Seven stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, L.J. Shepherd, and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Exploring this debut novel by L.J. Shepherd, I sought to better understand the author and her writing style. Shepherd offers up a great story that pulls on the reader's sensibilities as they try to piece it all together. Lila Dalton has no memory how she made it into a courtroom, but she is now faced with defending a man whose actions have been deemed terrorist in nature by the UK Government. While trying to pit the pieces together for the case, Lila must also learn what happened to her and how she will get out of this mess. Confusion drowns out all, but there is surely something more to the story, as Lila Dalton will have to come to terms with before the case is lost. L.J. Shepherd weaves quite the tale with this piece, a strong debut thriller for all to enjoy.
When Lila Dalton clues in to where she is, it is not what she expects. She's standing in a courtroom, preparing to defend a man who is on trial for terrorist activities. While she has no idea what happened, she has little time to wonder, as the case is set to proceed and she will have to put her best effort in to ensure he is acquitted.
All the while, living on a small British island for the trial, Lila is contacted by some mysterious people who demand she acquit her client or lose her daughter forever. Lila still has no idea what's going on and it is only when she begins digging into her client's background that things begin to make a slight bit of sense. Still, she is not sure what will come of it all or how to ensure she does not lose her daughter forever.
Unable to trust anyone around her in this isolated locale, Lila Dalton will have to fight off the confusion to get answers before the end of the trial. She's capable, but there are some additional hurdles that could stymie her progress and land a man in jail for the rest of his life. Shepherd dazzles in this debut novel and leaves me wanting more.
I enjoy discovering new authors and seeing how they will make the most of their writing. L.J. Shepherd does well with this debut piece, mixing the law with a number of thriller aspects to create a strong novel. A key aspect of the narrative is the building momentum, which is seconded only by the quick approach of the narrative flow. With some interesting characters, Shepherd weaves a story of intrigue, mystery, and legal conundrums that is sure to capture the reader's attention. I was impressed with this debut.
Plot twists abound in this piece, where no one is quite sure of which way is up or how it will all come together. Shepherd offers up strong views and surprises the reader with their placement throughout the story. Lila Dalton is a keen legal figure but her personal life is in a shambles, forcing her to choose between the sure-fire way towards success and one that might reveal too much about those who are trying to pull her strings. I am eager to see if others shared my excitement about this novel and new author on the scene.
Kudos Madam Shepherd, for a captivating debut!
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