About James Ardaiz
James Ardaiz
James Ardaiz is a retired judge and former prosecutor who set out to write books that would leave readers thinking about the stories he told and the dilemmas his characters faced. He wanted readers to close the last pages of his books and then say, “Is that what I would have done?”
With his first book, Hands Through Stone, he takes readers through an actual major criminal investigation resulting in the last execution in the state of California and the impact on the men and women involved.
Told in a narrative non-fiction style, it is like reading a novel that allows the reader to stand in the shoes of those who spent twenty-six years seeking justice and how it affected them.
“Ardaiz’s writing about police work is in depth … The final chapter was thought-provoking and put a different perspective on the death penalty for me … had me thinking about the book long after I had finished it.” -TrueCrimeReader.com
His next books involve the Matt Jamison series—a courtroom legal thriller series in which a young prosecutor steps out from the black-and-white world of law school to explore the concept of justice in the shades-of-gray criminal justice system.
Fractured Justice is a stunning debut crime novel in which Assistant District Attorney Matt Jamison gets his first major case. Faced with a sophisticated and elusive killer and mounting pressure to win a high-profile case, Jamison confronts his own conscience as he tracks the killer from the crime scene to a devastating aftermath. In Shades of Truth, a cold murder case is reopened and exposes disturbing secrets. Questions of credibility about the original trial and conviction and evidence of corruption draw the reader into thinking about the reality of the judicial system and the concept of justice.
In his latest book, Trading Innocence, Matt Jamison and his investigators are confronted with protecting two young girls from the dark world of international sex trafficking. Full of unexpected twists and turns, it delivers a captivating tale of innocence lost and a justice system struggling to protect the most vulnerable.
Finally, Tears of Honor, his fourth book, is a complete departure from the world of crime. A sweeping novel of history, war, and courage in the face of injustice, Tears of Honor depicts a dark moment in American history of Japanese Americans sending their sons to fight against Nazi tyranny in Europe while they remained imprisoned by the American government. Using hundreds of hours of interviews and research, this book describes actual events based upon historical documents and the memory of those who were there. An exceptional novel, Tears of Honor was recognized by the American Association of Independent Publishers as a 2022 silver medalist for National Historical Novel of the Year.
“Emotionally charged with a fine blend of military clashes, history, and insights into prejudice and redemption in a gripping saga that is hard to put down and realistic in its roots.” – The Bookwatch
Hands Through Stone
“Hands Through Stone tells a frightening story with all the tension and color of a first-class mystery novel … a revealing insider’s view of the investigation.” -www.CrimeMagazine.com
Trading Innocence
NEW RELEASE
In the dark world of international sex slavery, there is an even more frightening trade in children. In Trading Innocence, Matt Jamison and his investigators are confronted with protecting two young victims from those who would exploit them for money and pleasure. With a pace that will leave the reader breathless from the tension of the investigation, Trading Innocence delivers a captivating tale of innocence lost and a justice system struggling to protect the most vulnerable.
