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Without Consent
Tony Dante is on a winning streak. His perfect conviction rate has earned him a reputation as a talented young prosecutor on the rise in New York's crime-ridden Bronx County. But a dark secret he's hiding may destroy it all when Dante takes on a disturbing case with a link to his troubled past. To tackle the toughest case in his life he'll have to first conquer his greatest fears...
- GenresFiction
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2014
7 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 6, 2016
I listen to Clemente's podcast and was intrigued when he mentioned a book. Then I was surprised when it was a novel. Now I am simply disappointed. Clemente is a writer and producer for Criminal Minds, so I thought sure maybe there's a novel in there. Sadly, the writing is pretty awful. It's easy to see that his comfort zone is in tv scripts and factual reports. Even emotions are described factually, rather than felt. There are also a number of continuity errors, such as the woman about whom it is said that she only understands Vietnamese no wait that's Spanish no really it's Vietnamese but the lawyer describes himself to her son as an "abogado". It was at this point that I started wondering whether Without Consent was self-published. It pains me to say this but just avoid this one.
May 12, 2015
Jim Clemente delivers a visceral first novel so raw and corporeal that it reads like true crime rather than fiction.(SPOILERS) Tony Dante is smart and always a step ahead of the reader. Tony's story of abuse unfolds in tangent with the story of abuse that he is prosecuting. The stories intertwine the present and past as current events invoke flashbacks of Tony's own story. Tony's past makes an abrupt entry into the present when he stumbles upon his abuser unexpectedly. After 20 years Tony musters the courage to not only confront his abuser, but takes the necessary steps to prevent him from offending again. Tony faces this challenge both in the courtroom and out, and despite best efforts, the abusers are not held accountable for their actions. This outcome is decidedly inadequate but important. By not wrapping up all the loose ends in a bow of finality, Jim Clemente makes a very real statement about the condition of victims in the criminal justice system. Clemente builds this frustration into a slow burn that becomes the driving force of his character moving forward to the end of this story and sets up the forward projection for future novels. Though graphic, this novel doesn't embellish devilish details for the sake of embellishment. Instead, it serves as a check of the reader's morality and sensitivity in response to very real victimization. In short, it makes one think, surely the highest of ambitions of a debut novel. The afterword is an essential read as well if you truly want to understand the motivations of the author.
May 5, 2015
Jim Clemente's "Without Consent" is a book with teeth and claws that rips away the blinders from our eyes to show the dark side of the human heart while allowing us to maintain a belief in the resiliency of the human spirit. It is a story that takes an unflinching look at the depravity that some men sink to and the heights to which others ascend in order to right the wrongs in an unjust world. His protagonist, Tony Dante, is both a victim and victor, showing just enough vulnerability to keep us invested and more than enough strength to emerge as a character that could carry an entire series of books. Highly recommended.
May 12, 2015
Jim Clemente, Criminal Minds writer and former FBI profiler, shines a light into some dark places in Without Consent, the first book of his new Tony Dante series. He speaks with authority and integrity, a man on a mission, an important mission to ask us to look at predators, images we might wish to turn away from, but the lives of the most vulnerable among us depend on our attention and vigilance. Children, who are at risk, have no greater advocate than Clemente, and readers, who like authentic stories that vibrate with truth, will find no better writer.
July 2, 2024
As a long-time viewer of Criminal Minds, and a listener of Jim Clemente’s podcast, I was eager to read this book. Unfortunately, it fell far short of the mark. Between the copious editing errors and continuity mistakes, I found myself wanting to edit the book rather than finish reading it. The first glaring error came when a character was supposedly Vietnamese but a couple of paragraphs later, she was identified as Spanish, then Vietnamese again. The Dean of the law school was female until several chapters later, male. There are many long passages that feel lecture-like and do not read like a novel.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was the direct then cross examination of an expert witness who, when asked by the prosecution if he had any knowledge of the case states, “only in the most general sense. I have had one telephone conversation with you about the fact that this is a child sexual victimization case, and that you were looking for expert education testimony regarding [that subject].”
However 10 pages later during cross-examination of the same expert witness, the conversation reads as follows:
“Defense attorney: How many conversations did you have?
Expert: I’d say about six or eight
Attorney: And what were the length of these conversations?
Expert: I would estimate four hours total.”
Which is it? One telephone conversation or 6 or 8?
There was potential here, but it just missed the mark.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was the direct then cross examination of an expert witness who, when asked by the prosecution if he had any knowledge of the case states, “only in the most general sense. I have had one telephone conversation with you about the fact that this is a child sexual victimization case, and that you were looking for expert education testimony regarding [that subject].”
However 10 pages later during cross-examination of the same expert witness, the conversation reads as follows:
“Defense attorney: How many conversations did you have?
Expert: I’d say about six or eight
Attorney: And what were the length of these conversations?
Expert: I would estimate four hours total.”
Which is it? One telephone conversation or 6 or 8?
There was potential here, but it just missed the mark.
April 12, 2018
If this book was just a straight-up novel, I would not give it this many stars. It needs some very heavy editing. But it’s very closely based on Jim Clemente’s actual experiences as a victim of sexual abuse, so I think he’s a rock star for being brave enough to share his story and to bring attention to the sexual abuse that happens to kids of all walks of life every day. And I think it has a lot of potential. I enjoyed reading it, editing issues aside. I like the main character and I would be happy to read more books about him.
April 6, 2019
Eeks, whatta rough one. I’ve listened to his podcast and with him being involved with Criminal Minds as well being a retired FBI I had high hopes. Beginning was alright and then it just got too comfortable and I started noticing his TV background coming through. Big bit of a let down.
September 3, 2024
Interesting read if you’re a fan of Clemente
November 21, 2016
Have you heard of Jim Clemente? He's one of the writers of Criminal Minds. Jim's experience as a Behaviour Analyst is at the core of the series. I don't watch much TV, but this is a show I have enjoyed. Now that I don't have cable, I hope the entire series will be available on Netflix at some point.
Jim Clemente is also one of the stars in the Real Crime Profile podcast. Jim, Laura Richards and Lisa Zambetti discuss real crimes that have occurred but look at them from the victim's perspective. They've looked at the "Making a Murder" series, the OJ Simpson series, the Amanda Knox documentary, and the attempted murder of Zoe Bronfield. They've also looked into the Oscar Pistorius murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
What all these cases have in common is an abusive relationship that turns into a murder.
As part of the podcast, the team often recommend books, movies or TV shows that they recommend. I've watched many of the Netflix shows that they've recommended and two books so far. One of the books was this one that was written by Jim himself.
As I was reading it, I was wondering how much of the story was biographical. Much of it seems to match the known facts about Jim's career as a prosecutor and then FBI agent. At the end of the book, we find out that this story is essentially an autobiography with names changed. Jim was in fact sexually assaulted as a teenager and instead of becoming an abuser himself, his entire career has been dedicated to stopping perpetrators of abuse.
The only thing I didn't like about the book is that it wasn't edited as well as it should have been.
Jim Clemente is also one of the stars in the Real Crime Profile podcast. Jim, Laura Richards and Lisa Zambetti discuss real crimes that have occurred but look at them from the victim's perspective. They've looked at the "Making a Murder" series, the OJ Simpson series, the Amanda Knox documentary, and the attempted murder of Zoe Bronfield. They've also looked into the Oscar Pistorius murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
What all these cases have in common is an abusive relationship that turns into a murder.
As part of the podcast, the team often recommend books, movies or TV shows that they recommend. I've watched many of the Netflix shows that they've recommended and two books so far. One of the books was this one that was written by Jim himself.
As I was reading it, I was wondering how much of the story was biographical. Much of it seems to match the known facts about Jim's career as a prosecutor and then FBI agent. At the end of the book, we find out that this story is essentially an autobiography with names changed. Jim was in fact sexually assaulted as a teenager and instead of becoming an abuser himself, his entire career has been dedicated to stopping perpetrators of abuse.
The only thing I didn't like about the book is that it wasn't edited as well as it should have been.
February 4, 2017
This book was hard to read. The subject matter is obviously difficult to stomach and can be very graphic at times. Jim is clearly an expert in child abuse cases, having spent years in the FBI as a profiler. However the cases are dealt with in a matter of fact way and there isn't much emotion. Given that the work is semi-autobiographical, I would have expected the emotions to feel more real but it is quite detached.
My main issue with this book, however, is that it is literally difficult to read - the editing is awful and really lets the whole book down. It is littered with spelling and grammatical errors. Each chapter heading tells you what time it is, but not what day, which can be confusing as the timeline jumps around.
I am a big fan of Jim and especially the Real Crime Profile podcast but I'm not sure I would read another Tony Dante novel.
My main issue with this book, however, is that it is literally difficult to read - the editing is awful and really lets the whole book down. It is littered with spelling and grammatical errors. Each chapter heading tells you what time it is, but not what day, which can be confusing as the timeline jumps around.
I am a big fan of Jim and especially the Real Crime Profile podcast but I'm not sure I would read another Tony Dante novel.
May 21, 2016
After hearing Jim speak at a child abuse conference in Portland Oregon I knew I wanted to know more. The book is fiction, but heavily based on his own experience as a victim of child sex abuse. I work in Child Protective Services and investigate familial and caregiver sex abuse allegations, the book included valuable information via expert testimony in his case which helped to further educate me and improve my job performance as it is a difficult field to understand. If anyone ever has the opportunity to hear Jim speak take advantage of the opportunity. As a novel I appreciated a chance to follow Tony/Jim's abuser be convicted...and the fictional aspect of the case he was trying throughout the book, child victims are put through so much...it is devastating. Remember the book is about sex abuse...not rainbows and kittens...be prepared for the read. Recommended for those that can tolerate the subject matter. Great job, Jim!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2016
Tough topic- child sexual victimization. But the author has written this book with openness and brutal honesty, and an excellent protagonist. The story is based on true events which make it that much more compelling. There are a few "time-jumps" which confused me a bit (is it the 80s or is it the 2000s?) but I think this was an editing oversight. I am hoping they are corrected in later versions but are minor in the context of the story. I hope more books in this series will be forthcoming soon!
November 24, 2016
Huge fan of Jim Clemente's podcast, respect his experience in the FBI, and I am a fan of Criminal Minds. I understand the need to tell this story, so I don't regret reading it. I just had a difficult time getting past the editing.
ETA: I believe that if Jim C. Had read this and I listened to it, I would have had a way better experience with this book.
ETA: I believe that if Jim C. Had read this and I listened to it, I would have had a way better experience with this book.
October 24, 2016
The story was good, but I wanted more connection and depth to the characters.
January 2, 2017
Stick to catching the bad guys, Jim!
This was poorly written and obviously never proof-read nor edited. Ouch!
This was poorly written and obviously never proof-read nor edited. Ouch!
May 19, 2015
A courageous book about a survivor of molestation written by a survivor.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews