Arama’s taut narrative brims with tension and indelible characters. (. . .) A remarkable cast sparks this incisive, riveting tale of intolerance.
— Kirkus Reviews
With an empathetic hand, Roxana Arama brings characters to life by weaving the alarming injustice of the immigrant struggle into a gritty, page-turning plot. A bold, thrilling story.
— Karen Hugg, author of The Forgetting Flower and The Dark Petals of Provence
A genuinely gripping read. Roxana Arama has written a dynamic thriller that balances gritty realism with a keen sensitivity to the experiences of displacement, acculturation, and the human need for connection and belonging.
— Elizabeth Liang, award-winning creator of Alien Citizen: An Earth Odyssey
Fast-paced and chilling from the moment you crack open the cover, you won’t be able to put Extreme Vetting down. Roxana Arama’s deep knowledge of the immigration system and all its complexities gives this thriller a unique and timely presence in the genre.
— Suzy Vitello, author of Faultland
Extreme Vetting was unlike any thriller I have ever read; Arama kept me on my toes the entire novel, eager to know what the future holds for Emilio and his family. I appreciated how knowledgeable Arama was about the immigration process and her sensitivity to the struggles and major obstacles these peoples face. Truly a timely book, this novel can be an eye-opener to the violence and aggression so many immigrants are fleeing from.
— Theresa Kadair, Seattle Book Review
Extreme Vetting is an excellent legal thriller with a pace that is sure to make readers never want to put the book down until the last page is turned. (. . .) Extreme Vetting has proven to be an excellent debut for Roxana Arama, and it will be exciting to see where her literary career goes next.
— Michael Costanzo, founder of City on the Moon
Roxana, you have written a thriller that cuts very close to the truth for me. Living in the border state of Arizona, we hear nightmare stories all the time, and I want to thank you for bringing this issue to life in a very reader-friendly novel.
— Linda Thompson, host of The Authors Show
I’m not a frequent reader of thrillers, but I couldn’t turn away from this one. (. . .) It’s as well-versed in the intricacies of the legal system as it is in the tropes of suspense fiction, and it’s a perfect snapshot of our city when it’s snowbound.
— James Crossley, owner of Madison Books, 2022 finalist for Publishers Weekly’s Bookstore of the Year Award
A riveting thriller of suspense, politics, and one of the major social issues of our day, "Extreme Vetting" by author Roxana Arama is all the more impressive when considering that it is her debut as a novelist. "Extreme Vetting" is a deftly crafted novel that is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Fiction collections. (…) [T]he stuff of which movies are made!
—Midwest Book Review
“A humane, suspenseful thriller about immigration law and its fallout. (…) [A] legal thriller that lovers of humane suspense will enjoy for its fast pace, crusading hero, and character-driven storyline that doesn’t skimp on tension or seedy, duplicitous characters. (…) [A] harrowing but empathetic story that captures the struggles and horrors faced by the undocumented and their families as they strive for a better and safe life in America. Arama captures a complex real-life bind in the language of a commercial thriller: how shedding and fleeing a dangerous past can lead to fighting unbending and unfeeling laws.”
—Editor’s Pick, BookLife by Publishers Weekly
"What am I reading? I’m glad you asked! My good friend and fellow Seattlite @roxanaarama.author recently released her debut novel Extreme Vetting, and it is amazing! I don’t usually read a lot of thrillers, but I wanted to read Roxana’s because I’d heard so much about it while she was writing it, and I’m so glad I did. EV has rich characters and all the suspense, but Roxana did a really deep dive into the US immigration system when she was doing her research, and it shows. I learned so much! Brava!"
—Julia Quinn, author of the Bridgerton series
