ABOUT THE BOOK
If they expected silence, they hired the wrong woman.
Caroline Bragg’s life has never been better. She and Brandon Lancaster are taking their relationship to the next level, and she has a new dream job as legal counsel for Praecursoria—a research lab that is making waves with its cutting-edge genetic therapies. The company’s leukemia treatments even promise to save desperately sick kids—kids like eleven-year-old Bethany, a critically ill foster child at Brandon’s foster home.
When Caroline’s enthusiastic boss wants to enroll Bethany in experimental trials prematurely, Caroline objects, putting her at odds with her colleagues. They claim the only goal at Praecursoria is to save lives. But does someone have another agenda?
Brandon faces his own crisis. As laws governing foster homes shift, he’s on the brink of losing the group home he’s worked so hard to build. When Caroline learns he’s a Praecursoria investor, it becomes legally impossible to confide in him. Will the secrets she keeps become a wedge that separates them forever? And can she save Bethany from the very treatments designed to heal her?
This latest romantic legal thriller by bestseller Cara Putman shines a light on the shadowy world of scientific secrets and corporate vendettas—and the ethical dilemmas that plague the place where science and commerce meet.
“Intriguing characters. Romantic tension. Edge-of-your-seat suspense. And a fast-paced ending that will leave you exhausted (in a good way!).” —Robert Whitlow, award-winning author of Promised Land
“I loved Cara Putman’s Lethal Intent and rooted for her heroine Caroline Bragg through every twist and turn. This legal thriller perfectly captures what it’s like to grow from law clerk to lawyer, and when Caroline finds herself faced with a heartbreaking ethical dilemma that leads to the corporate battle of her life, she confronts the challenge with strength and resources she never knew she had. Putman seamlessly blends the story with a wonderfully inspiring romance, too. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Lethal Intent !” —Lisa Scottoline, #1 Bestselling Author of Eternal
Book Details:
Title: Lethal Intent
Author: Cara Putman
Genre: Legal
Romantic Suspense
Series: stand alone but shares characters with the
Hidden Justice series
Publisher: Harper Collins Christian
Publishing/Thomas Nelson (January 12, 2021)
Print length: 336 pages
LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT WITH CARA PUTMAN
A few of your favorite things: books! Our home is filled with books and bookshelves. Every room literally has some. The other thing I can’t live without right now would be coffee. It’s helping me stay energized through the long winter days.
Things you need to throw out: I try to keep a regular rotation of donations to Goodwill, a local foster care closet, etc., but I really need someone to help me pare down my dishes. It’s crazy, but we are hitting a stage where our glasses and silverware are mismatched. I’ve decided we need the equivalent of a bridal shower every twenty years or so to replace worn out items!
Things you need in order to write: time! I need some time to get back into the headspace to create. I also couldn’t live without my laptop, The Quill http://thequill.io for writing on any computer I have access to, and coffee.
Things that hamper your writing: tied to the answer above, the chaos of 2020 did a number on the space I need for creativity. As a professor at a university, a lot of my creative energy had to go into constantly flexing in how I taught. It reinforced that chaos makes it challenging for me to create. I also often need space away from the house to write, because there is always something or someone at home that needs me.
Things you love about writing: I love creating worlds and the times where the words flow because I see the scene playing and hear the dialogue in my mind. That is magic!
Things you hate about writing: proposal writing is hard work. I’d much rather just write.
Easiest thing about being a writer: cranking out the words when I’m in the flow of the story.
Hardest thing about being a writer: sitting alone at a computer
Things you love about where you live: Lafayette is a small city with a major university. It makes for a great place to raise a family. It’s small yet has everything we need with Indianapolis an hour away.
Things that make you want to move: I miss DC! I’d love to move back to that city because politics and history.
Things you never want to run out of: coffee and inspiration!
Things you wish you’d never bought: adult coloring books. A good idea, but I don’t have time!
Words that describe you: hard-worker, collector of people, loyal, charismatic.
Words that describe you but you wish they didn’t: over-committed, can’t say no.
Favorite beverage: coffee.
Something that gives you a pickle face: Matcha.
Favorite smell: citrus or light florals.
Something that makes you hold your nose: lapsang souchong tea.
Something you’re really good at: communicating: leading classes and writing.
Something you’re really bad at: sitting and watching a TV show or movie without doing something else at the same time.
Something you wish you could do: play the piano by ear, write calligraphy, speak another language fluently.
Something you wish you’d never learned to do: buy planners; I buy a lot but rarely use them for more than a week or two. It’s such a waste, but I’m looking at two for 2021 as I type this.
Favorite places you’ve been: Italy and Germany.
Places you never want to go to again: Alabama, apologies to everyone who lives there.
Favorite books: anything with suspense.
Books you would ban: science fiction or fantasy: I have a hard time seeing the story world.
EXCERPT FROM LETHAL INTENT
Caroline shifted in the high-backed chair. The massive conference room table made her feel more petite than usual. Quentin Jackson, the man propelling Praecursoria through its rapid growth, vibrated with energy as he studied her.
“We are on the cusp of amazing developments and a transition from the lab to trials. We have a few CAR T-cell therapies in early stages now with more in our pipeline.”
She racked her mind for the importance of T cells, and he gave a hearty laugh.
“Don’t worry if the science overwhelms you. We’ll have you up to speed in no time. All you need to know right now is that T cells are one of the two cells that make up white blood cells. The treatments we’re working on could be the difference between life and death for young cancer patients. We need your legal expertise and quick mind to synthesize the science with the map to market.”
“I’ve overseen several court trials related to patents, which should help with that process.” It had been an unforeseen aspect of her days clerking for Judge Loren. She swallowed against the lump in her throat that still welled up when she thought about his untimely death from pneumonia. A month ago she couldn’t imagine interviewing for a job somewhere else, even if a part of her knew that she should stretch her wings.
“When can you start? Today?”
She felt rooted to the chair. Everything was moving so fast. Could she really transition her experience managing clerks for a judge into managing patents and contracts for a start-up? While Praecursoria had been around for a decade as a cancer research lab, about eighteen months ago Quentin sold off its lucrative genetic testing branch to focus exclusively on the development of cutting-edge CAR T-cell therapies. Starting over that way was a bold if risky move.
She lifted her chin and forced a smile that didn’t waver. “If that’s what you need. First we have a few details to work out.”
He laughed. “I like the way you tackle issues head-on. That will be key in this role. I know how to steer the ship, and my chief scientist can navigate the research, but you’ll keep us on the legal straight and narrow.” He tapped his pen against the legal pad in front of him. Then he picked up her résumé and named a salary that pressed her against the chair. “There will be performance bonuses tied to the successful conclusion of trials. We want to look into stock options as well. That will be one of your assignments in conjunction with HR.” He slapped his hands on the table and she jumped. “My enthusiasm gets away from me sometimes.” He shrugged but never wavered as he examined her. “Let’s start with a field trip. The best way for you to understand why we’re doing this work and research is to show you.”
***
Excerpt from Lethal Intent by Cara Putman. Copyright 2021 by Cara Putman. Reproduced with permission from Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cara Putman is an active member of ACFW and gives back to the writing community through her service on Executive Board. She has also been the Indiana ACFW chapter president and served as the Area Coordinator for Indiana.
Cara is also an attorney, full-time lecturer at a Big Ten university, and all-around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband and her kids that is. She graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School, and Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management.
Connect with Cara:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
