This is a gripping courtroom drama that
compels you to keep turning the pages eager to know what happens next.
Attorney Monica Spade has left her previous
homophobic organisation and is now partner in her own firm Spade, Daniels &
Taylor. Monica is basically a civil lawyer and her jam professionally is health
care and business. She stays away from litigation, trials and crime, thank you
very much. She is in love with Shelby St. Claire, a gorgeous art teacher, and
they’re in the sexual-honeymoon-behaviourally-making space-for-another-person-emotionally-exploring-slightly-on-eggshells
phase of their deepening relationship. Life’s good.
Monica is thrown for a loop when she
receives a call from Judge O’Brien’s office requesting her to serve as standby
counsel for a pro se criminal defendant. Monica realises that her name was
put into the volunteer list as a prank by her friend, the ‘Taylor’ in Spade,
Daniels &Taylor. Monica tries to plead off but there is no way she can
wriggle out of this one.
With no other recourse, Monica becomes
standby counsel to Stela Reiter, a young lady charged with killing her
boyfriend by stabbing him 13 times. Stela insists that it was self-protection. As
standby counsel Monica’s primary job is to explain the judicial process and
laws to Stela, a demure, librarian-looking chemistry student, who is surprisingly
self-possessed, highly intelligent and unexpectedly well-versed in law.
Crime, intrigue, long-reaching
international plots – Monica finds herself tangled in things she never asked
for. And it gets worse when threats become personal and impact her beloved
Shelby.
This is a plot-driven book and the plot is
very well thought out, nuanced and satisfyingly developed. The unfolding of the
size of the crime was completely unexpected. From an ‘intentional homicide’ to
an international event is just not what you imagine.
The writing and pacing is excellent. You are
eager to know what happens next even as you try to guess it. No part either
drags too long or is rushed through. Every action, incident and
emotion is given the perfect amount of time, depth and attention. Plus there
are sassy exchanges in the dialogues between various characters which range
from chuckle-worthy to lol-demanding. One of our favourite parts is Monica’s first conversation
with voice-on-phone-millennial, Cassidy.
Not only is the exchange fun, but in that teeny-tiny part, Venice manages
to give Cassidy a definite personality. Quite an achievement of good writing,
this.
Characterisation-wise, Stela is a triumph. The
way she is described, she evokes a range of emotions. She is variously demure,
timid, calculating, mysterious, intimidating – a victim and a criminal. We
found ourselves flipping between wanting Stela to be innocent and shocked at
new reveals about her.
Shelby St. Claire is one of the most
gorgeous and amongst the sexiest women on paper we’ve met. We love that she is
not just kept at being beautiful and sexy, though. She carries her own hurt and heartbreak,
has her own secrets and irrational reactions with her partner. But she is also
self-aware and willing (and able) to work on her relationship. She is a
complete individual with many parts to her.
Monica, the centre of the story and on whom
most of the narrative focuses, is such a real person. She is an everyday human
being with every-person aspirations – love, friends, satisfying work and financial
security. But when trouble comes calling she grits her teeth and tries to power
her way through it the best she can which maintaining her professional and
personal integrity and values. She makes mistakes, has her oh-so-human feelings
with Shelby, is overwhelmed but makes amends, apologises when necessary,
reaches out, has strong core values of right and wrong, refuses to be a
pushover and is true to her emotions.
We loved the relationship between Shelby and
Monica which has hot sex and gooey sweetness.
In fact, without particularly trying to
give them centre stage, Venice manages to write strong interpersonal
relationships between partners (not just Shelby and Monica, but all partners),
friends, colleagues and even acquaintances. She gives the people and relationships
depth, dimension and flavour.
This one is a very, very immersive,
enjoyable and satisfying read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐★
