When Brownsville attorney Alejandro Del Fuerte is asked to take over the prosecution of a case involving a Spanish land grant, he’s excited about the potentially lucrative opportunity. There’s billions in oil and gas royalties at stake. Not to mention the boost to his reputation as the “go-to” lawyer in South Texas for high-stakes litigation.
But he needs to convince his partners in Del Fuerte, Fetzer & Montemayor to accept the case, and he knows his partner and fiancé, Gigi Montemayor, will be against it. The defendant and owner of the disputed land is the Agnus Dei Foundation, which is headed by Bishop Salamanca, the priest she wants to marry them. And to make matters worse, the previous lawyers involved in the case have ended up dead or institutionalized.
A surprise call from the Bishop warning him not to take the case is soon followed by terrifying threats to Alex and his family by forces from south of the border to the Vatican itself. It seems they’ll stop at nothing—physical threats, blackmail and perhaps even murder—to get him off the case.
Set against the vibrant background of the Texas-Mexico border region, author and attorney Carlos Cisneros depicts a world where greed and corruption run rampant in legal, political and even religious circles. In this gripping sequel to The Case Runner, Cisneros once again takes Alejandro Del Fuerte—and the reader—on a thrilling ride as the young attorney tries to balance personal and professional drive and ethics.
Winner, International Latino Book Awards, Best Mystery
Finalist, 2012 ForeWord Review’s Book of the Year Awards
“Cisneros, who practices law in Brownsville, continues to impress with his sharp characterizations and thoughtful, many-layered stories.”
—Booklist
“Set in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, Cisneros’ legal thriller paints a vivid picture of border justice with a cast of characters ranging from the Pope to Mexican narcotraffickers. A lawyer himself, the author has written a fast-paced, complex novel.”
—REFORMA Newsletter
“In the troubled, dusty border region of South Texas, corruption and violence aren’t isolated forces to be wrestled with and conquered by our hero but a pervasive condition. Alex is not white knight, but he’s sympathetic enough that the harsh denouement will leave readers shaken.”
—Publishers Weekly
Carlos Cisneros
Brownsville TX
http://www.carloscisnerosauthor.com/home
Long before he started work on his first Tex-Mex legal thriller, The Case Runner, Carlos Cisneros prosecuted cases with the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office. It was there that he gained trial experience by prosecuting cases ranging from DUI to drug trafficking, and even murder. After leaving the DA’s office, Cisneros opened his own law firm in 1997 where he pursued trial work and represented clients in matters involving criminal law, personal injury, and appeals.
On those rare occasions when he can get away from it all, Carlos Cisneros can be found smoking a cigar and surf fishing off Boca Chica beach, coaching his kids’ soccer team, or plotting the next novel.
