Author: Marcia Clark
Genre: Mystery, legal thriller
Published on: May 8, 2012 by Mulholland Books
Harrowing, smart, and riotously entertaining, Guilt by Degrees is a thrilling ride through the world of LA courts with the unforgettable Rachel Knight.
Someone has been watching D.A. Rachel Knight -- someone who's Rachel's equal in brains, but with more malicious intentions. It began when a near-impossible case fell into Rachel's lap, the suspectless homicide of a homeless man. In the face of courthouse backbiting and a gauzy web of clues, Rachel is determined to deliver justice. She's got back-up: tough-as-nails Detective Bailey Keller.
As Rachel and Bailey stir things up, they're shocked to uncover a connection with the vicious murder of an LAPD cop a year earlier. Something tells Rachel someone knows the truth, someone who'd kill to keep it secret.
Special Trials prosecutor Rachel Knight is back in this second installment of her series. It takes place months after Guilt by Association ended. Rachel has continued handling various cases, as usual. She’s in court one day waiting for her turn. There, Rachel watches an arraignment for a murder case in which the victim was a homeless man. The evidence is so thin, and the prosecutor so unenthusiastic, that the case is almost dismissed. In a bold move, Rachel picks it up to prevent that. This surprises everyone, as the case is nowhere near Special Trials material.
Rachel soon calls upon her best friend, Detective Bailey Keller, to assist with the case. It’s the first time the two have worked together since their case from book one. Bailey isn’t thrilled that Rachel asked her to help with such a dud. It’s not that she doesn’t want to help a homeless man. Bailey simply can see how unlikely it is that the case will ever be solved. Since no one even knows the victim’s identity, it won’t be easy for Rachel to keep the case. Unless she can find proof that it is Special Trials-worthy, she will lose it. Luckily, there are just enough clues for Rachel to follow.
Unlike the previous book, Guilt by Degrees has chapters written in the main antagonist’s POV. She’s a woman known only as Sabrina. This woman seems to be very intelligent and resourceful. It appears Sabrina is some sort of vigilante/con artist. She spends her time uncovering dirt on certain targets and destroying their lives. Next on her list? Rachel Knight. It’s not clear what Sabrina’s beef with Rachel is. My perception is that Sabrina wants to bring Rachel down to keep her from winning the John Doe case. It's anyone’s guess why she would want do to this.
At the eleventh hour, Rachel and Bailey make the big break they need to avoid losing the case. They work hard to uncover who murdered the now-identified homeless man. The more they find out about the case, the more nervous Sabrina becomes. And her sidekick isn’t as restrained as she is. One slip-up causes the DA’s office to assign protection for Rachel. When her boss suggests she give her case to another deputy, she refuses. Rachel wants to catch Sabrina, and she goes to unusual lengths to achieve it. Rachel’s close acquaintances (including Toni LaCollier, a fellow deputy DA) notice this. They remark Rachel has never researched a suspect so thoroughly before.
Rachel’s boyfriend, Lieutenant Graden Hales, returns in this book. Things seem to be going well for them. That’s a little unusual for Rachel, as she hasn’t had much luck in romance. Her previous boyfriend was a lawyer. They broke up because he traveled around the country all the time. Graden is a busy man, but at least he never needs to leave LA. There’s conflict between Rachel and Graden, though. This subplot reveals more about who Rachel is. It turns out Rachel’s keeping a big secret from her past that she hasn’t told to anyone. The secret is painful, and Rachel is an extremely private woman. Still, I was shocked she didn’t let even Bailey know about it.
Near the final parts of the book, the suspense rises. Rachel didn’t face this kind of danger in Guilt by Association. Sabrina is the most dangerous antagonist she’s faced yet. This woman is not playing around. She works hard to prevent Rachel from solving the case. Will Rachel stop Sabrina before it’s too late? Once again, Marcia Clark exceeded my expectations. Guilt by Degrees was just as good as the first book. Rachel Knight has flaws and a few odd quirks, but she’s still a good character. Bailey Keller, as ever, is such a great partner. She’s tough, incorruptible, and tenacious.
Two books in, this series is getting good. Rachel and Bailey make an excellent team. You also get to know more about them. There's one thing that caught my attention, though. I’m no legal expert, but I wonder if deputy DAs tag along with police detectives on investigations. The author is a veteran trial lawyer, so she would know. Still, I’m curious whether she wrote Rachel’s and Bailey’s roles the way she did to make the books more exciting. They would be really boring if all Rachel did is sit at her desk and attend hearings.
My rating: ★★★★ 1/2
4.5 stars - A fantastic page-turner!
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