Review: Guilt by Degrees by Marcia Clark

Title:  Guilt by Degrees
Author:  Marcia Clark
Genre:  Murder Mystery, Thriller
Pages:  448
Published:  May 2012
Publisher:  Little Brown
Source:  Publisher
Where to buy:  Amazon

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 suspect-less 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.

Sometimes events who seem completely unrelated turn into something the complete opposite.  When the murder of a homeless man lands in Rachel’s lap – she finds herself drawn into a case that ties back to the murder of Baily Keller, a police detective.  Can she figure out how these two cases relate to one another and the killer?

Life hasn’t always been fair or easy for Rachel Knight.  She lost her sister many years ago and hasn’t really been able to get past that.  She keeps the events and her feelings to herself, and pushing away anyone who dares to delve into her private life.  Can she find a lead on what happened to her sister all those years ago?  Does the person she’s hunting for know something?

This was a really interesting read.  We all know the name Marcia Clark – from the OJ Simpson case.  Which is what initially caught my interest with this author.  What was her writing style like?  Was she going to use real cases as inspiration for her book?  When I started reading I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but as I got farther and farther into the story I was hooked.  I thoroughly enjoyed the twists, turns and surprises the author puts in Rachel’s path.  And I loved Marcia’s writing style!

Without giving away anything – this book is filled with intrigue, a spunky, smart and feisty heroine who fights for justice.  With her own life at stake can she figure out who did it without getting herself or her partner in the line of fire?

Will I recommend this book?  Yes!  If you like intrigue, murder and a book that will hook you from page one up to the end – then this book is for you!  I know I’ll be adding the first Rachel Knight book to my wish-list and any others that come out!  Will I read more by this author?  Most definitely!