A moving novel about family and the lengths we’ll go to protect our own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The most rigid of principles can be easily pulverized when it comes to defending your own child. Lies, guilt, and secrets. What family isn’t built on such grounds?”
18 year-old Stella is in jail accused of murdering her significantly older “summer fling” Chris. Told first through the viewpoint of her father, a Pastor, we learn how Stella was a difficult child often in trouble, impulsive, and manipulative. The next part is narrated by Stella herself and we get a better picture of her upbringing and relationship with the victim. Finally, the story concludes with her mother, a defense lawyer, detailing the trial and adding color to the narratives previously built.
I had a sense fairly early on where the novel was heading, though I was still surprised and pleased with how everything played out. I really liked the format of the novel - the three parts told by different narrators and very short chapters. Additionally, as I am in the legal field myself, I found the details about the Swedish legal system fascinating.
Finally the translation was excellent. I typically struggle with translated works to find the right flow, but this was done exceptionally well.
“The most rigid of principles can be easily pulverized when it comes to defending your own child. Lies, guilt, and secrets. What family isn’t built on such grounds?”
18 year-old Stella is in jail accused of murdering her significantly older “summer fling” Chris. Told first through the viewpoint of her father, a Pastor, we learn how Stella was a difficult child often in trouble, impulsive, and manipulative. The next part is narrated by Stella herself and we get a better picture of her upbringing and relationship with the victim. Finally, the story concludes with her mother, a defense lawyer, detailing the trial and adding color to the narratives previously built.
I had a sense fairly early on where the novel was heading, though I was still surprised and pleased with how everything played out. I really liked the format of the novel - the three parts told by different narrators and very short chapters. Additionally, as I am in the legal field myself, I found the details about the Swedish legal system fascinating.
Finally the translation was excellent. I typically struggle with translated works to find the right flow, but this was done exceptionally well.