Penitence by Kristin Koval @kristinkovalwriter @plummertherese @macmillan.audio @macmillanaudio.bsky.social #Penitence

the setup…
David Sheehan pounds on the door of Martine Dumont, a lawyer and former family friend of his wife Angie. He desperately needs her help to deal with the monstrous tragedy that’s just happened in his home. Their fourteen-year old son Nico is dead and their thirteen-year old daughter Nora called 911 and said she shot him. Martine agrees to help but doesn’t have the experience for a juvenile criminal case of this magnitude so she turns to her son Julian who is a successful criminal defense attorney. He’s also Angie’s first boyfriend and their former relationship is what created a wedge between the families. It’s beyond complicated.

the heart of the story…
I first believed this was going to be all about why Nora killed her brother. But it was just the catalyst that had everyone involved exploring their own pasts, the guilt associated with past transgressions, some small and some of great magnitude. Forgiveness can sometimes be elusive but when it’s your own child or someone very close to you, how do you get there? And is the why of the crime essential in the decision to forgive? How each moved on is insightful and enlightening.

the narration…
Thérèse Plummer gave an exceptional performance in managing the weight of so many significant characters, the emotional constructs and the storytelling.

the bottom line…
I’m pleased that the mystery took a backseat to the characterizations and complexities of not only the parents but all involved peripherally. The juvenile justice system is laid bare in all its bleakness and my hope is that it will change perspectives about juvenile offenders. There aren’t any clear solutions here but the ending was absolutely powerful. Such a surprise for a debut novel, so much that I’ll automatically read whatever comes next from this author.

Book Info

• Release Date: January 28, 2025
• Narrator: Thérèse Plummer
• Audio Length: 12 hours, 13 minutes
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio

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(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)