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Rachel Knight #1
Guilt by Association
Los Angeles D.A. Rachel Knight is a tenacious, wise-cracking, and fiercely intelligent prosecutor in the city's most elite division. When her colleague, Jake, is found dead at a grisly crime scene, Rachel is shaken to the core. She must take over his toughest the assault of a young woman from a prominent family.
But she can't stop herself from digging deeper into Jake's death, a decision that exposes a world of power and violence and will have her risking her reputation -- and her life -- to find the truth.
With her tremendous expertise in the nuances of L.A. courts and crime, and with a vibrant ensemble cast of characters, Marcia Clark combines intimate detail, riotous humor, and visceral action in a debut thriller that marks the launch of a major new figure on the crime-writing scene.
But she can't stop herself from digging deeper into Jake's death, a decision that exposes a world of power and violence and will have her risking her reputation -- and her life -- to find the truth.
With her tremendous expertise in the nuances of L.A. courts and crime, and with a vibrant ensemble cast of characters, Marcia Clark combines intimate detail, riotous humor, and visceral action in a debut thriller that marks the launch of a major new figure on the crime-writing scene.
385 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2011
522 people are currently reading
3394 people want to read
About the author
Marcia Clark
21 books1,314 followersMarcia Clark is a former LA, California deputy district attorney, who was the lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case. She wrote a bestselling nonfiction book about the trial, Without a Doubt, and is a frequent media commentator and columnist on legal issues. She lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 746 reviews
September 13, 2014
Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark is a 2011 Mulholland Books Publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by the publisher and Netgalley.
Let's start by addressing the elephant in the room. Yes, this is Marcia Clark, the prosecuting attorney for the O. J. Simpson case. So, I think some people may have been expecting some dark, legal thriller novel with a great deal of legal jargon , witnesses on the stand , juries and all that.
I was so happy to see this was not that type of book. Ms. Clark used her expertise in the legal field and her knowledge of L.A. To create a modern day D.A. In Rachel Knight, a woman who is haunted by her past, very dedicated to her job, has principles, but is also very human , has a very dry wit and comes up with some really funny analogies too.
So, as is the case in many “first in a series” novel, time has to be taken to set things up for the reader, introduce characters, give us background information, and still give us a crime to solve. Having to take time out for the set up can impede the plot a little, but it's worth it in the long run. From now on when we read Rachel Knight mysteries we will know what kind of person she is, what makes her tick, and we will know who her friends are and what place they have in her life.
There are two crimes Rachel is working on while still maintaining her usual case load. One is the murder of a co-worker who appears to have been involved in something truly heinous. Rachel is not convinced that is the case and begins to delve into the case at the risk of getting herself in deep trouble.
The other case is one passed down to her involving the rape of a teenage girl who comes from an affluent family and the supposition that a person outside their wealthy conclave is responsible. All the evidence points at the accused so to get to the truth Rachel is going to have to really dig deep.
I think the Rachel Knight character and the subsequent follow ups to this novel will surprise many people. This is not the first time an attorney has tried their hand at writing a novel. But, the style of this book is such that I believe it could entice a large following if given half a chance.
At times the author was a little wordy when it came to descriptions, but overall the plot was well organized, the banter was witty, the secondary characters well drawn and the story was evenly paced and enjoyable. I will admit I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this book and I am happy I didn't go into it with preconceived notions. I believe I could really get attached to Rachel and her sidekicks. I think for a first novel this was done quite well. This one is 4 stars
Let's start by addressing the elephant in the room. Yes, this is Marcia Clark, the prosecuting attorney for the O. J. Simpson case. So, I think some people may have been expecting some dark, legal thriller novel with a great deal of legal jargon , witnesses on the stand , juries and all that.
I was so happy to see this was not that type of book. Ms. Clark used her expertise in the legal field and her knowledge of L.A. To create a modern day D.A. In Rachel Knight, a woman who is haunted by her past, very dedicated to her job, has principles, but is also very human , has a very dry wit and comes up with some really funny analogies too.
So, as is the case in many “first in a series” novel, time has to be taken to set things up for the reader, introduce characters, give us background information, and still give us a crime to solve. Having to take time out for the set up can impede the plot a little, but it's worth it in the long run. From now on when we read Rachel Knight mysteries we will know what kind of person she is, what makes her tick, and we will know who her friends are and what place they have in her life.
There are two crimes Rachel is working on while still maintaining her usual case load. One is the murder of a co-worker who appears to have been involved in something truly heinous. Rachel is not convinced that is the case and begins to delve into the case at the risk of getting herself in deep trouble.
The other case is one passed down to her involving the rape of a teenage girl who comes from an affluent family and the supposition that a person outside their wealthy conclave is responsible. All the evidence points at the accused so to get to the truth Rachel is going to have to really dig deep.
I think the Rachel Knight character and the subsequent follow ups to this novel will surprise many people. This is not the first time an attorney has tried their hand at writing a novel. But, the style of this book is such that I believe it could entice a large following if given half a chance.
At times the author was a little wordy when it came to descriptions, but overall the plot was well organized, the banter was witty, the secondary characters well drawn and the story was evenly paced and enjoyable. I will admit I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this book and I am happy I didn't go into it with preconceived notions. I believe I could really get attached to Rachel and her sidekicks. I think for a first novel this was done quite well. This one is 4 stars
February 28, 2012
This was a delightful surprise of a story. For a debut novel Marcia Clark has done well in delivering a nicely paced out story and ends the story with a tight and excellent closing. From an author who has been there done it and got the t-shirt so to say in having the experience and expertise in Law, the crime world and the pursuit of justice. Her expertise is apparent in her clear cut writing and explanations of the ins and outs of the law that the main protagonist of this story also a District Attorney faces in the this story. The fluid storytelling alongside with her knowledge is indeed promising a good future with her novels to come as she brings us to the heart of darkness and serves up justice upon those guilty.
I am a fan of the TV series Law and Order, I felt like I was in the head of one of those D.A characters stripped from the screens.
I have not read in the past many law thrillers or stories featuring a D.A as a main protagonist due to feeling daunted a bit in thinking that it would read as too cerebral or have too much Legal terms. Indeed I am pleasantly surprised she’s made me into a fan of her legal thrillers at least. This story does not have any of the above just like James Ellroy’s’ praise on the cover mentions it does have plenty of thrill. When James Ellroy, a master crime storyteller, gives praise he has always been right in my experience, a man who has penned The Black Dahlia a momentous work covering true crime.
Pornographers, rape, arson and murder are the crimes included within these pages and our D.A is one smart and disciplined woman in the pursuit of justice of these crimes.
The story features investigations around a web of high profile characters involving a multimillionaire powerbroker, a D.A, and young gang bangers.
To sum it all up it was a an easy read, not full of legal boring stuff but a darn good story, a thrill ride in the pursuit of justice, lock in and be hooked like I was. She has changed my whole perception on legal thrillers.
I am a fan of the TV series Law and Order, I felt like I was in the head of one of those D.A characters stripped from the screens.
I have not read in the past many law thrillers or stories featuring a D.A as a main protagonist due to feeling daunted a bit in thinking that it would read as too cerebral or have too much Legal terms. Indeed I am pleasantly surprised she’s made me into a fan of her legal thrillers at least. This story does not have any of the above just like James Ellroy’s’ praise on the cover mentions it does have plenty of thrill. When James Ellroy, a master crime storyteller, gives praise he has always been right in my experience, a man who has penned The Black Dahlia a momentous work covering true crime.
Pornographers, rape, arson and murder are the crimes included within these pages and our D.A is one smart and disciplined woman in the pursuit of justice of these crimes.
The story features investigations around a web of high profile characters involving a multimillionaire powerbroker, a D.A, and young gang bangers.
To sum it all up it was a an easy read, not full of legal boring stuff but a darn good story, a thrill ride in the pursuit of justice, lock in and be hooked like I was. She has changed my whole perception on legal thrillers.
“An air of sadness and shock floated around her like the broken tendrils of a spider web. The sight pulled at my heart. I knew that emotionally broken feeling very well –the world-shattering discovery that the safety net of security she’d always taken for granted was just a fairy tale. Whatever had happened there, Susan would never be the same. It’d been a while since I’d handled a case with a live rape victim, but my past experience had taught me that rape victims often don’t know who they hate more-the cops and prosecutor who make them relive the nightmare over and over, or the animals who put them in the position of having to do it. It would take some winning over to let Susan know I understand that.”
“The lines were delivered with maximum heartrending angst. Teens can wring drama out of the way paint dries, but having been in love with a boy who’d been killed under strange and mysterious circumstance was the jackpot of teen tragedy. Unless he then turned into a vampire. That was the megajackpot.”
August 6, 2011
I would have given this 2.5 stars if there was a half star option. There were some good things about the book but I was able to see where the plot was going very early on and had a good idea of who did what before it was revealed in the story. There just were not any surprises.
Also got tired of the all the negative slams towards defense attorneys. She makes negative comments about how defense attorneys look, calls them scum bags and numerous other negative comments. And yet, the prosecutor protagonist in the story, Rachel Knight is taking on the role of what defense attorneys do all the time. When one of her co-workers, Jake is found dead in a run-down apartment building with a male teenage prostitute, the FBI investigates and leans towards the obvious conclusion that Jake was being blackmailed by the teenager and he killed him and committed suicide himself. Rachel Knight is upset that her coworker is assumed to be in a seedy situation and rants against the obvious path that the FBI took without exploring all the options. That is exactly what defense attorneys fight against all the time. Arrogant law enforcement who think they know what and how something happens and never bother to explore any other possibilities.
Come on Marcia .... surely you could have written a bit more balanced view of how the criminal bar works. It is the defense attorneys after all who defend an individuals constitutional rights. Oh yea, you ranted against the Constitution also when you lamented about that "pesky 4th Amendment and how it gets in the way." Interesting also that the protagonist thinks it is just fine to carry a concealed weapon herself without a permit. Another example of the arrogance of the prosecution and law enforcement. How typical.
Also, got really tired of her lament over other people's food. Every time they say down for a meal, Rachel is eating something bland and healthy and drooling over the other persons food choice. Yet, her healthy habits don't extend to her daily alcohol beverages.
Also got tired of the all the negative slams towards defense attorneys. She makes negative comments about how defense attorneys look, calls them scum bags and numerous other negative comments. And yet, the prosecutor protagonist in the story, Rachel Knight is taking on the role of what defense attorneys do all the time. When one of her co-workers, Jake is found dead in a run-down apartment building with a male teenage prostitute, the FBI investigates and leans towards the obvious conclusion that Jake was being blackmailed by the teenager and he killed him and committed suicide himself. Rachel Knight is upset that her coworker is assumed to be in a seedy situation and rants against the obvious path that the FBI took without exploring all the options. That is exactly what defense attorneys fight against all the time. Arrogant law enforcement who think they know what and how something happens and never bother to explore any other possibilities.
Come on Marcia .... surely you could have written a bit more balanced view of how the criminal bar works. It is the defense attorneys after all who defend an individuals constitutional rights. Oh yea, you ranted against the Constitution also when you lamented about that "pesky 4th Amendment and how it gets in the way." Interesting also that the protagonist thinks it is just fine to carry a concealed weapon herself without a permit. Another example of the arrogance of the prosecution and law enforcement. How typical.
Also, got really tired of her lament over other people's food. Every time they say down for a meal, Rachel is eating something bland and healthy and drooling over the other persons food choice. Yet, her healthy habits don't extend to her daily alcohol beverages.
July 12, 2014
Given Marcia Clark's law background, I was looking forward to a great legal mystery, along with some courtroom drama. This book did not live up to my expectations at all.
The pace is incredibly slow, particularly throughout the first half of the book. Much of this is due to the amount of extraneous detail given on mundane things. We're constantly standing at the closet with Rachel Knight, studying her designer wardrobe as she ponders what to wear that day. From there, we spend a ridiculous amount of time watching characters eat. And these people never eat something simple, like a hamburger. Rachel wants salad nicoise or seared ahi tuna. Next we have the ever present alcohol. Not one day passes in this story when the characters aren't, at some point, focused on booze. Again, we're forced to endure branding. We have Glenlivet, pinot grigio, and Patron Silver. The constant name-dropping and repetitiveness is mind-numbing. I could - and did - skim ahead five pages at a time without missing a thing.
Next we have the character development, or lack thereof. All of the characters feel very cookie cutter to me. They aren't so much ordinary as they are stereotypical. Not one of them surprised me in any way. The book is written in first person, so Rachel's character should have been especially compelling. Instead, I felt she came off as unlikable and arrogant. She behaves as if her stature puts her above the law. For instance, throughout most of the book she carries a concealed weapon for which she does not have a permit. She doesn't want to risk being denied a permit to carry, so she simply chooses not to apply for one and she carries her gun anyway. Yet, if a simple commoner did the same, she'd have no problem putting that person in prison. She also makes quite a few negative comments about defense attorneys, which I found absurdly comical given the fact that she is doing exactly what a defense attorney would do as she seeks to prove her friend's innocence.
At the start of the book, we're told how exhausting Rachel's job is. She has no social life because she simply doesn't have time. Then, throughout most of the book, Rachel is working under the radar on a case that she has been warned away from. During all this, she occasionally works one of the cases assigned to her, though she is rarely in her office and seems to have all sorts of time for her secret sleuthing. During the story, I kept wondering how someone who claimed she had to work 16-hour days suddenly had all this free time.
The plot itself is interesting, although somewhat predictable. I did enjoy learning more about a DA's involvement in investigating and prosecuting cases. Sadly, that was largely overshadowed by all the meals and designer labels we were forced to endure.
I do think there is potential here that could have been formed into a far more enjoyable story. Had Marcia Clark not been such a well known prosecutor, I don't believe this book would have been published as it stands. She needed to work with a good editor first.
** I was given this book by Mulholland Books via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. **
The pace is incredibly slow, particularly throughout the first half of the book. Much of this is due to the amount of extraneous detail given on mundane things. We're constantly standing at the closet with Rachel Knight, studying her designer wardrobe as she ponders what to wear that day. From there, we spend a ridiculous amount of time watching characters eat. And these people never eat something simple, like a hamburger. Rachel wants salad nicoise or seared ahi tuna. Next we have the ever present alcohol. Not one day passes in this story when the characters aren't, at some point, focused on booze. Again, we're forced to endure branding. We have Glenlivet, pinot grigio, and Patron Silver. The constant name-dropping and repetitiveness is mind-numbing. I could - and did - skim ahead five pages at a time without missing a thing.
Next we have the character development, or lack thereof. All of the characters feel very cookie cutter to me. They aren't so much ordinary as they are stereotypical. Not one of them surprised me in any way. The book is written in first person, so Rachel's character should have been especially compelling. Instead, I felt she came off as unlikable and arrogant. She behaves as if her stature puts her above the law. For instance, throughout most of the book she carries a concealed weapon for which she does not have a permit. She doesn't want to risk being denied a permit to carry, so she simply chooses not to apply for one and she carries her gun anyway. Yet, if a simple commoner did the same, she'd have no problem putting that person in prison. She also makes quite a few negative comments about defense attorneys, which I found absurdly comical given the fact that she is doing exactly what a defense attorney would do as she seeks to prove her friend's innocence.
At the start of the book, we're told how exhausting Rachel's job is. She has no social life because she simply doesn't have time. Then, throughout most of the book, Rachel is working under the radar on a case that she has been warned away from. During all this, she occasionally works one of the cases assigned to her, though she is rarely in her office and seems to have all sorts of time for her secret sleuthing. During the story, I kept wondering how someone who claimed she had to work 16-hour days suddenly had all this free time.
The plot itself is interesting, although somewhat predictable. I did enjoy learning more about a DA's involvement in investigating and prosecuting cases. Sadly, that was largely overshadowed by all the meals and designer labels we were forced to endure.
I do think there is potential here that could have been formed into a far more enjoyable story. Had Marcia Clark not been such a well known prosecutor, I don't believe this book would have been published as it stands. She needed to work with a good editor first.
** I was given this book by Mulholland Books via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. **
September 10, 2020
1. Slow start but picks up about 20 percent in.
2. More police procedural than courtroom drama. Don't know how I feel about that.
3. Decent mystery but lackluster reveal.
4. Many similarities (mostly drinking habits, fuzzy morality and ruthlessness) between Rachel and Samantha Brinkman, the protagonist of Clark's other series.
5. Some...interesting but mostly careful portrayals of Poc .
6. Requisite love interest because female protagonist.
7. Does a decent job of juggling multiple mysteries.
8. Ends on a realistic note rather than answering all questions and passing out happily-ever-afters like party favors.
9. Could use a bit more action and/or danger.
10. Protagonist has bratty and obnoxious streaks I don't particularly like.
11. A lot of food-related filler, focusing in particular on how "appropriately" healthy the heroine's diet is.
12. First installment isn't amazing but still good enough to continue with the series.
2. More police procedural than courtroom drama. Don't know how I feel about that.
3. Decent mystery but lackluster reveal.
4. Many similarities (mostly drinking habits, fuzzy morality and ruthlessness) between Rachel and Samantha Brinkman, the protagonist of Clark's other series.
5. Some...interesting but mostly careful portrayals of Poc .
6. Requisite love interest because female protagonist.
7. Does a decent job of juggling multiple mysteries.
8. Ends on a realistic note rather than answering all questions and passing out happily-ever-afters like party favors.
9. Could use a bit more action and/or danger.
10. Protagonist has bratty and obnoxious streaks I don't particularly like.
11. A lot of food-related filler, focusing in particular on how "appropriately" healthy the heroine's diet is.
12. First installment isn't amazing but still good enough to continue with the series.
September 10, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up. This is the first book in Marcia Clark’s Rachel Knight series, a series of thrillers that focus on LA deputy D.A. Rachel Knight, a member of the Special Trials Unit. The OJ trial mesmerized me and I was eager to read Marcia’s debut novel. It was published in 2011 and introduces the dedicated, witty and rule-breaker Rachel when her colleague is found dead and she takes over his case. The dialogue is snappy and there is a good plot. Although at the end there obviously was more to come, this legal thriller had a satisfying ending.
April 20, 2011
It is safe to say Marcia Clark is going to be a big hit in the world of crime novelists. This debut novel has the polish and pace of a seasoned ranconteur crossed with experienced editing, and it will be an out-of-the-box bestseller. I suppose that shouldn’t surprise anyone who is familiar with Marcia Clark and her work: former district attorney and lead prosecutor on the O.J. Simpson murder case, author of
Without a Doubt
, and contributor to TV and The Daily Beast. Clark, described in her earlier life as "extremely able and hardworking," applied that same attention here, and didn’t rest until she’d nailed the formula for a fast-paced crime novel featuring a body-conscious, justice-driven District Attorney in the L.A. Special Trials Division.
As in all good mysteries, Guilt follows the trail of at least two seemingly divergent cases, but also follows the love interests of friendly, sharing, and chatty folks in the major divisions of city crime detection. Rachel Knight, D.A., is the central character and first-person narrator. It is the realistic details of evidentiary proofs, prosecution and defense that ring so true in Guilt, but it is the food choices and clothing descriptions that make it L.A. In this mystery we are treated to gangs, both Latino and Aryan Brotherhood, pornography and prostitution, rape and murder. If it sounds like a lot, you may not be suited to actually work in the D.A.’s office, but you can still enjoy reading about it. This is a very good one for an indulgent weekend on the couch.
As in all good mysteries, Guilt follows the trail of at least two seemingly divergent cases, but also follows the love interests of friendly, sharing, and chatty folks in the major divisions of city crime detection. Rachel Knight, D.A., is the central character and first-person narrator. It is the realistic details of evidentiary proofs, prosecution and defense that ring so true in Guilt, but it is the food choices and clothing descriptions that make it L.A. In this mystery we are treated to gangs, both Latino and Aryan Brotherhood, pornography and prostitution, rape and murder. If it sounds like a lot, you may not be suited to actually work in the D.A.’s office, but you can still enjoy reading about it. This is a very good one for an indulgent weekend on the couch.
March 2, 2012
PROTAGONIST: Rachel Knight, deputy district attorney
SETTING: Los Angeles
SERIES: Debut
RATING: 4.25
Quite often, the relationships that we form at work are among the most meaningful in our lives. That certainly is the case for Rachel Knight and Jake Pahlmeyer, both deputy district attorneys in Los Angeles. In the office, they are each other’s best friends. Surprisingly, though, they never share the details of their personal lives. So when Jake dies in what looks like a murder/suicide with the other victim being a boy who seems to be Jake’s lover, Rachel doesn’t know what to think. Trying to determine what the truth is, she finds disturbing evidence that looks like Jake may have cultivated an inappropriate relationship.
Rachel has a heavy case load and is warned off investigating Jake’s case by her superiors. Instead, she is told to concentrate on the rape of a young woman whose father, Frank Densmore, is an important man in the community. He is used to being in control and has already determined who the perpetrator is, a young man who Susan Densmore was tutoring to move from life in the streets and obtain an education. Trying to placate Frank proves to be quite a challenge.
Working with a friend who is a homicide detective, Bailey Keller, Rachel continues to try to clear Jake, despite the fact that if she is found out, she may lose her job. Bailey also helps her with the Densmore case. They are an excellent team. Rachel is further assisted by Lieutenant Graden Hales, a real hunk who shows more than professional interest in his underling.
The only area that wasn’t quite credible for me was Rachel’s work on Jake’s case. Although she had been told not to work on it, she continued to do so, spending quite a lot of time researching and pursuing leads. It didn’t seem that this would be easy to hide from her superiors. Secondly, Lieutenant Hales provided her with information that helped her figure out what really happened. This seemed quite unprofessional for someone of his level. Nonetheless, GUILT is well plotted and provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of the prosecutor.
GUILT BY ASSOCIATION marks Clark’s crime fiction debut, and an excellent one it is. Rachel is an inspired creation—a caring and loyal friend and extremely dedicated to her job. Clark’s own experience as a prosecutor shines through. Rachel shows real compassion and sensitivity to the people that she is trying to help. For example, she takes pains to treat Susan with respect and not further victimize her during the inquiry. She also has a wry sense of humor that breaks the tension of a dangerous investigation.
A real enhancement to the book is that Marcia Clark knows whereof she speaks. She was the deputy district attorney who served as the lead prosecutor on the O. J. Simpson murder case. GUILT BY ASSOCIATION is her first work of fiction, and it certainly looks like she will succeed in her new career. The second book in the series is due out in 2012, and I will definitely be adding it to my To Be Found list.
SETTING: Los Angeles
SERIES: Debut
RATING: 4.25
Quite often, the relationships that we form at work are among the most meaningful in our lives. That certainly is the case for Rachel Knight and Jake Pahlmeyer, both deputy district attorneys in Los Angeles. In the office, they are each other’s best friends. Surprisingly, though, they never share the details of their personal lives. So when Jake dies in what looks like a murder/suicide with the other victim being a boy who seems to be Jake’s lover, Rachel doesn’t know what to think. Trying to determine what the truth is, she finds disturbing evidence that looks like Jake may have cultivated an inappropriate relationship.
Rachel has a heavy case load and is warned off investigating Jake’s case by her superiors. Instead, she is told to concentrate on the rape of a young woman whose father, Frank Densmore, is an important man in the community. He is used to being in control and has already determined who the perpetrator is, a young man who Susan Densmore was tutoring to move from life in the streets and obtain an education. Trying to placate Frank proves to be quite a challenge.
Working with a friend who is a homicide detective, Bailey Keller, Rachel continues to try to clear Jake, despite the fact that if she is found out, she may lose her job. Bailey also helps her with the Densmore case. They are an excellent team. Rachel is further assisted by Lieutenant Graden Hales, a real hunk who shows more than professional interest in his underling.
The only area that wasn’t quite credible for me was Rachel’s work on Jake’s case. Although she had been told not to work on it, she continued to do so, spending quite a lot of time researching and pursuing leads. It didn’t seem that this would be easy to hide from her superiors. Secondly, Lieutenant Hales provided her with information that helped her figure out what really happened. This seemed quite unprofessional for someone of his level. Nonetheless, GUILT is well plotted and provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of the prosecutor.
GUILT BY ASSOCIATION marks Clark’s crime fiction debut, and an excellent one it is. Rachel is an inspired creation—a caring and loyal friend and extremely dedicated to her job. Clark’s own experience as a prosecutor shines through. Rachel shows real compassion and sensitivity to the people that she is trying to help. For example, she takes pains to treat Susan with respect and not further victimize her during the inquiry. She also has a wry sense of humor that breaks the tension of a dangerous investigation.
A real enhancement to the book is that Marcia Clark knows whereof she speaks. She was the deputy district attorney who served as the lead prosecutor on the O. J. Simpson murder case. GUILT BY ASSOCIATION is her first work of fiction, and it certainly looks like she will succeed in her new career. The second book in the series is due out in 2012, and I will definitely be adding it to my To Be Found list.
August 23, 2013
Clark wastes no time in claiming her territory in this debut novel. Clark tantalises the reader with her quirky style and humour, sure to win her many fans, especially with all her insider knowledge of being an ADA in Los Angeles! When an ADA and teenage boy are found dead together , eyebrows rise and tempers boil. When a naked photo of the boy accompanies the body, all bets are off. ADA Rachel Knight must discreetly find out what happened to her former colleague and beau, while being assigned the dead man's open file, the rape of a 15 year old. An apparent slam dunk case, Knight weaves her way through the evidence with her crew of cops and discovers that while the family is rich, even their money cannot control the way the truth bends. Meanwhile, still working covertly, Knight peels back the story on the murder-suicide and discovers there may have been another reason these two were together. Connecting the dots is harder when banned from the case, but Knight is not discouraged. When peeling back legal onions, expect shocks and tears, both of which are found aplenty. Clark's style is sure to leave other authors in the genre pool quaking at their keyboards, especially if this is just the beginning of an explosive series.
Clark, famous for her attempted prosecution of OJ Simpson, has surely found herself a new and successful career. I read a few short stories related to this series and was hooked then, promising myself that I would dive in to the full-length series when I had some time. So far, I have not been unimpressed. She takes the fledging female attorney role and individualises it, leaving the woe is me at the door and creates a strong, focussed individual, ready to fight crime and make her mark. With a loose gang of professional women working together, Clark spins the Women's Murder Club sub-genre and does so masterfully.Clark competes with some of the best writers of the genre and does not disappoint. While I do not expect legal thriller fans to toss other authors' books overboard and buy up anything Clark in sight, I know she will become a water cooler name, both for her writing style and acerbic wit. Not to be read while drinking hot coffee, for the spit and spray or fountain from nose possibilities.
Kudos, Madam Clark for this excellent beginning in what I hope will soon be a long and adventurous writing career.
Clark, famous for her attempted prosecution of OJ Simpson, has surely found herself a new and successful career. I read a few short stories related to this series and was hooked then, promising myself that I would dive in to the full-length series when I had some time. So far, I have not been unimpressed. She takes the fledging female attorney role and individualises it, leaving the woe is me at the door and creates a strong, focussed individual, ready to fight crime and make her mark. With a loose gang of professional women working together, Clark spins the Women's Murder Club sub-genre and does so masterfully.Clark competes with some of the best writers of the genre and does not disappoint. While I do not expect legal thriller fans to toss other authors' books overboard and buy up anything Clark in sight, I know she will become a water cooler name, both for her writing style and acerbic wit. Not to be read while drinking hot coffee, for the spit and spray or fountain from nose possibilities.
Kudos, Madam Clark for this excellent beginning in what I hope will soon be a long and adventurous writing career.
August 16, 2014
I was given this book by Mulholland Books via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
This debut novel "Guilt by Association" by none other than the famous Marcia Clark, the former district attorney and lead prosecutor on the O.J. Simpson murder case, was somewhat of a disappointment for me. After following the O.J. Simpson murder case years ago, on a daily basis on TV, I was so impressed with her legal style, experience level and quick wit, that I was some how expecting to see these traits portrayed in her debut novel.
Deputy District Attorney Rachel Knight's life changes in a instance when her colleague and friend, Jake is found dead at a horrendous crime scene, a murder/suicide with the other victim being a boy who seems to be Jake’s lover, Rachel doesn’t know what to think. Trying to determine what the truth is, even when she is not assigned to the case due to conflict of interest, she digs deeper.
There were some good things about the book but I was able to see where the plot was going very early on and had a good idea of the direction in the story. There just were not any surprises.
Also, I got really tired every time they say down for a meal, Rachel is eating something healthy and drooling over the other persons food choice. Yet, her healthy habits don't extend to her daily alcohol beverages.
The plot itself was okay, but it wasn't anything special, and many of the characters didn't come alive on the page enough for me to care a whole lot about them or the story itself. While I do enjoy legal thrillers/mysteries, I can't find much about this particular one to recommend it.
August 4, 2011
I won an advance copy of this book at LibraryThing. Anyway, I was torn between a three-star or a two star. I settled for two because it echoed my sentiments more accurately. It wasn't that I *didn't* like it, but rather, 'it was okay' fit better for me. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great or even all that good, imo.
While some of the writing and dialogue was catchy, it seemed as if the author was trying *too* hard at times and because of that I couldn't connect with some of her characters ... primarily, with the protagonist. (Minor Spoiler alert) - The broken relationship that supposedly hurt Rachel SO much was a result of HER choosing to call it off, and yet she acts all sobby-teary-eyed when she sees the guy again because of the pain of 'loss' ... excuse me? SHE dumped him! And it wasn't because he'd done anything horrible, it was because of Rachel's OWN hang-ups, so I'm sorry but I just couldn't buy into the heartbreak. It seemed forced. Other things were a tad annoying too, such as Rachel's tendency to habitually correct the way a white trash junkie said "ask", but generally overlook the atrocious grammar of other people (such as the latino or the black person or the troubled teenagers). Then there was the extra effort (in the form of a few added lines) made to demonstrate that Rachel 'could care less' about the sexual tendencies of a person. Okay, that's all well and good and I agree with that, but the manner in which it was done made it seem as if the author was trying to make sure *we* understood (through Rachel) that she (the author) doesn't have hangups about certain groups of people.
The plot itself was okay, but it wasn't anything super intense or compelling, and many of the characters didn't come alive on the page enough for me to care a whole lot about them or the story itself. While I do enjoy legal thrillers/mysteries, I can't find much about this particular one to recommend it.
While some of the writing and dialogue was catchy, it seemed as if the author was trying *too* hard at times and because of that I couldn't connect with some of her characters ... primarily, with the protagonist. (Minor Spoiler alert) - The broken relationship that supposedly hurt Rachel SO much was a result of HER choosing to call it off, and yet she acts all sobby-teary-eyed when she sees the guy again because of the pain of 'loss' ... excuse me? SHE dumped him! And it wasn't because he'd done anything horrible, it was because of Rachel's OWN hang-ups, so I'm sorry but I just couldn't buy into the heartbreak. It seemed forced. Other things were a tad annoying too, such as Rachel's tendency to habitually correct the way a white trash junkie said "ask", but generally overlook the atrocious grammar of other people (such as the latino or the black person or the troubled teenagers). Then there was the extra effort (in the form of a few added lines) made to demonstrate that Rachel 'could care less' about the sexual tendencies of a person. Okay, that's all well and good and I agree with that, but the manner in which it was done made it seem as if the author was trying to make sure *we* understood (through Rachel) that she (the author) doesn't have hangups about certain groups of people.
The plot itself was okay, but it wasn't anything super intense or compelling, and many of the characters didn't come alive on the page enough for me to care a whole lot about them or the story itself. While I do enjoy legal thrillers/mysteries, I can't find much about this particular one to recommend it.
July 6, 2014
DNF!
I wanted to like this book. I really did. Reading some of the reviews made me think it might be different than your standard cop/lawyer/courtroom thriller, but it really wasn't. Sure, it had some amusing moments, but for me, they were lost under the inexcusable racial, sexual, and gender stereotyping and slurs that I just couldn't forgive. By the time I got to page 150 and found the slur 't*anny,' I was done. I almost struggled on because I was invited on NetGalley to read this (as well as the following three books), but I just couldn't. I can safely say I don't think I'll be reading the other three.
The white protagonist's sassy Black bff, the Black dude whose name was Tyrone, the Hispanic secretary who calls everyone 'mija' and says things like 'dios mio!' all the time... yeah. No, thanks. This book could have survived without all of that. To be honest, I probably still wouldn't have liked it very much because it's not really a standout of its genre. I give it one star for not finishing it, and even though it had a decent premise and okay writing overall (minus what I've already pointed out), I can't give it more than that because of the unnecessary stereotypes and slurs and a predictable plot.
I wanted to like this book. I really did. Reading some of the reviews made me think it might be different than your standard cop/lawyer/courtroom thriller, but it really wasn't. Sure, it had some amusing moments, but for me, they were lost under the inexcusable racial, sexual, and gender stereotyping and slurs that I just couldn't forgive. By the time I got to page 150 and found the slur 't*anny,' I was done. I almost struggled on because I was invited on NetGalley to read this (as well as the following three books), but I just couldn't. I can safely say I don't think I'll be reading the other three.
The white protagonist's sassy Black bff, the Black dude whose name was Tyrone, the Hispanic secretary who calls everyone 'mija' and says things like 'dios mio!' all the time... yeah. No, thanks. This book could have survived without all of that. To be honest, I probably still wouldn't have liked it very much because it's not really a standout of its genre. I give it one star for not finishing it, and even though it had a decent premise and okay writing overall (minus what I've already pointed out), I can't give it more than that because of the unnecessary stereotypes and slurs and a predictable plot.
September 25, 2021
No preconceived ideas going into this one - just mostly curious about reading this author (well known for her prosecutor role in the O.J. Simpson trial).
Being pleasantly surprised, it was not heavy in courtroom drama. The main character, Rachel Knight (also a prosecutor) was determined to find out the facts regarding 2 cases, one a murder - one a rape.
This fact finding mission put her in personal danger, and she was close to breaking the rules, her own job being at stake if it had been found out what she was doing.
The writing was witty, appropriately humorous, natural, and believable.
All in all, a satisfying read.
Being pleasantly surprised, it was not heavy in courtroom drama. The main character, Rachel Knight (also a prosecutor) was determined to find out the facts regarding 2 cases, one a murder - one a rape.
This fact finding mission put her in personal danger, and she was close to breaking the rules, her own job being at stake if it had been found out what she was doing.
The writing was witty, appropriately humorous, natural, and believable.
All in all, a satisfying read.
August 10, 2014
I received the entire Rachel Knight series from the publisher (they know me so well - not a chance I would've started with the new release without having read the first 3 books first) in exchange for an honest (i.e. 'the only kind I ever write anyway' :) review.
When I first started reading this book I actually did not realize who Marcia Clark is (though the name did sound familiar). A helpful goodreads user mentioned it in response to me listing this book in one of the "What are you currently reading?" threads. Not that Marcia Clark's identity (as the lead prosecutor in the O.J. trial and a former D.A. - in case you, like me, do not read the little author blurb until AFTER you've read the book) as such matters but it did help explain her level of insider knowledge when it comes to investigations and legal proceedings.
Once I picked up Guilt by Association I did not come up for air until I finished reading all 4 books in the series. I do think it's important to point out that this is not a typical thriller or a police procedural. If you are looking for a James Patterson style book, this is not it. As I keep mentioning in my reviews, knowing what you're getting into, goes a long way towards preventing book related disappointments. Surprisingly enough, this one felt like there were elements of chick lit mixed in - something I actually found quite refreshing and interesting. The fact that the book (actually all of them in the series) centers around strong female characters was definitely a strong selling point for me.
Rachel Knight is a D.A. in a Special Trials Unit. She works the high profile cases (she also happens to be a hardcore workaholic) - though not just in the courtroom; she actually takes an active part in the investigation itself(one of her two best friends, Bailey, is a detective with the Major Crimes Division of the LAPD and they just happen to do quite a bit of sleuthing together). Rachel is exceptionally good at her job. She lives in a hotel and at times has a bit of Bridget Jones in her. Her love life is kind of complicated. Who and how she is to a large extent defined by a tragedy from her childhood - something she does not really talk about. And through it all she has her friends, Bailey and Toni (another D.A. who works in her Unit). All in all, she has the makings of a captivating protagonist.
In Guilt by Association, Rachel gets assigned the case that hits close to home - one of her coworkers (another D.A. named Jake) was found murdered under controversial circumstances. As Rachel and Bailey try to uncover the truth, Rachel is also forced to dig into Jake's private life and has to wonder if sometimes we don't know as much as we think we do about those we work with. Don't expect a super fast-paced action - Marcia Clark takes her time, allowing the reader to really get to know the characters, instead of focusing solely on the case at hand.
This is another one of those perfect summer/vacation/beach reads. This series is a bit like potato chips - don't expect to be able to "have" just one and leave it at that. Before you know it, you'll be through all four of them and loving every second of it.
When I first started reading this book I actually did not realize who Marcia Clark is (though the name did sound familiar). A helpful goodreads user mentioned it in response to me listing this book in one of the "What are you currently reading?" threads. Not that Marcia Clark's identity (as the lead prosecutor in the O.J. trial and a former D.A. - in case you, like me, do not read the little author blurb until AFTER you've read the book) as such matters but it did help explain her level of insider knowledge when it comes to investigations and legal proceedings.
Once I picked up Guilt by Association I did not come up for air until I finished reading all 4 books in the series. I do think it's important to point out that this is not a typical thriller or a police procedural. If you are looking for a James Patterson style book, this is not it. As I keep mentioning in my reviews, knowing what you're getting into, goes a long way towards preventing book related disappointments. Surprisingly enough, this one felt like there were elements of chick lit mixed in - something I actually found quite refreshing and interesting. The fact that the book (actually all of them in the series) centers around strong female characters was definitely a strong selling point for me.
Rachel Knight is a D.A. in a Special Trials Unit. She works the high profile cases (she also happens to be a hardcore workaholic) - though not just in the courtroom; she actually takes an active part in the investigation itself(one of her two best friends, Bailey, is a detective with the Major Crimes Division of the LAPD and they just happen to do quite a bit of sleuthing together). Rachel is exceptionally good at her job. She lives in a hotel and at times has a bit of Bridget Jones in her. Her love life is kind of complicated. Who and how she is to a large extent defined by a tragedy from her childhood - something she does not really talk about. And through it all she has her friends, Bailey and Toni (another D.A. who works in her Unit). All in all, she has the makings of a captivating protagonist.
In Guilt by Association, Rachel gets assigned the case that hits close to home - one of her coworkers (another D.A. named Jake) was found murdered under controversial circumstances. As Rachel and Bailey try to uncover the truth, Rachel is also forced to dig into Jake's private life and has to wonder if sometimes we don't know as much as we think we do about those we work with. Don't expect a super fast-paced action - Marcia Clark takes her time, allowing the reader to really get to know the characters, instead of focusing solely on the case at hand.
This is another one of those perfect summer/vacation/beach reads. This series is a bit like potato chips - don't expect to be able to "have" just one and leave it at that. Before you know it, you'll be through all four of them and loving every second of it.
June 28, 2021
I liked this book more when I was reading it than I do upon reflection. It is an action hero movie version of a book; with everyone being a little too over the top. I also feel too much of the book was 'inspired' by Michael Connelly as I am concurrently rereading The Burning Room and felt like I could switch back and forth and the books were in the same universe.
Rachel Knight is a wise cracking, gun toting, DA who is assigned to Special Trials. If you are hoping for a legal procedural keep hoping Rachel is much more of a DA's investigator than an trial lawyer. For most of the book she is out of office and on the streets with her buddy kicking butt and taking names.
Rachel lives in the Biltmore Hotel in LA if that seems unbelievable it is due to a case she prosecuted and a grateful CEO. I didn't go to law school but I suspect this is unethical for a public servant to accept this kind of 'tip'
If you have read any of Michael Connelly's books you know LA is practically a character especially restaurants. Marcia adopts this theme with lots of what they ate, where they ate and what they didn't eat. You see the main character is one of those women who is always on a diet and drinks like a fish so she denies her self food so she has room for all the booze; top shelf name brand , name dropped. There was so much name/ brand dropping for restaurants and liquor I started to feel like I was in Wayne's World.
Reading the book in 2021 I was quickly annoyed with Rachel's diet and caging food from other people's plates. Either learn to eat like a human or STFU about it.
We are also treated to Marcia's err Rachel's wardrobe choices until I was bored out of my mind by it.
As in the Bosch series there are two crimes in this book which find a way to intersect. But unlike Bosch I find the characters neither believable nor credible. Everyone is a little "too' something.
Rachel violates more laws than the LAPD in LA Confidential even the ending was ridiculous
Rachel Knight is a wise cracking, gun toting, DA who is assigned to Special Trials. If you are hoping for a legal procedural keep hoping Rachel is much more of a DA's investigator than an trial lawyer. For most of the book she is out of office and on the streets with her buddy kicking butt and taking names.
Rachel lives in the Biltmore Hotel in LA if that seems unbelievable it is due to a case she prosecuted and a grateful CEO. I didn't go to law school but I suspect this is unethical for a public servant to accept this kind of 'tip'
If you have read any of Michael Connelly's books you know LA is practically a character especially restaurants. Marcia adopts this theme with lots of what they ate, where they ate and what they didn't eat. You see the main character is one of those women who is always on a diet and drinks like a fish so she denies her self food so she has room for all the booze; top shelf name brand , name dropped. There was so much name/ brand dropping for restaurants and liquor I started to feel like I was in Wayne's World.
Reading the book in 2021 I was quickly annoyed with Rachel's diet and caging food from other people's plates. Either learn to eat like a human or STFU about it.
We are also treated to Marcia's err Rachel's wardrobe choices until I was bored out of my mind by it.
As in the Bosch series there are two crimes in this book which find a way to intersect. But unlike Bosch I find the characters neither believable nor credible. Everyone is a little "too' something.
Rachel violates more laws than the LAPD in LA Confidential even the ending was ridiculous
July 11, 2014
Rachel Knight is a prosecutor for the DA in Los Angeles. She is smart, tenacious, and smart-mouthed. When her colleague is found dead in a compromising situation, Rachel isn't content to turn the case over to the FBI. She and her friend police officer Bailey Keller begin their own investigation. Meanwhile, Rachel also has to deal with one of the cases passed on to her after her colleague's death - a young girl in an affluent part of town is raped. Her father, a prominent physician and political supporter of Rachel's boss, wants the crime solved immediately.
Investigating Jake's apparent death in a murder-suicide possibly having a child pornography twist and investigating the rape, takes Rachel and Bailey all over LA interviewing people from all walks of society. Could the rape have been done by Luis, the gangbanger the rape victim was tutoring? What about the skinhead who was seen in the neighborhood? Or was it the security guard who missed a number of check-ins on the fateful night?
Soon it becomes apparent that the two cases are not as unconnected as they might first appear. Rachel was an interesting character with all the tenacity one would expect from someone in the DA's office. But she also had her vulnerabilities, notably in the area of relationships. A tragedy in her past and the presence of an ex-boyfriend she still has feelings for tell us something about her. We also see her make tentative forays into dating again with the police lieutenant who has Jake's case.
The story was entertaining and suspenseful. I would eagerly read more books in the series to learn more about these interesting characters.
Investigating Jake's apparent death in a murder-suicide possibly having a child pornography twist and investigating the rape, takes Rachel and Bailey all over LA interviewing people from all walks of society. Could the rape have been done by Luis, the gangbanger the rape victim was tutoring? What about the skinhead who was seen in the neighborhood? Or was it the security guard who missed a number of check-ins on the fateful night?
Soon it becomes apparent that the two cases are not as unconnected as they might first appear. Rachel was an interesting character with all the tenacity one would expect from someone in the DA's office. But she also had her vulnerabilities, notably in the area of relationships. A tragedy in her past and the presence of an ex-boyfriend she still has feelings for tell us something about her. We also see her make tentative forays into dating again with the police lieutenant who has Jake's case.
The story was entertaining and suspenseful. I would eagerly read more books in the series to learn more about these interesting characters.
April 26, 2011
Oh, my, here comes Marcia Clark, the former Prosecutor in the renouned OJ Simpson murder trial, and she's got a legal thriller up her sleeve! Not only that, but it's a damned good one!
Ms. Clark is a writer. She absolutely knows her stuff and she shares details with us of her protagonist, Rachel's life as a DA who must investigate the murder of a couple of people in her life. One of those people an ex-boyfriend, and the other a young woman who was his last assignment. She plants funny sidekicks and support people for Rachel and the flavor is enriched alongside the plot.
Rachel is a close cover for Marcia herself. And, she's a pistol! She's fiesty and funny just like Marcia. She's tenacious and irrepressible. She is as good as Kinsey Milhone...maybe even better, actually. She's loyal and she's brilliant. I love her tough and tender ways.
There's little veiling between Marcia and Rachel and I love that about "Guilt By Association." It's something Ms Clark has no problem embracing for us as if she's a best friend next door caught borrowing our favorite bracelet without permission. You just can't help laughing with her about it as she confesses and shrugs it off. This quality about her and her astute writing skills makes her book just charming and an especially good read.
I understand we may be seeing more of Rachel Knight. I hope so. It's about time Marcia Clark got some credit for being the sassy, strong and brilliant woman she's always been. I like her. I like her sense of humor, and I like her book.
Read it...you'll love it!
Ms. Clark is a writer. She absolutely knows her stuff and she shares details with us of her protagonist, Rachel's life as a DA who must investigate the murder of a couple of people in her life. One of those people an ex-boyfriend, and the other a young woman who was his last assignment. She plants funny sidekicks and support people for Rachel and the flavor is enriched alongside the plot.
Rachel is a close cover for Marcia herself. And, she's a pistol! She's fiesty and funny just like Marcia. She's tenacious and irrepressible. She is as good as Kinsey Milhone...maybe even better, actually. She's loyal and she's brilliant. I love her tough and tender ways.
There's little veiling between Marcia and Rachel and I love that about "Guilt By Association." It's something Ms Clark has no problem embracing for us as if she's a best friend next door caught borrowing our favorite bracelet without permission. You just can't help laughing with her about it as she confesses and shrugs it off. This quality about her and her astute writing skills makes her book just charming and an especially good read.
I understand we may be seeing more of Rachel Knight. I hope so. It's about time Marcia Clark got some credit for being the sassy, strong and brilliant woman she's always been. I like her. I like her sense of humor, and I like her book.
Read it...you'll love it!
March 12, 2011
I have to admit, I almost passed on reading this book because Marcia Clark is not my favorite person. Then I thought if the old saying "write what you know" is true, she should be able to write a damn good book. I tried it and I was very surprised at just how good it was.
Ms. Clark does write what she knows and writes it in such a way that keeps up glued to the pages. The 'big' story is that of DA Rachel Knight finding out that her partner and friend Jake has been found dead and possibly was involved in some horrible things. She does not believe it and decides to poke around and find out the truth.
While doing that she also must take over his biggest case which involves the rape of a young girl. Again, things are not as clear cut as they seem.
I really enjoyed the characters. The friendship between Rachel, Tori another lawyer and Baily a policewoman was fun. Outside of work they are just girls hanging out and having a good time. They really clicked with me. It's great to have a bunch a girlfriends to be yourself with.
I don't want to give away any of the book so you just need to read it. I was floored by the ending. I had in my mind who I thought it was and things seems to point there but that was Ms. Clark's way of messing with our minds. I never would have guessed.
If you enjoy legal thrillers give this one a read. I actually hope there is more to come from Marcia Clark and that maybe I will be able to visit my new friends in another book.
Ms. Clark does write what she knows and writes it in such a way that keeps up glued to the pages. The 'big' story is that of DA Rachel Knight finding out that her partner and friend Jake has been found dead and possibly was involved in some horrible things. She does not believe it and decides to poke around and find out the truth.
While doing that she also must take over his biggest case which involves the rape of a young girl. Again, things are not as clear cut as they seem.
I really enjoyed the characters. The friendship between Rachel, Tori another lawyer and Baily a policewoman was fun. Outside of work they are just girls hanging out and having a good time. They really clicked with me. It's great to have a bunch a girlfriends to be yourself with.
I don't want to give away any of the book so you just need to read it. I was floored by the ending. I had in my mind who I thought it was and things seems to point there but that was Ms. Clark's way of messing with our minds. I never would have guessed.
If you enjoy legal thrillers give this one a read. I actually hope there is more to come from Marcia Clark and that maybe I will be able to visit my new friends in another book.
January 13, 2017
Are you a fan of legal thrillers ? Enjoy the writings of authors like Lisa Scottoline and Mark Gimenez , James Scott Bell ? If so, then Marcia Clark is your new must read author as she sends out her debut novel "Guilt by Association". Our novel is focused around the main character District Attorney Rachel Knight . Guilt by Association starts with Rachel's work soulmate Jake being found murdered in what only looks like a double murder suicide , next is a boy and in Jake's pocket - a nude photo of the boy . Was Jake gay and did he kill this boy ? Rachel is ready to do whatever it takes including working off the clock, to clear Jake's name , but in the meanwhile she has another case keeping her busy - a rape case of a 15yr old girl, however something doesn't line up and the main suspect doesn't look the least like a rapist . As the novel gets on we find the link between the two cases and it will be the least obvious as Guilt by Association will keep you guessing till the very end. Was Jake innocent and what was Kit doing there in the hotel room ? Was Susan raped by a friend or foe ? How are the two cases connected? Find out all this and more in Marcia Clark's awesome new novel "Guilt by Association".
July 29, 2015
There are two core plot threads to GUILT BY ASSOCIATION; the murder of DA Rachel Knight's colleague Jake - initially staged as a murder-suicide, and the rape of a young woman who's doctor father has strong political ties. Jake was involved in the rape case which was reassigned to Knight following his death which links the two threads.
Whilst not being a bad book, I found GUILT BY ASSOCIATION to be an average read. I didn't connect with any of the characters and found the mundane day-to-day actives depicting Rachel getting dressed, eating lunch/dinner, and drinking at the hotel bar distracting and little more than filler content. The street slang dialogue was also a cause for annoyance with a 'BG' (baby gangster) heavily involved in proceedings. As for the crime aspect, the cases themselves resolved all too convenient with the ending feeling rushed despite some enjoyable passages. Not one I'd recommend but I can see how it would be appealing to more casual readers.
Verdict - there are better mainstream crime reads out there.
http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
Whilst not being a bad book, I found GUILT BY ASSOCIATION to be an average read. I didn't connect with any of the characters and found the mundane day-to-day actives depicting Rachel getting dressed, eating lunch/dinner, and drinking at the hotel bar distracting and little more than filler content. The street slang dialogue was also a cause for annoyance with a 'BG' (baby gangster) heavily involved in proceedings. As for the crime aspect, the cases themselves resolved all too convenient with the ending feeling rushed despite some enjoyable passages. Not one I'd recommend but I can see how it would be appealing to more casual readers.
Verdict - there are better mainstream crime reads out there.
http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
May 24, 2017
So far, I've loved all of Marcia Clark's books. She's a brilliant writer. Rachel Knight and her sidekick detective, Bailey are quite the duo. Obviously smart, as the D.A. and lead detective, so not only are they strong, but have hilarious banter. I liked all the characters in this one. When one of their own is found dead, these two go over and beyond to solve the seemingly closed case....and they may break a few laws of their own along the way. In the end, it's all connected. I can't wait to get #2 of the Knight series from the library:)))
May 26, 2016
This was not a bad read at all. In fact, I'm giving the next book a shot.
No pun intended.
No pun intended.
February 8, 2022
This book was written more than 10 years ago but it is still a good one. Rachel Knight is a hotshot deputy district attorney in a special division of Los Angeles County. When one of her friends and co-worker turns up dead in a seedy motel in a compromising situation, she refuses to believe he was living a double life. The FBI has to come in to investigate but she refuses to back down. Meanwhile she is assigned a case with a pushy, self-entitled father of a victim. Rachel Knight is a smart prosecutor. The other strong lead character is Detective Bailey Keller. These ladies are heroes without capes! This is a fast paced police procedural with a little courtroom drama. This is #1 in the Rachel Knight series.
June 7, 2025
Surprisingly good introduction novel as Marcia Clark's entry into the legal thriller genre...She gives us Rachel Knight, a gritty, nose-to-the-grindstone assistant LA prosecutor and her various orbiting secondary characters...She is detailed into investigating a rape of a daughter of a prominent LA physician that dovetails into case on her periphery, the murder of a coworker under suspicious and tawdry circumstances...Worth the read!
April 22, 2022
3 1/2 🌟
June 11, 2011
Guilt by Association is a mystery novel by Marcia Clark, the lead prosecutor on the O.J. Simpson murder trial back in the '90s. The lead character, Rachel Knight, is a Los Angeles DA whose friend and colleague, Jake, is found dead in an apparent murder-suicide. While investigating this case, which she is warned to stay away from as it's supposed to be a federal case, she is also assigned one of Jake's unfinished cases, the rape of a teenage girl in the Pacific Palisades.
The novel takes the usual twists and turns that one would expect from a novel in the mystery genre, which I guess are now commonly referred to as “thrillers.” I really wanted to like Clark's debut effort into fiction more than I did, but there were just too many problems with it that stuck out. I can break this down by an analysis of the two most important elements for a mystery novel: plot and character. Yes, these tend to be very important in most novels, but let me go into detail as to why these stick out so much.
First, the plot. The plot in Guilt by Association is actually very well written and thought-out. I enjoyed most of the aforementioned twists and turns, and it's generally well structured and has a good pace to it. Plot is important to a mystery novel because it provides, well, the mystery. And Clark does a good job with it and shows a strong talent in this area. However, that's not to say that it's perfect. There are some slow parts to novel, mostly having to do with some dragged out descriptions. Also, close the end, the plot threads take an unbelievable, and in my opinion rather ridiculous, turn that made me slap my head not over the reveal but more out of frustration at the lack of plausibility. For an author who is going to great pains to be sure that we know this novel is set in the real Los Angeles, this made things seem suddenly unreal. The romantic side plot doesn't really seem to go anywhere, but I'm guesing that's something that would be picked up in later books, assuming this novel is intended to be the first in a series.
The second important element mentioned above is the characters. Characters in mystery novel reveal a lot about themselves, difference, “tells,” and make you care about them or identify with them as they go through the mystery. Mysteries tend to be heavily character-driven as the investigator (and the reader along with them) interviews them to determine the truth and whether anyone is lying. And this was where Guilt by Association falls flat on its face. I know that some people would like the spunkiness of the characters and what I could only describe as an attempt an Whedonesque dialogue (think “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” or “Firefly/Serenity”), but they instead came off as annoying. Combined with how most of the characters, primarily those working in law enforcement, come off as complete bad-asses in their jobs, and it winds up making the reader want to put some distance between themselves and the characters rather than draw them in and want to solve the mystery with them. I don't think I could stand another description of Rachel complaining about her healthy eating while being horribly tempted by the tastier food being ordered by the people she's with.
In addition, some of the descriptions can be long-winded. Yes, Los Angeles has bad traffic problems, but I think that anyone who doesn't live here already has a basic knowledge of that and isn't going to care, and those of us who do live here already have to deal with it and don't want to read about it. While it was interesting reading about some places I've been to and frequented around Los Angeles, at times it also feels unnecessary and gets in the way of the pacing.
Guilt by Association gets two out of five stars, meaning literally “it's okay.” Marcia Clark shows some talent, but this effort felt uncooked. I would be interest to see how her writing style develops in future works, and hope that she could work on the characters and the dialogue a little more to make them more believable and less irritating, especially since she clearly want to make the setting believable. But I would only recommend this novel for serious fans of the mystery/thriller genre. The rest probably won't be missing a whole lot if they skip it.
Note: This review is based on an uncorrected advanced reading copy that was provided to this reviewer for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The novel takes the usual twists and turns that one would expect from a novel in the mystery genre, which I guess are now commonly referred to as “thrillers.” I really wanted to like Clark's debut effort into fiction more than I did, but there were just too many problems with it that stuck out. I can break this down by an analysis of the two most important elements for a mystery novel: plot and character. Yes, these tend to be very important in most novels, but let me go into detail as to why these stick out so much.
First, the plot. The plot in Guilt by Association is actually very well written and thought-out. I enjoyed most of the aforementioned twists and turns, and it's generally well structured and has a good pace to it. Plot is important to a mystery novel because it provides, well, the mystery. And Clark does a good job with it and shows a strong talent in this area. However, that's not to say that it's perfect. There are some slow parts to novel, mostly having to do with some dragged out descriptions. Also, close the end, the plot threads take an unbelievable, and in my opinion rather ridiculous, turn that made me slap my head not over the reveal but more out of frustration at the lack of plausibility. For an author who is going to great pains to be sure that we know this novel is set in the real Los Angeles, this made things seem suddenly unreal. The romantic side plot doesn't really seem to go anywhere, but I'm guesing that's something that would be picked up in later books, assuming this novel is intended to be the first in a series.
The second important element mentioned above is the characters. Characters in mystery novel reveal a lot about themselves, difference, “tells,” and make you care about them or identify with them as they go through the mystery. Mysteries tend to be heavily character-driven as the investigator (and the reader along with them) interviews them to determine the truth and whether anyone is lying. And this was where Guilt by Association falls flat on its face. I know that some people would like the spunkiness of the characters and what I could only describe as an attempt an Whedonesque dialogue (think “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” or “Firefly/Serenity”), but they instead came off as annoying. Combined with how most of the characters, primarily those working in law enforcement, come off as complete bad-asses in their jobs, and it winds up making the reader want to put some distance between themselves and the characters rather than draw them in and want to solve the mystery with them. I don't think I could stand another description of Rachel complaining about her healthy eating while being horribly tempted by the tastier food being ordered by the people she's with.
In addition, some of the descriptions can be long-winded. Yes, Los Angeles has bad traffic problems, but I think that anyone who doesn't live here already has a basic knowledge of that and isn't going to care, and those of us who do live here already have to deal with it and don't want to read about it. While it was interesting reading about some places I've been to and frequented around Los Angeles, at times it also feels unnecessary and gets in the way of the pacing.
Guilt by Association gets two out of five stars, meaning literally “it's okay.” Marcia Clark shows some talent, but this effort felt uncooked. I would be interest to see how her writing style develops in future works, and hope that she could work on the characters and the dialogue a little more to make them more believable and less irritating, especially since she clearly want to make the setting believable. But I would only recommend this novel for serious fans of the mystery/thriller genre. The rest probably won't be missing a whole lot if they skip it.
Note: This review is based on an uncorrected advanced reading copy that was provided to this reviewer for free through Goodreads First Reads.
November 14, 2019
Book source ~ NetGalley
L.A. Deputy District Attorney Rachel Knight walks up to a fire at a sleazy hotel near her office and discovers her co-worker, Jake, has been found dead at the scene with a male teenager. The police think it’s a cut and dried murder/suicide, but Rachel just can’t believe it. So, even though she’s been warned off the case, she enlists a friend in the police department to help her uncover what really happened. And that’s where things get interesting.
Rachel is tenacious and kinda bull-headed, but it makes her good at what she does. And finding out what happened to Jake is priority one when everyone is saying he murdered a teenage male prostitute and then killed himself. Even though she knows very little about Jake’s personal life, they worked 100s of hours together and she’s sure she’s not wrong about the kind of person he was. The more she digs the worse it looks for Jake, but Rachel needs to see this thing through until the end.
Fast-paced and intriguing, who knew I’d really enjoy a story about a lawyer? I guess because this is less about lawyer-y stuff and more about investigating a crime. It’s twisty and turny and the characters are great. I’d read more stories involving Rachel Knight.
L.A. Deputy District Attorney Rachel Knight walks up to a fire at a sleazy hotel near her office and discovers her co-worker, Jake, has been found dead at the scene with a male teenager. The police think it’s a cut and dried murder/suicide, but Rachel just can’t believe it. So, even though she’s been warned off the case, she enlists a friend in the police department to help her uncover what really happened. And that’s where things get interesting.
Rachel is tenacious and kinda bull-headed, but it makes her good at what she does. And finding out what happened to Jake is priority one when everyone is saying he murdered a teenage male prostitute and then killed himself. Even though she knows very little about Jake’s personal life, they worked 100s of hours together and she’s sure she’s not wrong about the kind of person he was. The more she digs the worse it looks for Jake, but Rachel needs to see this thing through until the end.
Fast-paced and intriguing, who knew I’d really enjoy a story about a lawyer? I guess because this is less about lawyer-y stuff and more about investigating a crime. It’s twisty and turny and the characters are great. I’d read more stories involving Rachel Knight.
November 12, 2012
Rachel Knight has it all under control. She‘s one of LA’s hardest-working deputy DAs, she’s on a permanent diet and she’s just about stopped cursing in court. Her best friends are her Special Trials colleagues; smart-mouthed, stylish dresser Toni, and gentle Jake, the other hardest worker on the team. Rachel has relationship issues, and thanks to her therapist, Carla, she knows why. Not that it helps.
When Jake’s body is recovered from a sleazy motel alongside that of a seventeen-year-old rent boy, Rachel’s world is rocked to its foundations.
Worst of all, she’s forbidden to investigate and given a politically sensitive case to handle instead. But she’s resourceful, not to mention persuasive.
Assisted by investigating officer Bailey Keller, Rachel sets out to find the truth about both cases, exploring rundown high schools and elite estates. The cases grow increasingly complex and more closely intertwined than anyone could imagine. Turns out sleaze is everywhere.
Marcia Clark, herself an ex-attorney, was the lead prosecutor in the OJ Simpson trial. Her investigative experience shines a light on the Los Angeles police procedures and judicial system. Not only does she manage expert plotting and dynamic pace, but her dialogue is whipsmart and sense of location absorbing. Her broad cast of characters comes to life in her spare description and reflection in the eyes of others. Rachel Knight is a complicated, likeable and driven protagonist, with an undeniable determination to see justice done.
Clark’s writing is not entirely even. There’s the odd clanger;
"Four attractively burly uniformed officers spoke briefly to Bailey, then two of them ran round to the back of the building while the other two brandished their lethal weapon flashlights and pounded on the door."
But more than counterbalanced by lines of insight and sensitivity:
"No one knows how I feel and time doesn’t heal the wound. The wound just becomes part of you."
“How come you haven’t asked?"
“Asked what?”
“Whether or not I knew Jake was gay.”
“Because if he was involved with Kit, he’s not gay. He’s a pedophile.”
Kevin nodded with a sad smile. “Thank you.”
Overall, Guilt by Association is a fast-paced, exhilarating and highly satisfying read, and I will seek out the first in the series, Guilt by Degrees.
May 1, 2011
GUILT BY ASSOCIATION by Marcia Clark is a suspense fiction set in present Los Angeles,California.The plot is easy to follow,detailed,and will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters are engaging,easy to follow,will capture your heart. This is a fast paced,action packed story of murder,suspense, public prosecutors,and the legal system. It is written in the first person,from the view of the heroine,Rachel.Rachel,a tenacious,DA of the Special Trials Unit,a small group of a prosecutors who are handpicked to handle toughest,sensitive,and most celebrated cases in the LA District Attorney’s Office. When one of her fellow DA’s is murdered,questions begin to surface,he was found in a compromising way,leaving suspicion not only about his personal life but also about his legal life.Rachel,and his fellow prosecutors take on his politically charged cases.Rachel enlists one of her friends,Bailey,a tough LAPD detective who works covertly to undertake Jake’s murder investigation.They work together to clear Jake’s name,expose violence,power,reputations,find the truth,and try not to get killed in the process. This is a powerful story of murder,suspense,violence,and some funny areas.It is written with details of the legal system and the criminal mind.While this is this authors debut,this is an author to watch out for in the future.”Guilt by Association” is a must read,fast paced,action paced story full of action,that will keep you turning the pages.If you enjoy suspense,action,murder,the LA under goings,you are going to love “Guilt by Association”.This book was received for the purpose of review from the publisher and details can be found at Mulholland Books,an imprint of Little Brown and Company,a division of Hachette Book Group and My Book Addiction and More.
May 6, 2023
I do not think I will continue this series. While there are things I really like about the book (I think I would like Marcia Clark… I feel like her values and world view come through clearly in characters; I like the strong bond of friendship between the three women), these were outweighed by the things I found annoying. These include: Rachel is obsessed with what she eats, and Clark keeps giving us the details that I, for one, am not interested in and would rather not know about; there were some significant holes in the plot that we were expected to either not notice or forgive; I found the premise that this prosecutor would continually jeopardize her job and her career by poking around into an investigation that she has repeatedly been warned off of incredible, and since this is the beginning of a series, I expect that this will continue to be Rachel’s pattern… namely, investigate crimes. I’m not buying it.
Narrator: four stars
Narrator: four stars
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