*** Story ***** Performance **** Overall ——- **** Unexpected Truths
‘Guilty Knowledge’ by Linda Griffin delivers an intriguing blend of romance and suspense. The story revolves around Sariah Brennan, who approaches Detectives Jesse Aaron and Camille Farris at the police department, claiming detailed information on a high-profile murder investigation. Jesse finds Sariah’s claim of seeing the murder like a psychic hard to believe—wondering if she is avoiding admitting she saw the crime. He also feels an unexpected and undeniable attraction to her. Jesse’s partner, Camille, is extremely skeptical of Sariah’s story and warns Jesse against getting emotionally involved with the witness.
Ms. Griffin’s character development is an interesting aspect of the story, with each having buried secrets shaping their interactions. As the story unfolds, Sariah is depicted as both sweet and innocent on the surface, but her deeper secrets complicate her character. Vulnerabilities and hidden truths shape Jesse and Sariah’s relationship. Jesse’s character contains admirable elements, making him likable, yet some of his actions seem forced. The tense dialogue between Camille and Jesse seems contrived at various points, while the flirtatious conversations between Jessie and Sariah feel forced.
The mystery and suspense elements of the story bring listeners on a complex journey with multiple twists and turns. Elements of alternative religious practices bring surprises and interesting secondary characters, including the landlord. The multiple threads of the story feel pulled rather than teased in places. Scott LeCote’s narration is superb. The distinctive and flawless voices surround a perfectly paced narrative with well-timed pauses and intonations. The quality of this audiobook is excellent.
Overall, ‘Guilty Knowledge’ offers a good, steady-paced mystery focused on themes of hidden identities and moral dilemmas. It highlights the tension between personal desires and professional duties. Although it has good character development and an engaging storyline, the romance aspect fell short with the unexpected yet satisfying ending.
About the Author
I was born and raised in San Diego, California and earned a BA in English from San Diego State University and an MLS from UCLA. I began my career as a reference and collection development librarian in the Art and Music Section of the San Diego Public Library and then transferred to the Literature and Languages Section, where I had the pleasure of managing the Central Library’s Fiction collection. Although I also enjoy reading biographies, memoirs, and history, fiction remains my first love. In addition to the three R’s—reading, writing, and research—I enjoy Scrabble, movies, and travel. My earliest ambition was to be a “book maker” and I wrote my first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” with a plot stolen from a comic book, at the age of six. I broke into print in college with a story in the San Diego State University literary journal, The Phoenix, but most of my magazine publications came after I left the library to spend more time on my writing. My stories have been published in numerous journals, including Eclectica, Thema Literary Journal, Avalon Literary Review, The Nassau Review, and Orbis, and in the anthologies Short Story America, Vol. 2, The Captive and the Dead, Australia Burns, 2023 in a Flash, and Apocalypse. Member of the Authors Guild and Sisters in Crime.
About the Narrator
I am a voice artist with experience as an aviator, bodyguard, police officer, public speaker, lecturer, and vocalist, and have an interest in linguistics. Through my experience in long-form narration, I have a desire to explore other forms of voicework and expand my abilities as an audiobook narrator. In my experience as an audiobook narrator, I produce titles across a growing array of genres.
