Customer Reviews

Until Proven Guilty

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

 

 

There are many problems with this book, but the most glaring is the one-dimensional quality of the hero, Kathryn Mackay. Ordinarily, tough female attorneys are appealing, but Mackay is not just tough, she is cruel, shallow and sloppy in her work as well. It is disappointing that she is less likable than the men in the story, though they, too, have little depth. Since it is impossible to empathize with the hero, the reader cannot feel bad for her when she gets into trouble. She states that a woman has to be tough, like a man. One must ask if she were going to try to be like a man, could she not at least have chosen a nice man? Mackay is painted as a bright, ambitious woman, but she is too ignorant of the law and too sloppy to be real. She misses the most obvious clues in the solving of the crime and behaves like the baby-sitter in the horror story who hears voices in the basement and goes looking with a tiny flashlight. The condescending nature of the novel is also annoying. There are many examples, but one occurs when a character ends a phone call with the phrase "Ten-four" and the next sentence reads, "Ten-four meant message received and understood." One wants to read to the end of this book, hoping the author will redeem herself. McGuire never does.

The plot and storyline of this book are pretty good and there were definately times when I could not put it down but there were a few annoying details. Not enough for me NOT to recommend it, but annoying nonetheless. There is the occassional mispelling which isn't much but it interrupts the whole flow when you are at a critical point. The main character's 6 year old is a bit too precocious for my taste with lines like "I don't mind really. I mean, eveyone knows life's not fair" and "sometimes I don't mean to cry but sometimes the tears just run out on their own". Very logical and understanding for a 6 year old. I also agree with a previous reviewer that states that the main character misses obvious clues. Overall, I enjoyed it enough to finish the book but I would have enjoyed it much more had these details been different. Details are little things I know, but as any good mystery enthusiast knows..the key is most always in the details :)

I truly love Christine McGuire's style! This is the second book I've read - the first was "Until Justice is Done" (LOVED IT), and I am already looking for the next one! Not only does Ms. McGuire involve several plots/stories in one book, but she gives great detail about the prosecution process as well! :-)

Great protagonist and characters. One of the best psychological thrillers I've read in a long time. Fluid, literate writing. Deliciously chilling. Can't wait to look for more books by this author.

A man haunted by his past, an abusive step-parent, a veteran from a war, forces him to kill, kill, and kill some more. Kathryn MacKay, as well as her partner are again on the case. They have to find this killer, before he finds them.

While other reviewers focus on Mackay, the prosecutor, my attention has been entirely riveted on Lee, the murderer. The description of Lee's misfortunes (in his youth) was fabulous, the words sound so true to life, and even make me feel sorry for him. I only wish more details had been given on how he managed to revenge his step mother and sister in a Chicago fire, and whether or not he succeeded in kicking the a** of that jerk in high school who punched him in the face.

It's a sad tragedy that Lee took it out on ordinary Hispanic girls rather than limiting his revengeful acts to the persons who actually injured his feelings.