Really liked this but it started off better than it ended as it did slow down however really enjoyed it . The timelines sometimes got me muddled but nice read aside

I enjoyed this book it was hard to read at first but I got into her style. Sharp and quick. The storyline was the best bit, so good to read. recommended.

Love a book that flits back and forwards through time and this one does it very well. It leaves you not wanting to stop reading. I am now going to be very tired after devouring in one sitting! A lovely read! 4/5.

Wow! I love a courtroom trial in any book I read. This was astounding. Talk about a thriller! I read this in one sitting. I could not put the book down!

Julia, along with two previous male housemates, have been arrested for the murder of a body that had been found on the North Downs. The had been there for twenty three years. The first half of the book alternates between 2017 and 1994. The second half of the book tells us about her time in Bronzefield Prison in 2018 while awaiting her trial. We are given "the verdict" in 2019.

I would highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book for an honest review.

From the beginning you know what's happened,but you're not quite sure what role some of the characters have had to play in it. The central character is rather a sad individual who you want to shake at times, perhaps if she had more oomph her life could have been different. Judge for yourself whether you think the key witness was right or wrong in what they did!

I absolutely loved this story. I loved the main character and I found myself heartbroken at the mistakes she had made in her life and how they had led to the situation she was now in. Thoroughly enjoyed and I was gripped.

Amazing book. Gripping narrative. The story weaves between the past and the present and the characters leap right off the page. It has all the highs and lows that will keep you at the edge of your seat. A must read for all mystery lovers.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I was unable to get through this book unfortunately I did not finish it.

I tried really hard several times to get into this book as the synopsis lead me to believe it was right up my street. I will try again at a later date and update. I just found the story jumping too much between time frames for me to be able to keep up.

Great for fans of courtroom dramas! The premise of this book definitely reels you in. The story is engaging but can get a little confusing with the multiple timelines, however once you are able to follow along it’s hard to put down.

I am all about books that grab my attention in the first few chapters. This book did just that. It was a page turner and one that I couldn't put down. This one had me changing my mind on if she was guilty or not

My thanks to Netgalley and Harper Impulse and Killer reads for a copy of the verdict for an honest review.

After reading the storyline for this book I had high hopes, but unfortunately by the end I felt quite underwhelmed.
I found the change in numerous timelines confusing and felt it didn’t “ read well “ for me.
I wasn’t able to empathise with any of the characters, so I wasn’t particularly bothered by the end how things turned out.
Perhaps as I’ve read so much better ,similar genre of books lately it has coloured my view a little ,but I can’t say I’ll be recommending sorry!

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. Had me gripped from the first page. Olivia Isaac-Henry is one to watch!

Shocking crime murder mystery. An affair! Unearthed secrets! A tense trial! Full of suspense that kept me hooked until the end! Complete plot twist! Brilliant writing and fantastic characters. Full of depth and a plot that gives nothing away until the end. I would definitely recommend.

The Verdict is a smart thriller. The story moves forward quickly, and the author transmits a good sense of foreboding and foreshadowing. The chapters alternate between Julie, the heroine’s, 21 yr. old self and her 45 yr. old self. I like this type of storytelling. As the tale unfolds, some interesting characters emerge; unfortunately, they are all unlikeable which makes it hard to become invested in the story and its outcome. There is a morality message at the end. “I should have been strong…but I took the easier path and paid the price.” In my mind, this was totally unnecessary, and I felt the author hits the reader over the head with this message. Overall it was a reasonably interesting mystery, written in a cheeky youthful voice, and kept me reading to the end.
I would have given this a 3.5 rating if allowed.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I enjoyed this story very much and felt like I knew each character personally due to the description of them. I enjoyed the storyline. This is not my usual genre but in this instance I am extremely pleased and grateful for opening up my mind to something totally different. Thanks again.

A really good debut novel, and a cracker of a thriller. Gripping, addictive and very well-plotted. I corker of an opening chapter that slaps with a short and sharp killer hook that pushed me into the story headfirst. I don't read an awful lot of thrillers, so when I choose what to read I am quite picky. I loved the dual timeline concept of this book and the fact that it is told in first person POV allowed to become even more absorbed in the story. I would describe this novel as a psychological/legal thriller but only because of the courtroom scenes which gave me such amazing 'The Good Wife' vibes. A winner for sure.

I really enjoyed this book, at first it was hard to get into as it was hard to follow from past to present, however one third of the way in it became really suspenseful and I couldn’t put it down

This book is intricately detailed and captivating. Up until halfway through, this felt like a 4-star rating to me, but then there was a twist that I did not see coming at all! While it was an excellent book up until the twist, after the twist, it was non-stop "action"-filled and full of suspense. I could not put it down. I would definitely add this one to your TBR list if you like unexpected twists and courtroom fiction. I particularly liked the presentation of past and present concurrently. The book switched between past and present by chapter. I usually find that to be a bit confusing, but it was very easy to follow in this book. I definitely recommend this one!

I enjoyed this page turning book. It was well written. Glad that I read it. Will be checking other books by this author.