Killer Ambition by Marcia Clark is a thrilling ride through the cutthroat world of Hollywood. Los Angeles prosecutor Rachel Knight and Detective Bailey Keller are faced with a high-profile murder case involving a powerful talent manager. With insider knowledge, Clark weaves a gripping courtroom drama filled with twists and turns, providing a captivating glimpse into the darker side of Tinseltown. A must-read for legal thriller enthusiasts and anyone intrigued by the hidden truths behind celebrity culture.

KILLER AMBITION - Marcia Clark

#3 in the Rachel Knight mystery series

EXCITING IN TWO WAYS! - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - When the daughter of a famous Hollywood director is found murdered after what appears to be a kidnapping gone wrong, Los Angeles Special Trials prosecutor Rachel Knight and Detective Bailey Keller find themselves at the center of a combustible and high-profile court case.

Writing - 4 stars - As the third in a successful series, this book was easy to read and jump into right from the beginning. Rachel and Bailey are familiar and very likeable characters, with intelligence and charm. It felt comfortable to "work" with them and share their thoughts and abilities.

Characters - Rachel is the main character, and she is full of strength and smarts, although she also has a vulnerable side that is very appealing. It's fascinating to watch her dig into a case. I enjoyed seeing her join forces with Bailey to investigate. Then I was compelled to watch her in action in the courtroom, never giving up. Secondary character of Declan is a good foil--the young yet intelligent lawyer who plays well off Rachel's strengths. We spend a brief time with previous characters--colleagues Toni, Graden, and bartender Drew.

Title - 3 stars - I'm not exactly sure what this refers to. Yes, the murderer as well as Rachel herself has the ambition to get ahead. But I'm not convinced this leads the reader in the right direction to know what to expect from this book.

Cover - 4 stars - This is an unusual cover that definitely draws the eye.

Overall - 4 stars - This was an exciting book to read despite the fact that much of it was following a court case. But seeing the behind-the-scenes action by the lawyers and investigators, as well as following the clues along with them, kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoy Rachel as a character, hearing her thoughts and plans as she investigates and then handles the legalities. I look forward to reading the next in this series sooner rather than later.

I don't normal read books like this one but I truly enjoyed it. I love books with smart, especially female, characters. I would recommend this book to anybody who loves court room drama.

Great read and good addition to the series.
Many thanks to Mulholland and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Marcia Clark takes her experience in a high-profile celebrity trial and mines it for elements in this third novel of her Rachel Knight series. I found the book picked up the pace dramatically when the case went to trial, and it is there that we are treated to more new additions to the LA legal world that Clark has been building for this series. The subplot that rolled out of the second novel is only slightly touched upon in this third; I expect that it will play out more in the next book in the series.

I am reading everything I can find by this author now. The book was well paced and I enjoyed the protagonist very much. Will be looking forward to more in this series.

Marchia Clark is a great lawyer, but her stories leave a bit to be desired. While the premise is great, the execution is not so great. The characters don't feel like they are real. They don't breathe emotions. You can't feel the heat of the day, smell the grass, or feel much at all.

I really wanted to love this series but another book I had a hard time getting through, I think this one you will either love or hate.

In this fourth novel in this series, Deputy Prosecutor Rachel Knight and her close friend Detective Bailey Keller, are called in to investigate the kidnapping, and then murder, of a teenage girl. With this crime, the author gives us more a sense of Rachel's backstory, as this case brings her back to her own childhood, when her sister was abducted. Rachel remembers the guilt she herself felt, even though she was only 7 years old, as well as her father's anger and drinking. She also remembers how he began playing games that were all about teaching her survival skills ,and how to shoot a gun, even at that early age.
The detecting done by Rachel and Bailey was spellbinding, involving some of the usual DNA and fingerprinting, but also computer tracking, and cyber skills. And the actual courtroom scenes are superbly done, with tight plotting as the witnesses and the evidence keep moving in surprising directions. Certainly this author's own skills in a courtroom setting are reflected here. And as this particular crime involves two big name Hollywood director/producers, it also demonstrates the author's familiarity with crime involving names of very high profile figures. I look forward to moving ahead in this series.

This is my second book I have read by Marcia Clark and I am really enjoying her writing. I find the characters very easy to picture which really helps with he flow of stories, especially when they are fast paced, action stories such as this. I really like Rachel, the main character, full of spunk and brains. The story is quite a ride as a hollywood type is found murdered, and so Rachel's case begins with much drama and suspense. I also like that Ms. Clark is able to bring a lot of interest to the legal side of the story without it being too bogged down in detail. Great book, and I love this series!

I have been enjoying the Rachel Night series, though I am confused about her relationship with Graden and impressed with her ability to be a lawyer, manipulating people and letting the facts talk for her where my mouth would be going ninety miles an hour with some swear words thrown in and because truth…justice…MY ASS!

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Killer Ambition by Marcia Clark.

A good strong start to the book but then it started to lag. To many characters talking about designer clothes and not enough about the crime/mystery.

The writing on the book and it's series is good. It's well written and put together and flows rather decently. It's just not my style of book. I had trouble getting into it and enjoying the book. It's not a normal genre that I read exactly so that could have been part of my problem. Over all the book is done rather well, but it's not my favorite.

This was another excellent installment in the Rachel Knight series. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this series, but they’ve all been fun reads. Interesting characters, not a lot of court action, especially considering Rachel works in the DAs office. I’m not sure how realistic it is to have an assistant DA out in the field (and in danger) so much, but it certainly gives the books more of an edge (and definitely more action) than if they stayed strictly in the office & courtroom. This one was interesting, and I didn’t see the resolution to the mystery coming. I’ve read all four books now, and hope there’ll be more but I’m afraid Marcia may have moved on with her new series and left Rachel behind - I hope she has a good life out there in literary limbo, and finds her sister.
Copy provided by Netgalley and Mulholland Books in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is one review that I was absolutely delighted to do. Having read Guilt by Association and Guilt in Degrees, the first and second books in this series, I couldn't wait to start turning the pages on Killer Ambition.

The series follows DA Rachel Knight who lives for her job. She's tenacious, she's smart, and she has a secret that's about to become food fodder for the media while she takes on a very rich, very powerful man in Hollywood.

Two teenagers disappear, one the daughter of Hollywood, one a young man who comes from nothing. Then comes the ransom demand. But is it really a kidnapping? Within days, the youngsters are found brutally murdered .. in two separate places ... and the race is on to find the monster who could have done this...and there are lots of suspects.

If you have read the other books in the series, I can only tell you that each of Marcia Clark's books has been better than the one before. The legal system is so explicitly explained in ways that make it understandable to lay people ... like me.

If you haven't read the others, I highly recommend that you read them in order. You don't want to miss any of DA Knights adventures, but her friends and cohorts as well.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we have not seen the last of Rachel Knight .....and Marcia Clark.

Sorry I was not able to read you book but it went to archive before I could get to it. Sorry once again.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Admittingly, I have had this book for a long time. I received all 4 books in the series, but until this point only managed to get through the first two due to time constraints. As I mentioned in my review of the others, this series reminds me a lot of James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series because it centers around a strong female lead with an arsenal of 3 equally strong female friends. All having careers in the justice department/fields.

<I>Killer Ambition</I> did not disappoint when it comes to the hero (Rachel Knight) overcoming many obstacles in order to outsmart the bad guys. I enjoyed following this story through the evidence discovery parts. It lost me a little bit once the trial started, mainly because it was saturated with facts and witness testimonies. (And I realize this is mainly centered around a trial and all that it encompasses, but I did skim a bit.) Until the end, it was wrapped up nicely and definitely filled with a little bit of suspense.

I look forward to the next (and assumedly final, maybe?) book in this series.

I got all four of these when they were offered....and they just weren't for me. I'd hoped for something different, and they were, the writing was good...I just wasn't feeling it.

Killer Ambition by Marcia Clark is the third installment in the Rachel Knight series. One of my favorite things about this series is not that it’s a Rachel Knight series. No, Marcia Clark, does better and goes one step further by writing a series with several characters that the reader gets to know and bond with.

This story packs a punch right in the feels when Rachel and Bailey are brought in to investigate the murder of the daughter of a Hollywood mover and shaker after it appears she has been kidnapped. This story hit me hard because the victim is so young and it bothers me when life is snuffed out so needlessly, but even more so when the victim is young and has so much life to live. The story delivers a swift kick when the prime suspect of the murder turns out to be the best friend of the victim’s father. My first thought, was “with friends like this, who needs enemies?”

As more details about the case emerge and the Hollywood machine gets ugly, I was so impressed with how Rachel and her posse continue to persevere and dig for the truth and not take anything at face value.

My Final Verdict: This is an amazing series that I highly recommend reading in order. I truly hope there will be more Rachel Knight stories, though there appears to only be four at this time. Marcia Clark writes intriguing stories with characters that are easy to relate to and connect with.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Killer Ambition from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.