Accusation

by Paul Batista

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Pub Date Mar 01 2022 | Archive Date May 05 2022

Mystery & Thrillers

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Description

USA Today Best-Selling Author

An icon’s life implodes—at two in the morning

World renowned, revered actor Aaron Julian is awakened at two a.m. by his agent who informs him that he has been accused of sexual harassment. Young actresses will break the story on prime-time TV that morning—with their lawyer, the attorney who led the charge in the priests’ sexual abuse cases.

Aaron and his celebrity pop-singer wife, Veda, vehemently deny the charges, and hire powerful defense lawyer Raquel Rematti. But when the plaintiffs’ lawyer is murdered in Central Park, the stakes skyrocket and the conspiracies spiral out of control.

Despite revelation after revelation, Aaron continues to proclaim his innocence. And in his defense, Rematti uses every tool in the legal system to produce courtroom drama that is unparalleled.

The outcome—impossible to predict—is guaranteed to stun and to linger with you for a long time.

Fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow will devour this cutting-edge thriller

While Accusation can be read as a standalone novel, here is the publication order of Paul Batista’s legal thrillers:

Death’s Witness
Extraordinary Rendition
The Borzoi Killings (Raquel Rematti #1)
Manhattan Lockdown
The Warriors (Raquel Rematti #2)
Accusation (Raquel Rematti #3)

Advance Praise

“[In Manhattan Lockdown] Batista knows his way around Manhattan and it shows in this battle of wills, where the tension and turmoil add up to high stakes suspense, the pages hot enough to singe your fingers.” —Steve Berry, New York Times best-selling author

“There are too few legal thrillers with women courtroom warriors. This page-turning true-to-life superthriller [The Warriors] helps to remedy this bias. Batista’s characters jump off the page. They are as real as they are fascinating. A great read.” —Alan Dershowitz, New York Times best-selling author

“Paul Batista scores 100% with his new novel, The Warriors. Two strong women locked in battle in and out of a courtroom coupled with murder, money laundering, and constant mystery. His lawyer heroine is complex and compelling. We live and breathe her triumph and terror.” —Rikki Klieman, CBS News Legal Analyst

“Manhattan Lockdown brings us into a battle for the streets of Manhattan as the city’s most treasured icons are blown apart by terrorists. Arising from the chaos, Gina Carbone, New York City’s police commissioner, explodes on the scene as the most chilling and memorable protagonist in modern thrillers.” —Lis Wiehl, New York Times best-selling author

“Manhattan Lockdown is about as terrifyingly timely as it gets. Paul Batista's provocative tale of a game-changing terrorist attack in New York City is both a superb procedural thriller and stark morality tale. Riveting and relentless.” —Jon Land, USA Today best-selling author

“Batista does it again when international intrigue collides with murder in Extraordinary Rendition. A high-priced Wall Street lawyer gets the shock of a lifetime . . . law school never prepared him for this! It’s a fast ride—buckle up!” —Nancy Grace, New York Times best-selling author

Marketing Plan

Publishers Weekly, Suspense Magazine, Mystery Scene

Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9781608094745
PRICE	$27.95 (USD)

Additional Information

Average rating from 28 members

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Featured Reviews

Hannelore C, Reviewer

Thank you Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for the eARC.
This legal thriller is very much of this time, #MeToo, celebrities in trouble, the justice system and social media.
Aaron Julian is accused of sexual misconduct. It's a nightmare for him, being one of the most revered and loved actors in the world, but his popular singer wife stands by him. Raquel Ramatti, the powerful attorney, takes his case, and what follows is a very believable and turbulent time for everyone involved.
Raquel is a great character and I absolutely loved the New York City setting as I lived there for several years.
For a fairly short book, this story packed quite a punch and the ending...wow! Definitely recommended!!

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Susan D, Reviewer

Defense lawyer Raquel Rematti returns in this perfect legal thriller by Paul Batista.
A two a.m. phone call quickly changes the life of popular actor Aaron Julian when his lawyer informs him that he is being accused of sexual harassment by a several young actresses. Within hours. The actresses and their attorney will break the story on television. Aaron and his pop singer wife Veda are determined to fight the charges amidst the unfolding stories and each revelation that surfaces. Lawyer Raquel Rematti is smart, crafty, wise and produces great moments of drama in the courtroom.
The author weaves the elements of the #MeToo era into a gripping, eye opening read with an ending that will stun the reader.
Highly recommended and thoroughly enjoyable.
Thank you NetGalley, Paul Batista and Oceanview Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.

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Paula, E, Reviewer

The ending of Accusation was good. Unfortunately, that is all I can say about the book. I had such a hard time liking or even connecting with any of the characters. Luckily, this was a short read because I might not have finished it if it were any longer.

#Accusation #NetGalley

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Ken C, Reviewer

Popular actor Aaron Julian lives a good life with a home in Manhattan's famed Dakota apartment building. His wife of three years, Veda, is a popular singer. Their relationship is tested when Aaron is accused by multiple women of affecting their careers after he made a play on them. Finally, a porn actor clams rape.
Author Paul Batista is having his day on the MeToo movement, and I have to say it disappointed me. The writing is nothing special, the plot contrived, the ending an outrage. He does create interesting characters, especially Raquel, the dancing attorney. It used to be that the only way gay characters could get portrayed was if they ended up dead. Batista continues that sad tradition here.
The women who start the story with their career complaints are quickly forgotten as the story moves on to the rape complaint. It was a shock to see Batista set up a corrupt assistant US Attorney as this was so hard to believe. The novel ends with poor resolution of its subplots, and a twist that is too contrived.
Accusation is a quick read, thankfully.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.