Guilt by Degrees

A Rachel Knight Novel

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Pub Date Apr 30 2013 | Archive Date Jul 26 2014

Description

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.

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...


Advance Praise

"It's no big surprise that Marcia Clark knows her way around a courtroom, and a murder mystery—but she's also a terrific writer and storyteller." —James Patterson

"Marcia Clark knows her villains, and Guilt by Degrees gives us one you won't forget. She also gives us one of the toughest and most appealing heroes to come along in a very long time. Prosecutor Rachel Knight is smart, funny, and just about fearless in her pursuit of justice and a good martini. Guilt By Degrees kept me guessing to the last page—and then impatient to read more about Rachel Knight." —Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of High Crimes and Vanished

"Clark humanizes her tough lead, and gets the mixture of action and investigative legwork just right, more than making the case for a long life for this West Coast analogue to Linda Fairstein's Alex Cooper." —Publisher's Weekly (starred)

"It's no big surprise that Marcia Clark knows her way around a courtroom, and a murder mystery—but she's also a terrific writer and storyteller." —James Patterson

"Marcia Clark knows her villains...


Available Editions

EDITION Mass Market Paperback
ISBN 9780316129541
PRICE $8.00 (USD)

Average rating from 168 members


Featured Reviews

If you missed the first book in this series Guilt by Association, that is okay as it is not really necessary to read it first as I think that Clark did a really good job of either referring back as to how characters knew each other if she needed to, so this could be read as a stand alone if you cannot find the first book. However, I really enjoyed the first novel (and Clark's debut into fiction writing), so I would recommend that you read just for a good read.

Rachel Knight hates incompetence, especially in the court room and that is how she found herself taking on a case that would not normally transferred up to special prosecution, but Rachel always wants to see justice done right no matter what, but this case is going to be far from the easy road. Not only does this case raise a lot of political issue within the prosecution's office it also raises questions about the man who is be accused of murder. Something does not sit right with Rachel and now she and Baily on track to prove who the real murderer is. But this case is more connected to Rachel than she will ever realize, it is just the beginning of someone who is hunting her and they will stop at nothing to destroy everything Rachel loves and will finish it by ending her life.

I really enjoyed Guilt by Association and I was really hoping that Clark could pull me as she did in the first novel and I'm not going to lie, but I think that this was an amazing follow up to the first book. I actually think that I like this book better than the first one, and I think that this is because we know our characters and how they work that I already feel more vested in them. Also I found the mystery part of the story, both the murder and who is stalking Rachel. I found that they were more complex with unexpected twists and an ending that I did not expect.

I really enjoy the relationship between Rachel and Bailey both when they are working together and when they are not. They have true friendship and balance each other out really well. They are not the same person and they make up for what the other individual lacks. Their relationship also provides some of the comic relief in the novel as well.

I like Rachel even more now, her thought process and how she goes into a case and investigation, are really well done. I admire her dedication to justice, right and wrong making sure that every avenue is investigated in a case. Though she does not know the first thing about relationships and there were times where I wanted to shoot her for how she handled things with Graden. As we do live in a digital world, I mean who hasn't Googled someone who they are going on a date with or are just starting a relationship with. It is so much harder to hide your skeletons now, that it really does not surprise me that he looked into her. He even owned up to it too. However, I do like what that situation forced Rachel to do and have a more open relationship with everyone and stop having the secrets.

This book is not going to end the way you think it will and I applaud Clark for not taking the easy way out. I am looking forward to reading Clark's next novel with Rachel and I cannot wait to see how the end of this book affects the storyline on the next.

Enjoy!!!

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Each book in this series is better than the previous as Clark takes us into the world of Rachel knight. The suspense builds from page to page as the reader finds out more about the case and about the dark side of Rachel's past. The main characters are real people, and the reader becomes emotionally invested in all of them. Questions continue to rise throughout the story, making the book impossible to put down. The descriptions are just right. The action is heart-pounding, and the suspense is excruciating. Well worth reading and reading again.

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I am addicted to these books by Marcia Clark - they are riveting! Loved this new story and read it in one day (couldn't help it!).

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Another page-turner! I enjoyed this fast-paced book and I'm looking forward to the continuing adventures of Rachel Knight - especially considering how this book ended. Perfect summer reading.

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I enjoyed this book by Marcia Clark as much as the first one. I love Rachael Knight and her friends. Their cases are complicated and never easy to solve but together they find the truth. This book begins with a grisly murder and it is a surprise who the murderer turns out to be but Ms. Knight is tenacious and never stops until the criminal is caught and she is prosecuting them. Marcia Clark uses her experience to tell great stories and I would recommend these books to anyone who enjoys legal mysteries.

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Love this whole series

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Marcia Clark is well started on an illustrious second career in writing fiction. Guilt by Degrees is better than book one concerning Rachel Knight and the Los Angeles DA’s office. She does not shy away from difficult subjects such as a homeless death and the lack of interest it originally generates among the other lawyers. The plot builds tension and interest as Rachel looks into the homeless man’s life to gain answers, putting her into danger. This is a gripping read as the facts are uncovered.

Rachel and friends are really well thought characters out with many facets to their personalities. In particular, Rachel has many layers of complexity shown as she judges her work and personal life. Her character is written with such authority as if this could really happened to someone like Rachel.

Guilt by Degrees successfully kept me guessing. I really like a fun but thinking book, which this certainly is.

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