Justice Served

by R. Barri Flowers

Male batterers of women are being beaten to death by a bat-wielding female vigilante. Each victim had recently been on trial for domestic violence-related charges, but was set free through plea bargains, technicalities, or acquittal. Two Portland Police Bureau Detectives--Sergeant Ray Barkley and his partner Detective Nina Parker--investigate the killings. Among the list of suspects is Criminal Court Judge Carole Cranston, who presided over the trials of all the victims and has dark secrets she is in no hurry to share. Barkley quickly develops an attraction to the beautiful Carole, and vice versa, even as the case heats up and more signs begin to point toward Carole as the serial killer the press has dubbed The Vigilante Batterer Killer. Nina, who had a brief affair with Barkley, is determined to prove Carole is the killer. But is she? As the body count rises, no one seems safe. That includes Barkley, who is targeted by the killer. Can he survive? Or will he be forced to take his turn at bat?

325 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2005

About the author

R. Barri Flowers is an award-winning criminologist and bestselling author of romantic suspense, crime and thriller fiction, crime nonfiction and true crime, relationship novels, young adult mysteries, and children's books.

The author is a member of the International Thriller Writers,

Reviews

[Kristen Richeal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just terrible

[Bettye McKee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book

I'm running out of superlatives trying to convey what a great writer is turning out these excellent stories.

"Justice Served" really is a fantastic story. Whenever an accused wife batterer walks free in Judge Carole Cranston's courtroom, for whatever reason, he is shortly thereafter beaten to death and beyond with a baseball bat.

The murders are investigated by detective partners Ray Barkley and Nina Parker. Judge Cranston herself becomes the prime suspect after evidence is found in her residence.

The characters are great, the plot is clever, and the story deserves to be called a thriller.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

rounded from 4.5