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Guilty
Simon Mills, a solicitor, isn't the kind of man to go to prison. His new wife Claire, an artist, isn't the kind of woman to have a husband 'Inside'. But one night, after offering to drive their dinner guests home, Simon is involved in an horrific crash down a narrow Devonshire lane and is sent to prison for eight months. 'GUILTY' is written in two parts: the first deals with Simon's life in prison and the second, with his life once he's released. It is told in alternate viewpoints: Claire's and Simon's as well as the ghostly voice of Joanna, who died in the crash. This is a haunting modern-day story that could happen to you.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 21, 2019
Jane Bidder is an excellent author, she knows how to go to the places that pulls the reader in. I couldn't put the book Guilty down.
Happy married couple of two years, Simon Mills, a solicitor, and his new wife Claire an artist are about to find their perfect marriage will hit a crisis. But Claire an honest loving wife who loves her husband very much will do what it takes to stand by her husband. Claire had Ben her son from her previous marriage who sometimes don't like taking comments from his step dad.
One evening on impulse, Claire invited a woman she had recently met at the tennis club with her new husband to dinner. With the wine flowing and helpings of syllabub containing rum. Hugh was too drunk to drive his wife home. Good hearted Simon drives his dinner guest home. Horror strikes as Simon reaches to answer his mobile phone and crashes the car down a narrow Devonshire lane. But there is more to this crash than Simon reaching for his mobile phone. With great sadness one of their dinner guest die later after the crash in hospital. Claire can't believe that her lawyer Simon Mills is sent to prison for the death of one of his passengers in his car.
The story is so like real life where careless drivers answer their mobile while driving causing a crash and with great sadness it is often the case where someone is killed. I highly recommend reading Guilty by Jane Bidder.
February 9, 2014
As the result of a momentary lapse in concentration, Simon Mills causes the death, by dangerous driving, of a family friend. What then follows is a cautionary story of the resulting consequences, when Simon, once a successful solicitor, is sent to prison to atone for his crime. The story focuses on the very real problems of what happens when families are split apart. For those who live on the outside, life will never be the same again, and Claire, Simon’s wife, is forced to make some really harsh decisions which impact on both herself and her son, Ben. Prison life is no bed of roses either, and Simon is constantly plagued by guilt as he is forced to recognise his own culpability.
Written in two distinct parts; the first deals with Simon’s time in prison, the second when he is eventually released, both stories focus on the alternate viewpoints of Simon and Claire and make for compelling reading. The author writes with great conviction so that life ‘inside’ really comes alive with all its rules, regulations, petty squabbles and insidious boredom. Equally compelling is the story of Claire’s overwhelming struggle on the outside, as she copes with the crisis of losing everything she once considered important.
Overall, this was a compelling and thought provoking read. The story flows really well, and neither patronises nor sensationalises what is happening on both the inside and the outside, and yet successfully serves as a warning that this really could happen to anyone.
Recommended.
Written in two distinct parts; the first deals with Simon’s time in prison, the second when he is eventually released, both stories focus on the alternate viewpoints of Simon and Claire and make for compelling reading. The author writes with great conviction so that life ‘inside’ really comes alive with all its rules, regulations, petty squabbles and insidious boredom. Equally compelling is the story of Claire’s overwhelming struggle on the outside, as she copes with the crisis of losing everything she once considered important.
Overall, this was a compelling and thought provoking read. The story flows really well, and neither patronises nor sensationalises what is happening on both the inside and the outside, and yet successfully serves as a warning that this really could happen to anyone.
Recommended.
July 8, 2014
As this is Jane Bidder's virgin publication this book is really quite good.
Looking forward to her next publication
Looking forward to her next publication
August 19, 2014
I won this book on goodreads.
Simon is a solicitor who makes on terrible mistake
and his life as well as his stepson and wife's life.
Simon must learn to survive on the other side of the justice system.
Claire and her son Ben are forced to move when a brick goes through her window.
This story is a good read with a dark side with a little bit of humor mixed in.
I enjoyed seeing how Simon and Claire would handle things and if Claire would stick by Simon.
Thank you for the opportunity .
Simon is a solicitor who makes on terrible mistake
and his life as well as his stepson and wife's life.
Simon must learn to survive on the other side of the justice system.
Claire and her son Ben are forced to move when a brick goes through her window.
This story is a good read with a dark side with a little bit of humor mixed in.
I enjoyed seeing how Simon and Claire would handle things and if Claire would stick by Simon.
Thank you for the opportunity .
July 17, 2014
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I did enjoy reading this book but it moved rather slowly for me. It took me a while to connect with the storyline and the characters but eventually I did. I will pass this book onto family and friends as this situation has happened over and over again in every day life. We can learn a lot from this story.
July 21, 2016
This book was an amazing take on having a family member go to prison.
This book started out very slow for me, and I did not enjoy the first quarter of the book. I found it very hard to get into, until Simon went to prison. Once Simon went to prison for texting and driving and in turn killing a woman, the book became very interesting to me and had my hanging on at every word. It gave a very interesting perspective on what happens to family relationships when one person is thrown into a prison.
I found the relationships in this book very believable, and I also found the plot line very believable as well. The conversations made sense, and along the way I had constant questions that were eventually answered.
The only way this book could have been any better was if the beginning was more catchy to hold onto my attention. It felt very slow and boring at the beginning, but it was an introduction.
I still have questions about what happened to the characters and there is a special place in my heart for them.
Four out of five stars! Due to the boring beginning.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This book started out very slow for me, and I did not enjoy the first quarter of the book. I found it very hard to get into, until Simon went to prison. Once Simon went to prison for texting and driving and in turn killing a woman, the book became very interesting to me and had my hanging on at every word. It gave a very interesting perspective on what happens to family relationships when one person is thrown into a prison.
I found the relationships in this book very believable, and I also found the plot line very believable as well. The conversations made sense, and along the way I had constant questions that were eventually answered.
The only way this book could have been any better was if the beginning was more catchy to hold onto my attention. It felt very slow and boring at the beginning, but it was an introduction.
I still have questions about what happened to the characters and there is a special place in my heart for them.
Four out of five stars! Due to the boring beginning.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2016
I really enjoyed this book which was very different to what I was expecting! Thanks Jane!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews