Jackpot Justice

By Marilyn Wooley

When Cassandra Ringwald, a psychologist, accepts an offer from an attorney to do a psychological evaluation on one of his clients, she thinks it will be good for her budding career.Cassie has no idea that she might end up nearly paying with her life.Cassie is hired to evaluate Homer Johnson, a young Native American man who has been brought up on kidnapping charges. The first time that Cassie meets with him, she is repulsed by his attitude and also by the swastikas that he has on his shoes.She is also semi intrigued by his character--he is clearly more intelligent than the skinheads that he hangs out with, but he seems to want to protect them.As the story of what happened the night Anerd Woods disappeared continues to unravel, with little help from Homer, Cassie becomes even more determined to find the truth.She wants to know why Homer is staying so quiet when his whole life is hanging on the line.Cassie sets out on her journey to find more answers. The deeper she digs, the more she learns that there are many hidden aspects of this case--greed, self-interest, private agendas and danger to her and those around her.AUTHORBIO: Marilyn J. Wooley is the 1999 winner of the St. Martin's/ Malice Domestic Best First Novel Contest. She lives in Redding, CA, and like her protagonist is a clinical psychologist.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312254555
• ISBN13: 9780312254551
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

couldn't put it down

This book is freshly written and touches on the topics of racism, sexism, the legal system and corruption at the top. She also adds beautiful and accurate descriptions of the countryside of N. Cal east to Nevada. You can't help but become attached to the main character. Finally, you're left with a dangling question (not that I'm telling)---- will it be answered in her next novel?

Marilyn Wooley is a wonderful storyteller

I stayed up half the night to finish this fabulous page turner. I loved the characters, even the bad guys. I can't wait to read more about Cassie Ringwald's adventures in Covenant's Child.

Easy to see why this one won an award

Why would a Native American whose ancestors were killed or run off their land join a Neo-Nazi group? Clinical psychologist Cassandra Ringwald has just opened up a practice out of her elderly aunt's home and needs to learn why a her client joined a hate group like the White People's Brigade. She needs to understand the motives in order to help her get acquitted of the pending charges against him. He along with Sally Woods and Verlan Crumm are accused of kidnapping Sally's father and tossing his unconscious body in the city dump.Homer proves to be a frustrating client as he refuses to be honest with Cassie or his lawyer. The psychologist is initially turned off by Homer's behavior and political ideology filled with hatred. However, she begins to feel sorry for Homer because she realizes he is not a hate-monger. Instead, he is trying to protect someone. In spite of his lack of cooperation, Cassie is determined to help Homer though it places her in danger from people who want the charges to stick.JACKPOT JUSTICE is the winner of the 1999 St. Martin's Malice Domestic first novel award due, in large part, to the freshness of the story line. The characters are not fully developed and Cassie at times seems juvenile, leaving the audience more interested in the fast moving story line. Marilyn Wooley shows her talent with the intriguing plot, but the audience will expect healthier protagonists in her future books.Harriet Klausner