From the critically acclaimed author dubbed “one of today’s finest practitioners of nonfiction” (The New York Times Book Review), a breathless true crime tale of sex, religion, and murder in the deep South.
Mike and Denise Williams had a tight knit, seemingly unbreakable bond with childhood friends, Brian and Kathy Winchester. The two couples were devout, hardworking Baptists who lived perfect, quintessentially Southern lives. Their friendship seemed ironclad. That is, until December 16, 2000, when Denise’s husband Mike disappeared while duck hunting on Lake Seminole.
After no body was found, everyone assumed that Mike had drowned in a tragic accident, his body eaten by alligators. But things took an unexpected turn when, within five years of Mike’s disappearance, Brian Winchester divorced his wife and married Denise. Their surprising romance set tongues talking. People began wondering how long they had been a couple, and whether they had anything to do with Mike’s death. It took another twelve years for the truth to come out—and when it did, it was unimaginable.
Now, the full, shocking story is revealed by Mikita Brottman, acclaimed true crime writer of the “enthralling” An Unexplained Death. Through tenacious research and clear-eyed prose, she probes the psychology of a couple who killed and explores how it feels to live for eighteen years with murder on the soul.
A fascinating page-turner of modern noir, Guilty Creatures is destined to become an instant true crime classic.
“A nonfiction noir that combines propulsive true crime with stylish writing, Brottman’s account of a murder, a love triangle and small-town secrets in Tallahassee, Fla., makes for an unputdownable read. There’s sex, death and money, yes — but also a smart, sensitive examination of a group of people and what happens when lies take over a life.”
—The New York Times
“… a psychological thriller as intricately organized as a Hitchcock movie.”
—Madison Smartt Bell, author of All Souls’ Rising
“An excavation of the luridness and venality underneath a smiling, all-American façade.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Meticulously catalogued… and paced with aplomb. Readers won’t be able to look away.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Engrossing… written with freshness and verve.”
—Shelf Awareness
“A compelling… deep dive into human nature.”
—Booklist
RESOURCES: Open NetGalley URL • S&S Product Page • Book Cover Image (jpg): Guilty Creatures
On Sale 7/23/24
Publicist: Debbie Norflus; debbie.norflus@simonandschuster.com
Marketer: Maudee Genao; Maudee.Genao@simonandschuster.com
