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Arbitrary and Capricious
Retired lawyer Sanders Pierce would rather spend his time painting at his art gallery, but when a former colleague, now general counsel at a major health benefits firm, asks him to investigate potential internal deceptions, he can't resist. Mostly because the amount she offers for his contract work is too good to pass up. He insists he will abide by the standard of law, which could expose the firm's fiduciary conduct as arbitrary and capricious.
He gets assigned to a small office in the lower floor of corporate headquarters where he interviews various employees and studies flowcharts. At first no one reveals much of concern, until he receives an email from a mysterious source with a grim Nothing is what it seems.
As Sanders digs deeper—and receives more cryptic messages—he meets others he didn't an exotic dancer at a strip club, a psychotherapist who could be a dominatrix, and someone who tries to assassinate him. What has he gotten himself into? What started as arbitrary and capricious is now dangerous, and Sanders has to escape without getting himself killed. Retirement can be dangerous.....
He gets assigned to a small office in the lower floor of corporate headquarters where he interviews various employees and studies flowcharts. At first no one reveals much of concern, until he receives an email from a mysterious source with a grim Nothing is what it seems.
As Sanders digs deeper—and receives more cryptic messages—he meets others he didn't an exotic dancer at a strip club, a psychotherapist who could be a dominatrix, and someone who tries to assassinate him. What has he gotten himself into? What started as arbitrary and capricious is now dangerous, and Sanders has to escape without getting himself killed. Retirement can be dangerous.....
199 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2022
5 people are currently reading
1917 people want to read
About the author
Jim Lively
12 books64 followersAfter practicing law for many years, Jim decided to pursue his passion full time as a visual artist, film maker and author. He received the 2016 Merrimack Media Outstanding Writer Award for his second novel, Punitive Damages. Arbitrary and Capricious is the fourth novel in a series. Choking on the Splinters is the third novel in a series, a Global Book Bronze Award winner for Mystery and Suspense. Surreal Absurdity, also a Global Book Bronze Award winner, is a sequel to his novel, Aberrant Behavior. Your Brain’s Still Flashing is a sequel to Never Ignore Monica, a finalist in the Thriller genre for the 2024 Book Excellence Awards.
His artwork and art films have been recognized in numerous juried competitions, publications and film festivals. He has exhibited his artwork in several group and solo exhibitions across North America and Europe.
Eighteen of Jim’s films have been selected to various film festivals around the world. His art film, The Soul of Vinyl, Abbey Road Side 2. screened at the 2016 New York City Independent Film Festival. Jim’s film, The Case of the Deranged Sommelier won Best Experimental Film in the 2016 Directors Circle of Shorts Film Festival and the 2017 Lion’s Head Film Festival. His film, Still Mad as Hell screened at the 2017 New York City Independent Film Festival. His film, It's Gonna Disappear screened at the 2021 New York Flash Film Festival. His latest film, Top Secret and Not So Confidential was selected as a Semi-Finalist in the 2023 San Jose Independent Film Festival.
Jim’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Level One Wine Sommelier Certification from the International Wine and Spirits Guild.
His website is www.jimlivelyart.com.
His artwork and art films have been recognized in numerous juried competitions, publications and film festivals. He has exhibited his artwork in several group and solo exhibitions across North America and Europe.
Eighteen of Jim’s films have been selected to various film festivals around the world. His art film, The Soul of Vinyl, Abbey Road Side 2. screened at the 2016 New York City Independent Film Festival. Jim’s film, The Case of the Deranged Sommelier won Best Experimental Film in the 2016 Directors Circle of Shorts Film Festival and the 2017 Lion’s Head Film Festival. His film, Still Mad as Hell screened at the 2017 New York City Independent Film Festival. His film, It's Gonna Disappear screened at the 2021 New York Flash Film Festival. His latest film, Top Secret and Not So Confidential was selected as a Semi-Finalist in the 2023 San Jose Independent Film Festival.
Jim’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Level One Wine Sommelier Certification from the International Wine and Spirits Guild.
His website is www.jimlivelyart.com.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 25, 2022
“Arbitrary and Capricious by Jim Lively is a fun mystery that is full of many twists and turns that make the reader wonder if the main character has a clue what he is up against or how to figure it out. The conspiracy that the book is centered on is quite despicable and, for our main character, downright dangerous. It all ties together nicely and makes for a really enjoyable read.
In the story, we trail along behind a retired lawyer by the name of Sanders Pierce. Mr. Pierce has retired from being a lawyer because he was sick of the day-to-day aspects of the job and ready for a change. Now he paints and owns an art gallery in Dallas, Texas, and he seems quite content with his new life. That is, of course, until a former associate pulls him into a huge conspiracy that is happening at her place of employment. Now we watch as Pierce is thrown into the middle of a very large health benefits scam, with the possibility that so many people on the inside of the company are involved that it could confuse anyone. It is a bit like watching a poor mouse try to run through a maze to find the guilty party and the mouse is constantly running into another wall and having to go backwards.
If that is not enough for the poor man there are also numerous puzzling messages going back and forth, a neighbor that he finds himself very attracted to (although she may actually be even more mysterious than he is in terms of career), an accepted way of dealing with the law that only he is following, an FBI agent that is driving him crazy, and someone who is trying to kill him (and many of these things happen on the same day).
“Arbitrary and Capricious” is a very creative mystery and one that holds the reader’s attention. The supporting characters in the book are wonderfully written, and it is such a varied group that each one is fun to get to know. It is enjoyable to see how each of these people are involved in the story and to figure out where their path might lead the reader as well as Sanders Pierce. As an added bonus, the ending of the story is a complete surprise, and that is something, as a reader, that always thrills me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery full of twists and turns. I will look forward to seeing what Mr. Pierce is up to in his next adventure.
In the story, we trail along behind a retired lawyer by the name of Sanders Pierce. Mr. Pierce has retired from being a lawyer because he was sick of the day-to-day aspects of the job and ready for a change. Now he paints and owns an art gallery in Dallas, Texas, and he seems quite content with his new life. That is, of course, until a former associate pulls him into a huge conspiracy that is happening at her place of employment. Now we watch as Pierce is thrown into the middle of a very large health benefits scam, with the possibility that so many people on the inside of the company are involved that it could confuse anyone. It is a bit like watching a poor mouse try to run through a maze to find the guilty party and the mouse is constantly running into another wall and having to go backwards.
If that is not enough for the poor man there are also numerous puzzling messages going back and forth, a neighbor that he finds himself very attracted to (although she may actually be even more mysterious than he is in terms of career), an accepted way of dealing with the law that only he is following, an FBI agent that is driving him crazy, and someone who is trying to kill him (and many of these things happen on the same day).
“Arbitrary and Capricious” is a very creative mystery and one that holds the reader’s attention. The supporting characters in the book are wonderfully written, and it is such a varied group that each one is fun to get to know. It is enjoyable to see how each of these people are involved in the story and to figure out where their path might lead the reader as well as Sanders Pierce. As an added bonus, the ending of the story is a complete surprise, and that is something, as a reader, that always thrills me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery full of twists and turns. I will look forward to seeing what Mr. Pierce is up to in his next adventure.
October 28, 2023
Retirement can be dangerous!!! Pure greed??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews