“Willful Intent” by David Brandin Explores Justice, Power, and the Consequences of a Career-Defining Case

Author David Brandin unveils a gripping legal thriller that challenges the boundaries of justice and accountability in “Willful Intent.” The novel explores the government’s strategic prosecution of LAPD Officer Donald Henderson, a man whose fate was determined not by evidence but by the political imperative for a conviction.

Spanning decades and set against the real-life backdrop of America’s civil rights struggles, “Willful Intent” follows Henderson’s journey from decorated officer to scapegoat in a high-profile case that shaped the nation’s perception of law enforcement. After years of avoiding excessive force charges, Henderson is swept into the public fury over the 1991 Rodney King beating, becoming the government’s sacrificial lamb in its failure to prosecute the officers responsible.

Decades later, the case resurfaces just as former prosecutor Keisha Howard—now a senior Justice Department official—is on the verge of becoming the next U.S. Attorney General. Her career, built on high-profile civil rights convictions, hinges on keeping the past buried. But when a new police brutality incident reignites scrutiny of Henderson’s conviction, Howard must confront a truth that threatens to unravel her ambitions. Adding to the tension, Judge Okada—once a willing participant in the flawed prosecution—grapples with his conscience, revealing the government’s heavy-handed role in securing Henderson’s conviction.

Through meticulous storytelling, Brandin masterfully dissects the power struggles that shape legal outcomes, exposing the weight of political ambition on the scales of justice. “Willful Intent” is a thought-provoking exploration of lawfare, media influence, and the long shadows cast by history.

This novel is a compelling reflection on the fragility of justice and the cost of ambition in a system where truth is often a casualty of political necessity.

About the Author:
David Brandin, a computer scientist and coauthor of The Technology War, brings his extensive knowledge and experience to the world of fiction with “Willful Intent.” He previously served as Vice President of Computer Science at SRI International and as President of the Association for Computing Machinery. He and his wife reside in Northern California.

“Willful Intent” is now available for purchase on Amazon.

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