I don't usually venture into crime novels but the whole courtroom drama from a juror's perspective drew me in. Probably because having once served as a juror in a trial, I could relate to some of the difficulties. Part of me really liked this novel; the plot, the pace, its characters, the lawyerly precision. But the other part really was disgusted with the outcome. Nothing is black and white (and the author really hammers home the delicate issue of racism in the courtroom, too) or cut and dry, and towards the end things got rather convoluted, which tried my patience a bit, but the way it all turned out, sh*t, it just left a bad taste in my mouth. Kinda good, yet kinda aggravating, too. 3.5 stars.
The Holdout by Graham Moore references Agatha Christie's work including Murder on the Orient Express. While this book does not go quite in that direction, it does have the same flavor of lots of lots of secrets and layers. Beyond the story, the book is a cynical commentary on the legal system, the jury trial, and the role of truth in a courtroom. The story and the implicit commentary both make this a memorable read.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/01/the-holdout.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/01/the-holdout.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
A jury on a murder trial is deadlocked when a young woman manages to turn the tide to acquit; a decade later, she must face the consequences when a fellow juror is killed and she is the prime suspect. This was a page-turning and twisty plot which questions our jury system and modern justice. Moore has done an excellent job with this book and I look forward to reading The Sherlockian by him. Recommended.
