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Jack Swyteck #15
The Girl in the Glass Box
Miami attorney Jack Swyteck lands in the heart of the contentious immigration debate when he takes on the heart-wrenching case of an undocumented immigrant who fled to America to protect her daughter and save herself, in this timely and pulse-pounding thriller that explores the stories behind the headlines from New York Times bestselling author James Grippando, winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction.
Julia Rodriguez and her teenage daughter Beatriz escaped bloodthirsty gangs, random violence and, Julia’s abusive husband back in El Salvador. Arriving in Miami, mother and daughter struggled to carve their own piece of the American dream. While life in the States is hard, it is safer, until Julia’s rejects her boss’s unwanted sexual advances. Suddenly—thanks to an “anonymous” tip to U. S. immigration authorities—she is arrested, locked in detention with criminals, and slated for deportation. Jack’s only viable legal move to save her is asylum—a long shot that’s become nearly impossible in today’s charged political climate.
When Julia and Beatriz made the perilous trek north to freedom, they thought they’d left the danger behind them. But now, even Miami isn’t safe. A ruthless enemy may have tracked them to south Florida and is biding time, patiently waiting to strike.
In a case where the stakes have never been higher, Jack Sywteck may not be able to save his client—even if he wins.
Julia Rodriguez and her teenage daughter Beatriz escaped bloodthirsty gangs, random violence and, Julia’s abusive husband back in El Salvador. Arriving in Miami, mother and daughter struggled to carve their own piece of the American dream. While life in the States is hard, it is safer, until Julia’s rejects her boss’s unwanted sexual advances. Suddenly—thanks to an “anonymous” tip to U. S. immigration authorities—she is arrested, locked in detention with criminals, and slated for deportation. Jack’s only viable legal move to save her is asylum—a long shot that’s become nearly impossible in today’s charged political climate.
When Julia and Beatriz made the perilous trek north to freedom, they thought they’d left the danger behind them. But now, even Miami isn’t safe. A ruthless enemy may have tracked them to south Florida and is biding time, patiently waiting to strike.
In a case where the stakes have never been higher, Jack Sywteck may not be able to save his client—even if he wins.
448 pages, ebook
First published February 5, 2019
782 people are currently reading
1064 people want to read
About the author
James Grippando
50 books1,189 followers The first thing you should know about bestselling author James Grippando is that he is no longer clueless—or so they say, after “A James Grippando Novel” was a clue for #38 Across in the New York Times crossword puzzle. James is the winner of the Harper Lee Prize for legal fiction and a New York Times bestselling author with more than 30 novels to his credit, including the popular series featuring Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck. His latest, "Goodbye Girl" (HarperCollins 2024), is the 18th in the Swyteck series. His novels are enjoyed worldwide in 28 languages. As an adjunct professor he teaches "The Law & Lawyers in Modern Literature" at the University of Miami School of Law. He is also counsel at one of the nation’s leading law firms, where he specializes in entertainment and intellectual property law, representing clients who have won more than 40 Tony Awards. He writes in south Florida with Atlas at his side, a faithful golden retriever who has no idea he’s a dog.
Series:
* Jack Swyteck
Series:
* Jack Swyteck
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
December 20, 2018
Book fifteen in the long running Jack Swyteck series. I’m quite familiar with this series, having read many over the years. Along the way I’ve grown to love the main characters, Jack and Theo.
Jack Swyteck is a lawyer...typically representing the underdogs. Calling Miami home, he’s now married with a daughter. A huge influence in his life remains his grandmother from Cuba.
Then there’s Theo. Tough as nails on the outside but truly softhearted. Formerly a death row inmate until Jack became involved in his case, managing to have his murder conviction overturned.
The two are now the best of friends, always having each-others’ backs.
When Jacks grandmother asks for his help he can’t say no. He takes the case of a young woman Julia, seeking asylum after she’s taken by ICE. As Jack has his hands full fighting to keep Julia in the country, her past may be catching up to her. How many borders will she need to cross to escape her past?
While this wasn’t my favorite of the series, I still enjoyed reconnecting with all the characters.
James Grippando writes an intriguing and captivating book with short chapters that’ll keep you reading that one extra chapter.
The ending, well… let me just say it left me anxious to get my hands on the next in the series!
Thank you to Edelweiss, HarperCollins and James Grippando for an ARC to read and review.
Jack Swyteck is a lawyer...typically representing the underdogs. Calling Miami home, he’s now married with a daughter. A huge influence in his life remains his grandmother from Cuba.
Then there’s Theo. Tough as nails on the outside but truly softhearted. Formerly a death row inmate until Jack became involved in his case, managing to have his murder conviction overturned.
The two are now the best of friends, always having each-others’ backs.
When Jacks grandmother asks for his help he can’t say no. He takes the case of a young woman Julia, seeking asylum after she’s taken by ICE. As Jack has his hands full fighting to keep Julia in the country, her past may be catching up to her. How many borders will she need to cross to escape her past?
While this wasn’t my favorite of the series, I still enjoyed reconnecting with all the characters.
James Grippando writes an intriguing and captivating book with short chapters that’ll keep you reading that one extra chapter.
The ending, well… let me just say it left me anxious to get my hands on the next in the series!
Thank you to Edelweiss, HarperCollins and James Grippando for an ARC to read and review.
February 25, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed this book. I have been a fan of James Grippando's writing for a very long time. I first discovered his books sometime around 2006 and quickly tackled his backlist. I think a few books have slipped past me over the years but I try to stay as up to date with his writing as I can. I have found his books to be reliably good and this book was no exception. This book was rather hard for me to put down at times because I was so involved in the story.
This is the fifteenth book in the Jack Swyteck series but it could be easily read as a stand alone. As a long time reader of the series, I really enjoyed getting the chance to catch up with Jack and Theo. Their characters have definitely matured over the course of the series but they are still quite the impressive pair.
Jack is on a case that is a little different this time around. He is asked by his grandmother to help out with an immigration case. Julia has been taken into custody and faces possible deportation and her daughter is not taking this well. I have not read anything that I can remember that deals with the legal system as it pertains to immigration law and I was really surprised by how different that system is. I found all of the legal maneuvers to be really interesting in this story.
There is a bit more going on in this book in addition to the immigration trial. Danger seems to be following Jack's client around as he works to keep both her and her daughter safe. The pace picks up as the book progresses and culminates with some pretty intense action. I think that I was holding my breath for quite a while towards the end of the book.
This book did have a few shifts in its focus. The story started out really focused on the legal issues and how that system worked. At a certain point in the book, things shifted gears and it became much more of an action thriller. I do wish that things would have wrapped up a little neater. I guess I am used to Jack's cases coming to a rather satisfying conclusion before the last page but I didn't get that feeling with this book although I felt like this ending was probably a lot more realistic.
I would recommend this book to others. This is a fantastic series that I really feel like is worth the read. The characters in this series are amazing and the cases are always exciting and thought-provoking. I can't wait to read more from this fantastic author.
I received a digital review copy of this book from HarperCollins Publishers - Harper via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts
This was very good. It was an interesting look at legal maneuvers as related to an immigration case. There was some excitement to the story as well. I wish that the ending would have been wrapped up a little neater but I think that the way the author chose to end the story was realistic.
I really enjoyed this book. I have been a fan of James Grippando's writing for a very long time. I first discovered his books sometime around 2006 and quickly tackled his backlist. I think a few books have slipped past me over the years but I try to stay as up to date with his writing as I can. I have found his books to be reliably good and this book was no exception. This book was rather hard for me to put down at times because I was so involved in the story.
This is the fifteenth book in the Jack Swyteck series but it could be easily read as a stand alone. As a long time reader of the series, I really enjoyed getting the chance to catch up with Jack and Theo. Their characters have definitely matured over the course of the series but they are still quite the impressive pair.
Jack is on a case that is a little different this time around. He is asked by his grandmother to help out with an immigration case. Julia has been taken into custody and faces possible deportation and her daughter is not taking this well. I have not read anything that I can remember that deals with the legal system as it pertains to immigration law and I was really surprised by how different that system is. I found all of the legal maneuvers to be really interesting in this story.
There is a bit more going on in this book in addition to the immigration trial. Danger seems to be following Jack's client around as he works to keep both her and her daughter safe. The pace picks up as the book progresses and culminates with some pretty intense action. I think that I was holding my breath for quite a while towards the end of the book.
This book did have a few shifts in its focus. The story started out really focused on the legal issues and how that system worked. At a certain point in the book, things shifted gears and it became much more of an action thriller. I do wish that things would have wrapped up a little neater. I guess I am used to Jack's cases coming to a rather satisfying conclusion before the last page but I didn't get that feeling with this book although I felt like this ending was probably a lot more realistic.
I would recommend this book to others. This is a fantastic series that I really feel like is worth the read. The characters in this series are amazing and the cases are always exciting and thought-provoking. I can't wait to read more from this fantastic author.
I received a digital review copy of this book from HarperCollins Publishers - Harper via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts
This was very good. It was an interesting look at legal maneuvers as related to an immigration case. There was some excitement to the story as well. I wish that the ending would have been wrapped up a little neater but I think that the way the author chose to end the story was realistic.
November 25, 2019
Gestapo Storm Troopers
This book is ripped right out of today's headlines.
I found it to be dull and predictable.
ICE agents are cold, goosestepping, gestapo pigs. Illegal immigrants are all righteous and pure. Snore.
The book was filled with cliches and was repetitive. Make it an original story based on facts. Tell us that there is no easy answer to immigration. Preach the truth not your political agenda.
There are good people helping immigrants. Good people working for ICE, working in the detention centers, working in the courts, over burdened social workers doing their best, and even lawyers helping immigrants pro bono. The author didn't have the balls to tell a real story about immigration.
James Grippando gave us propaganda.
Another problem was this book was more about spousal abuse and less about immigration. Skip it
This book is ripped right out of today's headlines.
I found it to be dull and predictable.
ICE agents are cold, goosestepping, gestapo pigs. Illegal immigrants are all righteous and pure. Snore.
The book was filled with cliches and was repetitive. Make it an original story based on facts. Tell us that there is no easy answer to immigration. Preach the truth not your political agenda.
There are good people helping immigrants. Good people working for ICE, working in the detention centers, working in the courts, over burdened social workers doing their best, and even lawyers helping immigrants pro bono. The author didn't have the balls to tell a real story about immigration.
James Grippando gave us propaganda.
Another problem was this book was more about spousal abuse and less about immigration. Skip it
February 9, 2019
Love Jack Swyteck legal series. The Girl in the Glass Box has a very timely plot, illegal border crossing.
Jack, a criminal defense lawyer is now an “immigration” lawyer by a request from his Cuban grandmother to help a mother and daughter from El Salvador. This is a great thriller even sometimes I like Julia and sometimes I can’t stand her. Jack is definitely more patient than me 😄. Note to Theo: No!
July 18, 2019
This is the 15th book in the Jack Swyteck series, and I continue to enjoy Jack's and Theo's cases and exploits. When Jack's abuela, grandmother, asks for his help he can’t say no. He takes the case of a young woman Julia, who is seeking asylum after she’s been detained and imprisoned by ICE. Julia is the mother of a teenager, Beatriz, who begins to have medical and emotional issues worrying about what is going to happen to her mother, as well as herself. As Jack has his hands full fighting to keep Julia in the country, her past is catching up to her. How many borders will she need to cross to escape her past? How many people will die trying to help Julia and Beatriz.
This was a fast paced story as I have come to expect from James Grippando. Both Jack and Theo are helping to save Julia, with Theo beginning to have feelings for this young lady who has been through so much to attain a better life for her daughter and herself. I love Theo's character. He is a tough guy with the interior of a marshmallow. He will do pretty much anything for Jack, who saved him from execution years earlier, but will he defy Jack to save Julia? I wasn't sure about Julia. There were times my heart broke for this fragile, yet strong woman and other times I wasn't sure if she was lying and hiding things. She would do anything for her daughter, including getting deported if Beatriz could remain in the U.S. Reading about the legal system as it pertains to immigration law was very eye-opening. I did not realize how different this system is compared to the legal system and I found all of the legal maneuvers added an interesting twist to the story. There is more going on in this book besides the immigration trial. Danger is following Julia and Jack has to work quickly to keep both Julia and Beatriz safe. The pace picks up as the book progresses with some pretty intense action, culminating in a scary showdown near the end. And oh, that ending. I am not a huge fan of cliff hangers, but this ending has me waiting impatiently for the next book. The story is tied up for the most part, but there is one last thread that needs to be finalized. I definitely recommend this book and the series to those who like legal stories with some adventure, suspense and action.
I listened to the audiobook of this story. Overall I enjoyed it very much and Jonathan Davis does a great job with the male voices, but the female voices were not very feminine at all. This is a book that would have benefitted from having two narrators, one being female.
This was a fast paced story as I have come to expect from James Grippando. Both Jack and Theo are helping to save Julia, with Theo beginning to have feelings for this young lady who has been through so much to attain a better life for her daughter and herself. I love Theo's character. He is a tough guy with the interior of a marshmallow. He will do pretty much anything for Jack, who saved him from execution years earlier, but will he defy Jack to save Julia? I wasn't sure about Julia. There were times my heart broke for this fragile, yet strong woman and other times I wasn't sure if she was lying and hiding things. She would do anything for her daughter, including getting deported if Beatriz could remain in the U.S. Reading about the legal system as it pertains to immigration law was very eye-opening. I did not realize how different this system is compared to the legal system and I found all of the legal maneuvers added an interesting twist to the story. There is more going on in this book besides the immigration trial. Danger is following Julia and Jack has to work quickly to keep both Julia and Beatriz safe. The pace picks up as the book progresses with some pretty intense action, culminating in a scary showdown near the end. And oh, that ending. I am not a huge fan of cliff hangers, but this ending has me waiting impatiently for the next book. The story is tied up for the most part, but there is one last thread that needs to be finalized. I definitely recommend this book and the series to those who like legal stories with some adventure, suspense and action.
I listened to the audiobook of this story. Overall I enjoyed it very much and Jonathan Davis does a great job with the male voices, but the female voices were not very feminine at all. This is a book that would have benefitted from having two narrators, one being female.
April 2, 2019
Didn't like this book. At all. The only reason for the one star is because it seemed like the author was speaking with authority (ha, I'm leaving that in) about the operation of immigrant detention centers, and I appreciate being informed. Unfortunately, aside from that I found nothing to like about this book. The torture scenes were unnecessarily graphic and off-putting. The characters were painfully stereotypical. If you're an Anglo male, you're a lecherous, racist buffoon. If you're a woman of color, you're fierce, strong and saint-like, and your questionable behaviors are excused because they apparently serve to add drama and angst to the plot. I really didn't like ANY of the characters. At page 136, I just couldn't take it anymore, and put the book down.
April 18, 2019
I am a big fan of James Grippando and have now read 26 of his books. This one was not up to his standards. The story was difficult for me to get into and therefore it took a long time for me to finish this book. But that is not the worst part. The book has no conclusion. The ending is left up in the air. I was left wanting a resolution that was not given. Maybe a subsequent Jack Swyteck novel will tie up all the loose ends. I hate wasting my time reading books that have no definitive ending. I cannot recommend this book to anyone. It was a big disappointment to me. Definitely not up to the usual Grippando standard.
May 20, 2019
I read the first 90 pages of this book before giving up. Just didn't want to waste anymore time on it. I could have plodded on through it, but why, when there are so many other books with better writing and better stories?
April 5, 2019
Not a fan of the ending
February 19, 2019
"The Girl in the Glass Box" rates in as 3.5 stars. It is a good legal thriller with a focus on a the fate of an "undocumented alien" woman from Salvador.
Jack Swytek , an attorney in Miami, is asked , or ordered actually, by his grandmother who was herself and immigrant from Cuba," To help Julia with ICE." He does, and finds himself in a morass of a legal proceeding as he tries to keep Julia from being deported. She fled to the US because she had suffered physical and sexual abuse by her husband, a gang member. But that is not a good enough reason to avoid deportation, according to the law. Most readers, I think will be as unfamiliar as I am of the complexities of immigration law, the limbo of the detained illegals in warehouse- like centers, and the cold formalities of the courts. Grippando describes this very well.
Much of the book is how Swytek deals with the ICE courts, while trying to keep Julia's anxiety over the fate of her teen age daughter under control. Both mother and daughter are fearful that her gangbanger father has followed her to Miami with the purpose of killing Julia and kidnapping the daughter as a sex slave.
Swytek is a running character in Mr. Grippando's novels, so his history in known to his readers.
It is mentioned near the beginning of the novel that his law practice is finally showing an income after all the pro bono work he took on in the past, so one does wonder how he can afford all the travel expenses involved in helping Julia and her family, not to mention the unbilled time .But Jake Swytek is an idealist.
The characters of Julia and the daughter, Biatriz are interesting , depicting Julia's hopeless fear and Beatriz' depression very well. Also described is the legal complexity of immigration law that entangles the case for months, as Julia and her daughter feel danger grow. The best part of the book is the exciting climax that will satisfy the reader.
"The Girl in the Glass Box" is well- written , with a fast-paced story. Grippando takes a even-handed stance on today's illegal immigration question, without posturing or preaching.
Content notes: The book's back story involves murder andsexual violence, but it is not graphically described here.
Jack Swytek , an attorney in Miami, is asked , or ordered actually, by his grandmother who was herself and immigrant from Cuba," To help Julia with ICE." He does, and finds himself in a morass of a legal proceeding as he tries to keep Julia from being deported. She fled to the US because she had suffered physical and sexual abuse by her husband, a gang member. But that is not a good enough reason to avoid deportation, according to the law. Most readers, I think will be as unfamiliar as I am of the complexities of immigration law, the limbo of the detained illegals in warehouse- like centers, and the cold formalities of the courts. Grippando describes this very well.
Much of the book is how Swytek deals with the ICE courts, while trying to keep Julia's anxiety over the fate of her teen age daughter under control. Both mother and daughter are fearful that her gangbanger father has followed her to Miami with the purpose of killing Julia and kidnapping the daughter as a sex slave.
Swytek is a running character in Mr. Grippando's novels, so his history in known to his readers.
It is mentioned near the beginning of the novel that his law practice is finally showing an income after all the pro bono work he took on in the past, so one does wonder how he can afford all the travel expenses involved in helping Julia and her family, not to mention the unbilled time .But Jake Swytek is an idealist.
The characters of Julia and the daughter, Biatriz are interesting , depicting Julia's hopeless fear and Beatriz' depression very well. Also described is the legal complexity of immigration law that entangles the case for months, as Julia and her daughter feel danger grow. The best part of the book is the exciting climax that will satisfy the reader.
"The Girl in the Glass Box" is well- written , with a fast-paced story. Grippando takes a even-handed stance on today's illegal immigration question, without posturing or preaching.
Content notes: The book's back story involves murder andsexual violence, but it is not graphically described here.
April 26, 2019
Loved this book. Laughing my .... at the last page. So funny. Characters are great. Can't wait till next year. #15 was very good . Almost missed.
March 27, 2019
This was a fast paced novel with familiar characters as Jack takes the case
of Julia Rodriquez and her daughter who are seeking asylum in the U.S..
Jack takes the case as a favor to his grandmother while Julia’s husband
Is trying to kill them. This is a twisting tale of grief,murder,obsession, and
Wanting to do away with a family.
I enjoyed this story of an undocumented immigrant who fled here for safety
And look forward to the next book.
of Julia Rodriquez and her daughter who are seeking asylum in the U.S..
Jack takes the case as a favor to his grandmother while Julia’s husband
Is trying to kill them. This is a twisting tale of grief,murder,obsession, and
Wanting to do away with a family.
I enjoyed this story of an undocumented immigrant who fled here for safety
And look forward to the next book.
June 11, 2019
Deportation is a real concern for anyone in the US looking for asylum. The crime, the gangs, the ideas that other countries have are almost impossible to consider. But this is a fictional story about real problems with believable characters. Done well.
March 28, 2019
A believable plot, with an emphasis on ICE and DHS policies and procedures.
February 11, 2019
It's easy to refer to current thrillers as being “ripped straight from today's headlines,” but James Grippando's latest novel, book #15 in his Jack Swyteck series, is just that and more. Jack Swyteck is a Miami-based attorney who has found himself over the years embroiled in both high-profile and serious pro bono cases.
Grippando's depiction of courtroom drama places him in a very small class of authors that includes perennial bestseller John Grisham. THE GIRL IN THE GLASS BOX focuses directly on the immigration debate. Jack agrees to meet with Julia Rodriguez and her 14-year-old daughter, Beatriz, at the behest of his abuela. The book opens with a scene at Café de Caribe in Miami where Julia works. Her boss, Duncan McBride, uncovers the fact that she is an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador. His idea of fixing the situation involves an attempted sexual assault. When Julia rebuffs him, he throws her out and turns her into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Julia does not get far in the Little Havana section of Miami, where she resides, when she is tracked down and apprehended by ICE. Jack meets initially with Beatriz and then her mother, who is now in detention. Julia is labeled a Level One detainee, which means she is ineligible for release on bond. It is just a formality that will find Julia swiftly booted out of the United States and back to El Salvador, while Beatriz remains behind in the custody of Julia's sister, who is here legally. The only problem is Julia ran from El Salvador not just because of the promise of a better life in the US but to get away from her maniacal husband, Jorge, who she says brutalized and raped her.
When the introductory court case opens, Jack finds out that ICE wants to send Julia back to El Salvador because she is a felon under their laws. She allegedly violated Article 133 of the Penal Code in El Salvador that claims she aborted a pregnancy in the first trimester. Under Salvadoran law, this can get the convicted felon up to 50 years in prison. Julia swears that the pregnancy was terminated only because it was the result of Jorge raping her. It will not matter much to the US as they are only bound by immigration law and not looking to get involved in a criminal act alleged to have happened in El Salvador.
Jack has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and clearly knows his way around the courtroom. However, immigration law is not his specialty, and he will need to do plenty of research to be successful. To begin with, Julia tells Jack that there was one witness to the assault and rape: Beatriz. If he can make a case based on Julia's fear of further damage upon her daughter and the rest of her family by her gangbanger of a husband, maybe they can delay the proceedings enough in immigration court to buy her another year in the States on asylum. Meanwhile, Beatriz begins to exhibit sudden changes that finds her entering into what appears to be a catatonic state. There is an actual name for this condition: resignation syndrome. When she snaps out of it, she describes the experience as being trapped inside her own personal glass box where she is screaming and no one can hear her.
As Julia's trial becomes public record, it picks up the unwanted attention of the one person she fears the most. Jorge makes his way to Miami and begins a homicidal spree that will not end until he has his wife and daughter back under his control. This is all great ammunition for Jack in the case for Julia's asylum, but it is still an uphill battle.
Jack's friend and ex-death row convict, Theo, agrees to hide Julia and Beatriz in an apartment above the club where he works. Theo also takes more than a passing liking to Julia and is instantly smitten. Unfortunately, Jorge blackmails a junkie prostitute into meeting Beatriz and planting a GPS dog leash in her backpack. Knowing exactly where Beatriz and Julia are gives Jorge an advantage they are not aware of, and his homicidal rage will not be stopped until he gets them back.
The Feds do not want to touch Jorge as he is a gang informant for them. They will need proof that he is a threat and responsible for the murders committed in Miami before they make a move. Meanwhile, Theo sees that Jack is floundering in his courtroom case and decides to take matters into his own hands. He violates Julia's agreement to remain in Miami-Dade County, taking her and Beatriz by car to head north in an attempt to flee to Canada. Unbeknownst to them is the pursuit of Jorge, and readers easily will be able to predict that the inevitable confrontation will not end well.
Everyone converges on the town of Plattsburgh, just south of the Canadian border in New York State's Adirondack Mountain region. There is a famous spot known as Roxham Road, which is literally where the border between the US and Canada meet. At times, thousands of attempts a week are made to cross it. As long as the person is legally in the US, they are granted passage to Canada. Those who are not legal are placed into custody in Clinton County, NY. Jack flies up to Plattsburgh by way of Albany and heads off the fleeing trio --- but not before a deadly confrontation with Jorge that will have unexpected results.
What I admire most about James Grippando is that he does not stoop to making reference to the country’s current political climate that finds both sides at each other’s throats over how to properly deal with the immigration issue. Rather than filling the narrative with any vitriol or mud-slinging, Grippando focuses on building a plot around a deadly situation with terrific characters and scenes so tensely written that I was literally breathless by the finale. For me, this is his finest work, which is saying a lot as I've enjoyed his writing for the past 25 years. THE GIRL IN THE GLASS BOX is a great and pertinent legal thriller that pulls out all the stops straight through to the fiery climax.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
Grippando's depiction of courtroom drama places him in a very small class of authors that includes perennial bestseller John Grisham. THE GIRL IN THE GLASS BOX focuses directly on the immigration debate. Jack agrees to meet with Julia Rodriguez and her 14-year-old daughter, Beatriz, at the behest of his abuela. The book opens with a scene at Café de Caribe in Miami where Julia works. Her boss, Duncan McBride, uncovers the fact that she is an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador. His idea of fixing the situation involves an attempted sexual assault. When Julia rebuffs him, he throws her out and turns her into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Julia does not get far in the Little Havana section of Miami, where she resides, when she is tracked down and apprehended by ICE. Jack meets initially with Beatriz and then her mother, who is now in detention. Julia is labeled a Level One detainee, which means she is ineligible for release on bond. It is just a formality that will find Julia swiftly booted out of the United States and back to El Salvador, while Beatriz remains behind in the custody of Julia's sister, who is here legally. The only problem is Julia ran from El Salvador not just because of the promise of a better life in the US but to get away from her maniacal husband, Jorge, who she says brutalized and raped her.
When the introductory court case opens, Jack finds out that ICE wants to send Julia back to El Salvador because she is a felon under their laws. She allegedly violated Article 133 of the Penal Code in El Salvador that claims she aborted a pregnancy in the first trimester. Under Salvadoran law, this can get the convicted felon up to 50 years in prison. Julia swears that the pregnancy was terminated only because it was the result of Jorge raping her. It will not matter much to the US as they are only bound by immigration law and not looking to get involved in a criminal act alleged to have happened in El Salvador.
Jack has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and clearly knows his way around the courtroom. However, immigration law is not his specialty, and he will need to do plenty of research to be successful. To begin with, Julia tells Jack that there was one witness to the assault and rape: Beatriz. If he can make a case based on Julia's fear of further damage upon her daughter and the rest of her family by her gangbanger of a husband, maybe they can delay the proceedings enough in immigration court to buy her another year in the States on asylum. Meanwhile, Beatriz begins to exhibit sudden changes that finds her entering into what appears to be a catatonic state. There is an actual name for this condition: resignation syndrome. When she snaps out of it, she describes the experience as being trapped inside her own personal glass box where she is screaming and no one can hear her.
As Julia's trial becomes public record, it picks up the unwanted attention of the one person she fears the most. Jorge makes his way to Miami and begins a homicidal spree that will not end until he has his wife and daughter back under his control. This is all great ammunition for Jack in the case for Julia's asylum, but it is still an uphill battle.
Jack's friend and ex-death row convict, Theo, agrees to hide Julia and Beatriz in an apartment above the club where he works. Theo also takes more than a passing liking to Julia and is instantly smitten. Unfortunately, Jorge blackmails a junkie prostitute into meeting Beatriz and planting a GPS dog leash in her backpack. Knowing exactly where Beatriz and Julia are gives Jorge an advantage they are not aware of, and his homicidal rage will not be stopped until he gets them back.
The Feds do not want to touch Jorge as he is a gang informant for them. They will need proof that he is a threat and responsible for the murders committed in Miami before they make a move. Meanwhile, Theo sees that Jack is floundering in his courtroom case and decides to take matters into his own hands. He violates Julia's agreement to remain in Miami-Dade County, taking her and Beatriz by car to head north in an attempt to flee to Canada. Unbeknownst to them is the pursuit of Jorge, and readers easily will be able to predict that the inevitable confrontation will not end well.
Everyone converges on the town of Plattsburgh, just south of the Canadian border in New York State's Adirondack Mountain region. There is a famous spot known as Roxham Road, which is literally where the border between the US and Canada meet. At times, thousands of attempts a week are made to cross it. As long as the person is legally in the US, they are granted passage to Canada. Those who are not legal are placed into custody in Clinton County, NY. Jack flies up to Plattsburgh by way of Albany and heads off the fleeing trio --- but not before a deadly confrontation with Jorge that will have unexpected results.
What I admire most about James Grippando is that he does not stoop to making reference to the country’s current political climate that finds both sides at each other’s throats over how to properly deal with the immigration issue. Rather than filling the narrative with any vitriol or mud-slinging, Grippando focuses on building a plot around a deadly situation with terrific characters and scenes so tensely written that I was literally breathless by the finale. For me, this is his finest work, which is saying a lot as I've enjoyed his writing for the past 25 years. THE GIRL IN THE GLASS BOX is a great and pertinent legal thriller that pulls out all the stops straight through to the fiery climax.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
August 7, 2023
This was my first time reading a James Grippando novel. All I had to compare his style to is my love of a good John Grisham story. I believe James held his own. His writing style kept me turning pages and I especially liked his work here defending an illegal Immigrant getting to Miami from El Salvador to escape an abusive husband/gang member.
I wasn’t thrilled with the sudden ending to the story but still give it a 4 and will continue reading his work.
I wasn’t thrilled with the sudden ending to the story but still give it a 4 and will continue reading his work.
January 19, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It had plenty of twists and turns with characters that you can enjoy whether you have read the previous books of this series. I could not put it down because I wanted to know what the next page or chapter brought to the story.
April 25, 2019
Greatly enjoy these Grippando books. Especially listening to an audio format. All set up for #16 Swyteck !
October 9, 2019
The very relevant topic in this book outlines what can happen to a mother and daughter when ICE is called and takes the mother into the quagmire of ICE custody.
Julia and her daughter, Beatriz, are doing fine. Beatriz is in high school in Miami. Julia has a steady job in a coffee shop -- until her boss makes unwanted advances toward her and threatens to call ICE. Julia flees, grabs her daughter from their apartment, and they stay with her sister.
Julia and her daughter, Beatriz, are doing fine. Beatriz is in high school in Miami. Julia has a steady job in a coffee shop -- until her boss makes unwanted advances toward her and threatens to call ICE. Julia flees, grabs her daughter from their apartment, and they stay with her sister.
March 24, 2019
Audio book read by Jonathan Davis who deserves 5 stars for his excellent performance, especially the court room scenes.
But I felt like this novel was really a lesson in immigration law and the current situation in El Salvador. There was some suspense as Jack represents his new client, Julia Rodriguez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador whether she will be deported or be granted asylum. And then the added danger from her gang-related husband who is a murderer, a serial rapist and abuser. Their daughter, Beatriz, is the girl in the glass box which represents her depressed condition and also the climax at the end where the final confrontation takes place, in the glass cashier's booth at a gas station close to the border of Canada.
But I felt like this novel was really a lesson in immigration law and the current situation in El Salvador. There was some suspense as Jack represents his new client, Julia Rodriguez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador whether she will be deported or be granted asylum. And then the added danger from her gang-related husband who is a murderer, a serial rapist and abuser. Their daughter, Beatriz, is the girl in the glass box which represents her depressed condition and also the climax at the end where the final confrontation takes place, in the glass cashier's booth at a gas station close to the border of Canada.
March 21, 2019
This book was just ok. The ending was weak and wrapped up quickly.
April 19, 2019
Blah. Women are helpless and need men to rescue them from other men. Yuck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2019
Abandoned
January 22, 2025
My critics and detractors, of whom there are doubtless many, perhaps complain that the language I use to proffer full-throated praise for a book is too ebullient and over the top. I’m sorry if that’s the case, but there are times, and this book is a perfect example of those times, when I can’t help it.
Grippando unleashed his immense talent, and I was powerless against it. I read this in what felt like record time, and I loved every second I spent with it.
Julia Rodriguez thought the worst of her life was behind her. Admittedly, she and her daughter entered the United States illegally, but this was her one chance to make it and provide the life her daughter deserved. The coffee shop job wasn’t bad if you discounted the constant unwarranted and inappropriate advances of her sleazy boss. When she defended herself one time too many and with incredible effectiveness, he threatened to notify ICE that she was in the country illegally. Not long after the threat, immigration officials were at her door, and they whisked Julia away to a detention center for illegals.
Her daughter, Beatriz, lived with an aunt, and Jack Swyteck agreed to take Julia's case.
If you read this, you’ll understand why demanding asylum was so hard. Julia’s gangbanger husband is in Miami, and the feds say because he’s inside the US., she should feel safer going back to El Salvador.
All the trauma particularly hits Beatriz hard. She lapses into a situation the Swedes call Resignation Syndrome, a condition that effects immigrant children and youth whose families face uncertainty in a new country for prolonged periods of time after having escaped horrific circumstances in their country of origin.
At one point, Beatriz is comatose for days. But she insists she was very much awake and attempting to communicate. She could not because it felt that she was inside a glass box.
I’m doing a horrible job helping you understand why this is worth your time and effort. The plot is wonderfully propulsive. And while I’ve enjoyed the entire series, this is the only five-star book in the series so far. I was nearly powerless to stop reading this. It’s simply that good.
Grippando unleashed his immense talent, and I was powerless against it. I read this in what felt like record time, and I loved every second I spent with it.
Julia Rodriguez thought the worst of her life was behind her. Admittedly, she and her daughter entered the United States illegally, but this was her one chance to make it and provide the life her daughter deserved. The coffee shop job wasn’t bad if you discounted the constant unwarranted and inappropriate advances of her sleazy boss. When she defended herself one time too many and with incredible effectiveness, he threatened to notify ICE that she was in the country illegally. Not long after the threat, immigration officials were at her door, and they whisked Julia away to a detention center for illegals.
Her daughter, Beatriz, lived with an aunt, and Jack Swyteck agreed to take Julia's case.
If you read this, you’ll understand why demanding asylum was so hard. Julia’s gangbanger husband is in Miami, and the feds say because he’s inside the US., she should feel safer going back to El Salvador.
All the trauma particularly hits Beatriz hard. She lapses into a situation the Swedes call Resignation Syndrome, a condition that effects immigrant children and youth whose families face uncertainty in a new country for prolonged periods of time after having escaped horrific circumstances in their country of origin.
At one point, Beatriz is comatose for days. But she insists she was very much awake and attempting to communicate. She could not because it felt that she was inside a glass box.
I’m doing a horrible job helping you understand why this is worth your time and effort. The plot is wonderfully propulsive. And while I’ve enjoyed the entire series, this is the only five-star book in the series so far. I was nearly powerless to stop reading this. It’s simply that good.
May 6, 2019
Jack Swytek is an attorney in South Florida in this legal thriller, so it is no surprise that his clients may be in need of help with immigration problems. They rarely can afford an attorney, as in this story, but as in this story, unlike in real life, the attorney is not concerned with getting paid. Julia and her daughter fled El Salvador, and her abusive husband and - no surprise- entered the country illegally.
At this point, I always remind myself that both sides of my family are immigrants. I am unaware, however, of them committing any crimes to get here, or entering our country illegally.
From there, the legal part kicks in for me, and the lawyer has clients who don't want to tell him 'everything' and frequently do not tell him the truth. So the story is realistic to that extent. There is surprisingly a lot of action in the plot considering immigration law moves incredibly slowly. And most lawyers don't fly to El Salvador to find witnesses and confirm [or not confirm] their clients' testimony.
The ending was better than most, and the book was a quick and easy read. I have never read any other books by James Grippando but this is his 27th novel and is well-written. His Bio states that he practices law in a Law Firm, and teaches in the University of Miami School of Law. So I figured he must be at least 80 years old and never sleeps, but his photo shows a young-looking man. So he never sleeps....
At this point, I always remind myself that both sides of my family are immigrants. I am unaware, however, of them committing any crimes to get here, or entering our country illegally.
From there, the legal part kicks in for me, and the lawyer has clients who don't want to tell him 'everything' and frequently do not tell him the truth. So the story is realistic to that extent. There is surprisingly a lot of action in the plot considering immigration law moves incredibly slowly. And most lawyers don't fly to El Salvador to find witnesses and confirm [or not confirm] their clients' testimony.
The ending was better than most, and the book was a quick and easy read. I have never read any other books by James Grippando but this is his 27th novel and is well-written. His Bio states that he practices law in a Law Firm, and teaches in the University of Miami School of Law. So I figured he must be at least 80 years old and never sleeps, but his photo shows a young-looking man. So he never sleeps....
October 18, 2024
#15
This is Jack's book but Theo might be the star in this plot. Jack is involved in an immigration case for some little girl that Jack's Grandma has found and wants Jack not just to help, but to FIX it.
In Miami, when you refuse to have sex with your boss, not only do you get fired but ICE shows up at your door arrests you, and locks you in detention with a false criminal complaint for theft.
While Jack's Grandma is smitten by the little girl Beatriz, Theo is crushing on the incarcerated Mom, Julia. Jack is stuck doing all the hard work of staying ahead of the US Immigration attorney and the shadow that seems to be following Julia. If your reason for being in the States is to avoid domestic violence, it will be more difficult when that husband shows up in Florida.
What's worst is the El Salvadorian husband is part of an organized gang and is after anybody in contact with Julia and not because he loves her but because he owns her. This puts Jack and Theo in the line of fire.
Fast, action packed and a new glimpse of Theo.
4.2 stars
Happy Reading!
April 15, 2019
After discovering the Jack Swytek series, I have read them all.
Mr Grippando has developed a franchise to be proud of with the characters in this series. However, this book went way over the line for me. The liberal dogma line that is. I've always accepted, actually admired, the liberal beliefs and actions pursued by Jack and story plots of the entire series, until now. This book seems to frequently forget the plot and all efforts of story telling to dedicate itself to villainizing all aspects of immigration law in general, and ICE in particular.
No question, there are countless heartbreaking stories, concerning many wonderful illegal immigrants. This book could have told one of those stories without the constant torrent of biased dialogue about the immigration system.
Mr Grippando has developed a franchise to be proud of with the characters in this series. However, this book went way over the line for me. The liberal dogma line that is. I've always accepted, actually admired, the liberal beliefs and actions pursued by Jack and story plots of the entire series, until now. This book seems to frequently forget the plot and all efforts of story telling to dedicate itself to villainizing all aspects of immigration law in general, and ICE in particular.
No question, there are countless heartbreaking stories, concerning many wonderful illegal immigrants. This book could have told one of those stories without the constant torrent of biased dialogue about the immigration system.
February 8, 2019
Read my review Friday on bookreporter.com.
September 10, 2019
I liked the book with it’s illegal immigration and deportation issues, a teenage girl forced to repeatedly confront violence and Jack Swyteck, master defense lawyer.
October 13, 2019
It got boring at times but was entertaining.
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