| Pursuit
— a novel by Rudy Apodaca
 My
novel, Pursuit, was released and published
in April, 2003 by AuthorHouse,
of Bloomington, Indiana. The book is
available (Hardcover ISBN: 1-4033-8572-6;
Softcover ISBN: 1-4033-8571-8) in most
bookstores, by special order if not
stocked. It can also be ordered at the
websites of Amazon.com and Barnes and
Noble (bn.com).
Following is more
information on the book.
Click here to order a copy.
Awards:
Pursuit was a Finalist in ForeWord Magazine's 2003 Book of the Year Awards; it placed among the Top 10 entries in the magazine's mystery category. ForeWord Magazine, a literary review trade journal, was founded on the premise that the most thought-provoking, startling, and original books being published today are found on the lists from independent publishers. The magazine was established to bring increased attention to the literary achievements of independent publishers and their authors. It is the only trade journal showcasing reviews and title trends exclusively from university presses, small presses, and POD and ebook publishers.
Pursuit was also entered in the 2004 Independent Publisher Book Awards competition sponsored by the Jenkins Group Inc., parent company of Independent Publisher Online. In that competition, it placed among the Top 5 entries out of 98 books entered in the publication's mystery/suspense/thriller category. Independent Publisher Online (formerly Small Press Magazine), after 19 years as a print journal, now goes out monthly as an online publication to over 40,000 subscribers worldwide, many of whom are agents, buyers, and librarians.
Dust
Jacket "Blurbs":
"In Pursuit, Rudy Apodaca tells
a story of crime, punishment, love,
and political conspiracy, speaking with
the authority that a long career as
a distinguished jurist gives him. An
intriguing story told by a retired judge
who knows what he’s talking about."
—Tony Hillerman, world-renowned
author of award-winning mystery novels
"Readers who enjoy courtroom dramas
with an international connection will
love Pursuit. The New Mexico setting,
the foreign scenes, and John Garcia
as the main character assure the novel
will become a favorite."
—Rudolfo Anaya, award-winning
author of Bless Me, Ultima and other
works
About
the book:
At age 55, John Garcia is one of Albuquerque’s
most successful lawyers. His skill at
defending insurance and corporate conglomerates
has won the praise of the firm’s
other key partners, and the money he
bills, their envy. Still, something
nags at him—life has become nothing
but business. He feels trapped, driven
to keep up on the one hand and to find
a way out on the other. But he has a
wife and children, a family used to
the good things in life that money brings.
Into this setting comes a young Chicano,
Bernardo Soliz, charged with the attempted
murder of the mayor’s daughter.
John believes the boy is innocent and,
despite the demands of his work, he
decides to defend the young man. As
he takes on the Soliz trial while trying
to keep up with his other work, another
challenge appears. Persons from his
military past in Vietnam surface to
threaten him—unless they get what
they want. John is shaken. He needs
time to face this new menace. But how?
He’s in the midst of the boy’s
trial.
The trial is going badly, coming to
an inescapable conclusion in the face
of eyewitness identifications of Bernardo
as the assailant. As the trial and events
from his military past take their toll,
another threat descends upon John—his
marriage is coming apart.
Amid the twists and turns in the Soliz
case, he finds himself in a moral quandary.
He fears his personal problems may have
gotten in the way of representing Bernardo
to the fullest. He feels he should hang
in and fight for the boy’s life.
Guilt hangs over him.
As the Soliz case comes to its double-twisted
conclusion, John begins to get a grip
on the mysterious foreign threat from
the past, but not before it jeopardizes
the national security of the United
States.
Book Review Excerpts:
From the Las Cruces
Sun-News, a daily newspaper (April 4, 2003 issue):
"Pursuit is an action-packed thriller
. . . ."
"Apodaca’s legal background
shows as he methodically sets the stage
. . . . for what becomes a fast-paced
thriller full of sex, lies, kidnappings
and political intrigue."
"The plots and subplots in this
novel will keep the reader involved,
and Apodaca’s legal expertise
shows in the courtroom scenes that ring
true."
"The Santa Fe and Albuquerque settings
will feel comfortable to New Mexicans,
and the far-flung other locations provide
the exotic element called for in this
genre."
From Southwest Book Views (Vol. 2, No. 4, Autumn 2003):
". . . [T]his is a compelling book . . . ."
". . .[T]he courtroom scenes and discussions of tactics are especially fascinating and realistic, doubtless a reflection of [the author's] long experience with the law."
"All manner of complications abound, . . . until the final exciting resolution."
Readers' Comments:
"I found it riveting." R. A., San Francisco, CA
"Brilliant; . . . fascinating story; . . . read it non-stop totally mesmerized. . . . Surely going to be a collector's item. . . [T]ruly a gifted writer. . . . I came to [the last page] . . . and wished there were more!" P. B., Albuquerque, NM
"Great read! . . . a suspense-filled novel with a well developed plot, real characters, just enough flavor of the Southwest and the law to give it depth. I recommend it to anyone who wants to be absorbed in a good book." R. G., Jaffrey, NH
"What a terrific story!!! . . . [K]ept me wanting to turn the pages." D. D., Ruidoso, NM
"I couldn't put it down! . . . [A]ction packed; . . . I . . . highly recommend this book to anyone, whether an avid reader or not." C. Z., Austin, TX
"I enjoyed it immensely. . . . I actually arose at 4 AM so I could get some reading in before my daily routines started. . . . [A]fter page 50 I was hooked. . . . I shall recommend it to my friends and family." R. D., Hempstead, MD
"I started reading [Pursuit] at six o'clock in the evening and read it straight through to the end until two in the morning." N. R., Las Cruces, NM
About
the author:
Rudy Apodaca, a native and resident of New Mexico, presently lives with his wife in Austin, Texas. A trial
attorney for 22 years, he began his
judicial career on the New Mexico Court
of Appeals, where he served for almost
14 years. Since his retirement from
the court, he has divided his time between
mediation/arbitration work and his writing.
He’s presently working on a coming-of-age novel
about life in southern New Mexico.
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