jumped into the opioid case with both feet . In violation of the judge ’ s order , Jake leaked the documents and information from the case to the press . He lost his license , and then Deke hired him to work for the Bergman / Deketomis law firm as an investigator .
Michael Carey Mostly , however , Suspicious Activity focuses on further development of Michael Carey , a character who made his debut in Papantonio ’ s fourth legal thriller , Inhuman Trafficking . Michael is a pararescue man — a unique specialist in the U . S . Air Force who conducts personnel recovery and combat search and rescue operations , as well as other missions for the U . S . military and its allies .
Also known as PJs , these are highly trained special operators , and they do their missions not as a part of a team but by themselves .
Only in his mid-twenties , Michael suffered a back injury in Afghanistan , so he goes to law school , then comes to work with Deke at his law firm .
Papantonio describes Michael as “ response oriented ,” rather than rules driven .
“ He goes and does what has to be done — and it ’ s certainly not practicing the law ,” Papantonio remarked .
We see Michael using whatever tactics necessary to get essential information . It ’ s a bit of a contradiction in a book that ’ s built on the theme of doing the right thing — and Papantonio is fine with this contradiction .
“ We think , ‘ Oh , my God , that ’ s awful ,’ but this is an industry that killed hundreds and hundreds of people . So comparatively , it ’ s almost a balance of what ’ s morally right ,” he said .
Co-Author Chris Paulos
Suspicious Activity ’ s tangible realism comes to life with the help of co-author Chris Paulos , who heads up the Counter- Terrorism Unit at Levin Papantonio Rafferty ( LPR ) law firm . Papantonio tapped Paulos ’ expertise to create an outline for the book that would draw a realistic arc for the plot .
“ I think people will be shocked to know our book is based on true events ,” Paulos told MTMP Magazine . “ We ’ ve obviously created a fictional structure for the true events to be told , but it ’ s shocking to know that people are willing to provide support for terrorism to make money , and that is happening closer to home than people realize .
Paulos explained that the conduct of the financial services being provided and what banks are doing to avoid being caught doing business with terrorists is “ 100-percent true ” and is the centerpiece of many of LPR ’ s counter-terrorism cases .
“ Colin Powell said that money is the oxygen of terrorism , and without the means to raise and move money around the world , terrorists cannot function ,” Paulos continued . “ But you
62 x The Trial Lawyer can ’ t move money around the world without dealing with banks in the United States .”
A twist the authors added to Suspicious Activity is that the bank-funded terrorism results in terrorist acts on U . S . soil . However , according to Paulos , this threat is more accurate than most people realize .
Paulos referred to the mounting number of designated Iranian nationals who are being captured at the southern border of the United States and recent Homeland Security battles along the border that uncovered IEDs , eerily similar to what Suspicious Activity aims to fictionalize .
“ That ’ s about as close to a real-life headline from recent news ,” Paulos said . “ That is our book .”
Author Mike Papantonio
Renowned author Mike Papantonio is celebrated for his compelling narratives that blend legal expertise with riveting storytelling . Inspired by a prolific career spanning decades as a senior partner at Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm , Papantonio has penned numerous popular legal thrillers , captivating readers with his insightful exploration of the legal system and social justice issues :
• Suspicious Activity
• Inhuman Trafficking
• Law and Addiction
• Law and Vengeance
• Law and Disorder
Papantonio ’ s adept fusion of legal intricacies and gripping plotlines has garnered widespread acclaim , establishing him as a master of the genre . His works resonate with readers worldwide , leaving a lasting impact on the literary landscape .
Besides his growly work of legal thrillers , Papantonio has also penned non-fiction books , particularly those exploring legal and political issues . Some of his notable works include In Search of Atticus Finch : A Motivational Book for Lawyers ( 1996 ); Clarence Darrow , the Journeyman ( 1997 ); and Resurrecting Aesop : Fables Lawyers Should Remember ( 2000 ). These books offer insights into the legal profession and are treated as required reading in law schools .
Papantonio is also widely known as the founder , former host , and legal commentator of the nationally syndicated radio show “ Ring of Fire ” ( ROF ). He hosts “ America ’ s Lawyer ,” a program on ROF ’ s YouTube channel with over one million subscribers . On “ America ’ s Lawyer ,” Papantonio provides indepth investigations into major corporate and government corruption .
You can order hardcover copies of Suspicious Activity on Amazon or stop by the Levin Papantonio Rafferty booth at MTMP to get a signed copy .