"We were a perfectly ordinary family, and then everything changed."
The Sandalls are a nice, fairly well-off family. Dad is a pastor for the Church of Sweden and mom is an attorney. Stella is almost 18 and experiencing that lull of boredom between adolescence and adulthood. Longing for her life to begin. Her best friend, Amina, seems to have her life planned out but Stella only yearns for a trip on her own to Asia. That's when the girls meet 32-year-old Christopher Olsen, a wealthy and handsome playboy, while they are out dancing and partying one night. Though both girls are actually initially enthralled by his interest, it's Stella who starts spending time and having sex with him. And then he's dead. Murdered. And the police arrest Stella. NO SPOILERS.
How far will a parent go to save their child? This legal thriller is told from the point of view of each member of the Sandall family. Adam, whose morals are above reproach, goes first. His shock is palpable but as he dissects their family life together, he can see where Stella could indeed be responsible. How can he help his daughter now when he's failed her before? Stella's voice describes how she met Christopher and their relationship. She's remanded with severe restrictions that require her to be held in isolation so she can't even see or talk with anyone other than her attorney. The walls are closing in and she's extremely confused even as she attempts to figure things out and plan a strategy with her lawyer. But she may be hiding some truths. Lastly, Ulrika Sandall, the mom who knows exactly how little justice is actually served in the courtroom describes how "people are prepared to put aside everything in the way of ethics and morals to protect their families." The conclusion may surprise you.
It's interesting because I can't help but compare this book to another I recently read - QUICKSAND --as it also is set in Sweden and features the trial of a teenager. I found it quite absorbing to read about the courtroom process which is quite different to that with which I am more familiar in the USA. I enjoyed it for the most part, but I had a very hard time relating to the characters within the pages. I understand parental responsibility and the lengths that a parent goes through to ensure a successful and happy future for a child. I'm not sure why the disconnect and I can't say more without giving spoilers. I'll be eager to read more reviews as I analyze the novel in my mind over the next several hours.
Thank you to the publisher, Celadon Books, for the ARC to read and review. I think it's one that most fans of legal drama won't want to miss.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre-themes: legal and courtroom drama, murder, teenager, Sweden, parental role
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