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Thanks for saying what I was thinking (as a psychologist not an attorney). I also thought the escapes (from jail and from house arrest) Adam had were just totally outlandish. Like to the point where I was wondering about his mental stability. Like how was a door left open / unlocked? Come on...

I agree it was very unrealistic and I hated every single character except maybe the PI Rebecca (I think that was her name??)

I hope your current read is more believable and amazing, Laura!😊

As an attorney - I agree with all of this. This book was so highly recommended I read it, but was left so frustrated at the end.

If you want to check out a more believable legal thriller, try Unsympathetic Victims

Ok yes! I was like wait isn't this unethical as a lawyer? Like lose your license unethical lol!

I agree with the sentiment, I didn't like the book either. But the part about Sarah not being impartial or her believing she could do a better job than another attorney was kind of the point- she was scheming to get him convicted and making sure another, impartial, attorney wouldn't actually take on the case. All of this is moot though because in real life Adam obviously would have appealed and received different counsel, this story was just too lazy to include that.

Thank you. 3 chapters in and I can't stand the "narration" technique already. Looking at the reviews here, I wonder how this book got such high ratings elsewhere. Have people not had exposure to actual legal thrillers?!

I'm not even a lawyer and I could see how unrealistic this was. Would a lawyer really discuss with the Sheriff possible motives her client may have had? And I hated Adam, but he was treated very roughly for the cops AND beaten up by another police officer while in custody. Wouldn't a good lawyer have made some sort of fuss about it?? Seriously. And what about (spoiler alert, don't read if you haven't read it) the fact that Kelly was supposedly killed while Adam was in bed. Even if he were drugged, wouldn't he have blood all over him when he woke up?? A woman is stabbed 37 times right next to him in bed and there was NO BLOOD! COME ON! I skimmed over the last 70 pages just to get through it, so even though I got who did it, I missed the motive. I also just thought it was stupid that we are seeing her POV the entire time and she NEVER thought about the crime she committed?? She was going all over town to find other suspects, just to intentionally lose?? Jesus.

It’s a book. Just relax and enjoy the time reading. It was suspenseful and relaxing.

As a person who practices criminal law, 1,000% agree. So much inaccurate info in the book. Virginia is a Commonwealth, calling the prosecutor the DA was wrong. Sarah arguably is a defense witness so she ethically shouldn’t have been representing her husband. The entire ‘speedy trial�� thing was beyond absurd for a death penalty case. This was an ineffective assistance of counsel situation from jump and the idea that there was no way to challenge the verdict or death penalty sentence defies reality (hello, appeal? Habeas?). I could go on, but ugh!!

I'm not a lawyer, don't know much abou law - and even I knew that so much of this book was illogical and totally violated ethics.

Agreed!!!!

I live in Virginia, and my husband being a defense lawyer, I kept turning to him asking if certain parts were legit and he said ABSOLUTELY NOT. I couldn't get that out of my head as I was reading. The relationship with the sheriff would definitely NOT happen.

I couldn't stand it for the same reason! A suspect and a defense attorney? really, sheriff?

I have zero legal experience and even I was confused at some of the scenarios the book has!! My boyfriend is a lawyer though and I kept getting frustrated and asking him questions and he was like “huh? That is definitely not right.��

Thank you! I am also a lawyer and this book was painful!!! I knew it would be bad from the second chapter when Sarah was preparing her “closing STATEMENT”�� it’s clear this author has zero legal experience and did not seek advisement from someone who does

i was wondering why the wife was never questioned�� like you would be the (at least) second suspect

Not a lawyer but I work in big law and beyond the judicial issues, no law firm can just suddenly announce on the fly they aren't paying a partner. Research did not seem to be a part of this book.

I agree with you, the investigative and legal aspects of this book are hard to stomach, but I let them slide. I did enjoy a lot of the characterizations, but I read a lot of Stephen King, so I am used to not getting to attached to characters, as they might end up dying (even the leads in his books aren’t safe, lol).

What I couldn’t forgive was the author’s use of first person present tense, and not understanding that all the events of the first 300 pages, happened exactly as they were described. If the narrating character was confused, or didn’t know something, then that is what they were in that moment. To then, in the final pages, claim that that narrator knew everything because they behind it, is shoddy execution. The author should’ve used past tense, so characters can actually lie and mislead when they narrate.

Agree! As a non-lawyer reader, it just doesn’t make any sense. Poorly written and inadequately researched.

Another non-criminal lawyer: I’m not going to lie, she lost me when the character had a “big closing argument�� to prepare for. LOL.

From the very beginning with the first time she interacts with the sheriff I was like .. beloved. Are you aware of your job as a criminal defense litigator wtf are you doing what is happening LOL

I’m no expert in the field and even I knew some of the things happening during the “investigation�� were completely ridiculous! The ending was so predictable she was actually my first guess at who was guilty but I thought no way would the author make it this easy. Rolled my eyes most of the book. 😁

Two stars seems generous.