Renegade
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Legal Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 3/22/22
Author: Nancy Allen
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 368
Goodreads Rating: 3.99
Series: Yes, first book in Anonymous Justice Series

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: Assistant DA Kate Stone has just suffered the biggest loss of her career. But a corrupt judge allowed Max James to walk free. When he confronts her outside the courthouse, she punches James, and he goes down hard. Kate’s boss demands that she either attend anger management meetings or give up the job she lives for. Begrudgingly, Kate attends her first meeting. Inside is a group of people all failed by the justice system. Kate begins to dig into Max James’s secret life and her explosive discoveries will lead to a stunning new twist in the case. And turn her into the prime suspect.

My Thoughts: The chapters are short, which makes the book just breeze by. The main character, Kate Stone, has a decent heart and her intentions are in the right place, however, she may come off as a not likable character at first, but facing some hard decisions, she definitely grew on me. The author develops the characters well, with depth, strength, and the willingness to go to any length for justice. The writing is complex, fun, action-packed, and intense. The was a bingable book that I devoured in a day. The book ends in a “cliffhanger” opening up book 2 in the Anonymous Justice series. Based on the outcome of this book, the next book will be just as fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley for and advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a review.

New York Assistant District Attorney Kate Stone is losing the biggest case she has prosecuted so far. The deck seems to be stacked against her and her rape and assault case against a serial rapist who has gotten away with the crime too many times. The judge and the defense attorney seem to be on the same page and the case is over almost before it begins.

Kate has some anger issues, so when the defendant confronts her outside the courthouse, she punches him to the ground and ends up on the evening news. NOT a good way to be presented as she explains to the DA what happened, both in the courtroom and outside. Her boss insists she get counseling for her anger management problems, but she just can't hack the class she joins. But she DOES meet a man who invites her to another sort of group that may help her resolve some of her problems. Turns out, it is a quasi-vigilante group who takes on cases that don't get resolved in the usual manner.

As she gets to know the others in the group, she realizes they are a mixed group, each with some talent that the group can use. Not really sure what her talent is, she joins in on a few of their cases and then persuades them to take on the rapist from her last case.

Things get fast and furious quickly and some of the action is improbable, but it does turn out to be a cathartic read, especially if you feel the world is not exactly headed in the right direction!

This was a new to me author and I can’t wait to read more books in this series. I loved the interactions between Kate and Steven and look forward to seeing their story develop. If you like tough, determined women this is a must read.

This is the first book that I have personally read by Nancy Allen. The author created a move believable set of characters who are able to work outside the law to right the wrongs of justice. The story flows well as the author create characters with backstories that will bring the story to life. The story has predictable moments that readers will be able to move past as the story is intriguing enough to look past the obvious moments.

Renegade is a create start to a new series I can't wait to read.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of Renegade by Nancy Allen.

Kate Stone, Assistant District Attorney, gets in some trouble when a video of her confronting a man who was found "not guilty" goes viral. Kate is flawed, but her intentions were noble and ordered to take anger management classes. That's how she ends up meeting a group of people who were also wronged but the justice system and want to take matters into their own hands. But is everyone who they say they are?

This was a really interesting legal thriller! Kate has to make a lot of hard decisions and ultimately decide if the oath she took is really worth keeping. Things quickly spiral out of control as we learn more things that are connected, uncover lots of secrets and have to decide who exactly we can trust.

The book was very intriguing and kept me turning the pages. I love a flawed character, and while Kate isn't very likable, she has a good heart with good intentions. This book ends in a cliffhanger and I look forward to reading the next one and continuing this story.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪: Grand Central Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is due for publication 3/22/22. This review will be posted to my blogs & Amazon closer to publication day!

Renegade is not your typical legal thriller. I have read all of Nancy Allen’s previous books, from her Ozarks Mystery series to the books she co-wrote with James Patterson. Allen excels at creating strong but flawed female characters. New York City Assistant District Attorney Kate Stone, the main character of this book, is no exception. After a devastating loss in court, Kate is confronted with the accused who had been found “not guilty” and doesn’t hesitate to defend herself. Their fight goes viral and Kate’s boss orders her to attend anger management classes to keep her job. However, the group Kate becomes involved with leads her to unexpected dangers.

I don’t want to spoil anything for those who haven’t read the book, so I’m not going to go into detail about what happens next. I can say it’s an unusual but very engaging story. Kate has to question her ethics and what she really feels about the law and justice. There is also a storyline about the death of her father which was ruled a suicide, but Kate doesn’t believe that. The whole book moves in unexpected directions for an intriguing story. The book ends on a cliffhanger, which I don’t love, but I assume there will be a second book and things will be resolved. I look forward to reading what happens next for Kate.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Grand Central Publishing. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

This book has really piqued my interest and the characters are growing on me.

The main character has to decide if she lives by the law and accepts their justice, or does she seek justice of her own.

I'm looking forward to book two.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

That was a good read, hard to put down. I'm ready for the next installment.

Thanks to the good folks at NetGalley for a chance to read an advanced reader copy.

Wow!! Another fantastic read from one of my favorite authors, Nancy Allen! I’ve been a fan since her Ozarks Mystery Series and then her books written with James Patterson. Renegade, like her previous books, features her signature no-holds-barred, no-nonsense storytelling. I can always count on this author for a heroine who is flawed, fierce and formidable. This tale is twisted, complicated, full of surprises and has a big dose of action (the heroine is a karate expert). Along with an insider look into the world of a prosecutor, which to me is fascinating, Renegade has some elements of a techno-thriller due to its use of cyber crime in the twisting plot. Kate, a colorful prosecutor with a briefcase full of personal problems, is the true star in a quirky ensemble cast. You won’t know who you can trust, except you feel, deep down, that you can always count on Kate. The story is gripping, a true page-turner you can’t put down, but what I love most about it is how real the story seems, how naturally it all unfolds. This author makes me feel like we just sat down on a bench for lunch, and she’s telling me a story while we’re loading up our hotdogs with mustard.

I was not too fond of the main character at all in Renegade by Nancy Allen. She was rude, brash, and just unlikeable. The plot was predictable and was not interesting. Therefore, I was not invested in the storyline or the outcome. I did finish the book. Overall, an average read for me.

#Renegade #NetGalley