In this episode of Politics of Justice, we dive into Chapters 19–22 of Ransomed, where family expectations, personal loyalties, and questions about power begin to intersect in increasingly complicated ways.

Casey finds herself drawn further into the Brody family’s world when she attends a family dinner with Tom. What should be a straightforward social gathering becomes an illuminating look at the relationships, influence, and dynamics surrounding one of Cleveland’s most prominent legal families.

Meanwhile, Claire’s custody battle takes a troubling turn when she meets with Judge Eamon Brody. As we examine this pivotal encounter, we discuss the power imbalance between judges and litigants, the vulnerabilities inherent in family court proceedings, and the ethical questions raised when authority operates behind closed doors.

We also explore the growing connection between Casey and Miles. As the calendar turns to a new year, their relationship reaches an important emotional milestone, raising questions about timing, trust, and what happens when personal feelings develop against the backdrop of professional and ethical complications.

Join me as we unpack the legal, political, and interpersonal themes woven throughout these chapters, and discuss how seemingly private decisions can have profound consequences when power and justice become entangled.

️ Politics of Justice — Ransomed Chapters 19–22 Ransomed by Aime Austin ⚖️ Topics include: family court dynamics, judicial power, legal ethics, influential families, relationship development, and the intersection of personal and professional lives. Discussion contains spoilers through Chapter 22.

Ransomed is available on major ebook platforms, including Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. http://ebooks.buzz/ransomed New to the series? Begin with Book 1: Judged http://ebooks.buzz/judged

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 audio at A Time to Thrill – wherever you get your podcasts.

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

The number of times I’ve directly or obliquely talked about USA Today Bestselling author Lynne Marshall in this podcast may equal 1 billion. Okay…that may be a bit of hyperbole, but the number is far from zero.

Lynne had a huge impact on my early career with two pieces of advice, which I took to heart. I’ve always wanted to talk with her on the mic. So, here we go.

Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Lynne Marshall: Website: www.lynnemarshallauthor.com Instagram: @lynne_marshall2025 Facebook: @lynne.marshall.142359

This episode is sponsored by Audible. http://ebooks.buzz/audible Consented Zed Zha M.D. – https://amzn.to/49x8Vmn Ask the Patient, Zed Zha Substack – https://drzedzha.substack.com/ The Ambition Penalty Stephanie O’Connell – https://amzn.to/4dnjfzC

Books by Lynne Marshall: Her Baby, His Love The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody: Book One: Arthur

Cynthia Peabody meditation walk narrated by Lynne Marshall

Storyworth

Grace & Frankie Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

Authors Lynne has enjoyed: John le Carré Susan Elizabeth Phillips Kristan Higgins

Little Golden Books Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel The Hunter by Tana French The Dublin Murder Squad (series) by Tana French The Lost Baker of Vienna by Sharon Kurtzman West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

Want video? Check out this episode on YouTube

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I recap and discuss chapters 13 and 14 of Ransomed.

Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and as an 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.

This episode is sponsored by Audible. Get Casey Cort on Audible.

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I discuss Chapters 15 through 18 of Ransomed, the second book in the Casey Cort legal thriller series.

These chapters explore the dangerous space where emotion, perception, and institutional response begin feeding into one another. What starts as conflict increasingly becomes narrative—and once authority enters the picture, those narratives can quickly harden into fact.

In this video, I reflect on: • The tendency to resist accepting that a relationship is truly over • How emotional denial can distort judgment and escalate conflict • The outsized way police often respond to threats against property versus threats against people • Why Claire’s false claim about a gun changes the stakes of the situation • How fear and perception begin shaping the direction of the case

The Politics of Justice series examines the real-world legal and psychological issues underlying the Casey Cort novels—and what those stories reveal about power, credibility, 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

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 available in video on YouTube.The Politics of Justice

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