Guiltless: A True Crime Story [Paperback]

Winona Franz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2004 | ISBN-10: 1418455555 | ISBN-13: 978-1418455552

Guiltless is a skillfully woven account of real cases investigated by author Lieut. Winona M. Franz, "Nonie", retired, during her long and distinguished career in law enforcement with the Loss Angeles County Sheriff's Department. All major personalities are living or have lived with the exception of Lieutenant Fuller. Due to the delicate subject matter, the names of our leading characters have been changed. The perpetrator begins his crime spree with a vicious child molestation followed by a series of rapes, burglaries and culminates with a senseless murder. Fearful, uncooperative victims, and a family deeply involved in a mysterious folk religion, hamper the investigation. Detective Housman pursues the suspect over a three-year period only to have him slip through her grasp due to lack of evidence. Her desperate search for the rapist offers superior insight to police work any system of justice that all too often protects the guilty. Author Franz injects much-needed comic relief as she adroitly delineates her supporting cast; her incorigible father, irascible housekeeper and a conceited boyfriend who she holds at arms length. While the book is designed as fiction, the teenage sexual psychopath Detective Sergeant. Adee Housman aggressively pursues is a real person who is presently serving time. --- from book's back cover

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Authorhouse (December 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1418455555
• ISBN-13: 978-1418455552
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,787,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This retired LA County Sheriff tells it like it really was., January 14, 2005

By 

Lois D. Messer "The Book Doctor" (Rosarito, Baja California Mexico) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Guiltless: A True Crime Story (Paperback)

The crime of child molestation in the story dates back before big time forensic evidence was widely available. Dogged police work by Franz finally brought the perpetrator to justice; but not before he committed a senseless murder. A good fast read.

5.0 out of 5 stars CRIMEFIGHTING IN THE '70'S, May 25, 2008

By 

Joseph H. Race "Jose Mango" (SAIPAN, MP United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Guiltless: A True Crime Story (Paperback)

I found the book to be a definite page-turner, waiting to see how 'the boy' was finally going to get captured and thrown in jail and counselling where he belonged. I liked the insight into the personalities in the station and how they interacted. What was interesting for me was how everyone seemed to light up their smokes in those days, and how frustrating it must have been for lady detectives to wade through the gender bull in the police environment. I enjoyed the story and Ms Franz should be writing more. Well worth the time and few bucks. Nice effort, good character develepment, entertaining.

5.0 out of 5 stars Inside a detective's investigation, March 13, 2005

By 

R. M. Lowry "mystery reader addict" (Palm Springs, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Guiltless: A True Crime Story (Paperback)

Fast paced and a thoroughly interesting slant on police procedures in 1970's LA - wasn't ready for it to end - for a first time writer the dialogue and characters were developed very well - kept wondering if author doesn't have more tales to tell us -