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Life Penalty
She's searching for the man who killed her daughter. But will he find her first?
In a novel that grips like a waking nightmare, master storyteller Joy Fielding creates a searing examination of a horrifying crime, the limits of the law, and a woman's terrifying journey into a killer's twisted mind.
In one tragic afternoon everything changed. Until then, Gail Walton had considered herself lucky. With a successful husband, two daughters, and a house in the New Jersey suburbs, Gail lived a safe and predictable life. Then the unthinkable her six-year-old daughter Cindy was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered.
Consumed by grief and rage, Gail has retreated into herself. Her family and friends fear she's losing her grip on reality. The police warn her to let them handle the investigation. But not one of them knows the that Gail has a description of the killer, a plan to set herself up as a decoy, and a room in a run-down boardinghouse. And Gail Walton has just bought herself a gun....
In a novel that grips like a waking nightmare, master storyteller Joy Fielding creates a searing examination of a horrifying crime, the limits of the law, and a woman's terrifying journey into a killer's twisted mind.
In one tragic afternoon everything changed. Until then, Gail Walton had considered herself lucky. With a successful husband, two daughters, and a house in the New Jersey suburbs, Gail lived a safe and predictable life. Then the unthinkable her six-year-old daughter Cindy was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered.
Consumed by grief and rage, Gail has retreated into herself. Her family and friends fear she's losing her grip on reality. The police warn her to let them handle the investigation. But not one of them knows the that Gail has a description of the killer, a plan to set herself up as a decoy, and a room in a run-down boardinghouse. And Gail Walton has just bought herself a gun....
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1984
62 people are currently reading
959 people want to read
About the author
Joy Fielding
121 books2,189 followersJoy Fielding (née Tepperman; born March 18, 1945) is a Canadian novelist and actress. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 1966, with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As Joy Tepperman, she had a brief acting career, appearing in the film Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) and in an episode of Gunsmoke. She later changed her last name to Fielding (after Henry Fielding) and began writing novels.
Fielding is also the screenwriter of the television film Golden Will: The Silken Laumann Story.
At the age of 8, Joy Tepperman wrote her first story and sent it into a local magazine, and at age 12 sent in her first TV script, however both were rejected. She had a brief acting career, eventually giving it up to write full-time in 1972. She has published to date 22 novels, two of which were converted into film. Fielding's process of having an idea to the point the novel is finished generally takes a year, the writing itself taking four to eight months. Joy Fielding sets most of her novels in American cities such as Boston and Chicago. She has said that she prefers to set her novels in "big American cities, [as the] landscape seems best for [her] themes of urban alienation and loss of identity. Fielding is a Canadian citizen. Her husband's name is Warren, and they have two daughters, Annie and Shannon. They have property in Toronto, Ontario, as well as Palm Beach, Florida.
Fielding had an interview with the Vancouver Sun in 2007, just after her publication of Heartstopper. She enjoys catching readers off guard with the endings of her stories, but insists that "[it] isn't what her fiction is about", but rather more about the development of her characters. Discussing her novels with the Toronto Star in 2008, she said "I might not write fiction in the literary sense. But I write very well. My characters are good. My dialog is good. And my stories are really involving. I'm writing exactly the kind of books I like to write. And they're the kind of books I like to read. They're popular commercial fiction. That's what they are."
Fielding has been noted as a novelist who is more popular in the United States and foreign countries, rather than in her native Canada. For example, the novel Kiss Mommy Goodbye was more popular in the States, and See Jane Run in Germany. In addition, she had an American agent and publisher, although she has now switched to a Canadian publisher.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 1966, with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As Joy Tepperman, she had a brief acting career, appearing in the film Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) and in an episode of Gunsmoke. She later changed her last name to Fielding (after Henry Fielding) and began writing novels.
Fielding is also the screenwriter of the television film Golden Will: The Silken Laumann Story.
At the age of 8, Joy Tepperman wrote her first story and sent it into a local magazine, and at age 12 sent in her first TV script, however both were rejected. She had a brief acting career, eventually giving it up to write full-time in 1972. She has published to date 22 novels, two of which were converted into film. Fielding's process of having an idea to the point the novel is finished generally takes a year, the writing itself taking four to eight months. Joy Fielding sets most of her novels in American cities such as Boston and Chicago. She has said that she prefers to set her novels in "big American cities, [as the] landscape seems best for [her] themes of urban alienation and loss of identity. Fielding is a Canadian citizen. Her husband's name is Warren, and they have two daughters, Annie and Shannon. They have property in Toronto, Ontario, as well as Palm Beach, Florida.
Fielding had an interview with the Vancouver Sun in 2007, just after her publication of Heartstopper. She enjoys catching readers off guard with the endings of her stories, but insists that "[it] isn't what her fiction is about", but rather more about the development of her characters. Discussing her novels with the Toronto Star in 2008, she said "I might not write fiction in the literary sense. But I write very well. My characters are good. My dialog is good. And my stories are really involving. I'm writing exactly the kind of books I like to write. And they're the kind of books I like to read. They're popular commercial fiction. That's what they are."
Fielding has been noted as a novelist who is more popular in the United States and foreign countries, rather than in her native Canada. For example, the novel Kiss Mommy Goodbye was more popular in the States, and See Jane Run in Germany. In addition, she had an American agent and publisher, although she has now switched to a Canadian publisher.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
July 24, 2011
First 5 pages where good - the last 5 pages were good - every page in between was a complete waste of my time.
Not recommended.
Not recommended.
August 29, 2015
After her 6 year old daughter is raped and murdered, Gail Walton vows to find the killer herself. Her story is compelling, and I stayed up late to finish the book. I felt it was more about than grieving process than about mystery/suspense, though certainly it does fall in the mystery/suspense category. Fielding did an excellent job of describing grief and I believed every moment of what went on in Gail's heart and mind. That made the book very hard for me to read, though, as I've lost 3 close family members under very difficult circumstances (not that there are any easy ones) over the past 8 years. Even if I didn't feel that personal reaction to that aspect of the book, I think I still would have been a bit disappointed at the focus of the book, as I prefer a stronger mystery plot.
That being said, I recommend it if you don't feel that being that close to the grieving process will be hard for you. It's also interesting to read it in 2013 given the 1984 publication date. I had more or less forgotten that most people didn't have answering machines or voicemail in the 80s, as well as the fear of a car breakdown or worse at night with no cell phone handy to contact anyone. In some ways, the book is encouraging, in that sentences have gotten so much stronger for crimes like the one in the book. Now, at least in Illinois, a murder usually is a 100% crime -- that is, the convicted murderer must serve 100% of the sentence. Sentenced to 40 years, he serves 40 years. The book reflects the 80s, when a convicted murderer sentenced 20 years might serve less than half of that time. Which is what makes it understandable that the main character seeks to take justice into her own hands.
That being said, I recommend it if you don't feel that being that close to the grieving process will be hard for you. It's also interesting to read it in 2013 given the 1984 publication date. I had more or less forgotten that most people didn't have answering machines or voicemail in the 80s, as well as the fear of a car breakdown or worse at night with no cell phone handy to contact anyone. In some ways, the book is encouraging, in that sentences have gotten so much stronger for crimes like the one in the book. Now, at least in Illinois, a murder usually is a 100% crime -- that is, the convicted murderer must serve 100% of the sentence. Sentenced to 40 years, he serves 40 years. The book reflects the 80s, when a convicted murderer sentenced 20 years might serve less than half of that time. Which is what makes it understandable that the main character seeks to take justice into her own hands.
March 16, 2019
I had to read this for my law class, but I ended up really enjoying it. Because this was written in the 80's, some of the things in here were a bit homophobic (suggesting AIDS is a homosexual disease) but most things in here were suprisingly forward for the time. I really liked the ending of this too, it wasnt just some cheesy happy ending. TIME FOR THE SIX PAGE PAPER
July 10, 2017
به زودی در این مکان ریویو نصب خواهد شد
December 14, 2025
3,5/5 ☆
January 30, 2022
4.5. Die Geschichte hat mich extremst mitgenommen. Es war schön zu lesen, wie sich Jack & Jennifer um sie gekümmert haben. Eine Triggerwarnung wäre hier sinnvoll.
March 17, 2013
Hated this book...painful to get through. So slow
August 28, 2025
Oli todella hyvä, rupesin miettiin oliko tästä peräti tehty leffakin koska juoni tuntui niin tutulta. Noh. Luettu silti.
August 26, 2017
Even though this is one of my favorite Authors, this book just didn't do it for me. it started off really good and by three quarters in I found myself just trying to hurry to get on to my next read.
August 23, 2021
خیلی خیلی خیلی کشدار... حوصله سر بر تا حد زیاد
September 12, 2024
Good book, was kinda a short ending, anticlimactic, but not? I was expecting more than 3 chapters to help wrap up the mystery
March 21, 2018
Before I read this book, it was inconceivable to me that I would ever give a Fielding book only 2 stars. And I guess everyone has varying opinions, but even though losing her child was a terrible tragedy, I just could not warm up to Gail. Most of the time I wanted to give her a huge slap. Despite her grief, she managed to do the most stupid things imaginable. All that business of going to the boarding houses and trying to talk to the residents -- stupid. Then the various ways she "kind of" tried to kill herself -- stupid. Buying the gun -- stupid. And even though the perp was found guilty, she (oh gosh, I almost gave it away). Well, read it and find out. She had wonderful family members: sister, parents, daughter, and friends as well. Even though the social worker friend had as much tact as a bulldozer and the other one was too self centered to even attend a funeral because it wouldn't be about HER. Gail also had a wonderful husband and even a pretty great ex-husband, but she shut them all out of her grief and her life. Refusing to go to the meetings with her husband was just another stupidity. Can't say I much liked this book, but -- it was Joy Fielding.
'kind
'kind
January 18, 2010
Gail is the mother of two beautiful girls - a teenager and a 6-year-old girl. Her whole life is turned upside down when her 6-year-old is sexually assaulted and strangled to death on her way home from school one day.
Gail mourns her lost child and acts like a suicidal zombie from the day her child is killed through the end of the book. While I completely understand why you would be that way, Gail is insufferable, and as mentioned, her grief lasts the WHOLE book. Also, I felt as though Fielding started the book with one idea about what it would be, and then halfway through went with another idea. So it ended up being a depressingly long narration of Gail's grief, numb stupidity, half-hearted faux suicide attempts, cut off concisely with a quick-cut ending.
The ending is satisfying because AT LAST it's over, and it's a rewarding ending, although you know what's going to happen way before it happens.
I think I'll take a break from Fielding for awhile after this one.
Gail mourns her lost child and acts like a suicidal zombie from the day her child is killed through the end of the book. While I completely understand why you would be that way, Gail is insufferable, and as mentioned, her grief lasts the WHOLE book. Also, I felt as though Fielding started the book with one idea about what it would be, and then halfway through went with another idea. So it ended up being a depressingly long narration of Gail's grief, numb stupidity, half-hearted faux suicide attempts, cut off concisely with a quick-cut ending.
The ending is satisfying because AT LAST it's over, and it's a rewarding ending, although you know what's going to happen way before it happens.
I think I'll take a break from Fielding for awhile after this one.
January 16, 2014
I can't say that I liked this book, but I can't say I wasn't glued to it. I kept reading and reading in hopes of getting to the mystery and for things to get good. I finally realized that there wasn't really a mystery whatsoever..it was simply a novel where the main character falls apart and is set on putting herself in the most dangerous of situations and trying to kill herself.
I am happy to say that at least there was an ending to the novel. An ending that brought justice to this woman.. but I can't help feeling that this novel was just the ramblings of a crazy person.
I would like to read other novels by Joy Fielding, I just hope that they aren't quite like this one!
I am happy to say that at least there was an ending to the novel. An ending that brought justice to this woman.. but I can't help feeling that this novel was just the ramblings of a crazy person.
I would like to read other novels by Joy Fielding, I just hope that they aren't quite like this one!
August 18, 2022
The storyline could have been a really good plot, however the execution of this book is completely bland and boring. Fielding does way more telling than showing, sometimes we don't see dialogues for a couple chapters. A good example of this is from the beginning as well as the trial at the end of the novel. Several typos, more than I can count and a repeated typo in my version of the word "corner"... it's written as comer ever time. I found myself skipping pages and just ultimately wishing I was done the book.
June 28, 2009
I really enjoyed the book. I felt so sorry for Gail but honestly, if I had been Jack I would have probably given up on her. Then again, it's hard to judge someone in a situation that you've never experienced. I was extremely disgusted with her friend Laura. What kind of social worker says that a man shouldn't be blamed for molesting his 5 year old daughter because his wife won't put out and his sexy little girl is throwing herself at him. Not a social worker I'd want dealing with kids.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2017
It was very slow in places and I didn't like the ending as she shot her daughters killer in court which is unrealistic as you can't take a gun in court because of all the security and metal detectors you have to go through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2019
Don't bother reading this book
Very sad and depressing. Subject material inappropriate. The rape abd murder of a 6 year old child. We can read about that horror in the daily paper. I read for enjoyment. Don't know why I didn't stop after the first chapter. My bad.
Very sad and depressing. Subject material inappropriate. The rape abd murder of a 6 year old child. We can read about that horror in the daily paper. I read for enjoyment. Don't know why I didn't stop after the first chapter. My bad.
July 28, 2008
I would expect to be more emotionally involved in a story about such a horrific tragedy caused to a young girl my daughter's age. I followed the mother's aftermath detachedly and unbelievingly.
April 12, 2012
This book was so sad, it was a lot like the Lovely Bones
February 23, 2018
Tragic and depressing from start to end, this novel bears witness to the unravelling of a mother after her child is murdered. Easy read but not my preferred genre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2018
This was one of my least favorite joy fielding books.
It was long and repetitive and drug out.
It was long and repetitive and drug out.
April 25, 2019
Awful book. Too much fluff in between what’s happening in the story. Stupid ending.
January 1, 2023
Spannend, manchmal unlogisch
September 2, 2019
Zuerst war ich etwas skeptisch, weil dieses Thema in so vielen Krimis aufgegriffen wird und gleichzeitig auch eine sehr sensible Angelegenheit ist. Aber das Buch hat mich eines Besseren belehrt...
Der emotionale und psychische Zerfall Gails wird sehr realistisch geschildert und ist trotzdem überraschend erschreckend zugleich. Es ist echt schlimm zu lesen, was ein Schicksalsschlag mit einem Menschen machen kann. Zwischendurch hatte ich (gegen Ende) ein kleines Kind vor Augen und keine Mutter und sie wurde mir dadurch unsympathisch.
Aber am Ende trotzte sie nur wieder so vor Stärke. Das Ende war ohnehin das Beste.
Manchmal hatte ich das Gefühl, das Buch sei aus der Ich- Perspektive geschrieben. Das stimmt aber nicht, es ist eher erlebte Rede, die immer wieder vorkommt.
Ich habe es ja schon mal erwähnt: Der beste Schreibstil ist der, der einem beim Lesen gar nicht auffällt. Ist hier der Fall!
Wer dieses Buch auch in die hand nimmt, sollte sich vielleicht nicht zu viel mit dem Inhalt im voraus auseinandersetzen. Es ist viel besser, wenn man wie ich mit den wildesten Erwartungen herangeht und dann erfährt, dass das Buch viel näher am Leben steht.
Man sollte auch wissen, dass es einen runterziehen kann. Ich hatte, während ich das Buch gelesen habe, auch eine deprimierte Stimmung. Denn diese färbt ab. Man kann sich nicht gut fühlen dabei! Zwischendurch habe ich mich sogar dabei ertappt, wie ich dache, mein Leben sei gerade in Scherben zerbrochen.
Ich hätte mir nur gewünscht, dass man vor dem Ereignis als Leser noch etwas mehr Zeit mit Cindy hätte verbringen dürfen.
Der emotionale und psychische Zerfall Gails wird sehr realistisch geschildert und ist trotzdem überraschend erschreckend zugleich. Es ist echt schlimm zu lesen, was ein Schicksalsschlag mit einem Menschen machen kann. Zwischendurch hatte ich (gegen Ende) ein kleines Kind vor Augen und keine Mutter und sie wurde mir dadurch unsympathisch.
Aber am Ende trotzte sie nur wieder so vor Stärke. Das Ende war ohnehin das Beste.
Manchmal hatte ich das Gefühl, das Buch sei aus der Ich- Perspektive geschrieben. Das stimmt aber nicht, es ist eher erlebte Rede, die immer wieder vorkommt.
Ich habe es ja schon mal erwähnt: Der beste Schreibstil ist der, der einem beim Lesen gar nicht auffällt. Ist hier der Fall!
Wer dieses Buch auch in die hand nimmt, sollte sich vielleicht nicht zu viel mit dem Inhalt im voraus auseinandersetzen. Es ist viel besser, wenn man wie ich mit den wildesten Erwartungen herangeht und dann erfährt, dass das Buch viel näher am Leben steht.
Man sollte auch wissen, dass es einen runterziehen kann. Ich hatte, während ich das Buch gelesen habe, auch eine deprimierte Stimmung. Denn diese färbt ab. Man kann sich nicht gut fühlen dabei! Zwischendurch habe ich mich sogar dabei ertappt, wie ich dache, mein Leben sei gerade in Scherben zerbrochen.
Ich hätte mir nur gewünscht, dass man vor dem Ereignis als Leser noch etwas mehr Zeit mit Cindy hätte verbringen dürfen.
October 27, 2023
Ich fand’s heftig. Es hat mich total gefesselt, aber ich bin mir nicht so ganz sicher, ob es mir an manchen Stellen nicht ein bisschen zu extrem war. Besonders zum Ende hin, hat mich der Zustand von Gail, der Protagonistin, echt erschreckt. Ich würde sagen, dass dieses Buch nichts für schwache Nerven ist. Auch jetzt nachdem ich das Buch durchgelesen habe, stecke ich noch voll in der Geschichte drin und muss viel darüber nachdenken, was ich da überhaupt gelesen habe. Aber da es mich so gefesselt hat, würde ich behaupten, dass es mir gut gefallen hat
May 26, 2017
If you have read Joy Fielding before - this book is unlike many of her other books. It really wasn't suspenseful - I mean I suppose you could have not know, but I thought the ending was pretty given. However, I once again just was intrigued by the characters. Wanting to know them more and more makes me read the books super fast! I love her characters - looking forward to reading more!
December 18, 2018
I started this thinking it was one of those standard mystery/suspense/maybe-thriller type of books. Really, it was about a woman's struggle after a tragedy. It was good, but a lot of characters weren't developed at all and I kept waiting for more of a story. I may have been happier with it if I'd known what it was going in.
September 30, 2020
her 7 yr old daughter never came home from school. she was found dead and raped. they took 8 months to find the person who did it. she was looking for him too. her life fell apart. they had a trial, they found him guilty, she shot and killed him in court . it unfort ended there, i hope she doesnt get punished for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2025
As a big Joy Fielding fan I dnf'd this book about halfway through. She was boxing above her weight here! Her heroines are usually relatable and funny. This book was a rage filled rant. The ending was not at all believable, so since I assume her idea was to follow a typical happy suburban housewife from tragedy to a believable climax, nope, a failure!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews