Graham Moore has a very interesting premise, as he sets the scene for readers to "revisit" a highly-publicized murder trial from a decade earlier. Told through various characters in present day-mainly Maya...aka "The Holdout"-and other jurors back during the time of the trial, this procedural drama takes mains twists and turns. It was well paced and the crime plot was well executed (no pun intended), but I cared very little about any of the characters and their respective back stories. I would recommend this to readers that read entirely for plot-it's a fresh take on a "ripped from the headlines" procedural.

‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Even after a few years, working with jurors is fascinating to me. Each jury uses the jury room differently. When I read the description of Graham Moore's The Holdout, I knew what I would read next. Having recently finished one of his earlier books, The Sherlockian, I was even more eager to read this. As with The Sherlockian, The Holdout does not disappoint.

Juror 272, aka Maya Seale, was the lone holdout. She does the near-impossible task of converting the other jurors to her way of thinking and the defendant is found not guilty. Unfortunately, the trial of the jury has just begun.

Moore is able to accurately capture jury service and the deliberation process. His writing style makes the story move quickly. Some of the actions of the characters require a suspension of disbelief but it does not take away from the story.

I do not want to give away anything so it is hard to say anything about specific parts of the book. I will say I thoroughly enjoyed chapter 23! It was creative and I was pleasantly surprised how the issue was handled.

Graham Moore is on my "authors to read as soon as they publish" list.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 2/25/20.

Putting this story into words is not easy. Spending the last few days, I was trying to come up with one word that can describe it, and after some thought I think I got it. This courtroom/legal drama book is simply gripping. The story is hard to comment on without giving away more than I want to.

This book features great storytelling, I definitely recommend this author. Throughout the story, it unravels a well thought out and intertwined plot, that had me clinging to my chair the entire time. It tells a story about complicated characters with passions, motives, and morals that collide, corrupt, and sometimes bolster and strengthen each another. The plot is tightly written. It is a cleverly laid out labyrinth with compelling characters. There are no throw away characters who behave stupidly, frustrating plot details, cutesy comic relief or romance just for the sake of adding romance. Every line could have a potential effect on the outcome. It is well paced, unpredictable and nothing dragged. Nothing was too confusing and the story had an appropriate amount of flashbacks.

I initially thought this book would only focus on one case but I really appreciated that it was more than that.

There really wasn't a dull moment, while the suspense levels were always kept to high rate, giving you an ominus feeling about what’s to happen. This story really had all the enticing elements of a screenplay in novel form. I would define it as cinematic and I can easily imagine this story adapted into a movie. My only complaint is that after an incredibly suspenseful build-up, the ending fell a bit flat.

There is a reason that Graham Moore won an Academy Award for The Imitation Game. He is beyond talented. He write fully developed characters that pull at your heart.

The Holdout is an outstanding thriller/mystery/crime novel. Ten years ago, a jury choose not to convict Bobby Nock for the murder of Jessica Silver. Maya Seale was the holdout of the jury - she knew that Bobby was innocent - and convinced the other jurors. Imagine 12 angry men - with secret lives. Now, the jurors reassemble for a documentary - and everything is not great - in fact, after the brief reunion at the hotel - one of the jurors ends up dead.

This is a fast paced story - moving back and forth through time - looking at each juror - and the secrets that they kept during the trial and the secrets they keep now.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Maya was part of a jury pool that exonerated a young man from the murder of a young rich heiress. She was the only one that fought for his innocence and got eleven other jurors to plead the same. Ten years pass and there is going to be an anniversary gathering for the jurors and one of them believes that he has evidence that proves guilt. There is going to be a podcast to reveal this information, except for the only man with the proof has been murdered. The murder is being blamed on Maya and she somehow has to get to the bottom of this, or she will spend her life in prison. Maya is now a lawyer and uses her knowledge to figure out the truth. I thought that this book was well written and I liked that the information is released about each juror from their viewpoint. I definitely did not see the ending coming and loved the complexity of this book. Thanks for the ARC, Net Galley.

Maya was on a jury ten years ago that found Bobby not guilty for the murder of Jessica. That time of being a juror changed Mayas life forever. It made her decide to be a defense attorney.

A podcast that is becoming popular wants to have a reunion of all the jurors that found Bobby not guilty. Since the trial, several of them have voiced their regret. At the reunion, one of the past jurors is found murdered in Mayas room. This puts her first in line as the murderer. Who killed this juror and did they purposefully frame Maya?

I really thought I had it all figured out but I didn't. This is a great read and I highly recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of The Holdout in exchange for my honest review.

It appears, as of 6 days ago, that Hulu has purchased the rights to The Holdout...looks like we'll be seeing Maya and the gang on the television before long.

This story is a two-fer; the reader gets two murder mysteries in one novel. Unfortunately, both felt superficial. Touching on topics such as racism, the power of the media, and juror misconduct, again...Graham Moore just skimmed the surface of topics that deserve significantly more depth.

Narrated primarily by Maya, but with flashbacks to 2009 from various jurors on the Jessica Silver trial, the pacing was decent. My biggest gripe was how far-reaching the plot became. There is no way Maya, a trial attorney, would do the things she did...running around like some sort of crazy vigilante. And in the flashbacks, when we learned the prosecution only allowed for a premeditated, murder one verdict--what kind of moronic prosecutor would do that without a body or weapon? The story mentions frequently how pissed America was by the jury's verdict, but how could they do anything else? Given only vague circumstantial evidence, how could they possibly convict a man of premeditated murder?

Final thoughts: Not my favorite, but still a decent read.

Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

If you love a good courtroom drama then give this book a try.

Ten years ago, Maya, was the one holdout jury vote on a high profile case. Now, she is a successful lawyer and to celebrate the 10th anniversary there will be a reunion on reality TV. Shortly after their arrival something happens that has Maya trying to prove her innocence.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how we got to hear from the perspective of each juror. I thought the middle was a little slow and the ending a tad convenient but I did not see it coming at all. A really captivating read.

This book is available now! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ten years ago, Bobby Nock was put on trial for the murder of Jessica Silver. In an outcome that shocked the United States, Nock was acquitted. Initially, all but one juror voted to convict. The lone dissenting voice was Maya Seale who managed to convince the other eleven jurors to change their votes. Now the jurors have gathered for a reunion of sorts. Unfortunately, one of the jurors is murdered and Maya becomes the prime suspect. It is in her best interest to solve that crime and also answer questions about Jessica Silver's death.

Although the book flashes back to the initial trial, this is less of a courtroom drama than a murder mystery. The concept is good but I found myself struggling to keep track of all the characters--each of the jurors is given a back story--and they blend together sometimes. Maya is an appealing main character and now that she is herself a defense attorney, this may lead to a sequel.

Even though it's not really a legal thriller, readers of that genre might want to give it a try as will fans of unique mysteries.

A jury has the responsibility of determining a man’s guilt or innocence of murdering a fifteen-year-old girl. Having been sequestered for months, they were going stir crazy. None of them would likely have met outside of the trial and their differences become apparent as they are confined to a room. Already disliking each other, deliberations were a heated affair. Ten years later, they come together for an episode of Murder Town featuring the unbelievable verdict of not guilty.

The writing in this book is good. The premise is quite interesting. However, as much as I tried, I could never come to care about Maya. She was one dimensional and we only see her in the criminal law content. Right from the beginning, she is pious and opinionated. We do not see her change. She is argumentative throughout the book.

I found the telling of Maya’s search to prove Booby Noch really wasn’t guilty of murder to be bogged down and without interest. The other characters were primarily seen only in relation to Maya. I just couldn’t seem to care. The ending is a bit of a surprise and does somewhat redeem the novel. This is what brings my rating up to three stars.


I received an ARC from Random House through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or

Rating: 8.5/10

Thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of The Holdout for review consideration. This is no way influenced my thoughts or opinions.

Twelve Angry Men meets Presumed Innocent in this electrifying legal thriller that had me in its grasp until the final page turn. A fantastic cast of characters, a murder mystery wrapped inside of a murder trial, and twists aplenty lead to a very satisfying read and ending. I would be shocked if The Holdout didn’t make it to the big screen.

The synopsis alone had me putting The Holdout on my TBR and having the opportunity to get an early copy had me scrambling to get to it as soon as possible. Moore is a brand-new author to me, though he does have two (2) previous novels; one of which won an award and the 2nd was nominated for two others. Having said that, I am a huge fan of film ‘The Imitation Game’ and highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t had a chance to give it a go (I mean, it has been out for almost 6 years sooooo). I can officially say that I am now a fan of his writing and look forward to more from the author.

While I went into the read expecting a fairly predictable outcome (not having many legal thriller reads on my resume and just assuming based on shows such as Law & Order – I know, cut me some slack), I was taken aback by all of the twists the author decided to throw in. Every single time you think you are on the right track, a wrench is thrown into the works and blindsides you like a linebacker coming off the weak side. One in particular comes at the very end and I still cannot quite process my thoughts on it.

What ultimately makes the novel work so well is the way in which it is told. There are two (2) narratives going on in sequential chapters: one of which takes place during the original trial 10 years prior, and the other takes place in the present when the docu-series reassembles the jury. Seeing the trial through the eyes of the different jurors, on top of the actions taking place in the present, lead to a very muddied glimpse at the whodunit which is absolute perfection.

A definite recommendation to those of you who enjoy a great legal thriller, but also to any of you who thrive on a good twist.

"Still, in a room full of lawyers, the last thing she thought someone was going to get was truth. No one was here for justice."

If you enjoy a good murder mystery or legal drama with some courtroom action, this is one that will tick all the boxes while also providing some behind-the-scenes peeks into the activities and discussion in the jury room. If, however, you have preconceived notions about the justice system, the role of lawyers, and the value of jury service, I think you will find quite a few surprises. It's best if you go into this without knowing too much about the story and, most importantly, if you have the ability to suspend disbelief and just go with it.

The premise: ten years ago, Maya Seale served on a jury during the trial of Bobby Nock -- a part-time English teacher who was accused of murdering a student he was involved with, Jessica Silver. Maya is notorious for swaying the jury to a not guilty verdict and has been vilified for it since. In the ensuing years after the controversial acquittal, Maya has gone on to become a defense lawyer. She's had no contact with the rest of the jurors from that events that transformed her life, but now "Murder Town" wants them all to reunite for a docuseries that will be adapted for Netflix. Although Maya definitely doesn't want to go back and face the whole drama and fellow jurors, the one person she once truly cared about (another member of that jury), Rick Leonard and her boss convince her it's the right thing to do. Since Bobby Nock went free, no one has ever found out the truth of what really happened to Jessica Silver and, now, Rick says he has found some explosive new information. Despite her misgivings, Maya turns up at the Omni Hotel where they'd all been sequestered during the trial and, at the end of that evening, a fellow juror turns up dead -- in her room. Now, not only does she have to defend herself with regard to her swaying the jury 10 years ago, she has to prove her innocence in this murder charge. NO SPOILERS.

This is not just a legal thriller but also has elements that discuss themes of race, social standing, law enforcement and the role of the lawyer. The maneuvering in the adversarial system is described and I found the overall implications quite chilling. This was a very quick read and I was unable to put it down so finished it in one sitting. The writing is good even if, at times, I found the totality of it quite hard to believe as it all played it. I have not read any other books by this author, but will look for them in the future. The characters were all a mix of good and bad and the reader gets to know them a bit as the narrative shifts between points of view of various jury members and shifts back and forth in time. The climax was a bit of a surprise though some might see it all coming. I just read that this book is to be adapted for the screen and can't wait to see it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This book grabbed me right away and, for the most part, kept me enthralled. I enjoyed the way the novel was structured, flitting in and out of each juror's experience to add different perspectives to the puzzle. I enjoyed the way everyone's different secrets weaved and bobbed around each other and came together for a twisty, complex ending.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Graham Moore for the opportunity to read and review the book.

Bobby Nock, a young African-American teacher, went on trial for murdering Jessica Silver, his fifteen-year-old student and heiress to her father’s billion-dollar fortune. The prosecution had forensic evidence, a shaky alibi, and inflammatory messages between Bobby and Jessica.

Bobby’s guilt appeared self-evident—to all but a single member of the jury. Maya Seale was able to persuade her fellow jury members to change their votes, and Bobby was acquitted.

Ten years after the trial, the producers of a popular crime podcast reunite the jurors as part of a documentary series. Rick, one of the jurors claims to have new evidence proving Bobby’s guilt but refuses to reveal it until all the jury is together. On the night before the unveiling, Rick is killed in Maya’s hotel room. Maya, now a defense attorney herself, is the police’s primary suspect.

To clear her name, Maya must find out what Rick knew and who might want him dead while avoiding the police and the media. Her clandestine investigation reveals surprising allies but also uncovers a web of secrets that someone is willing to kill to keep secret.

While most of the book is told from Maya’s perspective, other key jurors also receive point of view chapters, a format I enjoy. Additionally, I liked the pacing of the book and the fact that it considered philosophical questions about the nature of truth. That it depicted jury service on a high-profile trial and its aftermath was also interesting to me.

I was slightly bothered by how unflappable the characters were in the face of injustice and danger, and I thought that too much depended on coincidence (and on what Maya discovered when she was left alone in rooms or offices).

The Holdout was, for me, an entertaining and satisfying read placing courtroom drama and suspense in unforgettable settings with memorable characters.

I remember watching the Jodi Arias trial religiously…I didn’t want to miss even one day of testimony and when the verdict came in, I rushed home from work and got there just in time to see the jury render her guilty of first degree murder. The jury then went to work on the sentencing phase and could not decide for or against the death penalty so they were dismissed and a new trial commenced for sentencing. In this trial, the jury was hung as well, but with 11 jurors in favor of the death penalty and only 1 against it. This one “holdout” juror was seen as a vile, horrible human being on the forums that I frequently read. The other jurors were quoted as saying that she refused to deliberate and the rumors were swirling that she could possibly have been a plant to keep Jodi Arias from receiving the death penalty. It was a media circus and very eye opening. Seeing this made me rethink my opinions on being a juror…before this experience, I had assumed that a juror could keep their anonymity if they desired but after seeing the press visit and record images of this woman’s home, I realized that this is not true.

The Holdout by Graham Moore presents a similar scenario…12 jurors find a man not guilty of murder when the evidence seems to point to his guilt. This decision is made because of 1 holdout who convinces each of the 11 other jurors to vote not guilty. I found the story to be very interesting as it delves into the jury selection process, being sequestered, and deliberations. There are also multiple mysteries in the story and plenty of twists and turns.

There were a few moments when the story began to lose some steam and the story became a bit convoluted but overall, it was a very unique and interesting thriller that I really enjoyed. Highly recommended.

I received an arc of this book to read and review from Random House and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fascinating read of how lives are affected by being on a sequestered jury. While sometimes implausible, this story brought about many interesting questions of right and wrong, justice and justice failed. I found this book interesting to read and look forward to the author's next!

I absolutely love this book. It was mystery but not trashy at all, and I did not see the ending coming at all.

When I watch television, I'm a Law & Order/Dateline/Investigation Discovery junkie. This book took me right to those shows. Of course if you are in the legal field, you may need to suspend some belief, same goes for all of those crime tv shows!

Maya Seale served on a jury ten years ago for a man accused of killing his high school student, with whom he had a relationship with. She and her fellow jurors were sequestered together for months as the trial of the century took place. Maya ends up convincing her jurors that the defendant is innocent. Little did they know the hellstorm that waited for them outside.

A book is written, new evidence is allegedly unearthed, a podcast is created, and a tv show wants to do a follow up on the jurors. On the same night, a new crime is committed, and Maya is now the lead suspect.

This book is a quick read, and pretty engrossing. I found myself both rooting for Maya, and hoping that she didn't make a mistake during the first trial. Can the amazing Olivia Pope...I mean Maya Seale save herself in the end? Get to reading to find out!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Innocent and not guilty are two very different terms in a court case. The Holdout presents this very well and explores how being on a jury can derail a person's life. Maya was the holdout on a murder case and once she convinced the jury to vote her way, they became hated across America for letting a child killer go free.

The Holdout has dual timelines to tell the story of what happened at the trial and what is happening now, 10 years late. As a fan of true crime podcasts, the idea of a podcast diving into a case like this and trying to reassemble the key players is fascinating. Maya wants a chance to defend herself since most of the jurors have publicly blamed her. But, when another juror is found dead in her hotel room, things begin to unravel quickly.

I liked the parallel stories of the past and present. It made the book more thought provoking. Both stories had one seemingly clear killer, but is it really that clear cut? I will admit that I was surprised by a few twists in the plot; I'm still not sure if I liked them or not. The end of The Hold felt a tad abrupt; perhaps that is why I am still trying to discern my thoughts.

"The Holdout" by Graham Moore, Random House, 336 pages, Feb. 18, 2020.

Fifteen-year-old Jessica Silver, heiress to a billion-dollar real estate fortune, vanishes on her way home from school, and her teacher, Bobby Nock, 25, an African American man, is the prime suspect.

Maya Seale, a young woman on the jury, is convinced of Nock’s innocence. She persuades the rest of the jurors to return the verdict of not guilty. But 84 percent of people polled thought they let a child killer off. Another juror, Rick Leonard, blames Maya.

Flash forward ten years. A true-crime docuseries for Netflix brings together nine of the jurors, with particular focus on Maya, now a defense attorney. She doesn't want to participate, but her firm encourages her to go. The former jurors are staying in the same hotel rooms as they were during the trial. At first they weren't sequestered during the trial, but that changed when their names were published.

During the re-creation, one of the other former jurors is found dead in Maya’s hotel room. She is the suspect.

The novel goes back to the original trial and the present time, with chapters on each juror.

The characters are excellent. The plot is well-written, but the ending isn't plausible.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.