This marks a great addition to the bookshelves of any true crime fan, especially one fascinated by the truly wild things that happen in Florida.

Mikita Brottman tells a story of two couples who are best friends. They vacation together, go to concerts together, experiment sexually together. From the outside, they are building synchronized lives in terms of family, work and church.

When one husband goes missing, it appears to be a hunting accident. But some people close to him suspect the truth, and they keep pushing for answers across years -- until the truth is finally revealed in almost unbelievable fashion.

Brottman does an excellent job of taking readers inside a story that gripped viewers of Court TV as the trial and all of its sensational details played out live.

This is a fast read and packed with details provided by Brottman's keen eye for what makes something gripping.

The story may seem from the outside to just be salacious, and if you read it for that reason, you won't be disappointed. But Brottman also delves into the motives of each player in a way that makes you look a little bit differently at each of those "perfect" couples in your life.

Where I think the book may fall short is in its beginning. It takes a few chapters to really get running. Once it does, it zooms. But you have to stick with it.

Guilty Creatures is a true-crime novel about a murder that took place in Florida in 2000. Denise and Mike Williams are leading quiet and unremarkable lives, regular attendees at their Baptist church and best friends with Brian and Kathy Winchester. Then one December day Mike disappears while duck hunting on Lake Seminole. He is initially presumed drowned, and when his body fails to rise to the surface in spring, it is assumed the gators got him. But this doesn't sit well with Mike's mother.

As time goes on Mike's Mom relentlessly tries to keep the case in front of the police and once a year pays for a billboard with her son's missing photo. This doesn't sit well with Mike's wife Denise, and eventually she doesn't let her and Mike's daughter visit the grandmother anymore. Then something happens that raises suspicion or at least eyebrows in their small community. Brian leaves his wife Kathy and marries Denise.

Denise and Brian are initially happy but things begin to go bad in their marriage. One of them definitely feels more guilty than the other, and things start to fall apart.

So how was the book? First off, I love the cover and it really made me want to read the book! The writer kept the book short enough that it was a quick and easy read, and she didn't get bogged down in the minutia like sometimes happens in true crime renditions. The crime was not exactly riveting, yet it is interesting because of that: how such unremarkable people can do such a diabolical thing. The one thing I would like to have seen was a bit more of a connection to the characters. Even the victim was one dimensional for me. But I did enjoy seeing this story play out, and how one person's guilty conscience helped "the perfect crime" unravel.

I would rate this a 3.5 read and an enjoyable treat for true crime aficionados.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mikita Brottman, and Atria Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Atria Books, One Signal Publishers, and Simon Audio for the free copies to review!

I think the audio is the way to read books like these, especially insane stories where it seems so obvious to the reader who is behind a crime and yet it somehow takes years to solve. This was a wild case where it seems everyone turned a blind eye until they couldn’t anymore and the killers themselves started falling apart. This was quite an informative, page turning read that I think true crime readers will definitely want to add to their list.

Whoa. Sometimes I think that nothing can surprise me anymore, and then I read another crime thriller and am amazed at just how shocking things can still be. People are twisted and crazy. It makes me fear the real world. I think I'd rather stay in my home.

As a fan of the true crime genre, I’m always on the lookout for cases I haven’t heard of. I had never heard of this case before so I had to give it a go. I'm a former Baptist so that fact drew me in further. The story at the heart of this book is a chilling tale of betrayal, religion, and adultery set in the deep South, culminating in a murder as cold-blooded as they come. It’s the kind of real-life drama that should have been on every religious/former religious/true crime enthusiast’s list.

Disclaimer: this book is a little dry. It's like reading police transcripts. However, the author clearly put a tremendous amount of effort into researching the details, which is something I always appreciate in true crime narratives. The depth of information provided is impressive and gives readers a thorough understanding of the people and events involved. However, while the meticulous research is commendable, the book itself felt more like a textbook than a gripping non-fiction read.

A tense, true-story book that had me hanging on the edge of each page. As a southern girl--close to Florida!--this was fascinating and also terrifying.

An atmospheric tale that unwraps the wholesome, God-fearing exterior of two lovers to show the rot underneath

Guilty Creatures by Mikita Bottman presents a thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of morality and human nature. While the novel offers intriguing ideas and a unique perspective, its pacing and character development may not appeal to all readers. Overall, it provides a decent, if uneven, reading experience.

I could not put this book down once I started reading it! A true crime case based on a missing person turned into murder by his wife and best friend who were having an affair. I absolutely loved this book, reading it in one sitting. It is not the typical whodunnit mystery read. It is compelling as it engages the reader as the author writes the story and events as a psychological rendering of the two people guilty of this crime, their secrets and how the impact of their choices bound them forever. It is a definite page turner that is not just sex, death, murder, lies, adultery, but of how obsession and lies can take over and the ultimate consequences that occurred. I highly recommend as it is the perfect for true crime and literary fiction lovers as well as it is perfectly written. Thank you NetGalley and Atria/One Signal for allowing me the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

Described as “breathless true crime tale of sex, religion, and murder in the deep south.” Well, I like everything in that sentence but the Oxford comma, so should be great, right?

Zzzzzzzz. Huh? What? Am I drooling?

Mike and Denise Williams (even their names are boring) were high school sweethearts as were Brian and Kathy Winchester. The couples were both devout Baptists who lived in Tallahassee. On December 12, 2000 Mike disappeared while duck hunting on Lake Seminole. His body was never found and was presumed eaten by alligators.

Then, within five years, Brian divorces Kathy and has married Denise. Hmmmm. People started talking, I mean, can’t a poor widow woman just shack up with her best friend’s man in peace for the love of God? Then, years later, the truth comes out. I won’t spoil it, but if you can’t guess it, um, well, you might not even know what “spoil” means.

So, I get that there wasn’t going to be some big surprise here, but there usually isn’t with true crime. The key is in the writing. And this could have been good. But it wasn’t. Just dull. Dulldulldull. God bless Mike’s mom though. I’m sure she looked like a lunatic, marching around with her signs and all, but she was determined to find her son, and though it didn’t turn out like she hoped, I hope she knows that she is the reason it got resolved at all. Moms are awesome.

And where are the photos? True crime books used to always have photos! Why don’t they do that anymore? I always li e seeing the real people. Let’s bring that back, you cheap bastards!

I do love crime, and this had potential, but this? Skip this one. Message me if you don’t know who did it. After I’ve finished laughing at you I will tell you.

Guilty Creatures unravels the murder committed and hidden for 17 years. I love an unhinged true crime story. There was sex, religion, secrets, and murder! While this story is absolutley wild, the book read more like a book report.
Thank you,Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.

This was a case I was fully unfamiliar with until picking up Brottman's book. And wow, this was a wild ride and even more wild because it is true. I really found this to be the best type of true crime novel where you are interested and not super bogged down in miscellaneous details. Really well done.

“But just as a drowned body will rise to the surface, whatever is repressed will always return.”

Guilty Creatures
Sex, God and Murder in Tallahassee Florida
by Mikita Brottman
🐊 🐊 🐊 🐊


I knew nothing about this case going into this book, so it was nice that I had no information vs. other popular cases.
This book was very well written for true crime, I didn’t find myself getting bored and needing breaks I wanted to keep going I needed to know how it all played out.

Okay, so, this book, is totally wild. You’ve got Mike and Denise Williams, this seemingly perfect couple, and their BFFs, Brian and Kathy Winchester. They’re all like, super religious and good ol’ Southern folks.

But then, boom! Mike disappears while duck hunting. Everyone thinks it’s an accident, but nah, that’s not the case.
Fast forward a few years, and Brian and Denise are hitched. People are all like, "WTH?" Did they kill Mike? It takes another twelve years, but the truth finally comes out.

And let me tell you, it’s insane.
Mikita Brottman, this true crime writer, (& has to be a researcher too!) really digs deep into this whole mess.

It’s creepy, it’s fascinating, and it’s totally addictive.
If you’re into true crime and want to be shocked, this book is for you.

A fascinating true crime book about a murder in Tallahassee, Florida. Two couples, friends since high school, become mixed up in a web of lies and betrayal. The book recounts the facts and the history behind the event and while it could have been dry and boring, it is not. The story reads like a novel with insights into the minds of the people involved taken from correspondence and journals. All in all, an excellent read and I would highly recommend for anyone who enjoys reading true crime.

Wow this was good! I don't consider myself a "true crime girl" but I could not put this down. It's told in an engaging way that felt informative yet personal at the same time. The story is presented with care and I highlighted multiple parts that I will want to return to. This author has a gift for telling these stories.

Based on the synopsis, I wanted to love this book. Unfortunately it fell short in every way possible. I do not recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. This is my first foray into true crime and it did not disappoint. Truly salacious and freaky! What a horrific story that weaves themes of religion and sex and shame and more. I wish the storytelling was more show rather than tell, but I appreciated the thorough detail, research, and clarity provided.

On the morning of his sixth wedding anniversary, Mike Williams went out duck hunting. He never came home.

In a true crime narrative that reads like an extended Dateline episode, Brottman details the facts of Mike's marriage to Denise and of his disappearance. She begins by introducing the main cast of characters during their high school romances and follows the tale all the way to the eventual court proceedings.

I was disappointed that the author did not flesh out the individuals who helped bring the case to light. While much deserved attention was given to Mike's mother Cheryl and her dogged determination to have her son's disappearance investigated, I would have loved more insight into the journalist who insisted on running a piece about Mike's disappearance every year. Knowing more about the investigators and prosecutors also would have helped add more depth to this story.

An easy read for someone looking to pass a rainy afternoon. However, I feel it was a missed opportunity to really explore the psychology and deeply held beliefs of the perpetrators.

This review will be posted to Goodreads on July 30, 2024.

Tallahassee, Florida is a city with more than its share of horrifying murders, which Brottman tells us has earned it the nickname, “Tallanasty.” Is it something in the water? No, wait. That’s the gators. One thing that we know is true: in the far right, conservative Christian enclave there, two upstanding young people decided to forego the disgrace and humiliation of divorce by committing the perfect murder. One of their spouses would have an accident while out duck hunting, and he would never be heard from again.

My thanks go to NetGalley and Atria Books for the review copy. This book is for sale now.

The four of them met when they were just kids, and while attending a private Christian high school, they developed a tight bond. Mike and Denise, Brian and Kathy were constantly in one another’s company, and they stayed tight after graduation. The two couples married, and then they cut loose, the four of them partying and engaging in edgy sexual practices that could make an old lady school teacher like me blush. Mike, a hardworking young man from the working class, and Kathy, who wanted to start a family, were ready to settle down and behave themselves; Mike’s wife, Denise, and Kathy’s husband, Brian, were not. In a heartbeat they began carrying out an affair, making elaborate arrangements to avoid shame within their families, church, and community. Ultimately, they decided that Mike, who was a stickler for a structured life and extreme attention to even the smallest financial expenditures, simply had to go. They devised a plan to disappear him, and although suspicions were raised, they got away with the crime for nearly twenty years, when they turned on each other and all hell broke loose.

I had never heard of the case before reading this book, though the author tells us that it has received extensive media coverage. Brottman does a fine job of relaying the story, with perfect pacing and just enough attention to detail. There’s extensive documentation in the end notes, and she relies primarily on primary sources. It reads almost like narrative nonfiction, with suspense building to where I couldn’t look away during the last 25% of the story. This is especially impressive given that I can usually walk away from murder mysteries and thrillers at any time.

I seldom read true crime, and when I finished reading this book, I recalled why that’s so. While I was reading it, it was a fine, trashy wallow, steeping myself in the misdeeds of people that live lives very different from my own. It’s riveting stuff. But once I was done, I felt as though I should take a shower and perhaps gargle.

A little of this type of story goes a long way, but for those that love true crime, it’s a hard one to beat. Highly recommended for those that enjoy the genre.