Accused of sexually abusing his seven-year-old charge, Charles, baby-sitter Howard Landis becomes a victim of the judicial system and only Charles, who knows the true perpetrator, can exonerate him. Reprint. LJ. PW.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In this taut first novel, Brown, a justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, deals sensitively with a troubling and delicate subject. Charles King is a precocious, well-adjusted seven-year-old who keeps a "vocabulary notebook" and studies dinosaurs. But after his mother finds his blood-stained "undies" hidden in his room, Charles's secure world is thrown into turmoil. As his next-door neighbor and occasional babysitter, Howard, is accused of sexually abusing him, Charles tries to pacify all those throwing questions at him: his parents, doctors, lawyer, policemen, even a judge. What Charles won't tell any of them, however, is the truth: Howard didn't do it. Fine courtroom drama, the exceptionally well-wrought perspective of a confused, frightened child and an unexpected, multifacted, touching resolution make this an absolute page-turner.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
This intensely realistic first novel by Ohio Supreme Court Justice Brown deals with the sensitive question of the reliability of child testimony. When an overly protective mother confronts her seven-year-old son with "evidence" that he has been sexually abused, the frightened boy prevaricates to please her, concealing the true events that have led to her presumption. The lie grows, and the child is expected to testify against his babysitter in a child abuse case. By the time he gains the courage to tell the truth, his admission of falsehood is dismissed as childish fear. The courtroom examination brings the child's dilemma to a traumatic climax with devastating consequences for him self and an innocent man. Knowledgeably told, this starkly compelling drama is highly recommended for popular fiction collections.
- Sister M. Anna Falbo, Villa Maria Coll. Lib., Buffalo, N.Y.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Sister M. Anna Falbo, Villa Maria Coll. Lib., Buffalo, N.Y.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NEVER MAKE PRESUMPTIONS,
By
This review is from: Presumption of Guilt (Paperback)
Charles King is living a nightmare. Gifted, verbal and extremely articulate, the 7-year-old has been guarding a secret. The secret comes out when Charles' mother, also bright and articulate and extremely driven finds a pair of blood stained briefs that belong to Charles. This discovery is tantamount to removing the lid from a Pandora's box. Horrors abound. Who caused Charles to bleed? Why would anyone harm an innocent child? The list of suspects is quite long, from a neurotic, gay sitter who insists on bathing all of his young male charges; possibly an adult guest or even one of Charles' father's legal colleagues. But who? Charles isn't talking. His sister, Vivian, a musical prodigy retreats into her music and Charles is left to try to sort out what has taken place. His life takes a drastic down turn. His contentious parents separate; he has to endure a painful physical examination and contend with a questionable psychiatrist with an agenda of her own. The high point of his trauma takes place in court. The questions that crop up there are not really resolved. Did Charles identify who really injured him? Who did it? The story closes ten years later. Charles, then in college picks up the ruins of his boyhood. He has moved out of state and keeps his contacts with his parents and older sister to a minimum. He tries to avoid people he knew as a boy. It is just a question of time before he has to confront his inner demons and unmask the REAL culprit.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than your average crime book.,
By
This review is from: Presumption of Guilt (Paperback)
A boy is found with bloody underwear. His babysitter, a male high school senior is immediately suspected of molestation. The little boy is very bright but is certainly very vague about what happened to him. Psychologists are brought in, with their own agendas. The prosecutors, parents, judge and the victim all have their own agendas. The reader is left to try to guess what really happened.
The point of view is usually that of the little boy who is trying to navigate his way through the adult court system while keeping his secrets secret, his famlily intact and do what is right, as far as he can tell. I really can't go into much more detail without spoiling the plot. This is Brown's first book. He is a state supreme court justice from Ohio and I hope that this disturbing piece of fiction was not based on a true case. This book was well-written, compelling and, like I've already said, disturbing.
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