What do you think?
Rate this book
Inherit Guilt
The Story Might Save His Career. If it Doesn't Kill Him First.
Don’t call him a blogger. Shane Allen may have lost his byline at The San Francisco Journal, but at least he's writing real news. And an old source going on the record is bound to put his fledgling online publication on the map.
Inspector Gail York is San Francisco’s first Black female homicide detective. She’s got a backlog of unsolved cases, a rookie partner, and an old school bigot refusing to retire. The last thing she needs is a sensational double homicide.
But when twins brothers are accused of killing their affluent parents, Shane's source is silenced forever. And York gets the last thing she needs.
In a race of innocence versus guilt, by the time either uncovers the truth it may be too late for justice.
Steeped in the rich and colorful history of San Francisco, fans of Harlan Coben, John Lescroart, and Stieg Larsson will love Inherit Guilt.
Don’t call him a blogger. Shane Allen may have lost his byline at The San Francisco Journal, but at least he's writing real news. And an old source going on the record is bound to put his fledgling online publication on the map.
Inspector Gail York is San Francisco’s first Black female homicide detective. She’s got a backlog of unsolved cases, a rookie partner, and an old school bigot refusing to retire. The last thing she needs is a sensational double homicide.
But when twins brothers are accused of killing their affluent parents, Shane's source is silenced forever. And York gets the last thing she needs.
In a race of innocence versus guilt, by the time either uncovers the truth it may be too late for justice.
Steeped in the rich and colorful history of San Francisco, fans of Harlan Coben, John Lescroart, and Stieg Larsson will love Inherit Guilt.
424 pages, ebook
First published June 21, 2021
4 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Russell Cordner
6 books5 followersAbout the Author
Russell Cordner writes for a range of audiences in multiple genres, but gravitates toward crime and speculative fiction.
He has been a technical writer, corporate headhunter, web designer, radio host, teacher, bartender, factory worker, and roofer.
Having lived across Canada, he currently resides in Japan where he still stops to gaze in awe of Mt. Fuji.
Sign up for his newsletter, get free books, and find links to his various online properties at www.russellcordner.com
Russell Cordner writes for a range of audiences in multiple genres, but gravitates toward crime and speculative fiction.
He has been a technical writer, corporate headhunter, web designer, radio host, teacher, bartender, factory worker, and roofer.
Having lived across Canada, he currently resides in Japan where he still stops to gaze in awe of Mt. Fuji.
Sign up for his newsletter, get free books, and find links to his various online properties at www.russellcordner.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 20, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Shane Allen is an investigative reporter for the San Francisco Journal. At least he was, before he sabotaged his career. Now he runs an online newspaper (not a blog, he’ll tell you) that barely pays the bills. So when high-powered divorce lawyer Grant Whalley offers to pay him for a quick job of photo surveillance in L.A. he jumps at the chance and gets the pictures. Mission accomplished, right? Wrong! Because by the next morning, Grant and his wife are dead, shot to death in their burning Pacific Heights home.
Enter Inspector Gail York. She’s the SFPD’s first female African American homicide inspector. Right away she pegs this as a double homicide, not a murder-suicide, and elects Shane as her prime suspect. But new evidence quickly points her toward the Whalleys’ twin teenage sons: Joshua and Jason. It looks like a slam dunk and Gail’s captain insists the case is closed. But Gail senses the evidence is too perfect. She keeps digging despite the captain’s blunt insistence that she move on.
Meanwhile, Grant’s mother, convinced her grandsons are innocent, hires Shane to find out who really killed her son. Shane’s investigation puts him on a collision course with Inspector York and almost gets him killed in the bargain!
I enjoyed Inherit Guilt from the very beginning and kept reading until I reached the end many hours later. Set in San Francisco and the Bay area, I had great fun following the action on a map of one of my favorite cities. The story is intriguing, the writing engaging, and there’s enough action and suspense to keep the reader turning pages. The narration is in the third person with the perspective alternating between Shane and Inspector York. Occasionally the changing perspective leaves the reader hanging momentarily but it swings back soon enough. The finish isn’t completely unexpected, but I wouldn’t call it predictable either.
In one place, a single sentence switches the point of view abruptly from the third person to the first person and back. This occurs during the meeting where Grant’s mother hires Shane as an investigative consultant. Was the story originally in the first person and this sentence a missed edit, or was it an unintentional flub? I couldn’t tell and, in the end, it doesn’t matter. It’s a minor speed bump on the way through a riveting book.
Whether Inherit Guilt is a mystery or a thriller is largely irrelevant. It should more than satisfy fans of either genre.
Shane Allen is an investigative reporter for the San Francisco Journal. At least he was, before he sabotaged his career. Now he runs an online newspaper (not a blog, he’ll tell you) that barely pays the bills. So when high-powered divorce lawyer Grant Whalley offers to pay him for a quick job of photo surveillance in L.A. he jumps at the chance and gets the pictures. Mission accomplished, right? Wrong! Because by the next morning, Grant and his wife are dead, shot to death in their burning Pacific Heights home.
Enter Inspector Gail York. She’s the SFPD’s first female African American homicide inspector. Right away she pegs this as a double homicide, not a murder-suicide, and elects Shane as her prime suspect. But new evidence quickly points her toward the Whalleys’ twin teenage sons: Joshua and Jason. It looks like a slam dunk and Gail’s captain insists the case is closed. But Gail senses the evidence is too perfect. She keeps digging despite the captain’s blunt insistence that she move on.
Meanwhile, Grant’s mother, convinced her grandsons are innocent, hires Shane to find out who really killed her son. Shane’s investigation puts him on a collision course with Inspector York and almost gets him killed in the bargain!
I enjoyed Inherit Guilt from the very beginning and kept reading until I reached the end many hours later. Set in San Francisco and the Bay area, I had great fun following the action on a map of one of my favorite cities. The story is intriguing, the writing engaging, and there’s enough action and suspense to keep the reader turning pages. The narration is in the third person with the perspective alternating between Shane and Inspector York. Occasionally the changing perspective leaves the reader hanging momentarily but it swings back soon enough. The finish isn’t completely unexpected, but I wouldn’t call it predictable either.
In one place, a single sentence switches the point of view abruptly from the third person to the first person and back. This occurs during the meeting where Grant’s mother hires Shane as an investigative consultant. Was the story originally in the first person and this sentence a missed edit, or was it an unintentional flub? I couldn’t tell and, in the end, it doesn’t matter. It’s a minor speed bump on the way through a riveting book.
Whether Inherit Guilt is a mystery or a thriller is largely irrelevant. It should more than satisfy fans of either genre.
August 11, 2021
This book was provided by voracious readers in return for an honest review...
Initially I didn't think I'd like this book as it sounded a bit like a 'Sam Spade' detective story - but goodness once it got going it was compelling reading. The dense mix of characters, ethics, perceptions of justice and fairness all get completely enmeshed in this interesting mystery.
Having devoured this book in two sittings, I'm looking forward to reading more by this author, and hope the character of Shane Allen will be seen in future books.
Initially I didn't think I'd like this book as it sounded a bit like a 'Sam Spade' detective story - but goodness once it got going it was compelling reading. The dense mix of characters, ethics, perceptions of justice and fairness all get completely enmeshed in this interesting mystery.
Having devoured this book in two sittings, I'm looking forward to reading more by this author, and hope the character of Shane Allen will be seen in future books.
August 10, 2021
Review through Voracious Readers Only
An exciting read with some interesting characters. It kept me guessing and although the final outcome was expected - it didn't quite go the way I thought it would. My favourite characters were definately Jim and Wesley. But so many interesting characters and relationships means readers will relate to someone.
An exciting read with some interesting characters. It kept me guessing and although the final outcome was expected - it didn't quite go the way I thought it would. My favourite characters were definately Jim and Wesley. But so many interesting characters and relationships means readers will relate to someone.
August 11, 2021
Wow what an interesting read!
In my starting this book i had no idea how complex it would become. So many twists and turns that you will surely enjoy.
In my starting this book i had no idea how complex it would become. So many twists and turns that you will surely enjoy.
August 8, 2021
I really enjoyed this book it was different to what I was expecting in a good way. The characters are well developed and the plot flowed really well.
Will definitely be investigating more by this author and you should also.
I was given a free copy by the author but the review is entirely my own.
Will definitely be investigating more by this author and you should also.
I was given a free copy by the author but the review is entirely my own.
August 9, 2021
This book was a great read from VRO. Enjoyed the characters of the journalist/blogger and the police officer who held on with determination. With a strange cast of helpers, twists and turns in the story line, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by the author.
Read
August 8, 2021Absolutely terrific book. Can't wait to read more books by Russell Cordner. The book had me anticipating the next page and not wanting it to end. It had me fooled a couple of times, when I thought I knew where the writing was heading.
August 6, 2021
I really enjoyed the story line and the twists. The characters are well described without any extraneous fluff thrown in. The plot is believable and flows smoothly, so the book is very enjoyable.
August 6, 2021
The Final Twisted Story
The story kept your attention with intrigue and interesting characters. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a surprise ending.
The story kept your attention with intrigue and interesting characters. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a surprise ending.
June 22, 2022
“Inherit Guilt” introduces Grant Whalley a prominent divorce lawyer who takes only high-end clients and prefers to represent the wives. When he and his wife end up murdered, Inspector Gail York is assigned to his case. She’s led to Shane Allen, a writer who had been hired to take investigative pictures for Whalley the night of his death.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. The two main characters of Shane and Gail are each very different but well developed and endearing in their own way. I loved that their two perspectives started off very separate, interacted, separated again, and then came together. I also really liked the Whodunit portions of the story, but felt the investigation in itself didn’t really lead the reader to the answer. The references to the true crime stories also felt authentic and a nice nod to contributing ideas to a tale that felt as if it could have really happened in Hollywood. The full blog post can be found at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. The two main characters of Shane and Gail are each very different but well developed and endearing in their own way. I loved that their two perspectives started off very separate, interacted, separated again, and then came together. I also really liked the Whodunit portions of the story, but felt the investigation in itself didn’t really lead the reader to the answer. The references to the true crime stories also felt authentic and a nice nod to contributing ideas to a tale that felt as if it could have really happened in Hollywood. The full blog post can be found at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
December 21, 2021
Great Book!
This book held my interest from the beginning to the end. It had a lot of twists and turns and kept me guessing the whole time. The ending was shocking! Definitely a must read book.
This book held my interest from the beginning to the end. It had a lot of twists and turns and kept me guessing the whole time. The ending was shocking! Definitely a must read book.
July 7, 2023
Lots of twists and turns
Terribly tragic and full of conflicting emotions this is a great read that kept me guessing. I love Shane the protagonist as well as his Neighbor this would make a good series.
Terribly tragic and full of conflicting emotions this is a great read that kept me guessing. I love Shane the protagonist as well as his Neighbor this would make a good series.
September 14, 2021
Captivating murder mystery and detective story. Believable characters which i grew to love or hate!! Kept me awake late. Had to reach the end.
July 4, 2021
I wrote it so I'm probably a little biased, but I think it's a damn good book. I had a lot of fun writing it and I hope everyone has a lot of fun reading it.
October 8, 2021
A free book from Voracious Readers thank you
Superb reading with a wicked twist. A fast-paced nail biting read
Very enjoyable
Superb reading with a wicked twist. A fast-paced nail biting read
Very enjoyable
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews