I'm back from an extended trip to Europe, and boy do I have some reviews to share! I decided not to take my MacBook with me on the trip, so reviews have been stacking up, waiting to be shared. Rest assured, I read plenty on my travels and have been inspired to read even more based upon the places I visited. So without further ado, I'll kick things off with my review of Someone Knows the latest novel from author Lisa Scottoline.
Someone Knows is a novel built upon the guilt of its main character. Teenage Allie is already facing guilt after her older sister inevitably succumbed to a chronic illness. Allie struggles to hold her family together and blames herself for not being able to do more. Her father is brimming with optimism over a charity event built to honor her sister's legacy. Allie doesn't have the heart to tell him that it won't be successful. Meanwhile, her mother is slowly losing control of her emotions, falling into a depression that threatens to remove her from the immediate family unit.
All things considered, Allie is excited to potentially make some new friends in her neighborhood. The suburban development has several areas that are yet to be constructed that provide perfect hangout spots for a group of teens. She quickly becomes part of a group who are eager to explore the subdivision. Things go from innocent fun to serious when one of the teens reveals a buried pistol. Allie is cautious of the weapon but eager to impress her new friends. Despite her best judgment, she stays silent about the gun, a decision that will haunt her for the rest of her life.
This was my first time reading a novel by Lisa Scottoline, and I was instantly drawn into the depth with which she crafted each character. The novel shifts perspectives amongst the various characters, providing the reader snapshots into the motivations and emotions of each one. The first half of the novel, in particular, sucked me into the story of each teen as the plot progressed to the impending tragedy. The scenes with the characters in the past were so engaging that I was a bit disappointed when the novel shifted into the present day. It seemed that not as much time was taken to update each character with the same detail and thoughtfulness that was used in the writing of their past. Still, I was so invested in the story at this point that this was only a minor grievance. In Someone Knows Lisa Scottoline presents a coming of age story that tackles the guilt and regret of youthful mistakes while weaving a thread of suspenseful dread to a satisfying conclusion.
Showing posts with label Guilt. Show all posts
Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline
The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne
But then he went to live with Minnie. At first, he treated her like all the other foster parents, eager to leave and return to his mother. But there was something different about Minnie. A widow who lost her husband soon after the shocking death of her only daughter, Minnie seemed just as damaged as he was. Soon, the two formed a bond, and Daniel finally seemed to find a home.
Then the betrayal happened. While Daniel was beginning his studies as a law student, he discovered a secret that Minnie had kept from him. This information was simply too much to handle. Suddenly Minnie changed from a loving mother figure to just another person who betrayed his trust. In that moment, Daniel vowed never to speak to her again, and to create his future on his own.
Fast forward a few years, and Daniel is a successful solicitor working in London. His own troubled background has provided him with the unique ability to defend troubled youth. After the unexpected death of an eight-year-old boy, found dead in a playground, he is called to defend the eleven-year-old neighbor, Sebastian Croll, accused of murdering the other boy. Instantly, Daniel feels a connection to Sebastian. The young boy is surprisingly aware of his situation, and consistently declares his innocence. But there is something unsettling about the boy. He seems strangely fascinated with the details of the other boy's death, and displays an unusual interest in topics that most would find disturbing.
Despite this, Daniel agrees to defend Sebastian. Immediately, the media latches on to the story, shining a light not only on the lives of the victim and accused, but on Daniel as well. As the case begins, Daniel learns of the death of Minnie. Now, as he embarks on arguably the most important case of his career, Daniel finds his past colliding with the present, forcing him to remember his past actions, and atone for his own personal guilt.
In The Guilty One, author Lisa Ballantyne has crafted a genuine story of believable characters facing the harsh realities of our time. She calls into question the practices of juvenile trials, and the effects such events have on the mental and physical health of those involved. Each chapter alternates between the present events of the trial Daniel's personal flashbacks. In doing this, Ballantyne lets to story slowly unfold, maximizing both the suspense as well as character development. She beautifully creates connections between the past and present events, bringing and inevitable coherence to the entire narrative. Despite the often unpleasant subject matter, especially in the details of the small child's death, I felt emotionally connected and moved by the characters and events that unfolded. The ending, while not necessarily expected, left me satisfied and craving even more time with the characters that a grew close to. This is an exceptional novel of emotional depth and lingering suspense.
(2013: week 19, book 17)
