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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
"When Charlie Blair left Chicago behind—and her old life as Lauren Claybourne—for a gig in the Santa Cruz DA’s office, things were supposed to be easier. Or at least nothing that a couple of Xanax and a tumbler of vodka couldn’t handle. The plan had been working, until the murder of a local bail bondsman Shelly Hansen."
This story is told through the voice of two prosecutors in the Santa Crus DA's office. Charlie, who has a past that she's trying to hide from; and Erica, the superstar and well-respected prosecutor who always wins her cases. As Charlie tries to stay out of the spot light to avoid notice by her past life she is thrust into joining Erica in the murder case of Shelly Hansen. Erica is not welcoming of Charlie joining the case, but why? What is she hiding?
This story is well paced and kept me guessing throughout. It is packed full of mystery, twists, and turns as you simultaneously dig into the murder of Shelly Hansen, learn about Charlie's past and how it's affecting her present, and try to figure out what Erica is hiding. The fact that there were so many things happening within this story made for a book that you just can't put down. I love a story with a mystery coming from several directions and this one did not disappoint.
I also enjoyed the narration as the author and her friend voiced Charlie and Erica. I feel like an author knows exactly how their characters feel and think and Marcia Clark did an excellent job bringing Charlie to life. I really liked every character in this story, they were well fleshed out and I think they would make for an excellent series.
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for this Audiobook.
On Sale Now.
This story is told through the voice of two prosecutors in the Santa Crus DA's office. Charlie, who has a past that she's trying to hide from; and Erica, the superstar and well-respected prosecutor who always wins her cases. As Charlie tries to stay out of the spot light to avoid notice by her past life she is thrust into joining Erica in the murder case of Shelly Hansen. Erica is not welcoming of Charlie joining the case, but why? What is she hiding?
This story is well paced and kept me guessing throughout. It is packed full of mystery, twists, and turns as you simultaneously dig into the murder of Shelly Hansen, learn about Charlie's past and how it's affecting her present, and try to figure out what Erica is hiding. The fact that there were so many things happening within this story made for a book that you just can't put down. I love a story with a mystery coming from several directions and this one did not disappoint.
I also enjoyed the narration as the author and her friend voiced Charlie and Erica. I feel like an author knows exactly how their characters feel and think and Marcia Clark did an excellent job bringing Charlie to life. I really liked every character in this story, they were well fleshed out and I think they would make for an excellent series.
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for this Audiobook.
On Sale Now.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Always eager to read the legal fiction she writes, I turned to the latest novel by Marcia Clark. While some readers will remember her from the early 90s—when a certain iconic sports hero got away with murder—Clark has reinvented herself as a great writer of legal thrillers, pulling on her experiences, both personal and professional. Clark weaves an intriguing story that adds layers as the story progresses, though it lacked some of the impact I came to expect in both her previous series. A decent novel, though not yet at the level I have come to expect of Marcia Clark.
Charlie Blair has been trying to reinvent herself in the Santa Cruz DA’s office, having left a great deal in the dust. While she’s been trying to forget her past life in Chicago, she’s been finding the ability to self-medicate usually takes the edge off. However, all that comes crashing down when she’s handed the file of a recently murdered bail bondsman, Shelly Hansen.
When Charlie is paired with the new hot-shot prosecutor, it could be a great match. Charlie hopes to learn much from Erika Lorman, who has a way with juries and is riding a high after putting away a celebrity chef for murder. However, Charlie notices some cracks in the case and cannot help but wonder if there was something more than legal maneuverings taking place.
With a prime suspect in Shelly Hansen’s murder in the crosshairs, Charlie will have to decide if she can pin the murder of a teenage girl. Things seem to be stacked up against her, but even Charlie cannot believe everything she’s reading. When a distraction from her past puts Charlie on the edge, there’s no telling how the present case will be affected. A chilling legal thriller that has many of the needed elements to make a great story.
When I discovered that Marcia Clark was writing legal thrillers, I had to given them a chance. I could not put them down once I started, as the stories are as intense as they are gritty. A strong plot keeps things interesting for the reader, while Clark uses her legal knowledge to paint quite the picture. While this one waned a bit, there is hope that it was simply the standalone jitters that left me feeling a tad underwhelmed.
The key to a great thriller is to find the crime and build on it from there. I feel as though Marcia Clark has been using all the needed ingredient to make a great story, from a foundational narrative on up. Proving to be a key pathway to the story’s success, the narrative uses both past and present to tell the story of Charlie Blair, filling in gaps for the reader along the way. Great characters help paint the scenes well, though I was sometimes confused as the time period changes from chapter to chapter. The plot kept things interesting, both in the courtroom and out in the community. Even with two time periods, things appeared to come together nicely. It may have simply been me and the headspace in which I currently find myself, but I felt a lack of spark throughout the piece. There were great moments, but my attention waned as I forged through the book, which is not what usually happens when Marcia Clark is at the helm. I will chalk it up to a lot on my plate and see what others feel about this book before casting my views too heavily.
Kudos, Madam Clark, for another good book. I hope others find a great deal to enjoy in your writing as well.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't love this or hate it, it was just meh for me. I really didn't understand the point of "Charlie" faking her identity but still worrying about the ex boyfriend finding her. I also didn't think that whole storyline made any sense with her going to work at the DA's office. Do they not run background checks? If her identity change wasn't official witness protection, her info wouldn't have lined up! Overall I thought the courtroom parts of the story were good and interesting, but the personal stories of each woman were just so unbelievable. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
From the very first page, we are swept up into one of a few mysteries that capture our attention with twist after twist that keep you guessing until the final page. With the mystery surrounding their current case and also their personal lives. I had no idea as to what was going to happen next with each twist that had occurred.
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
1. How did I not know that Marcia Clark has written legal/crime thriller fiction?!
2. Her latest novel, The Fall Girl, is a stand-alone legal thriller that is an excellent read. As you would expect, Clark brings the criminal law perspective but writes it in a way that is easy for non-lawyers to understand. I listened to the audiobook and it was well narrated. I did not want to stop listening and was hooked on the plot line!
I highly recommend this legal thriller. I’m now going to go check out her series of novels and play catch-up!
Thank you @netgalley and @recordedbooks for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.
2. Her latest novel, The Fall Girl, is a stand-alone legal thriller that is an excellent read. As you would expect, Clark brings the criminal law perspective but writes it in a way that is easy for non-lawyers to understand. I listened to the audiobook and it was well narrated. I did not want to stop listening and was hooked on the plot line!
I highly recommend this legal thriller. I’m now going to go check out her series of novels and play catch-up!
Thank you @netgalley and @recordedbooks for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.