If I'm Dead

A Rachel Knight Story

By: Marcia Clark

Narrated by: January LaVoy

It started with a haunting image: a Ford Explorer, iridiscent in the moonlight and alone on a desolate stretch of beach. Its owner, Melissa Gibbons, has gone missing. Her husband says she flew the coop. But Los Angeles Deputy DA Rachel Knight is convinced otherwise: Melissa Gibbons has been murdered.

So begins the confounding case that Rachel must present before a disbelieving jury. A dissatisfied heiress and her philandering husband - what really happened? The husband has a fiendishly convincing case that Melissa faked her own death and fled. But with the support of her trusty sidekick, Detective Bailey Keller, Rachel pieces together a much more sinister truth.

In this short, standalone Rachel Knight thriller, listeners follow our savvy and riotiously entertaining heroine through the surprising world of LA crime.

©2012 Marcia Clark (P)2012 Hachette Audio

An Expert Point Of View

What I like about this series is that I feel like I am getting a behind-the-scenes look at court room drama from the point of view of an expert. It's pretty interesting!

I liked book 1 (and 1.6) enough to keep going with the series.

Short story

This story was short. The story centered on the case after the arrest which is unusual and it may explain why the story was so short. Overall the story was predictable and something to listen to while cleaning the house

I really enjoy a short story

It was a nice break to listen to a short story in between full length audiobooks. This is also a quick view into the each novel. Nice touch.

Good Story

You know that old saying be careful what you wish for? Well, it certainly applies here as I have been hoping that I haven’t seen the last of Rachel Knight when I finished The Competition. Marcia Clark fulfilled my wish…in a sense. However, instead of another full-length book, she has given her readers several filler novels that are part of the series, but as I learned If I’m Dead is a standalone.

Taking place between the events of Guilt by Association and Guilt by Degrees, this story involves a case of a missing woman who is likely dead and the resulting murder trial with the woman’s husband as the defendant. Pretty standard Rachel Knight without any surprises or twists that grabbed me the way the other books did.

My Final Verdict: I recommend this book to fans of the Rachel Knight series, which, for me, really showcases Marcia Clark’s talent as an author. Rachel’s success in the courtroom clearly shows to me that Ms. Clark certainly knows her stuff and can hold her own. I’m still holding out hope for another full-length story, but until then there are two more filler stories.

Good short story

This would have been a good whole book. I love this series. Hopefully there's more

Marcia Clark is a better author than I expected

This is my second Marcia Clark short story, both in the Rachel Knight series. This one is a legal thriller. It is a full murder case in a short story. January LaVoy, one of the best narrators, does not disappoint.

Not as good as her other books I Story is good

Story is good but surprise ending is not believable. Wanted a little bit more. Narrator was excellent.

Misleading Length

Not a bad story, but it is only about an hour long. The remaining time is a preview to other books. Disappointing. 😔

Good Intro to the series & Previews

If you could sum up If I'm Dead in three words, what would they be?

imaginative , snark, clever describes the entire series.
Love the dynamics between Knight and Bailey. They keep the stories a bit lighter but by no means are these chick lit.

If you’ve listened to books by Marcia Clark before, how does this one compare?

This short story is great to introduce you to author's style and reader's ability to execute author's intent. This story explains that our heroine gets a case right at the crime scene, and why Knight seems like a detective.
Short story well written for 1 hr listen with a clever ending. Chapter 2 is an excerp of book #1
note: I do use the new 1.25x speed to get the author's intent.

What about January LaVoy’s performance did you like?

she has a great range and can deliver sarcastic humor very well. She performs as the author intended. Check out her Harlan Corban stories.

Any additional comments?

I like both series, Racheal Knight's character is a much lighter as the author uses lots of humor and sarcasm to lighten a dark subject.
Samantha Brinkman series has a bit stronger secondary characters and has less humor, but by no means does that take away from the series. If you start with book#1 and use new 1.25x speed just ignore the reviewers. Reader did just find. She just didn't do as excellent a job as book#2 reader Ms Angela Dawe but you had to stay with it so reader Tavia Gilbert could hit her stride. She didn't disappoint. Note: I listened to Ms Dawe's read first, excellent, but it just makes you want to go back to book #1. Frankly I liked book #1 story much better than #2 but the readers made all the difference, hence Ms Dawe's #2 read got rave reviews. Unfortunately reader Tavia Gilbert could not get the intensity author intended for book #1 which is why it didn't have the same tempo as book #2.

Good but disappointingly short

Great plot and opening but alas! the story is over! Before you sink your mandibles deep into the action the book is over. I wanted to return it so bad. It wasn't worthy the value it cost.