The Second Location Rule: Do Men Know It?
Caged: When Telling the Truth Changes Everything | Chapters 1 & 2
We’re moving on to the third book in my Politics of Justice series: Caged.
This time, the story begins in Cleveland in January 1999, with a funeral and a secret.
Stephanie Wells has been waiting for the right moment to tell her mother what happened to her. With her stepfather finally dead, she thinks she might have a chance to be heard.
But telling the truth and being believed are two very different things.
One of the questions running through Caged is what happens when the people and institutions responsible for protecting the vulnerable fail them.
What happens when family loyalty matters more than the truth? When the people who should intervene look the other way? And what does justice look like when the damage has already been done?
Those questions sit at the heart of this book and, in many ways, the entire Politics of Justice series.
In today’s video, I’m reading the first two chapters of Caged. We’re just getting started, but these opening scenes establish some of the conflicts that will shape the story.
A question for you:
Why do you think people sometimes find it easier to reject an uncomfortable truth than to confront someone they love?
📚 Caged is available on major ebook platforms, including Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. http://ebooks.buzz/caged
📖 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