I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of this incredible debut thriller, In Defense of Innocence, which follows Janice Williams, the head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Child Sex Crimes Division.
Janice’s hunt for pedophiles is more than a job, it is her obsession. But limited by protocol and regulation, she is unable to keep up with a vigilante who vows to avenge children in ways Janice cannot. Now forced to protect those she has convicted, Janice’s resolve is further conflicted when it becomes clear the murderer has an inside connection.
The sensitive topic initially made me unsure about this book, but I loved every minute of this read and highly recommend the novel. The narriative keeps primary focus on Janice’s investigation and the unknown vigilante’s hunt, without treading into uncomfortable ground. It is a commentary about Candandian law and a fantastic turn on a thrilling man-hunt.
Beautifully written, In Defense of Innocence is a wild ride with multiple climaxes that keeps the pages turning. A masterful use of changing narration point-of-view furthers the storytelling and challenges the reader’s allegiance.
Who will you root for, those who enforce the law or the one who accomplishes what the law cannot?
In Defense of Innocence is a debut novel from Dave Wickenden. Wickenden says he is an individual who is grabs life by the reigns and doesn’t let go – and his bio backs up the claim. He spent time in the Canadian Armed Forces before the Fire Service, so is as comfortable with a rocket launcher as a fire hose. He has brought six people back from the dead utilizing CPR and a defibrillator and has assisted in rescuing people in crisis. He has learnt to lead men and women in extreme environments. He loves to cook, read and draw. Wickenden ran his own home based custom art business creating highly detailed wood and paper burnings called pyrography. One of his pictures of form Prime Minister Jean Chretien graces the walls of Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
At home in Canada, Wickenden and his wife Gina are parents to three boys and three grandsons. His two youngest boys are busy with minor hockey and fishing, so you can guess where you’ll find Wickenden when he’s not writing.
After 31 years in the fire Service and attaining the rank of Deputy Fire Chief, Wickenden retired to write thriller novels full time. He has been a member of the Sudbury Writer’s Guild since 2014.
In Defense of Innocence releases April 16, 2018 but you can pre-order it now. Wickenden’s second book, Homegrown, will be out in the summer of 2018. Both novels are published by Crave Press
K.M. Pohlkamp - Author Website 