First time reader of this author. It was okay. It had many corrupt official in it, and for a short book it definately left a great impact on me. It changed my thinking of illegal immigrants. It also made me realize that the world of medicine and finding cures is really brutal when using human beings as guinea pigs instead of lab rats. A real mind blower! ( )

I'll never move to Texas.

For a relatively short book, Tim Green's Above the Law seems to contain a bit of everything. A haggard and heroic lawyer, a corrupt politician, a dirty cop, international intrigue, human trafficking, border-security issues, a drug-running operation, murder, vigilante justice, a wrongful death lawsuit, and more. There's an awful lot packed into this story, which is well-written and enjoyable but suffers a bit after a good start, due largely to reader overload and unfulfilled plot potential.

When an illegal migrant worker is shot on a prominent senator's Texas ranch, the incident is quickly declared a tragic hunting accident. Perhaps too quickly, Casey Jordan, operator of a legal aid clinic in Dallas, thinks when the dead man's wife comes to her asking for help. When the wife is deported after being threatened with having her baby taken away, Casey smells a rat and opens an investigation into the shooting and other suspicious goings on at the senator's ranch. What she finds is shocking--and dangerous, especially when the senator strikes back, first using the media to attack Casey and then sending the Environmental Protection Agency to shut down her clinic. Desperate, Casey heads to Mexico to find and retrieve the wife of the slain worker, hoping for evidence that will prove the senator's guilt. But the senator has already shown he won't go down without a fight, and when the attacks threaten to turn deadly, Casey realizes she is engaged in a battle for her life.

The book starts out strong, as Green explores the legal and political ramifications of the shooting, and Casey's involvement as the legal advocate for an otherwise helpless illegal immigrant adds texture. Green takes aim at border politics as he sets up what appears to be the foundation for a fascinating courtroom battle. But the story never reaches the courtroom, as Casey instead launches her own investigation, and the second half of the book, while thrilling, feels a little out of control as the story bounces back and forth across the border and between characters.

The overly complex plot notwithstanding, Green is a talented writer, and his characterizations and scene-setting descriptions put the reader right in the middle of the story. The action scenes are intense, and the ending is satisfying if a tad abrupt. There's not much to dislike about the book; what's disappointing is that what at first seems like a thoughtful, issues-based thriller evolves into a rather flat, complicated shootout. Above the Law is entertaining and definitely worth reading for action fans; it's just not quite as good as it could have been. ( )

Lawyer Casey Jordan was first introduced in The Letter of the Law. She has left the high powered firm she was with and has opened a legal aid clinic.

Senator Chase has a tragic hunting accident on his property, killing one of his Mexican workers. But when a woman comes to Casey's clinic and says that her sister in law's husband was murdered by the Senator, she reluctantly agrees to look into it, not putting much stock in the idea of a murder. But when she is thwarted at every turn and discovers first hand how the Senator controls the law in his corner of Texas, she becomes a believer. Aided by her investigator Jose, they discover that this murder is a cover up for something far bigger.

Tim Green has created another solid legal thriller in Above the Law. Although some of it is predictable - the sexual tension between Casey and Jose, the bucking against the odds, tenacious, good looking female lawyer and the 'untouchable' bad guys, it also deals with some very relevant topics. Namely the abuse and plight of illegal immigrants. Green has woven together this element with non stop action and produced a very entertaining read.

Green himself has had an interesting journey - he played pro football for eight years, was a sports commentator and also earned his law degree. ( )

Casey Jordan is a lawyer working at a free legal clinic in Texas that serves Mexican immigrants. A client comes in claiming that her sister and her young niece have been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Her brother-in-law died in what has officially been declared a hunting accident, but she suspects there’s more to the story. When Casey becomes involved she discovers a complicated story full of greed, corruption and politics.

Above the Law by Tim Green is a fast-paced, action-filled thriller. It’s full of twists and turns that kept me interested and wanting to read more. I really enjoyed this plot-driven book. My only complaint is that it was sometimes difficult to keep track of all the characters in the story. This is the second book featuring Casey Jordan. I haven’t read the first one, The Letter of the Law, but that didn’t hamper my enjoyment of this one. ( )