Customer Reviews

Innocence Lost

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a story about a very young police officer recruited to work undercover in a high school where the drug problem was growing. He befriended some druggies and began making his cases. After only a few short months, a 20-something suspected he was a cop and yelled at the high schooler who had been bringing him around. The high schooler was the adopted son of a police officer. He made a plan, lured the undercover cop to a remote area, and shot him in the head with his father's police gun. The story is from the perspective of the kids, the police officers, and the attorneys, and provides an outstanding look at ALL aspects of this case and how one group caused problems for another as the case was investigated and prosecuted. I could not put this book down. It was very well written, and Carlton Stowers has become one of my favorite authors. I cannot get enough of his work. If you like true crime, Stowers's work ranks right up there with Jerry Bledsoe, who I only wish would put out another true crime book. There is no Stowers book that will disappoint you. He is one of the best.

Carlton Stowers is surely the finest true crime writer from Texas, and this book in particular was shocking to me because I went to high school with Thomas Knighten, the father of the boy who murdered the young undercover officer. I was hoping for answers--why did this happen? From what I understand, young Greg did not grow up in a dysfunctional home at all, and received only loving care and a stable home life from his devoted parents. He was an adopted child, and it's possible that the sociopathic personality is biogenetic. We'll never know. A high school friend who keeps in touch with the family tells us that Mr. and Mrs. Knighten have gone on with their lives and have a powerful faith in God that has sustained them. Mr. Stowers' book underlines the fact that there are no guarantees in life in his sensitive account of a senseless tragedy and the chronicle of young Greg's wasted life.

By Reese Ella Howard, Wharton County, Texas

This book tells the story of an undercover cop whose job was to nab kids buying marijuana. It takes place in the 1st semester of senior year at a high school in a small town in Texas. The book is interesting and a great read. Someday we will look back on the times described here and wonder why it was necessary to sacrifice so much to grab a kid who bought 5 dollars of an illegal substance. Everyone turns out to be a victim. It's interesting to read how their lives changed due to a series of decisions by the police department, and a series of decisions by a group of high schoolers. Very good true crime book.

I grew up just north of where this book takes place and this story is what made me want to become a police officer. It is a moving and chilling story and possibly the most well written true crime book I have ever read. Now working for Midlothian PD, I have met some of the actors in the unforgettable story, it hits even closer to home. George is a hero, and will forever be remembered as such. 112

I bought this book because I am an avid true crime reader and Carlton Stowers is one of the best true crime writers out there. I didn't know how close he was geographically to the crime. He lives in a neighboring town where the crime occurred. A young undercover detective, George "Tiger" Raffield, goes undercover to infiltrate a drug bust but ends up shot dead in the rural neighborhood near the author's hometown. George was 21 years old, ambitious, attractive, with everything going for him, and engaged to his high school sweetheart. Unfortunately, their engagement ended with his murder. The boys behind the crimes were just high schoolers but one of them had a deadly past that nearly ended with a terrible beating of a boy in Williams, Arizona. The family did not get their son the help he needed not only in school but with his psychological problems. He began playing around with Satanism, killing stray cats, performing satanic rituals, etc. The family was in complete denial even though one teacher was smart enough to do some digging. The family refused their son to get help because of pride or whatever reasons. Maybe they didn't want to think themselves as failures as parents or that their son was different from other children. I have to say that this book is one of the author's better books because he can relate to it since it hits so close to home. There is a lot more going on than just a shooting of an undercover officer. There are the three young men whose lives were ruined by such a deadly mistake and their innocence was indeed lost as the title suggests.

I am always wanting to know why people want to hurt other people. The way this author wrote about this story, had me wanting to read more. This crime took place in a small town outside of Houston, Tx, involing high school kids in the 80's. He gave back ground on the officers who was on the case. Which some was on the force and working the street when J.F.K was shot.

Carlton Stowers powerfully delivers the story of three small town Texas boys who murdered an uncover police officer in an effort to avoid drug charges that were bound to see the arrest of them and several of their friends.

Most interestingly about this book is the background provided on the boys involved. While one was raised in an apparent "do as you wish" household where he practiced Satanism, the other boy, Greg Knighten, (the actual shooter) was raised in a devout Christian household; but, being that Greg was adopted shortly after birth, this is a story that lends argument to heredity vs. enviroment.

A second aspect of this book that was very interesting was the fact that all thsoe involved had been acquantances for some time, as is such in a small town. Unlike many of the true crime books read, where the cops don't personally know the victims or their families, and seldom the perpetrator, such was not the case in Innocence Lost. It is mentioned a couple of times how this crime had created a "reunion-type atmosphere.

This is an excellent read. Competely indepth in background and events of the present. Highly recommended!

"Innocence Lost" offers a decent portrait of both the victim & the killer.
The book has the increasingly familiar theme of widespread knowledge about a crime in the community both before & after it happened & apparent apathy towards it (another example of this was examined in the movie "River's Edge.")
The killer is probably a sociopath. I just don't understand why people go through these hand-wringing searches for motives & pondering about how someone could do such a thing: There are people who are sociopaths. They lack empathy with other people. To them, killing is nothing more than stepping on a cockroach. It's that simple.
The blame attributed to the police by some readers of this book is wholly inappropriate. The fault lies with the killer & with no one else.
The tangental involvement of Cynthia Fedrick is very well done by the author, & she is a well drawn character.
I got to read this book for free as a deployed Soldier; this is a great program that benefits those it is intended for & is much appreciated.

This book is an excellent read for those who admire true crime. It tells a story of a young and enthusiastic undercover narcotics officer who makes the ultimate sacrifice. How anyone could disseminate negative feedback about this book, the author, or George Raffield is beyond any decent person's comprehension. After reading this book you will appreciate law enforcement and their endeavors. Carlton Stowers is an awesome author and I encourage the reading of all of his true crime books.

This book tells the story of Innocence Lost in Midlothian Texas, a small town not far from Dallas. It portrays the town in a compelling manner - citing both benefits and pitfalls of rural living and the struggles of teenagers looking to find their place in the world. This is a true-crime murder story and a very good read.