“Guilty Until Innocent” is a moving legal thriller about seeking justice for a convicted murderer who may be innocent—and the personal trials that test the faith and resolve of everyone involved.
If you’re unfamiliar with Robert Whitlow, he has established his reputation with well-crafted legal thrillers that weave faith-based themes in with suspenseful narratives. Starting with his 2000 debut novel, “The List,” Whitlow’s success has grown steadily with “The Trial” (2001), which won a Christy Award and was developed into a film starring Matthew Modine, followed by “Jimmy” in 2006 and “Water’s Edge” in 2011.
His new book, “Guilty Until Innocent,” begins with a man hitting rock bottom. Joe Moore is a meth addict. He’s on trial for the double murder of two young people found dead outside of a nightclub in the fictional town of Cranfield, North Carolina.
Redemption
The main story begins a quarter century later. We meet Tom’s young cousin, Ryan Clark, who was hired by Tom as part of his successful law firm in Cranfield. Ryan has had some bad luck in his professional life due to inexperience and circumstances beyond his control. These setbacks have put his fledgling career on shaky ground, and he is grateful to his cousin for hiring him.Ryan’s wife, Paige, has faithfully stood by him and supported him while he was out of work, but she has a new concern when she suddenly discovers that she is pregnant. Past failed attempts, worries about finances, and Ryan’s tenuous career weigh on them. Nevertheless, both are ecstatic about the news.
However, complications arise. Paige must deal with uncertainty about her health and the well-being of their unborn child.
Meanwhile, Joe Moore has spent the last two decades improving himself, becoming a model prisoner, and moving to a medium-security-level correctional center. Now deeply religious and respected by other inmates, Joe spends his days gardening, mentoring younger prisoners, and leading sessions of music and prayer.
A Promise From the Past
These characters are brought together when Joe’s niece, Shana Parks, contacts Tom’s firm with a surprising request: She wants help seeking a post-conviction release for her uncle. She tells Tom she made a promise to Joe’s mother to pursue this option whenever she could manage it.Tom is wary of being reconnected to the case. The firm has moved away from criminal law, and its biggest client happens to be Charlie Drummond, whose sister was one of the victims Joe was convicted of killing. However, despite his initial reluctance, Tom sees an opportunity and assigns Ryan to take the lead.
Joe initially rejects the idea of reopening his case, concerned that it will give his family false hope and waste their money. Besides, even though he has no memory of the night in question, he can’t discount the possibility that he actually committed the crimes. But after praying about it and with Shana and Ryan’s encouragement, he reconsiders and agrees.
However, as the investigation begins, Ryan stumbles across a new witness and evidence that suggests a miscarriage of justice might have occurred. As he continues digging, the case begins to threaten his career and future livelihood—and then the very lives of his family and Joe Moore himself.
A Good Legal Thriller
Novels that revolve around the legal world tend to ring truer when written by practicing attorneys; this is no exception. In the early chapters, Whitlow might give too much realism, as some of the legal procedures described seem perfunctory. These drag the story a bit.The other criticism I have is that Whitlow shifts to Paige’s point of view, which clutters the storyline. Many of Paige’s moments focus on her exploration of faith and the details of her pregnancy. While these well-told passages are relatively brief, it seems like Whitlow is trying to squeeze two stories into a one—a legal thriller and a gentle Christian drama.
Eventually, he gets around to intertwining the central storyline with Paige’s, and the results work very well. Whitlow’s splendid abilities as a novelist are very much on display in “Guilty Until Innocent.” I strongly recommend it for readers who enjoy a story about a trail of faith as much as a legal one.
