Envious Justice

Marc Kadella Legal Mystery #17

by Dennis Carstens

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2025
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The Kadella series is beautiful! The author introduces new characters with a flair that is pretty rare. And the use of characters throughout the story is wonderful. I know that the series will end eventually, but until then I'm hooked.

Midnight on a cold, almost frosty autumn night in a rough neighborhood of Minneapolis. Two men, agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, are sitting in their car in the empty lot of a local park. It’s dark while they wait when a man walks up to the driver’s open window. Without any warning, not giving the armed agents the chance to defend themselves, the stranger pulls a gun, a .38 caliber revolver, and shoots both of them in the head. He flees while the agents die. A sensational act that rocks the Twin Cities. The murder of any law enforcement officer is still a rarity in Minnesota, especially one as planned, premeditated, and brutal as a double homicide.
Miles Davis, named after his father’s favorite musician, has an extremely bright future ahead of him. Fourteen years old, an eighth-grade middle school student on the Northside of Minneapolis, Miles has almost every major college scouting him as a future NBA caliber point guard. On top of it he is carrying a 3.3 GPA, the result of a two-parent upbringing that has emphasized academics even more than his balling skills. This is the child every parent worthy of being called a parent wants their child to become. A few days after the murders, MPD detectives burst into Miles’ classroom and without a warning or apology, drag Miles out in handcuffs. The gun that did the murders was found hidden in his school locker. Enter Marc Kadella.
A close friend of the Davis family is a retired detective of the MPD and a friend of Marc’s PI pal, Tony Carvelli. Initially, Marc wants nothing to do with a notorious, very likely pro bono murder defense. Except his wife, Madeline Rivers, insists he at least meet with Miles and the Davis family. Convinced of Miles innocence, Marc is hooked.
Envious Justice has enough twists, turns and suspects to fill two courtrooms. The confusing pretzel that is this story will keep you up with the SODDI defense while knowing Miles is innocent but then, who done it? As always, Carstens has crafted a terrific legal mystery with a realistic trial for those who admire the genre to enjoy, probably many times.

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 9, 2024

About the author

Dennis 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.

Reviews

[Wendy Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Envious Justice -Legal & Otherwise

This book takes you to street drugs & the defense of a young student accused of murdering 2 policemen .

The storyline runs through some understanding of the business side of drug deals while delving into providing a strong legal basis to defend what’s right.

At times you wonder who’s on the right side of the law as lines get blurry
Fascinating book right to the end❣️👏

[Carolyn Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justice prevails

Court room drama, a young man with NBA dreams charged with two murders, a gun, photos, drug dealers, DEA….what more could you want? Marc and his band of cohorts follow leads to defend Miles. There were clues, but it all came together with a surprise who done it. Recommend you read the book.

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific mystery—had me guessing til the very end!

I love that the characters in the Mark Kadella series aren’t flat & two dimensional. I’m truly connected to all, even the criminals, and that’s what makes Dennis Carstens writing so great. I’m really sad this is the penultimate story 😢

[Mick Shank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cliff hanger

Great book all the way through . Very little , if any word salad to puff up the pages . A few good twists and viola ! Another book read . Hurry Up Mr Carstens , I need more !!

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, I liked it.

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Once again the author had me on the edge of my chair. Marc, Tony and Maddy are up to their tricks and they always get their guy.

[Susan Zywicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!!!

Dennis Cars tens is an amazing author!! I have read all his books. Envious Justice had me reading way past my bed time. Loved it!!

[John Roach, · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story as usual. Top author

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 17 in the series

A fourteen year old middle school student is arrested for a double murder. Nobody thinks that he did it but . . . A great story.

[Ann Keeran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kid Arrested

Dennis Carstens has put together an incredible story of crooked cops, drug dealers and a team of good guys. Fantastic!

[barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a great read and feel part of the story with Mark and his team ,great storyline and well worth a read .

[Doug Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

After two DEA agents are shot to death one night in Minneapolis, the killer tries to pin the blame on 14-year-old Miles Davis by having the murder weapon placed in the boy's locker. Miles is soon charged with the murders, and attorneys Mark Kadella and Jennifer Moore agree to represent him.

Mark and Jennifer know that Miles did not commit the murders, but how can they convince a jury to agree with them? They put investigator Tony Carvelli to work to find out what really happened. It soon becomes apparent that the story involves Miles' cousin Deandre, who at age 16 controls a large chunk of the drug distribution in Minneapolis. Corruption in the DEA and the Minneapolis police also seem to be factors. Tony and his colleagues race to secure evidence in time for it to be presented at the trial. The combination of detective work and courtroom drama accelerates the story to an exciting conclusion.