The story starts out a little slow as the author builds the plot bit by bit. With murders piling up and a protagonist whose memory isn’t all it should be, we even get a bit of romance added to the mix to provide something for everyone.

Featuring gruesome murders, a high body count and a serial killer on the loose, The Guilty One is one hell of a suspenseful, dark and twisty story. Just the way I like it! Bill Schweigart’s evil genius is on full display in this book, one that captures your attention early and keeps a tight death grip on you throughout.

Detective Cal Farrell is a hero in Alexandria, Virginia for his role in thwarting an active shooter situation 6 months ago. Only he doesn’t remember everything from that day and that leads to others questioning his actions and his rapid ascent from patrol officer to detective. However, while out on a run he discovers a dead body hanging incredibly high in a tree over the trail, soon followed by other victims of what appears to be a serial killer. Cal gets involved in the investigation as the bodies pile up, sharing insights and angles that others aren’t thinking of, resulting in suspicions being cast in his direction. With his history of missing memories, could he be involved in these grisly murders in some way and not know it? Or is someone setting him up to be the patsy? If Cal can’t figure out the truth and who he can trust, he will swiftly go from hero to goat…and a maximum-security prison cell for life.

The Guilty One represents a departure from Bill’s monster-laden Fatal Folklore Trilogy and his humorous, melodious and uplifting serialized novel Running Light, but one he pulls off with aplomb due to his superior intelligence and sexual magnetism. Ok maybe that last part is a bit of a stretch, but regardless of your take on the state of Bill’s mental capacity and physical attractiveness (and I know people are lining up around the block to weigh in on this topic), The Guilty One is undeniably superb. It contains a flawed but willing protagonist that you want to believe in and root for. The story is crafted to sow enough doubt to keep readers guessing on who’s behind the murders deep into the book. The conduct of several characters will engage readers at an emotional level by eliciting a strong, passionate response to their behavior. And if that’s not enough, it concludes with a wonderfully psychotic flourish that will have you exclaiming, “Oh sh*t!”

On a more serious note, The Guilty One takes on complex topics by exploring mental health and the human response to traumatic experiences through the events and characters in the story. As a result, this book has depth that goes beyond entertainment and into the realm of realism and relatability. Because we’ve all faced challenges in our lives and/or know people close to us who have had to overcome difficult situations. Which means we understand that everyone responds differently and therefore it puts the actions of these characters into a context that we can empathize with. Except for the serial killer. Hopefully we all don’t have the type of experience that allows us to empathize with that person.

All of which goes to say that of all the thrillers I’ve read this year, The Guilty One is definitely one of them. I kid, I kid. It’s a thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. Dark and twisted but with enough humor – and a little love – to strike a good balance that keeps readers engrossed and entertained. Additionally, it left me wanting more (in a good way) with Cal being a character that people will rally behind and whose development has just begun with a limitless number of stories that can be told with him as the lead protagonist. So if Bill can please hurry up and write a sequel to turn this into a series, I would be greatly appreciative. Because I would love to see what happens next.

The Guilty One by Bill Schweigart was a suspenseful read. While it initially started a little slow for me, flipping back and forth between 'the Very Hot Day' and the present day, it quickly drew me in as it tells the story of Detective Cal Farrell putting a stop to a horrific mass shooting - only to find he doesn't actually remember stopping the shooting. As Cal grapples with his sense of identity as a newly appointed detective and town hero, questions and red flags start appearing as bodies start showing up in Alexandria.
This novel had me on a race to figure out the answers and connections before they were revealed. It consisted of many twists and turns that kept me on my toes and had me second guessing everything. Highly recommend if you enjoy suspense, murder and mystery novels.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I liked this book, although the past/present thing is getting a bit tiresome. Cal is a hero but doesn't remember how it turned out that way, and seems to be at the middle of some complex stuff going. Is it a serial killer, is it the cops, who is watching whom. Cal is chasing his memory and integrity and the girl, of course. But she is with his best friend, so hands off.

Until.....the story is good, and moves quickly until the inevitable violent crescendo. No spoilers here but its dramatic and for the most part, satisfying.
I don't usually like romance in mysteries, but this was ok.

Did not expect much from a cop thriller and just as I thought-- it was incredibly boring, there was not a single scene in it that was enough to keep my attention. I had to stop reading it mid story.

Very suspense filled story by Schweigart; very easy to lose yourself in. Det. Cal Farrell is considered a hero in Alexandria for stopping a mass shooter - the only problem is that he has no memory of what really happened that day. When it appears a serial killer is on the loose and seemingly targeting people with connections to him, Farrell is drawn into the search while at the same tine, trying to recover his memories of the day he thwarted a killer.
Is he a hero or is he not???
I found myself flipping the pages to figure it all out.
Great read.

Good book! Wow! This book was a little dark! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, and so many crazy twists! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!