In this episode of Politics of Justice, I recap and discuss chapters 3 and 4 of Ransomed.

Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and in audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change.

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I walk through the opening chapters of Ransomed, the second book in the Casey Cort legal thriller series.

Like many of the stories in this series, Ransomed was influenced by real events. The novel draws inspiration from United States v. David W. Lanier, a federal case involving a Tennessee judge who used the power of his position to abuse women who appeared before him.

Chapters 3 and 4 continue to introduce the world Casey Cort is stepping into—one where the authority of the courtroom can hide misconduct, and where victims often face the impossible choice between silence and retaliation.

In this video, I discuss: • The intersection between storytelling and current events. • Women’s whisper networks about suspect men. • Men who can’t break up a relationship and waste women’s time.

The Politics of Justice series looks at how real legal cases influence fiction—and what those stories reveal about power, accountability, and the justice system.

Ransomed is Book 2 in the Casey Cort series.

Read the book: https://books2read.com/Ransomed Available on Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and other ebook retailers.

Start with Book 1: Judged https://books2read.com/caseycort1

Josh Johnson https://www.youtube.com/@JoshJohnsonComedy Love is Blind Netflix https://www.instagram.com/loveisblindnetflix/ Normal Gossip (podcast) https://www.instagram.com/normalgossip/ Couple’s Therapy (Season 1) https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/couples-therapy/

Subscribe if you’re interested in legal thrillers, true crime–inspired fiction, and the real cases behind the stories.

About Politics of Justice: Politics of Justice is a long-form video series where I revisit my novels and unpack the personal history, legal realities, and systemic issues woven into the fiction. These conversations explore justice, race, family, power, and the cost of survival—on the page and in real life.

About Aime Austin: I’m Aime Austin, a legal thriller author and former trial lawyer. I write the Casey Cort and Nicole Long series, stories centered on women navigating broken systems and the moral complexity of justice. My work blends fiction, lived experience, and legal insight.

Find Me Online: Website: https://aimeaustin.com Substack: https://legalthrillerauthor.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalthrillerauthor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalthrillerauthor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@legalthrillerauthor Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aime-austin Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/legalthrillerauthor

Listen & Subscribe: This series is also a...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I recap and discuss the first two chapters Ransomed.

Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and in audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change.

About Politics of Justice: Politics of Justice is a long-form video series where I revisit my novels and unpack the personal history, legal realities, and systemic issues woven into the fiction. These conversations explore justice, race, family, power, and the cost of survival—on the page and in real life.

About Aime Austin: I’m Aime Austin, a legal thriller author and former trial lawyer. I write the Casey Cort and Nicole Long series, stories centered on women navigating broken systems and the moral complexity of justice. My work blends fiction, lived experience, and legal insight.

Find Me Online: Website: https://aimeaustin.com Substack: https://legalthrillerauthor.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalthrillerauthor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalthrillerauthor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@legalthrillerauthor Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aime-austin Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/legalthrillerauthor

Listen & Subscribe: This series is also available in video on YouTube.The Politics of Justice

Music by John Bartmann https://youtube.com/johnbartmannmusic CC0

Joanna Joy Seetoo is a jewelry designer extrordinaire! I’ve known her for more than thirty years. She’s had more than nine artistic lives: from pastry, to music, to makeup, and hair…to now. Listen as we talk all about the early days of taking a jewelry design class, to world-class travel, Saworski crystals, entering the crazy world of weddings, and pieces for celebrities. Now, Joanna is starting a new project: House of Joy Jewelry.

Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions.

You can find Kendra Erika: Instagram: @joannajoyseetoo LinkedIn: @joannajoyseetoo Facebook: @joannas

Spectrum Award-winning ring. Photo credit: Robert Weldon

Steven Kretchmer Fine Jewelry Spectrum Award – American Gem Trade Association Chatham – Lab Grown Emeralds Lorenzo Yih Providence Restaurant The Knot Say Yes to the Dress Gemological Institute of America (GIA) The Nordicware Tree

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I talk about the inspiration behind Ransomed and how the justice system can’t answer every question or right every wrong. How a judge went to prison…but was his imprisonment a technicality?

Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and in audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change.

About Politics of Justice: Politics of Justice is a long-form video series where I revisit my novels and unpack the personal history, legal realities, and systemic issues woven into the fiction. These conversations explore justice, race, family, power, and the cost of survival—on the page and in real life.

About Aime Austin: I’m Aime Austin, a legal thriller author and former trial lawyer. I write the Casey Cort and Nicole Long series, stories centered on women navigating broken systems and the moral complexity of justice. My work blends fiction, lived experience, and legal insight.

Find Me Online: Website: https://aimeaustin.com Substack: https://legalthrillerauthor.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalthrillerauthor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalthrillerauthor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@legalthrillerauthor Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aime-austin Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/legalthrillerauthor

Listen & Subscribe: This series is also available in video on YouTube.The Politics of Justice

Kendra Erika is my first musical artist! I appreciate the amazing confidence it takes to choose a life focused on performance.

Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions.

You can find Kendra Erika: Website/Blog: kendraerika.com Instagram: @kendraerika YouTube: @kendraerika

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I dig into Chapters 30–38 of Judged, where the case stops being about facts and becomes about leverage. As pressure mounts, institutional self-protection begins to override truth, and the cost of dissent becomes clear. We see how credibility is managed, consequences are unevenly distributed, and silence is rewarded more than integrity. This episode explores how systems don’t need overt corruption to cause harm—only compliance, hierarchy, and the quiet expectation that some people absorb the damage so others can remain untouchable..

Judged is currently free on all platforms. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change.

About Politics of Justice: Politics of Justice is a long-form video series where I revisit my novels and unpack the personal history, legal realities, and systemic issues woven into the fiction. These conversations explore justice, race, family, power, and the cost of survival—on the page and in real life.

About Aime Austin: I’m Aime Austin, a legal thriller author and former trial lawyer. I write the Casey Cort and Nicole Long series, stories centered on women navigating broken systems and the moral complexity of justice. My work blends fiction, lived experience, and legal insight.

Find Me Online: Website: https://aimeaustin.com Substack: https://legalthrillerauthor.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalthrillerauthor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalthrillerauthor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@legalthrillerauthor Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aime-austin Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/legalthrillerauthor

Listen & Subscribe: This series is also available in video form on YouTube.The Politics of Justice

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I dig into Chapters 30–38 of Judged, where the case stops being about facts and becomes about leverage. As pressure mounts, institutional self-protection begins to override truth, and the cost of dissent becomes clear. We see how credibility is managed, consequences are unevenly distributed, and silence is rewarded more than integrity. This episode explores how systems don’t need overt corruption to cause harm—only compliance, hierarchy, and the quiet expectation that some people absorb the damage so others can remain untouchable..

Judged is currently free on all platforms. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change.

About Politics of Justice: Politics of Justice is a long-form video series where I revisit my novels and unpack the personal history, legal realities, and systemic issues woven into the fiction. These conversations explore justice, race, family, power, and the cost of survival—on the page and in real life.

About Aime Austin: I’m Aime Austin, a legal thriller author and former trial lawyer. I write the Casey Cort and Nicole Long series, stories centered on women navigating broken systems and the moral complexity of justice. My work blends fiction, lived experience, and legal insight.

Find Me Online: Website: https://aimeaustin.com Substack: https://legalthrillerauthor.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalthrillerauthor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalthrillerauthor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@legalthrillerauthor Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aime-austin Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/legalthrillerauthor

Listen & Subscribe: This series is also available in video form on YouTube.The Politics of Justice

OMG It’s Ines Johnson. When I saw her speak at a Romance Author Mastermind, I was inspired. She spoke on going from four to five figures a month by choosing a lane…and staying in it. This episode is sponsored by Audible. (Click my link for many great offers from Audible.) My recent audiobooks: At Midnight Comes the Cry and Greenwich Park.

Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions.

You can find Ines: Website/Blog: ineswrites.com Instagram: @ineswrites Facebook: inesjohnsonauthor