Innocent

JJ Gilbert Mystery

Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
445 Pages
Reviewed on 06/18/2021
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

A message from a deceased judge leads a young woman and the police department to investigate a possible miscarriage of justice in a closed murder case in the captivating paranormal sleuth mystery, Innocent (A JJ Gilbert Mystery) by Linda M. Williams. After her twin brother's death, JJ develops the dubious ability of mediumship. Using her gift, JJ has assisted Riverside Police Detective Ballard in solving some difficult cases. Recently, JJ has attracted the ghost of a judge. He shows her an out of balance scales of justice and the word "innocent." Conferring with her police officer friend, Brad, and Detective Ballard, JJ begins her research for a court case where an innocent man was jailed. However, the situation is more involved than JJ anticipates, and the price of justice is high. When the lead detective on a closed murder case they are looking into is killed, things begin going awry for Detective Ballard and JJ. What is the cost of truth and justice? Are they willing to pay the price to set an innocent man free?

Innocent (A JJ Gilbert Mystery) by Linda M. Williams is a suspenseful and intriguing murder mystery with a unique amateur sleuth and a paranormal twist. The plot contains realistic characters and a gripping storyline with a surprising curve. While her personal life is rather challenging, JJ's character is engaging and admirable. Perfectly paced, the story flows smoothly, building to an unexpected and shocking revelation. It is a riveting mystery that will delight amateur sleuth fans who love murder mysteries blended with paranormal elements.

Rabia Tanveer

Innocent: JJ Gilbert Mystery by Linda M. Williams is the story of a psychic medium who has to prove a man’s innocence with the help of a spirit. JJ is excited to be a part of the jury panel, but her hopes of making it are dashed when she reveals she is a psychic medium. However, that turns out to be the beginning of her new quest. The spirit of Judge Gerald Brodie follows her around and gives her signs in the most unusual ways. From floating judge’s robes to the image of an uneven justice scale, Judge Brodie is not giving JJ much to figure out what he wants. But the judge presided over many cases in his life and finding an innocent man is very difficult. So, she digs a little deeper and realizes why the late judge leaves the word “innocent” as a message again and again. Can JJ, Carrie, and Brad figure this difficult case out? Or will JJ have a very angry spirit following her?

I am mad at myself for not finding this series sooner. Reading this story is a phenomenal experience. I can imagine this being a drama series and each episode being better than the last one. JJ is emotional, she takes chances and isn’t afraid of the risks she takes as a psychic medium. However, sometimes she feels a little too much and that can be overwhelming. The chapters are short, but each of them is nicely detailed to offer something new to the reader and take the story forward. Her method of research is very hands-on, which involves the reader in the story as well. The plot follows a steady pace that picks up towards the end. JJ, Brad, and Carrie all prove to be some of the strongest characters in the story. They all have a very clinical way of thinking, they tear each piece of information apart, dissect it and look at it from a very different perspective. Innocent: JJ Gilbert Mystery by Linda M. Williams is a must-read and I am reading the previous novels immediately!

Deborah Lloyd

JJ Gilbert was sitting among the pool of potential jurors when a spirit grabbed her attention. He repeatedly showed her the word “innocent,” and sounded a pounding gavel. Due to her psychic abilities, and previous work with the police department, she was rejected for jury duty. But the spirit continued, and she was able to identify the spirit as to be Judge Gerald Brodie. He communicated to her through unique clues, leading her to an imprisoned man who was innocent. Collaboration with the local police department, continued spirit messages, as well as meticulous investigative work led them to uncover the truths hidden during the trial. In Innocent: A JJ Gilbert Mystery, written by Linda M. Williams, a captivating murder mystery unfolds.

The character of JJ Gilbert is complex, as she struggles with judgments from others regarding her psychic gifts. JJ’s first critic was her mother, who begins to accept this gift. Eventually, with the help of a friend, and the support of a reporter, JJ learns to value how her abilities help other people. Her relationships with her friends, especially Brad, and several police detectives also add complications to the plot. The book engages the reader from the first page, and the intrigue builds steadily. There are many twists and turns in the storyline and it is not clear until the last chapters who the guilty person is. Author Linda M. Williams has written another captivating book in the JJ Gilbert Mystery series in Innocent. An adventurous, fun read!