Mystery and crime have been some of my favorite genres since high school, so this book was almost like a comfort read. The pacing in mystery novels is, in my opinion, what makes or breaks the story, but luckily it was the former for this novel!

This book!! I am so glad to have found a new favourite author! The plot is twisty, tense and super satisfying. The legal drama, the mystery all masterfully woven together. I absolutely devoured this book once I sat down to open it up and enjoy it. I don't like to say that books are perfect for fans of this or that author simply because it isn't always true. However, if you like mysteries, crimes, threats, back and forth and twists in the plot - then this book is for you. The characters are excellent and the tension is chef's kiss.

IMPLIED CONSENT – A Maureen Gould Legal Thriller – by Keenan Powell

‘Attorney Maureen Gould has a dark secret and a hunger for justice. When a powerful movie producer attacks, and then fires, his young female assistant, Maureen sets out to make things right. . . . To win justice for her client Maureen must defeat her father and free herself from her past.’

‘Secrets trap the shamed with the guilty. Truth will set them free.’

In a word, WOW! All the heartbreaking feels whilst reading this book, have your tissues handy—Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Three Hooligans Press, for providing me with an eBook of IMPLIED CONSENT at the request of an honest review.

Original Source: NetGalley – Status: Archived/Unavailable
Source Used For This Review: eBook/Kindle Unlimited

My first book by Keenan Powell although I have heard many good things I had to hump on the bandwagon myself and I really enjoyed it definitely will not be my last!

This is my first review by this author and I must say they did a good job of keeping me immersed to the end. The book had a very good plot and storyline. The character development was well done I did enjoy this book. When a book can grab you and pull you in from the first page you know you have done your job as an author. The protagonist Maureen is so believable she is such a strong female character. This will not be my last book from Keenan Powell I can't wait to go purchase my next book from this author. This book was given to me by NetGalley and Keenan Powell for my honest review in exchange for this Earc.

As a displaced person from the Pacific Northwest, I enjoy reading books set on the left coast. Powell usual setting is Alaska. With Implied Consent she begins a new series set in San Francisco. Her protagonist, Maureen Gould, is believable, the antithesis of a slick lawyer out for the win, who seeks power rather than justice. And who is this slick willy? Maureen's father. As opposing counsels they go head to head over a 'me too' sexual harassment case. One that takes the city by storm, as it involves the movie industry, complete with complex layers of darkness. This author can provide an insider's view to law. She has had a long career in Alaska complete with cases that have ranged from a federal walrus round up to murder. I delighted in reading this woman focused book. One that had me reading late into the night. Implied Consent won the Ippy Gold Medal. Very highly recommended.

Excellent story, I was up way to late finishing this book. Sexual misconduct in the workplace is finally coming out of the dark corners. How much can be tolerated to keep your job? One gal decides to fight back. This is a story worth reading. Maureen also gets a chance to tell her story. I liked the book.

While I thought the overall plot and the execution of this book was spot on; most of the thriller/suspense books I have been reading lately are all very similar. I think the main thing that saved this book for me was it being relatable and plausible with the work place assault storyline. I also liked the cover too.

I know other readers may like this more than I did but was still left feeling underwhelmed even though the overall creepiness and chills in the book were there. This was a miss for me.

Thanks to Netgalley, Keenan Powell and 3 Hooligans Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available

Absolutely fantastic. Strong characters that will keep you intrigued until the last page. Suspenseful to the very end.

An excellent legal thriller with many twists and turns. I am very happy to have discovered this author.
Many thanks to Three Hooligans Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Secrets bind the shamed to the guilty. Truth will set them free."

Implied Consent, by Keenan Powell, is one of the those great courtroom thrillers that make you want to keep reading. Since the leading lawyer is a woman, it drew my interest right away.

According to tort law, "The plaintiff’s consent is implied when the plaintiff fails to object, or is silent in a situation in which a reasonable person would object to the defendant’s actions."

Not only did the title and cover of this book catch my eye, but in the "me too" movement, I was curious about how implied consent is objectively looked at in a court of law.

When Josephine, the plaintiff, brings charges against her boss, a Hollywood "mogul," for sexual crimes, but stays silent at first because she doesn't want to lose her job, a lawsuit is created. Maureen, the prosecuting attorney, must prove her case without a lot of evidence. Also, Maureen's past plays a big part in how she decided to try this case.

The set up for the case, the mysteries involved with the characters, and the courtroom drama made this an interesting book. It reminded me of Grisham's books that make you want to keep reading.

I gave this book four out of five stars. I would recommend it to my friends. I was given this book for my honest review.

I hadn’t read a trial lawyer/legal thriller for some time. This book made me remember why I enjoyed them in the past. Josephine hires Maureen Gould to represent her after she is fired when she finally fights back against her boss’s sexual advances. There are lots of twists and turns in this book that I did not see coming. Maureen’s life is its own rollercoaster alongside that of the court case. I am grateful for the opportunity to have read this digital arc that was provided by NetGalley and Three Hooligans Press. I liked this book well enough that I looked up the author and purchased the first book in her Maeve Malloy series. This review is my own words.

Keenan Powell’s best yet! An absolutely sizzling legal thriller featuring Maureen Gould, the attorney everyone wants when the worst happens. A rich and realistic portrayal of the cost of redemption because some secrets are meant to stay buried. Maureen thought hers were hidden long ago until a new case crosses her path. A verdict for her client might come at a higher price than she counted on.

This is an amazing legal thriller. The characters are believable and relatable. The plot was twisty and the unexpected turns kept me guessing throughout. The courtroom scenes were so descriptive they made me feel like I was sitting in the courtroom. I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy legal thrillers and strong female characters. I received free copy of this book via Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

After winning a media-covered case for a sexually assaulted young man, Maureen Gould is elated to have the jury award her client a huge monetary award, their way of saying they believe him. She arrives back to her office to find a distraught, sobbing young woman waiting for her, Josephine Navarre. After landing what she thought was a dream job as an assistant to a movie studio’s CEO, Josephine had been sexually assaulted by her boss and thrown to the floor where he was about to rape her. She struggled to get away, and was escorted from the premises in the morning, the security guards informing her she was no longer employed by the studio. Maureen agrees to take her case, and starts the process of finding witnesses, dealing with surprise evidence, and breaking an “iron-clad” agreement. The executive, Reginald Cleville, has hired Maureen’s estranged father, Francis Gould, and his law firm to represent him, which dredges up horrendous secrets and from the past for Maureen, the exceptional pain of which threaten her career and marriage. After losing a star witness to murder and having doors slammed in her face, she becomes the target. Her office completely is completely trashed in a burglary, and a car bomb exploded, incinerating her car. Although someone is desperate to scare her away, Maureen knows that “secrecy binds the shamed to the guilty,” and strengthens her resolve to fight for her client.

A tense, taut courtroom thriller, “Implied Consent” made me feel I was seated in the jury box as this riveting story was revealed. It was twisty and exciting, making the reader feel encouraged and disappointed; in essence, like actually being a part of the very complex case. Even though it is clear that Josephine is telling the truth, the executive’s lawyer team and murderers for hire try as hard as they possibly can to discredit her, smear her name, ruin her reputation, and kill to scare her away. But Josephine is telling the truth, and ultimately it is down to the jury to vindicate her for doing so. It’s also a very dark family drama, where the long-buried secrets of Maureen’s past are finally brought to light as she gives her closing argument. Her statement of “secrecy binds the shamed to the guilty” resonates in her personal life, and she is finally able to break down the walls that didn’t allow a complete commitment to her marriage. The ending is a beautiful wrap-up for most of the events, and while money does not equal justice, the victim is vindicated and their suffering acknowledged. I enthusiastically recommend this novel to fans of court room and legal thrillers, and look forward to reading more of author Keenan Powell’s work.

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Keenan Powell, and Three Hooligans Press for the ability to read and review this novel.

San Francisco attorney Maureen Gould's recent win in a sexual harassment case brings her another client that will change her career & life. Josephine Navarre worked for Hollywood producer Reginald Cleville until he sexually attacked & then fired her. As Maureen prepares for trial, potential witnesses disappear or are killed & it becomes clear that someone is sharing information with the defense. But this is much more than a legal courtroom drama. Maureen's complex character is formed by a troubled relationship with her mother, estranged father & ex-husband laywer. Her struggles are seamlessly woven through the story.

Author Powell's background as a lawyer are well used to deliver great courtroom scenes full of twists, suspense and surprises. This was a fast-paced and exciting read.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Three Hooligans Press. These opinions are my own.
#ImpliedConsent


READING PROGRESS

I know, I know it’s only January, but so far this is my favorite book of the year.

This book tells the story of an attorney – her backstory is woven in, along with her family story (past and present). The main story line follows a sexual harassment case from the entertainment industry, which is what ultimately drew me in, having a history in the entertainment industry myself. There is fascinating detail of the trial that ensues – I felt like I was there.

Wow! I found myself taking a long time to read Implied Consent because I did not want it to end (I would love for it to be a series!) because I was enthralled in way the various storylines converge to become one intense story of the trial. I rarely give 5 stars, but this book is worth it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley. This has no bearing on my thoughts and/or opinions.

Maureen Gould felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Her mother and step-father doted on her constantly. In her fourteenth year that all changed when her step-father put her on his office couch and violated her.

Josephine was recently fired from her job. Everything had been going well and she was being groomed as a production assistant with a major motion picture studio. Then late one night her boss was reviewing the studio’s next project with her when he grabbed her head and forced it down on him. Early the next morning she was fired from the job she loved.

Josephine engages Maureen to sue the offending boss. Frank Gould represents the defendant and Maureen is seeking damages from her father’s employer!

The trial centers around the age-old axiom, “she asked for it.” The prosecution maintained that the real victim in this situation was the man who was enticed by the woman.

This is a very interesting story showing the dynamics of courtroom posturing and the assumption of guilt. The narrative is enlightening and made me angry to think the victim in question was assumed to be the perpetrator. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

In this twisty courtroom thriller, Maureen, an attorney that specializes in sein fighting for victims of sexual assault meets a young woman with an awful story of workplace assault. Maureen wants to fight for the woman, Josephine, because she believes her. However, Stange things begin to happen when Maureen takes the case. Strange warning messages are being sent, two thugs following her while obtaining evidence and witnesses, and an office break in makes Maureen see that there is a lot more to this story. With her own past creeping in, will Maureen be able to successfully fight for the rights of her client? Or will her past, including her estranged father who is defending the accused, prevent the truth from coming out?

I have to give this book 5 stars!! I could not put it down. There were so many twists that kept me on my toes the whole time. Some twists I figured out, but others threw me for a loop. The details made me feel like I was in the courtroom watching this unfold. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Implied Consent by Keenan Powell

Trigger warning - rape, sexual assault, pedophilia

Wow, just wow! If you like legal thrillers and can handle the triggers, you will love this book. The twists and turns with the legal case, family drama, and a couple murders thrown in had me on my toes the whole book!

When Josephine is sexually assaulted by her hotshot boss, she immediately gets fired. She turns to Maureen, a lawyer, for help, and together they sue not only Josephine’s boss, but his company as well.

This isn’t an ordinary case though and enemies are coming out of the woodwork. No matter where they turn Maureen and her team have another roadblock.

Will they accept a settlement? Will they win the case? You definitely want to read this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!