My review
A brilliant book… I am having a book hangover after a long time.. There is a stillness in me along with a restlessness. This book deals with the other side of the coin.
Mud sticks!! That is a statement of fact. Reputation, belief, trust all take years to develop and a second and few loose words to crash.
Nick, a creative art teacher and an actor, has a beautiful family with Marina and two kids Luca and Ava. Life is wonderful, filled with happiness. Dinner is a place of warmth, good food, and sharing of their love. Till the doorbell rings…
It’s the POLICE!! Nick has been accused by his student of sexually assaulting her.
Life as they know it is over. Then it is a matter of he said, she said. Such an accusation is not easy to disprove…
The story revolves around the repercussions of one word uttered. The police, child protective services, social services all are forced to act. The media, the social media take slingshots at Nick and family. Everyone is affected.
This is my first book by author Lisa Ballantyne, and she blew me away with the story, with the words, with the emotions. Her characterizations pulled me into the book from the first page. The suspense in the plot kept me stuck to this book. The fear for both the characters, the need to know the truth kept me going till the end.
The whole story is a difficult concept to write, but Lisa has pulled it off. The hidden secrets slowly revealing itself, the invariable doubts which come forth, friends and family behaving differently with Nick made this book riveting. Is he really innocent? Is he hiding something?
On the other hand, Angela, the 12 year old child is filled with so much anger that it is easy to know something has happened with her, something bad. She has her own secrets which make her lash out, to hurt others. What has been done to her?
Lisa has seen to it that the twists occur at the right time to make the readers gasp. She has added the right shade of grey to the characters that keep them in shade. The twilight zone is the most difficult place to be in. It is difficult to know which scene is real and which is a mirage.
There are few minor scenes from the medical point of view which I didn’t agree with. Rest of the book flows well to make this ONE OF MY MOST EXCITING READS!!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
My rating : 4.5 stars
About the Author
Lisa Ballantyne is the author of the Edgar Award-nominated The Guilty One which was translated into nearly thirty languages. Her second novel, Redemption Road, was a USA Today Bestseller. Originally from Armadale, in Scotland, she now lives in Glasgow.
Book blurb
The accused
While Nick Dean is enjoying an evening at home with his family, he is blissfully unaware that one of his pupils has just placed an allegation of abuse against him – and that Nick’s imminent arrest will see the start of everything he knows and loves disintegrating around him.
The accuser
When Angela Furness decides that enough is enough – she hates her parents, hates her friends and, most of all, despises what has recently happened at school – she does the only thing she knows will get her attention: calls the police. But Angela is unaware that the shocking story she is about to tell will see her life begin to topple.
Because, once you’ve said what you’ve said, there’s no way back, right? No matter if you’re innocent or guilty.
Product Details
Publication date : 2nd August, 2018
Publisher : Little Brown Book Group UK
49 Responses
Nice review, Shalini. Another one I will have to check out.
Quite a different book… Thanks Leslie… How you doing?
Busy, busy…You?
I am busy with organizing blog tours, something new that I have started.. Hehehe
Well written !!
Thank you so much
Sounds fun. Hope it generates lots of traffic to your site (and many new followers!)
No no not for my site or followers but for authors who want book publicity on various blogs for a week. That’s a book blog tour. New venture
Ah. Well, I hope it works out well for everyone involved. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Hahaha I keep trying new stuff. Have a great week Leslie ♥️
Nice review, book seems very interesting
Thanks. Yes it is very interesting
Okay, Shalini, the book sounds interesting, but your review should get five stars. Bravo, lady.
Heyyy Gin, thank you….the book inspired me.
These are scheduled posts. I had to go back and read and wonder how did I manage to write that.
I am going to dedicate a review to you… I am reading a book because your name reminded me of the main character
Well done – your luck has improved
Oh yes… Did you find my comment on the sticky sheets?
Your naughty review
Excellent review!!! Sounds like quite an intense read. Well done to have kept you so enthralled
Oh yes… That was a good day. Till this week, all posts are scheduled hehehe
no idea how I got that done
Hahaha. Sometimes the stars align…
Sometimes. I am back to playing catch up
Oh, my word. This sounds like a book that keeps you at the edge of your seat, wanting to read till the end without breaks. This one sounds really different…
This was really great… I loved it… One if best books of 2018
I just finished Fling Club – this one was an eye-opener, while still being a great, lighter read. It comes out the 14th this month.
Oh fling =romance? Or fling = throwing somebody?
New Adult Romance – I don’t often love these books, but I flew through this one in one day.
I got it. This month is fantasy along with NetGalley Reads… Maybe in December I go to romance
Hope you love it as much as I did… ♥
Good rating from you Shalini
Good book from the author Kurian. How are rains?
Rains have subsided. I have to go to my River
This sounds intense Shalini!! Loved your review.
Oh yes Laurie I loved this book. One if my fav..
My first book by Libby Klein done.. Now on midnight snacks thanks for the recommendation
How did you like the first one? I didn’t read that one.
First one was also good, second was better
You already finished it?!
You read at lightening speed Shalini!!
Yp and reviewed too. On Sunday
What?!! I’m behind on viewing blogger posts.
Yp… I suppose so. I haven’t seen much of you
Yeah…I’m a busy woman. I wish I could spend all day reading and blogging but alas other responsibilities take priority.
I agree. I am going through a transition phase hence I have some free time
Wow! Sounds like this book really affected you! What are your thoighta on book hangovers? Love them? Or hate them?? I love a book that sticks with me and keeps me thinking… But, THE PAIN! OH THE PAIN! Ha ha! Sometimes my heart can’t take it.
I love them… This book was one of my fab reads of 2018. I got to read both sides of molestation accusation… I love book hangovers except the sobby kind then I am crying all the time
Ya… I can definitely do without those hangovers in all capacities!!
Except alcohol? Do you ever get a hangover or is your liver soaked in alcohol by now?
Ha ha! I do get hangovers every once in a while. Not from how mush I drink (I don’t drink as much as people think I do.
) usually it’s from the TYPE of alcohol. If I have white wine or sweet drinks I tend to have a headache the next day. 
Oh ok. Thanks for the info… Nina is in charge of drinks
Ha ha!! Nina?? But, I’m the drink queen!
