A Kind of Justice: A Novel

by Renee James

Overview

Against all odds, Bobbi Logan, a statuesque transgender woman, has become one of Chicago's most celebrated hair stylists and the owner of one of the city's poshest salons. She is finally comfortable with who she is, widely admired in her community, about to enjoy the success she deserves.

Then her impossibly perfect life falls apart.

In the space of a few weeks, the Great Recession drags her business to the brink of failure, her beloved ex-wife needs help in facing a terrible tragedy, and a hateful police detective storms back into her life, determined to convict her of the five-year-old murder of John Strand—pillar of the community—and a sexual predator.

As the detective builds an ever more convincing case against her, both of them will be shaken by revelations—about themselves, about their own deeply held secrets, and about the bizarre ritual murder of John Strand.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608092130
Publisher:	Oceanview Publishing
Publication date:	10/04/2016
Series:	Bobbi Logan Series , #2
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Renee James is the pen name of a Chicago-area transgender writer. She is a Vietnam veteran, licensed hairdresser, and wilderness adventurer. Before becoming an award-winning novelist, she was a decorated magazine editor and writer, and a successful entrepreneur. Seven Suspects follows A Kind of Justice in the Bobbi Logan series.

Editorial Reviews

08/01/2016
In James’s solid second novel about hairdresser Bobbi Logan (after 2014’s Transition to Murder), the murder of John Strand—a psychopath who preyed on trans women—comes back to haunt Bobbi. Bobbi, now the owner of the Chicago salon at which she was employed, tries to spend her life focusing on work and on helping her newly widowed ex-wife, who’s in turn trying to raise a young daughter. Meanwhile, Allan Wilkins, a bigoted police detective, believes that Bobbi murdered Strand and is intent on doing whatever he can to prove it. Bobbi, who’s innocent, wonders whether her friend Cecelia, a retired investment banker, might have been involved. She prefers to focus on her business woes in the down economy—and on her attraction to Phil, a Chicago PD officer who’s tried to improve police relationships with the city’s queer community. That no one is ever in any real peril may dismay some mystery fans, but as a character study of the crime’s impact on Wilkins and Bobbi, this outing is effective. Agent: Tina Schwartz, Purcell Agency. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"You've most likely never met a narrator like Bobbi. Tough, tender, funny, full of heart—and a transgender woman—she is navigating not just a new life, but also an unsolved murder that a detective is trying to pin on her. Renee James takes the reader on a whirlwind of a ride, while subtly revealing the honest heartbreaks and successes of the trans community. A welcome, diverse addition to the writing world!"
— Jodi Picoult, New York Times best-selling author

"The comprehensiveness with which Renee James draws you into the world of her characters would be enough reason to read this satisfying novel, but the straightforward elegance and grace of her writing is the real reward."
— S. J. Rozan, award-winning author

"Renee James writes with an acute and deeply sympathetic understanding of the human condition. In her work, readers also find suspenseful, engaging thrillers—writing that both accelerates the heartbeat and maps the heart's mysteries."
— Christine Sneed, award-winning author

" A Kind of Justice crackles with energy right from the beginning. Not only does Renee James eloquently impart empathy for what it's like to be transgender in an uncaring and judgmental world, but she does so while telling an engaging and compelling story populated with richly nuanced characters. Yes, it's a story about justice. But it's deeper than that. It's as deep and complex as family, friendship, love and—perhaps most importantly—change."
— John DeDakis, mystery-suspense author, writing coach, and former Senior Copy Editor, CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer

"In addition to being a well-written mystery with great character development and a surprise ending, A Kind of Justice focuses on one of the most talked about topics of the day: the transgender community. How can it not be a hit?"
— Windy City Reviews

"...this outing is effective."
— Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher