I won’t mince words: this book was very disappointing. When I heard that our former Chief Justice of Canada has written a mystery, I just had to read it. It is shockingly very poorly written and I had (incorrectly) assumed she would put her years of expertise into this first book, but this was full of obvious plot twists and improbable situations that just would never happen, such as the totally unprofessional business relationship between Jilly & Damon.
Beverley McLachlin has such an excellent reputation, this book fell far below my expectations.
2.5 Stars rounded down


Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance copy. Disclosure: I actually waited to read the hardcover of this book after it was released. My review is based on the 1st edition hardcopy.

This was a solid legal drama, which is to be expected from a writer with such a history in the justice system! While it reads a bit like a first novel, this was compelling and kept me riveted.

I read this book closer to the book release date but now realized I never wrote a review. I was really excited to read this novel as I love Law Crime/Thrillers and it was set in my home country Canada. What more could one ask for? I was a little disappointed with the plot as some parts were hard to wrap my head around mainly Jully's former client Damon. I did love the setting of Vancouver Canada and the author knows her way around a court house. I would recommend this book as it was a good read from a debut author. I look forward to reading more in the future from Beverly McLachlin as I believe her books will keep getting better.

I give this book a 3.5 stars out of 5.

I don't normally get excited about a first-time novelist, but this author was an exception. When I saw the notice for Full Disclosure, which should hit stores today, I knew it was a must-read.

Courtroom novels written by lawyers, such as Scott Turow or John Grisham are pretty standard fare. Their credentials make you feel that they know first-hand about which they write. Their behind the scenes accounts provide more than a hint of realism.

I figured that Beverley McLachlin, retired chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, might have some interesting insights in a courtroom novel. I'm sure she does, but this book doesn't contain them. The central character in this story is not a judge but a lawyer, modeled I suspect on a younger version of McLachlin.

The lack of an "insider" feel doesn't hamper the book. Cases that come before the Supreme Court frequently are about arcane points of law and rarely include witnesses. I guess McLachlin felt that might make for a dull read, and she was probably right.

What we are left with is a standard murder mystery slash courtroom drama. A lawyer with a client who will probably be convicted, even though she is almost certain he is not guilty. I’m not going to go into the details, that way I won’t spoil it for you.

As an aficionado of the genre, I found nothing new in this one. I saw all the twists coming long before they were revealed. The identity of the murderer seemed obvious to me, and the sudden reveals and plot twists I anticipated long before they showed up in the novel.

Knowing what was going to happen didn't stop me from reading the book though - I had to make certain that I was right. Full Disclosure is an entertaining read, even if it adds nothing new to the genre.

I think of novels like this as perfect beach reading, something to distract me while lying in the sun on vacation. In such situations I am looking for entertainment, not literature.

Actually, I would have liked this one to have been a bit longer. A bit more character development might have made me like it more. After all, what sort of adult woman goes by "Jilly?" Someone who is trying murder cases, a respected member of the Bar, I would expect to be Jill.  Why does she use that name?  I guess I’ll have to wait for the sequel (perhaps) to find out.

When I read a first-time novelist, the question I have at the end of the book is: would I read the next offering from this author? Full Disclosure didn't fulfill my hopes, but maybe I was being unrealistic. It certainly was entertaining enough that I would read McLachlin's next novel. Even if the central character is named Jilly.



"Review copy provided courtesy of Simon & Shuster Canada."

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of Full Disclosure by Beverley McLachlin, recently retired Chief Justice of Canada’s Supreme Court. It comes across as an authentic courtroom drama with a lot of references to recent Canadian Supreme Court decisions and the Canadian legal system. The story was well written and kept the reader engaged throughout. The plot focused on criminal defense attorney Jilly Truitt, who agrees to defend wealthy Victor, who is accused of murdering his wife, Laura. Jilly must decide how to best defend Victor, while keeping her reputation in tact. A great start with this debut novel and hopefully we will see more of Jilly Truitt in the future.

A fairly standard legal thriller but set in Vancouver for lots of local colour. Also the author seems to know law really well, not surprising as she used to be Chief Justice on the Supreme Court. (There is a cute little semi-cameo in the book). I would probably read a sequel.

While I really wanted to "love" this book, Canadian author, former Justice, and reviews harkening Cathy Reichs, telling came across as somewhat flat, lacking excitement or anticipation.

This is an excellent story of a lawyer who has had many problems in life. She takes on a case defending a possible wife murderer. It takes you through many twists and turns that are not expected.

A decent read about a female lawyer who likes to be the best . Jilly Truitt had a difficult upbringing but managed to finally be adopted by a caring family and goes on to be a fireball prosecutor. A case involving a well to do businessman accused of murdering his wife is what this book is about . Jilly has to prove his innocence. Some far fetched premises in this book as well as irrelevant events that are not connected to the plot. However the book worked for me regardless . A not to complex understanding of law is described. Some surprises and some things you just knew .

Mystery
Adult
Last week I reviewed a book by a librarian and teacher turned author; this week it’s a lawyer/judge turned author! Another Canadian novel, this one is a mystery by Beverley McLachlin, who recently stepped down as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, featuring young defence lawyer Jilly Truitt. Once a foster kid who teetered on a life on the streets, Jilly graduated law school and now heads a small but aggressive firm in Vancouver where she owns a condo, drives a Mercedes, and regularly spends weekends with her longtime boyfriend Mike St John. She fights hard for underdog clients, knowing she could easily be in their shoes, had she not gotten a couple of breaks. In Full Disclosure, she takes on Vincent Trussardi as a client, a rich West Vancouver entrepreneur accused of murdering his wife. Is he guilty? Jilly slowly builds her case despite a mountain of circumstantial evidence – his gun, their bed, her recent affair, and a wobbly alibi. But the case soon consumes her, costing her personally, and she grows increasingly distrustful and even paranoid. Of course, Jilly’s past as a foster child means she struggles with commitment and trust, but these are exactly the traits that make her a great lawyer, always suspicious that witnesses and prosecutors alike are hiding something. McLachlin draws from her experience on the bench, as well as a pioneer in the early days of women in the legal profession, to create an authentic story that provides an unflinching and occasionally jaded view of Canada’s justice system. The book could easily be titled Law and Justice Ain’t the Same Thing. She also takes a wry poke at herself when she writes of Jilly seeing the Chief Justice’s portrait and noting that it was taken “when she was young and looked good.” That Chief Justice is none other than McLaughlin herself, of course. I like self-deprecating humour; the world needs more of that. However, I will also admit to being quite irritated by Jilly’s habit of referring to herself as a girl throughout the book. She’s 34, for pete’s sake, with a law degree, a firm of her own and more. Grrrr. Other than that, I really enjoyed this classic legal procedural with an ending that promises justice despite the court case, and just maybe another case featuring this dedicated young lawyer who beat the odds. My thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the advance reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37880604

A fascinating account of two murder trials. Jilly Truitt upbringing was disastrous, given away by her parents, she went from foster home to foster home, eventually in her teens finding a couple she could love and would love a help her turn her life around. Jilly becomes a defence lawyer. The first muder trial is short but then a wealthy business man accused of murdering his wife requests her. Despite her staff and others telling her not to take the case as she will fail and ruin her career, she is determined to defend Vincent Trussardi whether he is guilty or not. You are kept guessing until the end. Beverley McLachlin is an author to remember if you like thrillers. An excellent read

I have ready many, many books, but I think this is the first time I read a very criminal court-style mystery book. It was very well written, the characters were interesting. I did figure out the twist about halfway through the book, but even still I found the story to be interesting, and finding out who killed his wife. I would like to read more books from this author, it was a fast read I was able to finish it in a day because the story was so well written.

I am a sucker for a good thriller so when I found this book I was stoked . I settled down and started reading well late into the night . I just couldn't put the book down . I love that it is set in Canada and I knew the places that the author was talking about . Let me introduce you to Jilly Truitt and up and coming defence attorney . When a very influential case comes up Jilly sets up to defend Vincent Trussardi , she sets out to go to war against her mentor . As she sets to fight, the dark memories of her past of foster homes . She dives deeper into the past and digs up a revelation that will change everyone's lives forever .
This book has some amazing characters that are well written and very complex . Jilly is a force to reckon with . She is tough as nails as an attorney but you also get to see a very vulnerable side when she is going through the past . Which she thought she had buried . You cheer for her and you also want to wrap her up in a blanket and hold her tight . Vincent is the perfect antagonist . He is in trouble and needs help but he isn't truthful in any thing he tells Jilly . You will love him and hate him at the same time .
This book is set in Vancouver and the author showcases some of the areas quite well . We go on such a journey . The are a couple of things that just kind of slowed it down for me . I didn't really feel much of the thriller part . I wish that it was a little bit more into the mystery and the intrigue of the book . It just felt flat in a few spots where it kind of dragged just a bit. Over all I enjoyed this authors first book and cant wait to read more from them . So if you like great court cases and mysteries add this book to your summer reading list .

Beverley McLachlin was a shining star in her professional life of the law. This book exhibits the same incisive intelligence combined with sterling writing ability. Set in Vancouver and involving the Canadian legal system (very different from the US), the characters are interesting, the courtroom scenes are great and the plot is intriguing. Highly, highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

the book is well written, good settings, good characters, good plot. I really enjoyed it . I found it realistic and glad to see that it avoids the current trend of excess violence.

Full Disclosure was an excellent read! On a whim I decided to request this book from Netgalley even though I rarely read books from this genre. This book made me realize that I need to read more mysteries. I loved reading about the investigation and the courtroom scenes. I enjoyed the dynamics between characters and how the book was set in Canada. The only one I didn’t enjoy was the one between Jilly and Mike. I know the book’s focus was on the investigation, but I would’ve like to see some closure or something else at the end between these two. I will definitely be checking out more books from this author in the future!

What do retired Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada do when they retire? If they are Beverley McLachlin, they write a really good courtroom thriller! Her writing style is very sharp and concise, the characters are engaging, the plot has some tremendous twists and turns and if you are familiar with the city of Vancouver, you will recognize names and places. I hope there will be more books to come featuring lawyer Jilly Truitt!

This book by Beverly McLachlin totally surprised me. I was settling down for a good story but what I got was a fabulously woven thriller. The characters were interesting and blended together beautifully throughout the book. You shared their victories along with their losses. The main character Jilly Tuitt is a brilliantly written character. You feel compassion for this young lady as she takes on a career changing court case. The story twists and turns just as you think you have it figured out. The ending is a complete shock, and I can’t tell you any more than that without giving it away. This is one book you can curl up with and not want to put down. I am anxiously awaiting Beverly’s next novel! I was gifted this book by NetGalley for an honest review.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of Full Disclosure by Beverley McLachlin in exchange for an honest review. This legal thriller is written by the now-retired 17th Chief Justice of Canada, the first woman to hold this position and the longest-serving Chief Justice of Canada in history. Needless to say, there are many detailed courtroom scenes here. Full Disclosure is the story of Jilly Truitt, a criminal defense attorney in Vancouver, BC, who is hired by Vincent Trussardi who is charged with the murder of his wife Laura. The reader is a witness to the manipulation of justice by both the prosecution and the defense side of this case. There are many secondary characters and the plot is well-developed. The tension builds till the end, where several unexpected events are revealed. This is a first novel for Beverley McLachlin but I hope there will be more to come.

3.5 stars.

Full Disclosure was written by recently retired Chief Justice of Canada’s Supreme Court, Beverley McLachlin. Not surprisingly, it is a courtroom drama with a resounding ring of authenticity — lots of references to recent landmark Supreme Court decisIons and pressing Canadian legal issues. Fortunately, it’s also well written and a pretty engaging story. The plot focuses on criminal defence attorney Jilly, who is retained to defend Victor, who is accused of murdering his wife. While trying to figure out how best to defend Victor, Jilly has to deal with a few personal issues of own. Solidly entertaining and impressive for someone who has been busy leading Canada’s highest Court for the past many years. I’ll be happy to read her next mystery. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.