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salmobina's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Blood, Violence, Rape, and Abortion
readerette's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The plot was promising but unfortunately nothing came together for me. If you can suspend belief about how long it takes for someone to trust someone who blackmails them, what a severe beating actually does to a person, car chases, and how the law and law enforcement works, this one might be fun for you.
Some of the things I didn't enjoy:
Some of the things I didn't enjoy:
- The character development felt half-finished so I wasn't really rooting for anyone, just curious how it would turn out.
- Information is kept from the reader so you just have to be passively along for the ride rather than being able to unfold the mysteries as you go.
- The description of the violence perpetrated against a character at one point made it seem like they wouldn't survive, and then they were up and about the next day, driving, walking, talking coherently and using their brain while hopped up on painkillers and with broken ribs, a smashed face and bruised organs.
- The courtroom scene is completely beyond belief, which ruins one character's redemption arc and the "just desserts" for another, because it would never happen the way it was portrayed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Police brutality, Alcoholism, Cursing, Gaslighting, Death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Stalking, Classism, Abortion, and Vomit
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I've mixed feelings about this one. While I liked the overall reading/listening experience of the book and enjoyed the general plot I did feel a little put out towards the ends with some of the twists and turns.
So what I did like:
• A variety of different characters with some very distinct different motives
• The uncertainty and uneasiness of who exactly was telling the truth was conveyed very well throughout
• The tension and unknown entity of the relationship between Hannah and her mother.
What I wasn't keen on:
• Unfortunately sections of the plot line felt a little too unrealistic at times and one or two aspects didn't add up at the end for me.
I switched between ebook and audiobook and enjoyed both formats. The audiobook was great with a 3 person cast which made it easy to follow.
Overall, an enjoyable read which looks at the concept of justice, revenge and who is really innocent after all?
So what I did like:
• A variety of different characters with some very distinct different motives
• The uncertainty and uneasiness of who exactly was telling the truth was conveyed very well throughout
• The tension and unknown entity of the relationship between Hannah and her mother.
What I wasn't keen on:
• Unfortunately sections of the plot line felt a little too unrealistic at times and one or two aspects didn't add up at the end for me.
I switched between ebook and audiobook and enjoyed both formats. The audiobook was great with a 3 person cast which made it easy to follow.
Overall, an enjoyable read which looks at the concept of justice, revenge and who is really innocent after all?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual violence, Murder, Child abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
irenemarie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Disclaimer: I received a copy through a GoodReads giveaway. Thank you to William Morrow & co for the opportunity to read this book.
This book is a page turner. The foreshadowing had me eating straight from Dervla McTiernan's hands to the point I was thinking 'am I ever so clever or is this predictable?' only to have the storyline ramped up to 11 and shocked at the direction the plot goes. Cannot wait for the tv series to come.
This book is a page turner. The foreshadowing had me eating straight from Dervla McTiernan's hands to the point I was thinking 'am I ever so clever or is this predictable?' only to have the storyline ramped up to 11 and shocked at the direction the plot goes. Cannot wait for the tv series to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Police brutality, and Rape
Minor: Vomit
art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
For my first ARC read this was incredible to start with. I guessed bits and pieces of the ending along the way, some things earlier than others, but some of it I didn't guess for the correct reasons, so did I really guess correctly? McTiernan turned this into a wild ride that I think can be enjoyed by those uninitiated in the justice system as well as those within it. That being said, the latter is the reason I'm not giving this 5 stars.
I don't consider this a spoiler since it's the central plot from the beginning and seen in the synopsis. The prisoner involved in the trial is being retried after Project Innocence successfully argued for his sentence to be vacated. Considering the facts revealed about the case, I find this huge point to be unrealistic. Part of the reason, from my non-fiction study on IP, that they are able to get people out of prison is because our justice system in the US does not allow for 'double jeopardy'; you cannot be tried twice for the same crime. I'm not saying there aren't exceptions, judges do have discretion allowing them to make exceptions. I just don't believe this would have been one of those times that a federal circuit court would have made such a decision because of the nature of the evidence that caused the sentence to be vacated.
I loved that McTiernan referenced real case law and facts about the Innocence Project. There was also good social commentary on why different types of people are lawyers. Plus, whether purposeful or not, I loved the nod to Legally Blonde towards the end.
I definitely recommend reading this!
I don't consider this a spoiler since it's the central plot from the beginning and seen in the synopsis. The prisoner involved in the trial is being retried after Project Innocence successfully argued for his sentence to be vacated. Considering the facts revealed about the case, I find this huge point to be unrealistic. Part of the reason, from my non-fiction study on IP, that they are able to get people out of prison is because our justice system in the US does not allow for 'double jeopardy'; you cannot be tried twice for the same crime. I'm not saying there aren't exceptions, judges do have discretion allowing them to make exceptions. I just don't believe this would have been one of those times that a federal circuit court would have made such a decision because of the nature of the evidence that caused the sentence to be vacated.
I loved that McTiernan referenced real case law and facts about the Innocence Project. There was also good social commentary on why different types of people are lawyers. Plus, whether purposeful or not, I loved the nod to Legally Blonde towards the end.
I definitely recommend reading this!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Rape
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