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Guilty
Coach Terrence Jackson is the man who has divided the town of Marston. There are those who believe in the coach and his innocence and then there are the victims who despise him, his smile and his crime. He has a dark past- a previous life no one knew about until the not guilty verdict. Only one victim, Rose Canter, has the courage to ask for justice. The others quietly watch as her justice slips away with the verdict. He’s getting away with rape.
He goes back to his life wearing his signature smile and Rose is left picking up the pieces of hers. She doesn't know she is not the only victim who has lost the fight to the coach.
Coach Jackson's signature smile is an integral accessory of his wardrobe. In fact, he doesn't leave home without it. He has one son-Jonas, a dead wife, and a young, blonde bombshell by his side. He has money and status which he earned on the football field. Now he's giving back to the community by helping high school students afford a college education. One thing he does not have is the contentment of his victims. They want revenge and the setup for his demise begins. A trial takes place at midnight with a jury made up of six victims and one empty chair. The defendant is Coach Terrence Jackson.
There’s more than one way to catch a criminal.
He goes back to his life wearing his signature smile and Rose is left picking up the pieces of hers. She doesn't know she is not the only victim who has lost the fight to the coach.
Coach Jackson's signature smile is an integral accessory of his wardrobe. In fact, he doesn't leave home without it. He has one son-Jonas, a dead wife, and a young, blonde bombshell by his side. He has money and status which he earned on the football field. Now he's giving back to the community by helping high school students afford a college education. One thing he does not have is the contentment of his victims. They want revenge and the setup for his demise begins. A trial takes place at midnight with a jury made up of six victims and one empty chair. The defendant is Coach Terrence Jackson.
There’s more than one way to catch a criminal.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 5, 2017
164 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
February 23, 2018
I bought this book by accident, but then what do they say? There are no accidents.
I started reading and couldn't put it down. The subject of rape by a teacher/coach would be a hard subject to write about, but the author did it exceedingly well. The opening chapter grabbed you as the setting was a courtroom, and Coach Terrence Jackson was found not guilty of raping Rose, a high school student, and also the girlfriend of his son.
From there we start getting the back story. The plot thickens and the author leads us down a rather twisted rabbit hole.
One of the underlying themes is the safety of our children in school, which goes well with what is happening in our schools right now.
I started reading and couldn't put it down. The subject of rape by a teacher/coach would be a hard subject to write about, but the author did it exceedingly well. The opening chapter grabbed you as the setting was a courtroom, and Coach Terrence Jackson was found not guilty of raping Rose, a high school student, and also the girlfriend of his son.
From there we start getting the back story. The plot thickens and the author leads us down a rather twisted rabbit hole.
One of the underlying themes is the safety of our children in school, which goes well with what is happening in our schools right now.
April 15, 2018
This book was very exciting to read. Rose was a great character in this book. I loved all the twists and turns. This book is about a very horrible topic, rape. But it kept me on the edge of my seat. I felt for Rose in this book and wanted to help catch the person responsible. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*
October 2, 2021
Great Read
Sad subject but well written and intriguing. Absolutely loved the ending. Could use some editorial screening. Quite a few grammatical errors.
Sad subject but well written and intriguing. Absolutely loved the ending. Could use some editorial screening. Quite a few grammatical errors.
October 8, 2017
For the first half of this book I nearly forgot to breathe, and sulked like a teenager when I was forced to stop reading to go and deal with some real life! The first 50% in particular is visceral in dealing in a very real way with the emotional aftermath of the rape of a school girl by the school coach and the subsequent rape trial – both the effects on the victim and on the whole extended family. The emphasis of the second half lies more in the realms of fantasy following the actions of all the people working towards come-uppance. You turn the pages faster and faster, desperate to see what will happen next. Worth reading in one sitting to keep the flow. (Unfortunately I got interrupted!). The only thing that I felt slightly let the plot down, was the attempt to give some sort of psychological explanation for the Coach’s behaviour which was a bit heavy handed and didn’t sit right. It was the women’s story and we didn’t need to know why he supposedly did it. What we were offered on that score was unconvincing. The rest of it was great though.
This next comment has nothing to do with the book – it’s just a side-line rant. One thing that was let slip in this book was a reference to the American schooling system that apparently can get scholarships for girls to go on to college if they’re good on the cheer-leading team. I’ve never heard of anything so revolting! Come on girls, get your tits and legs out to cheer on the boys, and you’ll get rewarded for joining the Barbie doll culture by getting a free pass to college. Someone is bound to come on and try to argue that Cheerleading is strenuous skilled gymnastics. But hey, I bet fat girls and ugly ones need not apply. It’s a beauty contest for a college place.
This next comment has nothing to do with the book – it’s just a side-line rant. One thing that was let slip in this book was a reference to the American schooling system that apparently can get scholarships for girls to go on to college if they’re good on the cheer-leading team. I’ve never heard of anything so revolting! Come on girls, get your tits and legs out to cheer on the boys, and you’ll get rewarded for joining the Barbie doll culture by getting a free pass to college. Someone is bound to come on and try to argue that Cheerleading is strenuous skilled gymnastics. But hey, I bet fat girls and ugly ones need not apply. It’s a beauty contest for a college place.
May 3, 2018
The preface before the actual story, “My Morning Run” really hooked me in as I waited to see if it was part of the story or simply the author’s experience. Either way, I continued reading and found that Guilty was a fast paced, enjoyable thriller. It starts off in the middle of a trial in which a popular coach is charged of rape by his son’s girlfriend, Rose. The judge rules he is not guilty but he is and unfortunately, Rose is not his first victim.
I really sympathized with and enjoyed Rose’s character. For everything that she went through, she stayed strong and held her head high. I thought she really carried the story by enduring everything that was thrown at her the way that she did. All in all, Guilty was definitely a roller-coaster ride of emotional horror, heartbreak, and suspense.
I really sympathized with and enjoyed Rose’s character. For everything that she went through, she stayed strong and held her head high. I thought she really carried the story by enduring everything that was thrown at her the way that she did. All in all, Guilty was definitely a roller-coaster ride of emotional horror, heartbreak, and suspense.
February 28, 2018
An excellent novel: The #MeToo movement come to life!
I got caught up in this story early on and enjoyed all the twists and turns of the plot right to the end. Ms. Moon has a unique voice and style that is all her own—a vigorous staccato prose that is well suited to the mystery/thriller genre. Although written before the #MeToo movement, this novel dramatically and forcefully illustrates this issue in a meaningful way. Readers will find that this novel has a clever plot unlike anything they have likely encountered before. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. I’m sure I will read the other books in the series!
I got caught up in this story early on and enjoyed all the twists and turns of the plot right to the end. Ms. Moon has a unique voice and style that is all her own—a vigorous staccato prose that is well suited to the mystery/thriller genre. Although written before the #MeToo movement, this novel dramatically and forcefully illustrates this issue in a meaningful way. Readers will find that this novel has a clever plot unlike anything they have likely encountered before. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. I’m sure I will read the other books in the series!
November 27, 2017
The story begins in court with Rose, a young girl who has been raped by Coach Jackson. The author has captured the feelings of the traumatised girl at the moment when the not guilty verdict is given, which draws the reader into the story. From Rose's family and friends to the police officers in charge of the case, each character is well-written and, as the story develops, you can feel their pain, hurt and frustration.
This is a well-thought out thriller with a number of twists that leave you wondering how the coach will get his comeuppance, until the end when everything becomes clear. I look forward to reading more books in the Marston Series.
This is a well-thought out thriller with a number of twists that leave you wondering how the coach will get his comeuppance, until the end when everything becomes clear. I look forward to reading more books in the Marston Series.
August 23, 2018
(After a jog?) the story opens with a popular and very successful High School coach being acquitted of the rape of a teenage cheerleader. The book then moves between the police officers who were convinced he was guilty, his defence lawyer and wife, the teenager and her family and friends and previous rape victims. I really liked the way the story was structured and suspense was built well by the cutting away to re-join another character.
With so much going on and the quick changes, the story lacked depth and ended up being too simplistic for my taste. For example, there were hints of small-town friction between those who supported or were against the coach but it wasn't explored further. It also meant too many questions were left unanswered. How had the coach survived when he was clearly psychotic and overreacted to any challenge? Why wasn't Jonas completely freaked out? Why did the first victim go about things the way she did? Who was the guy by the dumpster? All along I thought it was the coach. With so many aspects unexplained I found the story and characters hard to believe in and relate to.
Because I liked the style of writing I would try another book by this author and I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a fast-paced, intriguing story that skims along the surface.
With so much going on and the quick changes, the story lacked depth and ended up being too simplistic for my taste. For example, there were hints of small-town friction between those who supported or were against the coach but it wasn't explored further. It also meant too many questions were left unanswered. How had the coach survived when he was clearly psychotic and overreacted to any challenge? Why wasn't Jonas completely freaked out? Why did the first victim go about things the way she did? Who was the guy by the dumpster? All along I thought it was the coach. With so many aspects unexplained I found the story and characters hard to believe in and relate to.
Because I liked the style of writing I would try another book by this author and I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a fast-paced, intriguing story that skims along the surface.
November 17, 2017
This story is good, but I was distracted by multiple grammar and punctuation errors, which made the read less fluent, and greatly influenced my rating. However, the storytelling is superb. Another edit by the author would make a good story, an awesome read.
May 6, 2017
This is a dark thriller and it panned out like a late-night movie in my mind – the type that makes me hide my head in a cushion in the scary parts – but peek out from behind because I want to know what happens next.
An aspect of Brigitta Moon’s writing that I really admire is her ability to have so many threads and characters in her story and be in full control throughout the whole thing. The plot is complicated and the central theme of the rape of innocent young women is harrowing.
It is also “the story of a young boy whose father left as soon as he was born, because he was a little brown”…and an incompetent, promiscuous mother who drank. But we are never allowed to feel sorry for this young boy who develops into the villain of the piece: a cruel, vile, bullying, sadistic school coach – Terrence Jackson. Everybody has choices in life but he chose the wrong path.
There is a cast list of credible characters who all serve to oil the mechanics of this complex story: the investigating team of detectives Copeland and Romero (with his toothpick often in his mouth – nice touch) – and the young rookie, Billy; the various victims in different guises – either seeking revenge or coping with the awful trauma of rape; the young hero, Jonas – son of Terrence – (another interesting twist) and innocent, young heroine, Rose and her caring, “normal” family; Jeffrey Brodski – reluctant defense counsel, just to name a few. Then there is a scattering of cameo characters and they serve as light relief to what are sinister and shocking crimes. I particularly enjoyed Becky and her donuts. There are interesting glimpses of lesser characters – Devyn – the nurse who consoles Rose in hospital and gives a moving account of her own lost baby. Officer Thorn is another – who “wore a serious expression as if it was stitched in place.” All these descriptions place the story in the real world, which makes the theme even darker – that such wickedness can and does really happen.
On the whole I liked the author’s descriptions and original similes, but sometimes they were a little contrived. For example, when Rose starts to feel better after her ordeal: “She was feeling renewed. It was akin to cotton baby diapers drenched in fabric softener waving from a clothesline in the breeze.” She is a teenager and I can’t imagine a young girl thinking along those lines. A lawnmower “idled at the curb like a rowdy, uninvited neighbour.” I didn’t get that one either but, generally, the descriptions were good, especially when introducing new characters, such as the garage owner. I could really picture him. And Abigail (another victim) describes herself being slung on Terrence’s shoulders “like a bag of dirty laundry in a bedroom”. That really got to me – showing the contempt Terrence had for his victims.
I applaud Moon’s talent for structure – what skill she has to keep the momentum spinning. The chapters are short and breathy, nothing is irrelevant and most end on a cliff-hanger, with a move to a different scene in the subsequent chapter, so that we are always anxious to know what will happen next. She is a skilful, organised writer. I was pleased that at the end of this rollercoaster, there was a positive conclusion, to make my “heart…light”.
An aspect of Brigitta Moon’s writing that I really admire is her ability to have so many threads and characters in her story and be in full control throughout the whole thing. The plot is complicated and the central theme of the rape of innocent young women is harrowing.
It is also “the story of a young boy whose father left as soon as he was born, because he was a little brown”…and an incompetent, promiscuous mother who drank. But we are never allowed to feel sorry for this young boy who develops into the villain of the piece: a cruel, vile, bullying, sadistic school coach – Terrence Jackson. Everybody has choices in life but he chose the wrong path.
There is a cast list of credible characters who all serve to oil the mechanics of this complex story: the investigating team of detectives Copeland and Romero (with his toothpick often in his mouth – nice touch) – and the young rookie, Billy; the various victims in different guises – either seeking revenge or coping with the awful trauma of rape; the young hero, Jonas – son of Terrence – (another interesting twist) and innocent, young heroine, Rose and her caring, “normal” family; Jeffrey Brodski – reluctant defense counsel, just to name a few. Then there is a scattering of cameo characters and they serve as light relief to what are sinister and shocking crimes. I particularly enjoyed Becky and her donuts. There are interesting glimpses of lesser characters – Devyn – the nurse who consoles Rose in hospital and gives a moving account of her own lost baby. Officer Thorn is another – who “wore a serious expression as if it was stitched in place.” All these descriptions place the story in the real world, which makes the theme even darker – that such wickedness can and does really happen.
On the whole I liked the author’s descriptions and original similes, but sometimes they were a little contrived. For example, when Rose starts to feel better after her ordeal: “She was feeling renewed. It was akin to cotton baby diapers drenched in fabric softener waving from a clothesline in the breeze.” She is a teenager and I can’t imagine a young girl thinking along those lines. A lawnmower “idled at the curb like a rowdy, uninvited neighbour.” I didn’t get that one either but, generally, the descriptions were good, especially when introducing new characters, such as the garage owner. I could really picture him. And Abigail (another victim) describes herself being slung on Terrence’s shoulders “like a bag of dirty laundry in a bedroom”. That really got to me – showing the contempt Terrence had for his victims.
I applaud Moon’s talent for structure – what skill she has to keep the momentum spinning. The chapters are short and breathy, nothing is irrelevant and most end on a cliff-hanger, with a move to a different scene in the subsequent chapter, so that we are always anxious to know what will happen next. She is a skilful, organised writer. I was pleased that at the end of this rollercoaster, there was a positive conclusion, to make my “heart…light”.
April 24, 2023
I. Loved. This!
It’s funny, when I initially stumbled upon the book and it appeared as a blinding, mildly confusing purple icon on my iPad, I thought to myself “Don’t judge a book by its cover, huh? Pun intended [internal chuckle].”
I’m glad I went that route.
Nearly every aspect of the book was just wonderful, was it an extraordinary plot or something particularly novel? Honestly, I don’t believe so, but the writing is just so pleasant to read you don’t even need anything crazy to happen. Although, upon rethinking, perhaps the story WAS actually quite revolutionary, but the blurb gave too much away and thus, the main event was anticipated.
Regardless, it was still a book that kept me on the edge of my seat long enough for my glutes to ache.
There is a fine line between a good amount of description, and a passage like ‘His delicate curly hair, stunningly hued a gold-brown that resembled the skin of a high-quality baking russet potato, hung in airy wisps over his forehead as he clasped his gifted porcelain coffee mug between both his calloused hands, his legs, bent at the knees, formed a perfect 32.6 degree angle under the oakwood chair he was folded over..’ or, in simpler terms, overkill 🙂. The author hit the nail on the head finding that perfect balance between the two. There was detail, a lot of it, yet done so magnificently well without ever feeling like there was too much, that it felt less like reading and more like watching a movie- that’s how you know it’s a damn good book. In fact, for a relatively short book, much of it was just detail: setting scenes, expressive effects, etc, but given the topic, it was just so fitting.
I really enjoyed the third person perspective, the switching between scenes and the moments where jittery suspense hung in each of them, and you weren’t sure which one you were more invested in. You finish one chapter thinking ‘wait no! What happened??’ and are immediately pacified by the next chapter, which flips back to another scene you were equally eager to complete just a few minutes earlier.
I loved nearly all of the characters (ignoring the coach), the few that I didn’t served the purpose they were intended for- the cliché high school clique of girls, the boisterous existence of sports enthusiasts, the slightly feisty representation of a feminist detective. The rest of the characters were so warm, and just tugged at my black old heart strings.
I do think a few scenes were a little cheesy, especially in regard to the ‘victim juried trial’, but I shall happily excuse it because the rest of the book was just so dang enjoyable to read. For such a dark and generally unpleasant leitmotif the book overall managed to keep me feeling simultaneously fiery and... oddly placid? Being a veteran insomniac (serving since my toddler years), I have truly no clue how a book like this benefited me better than any OTC or even prescription reliefs for my sheer inability to sleep... It was not boring, or a relaxing book in any sense of the word, yet somehow brought me great somnolent serenity- perhaps good writing just relaxes me 🤓.
Mwah. Chef’s kiss. 😙👌
It’s funny, when I initially stumbled upon the book and it appeared as a blinding, mildly confusing purple icon on my iPad, I thought to myself “Don’t judge a book by its cover, huh? Pun intended [internal chuckle].”
I’m glad I went that route.
Nearly every aspect of the book was just wonderful, was it an extraordinary plot or something particularly novel? Honestly, I don’t believe so, but the writing is just so pleasant to read you don’t even need anything crazy to happen. Although, upon rethinking, perhaps the story WAS actually quite revolutionary, but the blurb gave too much away and thus, the main event was anticipated.
Regardless, it was still a book that kept me on the edge of my seat long enough for my glutes to ache.
There is a fine line between a good amount of description, and a passage like ‘His delicate curly hair, stunningly hued a gold-brown that resembled the skin of a high-quality baking russet potato, hung in airy wisps over his forehead as he clasped his gifted porcelain coffee mug between both his calloused hands, his legs, bent at the knees, formed a perfect 32.6 degree angle under the oakwood chair he was folded over..’ or, in simpler terms, overkill 🙂. The author hit the nail on the head finding that perfect balance between the two. There was detail, a lot of it, yet done so magnificently well without ever feeling like there was too much, that it felt less like reading and more like watching a movie- that’s how you know it’s a damn good book. In fact, for a relatively short book, much of it was just detail: setting scenes, expressive effects, etc, but given the topic, it was just so fitting.
I really enjoyed the third person perspective, the switching between scenes and the moments where jittery suspense hung in each of them, and you weren’t sure which one you were more invested in. You finish one chapter thinking ‘wait no! What happened??’ and are immediately pacified by the next chapter, which flips back to another scene you were equally eager to complete just a few minutes earlier.
I loved nearly all of the characters (ignoring the coach), the few that I didn’t served the purpose they were intended for- the cliché high school clique of girls, the boisterous existence of sports enthusiasts, the slightly feisty representation of a feminist detective. The rest of the characters were so warm, and just tugged at my black old heart strings.
I do think a few scenes were a little cheesy, especially in regard to the ‘victim juried trial’, but I shall happily excuse it because the rest of the book was just so dang enjoyable to read. For such a dark and generally unpleasant leitmotif the book overall managed to keep me feeling simultaneously fiery and... oddly placid? Being a veteran insomniac (serving since my toddler years), I have truly no clue how a book like this benefited me better than any OTC or even prescription reliefs for my sheer inability to sleep... It was not boring, or a relaxing book in any sense of the word, yet somehow brought me great somnolent serenity- perhaps good writing just relaxes me 🤓.
Mwah. Chef’s kiss. 😙👌
April 13, 2018
The introduction to this book, including the part titled “My Morning Run” grabs the reader immediately. I’m still not sure if this really happened to the author. When I first read the “My Morning Run” part, I assumed it was the start of the novel, but what happened in it was never mentioned again. If the author really saw this on a morning run, my sympathies go out to her.
The basic story of the book is that a popular high school coach has been charged with rape by his son Jonas’s girlfriend, Rose. At the start of the book, he’s found not guilty—even though he is, of course. Not surprisingly, she’s not his first victim, and others have banded together, determined to see him brought to justice. That, and Rose’s struggle to come to grips with what happened, as well as what Jonas is going through, is a good story.
In my opinion, however, it reads more like a first draft than a final version. A copyedit could catch punctuation, grammar, and typos—things like words being singular when they should be plural and vice-versa. But there are also things that just don’t make sense, especially how the police handle the situation toward the end. I don’t want to be specific and give spoilers, but I will say that it wouldn’t as difficult to nail the guy—considering the evidence they had—as the author makes it sound.
I also had a problem with too much unnecessary description of stuff that only needed limited description, if any. Of course, that may just be a personal preference of mine, and other readers might like it. Some of the characters also seemed to be stereotypes. For example, a seventy-year-old minor character was referred to as Pops and comments made about how surprising it was he had a good memory. (This made me think the author might be young.) And there’s the male cop who constantly chews on a toothpick and refers to at least one other character as a “little lady.” I did like the character of Becky, who worked in the detectives section, especially the way she referred to herself in the third person. She seemed real, as did Rose and Jonas.
As I said, the basic story is good, but I’m giving it three stars because I think it needs some work.
The basic story of the book is that a popular high school coach has been charged with rape by his son Jonas’s girlfriend, Rose. At the start of the book, he’s found not guilty—even though he is, of course. Not surprisingly, she’s not his first victim, and others have banded together, determined to see him brought to justice. That, and Rose’s struggle to come to grips with what happened, as well as what Jonas is going through, is a good story.
In my opinion, however, it reads more like a first draft than a final version. A copyedit could catch punctuation, grammar, and typos—things like words being singular when they should be plural and vice-versa. But there are also things that just don’t make sense, especially how the police handle the situation toward the end. I don’t want to be specific and give spoilers, but I will say that it wouldn’t as difficult to nail the guy—considering the evidence they had—as the author makes it sound.
I also had a problem with too much unnecessary description of stuff that only needed limited description, if any. Of course, that may just be a personal preference of mine, and other readers might like it. Some of the characters also seemed to be stereotypes. For example, a seventy-year-old minor character was referred to as Pops and comments made about how surprising it was he had a good memory. (This made me think the author might be young.) And there’s the male cop who constantly chews on a toothpick and refers to at least one other character as a “little lady.” I did like the character of Becky, who worked in the detectives section, especially the way she referred to herself in the third person. She seemed real, as did Rose and Jonas.
As I said, the basic story is good, but I’m giving it three stars because I think it needs some work.
November 28, 2019
Wow, this book is a true page-turner, one that I could not put down! And how could you, it moves so fast, you don’t want to miss what comes next! It had my heart racing at times and feeling sad for several of the characters at other times. None of what happened in this story was anything I could have predicted.
A truly unique mystery based on a retired football-player-turned-high-school-coach, who is beloved by the community. His winning smile, his flashy car, and his seemingly-altruistic selflessness in helping his students makes it difficult for the community to accept that he’s a villain. Instead, they vilify the victim, Rose, the high school student he raped – something we all know happens far too often in real life. The reader is never left wondering who the true victim is, but there is a mystery in this story. I’ll leave that up to the reader to discover for themselves.
I loved the character Ros - her strength to go on when the coach is found non-guilty, her determination, and will. But what moved me even more was the relationship between Rose and Faith, her sister. Faith supporting Rose every step of the way. Sister power! And there are other strong characters as well who I felt were also brave, but I don’t want to give away the plot, so I’ll leave it there.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers, rooting for victims fighting for their lives against that powerful and corrupt, and truly evil in the community, then what are you waiting for? Grab this book now and take a truly exciting ride!
5 Thrilling Stars for Brigitta Moon’s, “Guilty!”
A truly unique mystery based on a retired football-player-turned-high-school-coach, who is beloved by the community. His winning smile, his flashy car, and his seemingly-altruistic selflessness in helping his students makes it difficult for the community to accept that he’s a villain. Instead, they vilify the victim, Rose, the high school student he raped – something we all know happens far too often in real life. The reader is never left wondering who the true victim is, but there is a mystery in this story. I’ll leave that up to the reader to discover for themselves.
I loved the character Ros - her strength to go on when the coach is found non-guilty, her determination, and will. But what moved me even more was the relationship between Rose and Faith, her sister. Faith supporting Rose every step of the way. Sister power! And there are other strong characters as well who I felt were also brave, but I don’t want to give away the plot, so I’ll leave it there.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers, rooting for victims fighting for their lives against that powerful and corrupt, and truly evil in the community, then what are you waiting for? Grab this book now and take a truly exciting ride!
5 Thrilling Stars for Brigitta Moon’s, “Guilty!”
July 23, 2017
Guilty is a work of fiction that reads like a newspaper headline or that breaking news story. It’s a story not only about abuse and different forms of abuse. Guilty gives the reader a look at domestic abuse, mental abuse, and physical abuse. Guilty is also a story of survival, faith, and standing up to right wrongs, a story about people coming together to protect, love, and nourish one another in harsh climates and hard times.
The story had a very real feel to it, you feel like going along and playing amateur detective along with the cops in the story. You know; trying to figure out the clues as the scenes unfolded. That’s how real the story felt when reading; you thought that you were watching a television show. The characters were well developed from the victims to the criminals. The author did make you wonder up until the end if justice would be served and if it was what would be the cost to the victims and their families.
Guilty made you feel for Rose, Lindsey, and Jonas. You cheered them on when they took a step forward. You cringed when they got pushed back three spaces. You felt for the characters in this story! Some parts of the story you didn’t want to read, but you knew that you had too; you, of course, had to know!
Guilty is a worthy read, very realistic, good pace, and an attention getter and holder. The club gives it 4-stars and looks forward to more from this author.
The story had a very real feel to it, you feel like going along and playing amateur detective along with the cops in the story. You know; trying to figure out the clues as the scenes unfolded. That’s how real the story felt when reading; you thought that you were watching a television show. The characters were well developed from the victims to the criminals. The author did make you wonder up until the end if justice would be served and if it was what would be the cost to the victims and their families.
Guilty made you feel for Rose, Lindsey, and Jonas. You cheered them on when they took a step forward. You cringed when they got pushed back three spaces. You felt for the characters in this story! Some parts of the story you didn’t want to read, but you knew that you had too; you, of course, had to know!
Guilty is a worthy read, very realistic, good pace, and an attention getter and holder. The club gives it 4-stars and looks forward to more from this author.
February 18, 2019
If you are looking for a fast paced intriguing story with lots of plot twists and turns this book is for you.
I was hooked from the beginning. It was difficult to put the book down once I started reading.
I loved following Rose’s story. Rose is a teenage cheerleader who was raped by a popular High School Coach. The perpetrator is found not guilty at the beginning of the story.
Now Rose has to deal not only with the trauma of being raped but also with facing her attacker at school. Rose is not the first victim.
The story moves fast among Rose, her family, the detectives, Coach, his family, and everyone involved. It was interesting following all the characters and the different points of view added more depth to the whole story.
The chapters end with a cliffhanger, which makes you want to keep reading and find out what is going to happen next.
Brigitta Moon knitted a gripping story of how determination and strength can lead to surprising results. Can’t wait to read book number 2.
I was hooked from the beginning. It was difficult to put the book down once I started reading.
I loved following Rose’s story. Rose is a teenage cheerleader who was raped by a popular High School Coach. The perpetrator is found not guilty at the beginning of the story.
Now Rose has to deal not only with the trauma of being raped but also with facing her attacker at school. Rose is not the first victim.
The story moves fast among Rose, her family, the detectives, Coach, his family, and everyone involved. It was interesting following all the characters and the different points of view added more depth to the whole story.
The chapters end with a cliffhanger, which makes you want to keep reading and find out what is going to happen next.
Brigitta Moon knitted a gripping story of how determination and strength can lead to surprising results. Can’t wait to read book number 2.
February 3, 2022
Guilty is the first book I've read by Brigitta Moon and I'm glad I opted to purchase it. This is a page-turner. Once I opened the book and read about a hometown coach, Terrance Jackson, on trial for the rape of a young girl, Rose Canter, I found it difficult to put it down. This is a well-written book. The characters are well-fleshed out- especially Rose and her family. Brigitta did a fantastic job pulling me into the center of the conflict, and into the family's turmoil and pain.
Some school officials didn't believe the coach was guilty, and many thought he was, so when he's found not guilty, it stirs raw emotions in the community. Now Rose must deal with eyes ogling her, judging her, pitying her. Worse, Terrance Jackson still holds his job as the school's coach. And to further Rose's pain, Terrance is the father of her boyfriend, Jonas.
This book has many twists and brings in a new creative concept of how to get justice. A good read that I highly recommend. 5-stars
Some school officials didn't believe the coach was guilty, and many thought he was, so when he's found not guilty, it stirs raw emotions in the community. Now Rose must deal with eyes ogling her, judging her, pitying her. Worse, Terrance Jackson still holds his job as the school's coach. And to further Rose's pain, Terrance is the father of her boyfriend, Jonas.
This book has many twists and brings in a new creative concept of how to get justice. A good read that I highly recommend. 5-stars
October 15, 2017
This was an emotional tale of real world horror and justice gone wrong. My heart started breaking from the very start. What could have been a very simple revenge story was deepened by some unexpected twists and threads of the story that connected everyone in unique ways.
Rose was a strong character, and so easy to sympathize with. I think that made it all the more powerful to feel what she endured long after the initial victimization and miscarriage of justice. Even when the reasons became clear for why he was such a despicable human, I still despised the coach and pitied every person unfortunate enough to know him, especially Jonas, who I think I attached to the strongest of all the characters.
This isn’t a light read, as the topic is a real and hard one, but it is a good well written story that sends a strong message. I recommend it.
Rose was a strong character, and so easy to sympathize with. I think that made it all the more powerful to feel what she endured long after the initial victimization and miscarriage of justice. Even when the reasons became clear for why he was such a despicable human, I still despised the coach and pitied every person unfortunate enough to know him, especially Jonas, who I think I attached to the strongest of all the characters.
This isn’t a light read, as the topic is a real and hard one, but it is a good well written story that sends a strong message. I recommend it.
May 24, 2017
This book had me hooked from the very first page. It is not about the rape of a high school student, or the subsequent trial. Instead it is about what happens next. It is well thought out and has a good storyline. There are no graphic details that some might find disturbing. There are a number of different parts to the story which the author manages to work together well.
I liked the fact that the chapters are short, giving you plenty of opportunity to pause in your reading; not that you will want to. Due to time constraints, I didn’t read this book all in one go, but I definitely wanted to.
Each character is built up well and the story flows. It is believable and each chapter ends making you want to keep going. Basically this is a must read.
I liked the fact that the chapters are short, giving you plenty of opportunity to pause in your reading; not that you will want to. Due to time constraints, I didn’t read this book all in one go, but I definitely wanted to.
Each character is built up well and the story flows. It is believable and each chapter ends making you want to keep going. Basically this is a must read.
October 16, 2017
Guilty by Brigitta Moon is a sit and read in one long session book. I had to stop reading for annoying things like feeding my husband and drinking water, but otherwise the book held me spellbound.
This is a story that can happen in any town. The popular football coach rapes seventeen year-old Rose. As these things go, he is found not guilty. His fans celebrate while Rose and her family are left to comfort each other. Along the way they find help in some surprising places-not everybody believes the coach is innocent, and they want revenge
The plot has enough twists and surprises to keep the reader guessing until the last page. Moon has done a masterful job creating a riveting story set in believable small town. I highly recommend Guilty.
July 9, 2017
This was a great, fast-paced read. The kind of story that you have to keep reading 'one more chapter' just to see what happens. The characters are so well drawn - it's easy to root for Rose and want justice for her, just as it's not hard at all to despise the arrogant showmanship of the Coach.
The story takes a twist after the initial trial, and the Coach resumes his showy lifestyle as though nothing can touch him.
The revelations that unfold are delightfully introduced, adding drama and tension in measured doses. As I've said before of this author, she knows how to deliver tension.
Definitely an author I will be following closely.
The story takes a twist after the initial trial, and the Coach resumes his showy lifestyle as though nothing can touch him.
The revelations that unfold are delightfully introduced, adding drama and tension in measured doses. As I've said before of this author, she knows how to deliver tension.
Definitely an author I will be following closely.
October 9, 2017
This book gripped me from the first page. A community is left shattered in the aftermath of a trial, a not-guilty verdict and a traumatised family. The characters in this story felt very real to me, from the fragile innocence of Rose, to the disturbingly popular coach accused of raping her. You instantly get a sense, he has got away with a wicked crime. Yet delving deeper into the story, the mystery takes an unexpected twist when we meet victim support counsellor, Lindsey. There is more to this story than meets the eye, with an enthralling plot, well written scenes and an intriguing underlying psychology. I really enjoyed it and found it very hard to put down.
July 29, 2018
This proved to be a splendid intro to the Marston Crime dramas by Brigitta Moon. Exceptionally well-written with crisp and realistic dialogue, this book was difficult to put down for me. Though many intriguing characters populate the novel, (my personal favorite was the novice detective, Billy ‘the kid’ whose wide inexperienced eyes pick up clues the more seasoned of his team overlook) I never once felt lost or confused. The premise of the novel is not whether or not the coach is guilty, but will final justice will be served. I guarantee revenge is dished up in a very satisfying way, and particularly enjoyed the strong female characters. Can’t wait to start on the next in the series!
February 25, 2025
Many Times Over
Wow, what a convoluted case. It seems as if rapes were everywhere. Past and present victims unite with the local police, and others, to take down the rapist. Not a bad plot and plenty of law enforcement to go around. The only real thing this story needed was to have a last final proofreading or editing job, to find and correct the misplaced or misspelled words as well as get certain actions in chronographical order. Future books will likely go smoother for Ms. Moon.
Wow, what a convoluted case. It seems as if rapes were everywhere. Past and present victims unite with the local police, and others, to take down the rapist. Not a bad plot and plenty of law enforcement to go around. The only real thing this story needed was to have a last final proofreading or editing job, to find and correct the misplaced or misspelled words as well as get certain actions in chronographical order. Future books will likely go smoother for Ms. Moon.
June 24, 2017
When coach Terence Jackson is acquitted of raping Rose Canter, he returns to work at the same school. Rose now has to face her attacker every day and is seen by many as the one at fault. The story explores the lives of Rose and her family and her unlikely friendship with the coach's son as they struggle to survive the aftermath. There are some good plot twists as this story about vengeance develops. An enjoyable read.
September 24, 2017
This thriller started with a bang. The opening page packed the kind of punch I love to see. It told me the author could write and I had found another gem. Sentence structure packed punch, lashed me to the page and took me for the kind of ride I love.
The subject matter was risky though. Luckily it was in the hands of a talented author that knew how to handled it with a deft touch, employing the correct amounts of tension, horror, revulsion, mystery and redemption. .
The subject matter was risky though. Luckily it was in the hands of a talented author that knew how to handled it with a deft touch, employing the correct amounts of tension, horror, revulsion, mystery and redemption. .
September 26, 2017
Totally love the cover of this book and the synopsis intrigued me enough to buy it. It was a really good read, one I found it difficult to put down. I thought the note at front by the author about how she was inspired to write the story was really interesting. The story itself was well written and the author did a really good job of building suspense, creating strong characters, and keeping you guessing to keep you turning the pages.
May 28, 2017
A difficult subject but handled with great respect and a satisfying conclusion. Lots of twists and turns along the way and at times, my heart was racing along with the action. The characters - particularly Rose and her sister Faith - were well developed and endearing. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a thrilling story with genuine people and authentic situations.
May 29, 2017
Although found not guilty the Coach has obviously gotten away with his callous act, but how will he be brought to justice. This book had me gripped from page one pondering this question. With the twists within the story you are never truly sure until the end. A very well constructed story line that kept me hooked.
October 9, 2021
Great Mystery Thriller
I absolutely lived this story! The setting, story line, characters and author's writing style were superb! I did not want to put my kindle down beginning to end. I was so into this story and seeing these characters get their justice. Will definitely read more from this author.
I absolutely lived this story! The setting, story line, characters and author's writing style were superb! I did not want to put my kindle down beginning to end. I was so into this story and seeing these characters get their justice. Will definitely read more from this author.
April 5, 2022
I mostly loved it. One typo now instead of know. Very sympathetically written until right at the end Jake resorts to violence and abuse of a woman to get justice for women. Completely went against everything the female protagonist was trying to do for the victims. It would have had 5 stars without that bit.
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