trigger warnings for this book include rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, abuse, and mentions of domestic violence.

plot!
When Judge Alice McKerrity’s newest criminal trial begins, elements of the case begin to not only remind her of her past, but deeply affect many areas of her life. With an unwell husband and a daughter, Alexis, who is intent on discovering who her biological father is, the pressure of both Alice’s home and work life become almost unbearable. As the trial continues to progress and intensify, Alice must face her past in an effort to protect her and her family’s future.

i don’t usually read suspense and thriller novels but seeing that this was set in a courtroom, i was instantly attracted to it.

this was a brilliant book. with such ease, i can imagine this being adapted into a movie or tv miniseries. it just has that type of plot, setting, and characters.

i liked that this book was split into three different POVs; Alice, Alexis, and Connie. however, there was like one random chapter that was from Charles’ perspective which just came out of nowhere??

the plot twists in this book were also extremely interesting. i felt like the last 15% of the novel, however, was very dragged out and the constant shift between teenage memories, present moment, and memories from the previous weeks became slightly confusing.

overall, a really enjoyable read. thank you to NetGalley & W. W. Norton & Company for giving me an ARC of this book!