Do You Solemnly Swear

Lindsey McCall #2

by Lin Wilder

What if your former girlfriend decides to use her 6-year-old daughter to punish you for breaking up with her?

How do you prove that you are innocent of the worst case of sexual perversion against a child?

Is it possible to refute the lies of a beautiful, seemingly innocent, little girl?

When Gabe McAllister decorated former Marine and respected Texas State Trooper, walked out of his condo in west Houston on a Tuesday morning to head to a meeting of the newly formed task force of the DEA, Texas State Police, and Border Patrol, he found five Houston cops waiting to collar him for the rape of 6-year-old Annie Bridges.

His next several days and weeks are a blur as he realizes belatedly that he has no chance against his diminutive accuser, his implicit trust in the fairness of the justice system shattered, McAllister lands in the Huntsville prison, sentenced to 3 counts of 20 to life sentences.

In the sequel to The Fragrance Shed By A Violet, Lin Wilder embroils characters in another complex web of dysfunctional family, deceit, revenge and the politics of courtrooms. Pulitzer Prize reporter Kate Townsend’s front page story for her newspaper, The Houston Tribune, about a juror–the foreman of McAllister’s jury–stepping forward to speak about the case and her concern about why McAllister was not granted a retrial galvanizes Houstonians once again: Had a Houston jury convicted another innocent person?

Dr. Lindsey McCall, former inmate at Huntsville and now Medical Director at the Prisons and Rich Jansen, Chief Warden at the prisons are faced with the all-too-familiar question of just how involved should they get as Townsend begins to dig into the background of little Annie Bridges and her mother. When Townsend reveals the details of her new investigative series: A Nation of Law: The Dark Side, Jansen is more than intrigued.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Drama, Suspense

344 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2015

About the author

Lin Wilder has a doctorate in Public Health from the UT Houston with a background in cardiopulmonary physiology, medical ethics, and hospital administration. During her thirty-plus years in academic health care administration, Lin authored numerous texts in these fields.

She began writing fiction only after leaving her Hospital Director position at UMASS Medical Center. Since then, Lin’s been the recipient of an extensive array of awards for her two series of novels. Her medical mystery series include: The Fragrance Shed By A Violet, Do You Solemnly Swear? A Price for Genius and Malthus Revisited. Plausible Liars, the fifth in the Dr. Lindsey McCall mystery series, is scheduled for release in the late spring of 2022.

Lin’s ancient novel series includes I, Claudia, and My Name is Saul. The third in that series, and her latest novel, The Reluctant Queen, took first place for historical and religious fiction in Feathered Quill’s Best Books of 2022. In addition, her memoir, Finding the Narrow Path, recounts her journey away from God and back again.

Lin lives in the Texas hill country with her husband and dogs.

Signed copies of her books can be purchased at linwilder.com. In addition, her weekly blog ranks in the top 100 Christian blogs and book reviews.

Reviews

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Literally this could be a one-word review and it would capture my complete thoughts on this work.



Wilder has crafted a work that could resonate through the world of American Suspense Thrillers. From the start I felt I was reading John Grisham. The characters come at you hard and fast but with instant depth.



You are brought into the terrifying world of Gabe McAllister who found himself wrongfully convicted of the most heinous crime. The group that came together to take on his cause and fight for justice for him was inspiring. From his Doctor to his Warden to his lawyer to the journalist…every character you cared for deeply.



I was shocked, horrified, filled with fear, despair and dread. I was given to laughing out loud at the humor. There are romantic scenes that are touching with how true they feel. This author takes you on a journey that is a must read for everyone.



If I can suggest one idea to the author it would be to spin off a series of books solely about Toni and Harvey as Private Eyes. Those two are incredible and deserve their own book.



Buy the book, read the book, love the book. This is 5+ stars. One of the best books I have ever read.



My Rating: 5+ stars



Reviewed by: Mr. N



This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si...

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Literally this could be a one-word review and it would capture my complete thoughts on this work.

Wilder has crafted a work that could resonate through the world of American Suspense Thrillers. From the start I felt I was reading John Grisham. The characters come at you hard and fast but with instant depth.

You are brought into the terrifying world of Gabe McAllister who found himself wrongfully convicted of the most heinous crime. The group that came together to take on his cause and fight for justice for him was inspiring. From his Doctor to his Warden to his lawyer to the journalist…every character you cared for deeply.

I was shocked, horrified, filled with fear, despair and dread. I was given to laughing out loud at the humor. There are romantic scenes that are touching with how true they feel. This author takes you on a journey that is a must read for everyone.

If I can suggest one idea to the author, it would be to spin off a series of books solely about Toni and Harvey as Private Eyes. Those two are incredible and deserve their own book.

Buy the book, read the book, love the book. This is 5+ stars. One of the best books I have ever read.



My Rating: 5+ stars

[Jnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner by Lin Wilder. Her first book in the Lindsey McCall series, The Fragrance Shed by a Violet: Murder in the Medical Center, is a better book, in my opinion but this one is really up there.

This is what the back of the book says:
What if your former girlfriend decided to use her daughter to punish you for breaking up with her? When Gabe McAllister, decorated former Marine and respected Texas State Trooper, walked out of his condo he found five Houston cops waiting to collar him for the rape of 6-year-old Annie Bridges. His next several days and weeks are a blur as he realized belatedly that he has no chance against his diminutive accuser, his implicit trust in the fairness of the justice system shattered, McAllister lands in the Huntsville prison, sentenced to three counts of 20 to life sentences. Lin Wilder embroils characters in another complex web of dysfunctional family, deceit, revenge and the politics of courtrooms.

Some of my complaints are really the same with this book as the first book. Almost everyone seems to be the "most" or the "least", the most handsome or the most ugly or the HEAD of the department or top in their field, etc.... Also, too much detail about some of the law procedures - but I have no real interest so I must admit that I skip over stuff that would be helpful for me. That kind of top-rate research is found throughout the book and is typically written plenty easy for me to understand (but would be redundant for a lawyer, I'm sure). There seems to be a lot of subplots that aren't necessary to the story of accused molester Gabe McAllister. Sometimes I was a little confused and had to reread a passage to figure out who was talking. This book has many characters so it is helpful to have read the previous book and to be acquainted with some of the characters. There are a few pages dedicated to the philosophies of Freud and Jung and others. Boring to me but necessary, I suppose, for a character who is doing quite a bit of soul searching.

There is much for me to like about this book. At the top of each chapter is the date and the place and a quote of some kind pertaining to the chapter's theme or idea or plot. The subject of child abuse is terrible and it is a relief that there is little detail given about what happens to the little girl. A couple of sentences easily skimmed over, actually avoided if you prefer. And I like the characters. They are brave, intuitive and morally just, perhaps too intense and preachy here and there, but people you'd like to know. Even the dogs are brave, intuitive and morally just. Much of this book takes place in Houston, my hometown, so I'm familiar with places and streets. A wedding takes place in a snowy, fancy European setting, and since I'm a romantic I like the dress details and such that Wilder provides.

Much of the ending has less to do with McAllister's story than to kind of alert you to the next book in the series. Also, there is the prologue for her next book, A Price for Genius. I tried to find this book in my local library, which it doesn't have, so a friend and I were required to do some sleuthing.
The book was eventually located and put on order. It is simply titled, Price for Genius, in my library catalog. I'm looking forward to reading it.

[Adeleke Inioluwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an engaging and thought provoking read that captures attention from the very first page. The author does a wonderful job of weaving together interesting ideas, relatable characters, and a strong sense of purpose. The writing is clear, the pacing is smooth, and the themes are meaningful, leaving readers with plenty to reflect on.

Whether you’re reading for entertainment, inspiration, or knowledge, this book offers something valuable. It’s well crafted and enjoyable, making it a great addition to any reader’s collection.

[Kathrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Do You Solemnly Swear? through The London Good Book Book Club and it completely gripped me. Lin Wilder dives deep into the dark side of justice, raising tough questions about power, revenge, and truth. Gabe’s journey from trusted lawman to wrongly convicted inmate is both heartbreaking and eye opening. A must read for fans of courtroom drama and investigative storytelling.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my review of the audio version:

This was a fascinating story with some very strong and interesting characters. I was totally on board with the story of Gabe being wrongly convicted of the most heinous of crimes; and Rich, Lindsey, Kate, Zack, and others fighting to appeal the verdict. Annie was a tragic little girl who needed so much to be loved and surrounded by decent people.
My problem was that I was overwhelmed with extraneous details. While no part of the story was boring, the history of Devil Dogs, the details of Kate's romance, and other added story lines, took my mind away from the main focus of the book. Also, I kept forgetting last names, which was bad, because in this book, characters are referred to by first names at times, and last names at others.
The narration was terrific, which is saying a lot due to the large number of characters. I also appreciated the writing. Despite my complaints, I would read more from this author. If the focus had remained more on Gabe's case, this would have been a 5-star read for me. (And, honestly, I would love to read more about the various side stories if they were given books of their own.)
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"Guilty until proven innocent."
This is a distressing book to read in several ways, not because of the crime committed (although mention of such acts alone would be enough) but exactly because it wasn't..Yet still the full force of the law failed the defendant, an ex- marine who had served four terms in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars before leaving the service, two years before the commencement of this story. Gabe McAllister had believed in the law and, innocent, thought he would be aquitted. But instead found himself condemned because of the abhorrent nature of the crime of which he was accused and a general belief that no child would make such allegations without their being true. How does someone prove their innocence when all sympathy is with a vulnerable child? "Kids don't lie,." And penalties for convicted paedophiles can be heavier than for murderers.
This central theme is well covered, importantly so, given that this is apparently not a single case idea but one which does occur with all too frequent regularity, especially amongst divorcing couples. Less welcome at least to this reader, however, was secondary romance story running through it, the over sentimentality jarring with the seriousness of the trial itself.and detracting from the main story.

The narration by Mark Kamish was excellent, his pleasant soft spoken voice reading with commitment and understanding of the text, well articulated and with good intonation. His interpretation of the individual protagonists in conversation was also appropriate and distinctive. A good overall performance.

Each chapter of the book is preceded by a pertinent quotation from such luminaries as Cicero, Martin Luther King Jr., Mark Twain, Rumi and At.Augustine, all of whom increase the thought provoking nature of the book. Characterisation is also mostly good, with all of the main protagonists introduced seperately into the story and given brief thumbnail sketches, helping to keep each memorable and clear. My thanks to the rights holder of Do You Solemnly Swear? for gifting me a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. It treated and presented an important and difficult issue in a way that made it possible to see more dispassionately than newspaper headlines could ever achieve. It was, at least for the most part, a very enjoyable listen. Recommended.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

The topic of this legal thriller provided considerable potential for a great story. Unfortunately, the opportunity was squandered. It was way, way too preachy and the gratuitous romance was far too sappy. This had the effect of overwhelming what might have been an interesting case. Although the characters were likable enough, they were rather flat and predictable, as was the outcome of the story.

Mark Kamish put forth a strong effort, giving the characters distinctive voices and accents, although they weren't always consistent and his delivery sometimes bordered on overly dramatic.

Overall, this was a very disappointing listen. More than once, I wanted to skip over some of the overly preachy or romantic sections, but I managed to finish the book. There just wasn't enough content to this story to allow me to recommend it.

NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Janice Genova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second Lin Wilder novel. Loved Fragrance Shed by a Violet and though this book continues the Lindsey McCall story, you do not need to have read Violet to be completely taken with the characters in Do You Solemnly Swear. In the beginning, I wasn't sure I'd be able to continue because of the topic - sexual abuse of children - but Wilder walked the balanced line of truth and reality without giving me nightmares. Her characters are so well written that I am in the room with them. In fact, her final courtroom scene had me leaping out of bed. I cannot wait to read her next!

[Regan Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was eye-opening! I cried at the end. Lin Wilder created a flow that was insightful and intriguing. I had to read it twice! Can't wait to dive into her other novels. She does a lot of research and has a lot of medical knowledge that is articulated in a way we can understand. I highly recommend!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an engaging and thoughtfully written work that captures the reader’s attention from start to finish. The author’s clear voice and strong storytelling create an enjoyable reading experience while encouraging reflection and discussion. Overall, it’s a compelling title and a valuable addition to any reader’s collection.

[Thomas A. Skelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read!

I'm not a bit surprised I like each of Lin Wilder's books more than the last! I'm diving right into the next one, eager for more of the fascinating characters in another of Wilder's, Lindsey McCall Medical Mystery Series!

[Craig Herron · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book from the author

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a captivating story!!!
Thanks to London Good Book Book Club

[Romuald Dzemo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do You Solemnly Swear? A Nation of Law, The Dark Side by Lin Wilder is a heartbreaking tale of how far a person can go to exact revenge for lost love. Gabe Mc Allister is an ex-Marine and a Texas State Trooper, a man who believes that the law is above everything and who would be willing to trade his life to see justice done. At the apex of his career and a time when he can take delight in his work, his past comes to visit him. In an unexpected moment, he is accused of raping the six-year-old daughter of his ex-partner, and the nightmare begins for him. Now he realizes that the separation with Sam, his ex-partner hasn’t yet closed and he may pay for it with his own life.

Is there a way to prove his innocence? Who will believe him? It is interesting to watch him wrestle with his thoughts and emotions, barely making sense of what is happening.

This is a story that reflects the drama, the intrigue, and the machinations that take place when separation is not complete. Lin Wilder creates a story that many readers will identify with. The problems of false accusations and blackmail are rampant where there are broken relationships, marriages, and families, and the author has written about the subject as a master. She has the skill of drawing readers into the depths of the minds and hearts of her characters to be witnesses to an upsurge of powerful emotions and intense conflict. Do You Solemnly Swear? A Nation of Law, The Dark Side is a beautiful story that is masterfully written and it’s hard to not read it to the end as every reader will want to know what happens to their protagonist. A real page-turner!

[Sweetpea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a sad commentary on today's society and probably occurs much more often than we realize. It sickens me that parents, usually the mother, can use their children as pawns for their own personal gain or revenge. Lives can be devastated with even the mere accusation of child molestation and it is often an uphill battle to prove their innocence. As was stated in the book, how do you prove that you didn't do something? In Gabe's story, the presumption of innocence was almost completely absent during his initial trial, compounding his fight.

Do You Solemnly Swear? was a compelling listen that gripped me from the start. Gabe made some bad choices but certainly didn't deserve to be in his current predicament and I really felt for him. The writing was powerful, with a great story and interesting characters. My only criticism was that so many side stories somewhat detracted from the main emphasis, namely proving Gabe's innocence. With a large cast of characters, Mark Kamish did an excellent job with the narration. I enjoyed Do You Solemnly Swear?: A Nation of Law, The Dark Side and would recommend it.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This review is my honest opinion.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Do You Solemnly Swear' was not just a really great thriller, but it was also really thought-provoking. It made me think of the tenuous grip we have on our lives, with just a few words, everything can come crumbling down. This is what Gabe McAllister discovers when he is unexpectedly arrested for a truly awful crime. If that isn't bad enough, worse is to come when he finds himself imprisoned, with little chance of ever being released. Gabe must fight is he wants justice, and it will not be an easy journey and you are right there along with him for the ride.



A superb read from Lin Wilder with great character development, and a gripping plot line. From despair to delight, fear to confusion, this novel brings up many genuine emotions, so you become really invested in the plot, and well as the characters and their fate. But you will have to read 'Do You Solemnly Swear' for yourself to find out what that is.

[Marjorie Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a drunken stupor you make a really bad mistake that will cost you, your life almost.
You leave the druggy girl and her 6 year old daughter. She is out for revenge and oh boy, does she succeed.
Gabe McAllister sees his life in shambles and is sentenced to jail for life, for the rape of this woman's daughter.
Sadly, he is not the only one in prison wrongfully accused for a crime like this.
Bad judgement gives you 60 years in prison.
Another wrongful conviction.
And so it begins making a wrong, right.
This novel also has suspense and romance.
I received this book at my request through a promotion for Word Slinger Publicity and Lin Wilder.

[Glenda Bixler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilder has provided an amazing sequel...Check it out today

http://gabixlerreviews-bookreadershea...