GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: The Public Pretender by M.D. Cliatt

Maeven Dayne is a public defender, working mostly in the juvenile court system. The book starts with Maeven giving her notice, to take a position less stressful than working in the heavily flawed juvenile justice system. Maeven doesn’t yet know just how corrupt that system is. On her last day she witnesses a juvenile being tried, that wasn’t on the schedule without representation or parent, after having been sitting in Juvie without a court date for a period longer than acceptable by law. Her probation officer is up to something fishy, and Maeven steps in, to protect the juvenile, Jasmine. Unable to turn her back on a scared child in need, Maeven pursues justice for Jasmine. In the process she uncovers corruption in the probation department, the public defender’s office and the court. Friends become enemies. Enemies attempt to use Maeven’s only family to silence her.

I was really excited for the chance to review this book. I’m pursuing a criminal justice degree myself, and it was interesting to read about so many of the inner workings of the justice system and how all branches work together. I don’t know much about juvenile justice, so I enjoyed reading about the juveniles in this book and the importance of public defenders.

M.D. Cliatt is an excellent writer, who weaves a story so gripping that it’s hard to stop reading until you reach the very end. Her characters are well developed and very relatable, especially Maeven who is a strong female lead who manages to balance career and family. This book is a worthy read and I give it 4 stars.

M. D. Cliatt is a wife and a mother of two teenage boys. She lives in Central Pennsylvania where she is a staff attorney in a law school clinical program, and an adjunct law professor who teaches juvenile justice and legal writing. She used to be a public defender specializing in representing children, and for the most part, loved the work. She thrived in the heat of courtroom battle, but the highs were very high and the lows were very low and she burned out. Now, she spends time grading papers, supervising law students as they represent indigent clients in court and reading with her sister in their long distance book club.

GIVEAWAY:

I am giving away a kindle or nook copy of The Public Defender. Please enter using the rafflecopter. If rafflecopter is not working right, please enter in the comments and I will hand enter it in.

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