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Justice #2
In Pursuit of Justice
In the dynamic double sequel to Shield of Justice and A Matter of Trust, Det. Sgt. Rebecca Frye struggles to return to duty after a near fatal shooting. Joining forces with enigmatic computer consultant J.T. Sloan, Rebecca accepts a temporary assignment with a Federal task force investigating an Internet child pornography ring. Rebecca's obsession with finding her partner's killer and her involvement in the multi-jurisdictional investigation threaten both her life and her new relationship with Doctor Catherine Rawlings. When Catherine becomes professionally involved and an attempt on the life of a task force member ensues, the pursuit of justice becomes a deadly race against time
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
54 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Radclyffe
142 books1,668 followersRadclyffe has written over forty-five romance and romantic intrigue novels, dozens of short stories, and, writing as L.L. Raand, has authored a paranormal romance series, The Midnight Hunters. She has also edited Best Lesbian Romance 2009 through 2015 as well as multiple other anthologies. She is an eight-time Lambda Literary Award finalist in romance, mystery, and erotica—winning in both romance and erotica. A member of the Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame, she is also an RWA Prism, Lories, Beanpot, Aspen Gold, and Laurel Wreath winner in multiple mainstream romance categories. In 2014, she received the Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist award from the Lambda Literary Foundation. In 2004, she founded Bold Strokes Books, an independent LGBTQ publishing company, and in 2013, she founded the Flax Mill Creek Writers Retreat offering writing workshops to authors in all stages of their careers.
She states, “I began reading lesbian fiction at the age of twelve when I found a copy of Ann Bannon’s Beebo Brinker. That book and others like it convinced me that I was not alone, that there were other women who felt like I did. Our literature provides support and validation and very often, a lifeline, for members of our community throughout the world. I am proud and honored to be able to publish the many fine authors at Bold Strokes Books and to contribute in some small way to the words that celebrate the LGBTQ experience.”
Radclyffe lives with her partner, Lee, in New York state.
She states, “I began reading lesbian fiction at the age of twelve when I found a copy of Ann Bannon’s Beebo Brinker. That book and others like it convinced me that I was not alone, that there were other women who felt like I did. Our literature provides support and validation and very often, a lifeline, for members of our community throughout the world. I am proud and honored to be able to publish the many fine authors at Bold Strokes Books and to contribute in some small way to the words that celebrate the LGBTQ experience.”
Radclyffe lives with her partner, Lee, in New York state.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 10, 2018
Loved it!
This is Radclyffe at her best. Building a series with characters that matter. Also building a story that matters. It's true sex always sells regardless. What maybe we can stop are the greedy men at the top.
Radclyffe sets up an intriguing and compelling storyline. Her characters also care. The contents maybe disturbing but unfortunately true. One reason I like Radclyffe is that she tells it as it is. Even the ugly parts.
Great story, great characters and definitely one I'm going to follow. I'm off to read book 3. You? Enjoy!
Brilliant story.
This is Radclyffe at her best. Building a series with characters that matter. Also building a story that matters. It's true sex always sells regardless. What maybe we can stop are the greedy men at the top.
Radclyffe sets up an intriguing and compelling storyline. Her characters also care. The contents maybe disturbing but unfortunately true. One reason I like Radclyffe is that she tells it as it is. Even the ugly parts.
Great story, great characters and definitely one I'm going to follow. I'm off to read book 3. You? Enjoy!
Brilliant story.
November 11, 2022
3,5 stars
An interesting crime investigation, mostly likeable MCs and some romance to keep it well rounded (but I could do with less sex scenes, they kinda disrupt the flow of the story).
The continuation of the investigation from the previous book is definitely the highlight and I really like several of the new characters.
And it cuts off at such a point, that I'm going to start the next book as soon as possible because I'm curious.
An interesting crime investigation, mostly likeable MCs and some romance to keep it well rounded (but I could do with less sex scenes, they kinda disrupt the flow of the story).
The continuation of the investigation from the previous book is definitely the highlight and I really like several of the new characters.
And it cuts off at such a point, that I'm going to start the next book as soon as possible because I'm curious.
October 22, 2021
The team is all coming together. We finally meet the last member of the team Dellon Mitchell. I love the nickname Sandy has for her ‘Rookie’. I love how Dell sees and appreciates, the woman underneath the job that Sandy, had no other alternative but to take. Their relationship is beautiful to watch grow. From friendship to the cusp of something more.
Frye is ready to get back to work and show Catherine is strong and going to be okay. Catherine is having to deal with the reality of Rebecca’s job. She is so scared of losing her.
Sloan and Jason are back as consultants to the new joint task force. They are the best at what they do. It’s so good to see Michael and Sloan together with bands on their fingers and living in domestic bliss. The moment the car hits Michael, my heart totally breaks. Michael is such an innocent and has to be okay. I rage at the injustice of the attack and can’t wait for the guilty party to be held accountable. Poor Sloan so lost and volatile. I’m so happy she has Jason, Sarah, Catherine, and Rebecca. I can’t get enough of these characters and it only gets better each time I read it.
Frye is ready to get back to work and show Catherine is strong and going to be okay. Catherine is having to deal with the reality of Rebecca’s job. She is so scared of losing her.
Sloan and Jason are back as consultants to the new joint task force. They are the best at what they do. It’s so good to see Michael and Sloan together with bands on their fingers and living in domestic bliss. The moment the car hits Michael, my heart totally breaks. Michael is such an innocent and has to be okay. I rage at the injustice of the attack and can’t wait for the guilty party to be held accountable. Poor Sloan so lost and volatile. I’m so happy she has Jason, Sarah, Catherine, and Rebecca. I can’t get enough of these characters and it only gets better each time I read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2013
I wrote a pretty positive review of Shield of Justice, the first book of Radclyffe’s Justice series., so I was surprised at how much more I enjoyed its sequel, In Pursuit of Justice. In thinking about this, I realized that the overall tone of the books seems markedly different. The mood of Shield… was really forbidding, with almost no relief throughout. Admittedly, the fact that the novel features a serial murderer contributes to this, but the mood bleeds over into the blossoming relationship between the Detective Rebecca and psychiatrist Catherine. Even the lovemaking scenes are kind of a downer.
Although Pursuit… also deals with another horrendous crime, child pornography, it feels lighter, somehow, and more of a pleasure to read. I still haven’t completely warmed to either Rebecca or Catherine, but they aren’t quite the dour personalities of the first book. Even their lovemaking isn’t as austere. The addition of Sloan, Michael, and Jason, whom I liked very much in the prequel, Matter of Trust, helped lighten the atmosphere until near the end. Really though, it’s the addition of two new characters, Sandy, a young prostitute who’s Rebecca’s confidential; informant, and Dell, a uniformed officer assigned to the Task Force Rebecca is leading, which really improved things for me. They’re very likeable, and, though they don’t have major time on stage here -- sorry for the mixed metaphor -- they’re both important to the plot. And, the relationship which seems to be developing between them is quite intriguing, given their respective professions. I’m looking forward to seeing what direction Radclyffe takes them in the next book, in which I hope they have a greater part.
Only one complaint: The ending is really unsatisfying. And while Radclyffe isn’t the sort of writer to create a cliffhanger just to get you to buy the next volume in the series, but it does kind of feel that way. When the cops catch a purveyor of kiddie porn with his pants down, quite literally, the Feebs show up and make off with all the evidence, leaving Rebecca’s team nothing to show for their efforts, and also leaving Michael with a devastating injury meant for Sloan. The story feels terribly incomplete..
Nonetheless, the book is well written technically, the characters engaging, and the plotting solid, despite the lack of closure. Definitely worth your time.
(It would be a good idea to read the previous novels first, or Shield…, at least.)
Although Pursuit… also deals with another horrendous crime, child pornography, it feels lighter, somehow, and more of a pleasure to read. I still haven’t completely warmed to either Rebecca or Catherine, but they aren’t quite the dour personalities of the first book. Even their lovemaking isn’t as austere. The addition of Sloan, Michael, and Jason, whom I liked very much in the prequel, Matter of Trust, helped lighten the atmosphere until near the end. Really though, it’s the addition of two new characters, Sandy, a young prostitute who’s Rebecca’s confidential; informant, and Dell, a uniformed officer assigned to the Task Force Rebecca is leading, which really improved things for me. They’re very likeable, and, though they don’t have major time on stage here -- sorry for the mixed metaphor -- they’re both important to the plot. And, the relationship which seems to be developing between them is quite intriguing, given their respective professions. I’m looking forward to seeing what direction Radclyffe takes them in the next book, in which I hope they have a greater part.
Only one complaint: The ending is really unsatisfying. And while Radclyffe isn’t the sort of writer to create a cliffhanger just to get you to buy the next volume in the series, but it does kind of feel that way. When the cops catch a purveyor of kiddie porn with his pants down, quite literally, the Feebs show up and make off with all the evidence, leaving Rebecca’s team nothing to show for their efforts, and also leaving Michael with a devastating injury meant for Sloan. The story feels terribly incomplete..
Nonetheless, the book is well written technically, the characters engaging, and the plotting solid, despite the lack of closure. Definitely worth your time.
(It would be a good idea to read the previous novels first, or Shield…, at least.)
October 28, 2022
I am loving Radclyffe's work!!! Very interesting!
August 9, 2024
I LOVE REBECCA FRYE OKAY??
This series means so much to me
I recently had to break up with my partner of 4 years and reading these books is reminding me of how beautiful it can be. How right and safe and mature and healthy relationships can be. Reading these books is helping me and healing me and telling me that there is still hope. That I can still love and be loved the way I am, and that it was the right decision to break up.
“Right now, I’d rather you just share your life with me, not change it for me.”
This. This, stuck with me so hard. This is everything a mature and healthy relationship is.
The dynamic between Catherine and Rebecca is still beyond beautiful. So real, so pure, so fucking intimate and angsty and mature and gorgeous, it makes me want to seriously cry.
I love how we got so many more characters in this book and each one feels so real. The writer adds depth into each character that you can't help but relate to them in some way. I love Mitchell and I'm excited to see more of her.
That scene with Sloan and her lover in bed where her lover was straddling her was plain phenomenal.
Also, the fact that they just call each other lovers?? There is no other label other than lover, or occasionally partner. But mainly its lover. Not girlfriend, not wife, no, lover.
Isn't that plain gorgeous?
I just.. I just wish more people read this.
"When she was with her, the places inside that always ached stopped hurting."
Even the writing got better in this second book, it became more beautiful than it already was.
But still found the ending lacking, same as the first book, it just didn't make up for all the buildup throughout the book. I mean we have this serious case that we're trying to solve just for everything to happen in the last 10% of the book and its just so flat.
But I'm guessing Radclyffe has a bigger plot which includes the whole series, so really it's not a big deal, specially that the books read as one long book anyway.
Also, I wish Catherine had that conversation with Rebecca about Sandy. I hope we get that in the next book. It just seems like something that should happen, specially coming from Catherine.
"As much as she missed Rebecca’s subtle presence in her apartment—the extra clothes in the closet, two coffee cups in the sink, her keys and wallet on the dresser—she liked this new distance, too. It was a distance heavy with promise and hope, a kind of charged separation she’d never experienced before. It was the very opposite of lonely, because even though they still had a lot to learn about one another, Rebecca was a part of her life now." BEAUTIFUL.
Thank you Radclyffe again, for this amazing series.
Please like if you found the review to be helpful <3
This series means so much to me
I recently had to break up with my partner of 4 years and reading these books is reminding me of how beautiful it can be. How right and safe and mature and healthy relationships can be. Reading these books is helping me and healing me and telling me that there is still hope. That I can still love and be loved the way I am, and that it was the right decision to break up.
“Right now, I’d rather you just share your life with me, not change it for me.”
This. This, stuck with me so hard. This is everything a mature and healthy relationship is.
The dynamic between Catherine and Rebecca is still beyond beautiful. So real, so pure, so fucking intimate and angsty and mature and gorgeous, it makes me want to seriously cry.
I love how we got so many more characters in this book and each one feels so real. The writer adds depth into each character that you can't help but relate to them in some way. I love Mitchell and I'm excited to see more of her.
That scene with Sloan and her lover in bed where her lover was straddling her was plain phenomenal.
Also, the fact that they just call each other lovers?? There is no other label other than lover, or occasionally partner. But mainly its lover. Not girlfriend, not wife, no, lover.
Isn't that plain gorgeous?
I just.. I just wish more people read this.
"When she was with her, the places inside that always ached stopped hurting."
Even the writing got better in this second book, it became more beautiful than it already was.
But still found the ending lacking, same as the first book, it just didn't make up for all the buildup throughout the book. I mean we have this serious case that we're trying to solve just for everything to happen in the last 10% of the book and its just so flat.
But I'm guessing Radclyffe has a bigger plot which includes the whole series, so really it's not a big deal, specially that the books read as one long book anyway.
Also, I wish Catherine had that conversation with Rebecca about Sandy. I hope we get that in the next book. It just seems like something that should happen, specially coming from Catherine.
"As much as she missed Rebecca’s subtle presence in her apartment—the extra clothes in the closet, two coffee cups in the sink, her keys and wallet on the dresser—she liked this new distance, too. It was a distance heavy with promise and hope, a kind of charged separation she’d never experienced before. It was the very opposite of lonely, because even though they still had a lot to learn about one another, Rebecca was a part of her life now." BEAUTIFUL.
Thank you Radclyffe again, for this amazing series.
Please like if you found the review to be helpful <3
March 12, 2025
None of Radclyffe's leading women have ever gotten a full night of sleep in their lives LOL.
I didn't find Rebecca and Catherine's descent into love all that compelling in the first book and Rebecca's insistence on putting her job above Catherine in practice (despite how much she insists that she values Catherine) just grated on me after awhile, which is a fundamental disconnect because the whole series is really about valiant career-driven women who put themselves in danger constantly. I also skimmed most of the spice and found myself not caring too much for Sloan and Michael. I've also realized that I've read enough of this author to easily pick up on her writing tells (like how she ends her chapters in some dramatic, open ended revelation for a character)
Anyway, Radclyffe weaves all the different characters together in a way that mostly makes sense, and how she writes these high pressure professions in a very believable way. I will probably finish the series.
I didn't find Rebecca and Catherine's descent into love all that compelling in the first book and Rebecca's insistence on putting her job above Catherine in practice (despite how much she insists that she values Catherine) just grated on me after awhile, which is a fundamental disconnect because the whole series is really about valiant career-driven women who put themselves in danger constantly. I also skimmed most of the spice and found myself not caring too much for Sloan and Michael. I've also realized that I've read enough of this author to easily pick up on her writing tells (like how she ends her chapters in some dramatic, open ended revelation for a character)
Anyway, Radclyffe weaves all the different characters together in a way that mostly makes sense, and how she writes these high pressure professions in a very believable way. I will probably finish the series.
June 8, 2019
Thrilling mystery with tons of action & romance
“If she and Rebecca were to have any future together, she would have to accept the fact that every time Rebecca walked out the door, it might be for the last time. She would have to learn to say goodbye, and she wasn’t at all sure that she could.”
“Right now, I’d rather you just share your life with me, not change it for me.”
+ • + • + • +
This story was absolute perfection!!! An action-packed, entertaining story with interesting characters & riveting plot lines.
With every page I read, the more I identified with & felt connected to these characters then the more I became invested in their journey of revealing pieces of themselves & exploring each other
It was a very enjoyable read. I recommend this book.
“If she and Rebecca were to have any future together, she would have to accept the fact that every time Rebecca walked out the door, it might be for the last time. She would have to learn to say goodbye, and she wasn’t at all sure that she could.”
“Right now, I’d rather you just share your life with me, not change it for me.”
+ • + • + • +
This story was absolute perfection!!! An action-packed, entertaining story with interesting characters & riveting plot lines.
With every page I read, the more I identified with & felt connected to these characters then the more I became invested in their journey of revealing pieces of themselves & exploring each other
It was a very enjoyable read. I recommend this book.
March 4, 2024
pursuit
Spicy: 2.5/5
TW: child molestation/p*rn
Detective Sergeant Rebecca Frye is part of the SVU and is on desk duty after being shot on duty. Desk duty doesn’t mean lack of hard work, and has been tasked to track down criminals who watch and record child p*rn.
Doctor Catherine Rawlings’ is a psychiatrist that works with rape survivors and is Detective Frye’s life partner. She is also tasked at the last minute to be a consultant on her Girlfriend’s work case. Bring more tension between the couple.
Sloan owns her own network security company and has been tasked to work with Frye to bring down criminals who get off on watching minors.
Will they track down the sick f*cks, or will they get away?
Spicy: 2.5/5
TW: child molestation/p*rn
Detective Sergeant Rebecca Frye is part of the SVU and is on desk duty after being shot on duty. Desk duty doesn’t mean lack of hard work, and has been tasked to track down criminals who watch and record child p*rn.
Doctor Catherine Rawlings’ is a psychiatrist that works with rape survivors and is Detective Frye’s life partner. She is also tasked at the last minute to be a consultant on her Girlfriend’s work case. Bring more tension between the couple.
Sloan owns her own network security company and has been tasked to work with Frye to bring down criminals who get off on watching minors.
Will they track down the sick f*cks, or will they get away?
October 28, 2019
Book is getting interesting. Some attempt at building tension. I enjoy the stake out. I feel that the writing is having trouble establishing a balance between Romance and work which can be argued to be mirroring the character’s dilemma.
Radclyffe is most definitely better at describing trauma and surgery scenes
Radclyffe is most definitely better at describing trauma and surgery scenes
April 28, 2025
Yes. Yes. Yes. Finished in a day - obsessed!
More queer characters? YES! Women supporting women! YES!
Radclyffe has been on my must read list for a few months - so glad I dived in! The writing is so smooth - yet I could not stop.
Catherine and Rebecca working on themselves, granting someone vulnerability, the fight for justice. Swoon all around.
More queer characters? YES! Women supporting women! YES!
Radclyffe has been on my must read list for a few months - so glad I dived in! The writing is so smooth - yet I could not stop.
Catherine and Rebecca working on themselves, granting someone vulnerability, the fight for justice. Swoon all around.
June 8, 2017
The use of Catherine in the investigation was forced, useless and stupid.
August 10, 2017
Good one, although I'd like to see more about main characters!
March 30, 2018
With Radclyffe, you pretty much get what you want. I had this on Audiobook, so it was a slow read as I only listened while travelling or at the gym.
September 24, 2018
This book was not as good as the last one but I liked how it built on Rebecca and Catherine’s relationship, can’t wait to see what the next one holds.
November 8, 2018
Loved it. I’m a sucker. Guess I have to read the whole series.
August 4, 2021
3.5 stars
April 5, 2023
Wow! I am addicted to Radclyffe I have never been a series book reader until now. This is Law & Order on steroids 😊
September 23, 2023
a better one, the connections bettween these characters are intense
August 1, 2025
Awesome
It was awesome to meet a character from another series and I hope there is more making guest appearances. Looking forward to the next one.
It was awesome to meet a character from another series and I hope there is more making guest appearances. Looking forward to the next one.
December 15, 2025
3.5
don’t care for the Sloan POV
don’t care for the Sloan POV
August 25, 2015
A very good Who-dunnit. A fairly quick read without too many characters to confuse the whole story. This is a first novel for Ben Matthews and a first criminal trial for Ray, the attorney. It is written with the reader feeling he is in Ray Jackson shoes all the time. A little scared of trying the murderer, but confident he can do it well, you are with him as he digs for evidence and clues to free Bo.. All the while the reader is not sure if he did kill the victim or not. Maybe a bit too much hopping in and out of bed with the ladies in the story, but you become very sensitive to way he feels with his loneliness and not enough money to pay the bills. He relies on the girls to make him happy. I would recommend this book to any adult reader.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2013
I'm giving it Four stars but I want to give 3.5. It is a compelling book from an investigative standpoint. I loved how both couples were present. I appreciated Catherine and Rebecca trying to work things out. So in that way I felt a bit forward motion for them. I wanted more. I didn't feel there was any forward motion for Sloan and Michael. I wanted more. The bottom line is I wanted less of the investigation and more of the relationships. Eager to read the next one.
January 30, 2011
A continuation of the Justice series. This was from my Nook, which I am really enjoying. The story includes the characters introduced in the earlier book(s). A police sergeant on supposedly light duty after being shot gets involved with investigating an internet porn ring. Good installment.
January 22, 2015
I really enjoyed Shield of Justice, but I hadn't to say I was a little disappointed with this sequel. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I felt the story ambled along and ended abruptly without a significant resolution or climax.
December 28, 2015
Catherine and Rebecca with the introduction of Sloan and Michael is a very intriguing series. The dynamics of each couple is interesting and I look forward to reading about each relationship as the series unfolds. What I enjoyed most about this story is the relentless pursuit of justice.
February 13, 2016
so far my only major complaint about the first 2 justice series books are that 90% of the books are spent setting up the storyline and building up to a finish that was first...rushed and then in the second never occurs mostly. I get invested and then don't get a payoff.
January 31, 2013
The dynamic of Sloan and her partner Michael is wonderful, not to mention the angst and uncertainty between Catherine and Rebecca. A perfect example of why the Justice series is my favorite :-)
July 29, 2016
Great Book
Gave it five stars because I love the characters. And now there's more interesting characters in the story can't wait to read the next book.
Gave it five stars because I love the characters. And now there's more interesting characters in the story can't wait to read the next book.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews