Alison has it all. A loving family and a career on the rise. Shes just been given her first murder case to defend. But all is not as it seems...

Received home in the Crime bookbox on the 16th December 2022. but un-journaled until now due to Christmas / New Year circumstances.

I initially skimmed this and thought I may delve a little deeper into the pages before I set this off on another journey, so I did end up reading this one.

Quick synopsis.
"A Damaged Marriage; A Toxic Affair; A Dark Obsession.
Alison has it all. A loving family and a career on the rise - she's just been given her first murder case to defend But all is never as it seems."

There is a quote on the front of this book saying fans of 'Apple Tree Yard' and 'The Girl on the Train' will love this, and to be honest, although I have read both those books, I cannot claim to be a fan of either. However I did nonetheless read this and I can relate to the quote now though I think more 'Apple Tree Yard' than the other one.
This is a mostly psychological book with much law procedural and / or domestic abuse - often of a sexual nature - throughout the pages. Often disturbing, very violent at times, though not in a gory sense, this skips through the days and months in a very abstract way contrasting the daily grind of law cases against the messy evenings and weekends of abuse and their consequences. Not my favourite book in this genre, but not the worst either.

I had no set plan for this but have decided to set this off on its journey again when I release the bookbox.

Released into the Crime bookbox for its new round (7).

Taken from to Flutterbie9's Crime/Mystery Bookbox.

A good & compelling read but with characters that are pretty awful - I don't mean "awful" in the sense they're poorly written they just aren't nice people! Alison is... quite frankly...a mess. Holding down a stressful job she loves as a barrister comes at the expense of family life. Though she might spend little time with the family she finds time for plenty of drinking & an affair....with a man who treats her badly but she seems unable to end the rather toxic relationship.

Home life isn't a bed of roses either & the only time I felt any inkling of sympathy for Alison was with the way her husband treated her. There's a nice parallel story with Alison representing a case of domestic violence which seems to mirror Alison's relationships, although she is unable - or unwillingly - to acknowledge the comparison herself.

Overall a good read (though many will find it uncomfortable reading at times) but ending with a conclusion I wasn't entirely convinced by, although it did bring things full circle.

On its way to doodleali to help re-stock some Bookcrossing shelves

Thank you to Plum-crazy for sending this (and other books) to re-stock the Bookcrossing shelves at Sherwood Community Centre.

To be left on the Bookcrossing shelves in the Community Cafe.