This readers’ guide is designed to facilitate discussion of the legal, ethical and emotional issues raised in Mimi Latt’s ULTIMATE JUSTICE.

1.    Giving up her job in New York, Alexandra Locke returns home to Los Angeles to be close to her ailing mother. There she takes a job working as a prosecutor for her father, the L.A. County District Attorney. Her hiring results in charges of nepotism. Do you think those charges are justified? Should family ties be considered among the criteria for employment? What do you see as the pros and cons of working with a member of your family?

2.    While visiting her mother in the hospital, Alexandra hears a deathbed confession from another patient, Erica Collins. Erica implicates Alexandra’s father, Thomas Kendell, in a long-ago murder and cover-up. Alexandra is immediately torn — is her first duty to her job, or to her family? What would be your first priority?

3.    Alexandra’s mother, Roberta Kendell, is battling ovarian cancer, a fact Alexandra must take into account when deciding what to do about the deathbed confession implicating her father. What would you have done under the circumstances?

4.    Alexandra and her father don’t get along well. How does this affect her decision on what to do about her father’s possible involvement in a murder? If you were in Alexandra’s position, with a family member accused of a crime, what would you have done?

5.    Alexandra finds suspicious circumstances surrounding the long-ago death and believes the matter wasn’t investigated properly. At the time of the murder, her father was the deputy district attorney in charge of the case. When Alexandra confronts him with her misgivings, he says she has no right to question him, and he orders her to stop investigating the case. Do you think he is protesting too much? Instead of refusing to discuss the matter, how else could he have handled the situation with Alexandra?

6.    Thomas Kendell is seeking another term as District Attorney and is facing a difficult primary battle. He claims it isn’t fair to subject an old case to hindsight because his opposition will use it against him. Do you agree with him? How do you think politics influence which cases are brought to trial and which are plea-bargained?

7.    Because her father has lied to her in the past, Alexandra questions whether he might be lying to her now. The earlier lie involved an extramarital affair; the current issue is job-related. Do you think that a person who has lied is more likely to lie again? Does it matter whether a lie is about a personal matter or is job-related? Should Alexandra allow the past to affect her judgment?

8.    Should an attorney ever allow personal feelings to interfere with the letter of the law? Do you think you could remain completely objective if you were an attorney involved in a highly emotional case? What kind of case would cause you to allow your personal feelings to influence you?

9.    While investigating the case, Alexandra questions the victim’s family. Subsequently, she becomes intimate with the victim’s son. How does this affect her search for the truth? What does this liaison show about Alexandra’s needs and her character?

10.    When Alexandra finds herself in trouble with the law, she turns to her old boyfriend, Patrick Ross, but they disagree on how her defense should be handled. Do you think a person should always follow the legal advice of their attorney or should they be allowed to make their own decisions? Do you think it is ever appropriate to lie to one’s defense counsel? If so, when?

11.    Although Alexandra senses that Patrick still has romantic feelings for her, she knows he’s involved with his female law partner. Alexandra tells him he must decide whether or not to continue that relationship before they can consider resuming theirs. Do you agree with Alexandra’s ultimatum to Patrick?

12.    The media are focused on everyone and everything in ULTIMATE JUSTICE. What part do you think the media play in the way lawyers handle their clients and cases? Do you think the media are intrusive? Why do you think murder, passion, greed and betrayal fascinate us so — especially when the rich or famous are involved?

13.    After she is arrested, Alexandra’s father puts her on administrative leave and states that he can do nothing to help her. Do you think he is right to distance himself and his position as D.A. from his daughter and her predicament? How else could he deal with the matter?

14.    George Collins, Erica’s ex-husband, is brought to trial, and Alexandra is forced to take the witness stand. Do you think she has any choice but to tell the truth to the best of her ability — even if it implicates her father? Is there ever a good reason for someone to lie when testifying?

15.    When Alexandra’s mother is dying, she asks her daughter for a promise. What is the promise? Taking into account possible repercussions, what options did Alexandra have, under the circumstances?

16.    After the truth is known, Alexandra and her father try to talk things out. Do you understand why he did what he did? Do you think Alexandra should forgive him? Would you be able to forgive your father under the same circumstances?

17.    ULTIMATE JUSTICE deals with the age-old question: Does the end ever justify the means? Do you think everyone in the story is better off once the truth comes out? Who do you think is helped by the truth? Do you think anyone is hurt by the truth?