Dennis Carstens Books In Order

Publication Order of Marc Kadella Legal Mystery Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Dennis Carstens
Author Dennis Carstens is a lifelong resident of the Twin Cities, in Minnesota, except for the four years he spent in the Air Force. He grew up in St. Paul, and was born in Worthington, Minnesota.

He’s a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and earned his JD from William Mitchell College of Law, this well respected private law school in St. Paul, in 1984.

Dennis practiced law in the private sector doing criminal defense work and family law primarily in 2002. That was the year he decided to give up on being an active lawyer and went to work with his son operating and owning this small internet company.

He’s the divorced dad of two adult kids and the proud grandpa of five. He’s a veteran of the Air Force, serving during the Vietnam war. Dennis enlisted in the year 1971 and served as an intelligence analyst at the National Security Agency for close to four years. His duties involved working in the 24 hour a day operations center monitoring the then Soviet Union. In the year 1977, he got an Honorable Discharge after he finished two years of inactive reserves to honorably serve his country and fulfill his six year military commitment.

In his writing, Dennis tries creating a story that is both interesting and entertaining, but also, and most importantly, thought provoking. He wants to create a story which gives his listeners and readers a moral, legal, or ethical dilemma to ponder. Doing so, like in real life, he might not have each and every little detail wrapped up in a nice and neat bow by the end. But he does believe that the experience is well worth taking the ride.

“The Key to Justice” is a piece of fiction that Dennis undertook in order to provide a realistic view of the practice of law and what a lawyer goes through than is typically found in many legal thrillers. It’s not some easy way to make a living however it can be very rewarding even though it’s not the easiest on the soul and the lawyer’s own private time all the time.

Whether the lawyer practices by themselves or on their own, be it in just a small firm, or possibly, a huge firm to which you almost get enslaved in, albeit well compensated, it can be an all-consuming, demanding, and pressure filled way to make your living.

“The Key to Justice” is the first novel in the “Marc Kadella Legal Mystery” series and was released in 2012. There is a serial killer on the loose in the city of Minneapolis and Minneapolis police Lt. Jake Waschke, who is the head of the investigation, is feeling the pressure to find him. Making matters worse, this killer strikes again, this time across the river in St. Paul, and his victim is a prominent politician’s daughter.

Right when the investigation appears to be going nowhere, the cops catch this break when the murderer kills yet again, but this time there’s a witness that gets the cops, including Jake Waschke, chasing this murderer through the streets in Minneapolis. During this chase, Jake gets a pretty good look at the killer and realizes that his problems have just started when he recognizes the guy and realizes that he has to do whatever is necessary in order to protect him.

There is a patsy discovered and there’s an arrest made. The fate of this patsy is put into the hands of this criminal defense lawyer, named Marc Kadella, when the accused’s brother winds up being a one time client of Marc’s. The case has some publicity and heat to it far beyond anything that Marc has dealt with ever before and he attempts to just beg off.

He knows that he’s in over his head with a case like this and realizes that it could also destroy his practice and push him right into bankruptcy. The brother is able to convince Marc to take this case by playing on their previous relationship, guaranteeing payment of his fees and Marc’s personal belief that this man is innocent.

While the case progresses, Marc, who is aided in this investigation by this stunningly beautiful private investigator, gets further convinced that his client’s being framed. However, unless he is able to figure out who’s framing him, and (more importantly) why, one innocent man will be taking a very serious fall, and Marc’s going to be helpless to prevent any of it.

“Desperate Justice” is the second novel in the “Marc Kadella Legal Mystery” series and was released in 2013. Marc Kadella has returned and he’s got a brand new client this time around. Judge Gordon Prentiss, his antagonist on the Hennepin County bench, has just been accused of murder. Despite the judge’s lack of respect for Marc, Prentiss wants Marc to represent him since he’s innocent and knows that he’ll fight tooth and nail for him. Obviously, Marc’s initial reaction is to just allow Prentiss to have whatever he gets, however he does become convinced that this judge is actually innocent so he takes this case.

A criminal defense attorney doesn’t have to actually like his client. Matter of fact, they rarely ever do. Fighting for this judge’s life, Marc and his team of investigators, Tony Carvelli (who is a street wise former cop) and Maddy Rivers (who is both deadly and beautiful), uncover this criminal organization which is corrupting the whole community, including Gordon Prentiss.

When it seems as though Prentiss is going to get out from underneath it all, he gets framed for the murder. Except for the fact that the gangster Marc thinks is actually responsible is an asset of the federal government, and is fully protected no matter what he does including prostitution, gambling, drug dealing, and murder, even. However the gangster makes a major mistake when he crosses paths with the matriarch of this very connected and wealthy family. It’s a mistake that he will later regret, since even the feds cannot protect him from her.

4 Responses to “Dennis Carstens”

1. Susan Burstad: 1 year ago

   As I’ve purchased The Carstens Series, I become more confused at the way they listed on Amazon, i.e. Volume 1-9 is Legal Mystery Book 18. Volume 1-3 is Legal Mystery 15. Volume 1-6 is Legal Mystery 17. I just pre-ordered Duplicitous Justice Legal Mystery Book 14.

   For Dennis Carstens fans, this doesn’t seem to be a helpful numbering system. There are 14 Carstens books listed on FantasticFiction.com, and yet when looking at his various Volumes, the number of books total up to 18. Can you shed light on this complicated system of numbering and selling Dennis Cartens books?

   Thank you,
   Susan

   Reply
   • Graeme: 1 year ago

     14 books is the correct amount, with the 14th book, Duplicitous Justice just being released today. Amazon often list books that way which can lead to a lot confusion – adding omnibus within a series listing, incorrect listings etc. It’s why sites such as this exist to make it clear for people. Cheers.

     Reply
     • Barbara Bristow: 10 months ago

       I have purchased all 19 books and preordered #20. my Kindle is not listing the titles of 15 through 20 nor am I find the titles online. The numbering system seems very confusing

       Reply
       • Graeme: 10 months ago

         Hello,

         There are only 14 books currently in that series. 15, as of August 8th when Retributive Justice gets released.

         I notice Amazon lists 20 books, but books 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 on their list are all just compilations of previous books and not new books.

         Reply