Helpful Score: 1
In his generically titled true-crimer INNOCENT VICTIMS, Brian J. Karem has melded a tragically murdered 11 year old boy; an angry, mentally ill, and gay 15 year old boy; and a bizarre 44 year old pedophile and created an above average book. Other main players include two devastated and heartbroken families and a police department and legal system in eastern New Jersey in the late 90s that was at once incompetent, insensitive and dishonest. I will not describe the story in further detail so as to avoid spoilers.
Karem's writing, though not exceptional, is fine for what he is doing, which is reporting a crime, the crime which led to the crime, and their legal and social ramifications.
He is essentially objective although he tends to be highly critical of the New Jersey legal system - which is a positive and which adds interest - and for the most part he tells his story well. There are an unfortunate 60 or so pages which deal with the heartbreak and frustration felt by the involved families which quickly become boringly repetitive, and which soon put me in mind of the fine padding in the leather seats of the classic 1955 Lincoln Capri I once owned. But Karem pulls out of this nosedive with a well done segment about a highly interesting courtroom sequence involving the 15 and 44 year olds.
INNOCENT VICTIMS is not must reading, but it is good work and will appeal to a lot of fans of the genre.
Karem's writing, though not exceptional, is fine for what he is doing, which is reporting a crime, the crime which led to the crime, and their legal and social ramifications.
He is essentially objective although he tends to be highly critical of the New Jersey legal system - which is a positive and which adds interest - and for the most part he tells his story well. There are an unfortunate 60 or so pages which deal with the heartbreak and frustration felt by the involved families which quickly become boringly repetitive, and which soon put me in mind of the fine padding in the leather seats of the classic 1955 Lincoln Capri I once owned. But Karem pulls out of this nosedive with a well done segment about a highly interesting courtroom sequence involving the 15 and 44 year olds.
INNOCENT VICTIMS is not must reading, but it is good work and will appeal to a lot of fans of the genre.
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