Unfair Discrimination


Fiction - Thriller - Legal
344 Pages
Reviewed on 01/18/2023
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Mark lives with his wife Loren and their dog Emily in Denver, CO. He schooled at Haverford College and Washburn University, and practiced commercial bankruptcy law for several decades before moving on in 2019 to write, volunteer, travel, and play music. He is the author of “Unfair Discrimination,” just released in late 2022, his award-winning legal thriller, “Automatic Stay,” "Fresh Start," the first legal thriller in his 3J series, and the award-winning memoir, "And . . Just Like That - essays on a life before, during, and after the law." Shortly, he will begin work on the next in the 3J series, “Cram Down,” Connect with Mark at htttp://markshaikenauthor.com

    Book Review

Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite

For some time, the Melanshin family has been buying up real estate in Meadowfield, but seems to have fallen on hard times recently; they have stopped making payments to their creditors. It does not sit well with Woody Clarke, who believes that Donnie and Lil Melanshin are deliberately reneging on their obligations, and he is prepared to use any means necessary to get the money owed. Clarke and the other creditors hire big-city lawyer Josephia Jillian Jones to aid their cause, who soon discovers that things are not as they appear in this rural community, where vengeance, bias, and racism run deep. She will need the best resources to win this case in Mark Shaiken’s Unfair Discrimination.

Mark Shaiken infuses the rich history of the American Civil War era into this modern-day tale, vividly bringing it to life. The characters are detailed and unique in their backstories and interactions with each other. The attention to detail relating to the lesser-known aspects of American social issues is informative; his injection of snippets of black history is blended smoothly into this intriguing storyline. Revenge-themed stories within rural communities have not looked this immersive to me for some time, and the courtroom antics of Clark and 3J added a refreshingly humorous touch to a story overwhelmingly oriented to legal processes. The pace is fluid and picks up as the climax approaches. Unfair Discrimination is a richly blended and enjoyable reading experience. Kudos to Shaiken for this impressive work.

Keith Mbuya

Everything seemed to be just fine in the small town of Meadowfield, Kansas until real estate businessman Donavan Melanshin (Donnie) filed for bankruptcy. This news left Donnie’s creditors, particularly Woody Clarke, uneasy and sleepless. With millions of dollars still pending in payment from Donnie, and the complicated Kansas bankruptcy laws, Woody and the other creditors knew they stood to lose the most. Unwilling to go down without a fight, the creditors seek the help of an attorney to represent them in court. They realize that their best shot at the case is the astute attorney J.J. Jones - a black woman. Apart from being the leader of The Thirty-Six Thirties - a small white supremacist club in Meadowfield - Woody hated the system, black folks, working women, and many other things. Why did a reputable real estate dealer and tycoon like Donnie file for bankruptcy? Get yourself Mark Shaiken’s Unfair Discrimination to discover more.

I could not get enough of this compelling work of mystery, thrill, drama, and adventure, and I savored every moment. Mark Shaiken weaves an intriguing plot that draws its heartbeat from a tale of vengeance, deceit, love, sacrifices, blackmail, threats, spicy romance, legal battles, money, greed, and cunning strategies. Mark’s vivid depictions sent me hurtling back and forth from the rural town of Meadowfield to the city of Kansas. The masterfully crafted cast was authentic in every way. I appreciated how this story played out to give me a glimpse into the lives of farmers from rural Kansas and attorneys from the city. I loved the way Mark used introspection and it was amazing how he incorporated a great sense of humor into the story. Woody Clarke is an amusing character who has no qualms about voicing his unpopular views and will stop at nothing when provoked. I loved Unfair Discrimination and can’t wait to read more of Mark’s work.