Extraordinary Rendition
Paul Batista
Wham! Bam! Thank you …. Paul Batista!
Extraordinary Rendition rips the veil and throws it to the lions, as we whimper and roar for more. Exquisite, right on target, and a thriller that sends you on your way lusting for more.
High-end corporate lawyer Byron Carlos Johnson’s new case by his own choice is a man called Ali Hussein, a suspected financier for Al Qaeda. Byron, whose father is a famous diplomat, and who works at the best of the best law firms, looks like George Clooney, is single, and remains, at all times, polite, successful and sharp. Ali Hussein has been held in isolation in many different countries as an alleged Al Qaeda financier by the U.S. government, although he claims he is a mere accountant. As Byron takes the case, everything starts to collapse. He is allowed only 10 minutes at a time with his client, who speaks of hideous torture by the US government. Hussein has been transported over and over to different -countries in total isolation while a government agent named Andrew Hurd beats him and water -boards him. But how can Byron prove any of this as his client is ruled by terrorist Homeland Security government laws that Byron isn’t even privy too? And the only people helping Hussein are a man who claims to be his brother and an Imam who sends him line numbers from the Koran that contain quotes of religious content. And, of course, Byron Johnson.
On top of that, his firm has decided to let Byron, a partner in the firm, go. “No touchee political case” is their mantra. And truly, Byron is not a criminal lawyer, he is a corporate lawyer. As Byron tries to forge through the murkiness of this shadow prisoner and the US government keeping him hidden, he meets a woman who he falls in love with, Christine Rosario. He also discovers some truths about his father that shock him, as he begins to see the government in action.
As Homeland Security agents consider Hussein’s alleged knowledge of the funding for terrorist cells high priority, they block Byron at every step. In the middle, Byron trusts Christine to help him work on the case: she was an internee law student at his previous law firm. As Christine and Byron step into the abyss, Byron finds that his life and the lives of those he loves is in danger as one by one they are found dead. Fighting for his own life as well as a fair trial for Hussein, Byron finally comes up with a plan that threatens everyone involved in the case – and it is a win win for Byron. When Christine writes him a letter and is found drowned in a remote location, Byron pulls the plug on the case in desperation.
Absolutely haunting, brilliantly choreographed and stingingly real, Extraordinary Rendition sears into the brain and crisps the fingers as each page is turned. One of those extraordinary legal thrillers that is scarce these days, Extraordinary Rendition races to an end that piles up like an Indy car crash!
Bravo! Exceptional.
Ratings are based on a 5-star scale
Overall: 5+
Review by Broad “A” – Ava
We received a copy of this title for our book review. All opinions are our own
Extraordinary Rendition
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