Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, for an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This murder mystery set within the legal profession has lots of layers, and lots of secrets that are revealed bit by bit. It centers on a workaholic attorney who finds her boss, one of the senior partners in the firm, shot to death in his office. Suspicion immediately falls on her, and she reaches out for representation to an old law school classmate. They were never particularly close, and the exploration of friendship and learning to trust is not easy for either of them. The story is well-written, and flows easily - however, I did work out early on who the murderer was and why. I felt what the book did extremely well was highlight the prejudice (casual and/or with intent) directed toward women, and particularly toward women deemed attractive by conventional beauty standards, by men and women alike, that leads to so much harm.
TW for sexual abuse

Wow! I throughly enjoyed this book. I’ve read both book in the Alison Barton series and I can honestly say that I think Kristin Wright is a gifted storyteller. The book is fast-paced, with enough twists and turns to keep you questioning whether or not you’ve figured things out. I felt so many emotions as I read - shock, anger, nervousness - and I felt for all the characters, good or bad. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends!

me as a reader like face paced books more. this one for me was a very slow burn book. the story was very interesting and was able to hold my interest till the very end. but for me, as someone who reads thrillers all the time, the twists were predictable. also allison barter was not a very likeable character for me. but surely i would like to highlight the fact that i loved the writing. overall 2.5/5. thabks gor the early copy of the book

regards ,
kalyani

I received this book through "NetGalley" Read Now and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story tells the story of Jane, a lawyer who is hiding something. She has always has made a point to work late and arrive early to the office. This time after arriving she goes to her bosses office to get an item that he wanted her to work on. When she got there, she discovered that he was dead. She did the right thing and called 911 to get help. As a result of this incident, she contacted a roomate from her law school days and asked her to represent her. When she did the contavt, she wasn't a suspect. As time went by, the police finally arrested her for her bosses murder. Allison her lawyer began trying to get information so that she could defend her. Jane, the name of Allison's client, had a secret that she was hiding and was even willing to go to jail to keep it hidden. Allison learned indirectly where her hometown was and made a side trip with her daughter Libby to find out exactly who Jane was. Jane eventually gave Allison the whole story.

Jane was released on bond and was able to go back to work. She rekindle her friendship with Josh, but soon Josh's actions gave her pause. Josh got so upset, he went after Allison..

To discover what Jane's secret was, who killed Jane's boss and what action Josh took that led to information about the murder of Jane's boss. The story will keep you wondering as you try to figure out the clues. The book is definitely worth reading.

Allison is surprised when Jane, who was a law school room mate but not really a friend, asks her to sign on as her defense attorney when she's charged with the murder of her boss Raymond Corrigan. Did Jane do it? Well, she doesn't help Allison much because she wants to keep a secret that, as an attorney herself, she knows she should give up. This hits familiar topical themes of toxic workplace behavior and fans of the genre might see the twists coming. That said, it is a page turner. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

That was really well done. This story challenges your perceptions of people, those assumptions you make in that first split second you meet someone. It hooked me in big time and I read the book in almost one sitting.

Thirty two year old Jane Knudsen is, by all accounts beautiful - stunningly, gorgeously beautiful. Women want to be her and men want to f*** her. Yet she goes out of her way to become insignificant, she dresses very conservatively, she rarely dates and she has no close friends even though, by all accounts she is friendly enough. It is almost as if she is hiding something, because of course she is.

Jane works as an associate at a law firm in Charlottesville. She is always the first to arrive at 6:00 am and often works into the night. One morning, as she heads into her boss’s office to collect something she senses right away there is something wrong. Her boss, Raymond (Ray) V. Corrigan Jnr lies dead on the floor in a pool of blood. Jane calls the police and then her former college roommate, Allison Barton, a successful criminal defence attorney to defend her on the charges she is sure will eventually follow.

Oh Jane didn’t kill Ray, there is a long line of people who would ahead of her in the queue for that - Ray was not well liked at the firm. No, Jane does have a secret though. It is something she been at great pains to hide. It is something she doesn’t want to share with her lawyer. But as the police dig deeper and come to arrest her for Ray’s murder she realises she needs to trust her lawyer or risk going to prison. She knows her secret provides a motive for Ray’s murder. That is she would consider the prison option is indicative of how desperate she is to keep her secret hidden. I’m not going to tell you either but, trust me, it is a very sad tale.

The characters were crisply rendered and it was interesting to see Jane and Allison slowly drawing towards friendship. As roommates they were not very close at all. There were no flat spots in the narrative. This one clipped along at an excellent pace throughout. I felt so sorry for Jane and hoped she could eventually find some happiness. I really enjoyed this book though. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

This is an example of when the message overpowers the story, resulting in flat characters, a repetitive narrative, and a predictable plot. Rather than being a fully fleshed out character, Jane became a symbol, which led me to feel less invested in the message that she stood for.

Well, Kristin Wright has done it again! The Darkest Web is the kind of suspense that has all the twists, a little bit of romance and somehow manages to deal with the subject of horrendous abuse in a serious & sensitive manner. This book drew me in quite quickly and was pretty much impossible to put down, after that. I liked the main characters and found them interesting & relatable.
Allison Barton, a first class attorney, has been hired by her former law school roommate, Jane Knudsen. Jane is also an attorney who's infamous for guarding her privacy. Now she's being accused of murdering one of her firm’s senior partners.
Allison now finds herself in a race to get to know Jane so that she can effectively defend her.
The prosecutor plans to use her unknown past against her while ignoring other viable suspects who also had opportunity, access to the weapon, and motive. But Jane is dead set against revealing her secrets even if it means prison for life.

This was a highly enjoyable read. I picked up the Darkest Web after being impressed by the first book in this series, the Darkest Flower. This is more of a murder mystery then the legal thriller - Jane Knudson's boss is found murdered and Jane is the prime suspect. She engages Allison Barton as her defense lawyer and things go from there. Did she do it? Or was it one of the other long list of people who had reason to hate the victim? That's what the book focuses on.

I liked this one a lot. It follows the same format as the first book with the POV switching between Allison and the defendant every chapter. Jane's a highly complex character and as more of her backstory is revealed, you can't help but feel empathy for her. She's by far the best character in the book. Allison plays her part well as a single mom juggling her work, daughter, and blossoming romance, but to be honest she's somewhat forgettable, especially compared to Jane. The story is engaging and deals with some uncomfortable subjects., but it flows really well. Plenty of explanations of past events, but no flashbacks (thank you). Some profanity here and there, but nothing over the top.

There's definitely a few loose ends in the epilogue, but nothing I can't live with. I'm very happy that these are true stand alone novels: there's no need to read the first one and no frustrating cliffhanger. This author knows how to write an interesting story and give the reader a satisfying ending. Nice work!

The Darkest Web

Author: Kristin Wright

Genre: Law Procedural/Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis: When stunningly beautiful but strangely reserved Jane Knudsen finds her boss dead in their law firm, she hires her former law school roommate Allison Barton to defend her, praying her secret past won’t become part of the investigation.

Review: This is the second book in the Allison Barton series and I have a habit of comparing sequels to their predecessors. The first book The Darkest Flower was very character driven with an off the wall suspect who was both hilariously blunt and shockingly disturbing. Conversely, the suspect Jane in this story is much more subdued, and at the beginning I found myself missing that punchy social commentary. However, what this book improved upon from the first was the depth of the mystery. Not only do we have a murder to solve, but there’s also Jane’s mysterious past—who is this woman and what has she done that needs hiding? It made for a more engaging middle (and we do eventually get that great social commentary @kristinbuttonwright is becoming known for!), and just like the last book, you can expect a twisted and powerful finish.

Thank you to @netgalley and Thomas & Mercer @amazonpublishing for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, a great mystery that will keep you turning pages.

Having enjoyed Wright’s previous legal thriller, The Darkest Flower, I was excited to get my hands on this one. While I loved it and it wrapped up nicely, I was disappointed to discover that this will be the final Alison Barton book. Friends, this is what happens when we don’t leave Amazon reviews and support authors - like TV series, it gets cancelled when viewership numbers decline. ARGH. We’ve lost a fantastic opportunity; a legal thriller written by a lawyer.

Alison Barton returns in book 2 with a new (?) client who brings more to the table than a probable case! Readers may need to apprise themselves of content warnings if concerned about triggers.

Insurance defense lawyer Jane Knudsen finds her boss dead in his office at Blackwood, Payne and Vivant when she arrives early to work. Knowing that she’ll be considered a prime suspect, she hires Alison Barton, her former law school roommate, to defend her. Told from both Jane and Alison’s POV, this fast paced and compelling story exposes the challenges lawyers have when they are confident their clients are withholding information. Not only is Alison challenged at work, she’s still finding it difficult to co-parent. I'm going to miss Alison. She was such a fantastic character; authentic, apologized for her flaws, learned from her mistakes and treated everyone with respect.

This book is like a well-made hero sandwich; at first glance it looks like any other meat in a bun sandwich. It isn’t until you take and bite and get into it that you realize it’s stuffed with multiple types of meat and multiple types of cheeses alongside a variety of garnishes. At first glance Jane’s case looks cut and dry, but as the layers are peeled back, Jane’s life is stuffed full of surprises. Wright has certainly given the series a great good-bye with all these secrets and twists!

I was thankful for the reminder that all is not as it seems and everyone needs to be treated with the respect they deserve.

I was gifted this book by Kristin Wright, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I previously read thr first book in the series, in which Alison Barton defends a client from attempted murder charges. The high profile case allowed Alison to start her own law practice. Alison is dating ADA Emmett Amaro and sharing custody of her daughter Libby with ex husband Steve and his new wife Karen, who he was cheating on Alison with prior to their divorce.

Alison receives an email from her 1st year law school roommate Jane Knudson, who wants to hire her. Jane just found her boss Ray Corrigan dead in his office and is fearful she will be the suspect the police go after. Jane has secrets she's trying to keep.

Alison and Jane become reacquainted and really get to know each other more, while the police investigate and narrow in their suspect pool. Then Jane is arrested for murder, and she finds out she has friends who support her bail.

This mystery is part whodunnit and part what happened in Jane's past to make her such a loner. TW needed for Jane's back story - it is a tough one. In the end, the way the mystery of who killed Ray was resolved made sense and was yet more complicated than it might seem. I was okay with the last info bomb dropped on Alison this time. I would like to see more on Alison in the future.

TW for physical and sexual abuse, child pornography, creepy AF pervert men, gun threats, abduction, religious indoctrination, in description of past. 4/5☆

The Darkest Web is the sequel to The Darkest Flower in the Allison Barton series by Kristin Wright. I have not read The Darkest Flower yet, but I was still able to understand and enjoy The Darkest Web as a standalone! I do plan to go back and read the first one because I really enjoyed this!

Full of twists, secrets and drama, this legal thriller kept me guessing. This book was mostly fast paced, and we were introduced to several characters while trying to figure out who the real murderer was. At times, I wasn't sure myself which way the story was going!

Allison and Jane are both lawyers. They were old college roommates during law school, but they were never really friends. They reunite years later when Jane needs legal help. Each chaoter is told from the perspective of Jane or Allison and I loved getting a look inside each of their minds. There were many situations where each one made an assumption that was very offbase, but eventually they learn that they were wrong about each other. loved Allison's character and Jane really grew on me too!

Overall, I enjoyed this one. I like the characters and I loved the plot. I look forward to reading more from this author!

*Please check trigger warnings before reading. This book has A LOT of them*

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is due for publication 4/12 . This review will be posted to my blogs & Amazon closer to publication day!

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The Darkest Web by K. Wright, published by Thomas & Mercer is the second stand-alone in the Allison Barton Series.
Allison and Jane are tangled in a web that's about to let the reader breathless.
Both are lawyers who attended law school together, were roommates. One of them became a defense attorney, the other one practices law in another field.
This murder mystery is a complex read, a slow burn full of unexpected twists and turns. The story deals with sensitive subjects, consider you warned.
I recommend this book, 5 stars.

The Darkest Web tackles some grim plots lines. It’s more than a lawyer finding her boss’s body in the floor and then being accused of his murder. It’s a story about a stolen childhood, a woman who can never erase her past or forgive the transgressions.
It’s an absorbing read. There were a few parts where the story dragged, but then it resumed its tempo.
Although this work is fiction,, it’s a tale that is very real.

On a whim a few months back I had downloaded The Darkest Flower, by Kristin Wright, and I was blown away with her writing style. The Darkest Web, is the follow up to this book and brings back Allison Barton, the hard hustling power attorney, from The Darkest Flower.

Now, series, are never usually my thing but when you read The Darkest Flower, you will understand why I was so eager to see a sequel was being released. The Darkest Web, can be read as a standalone but I would not recommend it . Also, the first book was amazing, why would you want to miss it?

The story centers around Jane and her old college room-mate, Allison (yay! Allison is back!) . Jane is the prime subject in a recent murder and she needs Allison's help but Jane has some secrets she would like to stay hidden (yikes!)

This novel is filled with deceitful secrets, twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and I would love to see a third book happen. Again, totally not like me.

I have become a huge fan of Kristin Wright, and I am eager to see what she comes out with next! This is a book you dont want to miss so make sure to pre-order!

When I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Darkest Web by Kristin Wright, I wasn’t aware that it was book 2 in a series and honestly, it could be a stand alone.
Our story begins with Jane starting work and finding the body of her boss who was unfortunately killed the night before. As a lawyer, Jane is aware that she will be viewed as a suspect do contacts her old college roommate Alison to represent her. The story was one of “who dunnit” and could Jane protect her own secrets while the investigation played out.
Written from the perspective of both Jane and Allison, some difficult subjects were handled well, overall I really enjoyed reading this and will be looking to go back and read the first book in the series. I didn’t see the full twist at the end, I had a sneaking suspicion all was not as it seemed but the book kept me hooked and I read it within a day.
Thanks to @netgalley, #Thomas&Mercer and #KristinWright for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4/5 Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

This second entry in the Allison Barton legal series is fast paced and grabbed me right from the start.
The book is written from two points of view: Jane and Allison who were briefly roommates in law school and are now lawyers in their early thirties.

One of the partners in Jane’s insurance law firm is murdered and she finds that she is being framed for the grim deed. Jane reaches out to Allison, who is a criminal defense lawyer, even though they never really were friends in law school. Allison is a little wary, but agrees to help Jane and she soon finds out that Jane is hiding something lurid in her past. Moving through the case, Jane finally opens up to Allison and a growing friendship between them wipes out past misunderstandings. There are many steps and missteps in the investigation which keep you on your toes and the story moves along quickly.

This modern mystery with women in the lead roles is well worth picking up and although it is the second in a series, it stands on its own very well.

Loved the drama. Loved the tension. Loved Jane's backstory, her character. Alison too. This story kept me on the edge of my seat. Coming into this, I didn't know this was the second in a series, but this novel can def be read as a stand-alone. I'm now looking forward to the first book. Brava!

Legal drama filled with complicated scenarios are a favorite of mine. This is the second in the Allison Barton series. I read the first but, it could easily be read as a standalone. The setting is Virginia, where the court system is called the commonwealth. This is adult fiction and as such contains both very sensitive and graphic subject matter. The murder of a senior partner at a prominent law firm is the subject of this suspense filled mystery.
The story is related in three parts and told from the perspectives of the two main characters.
Allison Barton, a criminal defense lawyer, has recently established her own practice. Her law school roommate, whom she hasn't heard from in years, unexpectedly phones for representation. They weren't ever close or even particularly friendly. Jane Knudsen was gorgeous, she had brains and beauty. She also never shared anything personal, not her hometown, no family background, she was a closed book. Allison is committing to represent a client with dark secrets, a hidden past, an unwillingness to reveal who she is, however, claims her innocence.
Jane's legal expertise is insurance defense law, she works at Blackwood, Payne & Vivant. When she discovers her boss (Raymond V. Corrigan Jr.) quite dead, she knows she'll be accused and that her highly orchestrated persona is in jeopardy.
Allison will try to juggle other cases, being a Mom to daughter, Libby, and a new relationship with Emmett. All this while defending a client she knows is hiding facts.
The law firm had long list of a staff who would or could have wanted Ray dead. Even his long suffering wife, Felicity, had motive. The snobby and powerful managing partner, Greg, only cares about the firms liability and reputation.
The race to uncover the truth is frentic, but at what cost to the client? Legal ethics and client confidentiality are skirted close to the line.
The timely, relevant and gut wrenching subject matter was not easily read. But, it is important and knowledge is power. There are lessons to learn, such as not judging others by what you see. The story was very well written, there were many stark and unforeseen events. All the twists and turns kept me guessing. As difficult as the issues described were to read, I'm very glad I did. This topic was covered up and hidden far too long. This was even better than the previous in series, and I would certainly read more by this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the advance digital copy of "The Darkest Web" by Kristin Wright and to Thomas and Mercer. These are my personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily.