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remigves's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kcameron's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ebosma's review against another edition
4.0
Good read, if you like a legal thriller like John Grisham writes ( or used to ) 'em, your settled with this one!
kiskadee321's review against another edition
3.0
I'm on a quest to read books by diverse authors this year because authors of color are underrepresented in my reading history. Got to even things up a bit.
This mystery by Pamela Samuels Young was a lot of fun. It's a courtroom drama following the trial of the main suspect from prep to verdict. The main character was well developed. She was smart, fiery and strong. Her weakness is her blindspot for how her actions affect others. She just isn't a particularly empathetic person. Over the course of the book you see her grow as a person and as an attorney, which is nice. I was pleased that there were a few surprises in there and that not everything> is resolved by the end. That would have been too neat and a bit corny so I'm glad that was avoided. The important parts were wrapped up though so the mystery was satisfying.
Honestly, there were some things in the book that were weak. A few bits of evidence either weren't explained or discussed until the end or were resolved in unsatisfying ways. It seemed to me that there were some obvious additional bits evidence that could have contributed to the suspect's defense by creating reasonable doubt that were never brought up at trial. I felt that there were too many times when the book had me asking questions that it should have resolved for me.
Some of the social dialogue was a bit weak, but the dialogue overall was solid. Having worked in a big firm for the last 4 years I can assure that this is exactly how partners talk, act and think. smh.
There were a couple of editorial errors primarily in the form of missing quotation marks to open a quote and one or two missing words in the book. Something for future editors to note.
Overall, the book moved along at a nice pace and always left me wanting to know what happened next. It's a hard book to put down. Definitely recommend it if you like lawyerly procedurals. Plan to read more Vernetta Henderson books in the future. Recommended.
This mystery by Pamela Samuels Young was a lot of fun. It's a courtroom drama following the trial of the main suspect from prep to verdict. The main character was well developed. She was smart, fiery and strong. Her weakness is her blindspot for how her actions affect others. She just isn't a particularly empathetic person. Over the course of the book you see her grow as a person and as an attorney, which is nice. I was pleased that there were a few surprises in there and that not everything> is resolved by the end. That would have been too neat and a bit corny so I'm glad that was avoided. The important parts were wrapped up though so the mystery was satisfying.
Honestly, there were some things in the book that were weak. A few bits of evidence either weren't explained or discussed until the end or were resolved in unsatisfying ways. It seemed to me that there were some obvious additional bits evidence that could have contributed to the suspect's defense by creating reasonable doubt that were never brought up at trial. I felt that there were too many times when the book had me asking questions that it should have resolved for me.
Some of the social dialogue was a bit weak, but the dialogue overall was solid. Having worked in a big firm for the last 4 years I can assure that this is exactly how partners talk, act and think. smh.
There were a couple of editorial errors primarily in the form of missing quotation marks to open a quote and one or two missing words in the book. Something for future editors to note.
Overall, the book moved along at a nice pace and always left me wanting to know what happened next. It's a hard book to put down. Definitely recommend it if you like lawyerly procedurals. Plan to read more Vernetta Henderson books in the future. Recommended.
its_not_yours's review against another edition
3.0
I was feeling pretty pleased at having found some great crime fiction by BIPOC authors this year, until I hit this one. So much sexist bs in there, and an obnoxious, racist remark made by the obnoxious husband which was (after a bit of token resistance) embraced as hilarious by the protagonist, was pretty much the end for me.
locpressedbooks_'s review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I haven'd read a good legal thriller since the Client, and this was everything. It was fast paced, always kept my interest and it wasn't so bogged down with legal jargon that it was hard to follow. Vernetta was funny, witty, and strong and I enjoyed her POV. Her husband, Jefferson reminded me so much of the men, including my husband, that I have met in my life. With there views on adoption and the whole machismo that poured out their mouths with every line spoken. It wasn't too much and it was easy to see that yes he was a man, and had male ideas about what a wife was to do for him, but you can also see the weak parts in himself that he could only show his wife. I loved that. He was a such a realist character. I don't think that he was whiny at all.
Special, her home girl, was another character/friend that I felt every women has. That one friend that always says whats on her mind, even when you don't want to hear it, but have to hear it anyway. Vernetta's working relationships with both David and Neddy, especially Neddy, was something to admire. Being the only two African American Women at this law firm, at first you do feel like you have to be enemies (which I think it stupid, and brings up that whole thing about crabs in a barrel, but no one seems to understand, that a barrel isn't the crabs natural habitat but whatever) then being placed on this case made them put all that crap to the side and a great friendship bloomed.
But all in all, enjoyed this book. It was thrilling, but it wasn't as thrilling as I thought it might be. But since this wasn't from a POV of a PI or police officer, I can see why it wasn't THAT thrilling. The conversations were realistic and flowed very well. The characters were easy to see and I def will be reading the rest of this series.
Special, her home girl, was another character/friend that I felt every women has. That one friend that always says whats on her mind, even when you don't want to hear it, but have to hear it anyway. Vernetta's working relationships with both David and Neddy, especially Neddy, was something to admire. Being the only two African American Women at this law firm, at first you do feel like you have to be enemies (which I think it stupid, and brings up that whole thing about crabs in a barrel, but no one seems to understand, that a barrel isn't the crabs natural habitat but whatever) then being placed on this case made them put all that crap to the side and a great friendship bloomed.
But all in all, enjoyed this book. It was thrilling, but it wasn't as thrilling as I thought it might be. But since this wasn't from a POV of a PI or police officer, I can see why it wasn't THAT thrilling. The conversations were realistic and flowed very well. The characters were easy to see and I def will be reading the rest of this series.
naika's review against another edition
4.0
I watch way too many legal dramas and police procedurals. So of course this book was right up my alley: a classic “did this woman kill her husband?!” mystery thriller. It was a wild ride from page one, and I was here for it. I can’t say that everything was plausible, but I surely was invested in finding out how the author was going to have Vernetta and her team pull everything together. I found the writing and the pacing to be great. My biggest gripe, however, was Jefferson, Vernetta’s husband. That man found every last one of my nerves and messed with them. Insufferable doesn’t even begin to describe it. I didn’t see what Vernetta saw in him. I hope he plays a significantly less role as the series progresses. I’m intrigued enough to carry on with the series, but definitely can do without him.
vesper1931's review against another edition
4.0
Employment attorney Vernetta Henderson learns that she is help defend a prominent socialite accused of murder teaming up with Neddy McClain. The only other African-American attorney at the firm.
jasiri31's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Great Series! The books can honestly be read out of order. This is the first book. I started with the third, "Murder on the Downlow," which is one of my all time favorite fiction books period!
The first two are better read consecutively to understand a few details about her personal life and marriage in order, but it wont ruin much if you don't. Each storyline is different. She is an Attorney always solving different crime cases. Very entertaining!
The first two are better read consecutively to understand a few details about her personal life and marriage in order, but it wont ruin much if you don't. Each storyline is different. She is an Attorney always solving different crime cases. Very entertaining!