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judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
A special thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for a complimentary reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Famous as lead prosecutor in the murder trial of O.J. Simpson, Marcia Clark still works as a lawyer, but she's also an author. First came 1997's "Without a Doubt," a memoir of the case, and more recently, a series of legal thrillers.
Clark's first four novels starred the same main character, Rachel Knight. Like Clark, Knight was a prosecutor in the Los Angeles district attorney's office, an ambitious, hard-charging lawyer who took her job very seriously.
Having read Marcia Clark’s The Competition (Rachel Knight #4) when it came out in 2014, Killer Ambition (Rachel Knight #3), and some of her newer books, the publisher sent me copies of the earlier books in the series to read at that time. They kind of got pushed further down the pile, and failed to write my review at the time, since they were older books, and my blog features only, new and upcoming books.
I do love legal thrillers, so wanted to revisit. When I picked up the audiobooks, read by January LaVoy, (awesome narrator), the first two books in the series, Guilt by Association (Rachel Knight #1) and Guilt by Degrees, (Rachel Knight #2) wanted to write a quick review.
If you missed the first book in the series, Clark catches you up to speed in her second Rachel Knight installment GUILT BY DEGREES.
Wow, she bumps up the intensity with the smart, funny, and fearless Knight in pursuit of justice. A homeless man gets murdered. She has seen him early on and felt for him. She stars digging further and discovers he was the brother of a policeman killed two years earlier.
Clark pulls you into the mystery and suspense, combining crafty legal proceedings. From politics to conspiracy, combined with wit, and suspense- a bold follow up, making this a must read series. Also more intriguing information about Rachel this go around -enjoy the relationship with Bailey.
BTW, Congrats Marcia! Marcia Clark Finally Has a Moment to Savor at the Emmys (2016).
If you have read Blood Defense (#1 May 2016) it centers on defense attorney Samantha Brinkman. Unlike Rachel Knight, she's more than willing to bend the rules to get what she wants. Moral Defense (Nov 2016) will follow up with Samantha Brinkman #2.
In a recent online interview from Clark: “I was a defense attorney before I was a prosecutor, and I'm doing defense work again now. So I wanted to write a character who was a little more wild and woolly than Rachel." LA Times (2016)
Fans of Lis Wiehl will enjoy Clark’s style, and this riveting thriller. With Clark’s background--a former LA, California deputy district attorney, who was the lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case and a frequent media commentator and columnist on legal issues—she knows her stuff and is reflective throughout her books.
Clark fans and new readers fond of crime thrillers, cop procedures, and legal thrillers will enjoy the series.
Famous as lead prosecutor in the murder trial of O.J. Simpson, Marcia Clark still works as a lawyer, but she's also an author. First came 1997's "Without a Doubt," a memoir of the case, and more recently, a series of legal thrillers.
Clark's first four novels starred the same main character, Rachel Knight. Like Clark, Knight was a prosecutor in the Los Angeles district attorney's office, an ambitious, hard-charging lawyer who took her job very seriously.
Having read Marcia Clark’s The Competition (Rachel Knight #4) when it came out in 2014, Killer Ambition (Rachel Knight #3), and some of her newer books, the publisher sent me copies of the earlier books in the series to read at that time. They kind of got pushed further down the pile, and failed to write my review at the time, since they were older books, and my blog features only, new and upcoming books.
I do love legal thrillers, so wanted to revisit. When I picked up the audiobooks, read by January LaVoy, (awesome narrator), the first two books in the series, Guilt by Association (Rachel Knight #1) and Guilt by Degrees, (Rachel Knight #2) wanted to write a quick review.
If you missed the first book in the series, Clark catches you up to speed in her second Rachel Knight installment GUILT BY DEGREES.
Wow, she bumps up the intensity with the smart, funny, and fearless Knight in pursuit of justice. A homeless man gets murdered. She has seen him early on and felt for him. She stars digging further and discovers he was the brother of a policeman killed two years earlier.
Clark pulls you into the mystery and suspense, combining crafty legal proceedings. From politics to conspiracy, combined with wit, and suspense- a bold follow up, making this a must read series. Also more intriguing information about Rachel this go around -enjoy the relationship with Bailey.
BTW, Congrats Marcia! Marcia Clark Finally Has a Moment to Savor at the Emmys (2016).
If you have read Blood Defense (#1 May 2016) it centers on defense attorney Samantha Brinkman. Unlike Rachel Knight, she's more than willing to bend the rules to get what she wants. Moral Defense (Nov 2016) will follow up with Samantha Brinkman #2.
In a recent online interview from Clark: “I was a defense attorney before I was a prosecutor, and I'm doing defense work again now. So I wanted to write a character who was a little more wild and woolly than Rachel." LA Times (2016)
Fans of Lis Wiehl will enjoy Clark’s style, and this riveting thriller. With Clark’s background--a former LA, California deputy district attorney, who was the lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case and a frequent media commentator and columnist on legal issues—she knows her stuff and is reflective throughout her books.
Clark fans and new readers fond of crime thrillers, cop procedures, and legal thrillers will enjoy the series.
veenaea12's review against another edition
2.0
Couldn't even finish it. WAY too much detail than I care to read about. The last straw came at the end of one chapter where she fell asleep while reading her book. She heard her book fall to the floor. And she left it there...
That was written in the book.
I don't care!?
Anyway, skipped to the end because the plot is still good. Just waaaayyyy too much detail.
That was written in the book.
I don't care!?
Anyway, skipped to the end because the plot is still good. Just waaaayyyy too much detail.
crimyami's review against another edition
3.0
I gave this one a try as I was hoping it got better.. while the plot was a bit better this book had the same problems as book one. We're talking about a lot of food and clothing again and it doesn't help how things roll in my opinion. It makes it hard to focus on the plot and kept jumping around to different things. While we really didn't see Rachel in her office doing work, she was out of the office doing a lot of investigating. Which I can't help but to wonder about since the da's office has investigators so they don't have to get involved that deep or cops for the shoot outs that they had in the book.
Rachel's trying to figure out a murder of a homless person that leads to a cop previously killed. This is an interesting thing because the wife of the cop, is a suspect again and a lawyer who can get her way about anything. So I think that the plot is interesting but the subplot about Rachel's sister isn't exactly knee grabbing or the way the character acts about it. The way she acts seems childish and takes away from the character rather than build her up.
All in all this book is a 3 star, the writing jumps all over the place and focuses too much on clothing/food rather than the actual case and the character doesn't seem to have much development.
Rachel's trying to figure out a murder of a homless person that leads to a cop previously killed. This is an interesting thing because the wife of the cop, is a suspect again and a lawyer who can get her way about anything. So I think that the plot is interesting but the subplot about Rachel's sister isn't exactly knee grabbing or the way the character acts about it. The way she acts seems childish and takes away from the character rather than build her up.
All in all this book is a 3 star, the writing jumps all over the place and focuses too much on clothing/food rather than the actual case and the character doesn't seem to have much development.
jesslroy's review against another edition
4.0
Each book in this series gets a little bit better. Enjoyable.
nixieknox's review against another edition
3.0
I'm giving this three stars because it was very readable and entertaining but it was a cliff-hanger!! This isn't TV, I can't just wait a week to see what happens! I feel cheated. Bah.
The relationship between Rachel & Lilia reminds me of Bobby Goren & Nicole Wallace on L&O Criminal Intent, so I felt a little forgiving.
The relationship between Rachel & Lilia reminds me of Bobby Goren & Nicole Wallace on L&O Criminal Intent, so I felt a little forgiving.
orsayor's review against another edition
5.0
Guilt by Degrees by Marcia Clark is a thrilling journey through the world of LA courts, skillfully woven with suspense and intrigue. D.A. Rachel Knight finds herself entangled in a seemingly impossible case, the murder of a homeless man without any suspects. As she delves deeper into the web of clues, she realizes that someone is watching her every move, and this unknown adversary is just as intelligent but harboring malicious intentions.
With the unwavering support of Detective Bailey Keller, a tough and determined ally, Rachel is determined to seek justice against all odds. However, their investigation takes an unexpected turn when they stumble upon a connection to a brutal LAPD cop murder from the previous year. As the plot thickens, Rachel becomes convinced that someone out there holds the truth, and they are willing to go to any lengths to keep it hidden.
In Guilt by Degrees, Marcia Clark is a master storyteller, offering readers a suspenseful experience. This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys legal thrillers and mysteries, as it showcases the dark underbelly of the justice system and the tenacity of a remarkable protagonist in her pursuit of truth and justice.
With the unwavering support of Detective Bailey Keller, a tough and determined ally, Rachel is determined to seek justice against all odds. However, their investigation takes an unexpected turn when they stumble upon a connection to a brutal LAPD cop murder from the previous year. As the plot thickens, Rachel becomes convinced that someone out there holds the truth, and they are willing to go to any lengths to keep it hidden.
In Guilt by Degrees, Marcia Clark is a master storyteller, offering readers a suspenseful experience. This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys legal thrillers and mysteries, as it showcases the dark underbelly of the justice system and the tenacity of a remarkable protagonist in her pursuit of truth and justice.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
4 STARS
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
Rachel Knight finds herself in the middle of another impossible case - a nameless homeless man is found dead and no one seems to care. First his death goes unnoticed by all the walked by the homeless man dressed as Santa Claus. Second, no one knows who he is or the woman whom he is accused of grabbing. As she recruits her best friend and homicide detective, Bailey to help her solve the crime her new relationship is also hanging by a string.
Guilt by Degrees was a rollercoaster of a ride but I am not sure if we were left with a cliffhanger or more to come in the next book. I was happy with ending but wanted more.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
Rachel Knight finds herself in the middle of another impossible case - a nameless homeless man is found dead and no one seems to care. First his death goes unnoticed by all the walked by the homeless man dressed as Santa Claus. Second, no one knows who he is or the woman whom he is accused of grabbing. As she recruits her best friend and homicide detective, Bailey to help her solve the crime her new relationship is also hanging by a string.
Guilt by Degrees was a rollercoaster of a ride but I am not sure if we were left with a cliffhanger or more to come in the next book. I was happy with ending but wanted more.
simsarella's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
azaria74's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bizeemom29's review against another edition
5.0
well developed characters that i enjoyed, twists and turns i couldn't have imagined, this story made me laugh and cry! I hope she writes more with these characters, I'd love to read more