Review: Guilt by Degrees by Marcia Clark

Publish Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Series: Rachel Knight #2

Synopsis: Someone has been watching D.A. Rachel Knight—someone who's Rachel's equal in brains, but with more malicious intentions. It began when a near-impossible case fell into Rachel's lap, the suspectless homicide of a homeless man. In the face of courthouse backbiting and a gauzy web of clues, Rachel is determined to deliver justice. She's got back-up: tough-as-nails Detective Bailey Keller. As Rachel and Bailey stir things up, they're shocked to uncover a connection with the vicious murder of an LAPD cop a year earlier. Something tells Rachel someone knows the truth, someone who'd kill to keep it secret.

Harrowing, smart, and riotously entertaining, Guilt by Degrees is a thrilling ride through the world of LA courts with the unforgettable Rachel Knight.

Review: Another home run with this book, the second in the Rachel Knight series. This book was a page turner from beginning to end. It was more suspenseful than the first in the series, especially when it came to the protagonist. She was a lot more involved in the drama and the action with this case. In terms of the plot, it was a bit confusing that the story was alternating between two characters, one of which you really didn't know. But once you find out who they are and how they connect to the rest of the story/case, it makes a lot more sense to the story. 

This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites and I am looking forward to continuing read about Rachel Knight!

Recommended For: Fans of crime fiction, mystery.

*Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark

Publish Date: April 20, 2011
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Series: Rachel Knight #1

Synopsis: Los Angeles D.A. Rachel Knight is a tenacious, wise-cracking, and fiercely intelligent prosecutor in the city's most elite division. When her colleague, Jake, is found dead at a grisly crime scene, Rachel is shaken to the core. She must take over his toughest case: the assault of a young woman from a prominent family.

But she can't stop herself from digging deeper into Jake's death, a decision that exposes a world of power and violence and will have her risking her reputation—and her life—to find the truth.

With her tremendous expertise in the nuances of L.A. courts and crime, and with a vibrant ensemble cast of characters, Marcia Clark combines intimate detail, riotous humor, and visceral action in a debut thriller that marks the launch of a major new figure on the crime-writing scene.

Review: Marcia Clark does a great job with this debut novel- her background definitely sets her up nicely for a career as a crime novelist!

I was hooked on this book from the first chapter. The characters are very likable and the plot is fast moving and engaging. It develops well and has plenty of twists and turns to keep you intrigued. What I liked the most was that the book takes you through an investigation involving multiple areas of law enforcement. It had action, adventure, mystery, and even a bit of romance. I have read my fair share of crime novels and this is one of the better ones! Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

*Disclaimer: I did receive a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review: By Any Means by Chris Culver

Synopsis: At the end of a particularly grueling summer day, Ash Rashid is heading home to his wife and kids when he discovers a pair of bodies, shot execution style, in the front seat of a crashed vehicle. As the first officer on the scene, Ash finds himself and his department 20 minutes behind a killer in a race where every second counts. With two victims down and a third unaccounted for, the clock is ticking and Ash must find the killer before he strikes again.

Review: This book was middle of the road for me. It started off as a typical police mystery. The plot then split and for the majority of the book, it switched back and forth between two characters and their stories. Without giving too much detail, these two characters had one thread that connected them both to each other and the case. This kept me intrigued for the first third to half of the book. However, it got to be too many characters and story lines to keep track of, at least to me.  Some sections of this book were suspenseful however the story mostly flowed with the details of the case. The end wrapped up fairly quickly. I will admit I'm curious to see what happens to Ash Rashid next.

As an aside, this is the first Chris Culver book I have read. There are 2 other Ash Rashid novels and I wonder if reading these first would have made any difference.

Recommended For: Fans of crime fiction, murder mysteries.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Publish Date: May 6, 2014


*Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.