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Hidden Justice #2

Imperfect Justice

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The police say the woman was a murderer. Emilie Wesley knows they can’t be talking about her client . . .  can they?

To the world it seems Kaylene Adams killed her daughter and then was shot by police. Attorney Emilie Wesley knows a different Kaylene would never hurt anyone and was looking for a way out of a controlling, abusive relationship. Her death shakes Emilie’s belief that she can make a difference for women in violent marriages. Self-doubt plagues her as she struggles to continue her work in the wake of the tragedy.

Reid Billings thought he knew his sister—right up until he learned how she died. He discovers a letter from Kaylene begging him to fight for custody of her daughters if anything should happen to her. No attorney in her right mind would support an uncle instead of the father in a custody case, but Kaylene’s letter claims Emilie Wesley will help him.

Thrown together in the race to save Kaylene’s surviving daughter, Emily and Reid pursue the constantly evasive truth. If they can hang on to hope together, can they save a young girl—and find a future for themselves in the process?

323 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2017

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1295 people want to read

About the author

Cara C. Putman

66 books1,897 followers
Cara C. Putman lives in Indiana with her husband and four children. She is a clinical associate professor in law and ethics at Purdue University's School of Business. She has loved reading and writing from a young age and now realizes it was all training for writing books. She loves bringing history and legal romantic suspense to life.

An honors graduate of the University of Nebraska, George Mason University School of Law, and Krannert School of Management, Cara left small town Nebraska and headed to Washington, D.C., to launch her career in public policy.

Cara is an author chasing hard after God as she lives a crazy life. She invites you to join her on that journey. She's currently writing her 46th book with more on the way. Please check out her website to learn more about her books and read first chapters.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah Sundin.
Author 22 books3,558 followers
January 15, 2018
Imperfect Justice by Cara Putman is a riveting legal thriller. As Reid and Emilie race to save a little girl, their mutual grief and self-doubts provide realistic and touching counterpoints. The story illustrates the plight of women trapped in abusive relationships, timely and relevant and sobering. Imperfect Justice is an excellent continuation of the Hidden Justice series, but it easily stands alone. I loved this book!
Profile Image for Andrea Cox.
Author 4 books1,741 followers
November 1, 2017
by Andrea Renee Cox

Wow! I want to reread this book immediately, but I don’t have the time. Imperfect Justice was so complex and interesting. From stalkers and murders to grief, domestic violence, and custody battles, this book pretty much had a little of everything. Don’t let that intimidate you, though. These things were all balanced out by faith and clean romance. The fact that domestic violence and fighting for folks stuck in those scenarios were featured made this an especially great read. The encouragement to get out of unsafe relationships was well presented, with heart, compassion, and experience. For those who are in the position of being abused, I pray this book will provide hope that you can survive and find joy in a brighter tomorrow.

I am so thankful that Cara Putman started writing legal suspense. It’s one of my favorite genres, but finding clean ones can be tricky! Not anymore. With Ms. Putman at the helm, I know I’m in for a great and intriguing story filled with people I’d love to know in person (okay, not so much in Robert’s case) and settings that are beautiful and rich and special. This was one of my most highly anticipated books of 2017, and the story between the covers held up well to that anticipation. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series. I’m hoping it’s about who I think it is! I’m sensing another romance brewing, but I’m very excited to see what cases those characters will tackle.

I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, authors, and sites like Netgalley, Litfuse Publicity Group, and Blogging for Books. They do not require me to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Profile Image for Namita.
639 reviews38 followers
October 8, 2017

Everybody believes eves that Kaylene Adams killed one of her daughters and then injured the other one before killing herself except her lawyer Emilie and Kaylene’s brother Reid.Emilie works for domestic violence victims and believes Kaylene was trying to escape her controlling husband. Reid and Emilie race against time to save Kaylene’s younger daughter along with Emilie trying to fight off an unknown personal stalker

This is my first book by Cara Putman and it’s a cozy , Christian , legal thriller.It’s not a fast paced book but a slow read about domestic violence which is never easy to read or write.

Many thanks to a Thomas Nelson & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
Profile Image for Denise.
2,406 reviews102 followers
Read
November 13, 2017
Legal drama about domestic violence featuring one of the main characters from the previous book in this "Hidden Justice" series.

Emilie Wesley, an attorney and reporter, is the roommate of Hayden McCarthy and cousin of Hayden's boyfriend, Andrew. This book is Emilie's story. She's working at the Haven, a non-profit that serves women who want to escape difficult or abusive domestic situations. When one of her clients, Kaylene Adams, doesn't show up for a protective order hearing, Emilie is suprised. Kaylene seemed so determine to get out with her two daughters. As she is leaving court, a news alert reports mutliple shootings -- apparently Kaylene has shot one daughter dead, injured the other and killed herself. But that can't be right, can it?

The bulk of the rest of the story is about Kaylene's brother, Reid Billings, asking Emilie to help him get custody of the surviving daughter away from Kaylene's husband, Robert. The whole case moves very slowly -- probably because the main narrative is taken up with Emilie having a bit of a breakdown and a career crisis all while fearing she has a stalker. And if that's not enough to take away from the whole legal issues that are mentioned here and there, the rest of of the plot focuses on the romance between Emilie and Reid. So, to sum it up, the book is mostly angst with heavy dose of romance and a touch of legal proceedings. In addition, there is an extreme Christian theme -- which in an of itself is OK -- but every single character is always talking about it?? Hard to imagine that world and everyone on the same religious theme page all the time. Got to be too much, really. A little goes a long way. It seemed that this book was less about legal and more about romance and religion so it really wasn't much of a thriller nor was it suspenseful.

And the mystery of what happened in the Adams's house? Predictable and drug on forever with a rushed ending. I selected these two books in the series because I wanted to read legal thrillers, but I don't think I will read more for the reasons above. I was disappointed by this sequel.

I did, however, want to mention that I live in KC and have also spent hours in the Nelson-Atkins Museum staring at the original Monet painting the author describes. The wall-sized water lilies painting is amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Nelson, Inc. for the e-book ARC to read and review.
Profile Image for Hannah.
2,853 reviews1,436 followers
February 23, 2018
I found this legal thriller to be very enjoyable and couldn't put it down at all for the last third of the book. Generally I've found it hard to engage in legal thrillers because the legalese bogs me down, but not at all with these! I definitely hope that Cara Putman continues to write more legal suspense, because it's so hard to find a good one.

Emilie was an engaging character and it's easy to like her. The whole story of Kaylene's death was so sad...it's easy to see where the "imperfect" part of the title comes in. Reid comes in with a strong presence; I'd have liked to see a bit more of where his career was going as well (a certain somebody needed a good comeuppance).

Definitely read book one to get the backstory on this!

I couldn't give it quite five stars because I saw the stalker coming a mile away and felt she made some foolish decisions about her interactions with someone like that. Also, the mentions of the "hunter on the parkway" from the last book were repeated, then explained with "thinning a deer overpopulation" at the halfway point. In my town they let people hunt an overpopulation only with bow and arrow to minimize danger to citizens, and DC is WAY more populated than here. There would be a great deal of oversight of a thinning of the population and it wouldn't be dismissed out of hand by the police.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free review copy. A favorable review was not required.
Profile Image for Lindsey Gandhi.
687 reviews264 followers
August 7, 2023
I really enjoy Cara Putman's writing. She puts all my favorite genres into one book. And the stories are good. I read this series a little backwards, started with #3 then went back and read #1 & #2. I do hope she continues this series. It gets better as it goes.
Profile Image for Staci.
2,299 reviews665 followers
January 7, 2018
Well done suspense novel! I was pulled in with the prologue and remained engaged the entire novel.

As an advocate for abused women, Emilie has a difficult job. She tries not to get too emotionally involved as sometimes she does her best and there isn't a happily ever after. Emilie was on the verge of making a positive impact for her client Kaylene and then tragedy struck. With this particular client, Emilie just can't let go of what has happened and works toward justice. I was intrigued by what steps were taken to find the truth of what happened to Kaylene. The story line and conclusion were completely plausible.

There was a nice blend of suspense and romance in the pages.

My gratitude to publisher Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader.
1,685 reviews206 followers
December 6, 2017
Come over and check out my Interview with Cara on my blog!


Imperfect Justice was a 5 star read and I was so impatient waiting for this second book in the Hidden Justice series. It was so worth the wait. I loved the romance and the legal thriller combination of this book.
You are going to love Emilee and Reid. I can't wait for you all to read this one.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
Profile Image for Rachel.
1,454 reviews153 followers
November 17, 2019
*thank you to Netgalley, Cara C. Putman and Thomas Nelson for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


4 stars.

I was pleasantly surprised by this! It was a decent fast paced story that kept me interested. I liked the characters and it was a bit suspenseful at times too. I hadn't read them first book in this series but I don't think it's actually necessary. I would definitely read more of this author's books.
Profile Image for Regina Jennings.
Author 31 books1,291 followers
November 28, 2017
Bite-Your-Fingernails Fiction

Cara Putman is a master at bringing both drama and heart to real-life legal conflicts. In Imperfect Justice, Attorney Emilie Wesley deals with a horrifying situation, and if she fails the consequences would be tragic. Not only does she need to clear the name of her client, she also has to prove the killer's guilt to save a child. And even with those high stakes, I was never sure exactly what would happen. With Putman's willingness to tackle the tough issues, all options are on the table, leaving readers with the delightful uneasiness that nothing is safe about the story. Especially with an obsessed stalker lurking unseen and unconfronted as Emilie tries to build her case.

I cheered every secondary character in the book, hoping that they will be the heroines of future installments in this series!

This was a "pick-up and read in one setting" book for me. You won't be disappointed.
Profile Image for Nila (digitalcreativepages).
2,667 reviews222 followers
August 15, 2017
This book made me think, it didn’t make me think about the story, but about the underlying reason for this story to be born. It’s a romantic suspense with a bit of legal framework. But the basic plot rests on domestic violence, a violence that sometimes is obvious but most other times, it’s insidious, making its attacks, hidden.

The story is simple enough; Kaylene Adams killed her elder daughter, critically injured her younger one before killing herself. This was the truth which was so incongruous and unbelievable but to only two people, Kaylene’s lawyer, Emily Wesley and her brother, Reid Billings. They work together to find out the ultimate truth to save the younger child and in the process, find each other and true love.

The author Cara Putman, has given the main character, Emilie Wesley, a leading role in the entire story, she is young, she is daring, she is all heart where her clients are concerned, and she is a lawyer fighting for the women who want to escape difficult domestic situations. Enter Reid Billings, he is everything that Emilie could have asked for and more. Cara Putman has made both these characters fit in such a way that they appear to be two halves of a whole.

But this story is not all romance, it’s a legal thriller based on investigation and court appearances, where the safety of a young child is at stake and the two main characters have to race against time to discover the truth.

Cara Putman writes a good Christian legal romance, giving justice to all the three parts. Her faith in God is well seen in the passages written in the book. She has taken all the problems of modern life, career VS family, relationships, safety for children, domestic violence, pressures at work and the ultimate faith in God, and weaved it into the different chapters of the book.

Inspite of all the above points, I still took 3 days to finish this book as the story was not gripping or fast paced, there are places where the main character rambles on and on. A legal thriller is filled with adrenaline, this seemed diluted with water. Court appearances should have brilliant open and closing statements along with a terrific cross examination.

Though the last few pages were good but they could have definitely been better. A book which has been likened to be the next John Grisham is lacking because of the lackluster investigations and court proceedings and the fast pace.

This is my first book by author Cara Putman and I admire the way she has written her story basing it on domestic violence. She has taken her experiences of working with abused women and written it sensitively in this story. Kudos to her.

There is a line in the book which echoes with all the women in this world

Emilie wanted to be loved. She didn’t want to disappear into someone else’s control…

I received an ARC from the publisher Thomas Nelson as a gift via NetGalley and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Gloria.
1,140 reviews162 followers
September 30, 2017
Imperfect Justice grabbed me from the first page and I was hooked until the last one. I thoroughly enjoyed it! This is the second book in the Hidden Justice series and it was great to visit with Hayden and other girls and their mentor from law school once more in Emilie's story. Each of the woman have a different area of the law that they specialize in according to their convictions or opportunities.
Emilie Wesley comes from a wealthy family and works with women who are trying to get out of abusive situations with their husbands or boyfriends. She had a problem with a boyfriend in college and feels the need to help others going through what she went through. She also writes for an online paper. Sometimes her trust money is used to supplement her expenses but she is very committed to her work. When one of her clients, who was trying to get away from an abusive husband, appears to have killed one daughter, injured another and was killed herself, Emilie sets out to prove that she couldn't have harmed her daughters. She joins forces with Kaylene's brother Reid to prove her innocence but it is an uphill climb. Unknown to any of her friends, she is also being stalked. Someone is leaving notes in her purse, her briefcase or on her car.
Reid Billings is very successful in his work as a financial investor and adviser but has drifted away from his sister Kaylene. But he couldn't imagine that she committed the acts of violence that she was accused of. When he tried to visit his niece, Kinley, in the hospital, his brother in law wouldn't let him near her. He and Emilie join forces to dig into what was going on in Kaylene's family life.
This book is a great legal suspense with well developed, real characters. Imperfect Justice has danger, stress, mystery and some romance. I could feel Em's fear when she sensed that she was being watched and followed. Faith plays an important part in the lives of both Em and Reid. Cara Putnam did a great job with the story line and developing Emilie's character to be the perfect attorney for this area of law. Her own work in the area is evident and inspiring. It was a page turner for me and I can't wait to see the next story. I have a feeling that I know whose is next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Carrie Schmidt.
Author 1 book507 followers
December 21, 2017
Cara Putman’s Imperfect Justice follows Emilie Wesley, Hayden’s roommate and best friend from Beyond Justice. This means we get to visit with Hayden and Andrew again, and that makes me happy!

While Hayden’s story revolved around an immigration-related case, Emilie’s story focuses on domestic abuse and murder. In this way, Putman continues to shine a light on ‘hot-button’ legal issues while also giving us a behind-the-scenes peek of the legal work involved. She also achieves a nice balance of legalese and layman’s terms, combining her own legal background and her talent as an author.

The nature of this particular case allows for more suspense & a little more action, too. It’s also deeply layered, each dimension adding more tension to the mix. Although we never actually meet Kaylene on the page, we are instantly rooting for her – our hearts sinking when she doesn’t show up in court, our hearts breaking at the reason.

And then there’s the budding romance between Reid and Emilie, which adds even more dimension to the case at hand. As Kaylene’s brother, Reid adds a different set of dynamics to the story and as such the instant sparks between him and Emilie are tempered with a bit of wariness on both sides at first. When he discovers a letter from Kaylene all wariness fades, and his slow grin and big heart will sweep you off your feet like he does for Emilie. (Side note: How can i not love Emilie – words are her superpower!)

Bottom Line: Thrilling legal suspense, compelling characters, and an emotional case will leave you riveted to the page in this latest novel from Cara Putman. Emilie, Reid, Kaylene and her daughters will claim your heart from the very beginning, drawing you in until you are as emotionally invested in the outcome as they are. If you love courtroom dramas and legal thrillers, this is the series for you!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
Profile Image for Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays).
5,152 reviews3,121 followers
May 7, 2021
The second book in Putman's Hidden Justice series is intricately plotted and thoroughly engrossing. The characters are complex and develop throughout the story, giving the tale meaning as their relationships progress. The mystery surrounding what happened to Kaylene and her daughters is intriguing and will keep readers guessing until the ultimate resolution. This page-turner is smart, thoughtful and appealing to readers who enjoy legal thrillers and solid mysteries.
Kaylene Adams appears to have killed her daughter and mortally wounded her second daughter before she was shot and killed herself. Her attorney Emilie Wesley had been helping to build Kaylene's confidence to leave her abusive husband, and Emilie finds something very suspicious about Kaylene's death. Reid Billings, Kaylene's brother, also thinks something is strange. The more he tries to discover what happened, the more roadblocks are thrown in his path. As the two investigate, they begin to grow closer. Emilie is also troubled by a mysterious stalker who is getting bolder in his pursuit of her.
Profile Image for Sarita.
1,510 reviews655 followers
May 6, 2019
This was quite a difficult subject matter, and I think the author did a great job of showing sympathy/empathy for people (mostly women) who is stuck in abusive, controlling relationships and how the system fails them, as well as providing a suspenseful read and a sweet beginnings of a romance.

I liked Emilie from book 1 and was glad to read her story. And Reid was a great hero, and the relationship between them felt realistic and gradually build from acquaintances to friendship to something more. I appreciated how the author handled the romance, and even the romance from the prior book was still in the building phase.

The suspense was good. It did not kept me turning pages to see what is going to happen next. It was more suspenseful in the nature where the author set up expectations from the prologue to following the evidence, in the sense that I did not wonder what would happen, but more when it would happen. But at the end the author threw me since things ended with Robert differently to what I expected (but still satisfying).

I did know who the stalker was from the beginning and as soon as the character was introduced...it was obvious so probably intended by the author, and again you had this building suspense of knowing something will happen but not what and when... and there was one point I thought Emilie was a bit naive/ignorant of signs since she works with this on a daily basis.

*also...one character's name changed from the novella to this novel...*

Even though there was those small things which limited my rating to 4, I enjoyed this legal suspense and would recommend it to fans of this genre.
3,925 reviews1,763 followers
December 5, 2017
Honestly, I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying this Hidden Justice series by Cara Putman. I just read the first book a month ago and am definitely on the legal suspense bandwagon now. It's a totally different kind of mystery and investigation but just as riveting. And while I don't know a lot about the legal system, I feel like the author writes for readers like me. Which means the legal lingo and court scenes don't get so technical that she loses me. I might not completely understand everything, but I get enough for the story to make sense.

And then there's the romance. Emilie and Reid. Awesome dynamcis between these two. Edgy at first. A personal relationship is difficult to start in the midst of tragedy and they are both dealing with issues around Kaylene's death. Ironically, both are weighed down by guilt. Emilie because she feels like she missed something as the woman's lawyer and Reid because he wasn't the kind of big brother his sister would confide in.

Then there's the complications of trying to solve a case the police don't think exists. There are so many layers to the suspense -- including a secondary one that kept me on the edge of my seat. Putman cleverly draws it all out with measured pacing. The kind of plot that grabs a hold of you right from the start and doesn't let you go...even after you reach the end. Now I am anxious for the next book in the series -- which I believe has been set up in this one. At least, I'm hoping it's Caroline's turn next.

Oh -- and I love the title tie-in by the way. Definitely sums up the plot of this thrilling suspense.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity Group for providing me with a copy of this book.
Profile Image for Loraine.
3,450 reviews
October 15, 2018
The dual suspense lines in this book kept me riveted from start to finish: Kaylene's murder or suicide and Emilie's stalker. Focused mainly on the burning issues of spousal abuse either mental, physical or both, Putman has written a thriller that I couldn't put down. Also the role that faith and strength can play in recovering from spousal abuse was well done. The title captured the fact that the justice system doesn't always get it right and that sometimes there is more than meets the eye in foul play. I absolutely loved the closeness between this group of women who all went through law school together and how they always are there to support one another. Although this book can be read as a stand alone, it reads better if you follow the series and really get to know this group of women.

Imperfect Justice combines suspense, romance and the legal system to create a very good read.
Profile Image for Rachel.
353 reviews42 followers
December 14, 2017
This is a legal thriller that deals with an issue that will grab at your heart - an abusive marriage, a murder including children, and an uncle trying to save his niece from the same fate. The inclusion of a stalker for the heroine will keep you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed the intense way this book was written and the light romance that gives you a little bit of relief from the mystery of everything else going on. This is the second book in a series and I did not read the first one before reading this one. There was a little bit of the story that might have been easier to understand if you read the first book first, but for the most part I didn't have any problems reading this one first.

*Thanks to Litfuse for a complimentary copy of this book. I was not paid nor required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are my own.*
Profile Image for Tressa (Wishful Endings).
1,829 reviews193 followers
December 12, 2017
IMPERFECT JUSTICE is a story of a woman's fight to save women in abusive relationships and the one loss that deeply impacts her while also opening up a new direction for her life. The romance is sweet and develops slowly while the suspense steadily grows to a climatic end. Recommended to those who enjoy inspirational romantic suspense and legal thrillers.

This story was full of sweet moments between friends and heartbreaking ones as Emilie loses a client unexpectedly and deals with trying to free other clients from abuse. She has her own demons to deal with as well as a current stalker. I really liked her character and especially loved her group of friends. Reid was also quite likable. Both are very talented and also made a great team. The legal aspects were interesting in some ways, although one instance wasn't authentic when a protection order was knowingly broken by an attorney and something that wouldn't happen in the real world. Otherwise, I enjoyed the setting and they legal aspects of the story.

The inspirational elements were fairly consistent throughout the story, but not overly heavy. I did feel like that it was a little awkwardly introduced into Emilie's storyline. It kind of just crashed in and even startled her in the scene, which felt weird to me. I would have liked it to be more subtle or a natural part of her story from the beginning. In comparison, the religious aspects of Reid's life felt natural and like a part of who he is and a natural part of his life.

What I enjoyed most about this story was Emilie and Reid's fight to protect his niece and to find out what really happened to Kaylene. I also loved how their friendship developed and then grew to something more. I also adored the ending!

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an enjoyable legal thriller on the lighter suspense side and some nice romantic elements. I definitely plan on reading more books from this author.

Content: Some violence.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Litfuse Publicity, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
Profile Image for Rachael.
730 reviews
January 29, 2018
Read this book in one sitting! I am so enjoying this author’s legal thriller series..more to come.
Profile Image for Kelly Bridgewater.
1,206 reviews62 followers
December 5, 2017
Imperfect Justice by Cara Putnam is a great mixture of suspense, romance, and a legal thriller to keep a number of unique and different fans happy. She didn't compose this novel to fit into one tiny little genre. It fits across a number of them. I enjoy stories that feature strong women who are seeking justice for other characters and for themselves.

The writing is clear and concise. I had no problem figuring out what Emilie's issues were. Putnam does a great job at dragging me into her personal and professional life and allowing me to travel with her as she struggles through her cases. Putnam does a great job at bringing me into the setting. Living in Indiana like Putnam, it was nice to see a familiar sports team like the Colts mentioned.

The romance was sprinkled into the story between Emilie and Reid Billings. It was not overwhelming or take over the story. Emilie and Reid's romance was slow going, but Putnam allowed them to actually explore their feelings like a real-life couple would. I didn't gag or flip through the pages while the romance was going on.

The plot with hunting for resolution for Kaylene and her daughters was exciting and kept me flipping the pages. I really enjoyed how Putnam told the story of seeking justice without really smacking upside the head with a resolution that I was told. The characters of Emilie and Reid worked really well together to solve the mystery. I enjoyed spending time with the plot and was fascinated as the story moved along. If I wasn't so busy, I would have jumped in and finished the story quickly.

Overall, Imperfect Justice is a unique story that mixes well with the romance and the suspense. I wanted to know and hoped that Kaylene would get her deserved justice by the end of the novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Imperfect Justice by Cara Putnam from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
Profile Image for Madison.
1,088 reviews70 followers
November 18, 2017
Imperfect Justice slowly builds from an intriguing start to a fast-paced ending, weaving together legal cases, journalism, romance, financial investment, and a murder investigation.

Attorney Emilie Wesley is finding it hard to believe that the woman she was helping to leave her controlling and abusive husband is the same woman who shot and killed her young daughter before killing herself. But that's exactly what the press and police are saying about Kaylene Adams. Emilie wants to discover the truth, but knows it will be hard while balancing her work at The Haven, as well as her freelance investigative journalism work. When Kaylene's brother Reid shares his own suspicions with Emilie, they begin to work together to discover the truth and protect Kaylene's remaining daughter.

This book builds slowly. The first 100 pages provide a lot of information around the backstory and lead-in events and it's not until after this first section that Emilie and Reid start to dig and the mystery really starts to unfold. It does make the first half of the book rather slow and a little hard to get into, but the suspense quickly builds after that. This lead in to the story also gives the reader time to become familiar with Reid and Emilie as individuals before they have much interaction.

I think it's important to note that this book focuses on the legal implications of the case, rather than a traditional murder investigation. There is a cross-over and some similar detective legwork, but it doesn't have the consistent thrills of a murder mystery. Instead, this book combines a number of aspects, most notably Emilie's work providing legal council for those trying to find refuge from abusive relationships. Combined with this is Emilie's journalism work, and the suspense that builds around her fear of a stalker who is getting increasingly attentive. A portion of the story also focuses on Reid's work as a financial investor, which I quite enjoyed, along with the romance that develops between Reid and Emilie.

The romances also builds slowly and it's rather sweet to watch Reid stumble around his growing awareness of Emilie. As they build their case together, Emilie can't hide her growing respect for Reid, who shows a character much different from the abusive boyfriends and husbands she sees through her work at The Haven and with which she has had personal experience.

The title, Imperfect Justice, seemed to suggest that perhaps the ending wouldn't be as satisfying as it could be, but I really enjoyed the ending, and found it to be a fulfilling conclusion to this intriguing book.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 39 books654 followers
November 24, 2017
My thoughts: I didn't read the first book in this series Beyond Justice, but IMPERFECT JUSTICE easily stands alone. I was sucked into the life of an attorney working for the abused women clinic, helping them to get the help they need to escape the nightmares they are caught in, as well as into the world of a financial planner.

As characters, both Reid and Emilie had things coming at them from all directions. Forced together by the knowledge that Kaylene couldn't have possibly killed her daughter despite the neightbor's video and testimonies, Reid and Emilie struggle to find the proof that things are not as they seem. Add Emilie's struggles in her second job, a stalker (or two) and a boss who refuses to work with her, Emilie is facing an uphill battle. Reid likewise is racing against time to get his tween niece away from her abusive father--hard to do when his father has a restraining order against him to keep him away from his niece--and his boss is pitting the two main players in the office against each other for a position of control. Add in an undeniable attraction to Emilie and he hardly has time to rest.

I couldn't put IMPERFECT JUSTICE down. Despite deadlines of my own, I inhaled every page of this book. If you like romantic suspense don't let the word "legal" scare you off, because Ms. took the fear of that word out of the story while keeping the tension high in the suspense. While I did figure out early on who Emilie's stalker was, I didn't know how either situation would get to the climax and HEA ending. An engaging read.

For the screamish: There are some dead bodies.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.




Profile Image for Holly.
708 reviews21 followers
November 29, 2017
I have to admit this book grew on me and I ended up enjoying it. At the beginning of the story, I struggled with Emily. I just didn't care for her character, mainly because she seemed to be defying a direct order from her boss without a second thought. But as the story progressed I began to appreciate her tenacity.

The story itself was really good. The author tackled a difficult and sadly too common occurrence, domestic abuse. In this case, the abuse wasn't strictly physical but a lot of emotional abuse. I felt like the author handled the subject extremely well. She brought out the many truths about abuse and how the system doesn't always work.

Reid was great! It was fun to watch his character develop throughout the story and his shifting priorities. 

All in all, I would recommend this book. The more I read the more I cared about the characters and wanted to see the resolution.  

4-Star Rating Based on the Amazon Scale
3-Star Rating Based on the Goodreads Scale

Disclaimer:  I did receive a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.com, I was not required to give a review and the opinions here are my own.
Profile Image for Tima.
1,678 reviews129 followers
December 21, 2017
Emilie, a lawyer from a non-profit for women, is devastated when one of her clients appears to murder herself, her daughter and put the other daughter in the hospital. Kaylene was leaving her abusive husband and was ready to make a new life for her daughters. So why would she choose to end everything when she was so close to her escape? Emilie doesn’t believe the husband’s version for a moment. And neither does Kaylene’s brother, Reid. The two team up to solve the mystery of what really happened in that home before the police arrived. But a stalker is scaring Emilie and she has no idea who it might be.

I loved the writing style and how the author woven different plot threads to make it all seamless. There are elements of faith and romance, but most of the book focuses on the suspense. I thought the author did a great job of not only showcasing, but being sensitive about the subject of spousal abuse. My only complaint would be the part with the stalker. It didn’t seem to mesh with the rest of the story and the character’s reaction didn’t seem on target based on what her job is. But overall, I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait to read her next one.
Profile Image for Jaime Jo Wright.
Author 29 books2,397 followers
August 16, 2017
Imperfect Justice tackles a gritty subject, and Cara Putman writes with finesse and delicate sensitivity. This legal thriller had me turning pages long after even lawyers have retired for the night, and the fine threads of romance and faith brought hope where often there is none. With a superior story of law and crime, the verdict is in: Imperfect Justice will stick with you long after you've devoured the last gripping page.
Profile Image for Rachael.
Author 3 books17 followers
November 27, 2017
This legal suspense is very different from the first book in the series, focusing on a totally different aspect of law, yet they share the same love of justice and desire to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. In this case Emilie works with women trapped in abusive situations, and you can feel the author's heart for these women in her writing, as well as the toll these cases take on the advocate--not all end happily.

Emilie and Reid make a cute couple. To me, Reid's financial business was a little boring, but I'm really not into finances. However, I did feel that the characters were well-developed, with their professions, interests, and groups of friends, and even if Reid's work isn't my thing, it fit with his character and proved he has a significant life outside of his interactions with Emilie.

I've been enjoying this group of supportive, young lady attorneys. It's nice to read about women who, though they could be rivals, choose to build each other up instead. I'm hoping the next book will be about Caroline!

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a free e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Laurie Beemer.
679 reviews28 followers
August 12, 2017
Cara Putman writes novels that might make some people uncomfortable because of the story content. This concept is one that needs to be told over again and again. This is an important story that unfortunately happens all to often but people are afraid to talk about. This story needs to be told. The emotional foundation of this book makes the relationship of faith an important part of Emilie and Reid's life and continued growth. This book was full of a lot of emotional twists and turns that led the reader along an equally twisted path. It was an amazing addition to the Hidden Justice Series.
Thank you NetGalley and Cara Putman for allowing me to read and review this book.
Profile Image for Maureen Timerman.
3,230 reviews490 followers
January 4, 2018
Cara Putman has woven a tale of heartbreak, courage, and resolve to fight for justice, all with their heart on their sleeves.
This book has a bit of everything, from stalking, controlling, murder, abuse, and then those who want to be there to help those in need. What starts out as just a job of being a lawyer and helping those in horrible situations, ends up being life changing, fighting the all consuming pain and grief and hopeless at not being able to change the past.
The bad part about this book is once you turn the first page you will be hooked, and nothing better get in the way, yes this is an enjoyable, powerful read.
I received this book through the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.
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