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Kathryn MacKay #1
Until Proven Guilty
In coastal Santa Rita, California, the horrifyingly similar murders of three women has the District Attorney's office reeling, and the rising political heat only adds to the juggling act of Assistant D.A. Kathryn Mackay -- a divorced mother determined to make her mark in a testosterone-driven field. But when she's tapped to lead the investigation, Mackay discovers that everyone has an the ratings-hungry TV newsman who knows more about the D.A.'s moves than any outsider should; the brilliant mind-hunter from the state capital, who's eager to apply his psychological profiling techniques; and the killer himself, who begins to send Mackay cryptic, taunting notes. "Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread man." And run she does -- after false leads and obscure clues, through a gauntlet of media and political pressure, into the dark tunnels of the killer's brain. As Mackay closes in, she must fight the suffocating fear that she's engaged in a deadly pas de deux with the killer, who's carefully stalking his fourth her.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 24, 2024
"You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man"
I am hoping to make this the reading year when I get to catch up with some of the many hundreds of physical books I have sat on my multiple bookshelves. Until Proven Guilty was written way back in 1993, so I needed to psyche myself up and get into the mindset of the time, both in relation to the style of narrative and dialogue used by the author, and taking into account the limited technological resources available to the authorities for crime detection. I actually enjoyed the book so much that I have since ransacked the shelves, just to make sure that I don't have any other books from the Kathryn MacKay series lurking in the shadows. After a fruitless search, I now feel a few more charity shop trawling missions coming on, to get my hands on any of the remaining seven episodes...
...
The discovery of the badly mutilated body of one young Hispanic female is bad enough, two is a genuine cause for concern, but by the time a third body is discovered, DA Kathryn MacKay and the law enforcement teams in this Californian suburb, know they have a serial killer on their patch. The modus operandi of this sick individual is nauseatingly consistent and methodical, but with few clues to work with, the job of the police is made even more difficult when the perpetrator begins to taunt them with cryptic notes.
To add insult to injury, one of the most obnoxious TV news reporters on the air, Richard Sanchez and his team, are constantly on the shoulders of the investigating officers, desperate for any crumbs of information with which they can stoke the angst of an already frightened community, whilst enhancing Richard's own ratings at the same time. The investigators initially try to appease their nemesis by actively getting him to share certain aspects of their investigation, in the hope that members of the public will recall some small snippet of information which might lead to an arrest. However, when it becomes obvious that Sanchez knows more details than the officers are feeding him, the only conclusion they can come to is that there is a snitch, either in the DA's office where Kathryn works, or in the police department itself. Whichever it is, Sanchez needs to be silenced or their man is going to keep using the notoriety he is being given, to his advantage, making an arrest more and more unlikely.
Single-mother Kathryn, is working closely with renowned profiler Steve Giordano, who is loaned to them on secondment from Sacramento and together they begin to narrow the search criteria, closing in on their man. The close working relationship they have formed inevitably spills over into their private lives and when Steve is recalled to his own office, he leaves Kathryn with a proposal which, if she accepts, is going to turn her life and that of her six-year-old daughter Emma, upside down. Whilst she is busy trying to juggle finding the psychopath they have on the loose, with taking care of Emma and deciding where her future lies, the last thing Kathryn needs is for Dave Granz, former boyfriend and police detective working on the case, to go rogue on both her and the team. Dave doesn't do things strictly by the book, so his lines of enquiry are rather random, as are the notes he keeps, making it almost impossible to know his exact whereabouts when he fails to report in. When Dave is eventually found, he is a man barely alive and who will be left with life-changing injuries, should he even survive.
Dave's unfortunate encounter with the psychopath an entire district is hunting down, does have a more positive side-effect though, when an anonymous caller identifies the perpetrator and is prepared to turn them in, although they are far too scared for their own safety to want to testify in court. Kathryn has to use all her powers of persuasion and a place on the witness protection scheme to get them to open up and with ninety-nine percent of the story in place, things finally seem to be heading in the right direction for a murder conviction. The team are once again thwarted by Sanchez and his insider information, when, in the face of such brutal media harassment, the star witness for the prosecution makes the ultimate sacrifice, leaving behind the final pieces of the jigsaw for Kathryn to fit together for herself.
With their perpetrator finally in detention awaiting trial and the 'mole' outed, Kathryn thinks she can breathe a sigh of relief and is looking forward to spending a few quality days with Emma, especially as she has also reached a decision about any future she and Steve might have had together. However, nothing is over until it's over, as they saying goes!...
...
Murder/mystery, police procedural, or courtroom drama - take your pick of genre definition and you surely wouldn't be disappointed by this book - I certainly wasn't!
This multi-layered, high-octane, fast-paced storyline, was dripping with atmosphere and tension from beginning to end, even during any short periods of respite for this team of detectives and their supporting colleagues. Well structured chapters were kept short and well-signposted, getting right to the heart of the story, making it a totally immersive experience throughout.
I knew the identity of the perpetrator right from the outset, so these murders were really only a mystery for the authorities to solve, hindered rather than helped, by the despicable media presence in the shape of Richard Sanchez and his TV crew. For me, the story was all in the gory detail of the detection techniques and the way in which team of investigators were pulled together and worked out their combined strategies for questioning potential witnesses and capturing the murderer.
Aside from the depraved actions and psychopathic behaviour of the perpetrator, which it would seem had been taken with a genuinely perceived sense of revenge and retribution for a wrong and humiliation he had undeniably suffered as a child at the hands of a family member, there were other social mores which were examined by the author in a calm, sensitive and empathetic manner, without unnecessary sensationalism. What we today recognise as gaslighting and coercive behaviour, in this instance combining both mental and physical abuse of the victim. Also the persistent and intrusive behaviour of the media to the point where one of the characters paid the ultimate price and the investigation almost collapsed.
My poor, well-handled hardback copy of this book, barely manged to hang together in one piece for me to finish reading, but there is no way I was going to ever going to think of giving up on this storyline, which was very reminiscent of the one or two books I have read from author Patricia Cornwell's, Dr Kay Scarpetta series. For a DA, Kathryn MacKay really likes to be as involved as possible in all aspects of a case, from the drama of the courtroom to the more gruesome moments in the morgue and autopsy suites, so she and Kay would have gotten along really well I think. At times I could sense that Kathryn struggled inwardly when the pressures of her work conflicted with the happy and stable homelife she wanted to nurture for her young daughter Emma, particularly as her ex-husband, Emma's father, was a little unreliable in his contact with his daughter. There was an instant attraction between Kathryn and profiler Steve, which they both felt, although it did take Emma a little more time to come around to the pair of them being a couple. However, Kathryn couldn't make the ultimate sacrifice of allowing Steve to be both emotionally and financially responsible for taking care of herself and Emma, or giving up on the career she had fought so long and hard for, so she had the strength and resilience of character to walk away from the relationship, before it was too late and too much harm had been done.
There was quite a cast of background characters who all played their parts to perfection and were concisely yet well enough defined by Christine to have personalities of their own and a definite place in the action. The principal characters were so true to life, addictive, genuine and believable, that the dynamic synergy between them was quite compelling, easy to identify with and become invested in. Even the personalities I loved to hate, such as the sick and depraved protagonist and the nauseating Richard Sanchez, couldn't be criticised for the detailed authenticity in the roles they played.
Whilst the location of the story was concentrated in and around a relatively small area of the State of California, the places mentioned were all real and well described, with enough detail that I could visualise my surroundings and virtually 'plot walk' the action as it happened - All good news for a confirmed armchair traveller like myself.
Author Christine McGuire, is definitely an accomplished weaver of words, which I guess comes as second nature to her, given the responsible and no doubt difficult 'day job' she has.
I am hoping to make this the reading year when I get to catch up with some of the many hundreds of physical books I have sat on my multiple bookshelves. Until Proven Guilty was written way back in 1993, so I needed to psyche myself up and get into the mindset of the time, both in relation to the style of narrative and dialogue used by the author, and taking into account the limited technological resources available to the authorities for crime detection. I actually enjoyed the book so much that I have since ransacked the shelves, just to make sure that I don't have any other books from the Kathryn MacKay series lurking in the shadows. After a fruitless search, I now feel a few more charity shop trawling missions coming on, to get my hands on any of the remaining seven episodes...
...
The discovery of the badly mutilated body of one young Hispanic female is bad enough, two is a genuine cause for concern, but by the time a third body is discovered, DA Kathryn MacKay and the law enforcement teams in this Californian suburb, know they have a serial killer on their patch. The modus operandi of this sick individual is nauseatingly consistent and methodical, but with few clues to work with, the job of the police is made even more difficult when the perpetrator begins to taunt them with cryptic notes.
To add insult to injury, one of the most obnoxious TV news reporters on the air, Richard Sanchez and his team, are constantly on the shoulders of the investigating officers, desperate for any crumbs of information with which they can stoke the angst of an already frightened community, whilst enhancing Richard's own ratings at the same time. The investigators initially try to appease their nemesis by actively getting him to share certain aspects of their investigation, in the hope that members of the public will recall some small snippet of information which might lead to an arrest. However, when it becomes obvious that Sanchez knows more details than the officers are feeding him, the only conclusion they can come to is that there is a snitch, either in the DA's office where Kathryn works, or in the police department itself. Whichever it is, Sanchez needs to be silenced or their man is going to keep using the notoriety he is being given, to his advantage, making an arrest more and more unlikely.
Single-mother Kathryn, is working closely with renowned profiler Steve Giordano, who is loaned to them on secondment from Sacramento and together they begin to narrow the search criteria, closing in on their man. The close working relationship they have formed inevitably spills over into their private lives and when Steve is recalled to his own office, he leaves Kathryn with a proposal which, if she accepts, is going to turn her life and that of her six-year-old daughter Emma, upside down. Whilst she is busy trying to juggle finding the psychopath they have on the loose, with taking care of Emma and deciding where her future lies, the last thing Kathryn needs is for Dave Granz, former boyfriend and police detective working on the case, to go rogue on both her and the team. Dave doesn't do things strictly by the book, so his lines of enquiry are rather random, as are the notes he keeps, making it almost impossible to know his exact whereabouts when he fails to report in. When Dave is eventually found, he is a man barely alive and who will be left with life-changing injuries, should he even survive.
Dave's unfortunate encounter with the psychopath an entire district is hunting down, does have a more positive side-effect though, when an anonymous caller identifies the perpetrator and is prepared to turn them in, although they are far too scared for their own safety to want to testify in court. Kathryn has to use all her powers of persuasion and a place on the witness protection scheme to get them to open up and with ninety-nine percent of the story in place, things finally seem to be heading in the right direction for a murder conviction. The team are once again thwarted by Sanchez and his insider information, when, in the face of such brutal media harassment, the star witness for the prosecution makes the ultimate sacrifice, leaving behind the final pieces of the jigsaw for Kathryn to fit together for herself.
With their perpetrator finally in detention awaiting trial and the 'mole' outed, Kathryn thinks she can breathe a sigh of relief and is looking forward to spending a few quality days with Emma, especially as she has also reached a decision about any future she and Steve might have had together. However, nothing is over until it's over, as they saying goes!...
...
Murder/mystery, police procedural, or courtroom drama - take your pick of genre definition and you surely wouldn't be disappointed by this book - I certainly wasn't!
This multi-layered, high-octane, fast-paced storyline, was dripping with atmosphere and tension from beginning to end, even during any short periods of respite for this team of detectives and their supporting colleagues. Well structured chapters were kept short and well-signposted, getting right to the heart of the story, making it a totally immersive experience throughout.
I knew the identity of the perpetrator right from the outset, so these murders were really only a mystery for the authorities to solve, hindered rather than helped, by the despicable media presence in the shape of Richard Sanchez and his TV crew. For me, the story was all in the gory detail of the detection techniques and the way in which team of investigators were pulled together and worked out their combined strategies for questioning potential witnesses and capturing the murderer.
Aside from the depraved actions and psychopathic behaviour of the perpetrator, which it would seem had been taken with a genuinely perceived sense of revenge and retribution for a wrong and humiliation he had undeniably suffered as a child at the hands of a family member, there were other social mores which were examined by the author in a calm, sensitive and empathetic manner, without unnecessary sensationalism. What we today recognise as gaslighting and coercive behaviour, in this instance combining both mental and physical abuse of the victim. Also the persistent and intrusive behaviour of the media to the point where one of the characters paid the ultimate price and the investigation almost collapsed.
My poor, well-handled hardback copy of this book, barely manged to hang together in one piece for me to finish reading, but there is no way I was going to ever going to think of giving up on this storyline, which was very reminiscent of the one or two books I have read from author Patricia Cornwell's, Dr Kay Scarpetta series. For a DA, Kathryn MacKay really likes to be as involved as possible in all aspects of a case, from the drama of the courtroom to the more gruesome moments in the morgue and autopsy suites, so she and Kay would have gotten along really well I think. At times I could sense that Kathryn struggled inwardly when the pressures of her work conflicted with the happy and stable homelife she wanted to nurture for her young daughter Emma, particularly as her ex-husband, Emma's father, was a little unreliable in his contact with his daughter. There was an instant attraction between Kathryn and profiler Steve, which they both felt, although it did take Emma a little more time to come around to the pair of them being a couple. However, Kathryn couldn't make the ultimate sacrifice of allowing Steve to be both emotionally and financially responsible for taking care of herself and Emma, or giving up on the career she had fought so long and hard for, so she had the strength and resilience of character to walk away from the relationship, before it was too late and too much harm had been done.
There was quite a cast of background characters who all played their parts to perfection and were concisely yet well enough defined by Christine to have personalities of their own and a definite place in the action. The principal characters were so true to life, addictive, genuine and believable, that the dynamic synergy between them was quite compelling, easy to identify with and become invested in. Even the personalities I loved to hate, such as the sick and depraved protagonist and the nauseating Richard Sanchez, couldn't be criticised for the detailed authenticity in the roles they played.
Whilst the location of the story was concentrated in and around a relatively small area of the State of California, the places mentioned were all real and well described, with enough detail that I could visualise my surroundings and virtually 'plot walk' the action as it happened - All good news for a confirmed armchair traveller like myself.
Author Christine McGuire, is definitely an accomplished weaver of words, which I guess comes as second nature to her, given the responsible and no doubt difficult 'day job' she has.
May 31, 2014
This is the first book in the Kathryn Mackay series. For a first book it was very well written. It was a little gory in places, but this was one sick serial killer. Not that all of them are sane. You knew who the killer was from about the first of the book, but that didn't detract from the path it led you down. Some interesting twists and turns.
I look forward to reading the next books in the series, because I would like to see Kathryn progress in her wisdom and prosecution of the bad guys.
I look forward to reading the next books in the series, because I would like to see Kathryn progress in her wisdom and prosecution of the bad guys.
October 26, 2023
Good legal thriller. Characters were well formed and the transitions between characters and story timeline were easy to follow. Memorable. I would read more from this author
April 15, 2023
Decent legal thriller investigating a serial killer
May 6, 2024
"Until Proven Guilty" by Christine McGuire offers a gripping narrative set in coastal Santa Rita, California, where the chilling murders of three women send shockwaves through the community and put Assistant D.A. Kathryn Mackay at the forefront of the investigation. McGuire skillfully weaves together a tale of suspense, political pressure, and psychological tension as Mackay races against time to catch a cunning serial killer.
The novel is a commendable blend of murder mystery, police procedural, and courtroom drama, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. McGuire's adept handling of multiple layers of the storyline creates a high-octane, fast-paced reading experience, with well-structured chapters that propel the narrative forward. The portrayal of investigative techniques and the collaboration among the detectives add depth to the plot, drawing readers into the intricate process of solving the case.
While the identity of the perpetrator may be apparent early on, the real mystery lies in the meticulous unraveling of the investigation, hindered by the intrusive presence of the media, notably the detestable Richard Sanchez. McGuire's exploration of social issues such as gaslighting and media sensationalism adds depth to the narrative, elevating it beyond a mere whodunit.
The characters, particularly protagonist Kathryn Mackay, are fleshed out with authenticity and depth, making them relatable and compelling. Mackay's inner struggles balancing her demanding career with her desire for a stable home life resonate with readers, adding emotional depth to the story.
Despite its strengths, "Until Proven Guilty" may not be suitable for readers sensitive to graphic content, as it delves into the disturbing actions of the perpetrator. However, McGuire's skillful storytelling and well-crafted plot make it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.
Overall, "Until Proven Guilty" delivers a satisfying read that combines suspense, drama, and social commentary, earning it a solid three-star rating. McGuire's mastery of storytelling shines through, making this book a worthy addition to any mystery lover's shelf.
The novel is a commendable blend of murder mystery, police procedural, and courtroom drama, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. McGuire's adept handling of multiple layers of the storyline creates a high-octane, fast-paced reading experience, with well-structured chapters that propel the narrative forward. The portrayal of investigative techniques and the collaboration among the detectives add depth to the plot, drawing readers into the intricate process of solving the case.
While the identity of the perpetrator may be apparent early on, the real mystery lies in the meticulous unraveling of the investigation, hindered by the intrusive presence of the media, notably the detestable Richard Sanchez. McGuire's exploration of social issues such as gaslighting and media sensationalism adds depth to the narrative, elevating it beyond a mere whodunit.
The characters, particularly protagonist Kathryn Mackay, are fleshed out with authenticity and depth, making them relatable and compelling. Mackay's inner struggles balancing her demanding career with her desire for a stable home life resonate with readers, adding emotional depth to the story.
Despite its strengths, "Until Proven Guilty" may not be suitable for readers sensitive to graphic content, as it delves into the disturbing actions of the perpetrator. However, McGuire's skillful storytelling and well-crafted plot make it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.
Overall, "Until Proven Guilty" delivers a satisfying read that combines suspense, drama, and social commentary, earning it a solid three-star rating. McGuire's mastery of storytelling shines through, making this book a worthy addition to any mystery lover's shelf.
September 16, 2018
great book...could not put it down
July 12, 2024
Very impressive . In my journey of reading, I thought I was watching a live movie _ the vivid description of the setting and the events that follows..♥️♥️👍
October 2, 2008
UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY - VG
McGuire, Christine - 1st in Kathryn MacKay series
Kathryn Mackay, a senior trial attorney in the Santa Rita DA's office, is named to head a task force set up to catch a serial killer whose victims are all Hispanic women. As the murders escalate the killer taunts the team with coded notes, and a TV reporter uses the case for his own ambitions.
A Bay Area ADA and a serial killer. It was a good read but not fabulous.
McGuire, Christine - 1st in Kathryn MacKay series
Kathryn Mackay, a senior trial attorney in the Santa Rita DA's office, is named to head a task force set up to catch a serial killer whose victims are all Hispanic women. As the murders escalate the killer taunts the team with coded notes, and a TV reporter uses the case for his own ambitions.
A Bay Area ADA and a serial killer. It was a good read but not fabulous.
November 6, 2012
a little bloody for my taste...
March 29, 2008
Good read
January 28, 2017
Didn't care for this read.
Read
October 10, 2015Very, very frightening!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews