Utterly absorbing! Integrates state-of-the-art psychotherapy techniques with all the elements of a classic thriller.
A gritty, intense, engaging Southern "courtroom" drama with gripping suspense! Free of Malice provides an interesting and provocative insight into our courts and jury system through a skillfully constructed narrative and with an authentic feel and voice to the characters. It's a page-turner that held my attention throughout. This novel not only provides a wealth of education on gun laws and ownership, but it also confirms the importance of the 2nd Amendment as an equalizer for women.
A psychological thriller! I loved that I could be in the mind of the victim as her reality shifts. I wondered if her paranoia was justified. I really wanted to know! The perspective of the lawyer and the psychologist was fascinating and a little bit troubling. What is going on with that husband of hers and his lady friend? I liked the twists at the end. I didn't know what I didn't know but at the end it all made sense. The clues were there. Passes the high threshold of if I was reading on the plane I wouldn't notice the crying babies. A good read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and author Liz Lazarus for providing my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Wow, this is a debut?! So impressed. This might be one of my favorite reads of 2016 yet. It’s a thriller on steroids and I flew through to the end and wishing I had savored it a bit more. ***Good book withdrawals***
The premise for this story is that Laura has been through a horrifying trauma so tragic she's having trouble moving on and coping. She finds a form of healing in a therapeutic sense; she goes to a lawyer to help her write a hypothetical case of "what if". Had she shot her attacker, would it be considered murder or self-defense? As the story goes on, Laura begins to grow more and more untrusting of all the men surrounding her. Her attacker was never caught; what if he comes back and the nightmare isn't over?
To say I loved this book would be an understatement. It was short but well written. The characters were developed nicely and relatable. Overall, highly recommended to everyone! I think we have a new author to watch out for!
This is Liz Lazarus' first book and it is outstanding! I need to be caught up in the first two chapters or have a difficult time reading the book. She opens with the core subject of the book and builds the characters while educating the reader on the facts of law. The ending was a surprise which I love. I would highly recommend this book for reading and look forward to much more from Liz Lazarus.
I thoroughly enjoyed Liz Lazarus' debut novel, Free of Malice. It was page turning. As a long time courtroom and Law and Order junkie and major fan of Perry Mason, I could not put this book down. The suspense kept me wanting to know and learn more. Always wanting to be a court stenographer, this mystery was right up my alley. The characters were so realistic, I could feel them throughout and my emotions were so caught up I was angry, happy, and sad for Laura. The insight into the law and how self-defense REALLY works and was quite enlightening. Hats off to Liz for a well written novel, first time out. I am an avid reader and enjoy a book that keeps me wanting more. Because it was her debut novel, I somehow suspected errors or lack of storyline, just because of the teacher in me, but was very happily surprised.
A Great Read.