Perilous Judgment: A Real Justice Thriller

Written by Dennis Ricci

Narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner

Federal judge Edward Lamport is no stranger to controversy and danger. Nine months into his tenure, he’s received two death threats and is under the protection of US Marshals. But when he receives a plea for help from a woman with whom he had a brief romance twenty-five years earlier, he must face a peril of a different sort, one that involves his long-lost son, Carlos.

While working for a bank in his native Mexico, Carlos discovers an international money-laundering scheme. Now he’s on the run from those who want him dead. To get the young man asylum in the United States, Lamport appeals to his highest connections in Washington, only to find puzzling dead ends at every turn. Caught between law and love, he’s forced to take the matter into his own hands. With only his faith in God to guide him, how far is he willing to venture into the dark recesses of political corruption to save his son?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: May 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781511391290

Dennis Ricci

Before penning fiction, Dennis Ricci worked as a freelance marketing strategist, copywriter, and instructional designer. He also mentors aspiring writers, conducts writing workshops, and advises marketing professionals on strategy and content. Perilous Judgment is his first novel. Ricci lives in Thousand Oaks, California, with his wife, where they serve their community through a Healing Rooms ministry dedicated to praying for the sick. He has three grown children. For more information, visit www.dennisricci.com.

Reviews for Perilous Judgment

[sherribelcher-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Perilous Judgment is a legal thriller that takes us to the forefront of the ongoing issue of immigration.Edward Lamport is a man of great conviction and as a federal judge he exercises those convictions in his rulings. His most current case is of one of great controversy. Voters in his home state of California have voted to pass Proposition 68 concerning illegal immigration and now Edward has to rule on whether the proposition is constitutional. With his fellow judges and political contacts pressuring him, he is carefully weighing his decision. Edward is also happily married to Jacqui. Jacqui works for the California school system and with pressure from her coworkers and peers she is becoming more and more anxious herself to find out what her husband’s ruling will be. Edward and Jacqui both know the danger they may face if he makes the “wrong” decision. Now a woman Edward was once in love with resurfaces and begs for his help. Alana tells Edward of the son he never knew about, who is now a grown young man. This son, Carlos was born and raised in Mexico and works for Bancomex. In the course of his work he has stumbled on dangerous information involving his employers and his life is in jeopardy. Alana wants Edward to use his political connections to help get Carlos out of Mexico and into the safety of the U.S.Edward is going to have to manage a very complex balancing act here. How will he manage to be true to the integrity his job demands while trying to get his illegitimate son asylum in the U.S.? Why are all his political connections stonewalling him? And how is he going to face his wife with the secrets of his past? Will the woman he was forced to leave behind 25 years ago stir old feelings anew? Will he be able to save his son’s life and will that son accept a father he has never known? This is a book where we are reminded that the big issues that the talking heads on TV argue about incessantly are not as black and white as they are made out to be. No matter which way the decision goes there are real people behind the scenes who will be affected. We would like to think that the judges ruling on these issues are personally detached but what if one of them weren’t. What if something like this happened to them? Now that could be a far reach, but hey, in today’s world maybe not. It is a most unfortunate fact that political corruption, blackmail, drug running and money laundering are all alive and well. But in this book we also see a man torn by his convictions and struggling to make the right decisions, none of which are easy. With all of his options growing slim, Edward will turn to his strong Christian faith and values for guidance. With all of the obstacles we face in this world, this is a strong reminder that in the end, it’s up to us how we handle our beliefs and act on them.I want to thank the publisher (Waterfall Press) for providing me with the ARC through the Goodreads Giveaways program for an honest review.