Presumed Guilty

This plot is ripped right out of the headlines. Ron Hamilton, a successful pastor of a thriving, 8,000-strong church, has written a bestselling book exposing the evils of pornography. Another book deal is in the works, and his wife, Dallas, thinks life couldn't be better. But that's when a twist of irony steps into the tale. Ron is arrested for murder. The victim? A porn star. Immediately, the future book deal falls through, and Dallas's life begins to crumble as she, strongly defending her husband, begins to have questions of her own. She knows Ron couldn't have committed the murder, but why was he involved with a porn star? Was he having an affair? Dallas's faith is tested as she grapples with these questions and discovers the truth. Meanwhile, Dallas's son, Jared, returns from his tour of duty in Iraq; and she barely recognizes the son she once knew. Hardened by his war experience, he questions his faith; and Dallas begins to wonder if demonic activity in his life is to blame. Add more tension to the mix when an old boyfriend, Chad, steps into Dallas's life and reminds her of a past she'd rather forget. When Dallas rejects his desire to renew the acquaintance, he begins harassing her. She wonders if Chad is involved in the murder. Did Chad commit the murder and frame Ron to get him out of the way so Chad could claim Dallas? As with other Bell novels, this one weaves in complex subplots and heightens the suspense all the way to the last page. And just when you think you know who the murderer is, Bell delivers more surprises. This novel is a winner from every angle. Strong, relevant themes are woven into a tight plot, and believable characters evoke sympathy as they grapple with real-life issues for which Bell offers biblical solutions. I look forward to reading his next novel. A suspenseful tale from the first page until the last.

James Scott Bell's latest legal thriller, Presumed Guilty, tackles the issue of pornography, then changes tracks and launches into the themes of forgiveness, grace and spiritual warfare. In my opinion, this book had more "religion" in it than any of Bell's most recent books. Dallas Hamilton knows her marriage to mega-church Pastor Ron Hamilton is struggling a bit. She does her part in preparing a romantic evening alone, but is frustrated when Ron says he has to work late. Ron, meanwhile, is counciling a woman who needs spiritual guidance. It turns out this woman is a pornstar, and a few days later, she turns up dead. All evidence points to Ron as the culprit. This is devastating to Dallas. First, she can't believe Ron, an anti-porn crusader, would be anywhere close to involved. But then, Dallas starts learning things about her husband. Ron had a lot of secrets that Dallas didn't know about. These secrets threaten to tear apart their marriage, and Dallas' faith. Jared Hamilton is an Iraqi war veteran battling internal demons while his dad is in jail. Jared is full of hate and spends time drinking and doing drugs. Author Bell takes the book on a track I didn't expect with this story line. Bell says demons are in a battle for Jared's soul and are causing him to have violent outbursts. There are lot of legal twists and turns in this novel, but none of them are as interesting as the twists and turns that take place in the character's lives in this novel. Bell shows the power of forgiveness and God's grace. The spiritual warfare angle is something I would like to research further and I'm glad Bell brought it up in this novel. The only weakness of this novel is the pornography angle. A porn star is murdered and some of the suspects are porn producers or stars, but the evil of pornography is directly dealt with. Bell is great at writing strong characters and relationships. I recommend this novel to anyone. It is a legal thriller that every one can enjoy.

Imagine you're the wife of a pastor, an 8,000-member-congregation-best-selling-author kind of pastor. You're happy. Fulfilled. Making a difference at the shelter for abused women, which you started. Lately your husband has seemed a little distant, but he would never cheat on you. You trust him completely. Until the red police lights flash outside your window... Dallas Hamilton's world turns upside-down when her husband Ron is arrested for murdering a porn star in a seedy motel room. Dallas desperately wants to believe her husband is innocent. The whole thing's a huge misunderstanding. Or even a smear campaign. After all, Ron's best-selling book tackled pornography in the church, and it was he who teamed up with a local councilman in a fight to wipe out pornography in Los Angeles. Plenty of people are eager to see Ron fall. But as time unfolds, and each visit with Ron's lawyer brings more bad news, Dallas' faith in her husband dwindles. Her family troubles aren't limited to her husband either. Jared, her twenty-four-year-old son, has recently returned from the Iraqi war and is struggling with his own demons. Dallas yearns to reach him. Yet facing her own past and her husband's future is becoming more than she can handle. But Dallas isn't letting her family go down without a fight. Whenever I pick up a James Scott Bell novel I expect a thrilling ride - one with twists, turns, and surprises. Presumed Guilty fits the bill. There's a reason why Library Journal calls Jim a "master of legal suspense". His writing is crisp and sharp, and he never fails to create rich characters who could be us. This should come as no surprise from the man who also penned the acclaimed writing how-to book Plot & Structure. I especially enjoyed how seemingly unrelated events at the beginning of the story all organically came together in the end. Nimbly weaving the multiple storylines (Jared and Ron each get some face time of their own), Bell has crafted yet another relevant page-turner in Presumed Guilty. Pornography is a sensitive subject for many, but Jim tackles the issue with grace. He's not afraid to touch on the porn industry's underbelly, but he never stoops into gratuitous territory. A bold blend of legal thriller and socially pertinent fiction, Presumed Guilty will keep you flipping leaves well past your bedtime. --Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for Infuze Magazine

Another spine-tingler by James Scott Bell, this book delves into the dark world of pornography, betrayal, and murder. Readers join Dallas (a successful pastor's wife) on her descent from a mega-church ministry into jails and seedy motels on a quest for truth--a truth that, if revealed, could cost her marriage and her husband's ministry. As always, Bell weaves subplots and dizzying twists into a mind-bending story. Memorable characters, engaging dialogue, and page-turning plot twists made this a book I couldn't put down. I loved the dramatic court case scenes, as well as the tender scenes between mother and children. It's not mere entertainment--it contains a message that many apathetic Americans need to hear. Pornography is a dangerous trap and industry leaders will not easily give up the dollars they filch. Bell portrays those truths without getting preachy, though it's one of the best sermons on purity I've read.

This book grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. The suspense is top notch--as is expected from James Scott Bell--with unexpected twists in abundance. The haunted thoughts of the mega-pastor turned inmate, interspersed throughout the story, add an even deeper level of intensity to the emotional side. Presumed Guilty takes page-turner to a whole new level.