Jilliane Hoffman

Pretty Little Things by Jilliane Hoffman is a 2014 Thomas & Mercer publication.

I have always enjoyed novels by Jilliane Hoffman and this one was no exception. A gritty and heart wrenching suspense thriller that left me in white knuckled suspense and a feeling of pain for victims of these crimes and their families, but also a feeling of hope.

When thirteen year old Lainey disappears it's not just a job for Bobby Dees and the Crimes Against Children Squad. For Bobby each of these crimes is show more personal because he knows exactly what these families are going through. He himself has a missing daughter and lives life in a hell on earth limbo, not knowing if she is dead or alive.

The case is gruesome and harrowing as the author examines not only the way these girls get lured into traps by these predators, but the effect it has on the families, the investigative process, and the reminder that with each closed case, there are still countless missing and exploited children yet to find and rescue.

As a parent who raised two children just on the cusp of the cell phone, IM explosion and dealt with some on these issues myself, and having no idea how cleaver these kids can be when trying to keep something hidden from you. I can't stress to parents enough how accurate this novel was. As clever as kids are, so are the predators, more so, in fact. These kids want be to grown up, but they still need a watchful eye on them at all times. They can be at home, safe and sound, but a predator is right there in their rooms with them,via computers and smart phones, tempting them and luring them into a clever trap and you will never seen it coming. Certain messaging applications leave no record making it impossible to determine what might have happened in a worst case scenario. It literally sent chills down my spine reading about it, thinking about what these kids suffer and if they are fortunate enough to survive, how their lives will never, ever be the same.
This book was obviously well researched and thought out, the pacing and timing were spot on, and for the suspense is taut. I was very pleased with the ending and poignancy it stressed. Well Done! 5 stars show less

C.J. Townsend is a prosecutor in the DA's office in Miami, Florida, several years after she had been raped and mutilated in her former incarnation as Chloe Larsen. As a member of a task force investigating a probable serial killer, C.J. is early on the scene when a man is picked up with a body in the trunk of his car.

It is when this man is arraigned that she recognizes him as her rapist. And she begins a trip down retribution lane that disturbed me.

***You may not want to read any further show more until you've read the book***

C.J. knows that if she admits to the DA that she knows this man as her rapist then the case will have to be taken out of that office and be assigned to another, less competent one. He could go free. She also has not told anyone of her rape and prefers to keep it that way. She chooses not to tell. The ends justify the means.

Later, other awkward situations arise and she makes essentially the same choice: to flout the law in pursuit of a better ending. Much later, near the end of the trial, crucial evidence comes to light just at the right time, assuring a conviction. Does she question the convenience? No. She is blinded by her own sense of justice. And she gets away with it.

I was disturbed by the arrogance of her choices. If the truth had come out it's possible the man would have gone free and not been able to be tried again. An ethical attorney would never have done what she did, regardless of personal history. C.J. is not a person I'd want on my side. show less

After reading Jilliane Hoffman all I can say is John Grisham who? Damn this woman can write a wicked good legal thriller! Fast paced, on your toes action and always making you guess what the heck is gonna happen next.
Dr. David Marquette is a successful surgeon living the life in Miami. Married with three kids, he has a picture perfect life. That is, until he decides to slaughter his wife and children. Cue in Julia Valenciano, your ordinary "fight the trenches" lawyer. She is pleasantly show more surprised when she gets recruited for the prosecution as second chair, as this could be the launch her career needs. The defence is claiming Dr. Marquette is innocent by pleading insanity arguing that he is schizophrenic. From here, the action spins and swirls from gruesome crime scenes to flashbacks to Julia´s childhood; where a terrible secret has been waiting to resurface. Will David Marquette be sentenced to death if found guilty or confined to a mental facility if found innocent? The ending will make your skin crawl, I guarantee it. show less

After reading Jilliane Hoffman all I can say is John Grisham who? Damn this woman can write a wicked good legal thriller! Fast paced, on your toes action and always making you guess what the heck is gonna happen next.
Dr. David Marquette is a successful surgeon living the life in Miami. Married with three kids, he has a picture perfect life. That is, until he decides to slaughter his wife and children. Cue in Julia Valenciano, your ordinary "fight the trenches" lawyer. She is pleasantly show more surprised when she gets recruited for the prosecution as second chair, as this could be the launch her career needs. The defence is claiming Dr. Marquette is innocent by pleading insanity arguing that he is schizophrenic. From here, the action spins and swirls from gruesome crime scenes to flashbacks to Julia´s childhood; where a terrible secret has been waiting to resurface. Will David Marquette be sentenced to death if found guilty or confined to a mental facility if found innocent? The ending will make your skin crawl, I guarantee it. show less