Innocent

by Joe Prentis

A phone call in the early hours of the morning shatters the tranquility of Sheriff Daniel Barrett's household when he finds out that the father of his fourteen-year-old daughter's best friend has been the victim of a brutal homicide. Viewing the body at the scene of the crime convinces Barrett that there is a dangerous killer poised to strike again.

ebook

First published September 23, 2009

About the author

I cannot remember a time when I was not reading. Books have always been an important part of my life, and I continue to be fascinated by the many wonderful things I discover each time I sit down in my favorite chair and open a book. When I was growing up, we moved frequently, living in cities, as well as in small towns, and on a working farm in a rural area. The sharp contrast of each of these places caused me to love and appreciate the busy and varied experience cities had to offer, but also the quiet life of being close to nature in the countryside. I was impressed early on by the vast differences between the geographic areas of the country, and the part ethnic background, social differences, and education played in the lives of people. Books about history, science, romance, mystery and suspense, have always presented an irresistible attraction to me. Writing is my way of introducing others to the things I have observed and experienced. I mostly read and write suspense novels, but cannot resist the temptation of Historical Fiction, or anything that deals with nature. I have just finished a suspense novel called ‘Innocent’ which will be out before the end of September, 2009. I am currently working on ‘The Relic,’ the second book in a series about the religious and political problems in the Middle East. I am doing research on a novel about the Colonial era.

Reviews

[Darcia Helle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Innocent is a story of crime and murder, as well as justice and a father’s love. Late one night, Sheriff Barrett is called to the scene of a brutal murder. The victim turns out to be the father of his daughter’s best friend. When Barrett begins to investigate, he never anticipates the depravity he will be uncovering.

Sheriff Barrett is a wonderful, three-dimensional character, with a dry wit and fierce loyalty to both his job and his family. As we follow him through an intricate web of mystery and suspense, we share his fear and outrage. The plot is gripping and the characters are thoroughly engaging.

With Innocent, Joe Prentis explores the things that are hidden beneath the surface; the horrors that exist beside us in our cities, towns, and neighborhoods. This story is a fictional journey but also an eye-opening reality.

[Nicolas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some minor issues with this that I found distracting: Broken or improperly placed quotation marks, you not your, omitted words, etc. It could use an edit to really polish it, and smooth out the pacing in the beginning. At first, I didn't get into it, because the beginning happened so quickly, and the manner in which the characterization and backstory is presented does not feel organic.

There's lots of gruesome details, and obviously a lot of research that went into it, and it was a fun read, aside from the issues in the first paragraph. Very, very dark crime fiction, and if that's your thing, you'll enjoy it. I enjoyed it a lot, once I got past the beginning, though there were a few events in the latter portion of it that didn't make sense to me, or that characters didn't seem to react to properly.

[J.A. Kalis · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Innocent’ is a relentlessly paced realistic crime fiction novel. You can tell it’s written by someone who is well acquainted with police procedures and knows what he is talking about. What begins as a single murder investigation soon turns into a far more complex and baffling case. There are no dull moments in the story. It keeps you turn the pages. The writing is crisp and easy to read. The dialogues are snappy and seem quite authentic. The characters are credible.
The only minor problem I had with the writing was that there were too many characters too quickly introduced. I found it difficult to remember all the names, especially that many of them were similar. I felt sometimes confused who was who.

‘Innocent’ is an interesting read and I would recommend it for anyone who likes an action-packed realistic crime fiction novel. I enjoyed reading this book.

[Svetlana Kovalkova-McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you really know what is happening next door? What your teenage children are hiding from you? Could the parent of your daughter's best friend be a heartless monster with a twisted imagination? What can happen when you pull a loose thread of a strange murder next door and the clothes of decency, humanity and civility start falling apart with a speed of light? We take a look at the people that are part of our everyday life and freeze in horror.
Dark, intelligent, well written as always, nail-biter, page-turner from the first page to the last.

[Sally Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Innocent by Joe Prentis This book is about a small town with big town problems. Every one has been a victim at one point in there lives what they chose to do with this is up to the person. I could relate to the people in this story it was very believable and even though it was a work of fiction you find yourself drawn into the story and are swept away by it. I give this a 5 out of 5 because it is believable and it kept you guessing right up till the end. It has a very important subject matter. This pre-reader copy of the book was provided for me
by the author.

[Chikamso Efobi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Innocent starts with Daniel Barratt, a Sheriff, being called out of bed to investigate the gruesome murder of his daughter’s best friend's step-father. He teams up with ex-FBI agent, Harry Hutton alongside other members of the police department to solve the murder. The investigation takes them on a journey filled with twists and turns as they encounter a number of shocking and unexpected activities taking place under the scene of what would have otherwise, been regarded as a nice neighbourhood. I found the story full of suspense and dry humour, both of which made it an interesting read.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

The beginning of the story is bit difficult to get through. It just didn't flow and felt like too much was being told to you at one time. It almost gives away the ending too. But the book picks up and becomes a very dark crime story. Leaving you questioning what the human nature can actually withstand.

[M.S. Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writer knows about solving crimes and I like the way he writes. I like his sentence structure. The main character has a realistic way of investigating the crime which is interesting.This is an entertaining crime fiction.