is arrested, and put on trial. Marc is his lawyer. A great story.
Tony Carvelli is working on a case when he is attacked and beaten by a group of young people. The reason for the attack is described clearly. He shoots one of the attackers, is arrested, and put on trial. Marc is his lawyer. A great story.
August 13, 2023
Who shot Polly Bertram and why??? There are so many confessions that.... I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
February 20, 2024
Another great read
October 28, 2024
Great Read
Another great read by Carstens. Every bit as exciting as the other books in the Marc Kadella Legal Mystery book series
Another great read by Carstens. Every bit as exciting as the other books in the Marc Kadella Legal Mystery book series
April 7, 2025
I am a fan of the courtroom drama genre. I especially appreciate Dennis Carstens placing his protagonist Marc Kadella in current situations mirroring those that challenge America today. we have abysmally failed to educate the next generation w/ skills of discernment, instead allowing them to fall victim to misguided woke politics. Carstens doesn’t back away from this pressing issue.
April 7, 2025
Intriguing story, but........
.......disappointing that the others who were guilty of such heinous crimes were 'free' to continue life as normal. Otherwise a very good read,
.......disappointing that the others who were guilty of such heinous crimes were 'free' to continue life as normal. Otherwise a very good read,
November 24, 2025
Cult Fever
Tony is in trouble! Marc Kadella must save his best friend from a wrongful prosecution. Dennis Carstens hit this one out of the park.
Tony is in trouble! Marc Kadella must save his best friend from a wrongful prosecution. Dennis Carstens hit this one out of the park.
December 4, 2023
Not very believable, sorry.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews