Guilty as Sin

Deer Lake, Book 2

By: Tami Hoag

Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck

A cold-blooded kidnapper has been playing a twisted game with a terrified Minnesota town. Now a respected member of the community stands accused of a startling act of evil. But when a second boy disappears, a frightened public demands to know: Have the police caught the wrong man? Is the nightmare continuing...or just beginning?

Prosecutor Ellen North believes she’s building a case against a guilty man - and that he has an accomplice in the shadows. As she prepares for the trial of her career, Ellen suddenly finds herself swept into a cruel contest of twisted wits, a dark game of life and death...with an evil mind as guilty as sin.

©1996 Tami Hoag (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Accomplished and scary." ( Cosmopolitan)

"A page-turner." ( Chicago Tribune)

fabulous listen

great charactwrs. didn't want to stop listening. ending a bit weak, but sets up for the next book. can't wait.

A bit Hard to Follow & Too Long

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. I was disappointed in this one. This must be an early Tami Hoag. I found it hard to follow and considerably too long. I also wasn't thrilled with Ellen North, the main character. She is so standoffish and fearful of letting her defenses down that she has virtually no allies.

Would you be willing to try another book from Tami Hoag? Why or why not?

Oh, yes. LOVE several of the other (later) ones I've read.

What aspect of Jennifer Van Dyck’s performance would you have changed?

I sometimes found myself straining to catch what she said. I'd suggest reading a LITTLE more slowly. Perhaps a little more enunciation.

Did Guilty as Sin inspire you to do anything?

Like what?!

Any additional comments?

The best thing about the book was the revelation of who was the killer. I usually focus on a suspect fairly early on. This book kept me guessing a bit longer and was very satisfying in that respect. I also liked Jay Butler and found him really appealing. Have trouble seeing why he pursued main character Ellen, though. According to the book, she undid his cynicism but she's such a closed person I'd say he did that on his own. On the minus side, I found the book unnecessarily complicated and convoluted. After the grand solution I still didn't know WHY all the bad acts were committed aside from the fact that one perpetrator is a psycho and the other was an arrogant psycho-sadist??? WHY were particular people chosen as victims? Even psychos have some logic, don't they??? And there were many unnecessary side issues: For example, what was the point of discussing the priest & Hannah's mutual attraction that is not acted on? What was the point of the whole section about Megan O'Malley's being attacked and permanently injured? More germaine: Why didn't the police and D.A. push for information from Josh Kirkwood when another child has been kidnapped & his info could be vital and why didn't his mother Hannah INSIST that he tell what he knows for the sake of another mother & child?! I really found Ellen's assistant's attitude problematic -- if she worked anywhere I worked, she would be OUT OF A JOB. I found Ellen's tolerance of Phoebe's disrespect and poor performance very aggravating. Conculsion: I read that the child abduction began with earlier book Night Sins. Maybe that's my problem - I didn't read that.

Tami Hoag does it again.

What did you love best about Guilty as Sin?

the suspense

What does Jennifer VanDyck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

she is just a great narrator - I listen to alot of her books

Any additional comments?

This is a continuance to Night Sins - DO NOT listen to this until you have listened to Night Sins first or it will take out the suspense.

what happened

I love Tami Hoag ,but this book ??? First off why are the woman so week .?? they sleep with the guy after a week really !!! No chase to it And I don't feel all the loose ends were tied up But the overall story line and plot were great !!!

Excellent murder mystery

What did you love best about Guilty as Sin?

always wondering who did it

What was one of the most memorable moments of Guilty as Sin?

J Brooks entering the story

What does Jennifer VanDyck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

she is able to bring the characters to life

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes but I can't give it up.