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Jilly Truitt #2
Denial
CityLine Book Club Pick for September
From the former Chief Justice of Canada and #1 bestselling author of Full Disclosure comes a taut new thriller starring tough-as-nails defense attorney Jilly Truitt in a murder case that makes her question her own truths.
When everyone is in denial, how do you find the truth?
Jilly Truitt has made a name for herself as one of the top criminal defense lawyers in the city. Where once she had to take just about any case to keep her firm afloat, now she has her pick—and she picks winners.
So when Joseph Quentin asks her to defend his wife, who has been charged with murdering her own mother in what the media are calling a mercy killing, every instinct tells Jilly to say no. Word on the street is that Vera Quentin is in denial, refusing to admit to the crime and take a lenient plea deal. Quentin is a lawyer’s lawyer, known as the Fixer in legal circles, and if he can’t help his wife, who can?
Against her better judgment, Jilly meets with Vera and reluctantly agrees to take on her case. Call it intuition, call it sympathy, but something about Vera makes Jilly believe she’s telling the truth. Now, she has to prove that in the courtroom against her former mentor turned opponent, prosecutor Cy Kenge—a man who has no qualms about bending the rules.
As the trial approaches, Jilly scrambles to find a crack in the case and stumbles across a dark truth hanging over the Quentin family. But is it enough to prove Vera’s innocence? Or is Jilly in denial herself?
Thrumming with tension, Denial is a riveting thriller about the lengths we will go to for the ones we love and the truths we hold dear.
From the former Chief Justice of Canada and #1 bestselling author of Full Disclosure comes a taut new thriller starring tough-as-nails defense attorney Jilly Truitt in a murder case that makes her question her own truths.
When everyone is in denial, how do you find the truth?
Jilly Truitt has made a name for herself as one of the top criminal defense lawyers in the city. Where once she had to take just about any case to keep her firm afloat, now she has her pick—and she picks winners.
So when Joseph Quentin asks her to defend his wife, who has been charged with murdering her own mother in what the media are calling a mercy killing, every instinct tells Jilly to say no. Word on the street is that Vera Quentin is in denial, refusing to admit to the crime and take a lenient plea deal. Quentin is a lawyer’s lawyer, known as the Fixer in legal circles, and if he can’t help his wife, who can?
Against her better judgment, Jilly meets with Vera and reluctantly agrees to take on her case. Call it intuition, call it sympathy, but something about Vera makes Jilly believe she’s telling the truth. Now, she has to prove that in the courtroom against her former mentor turned opponent, prosecutor Cy Kenge—a man who has no qualms about bending the rules.
As the trial approaches, Jilly scrambles to find a crack in the case and stumbles across a dark truth hanging over the Quentin family. But is it enough to prove Vera’s innocence? Or is Jilly in denial herself?
Thrumming with tension, Denial is a riveting thriller about the lengths we will go to for the ones we love and the truths we hold dear.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2021
About the author
Beverley McLachlin
11 books225 followersBeverley McLachlin is the former Chief Justice of Canada, the first woman to hold that position.
Full Disclosure is her first novel.
Full Disclosure is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
September 14, 2021
A sincere thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an early copy of Denial by Beverley McLachlin. I read her first Jilly Truitt novel in 2018, and it has remained one of my favourites. I was very pleased to receive this book in return for an honest review.
Best-selling author, Beverley McLachlin, is former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and knows well the intricacies of our justice system and how lawyers operate. Some criminal law professors used her first novel 'Full Disclosure' to illustrate moral and ethical issues that may arise during a trial.
Her novels are gripping, suspenseful, well-written, and easy to follow. This book is both a courtroom drama and an enthralling psychological thriller. It details the investigation involved in the puzzling, hard-to-defend crime at the centre of this story.
Jilly Truitt is a successful defence attorney, one of the best in the city. Joseph Quentin asks her to defend his wife, Vera. His wife is being accused of the 'mercy killing' of her mother, and the charge is murder. Quentin is a top lawyer known as The Fixer for defending lawyers from charges of misdemeanours and infractions. His wife is said to be in a fragile emotional state and in denial about the act of injecting morphine into her terminally ill mother to cause her death. Her mother was suffering in severe pain and was also in the early stages of dementia and often begged for Vera to end her life. Her mother had requested a legally assisted death, but the doctor refused, declaring she was not near enough to the terminal stage to qualify. Vera had a history of emotional instability, has fired two lawyers, and refuses to take a plea deal, adamant that she is innocent. She prefers to go on trial for murder, hoping for a not guilty verdict.
Jilly is reluctant to take the case as it seems hopeless. It appears that no one was present in her mother's house except Vera when her mother died, the alarm system was set, and the doors locked. Her husband and adult son hope that she can be persuaded to take the plea deal to avoid the murder trial. When Jilly meets with Vera, she is sympathetic, and her intuition suggests that Vera is innocent.
She decides to defend Vera but tells her if she keeps demanding to have her case tried before a jury, she may end up serving a long time in prison.
Jilly and her team must come up quickly with some arguments in defence of their client. In the meantime, there is unrelated intrigue surrounding Jilly, endangering her life and safety outside of the courtroom. The trial is compelling and informative, and its legal matters are made easy to follow and understand. Jilly is up against a prosecutor who is a former mentor. He is ruthless and will twist the law to win. This was so well-written that I felt emotionally connected and that I was sitting in the courtroom. I was holding my breath as the outcome looked grim for Jilly's legal team and Vera.
The book highlights some very divisive and controversial subjects, mercy killing and, to a lesser extent, abortion.
This works as a standalone, but I suggest reading the excellent first novel to get a fuller picture of Jilly's background and past struggles. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a twisty mystery with a court case involved.
Best-selling author, Beverley McLachlin, is former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and knows well the intricacies of our justice system and how lawyers operate. Some criminal law professors used her first novel 'Full Disclosure' to illustrate moral and ethical issues that may arise during a trial.
Her novels are gripping, suspenseful, well-written, and easy to follow. This book is both a courtroom drama and an enthralling psychological thriller. It details the investigation involved in the puzzling, hard-to-defend crime at the centre of this story.
Jilly Truitt is a successful defence attorney, one of the best in the city. Joseph Quentin asks her to defend his wife, Vera. His wife is being accused of the 'mercy killing' of her mother, and the charge is murder. Quentin is a top lawyer known as The Fixer for defending lawyers from charges of misdemeanours and infractions. His wife is said to be in a fragile emotional state and in denial about the act of injecting morphine into her terminally ill mother to cause her death. Her mother was suffering in severe pain and was also in the early stages of dementia and often begged for Vera to end her life. Her mother had requested a legally assisted death, but the doctor refused, declaring she was not near enough to the terminal stage to qualify. Vera had a history of emotional instability, has fired two lawyers, and refuses to take a plea deal, adamant that she is innocent. She prefers to go on trial for murder, hoping for a not guilty verdict.
Jilly is reluctant to take the case as it seems hopeless. It appears that no one was present in her mother's house except Vera when her mother died, the alarm system was set, and the doors locked. Her husband and adult son hope that she can be persuaded to take the plea deal to avoid the murder trial. When Jilly meets with Vera, she is sympathetic, and her intuition suggests that Vera is innocent.
She decides to defend Vera but tells her if she keeps demanding to have her case tried before a jury, she may end up serving a long time in prison.
Jilly and her team must come up quickly with some arguments in defence of their client. In the meantime, there is unrelated intrigue surrounding Jilly, endangering her life and safety outside of the courtroom. The trial is compelling and informative, and its legal matters are made easy to follow and understand. Jilly is up against a prosecutor who is a former mentor. He is ruthless and will twist the law to win. This was so well-written that I felt emotionally connected and that I was sitting in the courtroom. I was holding my breath as the outcome looked grim for Jilly's legal team and Vera.
The book highlights some very divisive and controversial subjects, mercy killing and, to a lesser extent, abortion.
This works as a standalone, but I suggest reading the excellent first novel to get a fuller picture of Jilly's background and past struggles. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a twisty mystery with a court case involved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2021
Before writing a review of Denial it’s important to inform that the author, Beverley McLachlin, served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 2000 to 2017. She is the longest serving Chief Justice as well as being the first woman in that position. Because legal thrillers are one of my favorite genres, I was delighted that McLachlin has turned to writing legal fiction in her retirement. This is the second instalment in the Jilly Truitt series but it reads well as a stand-alone. Truitt is a successful criminal defense lawyer who can pick and choose her clients. When asked to defend Vera Quentin, the wife of a legal acquaintance, she is hesitant. She is accused of murdering her mother who had been battling cancer for a long time. The press have called it a mercy killing but Vera maintains her innocence. The courtroom scenes are at the heart of this novel and the author’s career surely gives them authenticity. The characters are varied and the reader will sometimes have difficulty telling the good from the bad. Just a note to point out that there is an interesting interview with John Grisham and Beverley McLachlin at the back of the book. Denial is highly recommended. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2021
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Beverley McLachlin, and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Having served a long and illustrious career in the Canadian legal field, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Beverley McLachlin, has not been resting on her laurels in retirement. Rather, she’s come up with some amazing legal thrillers that keep the reader flipping pages to get to the core of the case. Jilly Truitt is an established lawyer, getting her practice in order and can finally choose her clients, rather than take whatever scraps are tossed her way. When an acquaintance asks that she take on the case of his wife, Jilly is sceptical. Vera Quentin is accused of killing her mother with a legal dose of morphine, though she denies the charges. Two previous defence attorneys have quit and the judge is not likely to grant another continuance. Jilly reluctantly agrees to the case, which opens many issues, both with the legal preparation and the law towards assisted suicide in Canada. The further Jilly explores, the more twists the case provides, which only fuels her to get to the truth. Another stunning piece by McLachlin, whose fiction writing is as riveting as the judgements delivered from the bench.
After a rocky few years, Jilly Truitt is finally making a name for herself in Vancouver’s criminal defence community. She’s established herself as a gritty lawyer with nothing holding her back. When she is approached by Joseph Quentin, she is intrigued, particularly because the man is a no-nonsense legal mind who has been dealing with some family issues of late. Quentin’s wife, Vera, is on trial the the murder of her mother, Olivia Stanton. While Vera denies this, she also refuses to take a plea being offered by the Crown’s Attorney, Cy Kenge. Jilly really does not want the case, particularly since two other attorneys quit in the lead-up to trial, but there’s something here.
Jilly agrees to meet with Vera and is persuaded after their frank conversation. While Olivia Stanton felt strongly about her right to die, having suffered from cancer and being in constant pain, Vera has outwardly refused to take such measures. Still, on the night of Olivia’s death, Vera was the only other person in the house. Jilly must find a crack in the story that the Crown is presenting and show that Vera’s adamant behaviour is her own defence. However, Vera has issues of her own, including mental health, which creates a sense of denying the truth on occasion.
While working the case, Jilly has been doing some pro bono work and helps a young woman who is fleeing human trafficking. However, not all of Vancouver’s criminal element feel so fondly about Jilly, meaning that there are many who would have painted a target on her back. Still, Jilly cannot let that deter her from doing good work, either in the courtroom or for those who need help as victims of horrible crimes.
When Jilly finds a new angle to approach in the case, she rushes forward, learning that Olivia may have been making some significant changes to her estate before dying. Could this has fuelled someone to take drastic action to stop things in their tracks? It’s only when the case goes to trial that Jilly is handed a significant set-up, as additional secrets about Vera’s life come to the surface and truths paint a new picture about what might have happened that night.
Working every perspective and trying not to enter any traps set by Cy Kenge, Jilly works her legal magic and tries to stay the course, even as personal tragedy befalls her in the middle of presenting her case. Vera Quentin may be espousing her innocence, but the facts left to the jury are nowhere nearly as clear cut. Denial of the truth could be the one weakness Jilly and Vera must overcome before this ends. A stunning thriller that will keep the reader hooked until the very end.
Having followed the career of Beverley McLachlin for many years, I was excited to see that she was able to make the shift from Chief Justice of Canada to a published author. Not only that, but her writing is gripping and riveting, something that not all lawyers and judges can do when moving into the world of fiction. McLachlin spins a tale with a great Canadian flavour and keeps the reader turning pages with ease. I can only hope that there are more Jilly Truitt thrillers to come before long.
Jilly Truitt remains a wonderful protagonist in this piece. She builds on her past from the series debut and grows quite nicely in this piece. Working to carve a niche for herself in Vancouver’s busy legal community is surely not easy, but she has done it with ease and flair, something that shows throughout the book. Her gritty determination shines through, as does her desire to protect any client for whom she works. There are moments of weakness for her, as depicted in a subplot of the book, but she comes out determined to set things straight, as best she can.
McLachlin uses strong supporting characters throughout the piece to keep the story moving and complement Jilly effectively. There are angles of the story that depict legal issues in Canada, familial squabbles, and even personal interactions, all of which are effectively covered through the numerous characters introduced throughout. McLachlin has paved the way for a wonderful novel and builds on her stellar debut piece with both new and returning characters sure to impress the reader.
I have long loved a good legal thriller, but find it hard to find ones set outside the big domains of the US and UK. McLachlin has done well to present the Canadian angle, which differs from both without being too off the wall. The narrative flowed well and keeps the reader enthralled throughout, using strong characters and a paced plot that gains momentum as the story builds. A mix of chapter lengths serve to fuel the story, teasing the reader at times while also pulling them in for a legal or personal exploration at times. I found myself reading and not wanting to stop, which is not always an easy feat. However, there was something about this book. Some bemoan that McLachlin ought to have stayed with her courtroom work, but I am sure it is only that they did not take the time to allow the story to really sink in. I cannot wait for more!
Kudos, Madam McLachlin (not sure what title I ought to use), for another wonderful piece. I cannot wait to see what Jilly Truitt will discover next and how that will add to the greatness of this blossoming series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Having served a long and illustrious career in the Canadian legal field, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Beverley McLachlin, has not been resting on her laurels in retirement. Rather, she’s come up with some amazing legal thrillers that keep the reader flipping pages to get to the core of the case. Jilly Truitt is an established lawyer, getting her practice in order and can finally choose her clients, rather than take whatever scraps are tossed her way. When an acquaintance asks that she take on the case of his wife, Jilly is sceptical. Vera Quentin is accused of killing her mother with a legal dose of morphine, though she denies the charges. Two previous defence attorneys have quit and the judge is not likely to grant another continuance. Jilly reluctantly agrees to the case, which opens many issues, both with the legal preparation and the law towards assisted suicide in Canada. The further Jilly explores, the more twists the case provides, which only fuels her to get to the truth. Another stunning piece by McLachlin, whose fiction writing is as riveting as the judgements delivered from the bench.
After a rocky few years, Jilly Truitt is finally making a name for herself in Vancouver’s criminal defence community. She’s established herself as a gritty lawyer with nothing holding her back. When she is approached by Joseph Quentin, she is intrigued, particularly because the man is a no-nonsense legal mind who has been dealing with some family issues of late. Quentin’s wife, Vera, is on trial the the murder of her mother, Olivia Stanton. While Vera denies this, she also refuses to take a plea being offered by the Crown’s Attorney, Cy Kenge. Jilly really does not want the case, particularly since two other attorneys quit in the lead-up to trial, but there’s something here.
Jilly agrees to meet with Vera and is persuaded after their frank conversation. While Olivia Stanton felt strongly about her right to die, having suffered from cancer and being in constant pain, Vera has outwardly refused to take such measures. Still, on the night of Olivia’s death, Vera was the only other person in the house. Jilly must find a crack in the story that the Crown is presenting and show that Vera’s adamant behaviour is her own defence. However, Vera has issues of her own, including mental health, which creates a sense of denying the truth on occasion.
While working the case, Jilly has been doing some pro bono work and helps a young woman who is fleeing human trafficking. However, not all of Vancouver’s criminal element feel so fondly about Jilly, meaning that there are many who would have painted a target on her back. Still, Jilly cannot let that deter her from doing good work, either in the courtroom or for those who need help as victims of horrible crimes.
When Jilly finds a new angle to approach in the case, she rushes forward, learning that Olivia may have been making some significant changes to her estate before dying. Could this has fuelled someone to take drastic action to stop things in their tracks? It’s only when the case goes to trial that Jilly is handed a significant set-up, as additional secrets about Vera’s life come to the surface and truths paint a new picture about what might have happened that night.
Working every perspective and trying not to enter any traps set by Cy Kenge, Jilly works her legal magic and tries to stay the course, even as personal tragedy befalls her in the middle of presenting her case. Vera Quentin may be espousing her innocence, but the facts left to the jury are nowhere nearly as clear cut. Denial of the truth could be the one weakness Jilly and Vera must overcome before this ends. A stunning thriller that will keep the reader hooked until the very end.
Having followed the career of Beverley McLachlin for many years, I was excited to see that she was able to make the shift from Chief Justice of Canada to a published author. Not only that, but her writing is gripping and riveting, something that not all lawyers and judges can do when moving into the world of fiction. McLachlin spins a tale with a great Canadian flavour and keeps the reader turning pages with ease. I can only hope that there are more Jilly Truitt thrillers to come before long.
Jilly Truitt remains a wonderful protagonist in this piece. She builds on her past from the series debut and grows quite nicely in this piece. Working to carve a niche for herself in Vancouver’s busy legal community is surely not easy, but she has done it with ease and flair, something that shows throughout the book. Her gritty determination shines through, as does her desire to protect any client for whom she works. There are moments of weakness for her, as depicted in a subplot of the book, but she comes out determined to set things straight, as best she can.
McLachlin uses strong supporting characters throughout the piece to keep the story moving and complement Jilly effectively. There are angles of the story that depict legal issues in Canada, familial squabbles, and even personal interactions, all of which are effectively covered through the numerous characters introduced throughout. McLachlin has paved the way for a wonderful novel and builds on her stellar debut piece with both new and returning characters sure to impress the reader.
I have long loved a good legal thriller, but find it hard to find ones set outside the big domains of the US and UK. McLachlin has done well to present the Canadian angle, which differs from both without being too off the wall. The narrative flowed well and keeps the reader enthralled throughout, using strong characters and a paced plot that gains momentum as the story builds. A mix of chapter lengths serve to fuel the story, teasing the reader at times while also pulling them in for a legal or personal exploration at times. I found myself reading and not wanting to stop, which is not always an easy feat. However, there was something about this book. Some bemoan that McLachlin ought to have stayed with her courtroom work, but I am sure it is only that they did not take the time to allow the story to really sink in. I cannot wait for more!
Kudos, Madam McLachlin (not sure what title I ought to use), for another wonderful piece. I cannot wait to see what Jilly Truitt will discover next and how that will add to the greatness of this blossoming series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
September 29, 2021
My first book by this author.
I do own a copy of “Full Disclosure”, still unopened since its release, but after reading this one I decided to read it very soon.
This is a terrific courtroom drama, as well as a good thriller.
It’s riveting. It’s clever. It’s entertaining and an easy read.
I really enjoyed the writing and the development of the storyline.
I listened to the audiobook while simultaneously reading the book. The narrator’s voice (Joy Osmanski) wasn’t pleasant to my ears on normal speed, but increasing the speed just from normal to 1.25x made some difference.
I loved the pace but some readers may find it too slow.
The story explores the topic of mercy killing or medical assistance in dying.
The trial was really thrilling and with an unexpected twist.
I’m not familiar with criminal law, so I cannot judge if laws mentioned here are correct (a reviewer said that there were lots of errors but did not point them - personally I find hard to believe, but what do I know? Only that the author is a Canadian jurist and served as the 17th Chief Justice of Canada from 2000 to 2017). But this is a work of fiction (and a believable one) and I’m not concerned about its accuracy.
I’m looking forward to reading this author future works.
384 pages, 88k words, 58 chapters
PS about the audiobook: the narrator did change a couple of words such as “quietly” instead of “quickly”, “grandfather” instead of “grandmother”.
I do own a copy of “Full Disclosure”, still unopened since its release, but after reading this one I decided to read it very soon.
This is a terrific courtroom drama, as well as a good thriller.
It’s riveting. It’s clever. It’s entertaining and an easy read.
I really enjoyed the writing and the development of the storyline.
I listened to the audiobook while simultaneously reading the book. The narrator’s voice (Joy Osmanski) wasn’t pleasant to my ears on normal speed, but increasing the speed just from normal to 1.25x made some difference.
I loved the pace but some readers may find it too slow.
The story explores the topic of mercy killing or medical assistance in dying.
The trial was really thrilling and with an unexpected twist.
I’m not familiar with criminal law, so I cannot judge if laws mentioned here are correct (a reviewer said that there were lots of errors but did not point them - personally I find hard to believe, but what do I know? Only that the author is a Canadian jurist and served as the 17th Chief Justice of Canada from 2000 to 2017). But this is a work of fiction (and a believable one) and I’m not concerned about its accuracy.
I’m looking forward to reading this author future works.
384 pages, 88k words, 58 chapters
PS about the audiobook: the narrator did change a couple of words such as “quietly” instead of “quickly”, “grandfather” instead of “grandmother”.
September 14, 2021
I went into this one not knowing it was second in a series but it definitely reads well as a stand-alone!
While it was a bit slow paced and almost 400 pages long, I was certainly captivated throughout!
I loved that I went in knowing that McLachlin had a long serving career in the Canadian legal system as the a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. This made everything so much more intriguing for me and relished I’m how realistic everything seemed to come across.
Overall this was a good legal thriller and courtroom drama and I enjoyed her writing! I’ll have to go back and read Full Disclosure now!
While it was a bit slow paced and almost 400 pages long, I was certainly captivated throughout!
I loved that I went in knowing that McLachlin had a long serving career in the Canadian legal system as the a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. This made everything so much more intriguing for me and relished I’m how realistic everything seemed to come across.
Overall this was a good legal thriller and courtroom drama and I enjoyed her writing! I’ll have to go back and read Full Disclosure now!
November 18, 2021
This was an easy read and the story was okay, but there’s a couple things that really bothered me. Not once, but TWICE, in the book they mix up 2 of the main characters names (Vera and Olivia). It totally took me out of the story and it frustrated me to see such an oversight in editing. One of them happens in a huge pivotal moment of the book (page 343 when Joseph says: “I killed Vera Quentin”………..he killed Olivia Stanton, not Vera Quentin). There were some other grammatical issues in the book which I found bothersome.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2022
Did not actually finish! I just can’t get Goodreads to properly take something off my “Currently Reading” list without saying that I finished it.
I am a huge fan of Beverly McLachlin, the retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. As a Canadian lawyer, I am of course familiar with her work in that context. We affectionately called her “Bev” in Law School. Bev is a wonderful legal writer and jurist. She is probably my most admired person in the legal world.
But…Bev cannot write fiction! I’m sorry, Bev, but this is not very good! The plot is predictable and over-dramatic without the nuance I expected based on her balanced and compassionate SCC decisions. The dialogue is my biggest complaint. Everyone in this book speaks like Bev when she conducts court! The dialogue is full of unnecessary “Mr” and “Ms” in otherwise informal settings. “Prerequisite” “demise” and “imminence” are just a few of the intense vocabulary used in everyday speech in this book. Even the 20-something young man speaks this way! People don’t speak like this! They write legal pleadings this way and written submissions this way. They occasionally speak in court like this! But they don’t speak to their friends or friendly acquaintances in restaurants like this!
I do want to thank Bev very much, however, for this not-good book. Thank you, Bev! Thank you for having the courage to try something new and not be good at it! Thank you for showing me that even one of the most admired legal minds in the world is not a genius who can do it all. Thank you for showing me that we all suck sometimes. I feel like I am sucking quite a lot lately. Sometimes Bev does too. It’s all ok!
I am a huge fan of Beverly McLachlin, the retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. As a Canadian lawyer, I am of course familiar with her work in that context. We affectionately called her “Bev” in Law School. Bev is a wonderful legal writer and jurist. She is probably my most admired person in the legal world.
But…Bev cannot write fiction! I’m sorry, Bev, but this is not very good! The plot is predictable and over-dramatic without the nuance I expected based on her balanced and compassionate SCC decisions. The dialogue is my biggest complaint. Everyone in this book speaks like Bev when she conducts court! The dialogue is full of unnecessary “Mr” and “Ms” in otherwise informal settings. “Prerequisite” “demise” and “imminence” are just a few of the intense vocabulary used in everyday speech in this book. Even the 20-something young man speaks this way! People don’t speak like this! They write legal pleadings this way and written submissions this way. They occasionally speak in court like this! But they don’t speak to their friends or friendly acquaintances in restaurants like this!
I do want to thank Bev very much, however, for this not-good book. Thank you, Bev! Thank you for having the courage to try something new and not be good at it! Thank you for showing me that even one of the most admired legal minds in the world is not a genius who can do it all. Thank you for showing me that we all suck sometimes. I feel like I am sucking quite a lot lately. Sometimes Bev does too. It’s all ok!
August 19, 2021
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
3.5* rounded down. I found this hard to put down and the courtroom scenes were excellent. On the other hand the references to Jilly's past were irrelevant to the story and distracting, and even Mike's reintroduction was more of a plot device than real background character development. The writing is 'workmanlike', which is fine for a plot-driven story like this one, and I enjoy the Vancouver setting. The ending was a bit much for me: I prefer justice to be done and to be seen to have been done.
3.5* rounded down. I found this hard to put down and the courtroom scenes were excellent. On the other hand the references to Jilly's past were irrelevant to the story and distracting, and even Mike's reintroduction was more of a plot device than real background character development. The writing is 'workmanlike', which is fine for a plot-driven story like this one, and I enjoy the Vancouver setting. The ending was a bit much for me: I prefer justice to be done and to be seen to have been done.
August 3, 2021
Interesting court case at the core, and the reveals as they unfolded took me by surprise. But I found the writing a bit dry. There were also some subplots around Jilly Truitt's personal life and other cases that had some compelling impacts on her life, but fell kind of flat for me. I usually love legal thrillers, and I liked the glimpses into a Canadian courtroom, but the book never quite hooked me.
Full review on my blog: https://literarytreats.com/2021/08/03...
Full review on my blog: https://literarytreats.com/2021/08/03...
September 21, 2022
The author mixes up the names of the characters a bunch of times towards the end lol
In the most critical moment of the murder mystery someone says “I killed Vera Quentin” but Vera Quentin is the one being accused of murder (not the victim) and is alive and well in the court room at that time. Wtf
In the most critical moment of the murder mystery someone says “I killed Vera Quentin” but Vera Quentin is the one being accused of murder (not the victim) and is alive and well in the court room at that time. Wtf
July 7, 2022
how many cliches can you fit in one mystery novel? this one has all of them so you can totally find out!
Read
February 25, 2023Easy read 😁
September 22, 2021
If I didn’t already know Beverley McLachlin’s legal credentials, I certainly wouldn’t guess them from reading this book. She makes so many errors in law here, much like in the previous book; you might think she’d hire a law student to do some criminal law research for her, but evidently that has not occurred to her. Then there’s the vocabulary - it’s like she just got through studying for the vocabulary section of the SATs and wants to use all those big, fancy words. The side-plots were painfully obvious in how they would blend into the main plot. One character… as soon as this person appeared, I thought ‘oh, this person is going to die!’ and I was right. Egregious mistake: the March of Ides. Is there even an editor anywhere near this book?
August 22, 2021
I just couldn't get totally into this book. Was slow moving to me. I love anything to do with court cases but the characters just didn't flow well for me.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
September 19, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, Beverley McLachlin, and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this novel for an unbiased review.
Like a television court drama (think Law and Order), Denial brings us a story that has suspense around every corner. When Joseph Quentin asks Jilly Truitt, one of Vancouver’s top criminal defense lawyers, to defend his wife in a murder trial, everything in her says not to. Even though Jilly has been warned against the case, and even her own instincts tell her it is a losing battle, she sympathetically takes the case that is being called a mercy killing by the media. As she digs deeper into the case, there appear to be more secrets and dark truths hiding within the Quentin family than appears on the surface. To top it off, an old case is coming back to haunt Jilly and may have more consequences than previously thought. While at the beginning this book may feel like other courtroom dramas, I found that there were many dark turns throughout that caused it to feel different. Throughout, opinions on characters changed with every piece of new information given. While some characters felt cliché on the surface, once they were dug into more there was more depth given about their motivations and why they acted how they did. While this novel may not be for those who want a detective novel; for those who enjoy drama, crime, law, and interpersonal relationships, this is for you.
Like a television court drama (think Law and Order), Denial brings us a story that has suspense around every corner. When Joseph Quentin asks Jilly Truitt, one of Vancouver’s top criminal defense lawyers, to defend his wife in a murder trial, everything in her says not to. Even though Jilly has been warned against the case, and even her own instincts tell her it is a losing battle, she sympathetically takes the case that is being called a mercy killing by the media. As she digs deeper into the case, there appear to be more secrets and dark truths hiding within the Quentin family than appears on the surface. To top it off, an old case is coming back to haunt Jilly and may have more consequences than previously thought. While at the beginning this book may feel like other courtroom dramas, I found that there were many dark turns throughout that caused it to feel different. Throughout, opinions on characters changed with every piece of new information given. While some characters felt cliché on the surface, once they were dug into more there was more depth given about their motivations and why they acted how they did. While this novel may not be for those who want a detective novel; for those who enjoy drama, crime, law, and interpersonal relationships, this is for you.
July 18, 2021
All I can say is our former Chief Justice of Canada has a vivid imagination and a golden pen. This book was a beautifully written novel that focused on what mattered to the case but with such detail and flawless penmanship ! There are several major plot shifts within the story that you never see coming and it just makes this book one of my favourites of the early fall novels I have reviewed. Prepare to have your mind blown.
I have to admit that I was not aware that this was the second book in the Jilly Truitt series but having said that you can pick up the book and not even know that you didn't read her first novel.
Jilly Truitt is a smart independent lawyer living in Western Canada's Vancouver metropolis. She is called by another top lawyer whose wife stands accused of murdering her dying mother. Has the anxiety and stress finally gotten to Vera Quintin and caused her to murder, was she just a sympathetic daughter helping to free her mother of the burden of the cruel pain that often accompanies the end stages of life, or is there another sinister plot at play?
Join Ms. Truitt as she pulls at the threads of the story and discovers what a tangled web has been woven. This book was so good I have gone back and purchased the first novel in the series to read - and I am now a Jilly Truitt/Beverley McLauchlin fan!!
Beverley McLachlin writes a lot like John Grisham in that you can see the movie in your head (and you just know that a movie should be coming to take advantage of the writing in this amazing novel!) The book is so easy to read but also provides the opportunities to learn new words and technical details - if you want to learn more about those things. I hope that Jilly Truitt continues to feature in Ms. McLachlin's future writing as I loved this book.
Thank you so much to author Beverley McLachlin, publisher Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review of this book in return for a temporary ARC to read the novel.
I have to admit that I was not aware that this was the second book in the Jilly Truitt series but having said that you can pick up the book and not even know that you didn't read her first novel.
Jilly Truitt is a smart independent lawyer living in Western Canada's Vancouver metropolis. She is called by another top lawyer whose wife stands accused of murdering her dying mother. Has the anxiety and stress finally gotten to Vera Quintin and caused her to murder, was she just a sympathetic daughter helping to free her mother of the burden of the cruel pain that often accompanies the end stages of life, or is there another sinister plot at play?
Join Ms. Truitt as she pulls at the threads of the story and discovers what a tangled web has been woven. This book was so good I have gone back and purchased the first novel in the series to read - and I am now a Jilly Truitt/Beverley McLauchlin fan!!
Beverley McLachlin writes a lot like John Grisham in that you can see the movie in your head (and you just know that a movie should be coming to take advantage of the writing in this amazing novel!) The book is so easy to read but also provides the opportunities to learn new words and technical details - if you want to learn more about those things. I hope that Jilly Truitt continues to feature in Ms. McLachlin's future writing as I loved this book.
Thank you so much to author Beverley McLachlin, publisher Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review of this book in return for a temporary ARC to read the novel.
September 10, 2021
The Story:
Criminal defense lawyer Jilly Truitt takes on a case defending Vera Quentin, who is charged with killing her mother. Vera is in denial, not admitting to the crime and refusing to take a plea deal. The more Jilly investigates, the more she realizes that both Vera's husband and mother are hiding secrets of their own.
My thoughts: Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Beverley McLachlin gives us one riveting legal thriller and I enjoyed all the courtroom scenes and the investigation element in the story! It was well done!
The plot was intriguing and I think the defense used here is clever - something I have not heard before. I liked that the story explores the topic of mercy killing or MAID (medical assistance in dying) which was interesting.
This is book two of this series and although I personally felt that it can be read as standalone, there were some parts I wished that I have more background information of. As far as characters go, I really liked Jilly and her team and their working dynamics. However, for some reason, I was not able to connect with any of the characters.
Overall, this was one legal thriller I really liked and I loved that it was set in Canada. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
Pub. Date: Sep 14th, 2021
***Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for this gifted review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.***
My thoughts: Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Beverley McLachlin gives us one riveting legal thriller and I enjoyed all the courtroom scenes and the investigation element in the story! It was well done!
The plot was intriguing and I think the defense used here is clever - something I have not heard before. I liked that the story explores the topic of mercy killing or MAID (medical assistance in dying) which was interesting.
This is book two of this series and although I personally felt that it can be read as standalone, there were some parts I wished that I have more background information of. As far as characters go, I really liked Jilly and her team and their working dynamics. However, for some reason, I was not able to connect with any of the characters.
Overall, this was one legal thriller I really liked and I loved that it was set in Canada. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
Pub. Date: Sep 14th, 2021
***Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for this gifted review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.***
July 15, 2023
Fire the editor. A poorly edited book is such a disappointment to read. The worst part is the use of the WRONG name at the climax of the novel. While the other mistakes regarding the deceased’s name throughout the book were annoying—and there were a handful of them—the mistaken use of the accused’s name INSTEAD of the deceased’s name at the pivotal moment when a character confesses to the murder is appallingly poor editing.
August 23, 2021
My first legal thriller & it was a great read. To me it felt like a Kathy Reichs Bones story. Strong female protagonist, life endangered by the work she’s doing, personal life issues. But with a legal instead of anthropological bent. I’m not complaining about the similarity, just making an observation. Again, great read, well drawn characters & a very good twisty plot.
October 28, 2021
I won this book from 49th Shelf and my husband immediately began to read it. He was completely immersed in the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. He found it easy to read and follow...and enjoyed reading about the locations in Vancouver, as he lived there in the past. It’s a fantastic book by an excellent Canadian author. Recommended.
November 14, 2021
Really enjoyed this story. Written by Beverly McLachlan former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada so contains very realistic court room scenes.
February 26, 2022
Perhaps my impression of this novel was tainted by not having read McLachlin’s first novel and thereby not having had a chance to connect with Jilly’s character. Perhaps it was the disconnected narrative and exaggerated/ pretentious verbiage. Interesting story overall, but I definitely lacked a connection with the story.
October 17, 2021
This book is a solid 3.5 but have rounded up to a 4 as I was unable to put this book down - I wanted to know what happened next. I was disappointed in the ending and I also found that there was too much added in that distracted from the story. The Mike situation seemed forced. However, a really good way to spend a rainy day and I look forward to reading the next one.
October 10, 2021
A cracking good legal thriller, presented from a Canadian angle. This is a well-written, suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will leave you breathless at times in anticipation of the next twist in the plot. The author’s well-developed characters, who you will love to hate, make this a visceral and riveting read. The story constantly twists and turns upon itself to the point where you are sometimes left dizzy. Don’t start reading this book if you are not prepared to stay up all night. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Shuster Canada who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Shuster Canada who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
August 28, 2021
Rating: 4.5 / 5
**Received ARC from Netgalley for honest review.**
Wow. Now THIS is how to write a proper mystery crime novel!
Centering around defense attorney Jilly Truitt, the story takes place in Vancouver, Canada--so yay, Canadian law, which I can actually understand! Jilly's been hired by Joseph Quentin to defend his wife, Vera, from a charge of second-degree murder by the state and prosecutor, Cy Kenge. Apparently, Vera is accused of murdering her mother, Olivia, after months of pressure by Olivia to help her die--an unofficial MAID (medical assistance in dying), since Olivia doesn't qualify for it officially under the law.
The easiest way out would be to take Kenge's plea bargain, and therefore Vera will only have to go to prison for 1-2 year; however, Vera stoutly denies the charge, and so they move on with the trial, which, if Vera is found guilty, would result in ten years in prison for her. At first, it seems to be Jilly's job to convince Vera to take the plea bargain, but when Vera continues in her denial, Jilly's job then becomes to poke holes in Kenge's case that Vera committed the crime "beyond a reasonable doubt".
Reading through this, I got great vibes for all of the law films I enjoy--most particularly 12 Angry Men (1957), especially since "beyond a reasonable doubt" is really emphasized and Jilly has to do the same kind of digging for evidence and ask the same questions that the jurors in the film do. It's all really great when you get those kinds of vibes from a crime novel!
All throughout, I confess that I had no idea what had actually happened to Olivia, though, like Jilly, I 100% believed that Vera wasn't guilty. The author definitely throws some twists your way that you will not see coming though, and also seamlessly connects the two ongoing plots by the end of the novel--that of Vera's trial, and that of how Jilly is being targeted by a former client of hers who's an underworld criminal. (By the way, I did suspect that the two plots must be related in some way because otherwise why would the author include the second one, but since I didn't understand just how, it was still refreshing to encounter that twist as well.)
I really really REALLY loved reading through all the courtroom scenes. I got the sense that either this author has done her research or she's been through the procedure herself, because she writes about the questioning, the legalities, and just about everything like she's an expert at it. It made for a really engaging read and is just good writing as well in knowing one's subject matter. Applause to Ms. McLachlin for that, to be sure!
The ending, for me at least, was a bit of a trainwreck ending as well, but it was such a mini-trainwreck that I decided to let it pass for five stars and only deducted .5 marks for it. Like...in itself, it's not convincing and it's got holes in it, but since the novel itself is just written so well and flows so well, for once I won't deduct a rating for it just for the ending.
Overall though, really enjoyed this read and, shockingly, I was actually impressed by it. Believe me when I say this: this does NOT happen often for me to be impressed with a book, and especially not one of this genre when the majority that I've read were written, published, and "praised" for the "twists and turns" rather than for the quality of the writing.
But this book HAS impressed me, so you, dear reader, can assume that it's got both a great plot, great twists, and great writing. Definitely recommended!
**Received ARC from Netgalley for honest review.**
Wow. Now THIS is how to write a proper mystery crime novel!
Centering around defense attorney Jilly Truitt, the story takes place in Vancouver, Canada--so yay, Canadian law, which I can actually understand! Jilly's been hired by Joseph Quentin to defend his wife, Vera, from a charge of second-degree murder by the state and prosecutor, Cy Kenge. Apparently, Vera is accused of murdering her mother, Olivia, after months of pressure by Olivia to help her die--an unofficial MAID (medical assistance in dying), since Olivia doesn't qualify for it officially under the law.
The easiest way out would be to take Kenge's plea bargain, and therefore Vera will only have to go to prison for 1-2 year; however, Vera stoutly denies the charge, and so they move on with the trial, which, if Vera is found guilty, would result in ten years in prison for her. At first, it seems to be Jilly's job to convince Vera to take the plea bargain, but when Vera continues in her denial, Jilly's job then becomes to poke holes in Kenge's case that Vera committed the crime "beyond a reasonable doubt".
Reading through this, I got great vibes for all of the law films I enjoy--most particularly 12 Angry Men (1957), especially since "beyond a reasonable doubt" is really emphasized and Jilly has to do the same kind of digging for evidence and ask the same questions that the jurors in the film do. It's all really great when you get those kinds of vibes from a crime novel!
All throughout, I confess that I had no idea what had actually happened to Olivia, though, like Jilly, I 100% believed that Vera wasn't guilty. The author definitely throws some twists your way that you will not see coming though, and also seamlessly connects the two ongoing plots by the end of the novel--that of Vera's trial, and that of how Jilly is being targeted by a former client of hers who's an underworld criminal. (By the way, I did suspect that the two plots must be related in some way because otherwise why would the author include the second one, but since I didn't understand just how, it was still refreshing to encounter that twist as well.)
I really really REALLY loved reading through all the courtroom scenes. I got the sense that either this author has done her research or she's been through the procedure herself, because she writes about the questioning, the legalities, and just about everything like she's an expert at it. It made for a really engaging read and is just good writing as well in knowing one's subject matter. Applause to Ms. McLachlin for that, to be sure!
The ending, for me at least, was a bit of a trainwreck ending as well, but it was such a mini-trainwreck that I decided to let it pass for five stars and only deducted .5 marks for it. Like...in itself, it's not convincing and it's got holes in it, but since the novel itself is just written so well and flows so well, for once I won't deduct a rating for it just for the ending.
Overall though, really enjoyed this read and, shockingly, I was actually impressed by it. Believe me when I say this: this does NOT happen often for me to be impressed with a book, and especially not one of this genre when the majority that I've read were written, published, and "praised" for the "twists and turns" rather than for the quality of the writing.
But this book HAS impressed me, so you, dear reader, can assume that it's got both a great plot, great twists, and great writing. Definitely recommended!
July 6, 2021
Thank you to #NetGalley, #Simon&Shuster and #BeverleyMcLachlin for the opportunity to read and review the second of the Jilly Truitt legal thrillers, "Denial".
Jilly Truitt has made a name for herself as one of the top criminal defense lawyers in the city. Where once she had to take just about any case to keep her firm afloat, now she has her pick—and she picks winners. But her latest case may just stretch that definition to the max.
When Jilly is tapped by Joseph Quentin to defend his wife, Vera, on the charge that she murdered her mother (a charge that she vehemently denies, and has caused multiple delays and two previous changes of defence) Jilly is determined to find a way to exonerate her client - even though all around her say it's a losing proposition.
At the same time, Jilly and former flame Mike have found their way back to each other, and are exploring the rekindling of their romance; and she sees Mike as a refuge from the stress of the Quentin trial and obstinacy of her client. You see, Vera was alone in the house with her mother - a mother in severe pain and with limited mobility due to medication - with the entire house alarmed and special locks on the doors that require keys that cannot be duplicated. AND, her mother Olivia has repeatedly asked for MAID (Medical Assistance In Death) which she does not qualify for under the new law.
When Vera phones her husband after finding her mother deceased, a routine investigation becomes a murder charge when a syringe of with the dregs of a dose of morphine is found in her arm, and it's obvious that it was not self-administered.
As Jilly delves deeper and deeper into the case, looking for anything that might lead to a Not Guilty verdict, she finds a darkness at the core of the family; a darkness which ultimately leads to a dramatic in-court confession!
Retired Canadian Supreme Court Justice Beverley McLachlin does another masterful job of building up the story lines - including MAID and touching on human trafficking in this second installation in the Jilly Truitt thrillers. Hopefully there will be more.
Jilly Truitt has made a name for herself as one of the top criminal defense lawyers in the city. Where once she had to take just about any case to keep her firm afloat, now she has her pick—and she picks winners. But her latest case may just stretch that definition to the max.
When Jilly is tapped by Joseph Quentin to defend his wife, Vera, on the charge that she murdered her mother (a charge that she vehemently denies, and has caused multiple delays and two previous changes of defence) Jilly is determined to find a way to exonerate her client - even though all around her say it's a losing proposition.
At the same time, Jilly and former flame Mike have found their way back to each other, and are exploring the rekindling of their romance; and she sees Mike as a refuge from the stress of the Quentin trial and obstinacy of her client. You see, Vera was alone in the house with her mother - a mother in severe pain and with limited mobility due to medication - with the entire house alarmed and special locks on the doors that require keys that cannot be duplicated. AND, her mother Olivia has repeatedly asked for MAID (Medical Assistance In Death) which she does not qualify for under the new law.
When Vera phones her husband after finding her mother deceased, a routine investigation becomes a murder charge when a syringe of with the dregs of a dose of morphine is found in her arm, and it's obvious that it was not self-administered.
As Jilly delves deeper and deeper into the case, looking for anything that might lead to a Not Guilty verdict, she finds a darkness at the core of the family; a darkness which ultimately leads to a dramatic in-court confession!
Retired Canadian Supreme Court Justice Beverley McLachlin does another masterful job of building up the story lines - including MAID and touching on human trafficking in this second installation in the Jilly Truitt thrillers. Hopefully there will be more.
April 26, 2022
This is a run-of-the-mill cookie-cutter what-you-expect-is-what-you-get courtroom drama - that doesn't take place too much in the court room btw. It's really well-paced - almost so much so at times, that it feels very superficially fast.
Especially the whole love interest subplot felt extremely forced and was annoying af. At first, the narrator is single and missing her ex. Then her ex runs into her, takes her home, they cook, they f**k, and - what do you know - boom: they are together again, hooray! Next time they meet, he's shot by a hitman who meant to kill her. Do you care while reading this? Neither do I - and I read the effing novel!
The main plot (at its core a locked room mystery) is quite interesting, albeit not as complex as it seems at first glance. The subplots are entertaining at best, but often annoying, especially the protagonist's constant worries about a girl she met shortly while doing pro bono work. If there is any lawyer in this world who cares so much about every single client, they should do something else, because you can't work effectively as a lawyer if you are emotionalized.
What infuriated me the most (and dropped the verdict from three to two stars) were the expositional explanations. "this is character X, I met him wen I did this", "this is character Y, he once did this", and so on and so on. I couldn't care less, although I get that this is the third installment of a series, and the constant reader has to be reminded of who's who, but it just annoyed me so much to read about people I didn't care about. Give them a part in your story that has weight and meaning and make your reader love or hate them or be invested in any way whatsover, but don't just throw exposition after exposition in my face!
Last not least: don't let me get started on the ending. Big unbelievable plot twist? Tagging on much? Now she's pregnant? By her boyfriend whom we met twice? Of course. Boy, do I care. Why don't you write a romance novel instead? Kitsch as kitsch can.
SMH
p.s.:
What I learned: prosecutors and criminal lawyers in Canada call each other "friend" in the court room. Weird.
Especially the whole love interest subplot felt extremely forced and was annoying af. At first, the narrator is single and missing her ex. Then her ex runs into her, takes her home, they cook, they f**k, and - what do you know - boom: they are together again, hooray! Next time they meet, he's shot by a hitman who meant to kill her. Do you care while reading this? Neither do I - and I read the effing novel!
The main plot (at its core a locked room mystery) is quite interesting, albeit not as complex as it seems at first glance. The subplots are entertaining at best, but often annoying, especially the protagonist's constant worries about a girl she met shortly while doing pro bono work. If there is any lawyer in this world who cares so much about every single client, they should do something else, because you can't work effectively as a lawyer if you are emotionalized.
What infuriated me the most (and dropped the verdict from three to two stars) were the expositional explanations. "this is character X, I met him wen I did this", "this is character Y, he once did this", and so on and so on. I couldn't care less, although I get that this is the third installment of a series, and the constant reader has to be reminded of who's who, but it just annoyed me so much to read about people I didn't care about. Give them a part in your story that has weight and meaning and make your reader love or hate them or be invested in any way whatsover, but don't just throw exposition after exposition in my face!
Last not least: don't let me get started on the ending. Big unbelievable plot twist? Tagging on much? Now she's pregnant? By her boyfriend whom we met twice? Of course. Boy, do I care. Why don't you write a romance novel instead? Kitsch as kitsch can.
SMH
p.s.:
What I learned: prosecutors and criminal lawyers in Canada call each other "friend" in the court room. Weird.
September 9, 2021
Even if you entered into this book knowing nothing about Beverley McLachlin, it would be abundantly clear that this author has extensive knowledge of the law. The main case throughout this novel deals with a hot-button issue and you could really see the author's legal mind at work as she crafted the story.
In particular, the courtroom scenes were really well done. I haven't read many legal thrillers set in Canada, and I loved that unique element. The second half of the novel truly feels as if you're sitting through a murder trial. As a reader, this has its pros and cons. On the one hand, I was very intrigued by this glimpse at how the legal world works. It felt authentic, thorough, and completely real. However, this realism meant that it was a little slower-paced than I was expecting. It's more procedural than action.
That's not to say I didn't read my way through this book in a day or two. Because I did! I found the story engaging and Jilly's character interesting -- and mostly, I just wanted to see how it would all end! (Huge props for those twists because I did not see them coming!)
One thing I will add is that this novel is actually the second installment in the Jilly Truitt series. While I didn't have any issue jumping into book two, I do wish I'd read Full Disclosure first. There were some major spoilers (or at least, I felt they were) in Denial and I would definitely recommend reading this series in order.
3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advance read!
In particular, the courtroom scenes were really well done. I haven't read many legal thrillers set in Canada, and I loved that unique element. The second half of the novel truly feels as if you're sitting through a murder trial. As a reader, this has its pros and cons. On the one hand, I was very intrigued by this glimpse at how the legal world works. It felt authentic, thorough, and completely real. However, this realism meant that it was a little slower-paced than I was expecting. It's more procedural than action.
That's not to say I didn't read my way through this book in a day or two. Because I did! I found the story engaging and Jilly's character interesting -- and mostly, I just wanted to see how it would all end! (Huge props for those twists because I did not see them coming!)
One thing I will add is that this novel is actually the second installment in the Jilly Truitt series. While I didn't have any issue jumping into book two, I do wish I'd read Full Disclosure first. There were some major spoilers (or at least, I felt they were) in Denial and I would definitely recommend reading this series in order.
3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advance read!
October 14, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed this read! It was definitely different from a usual read for me-far more serious and sophisticated in my opinion. I found the language a bit stiff, at times I found myself thinking that people don't often speak the way the characters were, but perhaps that's only in my world! I did enjoy the story, it drew me in and kept me reading. After I finished the book I did realize this was the second book in a series, and that explained why I felt I had missed something from the beginning. I felt as though I didn't really know the MC Jilly, especially on a truly emotional level, and that's because there was an entire story before this. I did like Jilly's relationship with Mike but was not happy with how that played out. The characters were all written well, as I said before, the language was at times too sophisticated but the law aspects were clear and made sense. I did not expect the ending, I did think I had it figured out and I liked how all the different aspects came together so the twist was surprising! Good read in all if not a bit stiff.
I enjoyed this read! It was definitely different from a usual read for me-far more serious and sophisticated in my opinion. I found the language a bit stiff, at times I found myself thinking that people don't often speak the way the characters were, but perhaps that's only in my world! I did enjoy the story, it drew me in and kept me reading. After I finished the book I did realize this was the second book in a series, and that explained why I felt I had missed something from the beginning. I felt as though I didn't really know the MC Jilly, especially on a truly emotional level, and that's because there was an entire story before this. I did like Jilly's relationship with Mike but was not happy with how that played out. The characters were all written well, as I said before, the language was at times too sophisticated but the law aspects were clear and made sense. I did not expect the ending, I did think I had it figured out and I liked how all the different aspects came together so the twist was surprising! Good read in all if not a bit stiff.
August 22, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this suspense novel. The addition of an excerpt of an interview featuring Beverley McLachlin and John Grisham is a nice bonus.
Jilly Truitt feels compelled to represent Vera Quentin who is accused of murdering her dying mother, Olivia Stanton. Vera adamantly denies doing this but a trial is underway despite all of the background activities that have been going on for the past two years.
Jilly's other case representing Danny Mau leads to a hit being put out on her life. Jilly also finds herself involved in the rescue of a young woman escaping a human trafficking ring.
The details of the investigation and trial kept me turning pages. The characters are well-developed and easy to bond with.
I did find the outcome from the Danny hit predictable and saddening when it happened.
I hope there will be a third Jilly novel in the near future.
I volunteered to read an ARC from Simon & Schuster Canada through Net Galley.
Release date Sept 14, 2021.
Jilly Truitt feels compelled to represent Vera Quentin who is accused of murdering her dying mother, Olivia Stanton. Vera adamantly denies doing this but a trial is underway despite all of the background activities that have been going on for the past two years.
Jilly's other case representing Danny Mau leads to a hit being put out on her life. Jilly also finds herself involved in the rescue of a young woman escaping a human trafficking ring.
The details of the investigation and trial kept me turning pages. The characters are well-developed and easy to bond with.
I did find the outcome from the Danny hit predictable and saddening when it happened.
I hope there will be a third Jilly novel in the near future.
I volunteered to read an ARC from Simon & Schuster Canada through Net Galley.
Release date Sept 14, 2021.
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