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The Twelfth Juror
What Would You Do if a Stranger Stole Your Entire Life?
Young, beautiful, ambitious Megan Cleary seems to have the perfect life—a dream job in a prestigious law firm in New York City, an upscale boyfriend, and a fabulous apartment. But her perfect world is shattered when, while working late one night, she is brutally attacked. Terrified by her ordeal, Megan determines that, no matter what happens, she will never again be a victim.
A few months later, Megan's attacker returns, but this time she is armed and ready. She shoots her assailant and flees the scene before the police arrive and discover the body. Thinking she is now safe, she hides her crime and tries to go on with her life as if nothing has happened. But only a few days later she discovers the horrible truth—killing her assailant was only the beginning of her problems, and she now faces consequences she could have never imagined....
This suspense thriller will keep you guessing until the very end!
Young, beautiful, ambitious Megan Cleary seems to have the perfect life—a dream job in a prestigious law firm in New York City, an upscale boyfriend, and a fabulous apartment. But her perfect world is shattered when, while working late one night, she is brutally attacked. Terrified by her ordeal, Megan determines that, no matter what happens, she will never again be a victim.
A few months later, Megan's attacker returns, but this time she is armed and ready. She shoots her assailant and flees the scene before the police arrive and discover the body. Thinking she is now safe, she hides her crime and tries to go on with her life as if nothing has happened. But only a few days later she discovers the horrible truth—killing her assailant was only the beginning of her problems, and she now faces consequences she could have never imagined....
This suspense thriller will keep you guessing until the very end!
369 pages, ebook
First published July 21, 2010
99 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Swann
22 books85 followersIn 1986, Alexandra Swann graduated at fifteen years of age with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Brigham Young University and a GPA of 3.85. The following year, when she was sixteen, she received a Master’s Degree in History from California State University. After graduation, she taught history and English as a second language for four years at El Paso Community College. In 1989, her book, "No Regrets: How Homeschooling Earned me a Master’s Degree at Age Sixteen", was published, in which she details her experiences with homeschooling.
For fifteen years, from 1998-2013, Alexandra was self-employed in the financial services industry in El Paso, Texas. As a small business owner who was active in the community and on various civic boards, she learned first-hand the challenges that excessive regulations create for small businesses. In 2012 she received the SBA’s Regional Minority Small Business Champion of the Year award. In 2014 she moved to Dallas where she works in financial services and is active in the community through various industry organizations and committees.
In 2010, Alexandra and her mother incorporated Frontier 2000 Media Group to produce clean, wholesome, inspirational entertainment for families. She re-released "No Regrets" with a new foreword to the twentieth anniversary edition of the book updating readers on what her family is doing today. She is also co-author of five Christian fiction novels including "The Fourth Kingdom" which was selected as one of four finalists in the Christianity Today 2011 Christian Fiction Book Awards. Her newest book, "The Invitation", [co-authored with Joyce}, is book one of their series Kinsman. "The Invitation" was published on Christmas Eve of 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 22, 2012
The Twelfth Juror
By: Alexandra and Joyce Swann
This is a great book by Alexandra and Joyce Swann! Megan Cleary has everything going for her—she is a partner in a law firm, has the perfect boyfriend, and is enjoying life to the fullest. Or, so she thought. When she decides to work late one night, she is beaten and raped. Her world is turned upside down. Her way of thinking changes, her lifestyle changes, her financial situation changes, and even who her friends are changes. Who can you turn to when everything around you is crumbling down? God is still in control. That’s the lesson Megan has to learn. Megan buys a gun to protect herself after the shooting, and when she is attacked again by the same man, she shoots and kills him, and then runs. See how she copes with the tragedy that has befallen her and how she deals with the punishment she has bestowed upon her attacker.
Once you start this book, you will not be able to put it down. If you love mystery, suspense, and legal thrillers you will love this book. Learning to let go of fear and guilt play a big part in this story; learning to let God be in control of your life is sometimes the hardest thing to do—read to see how Megan turns loose and lets God have control of her life so she can live again. This book is a definite must read and I can’t wait to read other books by Alexandra and Joyce Swann. Just when you think you have it all figured out, something unexpected happens and keeps you turning the pages to the end!
By: Alexandra and Joyce Swann
This is a great book by Alexandra and Joyce Swann! Megan Cleary has everything going for her—she is a partner in a law firm, has the perfect boyfriend, and is enjoying life to the fullest. Or, so she thought. When she decides to work late one night, she is beaten and raped. Her world is turned upside down. Her way of thinking changes, her lifestyle changes, her financial situation changes, and even who her friends are changes. Who can you turn to when everything around you is crumbling down? God is still in control. That’s the lesson Megan has to learn. Megan buys a gun to protect herself after the shooting, and when she is attacked again by the same man, she shoots and kills him, and then runs. See how she copes with the tragedy that has befallen her and how she deals with the punishment she has bestowed upon her attacker.
Once you start this book, you will not be able to put it down. If you love mystery, suspense, and legal thrillers you will love this book. Learning to let go of fear and guilt play a big part in this story; learning to let God be in control of your life is sometimes the hardest thing to do—read to see how Megan turns loose and lets God have control of her life so she can live again. This book is a definite must read and I can’t wait to read other books by Alexandra and Joyce Swann. Just when you think you have it all figured out, something unexpected happens and keeps you turning the pages to the end!
November 1, 2013
This mystery/thriller is an intense character study of the person before and after a brutal attack; and the changes in a life after an encounter with the living God. Megan is a defense lawyer who becomes a victim, a law breaker to defend herself but only succeeds in becoming a victim again. By the time she becomes the twelfth juror in a murder/rape trial she has the wisdom of God to help her make the right decisions. The story does a wonderful job of showing the way God works in the lives of his children to accomplish his will in the world.
This book is not an easy one day read for a fun afternoon. It is a thought provoking, serious book.
I recommend this book highly to all victims of rape and any other kind of savagery. It was a great help to me and it's been years since I went through any of the trauma associated with acts of this sport.
This book is not an easy one day read for a fun afternoon. It is a thought provoking, serious book.
I recommend this book highly to all victims of rape and any other kind of savagery. It was a great help to me and it's been years since I went through any of the trauma associated with acts of this sport.
December 20, 2014
Shows the emotional growth of Meagan after being the victim of horrifying crime
Meagan was on the path of success at a prestigious law firm at a young age. On the tract of partner then segue into is successful political career. Then she was beaten and raped. She loses almost everything and learns some hard lessons about life.
A very good read. Twists and turns along the way.
Meagan was on the path of success at a prestigious law firm at a young age. On the tract of partner then segue into is successful political career. Then she was beaten and raped. She loses almost everything and learns some hard lessons about life.
A very good read. Twists and turns along the way.
December 6, 2013
An intense writing on the subject matter of rape/assault and judicial justice. Very well written! I don't usually read mysteries, but enjoyed this book, which kept me on the edge of my seat. It definitely gave me some things to think about regarding how we as a culture view rape/assault, how we pick juries/reach decisions and why. Very thought provoking! Yet, an enjoyable read too.
December 16, 2015
This was extremely good although I'd liked the jury part of the book to have been fleshed out a bit more. It all happened 88% of the way into the book !!! It's about a girl who is raped in her office building when working late. She gets herself Holmes, an attack dog and a big eff-off handgun !! Then she's attacked AGAIN outside the building and this time shoots this attacker dead. She's a lawyer and knows she's not allowed to carry around a gun so legs it.......
She returns home to Buffalo and starts over again. She finds religion (and I got a little bogged down with that side of things especially when she'd killed someone and all these religious folk thought it was just dandy) !!
Then she is called for jury duty.....dum, dum, dum...........
It was a good tale although a little farfetched in my opinion but if the religious stuff had been omitted it might not have been. At one point Holmes bites someone threatening his mum but in her opinion god saved her....I beg to differ there !!
I'd definitely read them ago, though, but I'd check it wasn't too religious for this heathen first !!
She returns home to Buffalo and starts over again. She finds religion (and I got a little bogged down with that side of things especially when she'd killed someone and all these religious folk thought it was just dandy) !!
Then she is called for jury duty.....dum, dum, dum...........
It was a good tale although a little farfetched in my opinion but if the religious stuff had been omitted it might not have been. At one point Holmes bites someone threatening his mum but in her opinion god saved her....I beg to differ there !!
I'd definitely read them ago, though, but I'd check it wasn't too religious for this heathen first !!
March 4, 2014
Another book by this author that I couldn't put down! A very good story line, but I had a difficult time accepting that a man was killed and no one felt it should be reported. All of the circumstances were woven together in the end, and it all made sense, and was believable. I was in an abusive relationship in my teens, and can still feel some of the terror that was brought to light in this book. Well written, and looking forward to reading more by this author.
December 15, 2014
filled with suspense and the characters are believable and interesting. Really enjoyed reading this one and recommend it to anyone who likes crime /suspense novels
May 21, 2018
Looking in at the working of law
This book gives insight to how the law does and should work. The authors captured accurately the feelings of victims and portrays the aftermath of their struggles. For that I give the book five stars. There were some places in the book that surpassed plausibly, but then the storyline and editing was superb and this overcame my negative assessment in this one area. If you like suspense and law drama and exploring feelings, you, too will enjoy this book.
This book gives insight to how the law does and should work. The authors captured accurately the feelings of victims and portrays the aftermath of their struggles. For that I give the book five stars. There were some places in the book that surpassed plausibly, but then the storyline and editing was superb and this overcame my negative assessment in this one area. If you like suspense and law drama and exploring feelings, you, too will enjoy this book.
June 9, 2018
The Twelfth Juror is a crime suspense story that while at times has it's intense aspects becomes tempered by a christen theme as the story progresses.
The book's storyline provides readers a journey of twists and turns as the main character faces the challenge of life after becoming a victim of personal assault and a regrettable act of revenge.
Recommended 3.5 star read.
Note: I extend my thanks to goodreads for the opportunity to obtain a copy of this book.
The book's storyline provides readers a journey of twists and turns as the main character faces the challenge of life after becoming a victim of personal assault and a regrettable act of revenge.
Recommended 3.5 star read.
Note: I extend my thanks to goodreads for the opportunity to obtain a copy of this book.
February 28, 2017
Justice prevailed
Great characters and storyline. From being top of her game to going to the bottom and finding her way back to a better life. This was a good book with an unexpected twist at the end.
Great characters and storyline. From being top of her game to going to the bottom and finding her way back to a better life. This was a good book with an unexpected twist at the end.
June 11, 2017
I thought that this was a good book - good story line. It definitely kept me guessing throughout the book. Megan works at a law firm but gets attacked one night. Her world is shattered and her life will never be the same.
May 27, 2019
I felt a bit up and down with this book. There were some repetitious parts, particularly in the first 3rd of the story. After that though, things rolled along. I plan to check out other books by this author. Clean, and intense at times. Solid Christian message.
March 9, 2018
Excellent!!!
May 13, 2018
The 12th Juror
A vivid tale that will bring subjects up in your face to help not hurt. A great book. I Loved It.
A vivid tale that will bring subjects up in your face to help not hurt. A great book. I Loved It.
August 7, 2022
The book was engaging from the first line. It was an easy, fast read. Great for a summer weekend!
April 15, 2023
Boring
This book dragged and dragged on. Very wordy and I found myself falling asleep but I continued reading hoping it would get interesting.
This book dragged and dragged on. Very wordy and I found myself falling asleep but I continued reading hoping it would get interesting.
May 14, 2023
Wonderful Story
I have loved every book I have read by Joyce Swann and with Alexandra Swann. They are very well written, riveting and have great story lines. I can’t wait to read another one.
I have loved every book I have read by Joyce Swann and with Alexandra Swann. They are very well written, riveting and have great story lines. I can’t wait to read another one.
January 6, 2016
Mary Cleary is an up and coming attorney it an influential law firm in New Your, the pride of the family, and especially her father. Then she is raped and refuses any counseling. She buys a gun and gets a dog, the walks the streets of New York, hoping to find her rapist and kill him. The rapist finds her first and attacks her. She kills him in self-defense; her life should be good now, but it gets worse. She quits her job, to her father’s dismay and returns to her home town, Buffalo. She takes a low level job in a childcare center and starts the road to rebuild her life. Ultimately she is called to jury duty. Trying to be a fair juror puts some unexpected demands on her.
This was a five-star book that went a little awry. The most serious problem was the choice to have the story told by a third person, all-knowing narrator. This choice tends to put the reader outside the story. As one example: suppose A and B are talking. The all-knowing narrator tells you what each person is thinking and feeling. However, if the conversation had followed from A’s point of view, the narrator tells the reader what A is thinking, feeling, and observing, but the reader can only tell what B is thinking and feeling by getting into A's skin to see what A observes. That could be B’s tone of voice, actions like raising an eyebrow, etc. In this situation, the reader is drawn into the story with A, experiencing what A experiences. In this book, I was mostly outside the story with the narrator watching it unfold.
The reasons for Cleary deciding to be on a jury were not convincing, and I’m sure if her problem became known, the defendant would win an appeal. Finally, the world “that” was used so much that it became so obvious that I felt that I was being overwhelmed with it.
In spite of the problems, I gave the book four stars because the story and the characters were so interesting they overcame the negatives.
This was a five-star book that went a little awry. The most serious problem was the choice to have the story told by a third person, all-knowing narrator. This choice tends to put the reader outside the story. As one example: suppose A and B are talking. The all-knowing narrator tells you what each person is thinking and feeling. However, if the conversation had followed from A’s point of view, the narrator tells the reader what A is thinking, feeling, and observing, but the reader can only tell what B is thinking and feeling by getting into A's skin to see what A observes. That could be B’s tone of voice, actions like raising an eyebrow, etc. In this situation, the reader is drawn into the story with A, experiencing what A experiences. In this book, I was mostly outside the story with the narrator watching it unfold.
The reasons for Cleary deciding to be on a jury were not convincing, and I’m sure if her problem became known, the defendant would win an appeal. Finally, the world “that” was used so much that it became so obvious that I felt that I was being overwhelmed with it.
In spite of the problems, I gave the book four stars because the story and the characters were so interesting they overcame the negatives.
Want to read
February 15, 2016370p Young, beautiful, ambitious Megan Cleary seems to have the perfect life: a dream job in a prestigious law firm in New York City, an upscale boyfriend, and a fabulous apartment. But her perfect world is shattered when one night, while she is working late, she is brutally beaten and raped by a stranger. Afraid and ashamed, she refuses to admit what has happened to her, but she cannot forget her terrifying ordeal, and shortly afterward she illegally buys a handgun to protect herself. A few months later Megan is attacked again, but this time she is armed and ready. She shoots her assailant and flees the scene before the police arrive and discover the body. She never tells anyone that she owns a gun, or that she has killed a man, but her professional and private life begins to unravel as she struggles to gain control of the fear and guilt from which she cannot free herself. When events beyond her control leave her financially destitute and emotionally drained, she returns to parents' home in Buffalo to start over. This page turning story of loss and redemption will leave the reader guessing to the very end.
July 20, 2016
Hard to put down!
This book kept me guessing the entire time. I found myself questioning what I would do and how I would react in this situation. It is truly a play on your emotions, with wild twists and turns just when you think you're figuring things out. As well as being a great suspense/mystery, this book also teaches valuable lessons and shows us how our reactions to situations impacts our lives and gives you understanding to consider all sides to a story and not let your emotions way your opinions one way or another.
This book kept me guessing the entire time. I found myself questioning what I would do and how I would react in this situation. It is truly a play on your emotions, with wild twists and turns just when you think you're figuring things out. As well as being a great suspense/mystery, this book also teaches valuable lessons and shows us how our reactions to situations impacts our lives and gives you understanding to consider all sides to a story and not let your emotions way your opinions one way or another.
August 30, 2015
Thought provoking.....
Mystery and suspense is a genre I enjoy. I am disappointed when raw language and violence are frequently included. This book was unique w/o the offensive litter. The story line, while somewhat contrived, made points worth contemplation about our dismal social circumstances and the injustice of our justice system.
Read from a descriptive look at the state values and situations in our society the book is a valuable bit of reading. Well done, authors!
Mystery and suspense is a genre I enjoy. I am disappointed when raw language and violence are frequently included. This book was unique w/o the offensive litter. The story line, while somewhat contrived, made points worth contemplation about our dismal social circumstances and the injustice of our justice system.
Read from a descriptive look at the state values and situations in our society the book is a valuable bit of reading. Well done, authors!
July 27, 2015
I read this book over a weekend but could have just as well finished it in a day, it was so good. It also makes a person realize how superficial we have become, we all get caught up in our lives and careers instead of caring for the less fortunate. We live in fear of crime and have to buy weapons to protect ourselves. In the end, it is good to know that we have a Saviour, in Him there is hope.
May 17, 2013
Downloaded as an Amazon free book. Enjoyed the story of Megan who is an attorney that works late one night and gets attacked. The story was a page turner and while I sympathized with the main character, I was irritated with her because she didn't report her attack.
September 1, 2023
This a page turner, with a good story line. Some violence, but a strong Christian theme.
May 16, 2014
would really only give this book a 3 1/2 star rating. It starts off really good then about the last half or so seems to kinda drag. But all in all it's a good story.
August 31, 2015
Ridiculous, implausible. I am so glad it was free or I would have been unhappy to have wasted my money.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews