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In Defense of Innocence
Abused as a child, Janice Williams became a cop to make a difference. When a vigilante starts killing child abusers, she is tasked with capturing the killer. But the vigilante knows her every move. When Janice uncovers the identity of the vigilante, she is faced with the dilemma to do her job to uphold the law or help this person escape a nation-wide manhunt.
358 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 16, 2018
Janice Williams' 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 narrative 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?
The sensitive topic initially made me unsure about this book, but I loved every minute of this read and highly recommend the novel. The narrative 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?
October 13, 2019
An absolute knockout thriller.
In Defense of Innocence by Dave Wickenden is an absolute knockout. It begins with the story told in first person through the eyes of what we come to realize is a vigilante, targeting a convicted pedophile as he is released from prison due to a lenient sentence. The judge who laid down the lenient sentence is also attended to.
Then, through third-person narrative, we meet a Priest with inappropriate feelings toward the children in his midst.
Janice Williams is leading a task force, trying to learn the identity of a suspected serial killer of children and the location of his latest victim before he’s murdered. Video evidence is obtained on the Dark Web, where sexual predators sell video evidence of depraved conquests to other perverts. Janice, herself, is a survivor of childhood sexual assault and is buoyed by her friendship with her onetime therapist, Laura Amour. Janice’s team obtains evidence that helps them close in on the suspected serial killer only to discover that the vigilante got there first. The investigation confirms what everyone already suspected, that the kidnapper was a serial killer and a pedophile.
Wickenden brings us inside the RCMP and related Canadian security services while the search for the vigilante goes into overdrive. One thing is clear: the vigilante has either penetrated the investigation or has someone feeding them information from the inside.
The story is a thoughtful questioning of not only Canada’s less than properly punitive sex crime laws, but the nature of man himself. Of particular concern is the plight of the indigenous peoples and how many of their children were caught in the web of human sexual depravity.
This reader guessed the identity of the vigilante and the author abandoned first person once it had been done. But that in no way detracted from the story because the vigilante’s identity wasn’t what the story was about. Taking pleasure in the dispatching of human evil isn’t the worst of my transgressions. The story turned into a flat-out thriller and made me root for the vigilante’s success.
I read this in huge chunks and when I reached the last third, I couldn’t put it down. The end was very satisfying. The book reminded me of Term Limits by Vince Flynn while reading it. The politics were peripheral rather than central but child sex predators need to be dealt with by the political authorities, otherwise, they will be dealt with the old way: the hand of justice dealt by the children’s protectors, their families and communities.
In Defense of Innocence by Dave Wickenden is an absolute knockout. It begins with the story told in first person through the eyes of what we come to realize is a vigilante, targeting a convicted pedophile as he is released from prison due to a lenient sentence. The judge who laid down the lenient sentence is also attended to.
Then, through third-person narrative, we meet a Priest with inappropriate feelings toward the children in his midst.
Janice Williams is leading a task force, trying to learn the identity of a suspected serial killer of children and the location of his latest victim before he’s murdered. Video evidence is obtained on the Dark Web, where sexual predators sell video evidence of depraved conquests to other perverts. Janice, herself, is a survivor of childhood sexual assault and is buoyed by her friendship with her onetime therapist, Laura Amour. Janice’s team obtains evidence that helps them close in on the suspected serial killer only to discover that the vigilante got there first. The investigation confirms what everyone already suspected, that the kidnapper was a serial killer and a pedophile.
Wickenden brings us inside the RCMP and related Canadian security services while the search for the vigilante goes into overdrive. One thing is clear: the vigilante has either penetrated the investigation or has someone feeding them information from the inside.
The story is a thoughtful questioning of not only Canada’s less than properly punitive sex crime laws, but the nature of man himself. Of particular concern is the plight of the indigenous peoples and how many of their children were caught in the web of human sexual depravity.
This reader guessed the identity of the vigilante and the author abandoned first person once it had been done. But that in no way detracted from the story because the vigilante’s identity wasn’t what the story was about. Taking pleasure in the dispatching of human evil isn’t the worst of my transgressions. The story turned into a flat-out thriller and made me root for the vigilante’s success.
I read this in huge chunks and when I reached the last third, I couldn’t put it down. The end was very satisfying. The book reminded me of Term Limits by Vince Flynn while reading it. The politics were peripheral rather than central but child sex predators need to be dealt with by the political authorities, otherwise, they will be dealt with the old way: the hand of justice dealt by the children’s protectors, their families and communities.
March 27, 2018
My Review:-
The title of this book is so genuine. It is taken wisely as title. Behind the creation of this title, there must be a mastermind who has thought deeply to make it as the title. The title speaks everything if one notices it very calmly. It carries its own meaning. Any title should be like this to catch reader’s attention. Dave Wickenden has done a great job while keeping such kind of title for this book. I appreciate his thought. The cover of this book has been made with the help of very deep thoughts. in cover, there is focused two toys of children and the rest portion of the cover has been kept black in color.
The story has been written wonderfully. It has been narrated and edited well. The author has used lucid language so that one can understand the fact of this story. The motive of the author is to make people aware of such kind of criminal activities happening in Canada and bring a change over it. There is mentioned in this book-in Canada, child abuse and child pornography are taking place as top level crime. But the government is not doing needful help to decrease such kind of criminal activities. Even indigenous women are in danger in Canada as mentioned in this book. They are being killed and kidnapped there. Canada government is not taking an effective role to protect all these and to protect the glory of the nation to all over the world. I must say the author has done a tremendous job by creating this story. One from Canada can learn a lesson from this book. This book contains an inspirational and informative message to the society.
Overall Ratings:- 5/5
The title of this book is so genuine. It is taken wisely as title. Behind the creation of this title, there must be a mastermind who has thought deeply to make it as the title. The title speaks everything if one notices it very calmly. It carries its own meaning. Any title should be like this to catch reader’s attention. Dave Wickenden has done a great job while keeping such kind of title for this book. I appreciate his thought. The cover of this book has been made with the help of very deep thoughts. in cover, there is focused two toys of children and the rest portion of the cover has been kept black in color.
The story has been written wonderfully. It has been narrated and edited well. The author has used lucid language so that one can understand the fact of this story. The motive of the author is to make people aware of such kind of criminal activities happening in Canada and bring a change over it. There is mentioned in this book-in Canada, child abuse and child pornography are taking place as top level crime. But the government is not doing needful help to decrease such kind of criminal activities. Even indigenous women are in danger in Canada as mentioned in this book. They are being killed and kidnapped there. Canada government is not taking an effective role to protect all these and to protect the glory of the nation to all over the world. I must say the author has done a tremendous job by creating this story. One from Canada can learn a lesson from this book. This book contains an inspirational and informative message to the society.
Overall Ratings:- 5/5
June 2, 2018
Head of child sex crimes division Inspector Janice Williams and her team are hunting down child abusers in a quest to bring them to justice. With the laws that are in place the Government seem to be protecting the criminals more than the children. This doesn't sit well with anyone. When someone starts attacking the abusers before the police can get to them, they have to work out how they are getting the information of their every move. It's a race against time for Janice and her team to uncover the identity of the killer. Will she do what's right and bring this person in, or let them escape?
My heart went out to not just the children who suffered, but the police as well. They have a very difficult job to do. You would have to be very hard not to be affected by these crimes.
I was also willing the attacker to reach more of these sick paedophiles before the police found them.
Although not an easy subject this is a fabulous thriller from start to finish. My grateful thanks to the author for letting me read his book. I have no hesitation in recommending this thriller and it gets five stars from me. This is my honest and unbiased review
April 14, 2024
Fast-paced book that kept me on the edge of my seat. Loved the criticism about the Canadian legal system, and a book set in Canada is super intriguing right off the bat. So happy to have stumbled upon this author by chance
February 27, 2020
Review to follow...
July 3, 2018
I was unable to access the internet for about a week because we had an issue with our connection. I was not able to work also. Good thing is I was able to read a few books. This is one of the books I read, which is a review request from an author. This is my first to read of this author. This book is probably the most difficult to read, if not, one of the most difficult ever. Difficult because of the subject that it tackles and its harsh realities. I had to rest after reading a few chapters and read a lighter story to decompress. In a way, it has gotten to me and I felt like I was drained of all energy. The truth was just too much for me to swallow.
Like its title, the author, through the effort of this book, takes on a very daunting and intimidating endeavor. Knowing that the author is a military personnel who pretty much has to deal with crimes and other criminalities, I'm pretty sure, he's such a wealth of information on the subject that is being raised by this story. This is about pedophiles and the different atrocities and cruelties inflicted on children. I, for one love children. I see their innocence and vulnerability. I have three nephews and one niece and it's my first instinct to protect them from anything that might harm them. If I were a parent, I'd take on the world to shield them. With that said, to read this book, takes a lot of courage and strength. It was not easy. I was filled with loathing and I wanted to hurt those people who prey on children and their weakness. It grieves my heart to accept the truth that these monsters could be anyone. More so, those who are in positions of influence and take advantage of that power. So, if it takes a lot of strength for a reader to read this, it took much gumption, strength of character, and guts to be able to write this very gruesome tale. It's both a lesson and a cautionary tale. It opens one's eyes to what's right in front of our faces, not just in Canada but all over the world.
This is probably one or the only story where I was rooting for the other character, other than the main one. I was rooting for the vigilante. Yes, her method is not exactly the legal or the most moral one but it gets the job done. It paved the way for the change in laws regarding the punishment for sex offenders and pedophiles. It also mobilized a lot of people to go out to the streets and make the government act. It's also very inspiring to have people who dedicate their lives to the protection of the rights of all children. The police officers, specifically those who work at the Child Exploitation Center or more like the Women's Desk or Children's Welfare here in the Philippines. Those rights advocate who unceasingly and tirelessly work to fight for the rights of children and women all over the world. The emergency or first responders, the doctors, the crime scene investigators, the police officers who work in IT and frequent those online hangouts of these offenders, just so they could prevent another child from being abused or rescue the next victims and return them safely to their family. Those law officers who almost never sleep just so these types of evil will never walk free or see daylight again because there is no rest for the wicked. These are modern day heroes who deserve as much recognition. The fight will never be over.
While reading this, I felt like my heart was stabbed to shreds. It was so harrowing. It was too much to even just read. How much more if an innocent six-year old was actually going through those unimaginable atrocities? Can you ever imagine? What person gets off of that? Definitely a monster, right? Someone who doesn't deserve to live. It breaks my heart to even think of it but it's the brutal reality. There are just monsters who walk this world who doesn't have a single drop of conscience or remorse. I hope they burn in hell.
I give this book 5/5 wolverines. In this book, a wolverine is described as a truly evil animal that challenges the lynx (a symbolism for those who have been abused), the wolf (which stands for those who fight to live and run free), and the trapper. Most trappers will put away their traps for the season if a wolverine ever crosses their line. That is how vicious a wolverine is, that even an armed trapper is afraid to cross it's path. The wolverine stands for those people who are not afraid to exploit and destroy the future of young children. And I hope that people all over the world will continue the fight. We need to be as vicious and as mean as the wolverine. We need to imposed the most severe punishment for those sexual offenders. The damage they cause doesn't only affect the victim. It's a domino effect. It bleeds and taints the family of the victim, the people whose jobs call for having to deal with the victims and these offenders. All the people who have to work in solving these crimes, enforcing the law, emergency responders, everyone. It affects all these people and no one is ever the same after they witness these type of evil. The lasting effect of the crime should be taken into account also when the sentence is given. It should consider the lives that have been affected and destroyed, the cost of rehabilitation of the victims who may survive the ordeal but not necessarily survive the shame and the pain that never goes away as long as they live. It's a stigma that is everlasting. I have so much respect for the author for having the courage to write this book. This is an eye-opener and I encourage everyone to pick up and read this. This is going to be painful but it contains a lot of truth and it helps empower us women, mothers, and all of us who try so hard and those who dedicate their lives to protect the rights of all the children in the world.
A lifetime of pain and shame that never diminishes.
Women have fewer rights than men.
If someone who was supposed to help others could abuse children and get away with it, hidden by the very church he represented, then what good was the church? What good was the law?
- Dave Wickenden, In Defense of Innocence -
Thank you again, Dave Wickenden for the ARC. May you continue to write more fierce and unflinching stories that serve as eye-openers for the world over. I salute you.
Like its title, the author, through the effort of this book, takes on a very daunting and intimidating endeavor. Knowing that the author is a military personnel who pretty much has to deal with crimes and other criminalities, I'm pretty sure, he's such a wealth of information on the subject that is being raised by this story. This is about pedophiles and the different atrocities and cruelties inflicted on children. I, for one love children. I see their innocence and vulnerability. I have three nephews and one niece and it's my first instinct to protect them from anything that might harm them. If I were a parent, I'd take on the world to shield them. With that said, to read this book, takes a lot of courage and strength. It was not easy. I was filled with loathing and I wanted to hurt those people who prey on children and their weakness. It grieves my heart to accept the truth that these monsters could be anyone. More so, those who are in positions of influence and take advantage of that power. So, if it takes a lot of strength for a reader to read this, it took much gumption, strength of character, and guts to be able to write this very gruesome tale. It's both a lesson and a cautionary tale. It opens one's eyes to what's right in front of our faces, not just in Canada but all over the world.
This is probably one or the only story where I was rooting for the other character, other than the main one. I was rooting for the vigilante. Yes, her method is not exactly the legal or the most moral one but it gets the job done. It paved the way for the change in laws regarding the punishment for sex offenders and pedophiles. It also mobilized a lot of people to go out to the streets and make the government act. It's also very inspiring to have people who dedicate their lives to the protection of the rights of all children. The police officers, specifically those who work at the Child Exploitation Center or more like the Women's Desk or Children's Welfare here in the Philippines. Those rights advocate who unceasingly and tirelessly work to fight for the rights of children and women all over the world. The emergency or first responders, the doctors, the crime scene investigators, the police officers who work in IT and frequent those online hangouts of these offenders, just so they could prevent another child from being abused or rescue the next victims and return them safely to their family. Those law officers who almost never sleep just so these types of evil will never walk free or see daylight again because there is no rest for the wicked. These are modern day heroes who deserve as much recognition. The fight will never be over.
While reading this, I felt like my heart was stabbed to shreds. It was so harrowing. It was too much to even just read. How much more if an innocent six-year old was actually going through those unimaginable atrocities? Can you ever imagine? What person gets off of that? Definitely a monster, right? Someone who doesn't deserve to live. It breaks my heart to even think of it but it's the brutal reality. There are just monsters who walk this world who doesn't have a single drop of conscience or remorse. I hope they burn in hell.
I give this book 5/5 wolverines. In this book, a wolverine is described as a truly evil animal that challenges the lynx (a symbolism for those who have been abused), the wolf (which stands for those who fight to live and run free), and the trapper. Most trappers will put away their traps for the season if a wolverine ever crosses their line. That is how vicious a wolverine is, that even an armed trapper is afraid to cross it's path. The wolverine stands for those people who are not afraid to exploit and destroy the future of young children. And I hope that people all over the world will continue the fight. We need to be as vicious and as mean as the wolverine. We need to imposed the most severe punishment for those sexual offenders. The damage they cause doesn't only affect the victim. It's a domino effect. It bleeds and taints the family of the victim, the people whose jobs call for having to deal with the victims and these offenders. All the people who have to work in solving these crimes, enforcing the law, emergency responders, everyone. It affects all these people and no one is ever the same after they witness these type of evil. The lasting effect of the crime should be taken into account also when the sentence is given. It should consider the lives that have been affected and destroyed, the cost of rehabilitation of the victims who may survive the ordeal but not necessarily survive the shame and the pain that never goes away as long as they live. It's a stigma that is everlasting. I have so much respect for the author for having the courage to write this book. This is an eye-opener and I encourage everyone to pick up and read this. This is going to be painful but it contains a lot of truth and it helps empower us women, mothers, and all of us who try so hard and those who dedicate their lives to protect the rights of all the children in the world.
A lifetime of pain and shame that never diminishes.
Women have fewer rights than men.
If someone who was supposed to help others could abuse children and get away with it, hidden by the very church he represented, then what good was the church? What good was the law?
- Dave Wickenden, In Defense of Innocence -
Thank you again, Dave Wickenden for the ARC. May you continue to write more fierce and unflinching stories that serve as eye-openers for the world over. I salute you.
April 17, 2018
I was lucky enough to beta read Dave Wickenden's debut novel in Defense of Innocence, and wow! What a thriller. If you like action paced, suspenseful stories this one is for you!
In Defense of Innocence tells the tale of detective Janice Williams on the hunt for a renegade vigilante who has stepped into the spotlight by taking down high-profile child abusers. The story follows Janice as she pursues the vigilante, touching on her loyalty to her job, but also the conflict she faces as she comes to terms with her own traumatic experiences as a young adult. Wickenden does an excellent job in crafting a complex story with a compelling protagonist that is paired wonderfully with an antagonist that you aren't even sure you want to hate. Wickenden's storytelling is so strong that I often found myself rooting FOR the vigilante, in opposition to our hero, Janice. In Defense of Innocent takes you on an exciting ride and doesn't let you go until the very end, and still grips you as you think 'what if?'
Wickenden's novel in no way disappointed. I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to read it, and would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys fiction, thrillers, suspense, mystery, crime, or drama.
This is an honest review provided in exchange for an ARC.
In Defense of Innocence tells the tale of detective Janice Williams on the hunt for a renegade vigilante who has stepped into the spotlight by taking down high-profile child abusers. The story follows Janice as she pursues the vigilante, touching on her loyalty to her job, but also the conflict she faces as she comes to terms with her own traumatic experiences as a young adult. Wickenden does an excellent job in crafting a complex story with a compelling protagonist that is paired wonderfully with an antagonist that you aren't even sure you want to hate. Wickenden's storytelling is so strong that I often found myself rooting FOR the vigilante, in opposition to our hero, Janice. In Defense of Innocent takes you on an exciting ride and doesn't let you go until the very end, and still grips you as you think 'what if?'
Wickenden's novel in no way disappointed. I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to read it, and would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys fiction, thrillers, suspense, mystery, crime, or drama.
This is an honest review provided in exchange for an ARC.
April 19, 2018
This is a gripping tale that deals with heavy subject matter. Right away, I was drawn in by Janice and her quest to protect the innocent, but the characterization of all the players (even the villains) is spot on. The thriller elements showcase the author's expertise and knowledge while heightening the tension, and the moral quandaries set up by Wickenden had me turning pages to the end. Moreover, the book shines a light on a serious issue in the Canadian justice system, all the while avoiding a heavy-handed approach that could distract from the story. Very well done and highly recommended!
September 6, 2025
This story is dark, fast paced, and morally gripping. Janice Williams is a character you can’t forget her painful past drives her to protect others, but when a vigilante starts killing child abusers, she’s forced into a devastating choice between justice and the law. The tension never lets up, and the moral dilemma at the heart of the book kept me hooked until the final page.
June 5, 2018
One of the best crime books I have read. It is a must read for anyone who enjoys a book that keeps you in suspense.
April 20, 2018
Dave Wickenden is a Canadian author. His debut title deals with the politically charged subject of sexual abuse cases. The impact they have on the victims, families, communities, emergency workers, mental health workers and the frustration particularly in Canada surrounding the historical modest sentencing of these cases.
The author knows the material well and brings the reader into the complicated world of Inspector Janice Williams, of the RCMP's Child Exploitation Centre who is assigned to an elite task force to catch a vigilante. The reader is educated on the impact of sexual abuse from an emotional, financial, political perspective as we follow Janice and her best friend Laura a mental health worker.
What starts out as a elite task force to capture the vigilante becomes a conflict against the government with a common goal to pressure political change in the sentencing of sexual abuse cases in Canada.
I was given an advanced reading copy for an honest review. I really enjoyed how this author tackles really important issues in a skillful manner while keeping the story moving and the reader guessing. Wickenden's book is worth the read.
The author knows the material well and brings the reader into the complicated world of Inspector Janice Williams, of the RCMP's Child Exploitation Centre who is assigned to an elite task force to catch a vigilante. The reader is educated on the impact of sexual abuse from an emotional, financial, political perspective as we follow Janice and her best friend Laura a mental health worker.
What starts out as a elite task force to capture the vigilante becomes a conflict against the government with a common goal to pressure political change in the sentencing of sexual abuse cases in Canada.
I was given an advanced reading copy for an honest review. I really enjoyed how this author tackles really important issues in a skillful manner while keeping the story moving and the reader guessing. Wickenden's book is worth the read.
September 2, 2025
An easy fast read. Relates to Canada and current cultural concerns.
Overall Enjoyed it.
Overall Enjoyed it.
July 13, 2025
Janice, the head of the Child Sex Crimes Division for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P.), finds herself thrust into a harrowing situation. She has been invited to join a specialized team tasked with tracking down a shadowy vigilante who has been taking the lives of pedophiles. As she grapples with the moral complexities of this mission, her conversations with her best friend, Laurie, become increasingly fraught and emotionally charged. The weight of her responsibilities presses heavily upon her, forcing Janice to confront her own beliefs about justice and vengeance. In the end, both hunters will carve out their paths in this dark pursuit, each determined to confront the elusive wolverine in their own way.
Wickenden, a Canadian writer deeply attuned to his homeland's issues, aims to craft an impactful narrative that exposes the profound flaws within the Canadian justice system's treatment of pedophiles. Through his probing exploration of the Defence of Evidence, he skillfully intertwines his agenda with a gripping storyline. The novel takes readers on a wild and suspenseful ride, quickly transforming into a compelling page-turner that keeps them on the edge of their seats.
Wickenden, a Canadian writer deeply attuned to his homeland's issues, aims to craft an impactful narrative that exposes the profound flaws within the Canadian justice system's treatment of pedophiles. Through his probing exploration of the Defence of Evidence, he skillfully intertwines his agenda with a gripping storyline. The novel takes readers on a wild and suspenseful ride, quickly transforming into a compelling page-turner that keeps them on the edge of their seats.
July 11, 2025
In Defense of Innocence is a great book, beautifully written and compelling that it leaves you at the edge of your seat turning page after page even deep into the night. A thriller where the bad guy is not actually the bad guy, I loved it.
June 10, 2021
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY
David Wickenden skillfully challenges his readers as the story unfolds, and the book is a perfect fit for readers looking for a thought-provoking and thrilling read.
Plunging into this whodunnit novel, I was gripped in right from the first chapters. The idea behind this book is quite in-need-of, today, and the story plot has done well to fulfill my expectations. I especially love the battle between the opposite sides of the law. But unlike most readers, I couldn’t decide whose side to choose. I therefore followed the story, which is enthralling, and kept wanting to unravel the mystery, yet not ‘finish’ the book!
THE BARE BONES
Janice Williams, who was abused as a child, is on a quest and mission to protect the innocent. The author has clearly researched a lot for this book, and it is what makes ‘In Defense Of Innocence’ a lot more electrifying. The novel is a 44-chaptered read, with an additional epilogue, which is purposeful and creates a brilliant finishing touch. There are many twists and turns included, and the book is an action-packed one. I especially like how the ending of each chapter just tantalizes the reader to keep going, and not stop.
Due to the theme of the book, I had huge expectations, and ended up being very contented. David Wickenden has committed time in each of the chapters, and made sure that the readers get to know the characters really well. I love the way everything keeps on happening, keeping me on my toes each minute. ‘In Defense Of Innocence’ discusses friendship and betrayal, justice and injustice, and what is right and what is easy.
All through the journey of reading this book, I was on a rollercoaster. The scenes are sketched out in a way that makes the words leap off the page.
Wickenden has done an exceptional job.
THE CHARACTERS
The Smartest Cop I’ve Ever Met
Janice Williams is a firm headed, self-driven, persistent, reliable, and a brave cop. She has the guts and the grit to defend the innocent children from the terrifying and cruel pedophiles. The fact that she’s a female lead protagonist, a high-ranking cop, makes me admire her even more. Janice shows us that determination can lead us to achieve whatever we want, if it is a noble and right cause.
THE SETTING
David Wickenden has chosen Canada as the destination for the story for reasons mentioned in the preface of the book. According to him, this story takes place in Canada, and the situation discussed may confuse readers who so not understand Canadian laws and social issues. But though I’m not very familiar with these laws, I could follow the storyline easily, owing to the descriptive words of the author.
David Wickenden skillfully challenges his readers as the story unfolds, and the book is a perfect fit for readers looking for a thought-provoking and thrilling read.
Plunging into this whodunnit novel, I was gripped in right from the first chapters. The idea behind this book is quite in-need-of, today, and the story plot has done well to fulfill my expectations. I especially love the battle between the opposite sides of the law. But unlike most readers, I couldn’t decide whose side to choose. I therefore followed the story, which is enthralling, and kept wanting to unravel the mystery, yet not ‘finish’ the book!
THE BARE BONES
Janice Williams, who was abused as a child, is on a quest and mission to protect the innocent. The author has clearly researched a lot for this book, and it is what makes ‘In Defense Of Innocence’ a lot more electrifying. The novel is a 44-chaptered read, with an additional epilogue, which is purposeful and creates a brilliant finishing touch. There are many twists and turns included, and the book is an action-packed one. I especially like how the ending of each chapter just tantalizes the reader to keep going, and not stop.
Due to the theme of the book, I had huge expectations, and ended up being very contented. David Wickenden has committed time in each of the chapters, and made sure that the readers get to know the characters really well. I love the way everything keeps on happening, keeping me on my toes each minute. ‘In Defense Of Innocence’ discusses friendship and betrayal, justice and injustice, and what is right and what is easy.
All through the journey of reading this book, I was on a rollercoaster. The scenes are sketched out in a way that makes the words leap off the page.
Wickenden has done an exceptional job.
THE CHARACTERS
The Smartest Cop I’ve Ever Met
Janice Williams is a firm headed, self-driven, persistent, reliable, and a brave cop. She has the guts and the grit to defend the innocent children from the terrifying and cruel pedophiles. The fact that she’s a female lead protagonist, a high-ranking cop, makes me admire her even more. Janice shows us that determination can lead us to achieve whatever we want, if it is a noble and right cause.
THE SETTING
David Wickenden has chosen Canada as the destination for the story for reasons mentioned in the preface of the book. According to him, this story takes place in Canada, and the situation discussed may confuse readers who so not understand Canadian laws and social issues. But though I’m not very familiar with these laws, I could follow the storyline easily, owing to the descriptive words of the author.
July 2, 2025
This was a good read! I liked how the author spent real time with each character and their feelings. I felt like I really understood the characters and their motivations as people. This really drew me in as a reader because getting to know characters is part of what I really like about reading. The book was 350 pages but honestly I felt like it could’ve been longer. There were a couple parts that felt a bit rushed but overall it was a great read. Very well done!!
December 3, 2018
This story follows Inspector Janice Williams of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Child Exploitation Center, who is an Olivia Benson of Law & Order Special Victims Unit type of character as she and her police partners are trying to get to the bottom of cases of child molestation/kidnapping of young children that are missing still.
The story is also somewhat told in an alternating format of an unknown assassin who has decided to seek justice against those who have committed these crimes, previously punished with just a slap on the wrist. I actually found myself rooting for the assassin many a time during this story and GLAD that this person was setting the scales of justice right.
From the beginning, the unknown assassin was well-written and I kept wondering throughout the story who the hell it was, which caused the suspense to build throughout the book.
The action scenes describing the assassin confronting the guilty were written in a way that I could almost see them. In Defense of Innocence was a true page-turner and I was completely engrossed throughout the entire story.
I can almost see this as a movie maybe! It had plenty of action, that’s for sure and characters appeared fleshed-out well and very real with their interactions and relationships with each other. Very believable/feasible.
As an American, I really learned a lot about Canadian law and how their government works in regards to sex-crimes works, particularly how there seemed to be such a callousness towards victims of the First Nation communities of natives. I declare this book a good-read and I will definitely be on the lookout for Dave Wickenden's next book!
The story is also somewhat told in an alternating format of an unknown assassin who has decided to seek justice against those who have committed these crimes, previously punished with just a slap on the wrist. I actually found myself rooting for the assassin many a time during this story and GLAD that this person was setting the scales of justice right.
From the beginning, the unknown assassin was well-written and I kept wondering throughout the story who the hell it was, which caused the suspense to build throughout the book.
The action scenes describing the assassin confronting the guilty were written in a way that I could almost see them. In Defense of Innocence was a true page-turner and I was completely engrossed throughout the entire story.
I can almost see this as a movie maybe! It had plenty of action, that’s for sure and characters appeared fleshed-out well and very real with their interactions and relationships with each other. Very believable/feasible.
As an American, I really learned a lot about Canadian law and how their government works in regards to sex-crimes works, particularly how there seemed to be such a callousness towards victims of the First Nation communities of natives. I declare this book a good-read and I will definitely be on the lookout for Dave Wickenden's next book!
February 21, 2019
Out of all the books I've been drawn to, In defense of Innocence was different than others. As thrillers go it rang far more true to real life than expected, giving chills and wild dreams. To tackle what few will even admit occurs in real life was bold and brave, reading it made me see the news broadcast differently. From all the books I've read this was the first that I could see being turned into a great movie, the dialogue made it read like a script. Wonderful, intense and eye opening.
October 2, 2019
In Defense of Innocence is an unrelenting thriller, dealing with darkest matters. The protagonist Janice has a tough job working in the Child Sex Crimes Division. When she discovers the identity of the vigilante, she is faced with a dilemma. In our generation of superheroes adoration, a vigilante has appeal. The pitch alone had me. The writing and character development made this a memorable read. The suspense and twist and turns kept me turning pages.
May 25, 2020
This Non-Stop action novel is a must read. It has a couple of story lines that don’t confuse. They are streamlined quickly in a perfect fusion of tales. A refreshing Canadian setting and glimpses at Canadian history and culture. The story calls into question the ethical dilemma between Capital Punishment and Vigilantism. Canada is a peaceful country, however when they veil lifts, the human condition always prevails.
Loved it and can’t wait to read more David Wickenden!
Loved it and can’t wait to read more David Wickenden!
January 11, 2023
This is some heck of a book. It deals with a very tough subject and the author does an amazing job of telling it. Made me want to hug my kids just a bit tighter and kiss them a lot more. And I will admit, yes I cried a lot. Wow. Simply beautifully written. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 5, 2025
The title of this book is so genuine..This is like the first book I will be reading, that is well detailed when it comes to paedophiles, and how dismissive the society is about punishing them..It started with me having a lot of questions,and all were answered at the end of the day. I love how it ended with no one having to die,it was a safe ending.I love it,David is a fantastic author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2019
Thrilling, Captivating a must read. Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. Starting the book in a prison captivated me from the start and was history from the. Dave’s work was incredible and I can’t wait to read his international thriller! Tough content sometimes but I loved it.
November 9, 2019
i love the book , what a story , full of action ,and hard to read about children's abuse. but well done .the hunt for the child abuser.
June 29, 2020
Really enjoyed this. Got sucked in first paragraph
October 3, 2020
What a great book. Dave Wickenden is going to be one of the prolific writers of the twenty first century.
June 15, 2024
Loved the unpredictable ending.
June 5, 2025
this was such a good read, it’s a bit sad that in reality the government won’t do shit 😃 also i guessed who was the vigilante, it was such a good read and satisfied with the ending.
July 29, 2023
A wolverine is a muscular carnivore, a predator which has a reputation for ferocity and strength out of proportion with its size. According to author David Wickenden, wolverines are smart enough to use the traps set by men to capture other animals. A character in the book In Defence of Innocence compares pedophiles to wolverines, because, like the formidable animals, pedophiles prey on others and in some cases make use of systems established by men which ameliorate their pursuit of children. Pedophiles take advantage of social and cultural norms which cause hesitation to intrude into family or religious matters; they benefit from the tendency of criminal justice not to punish or to give light prison sentences to pedophiles; indeed, those who abuse children even make use of the lack of capacity in others to see the evil in apparently normal people. It is the job of Janice Williams, a formerly abused victim and now a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Child Exploitation Center, to track down and bring to justice these human wolverines. Williams is sidetracked, however, by a new assignment - someone is out there doing her job for her in an illegal fashion, killing pedophiles, and Janice's expertise in the area is called upon, both to catch this killer and to prevent further vigilante action, because a person bringing street justice to these perverse criminals is not exactly unpopular, and is quite likely to be copied.
Rarely does a book need the disclaimer that "this is a work of fiction", but In Defence of Innocence certainly does. Author Wickenden displays an immense knowledge of the topic of legal actions, capture and punishment of pedophiles throughout the book. He understands, for example, the difficulty in maintaining interoperability among first responders in the course of pursuit of criminals. He knowledgeably presents the problems associated with PTSD and genuine destruction of community wrought by pedophiles and examines them in detail. He acknowledges that even the professional people who work in this field, such as Janice and her therapist friend Laura Amour, need an occasional break from the horror and depravity. He also deftly presents the moral difficulty presented to police - they wish to prevent crime, someone is lillegally killing criminals, aren't these horrible people actually getting what they deserve? This is like a modern version of the Charles Bronson Death Wish movie series, in which a character named Kersey takes the law into his own hands and gains popularity by "solving" crime through vigilante justice.
The subject of In Defence of Innocence is tough to deal with, but the book is masterfully crafted. If most readers are like me, they will be motivated to further research and possibly contribute to the problem of solving sex trafficking and pedophilia. The book is strongly recommended.
Rarely does a book need the disclaimer that "this is a work of fiction", but In Defence of Innocence certainly does. Author Wickenden displays an immense knowledge of the topic of legal actions, capture and punishment of pedophiles throughout the book. He understands, for example, the difficulty in maintaining interoperability among first responders in the course of pursuit of criminals. He knowledgeably presents the problems associated with PTSD and genuine destruction of community wrought by pedophiles and examines them in detail. He acknowledges that even the professional people who work in this field, such as Janice and her therapist friend Laura Amour, need an occasional break from the horror and depravity. He also deftly presents the moral difficulty presented to police - they wish to prevent crime, someone is lillegally killing criminals, aren't these horrible people actually getting what they deserve? This is like a modern version of the Charles Bronson Death Wish movie series, in which a character named Kersey takes the law into his own hands and gains popularity by "solving" crime through vigilante justice.
The subject of In Defence of Innocence is tough to deal with, but the book is masterfully crafted. If most readers are like me, they will be motivated to further research and possibly contribute to the problem of solving sex trafficking and pedophilia. The book is strongly recommended.
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