A Fast Paced Legal Thriller

Madison Rivera, a top Harvard law student, is thrilled to be offered an internship by Federal Judge Kathryn Convoy. Convoy has been an inspiration to Madison and is one of the reasons she chose law.
There is a problem, however, Madison’s younger brother, Danny has been arrested on a federal drug charge and Convoy is the judge. Unwilling to give up the intern position, Madison hides the fact from the judge.

Madison’s position is complicated by the fact that her mother is pressuring her to help Danny. Then Danny disappears after being forced to plead guilty and accuses the judge of corruption. Madison is now faced with a dilemma. Is Judge Convoy corrupt? What is at the bottom of Danny’s case?

This legal thriller is fast paced and filled with tension and suspense. It’s hard to put down. The story is told from two points of view: Madison and Convoy. I liked having both women tell their own stories. You can see how Madison and particularly Convoy grow during the novel. My only criticism is the number of characters. Reading fast, I sometimes found it hard to remember how all the characters fit into the story. However, the book was a great read.

Thank to the publisher and Net Galley for this review copy.

This is my first book by Michele Campbell but I know it wont be my last. This was written so well. I don't know why but I love interns and anything in that realm.

It’s not the book, it’s me. I’ve tried to read this 2 times and I’m just not interested. Which kills me because it sounds like such a great book.

Hope to be able to come back another time and try to read it again!

DNF 30%

Although the title "The Intern" suggests a focus on Madison's role, it is evident that "The Judge" would have been a more fitting title, as the story primarily centers around her.

With a narrative that unfolds in dual timelines, we are transported deep into Judge Conroy's past, delving into her upbringing and the formidable challenges she had to conquer to attain her current position.

The story was intriguing and the plot was really what pushed this one forward-- very fast paced!

Ten years ago, Federal Judge Kathryn Conroy spoke at Madison’s career day. The Judge was someone she greatly admired and Madison was eager to follow in her footsteps. Now top of her class at Harvard law, Madison not only has the the Judge as one of her professors, she also has the opportunity to be an intern in her chambers. There’s only one thing holding her back, her brother has just been arrested on a drug charge and the Judge is on his case. Danny insists he’s been set up by dirty cops and his lawyer and even goes so far to say the Judge Conroy is involved. Could it possibly be true? Madison takes the internship, but is hiding her relationship to Danny. As she starts to investigate, all does not look kosher in the chambers of Kathryn Conroy. Could Madison have been wrong about her all these years. Kathryn takes Madison under her wing, but is she really a friend or a foe? A fast paced thriller that will grab you at every turn. This was a dual read/listen for me and Sarah Mollo-Christensen narrates perfectly throughout. Thank you to St. Martins Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for and ARC and ALC of this book.

This is a fun twisty thriller that constantly keeps you off balance by the characters unpredictable reactions to their ever-changing circumstances. I really enjoy that feeling of never being entirely sure what's going on and letting it play out. It does just that with a few surprises in later chapters and a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audiobook and the found the narration very well done.

The Intern by Michele Campbell was a fun beginner thriller. Not many suspenseful moments but a couple great twists tied it all together! I highly suggest for anyone interested in a more political thriller and less of a domestic or psychological thriller. I will definitely read more by this author and highly enjoyed my time reading.

The Intern by Michele Campbell is a skillfully plotted, intense, fast-paced and highly entertaining legal thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed reading every page of it. A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press, the author and NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy of the novel.

The Intern is told from dual perspectives and deals with family, class, ambition, blackmail and murder.

The story starts when Madison Rivera, a second year Harvard law student is tapped for an internship with Judge Kathryn Conroy. Someone she has admired and idolized since the judge was still a prosecutor and spoke to her class years ago. Kathryn is honestly the very reason why Madison went into law.

But things take quite the unexpected turn when Madison’s problematic younger brother Danny is arrested on the suspicion of selling drugs and judge Conroy is assigned to preside over his case. This puts Madison in a really precarious position. After Danny accuses the judge of being corrupt he goes missing. Madison’s search for answers to uncover the truth pulls her into the crosshairs of the judge’s entrancing life, but all is not what it seems to be. There is a seedy underworld of dirty cops and criminal activity that judge Conroy is caught up in. Who can Madison trust and is Kathryn Conroy really who she thought, a mentor or is she just another corrupt criminal? As these two dance around each other in a vicious game of cat and mouse will they be able to rescue each other or will one of them windup dead?

The Intern is electrifying and pulse-pounding. This amazing legal thriller will keep you up turning page after page with all of the twist and turns throughout the book. If you haven’t added this book to your reading list you definitely should!

Believability: 1 star
Entertainment: 4 stars
Overall Rating: 3 stars

Wowza this was a ride! As part of the Boston legal community, this book appealed to me from the jump. Ambitious law students and lawyers, corrupt judges, dirty cops, criminal setups, and mob bosses?! Yes, please! However, it took me a bit to get invested and the story was definitely a bit... out there!

I really liked that the novel was done in parts and alternated between Madison and Kathryn. This format provided a ton of backstory and kept the story really moving forward.

I definitely had to suspend belief to allow myself to fully enjoy this novel. Some things were too disjointed to really make sense - a super paranoid, security-conscious judge allows a near-complete stranger full access to her house to CAT SIT a few days after meeting her? What? A judge internship is awarded to a student the day after they apply? Um, no. But, again, allowing these things to just be, really allowed me to immerse myself in the drama and entertainment of the story.

I really liked the narrator, Sarah Mollo-Christensen. She had two very distinct voices for Judge Conroy and Maddy and they were flawless. I will definitely be on the lookout for more novels narrated by her.

If you love a good legal and mob thriller, this is one I absolutely recommend. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the copy.

THE INTERN • Michele Campbell • Pub Date: October 3, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I have not read anything close to a legal thriller in a loooong time, so this was a great change of pace!

(Tweaked) Goodreads Synopsis: Madison Rivera lands the internship of a lifetime working for Judge Kathryn Conroy, but Madison has a secret that could destroy her career - her troubled younger brother Danny has been arrested, and Conroy is the judge on his case. Naturally, this did not come up during the interview process. When Danny goes missing after accusing the judge of corruption, Madison’s search for answers brings her deep into the judge’s world. Who is Kathryn Conroy? A mentor, a victim, or a criminal? Is she trying to help Madison or use her as a pawn? And why is somebody trying to kill her? As the two women circle each other in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game, will they save each other, or will betrayal leave one of them dead?

While there was nothing new or stand-out with this book, it is certainly one that readers will fly through. Once you get past the slower start, the plot really gets moving! The plot certainly carried the story too, as MC Madison was a rather bland, disinteresting character. She was a 2L (aka second year law student) with no real experience (or common sense whatsoever), but she is somehow able to outwit all these criminal masterminds? Luckily, Judge Conroy brought some fun and depth, so thank goodness for two POVs!

TL;DR: I do not think this book will be one that sticks with me for too long, but it was a fun read that could easily pull anyone out of a reading slump given its fast-paced nature!

What happens when you land the internship of your dreams with someone you have idolized but they don’t turn out to.be who you think they are. Madison is a go-getter pursuing a career in Law and is handpicked by Judge Kathryn Conroy for an internship. They both need each other for different reasons and they are on a wild ride together. Madison is trying to help her brother get out of jail for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and Kathryn is fighting for freedom from a corrupt lifestyle she did not choose. This book is full of twist and turns and these characters lean on each other to accomplish their goals in the end.

THANK YOU and happy early Pub Day to @michelecampbell & @stmartinspress for the eARC of The Intern!

For everyone who wants to get into spooky season but might be a lil scared to dive into intense thrillers/horror, this one is for you! Think of it as a light thriller 😉🔪

I’m always curious to pick up law school related books, since that’s currently the world I’m living in, and I found The Intern to be on point and engaging!

The Intern started off with some Gossip Girl-esque drama vibes but quickly dove into the heart of the story. When I’m trying to unravel the mystery before the reveal at the end, I know I’m into it and The Intern had me theorizing all kinds of plots throughout!

In the end, I was left with a few unanswered questions, but nothing that made this read unenjoyable.

Overall, The Intern is perfect for a thrilling, spooky season read!

LIKES:
👥 Dual POV
⏳ Dual timeline
📕 Fast paced
🔪 Thriller
💵 Reflection on class privilege
👩‍👧‍👦 Family dynamics
🩸 Murder mystery
⚖️ Organized crime

I couldn't put this book down! I got unexpectedly invested in the story and the "what would I do" of it all, and it was a nice departure from the typical domestic thrillers.

Well, this is quite the wild ride. Law student Madison Rivera is thrilled to get a coveted internship with Judge Kathryn Conroy, her idol. But, of course, Madison declines to tell the judge one "minor" fact--her brother Danny was recently arrested, and his case is before Judge Conroy. Because why would you just come clean with someone who could probably help you? Instead, please open yourself up to utter stress, the dangers of lying on security clearance forms, and possible expulsion. I was so not here for the beginning of this book and the fact that it was filled with so much miscommunication and lying. I dislike those tropes immensely!

Luckily, this thriller picks up and turns into a far-fetched but quite readable tale. Danny goes missing, and Madison does not know if Kathryn is a friend or foe. It's a story of corruption, abuse of power, family ties, and good versus evil. Emotions run high and danger is around every corner. If you can suspend disbelief for a bit, it's an enjoyable read.

I finished The Intern yesterday and after ruminating on it for the night it lands around 3.75⭐️.

It’s an easy and quick read with a TON of drama from start to finish. I enjoyed some of the characters stories more than others and found the ending to be solid. However, there was some inconsistency and moments of implausibility that I struggled with and that dropped it down on the rating scale.

I tried the audio at first and didn’t like it. There were pauses and inflections done at the wrong time which distracted from the story and the main character felt to breathy for the type of person she was supposed to be. I switched to my physical book halfway through and enjoyed it a lot more that way.

The Intern
By Michele Campbell
Oct. 3, 2023
St. Martins Press
* thriller
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
A young Harvard law student falls under the spell of a charismatic judge in this timely and thrilling novel about class, ambition, family and murder.
While this isn’t my favorite by this author, there was enough intrigue to keep me reading,
4 star

Madison Rivera is at the top of her Harvard Law School class when her idol, Judge Kathryn Conroy offers her an internship. Madison accepts but is hiding a secret that she conveniently leaves off her background check. Judge Conroy has her own ulterior motive for hiring Madison, keeping her own secrets close to the vest.

This story takes us to into dark side of the legal system. Told by Madison, trying to believe in her family but trusting her mentor. In Kathryn’s turn, her younger years are exposed, carrying over to her current caseloads. Behind closed doors so many secrets are slowly brought to light. Both characters are realistic. Madison is young, idealistic, ready to make a difference. Kathryn is seasoned, hard, victim or villain? The beginning I found on the slower side, but when I got into the storyline, it moved fast. Enjoyed the character development of Kathryn, hard at first, but her edges softening. You could feel Madison’s underlying turmoil. Emotions that I didn’t expect when I started reading came out. Ending was somewhat predictable, but in no way lessened the storyline. The secondary characters are what you would expect…seedy, shady, most are unlikable. If you enjoy legal thrillers, I recommend this book. Ms. Campbell’s background and expertise comes shines thru. I’ve been a fan since It’s Always The Husband.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

The Intern is a fabulously thrilling read. It hooks you in from the start and keeps you guessing and on edge right to the end. The action is never unbelievable and flows nicely. I didn’t want to put it down until I could see how it would end.
The characters are exactly what you desire in a great legal thriller - Devious, sly and morally ambiguous. The family dynamics and drama is on full display. The criminals are dark and twisted. Everyone lies and no one is truly who they seem to be. The twists and turns abound and you won’t see the end coming.

I have posted this review on Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5776718715

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwNktzZrUFB/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

And Amazon.

* I reviewed this arc for BookSparks / Book Tour.

This book was not for me, but I have to say that it is very well written and engaging, and I think others will love it.

Madison is a law student who lands a prestigious internship with a respected federal Judge. Madison has a secret. Her brother was arrested, and her boss was the Judge on the case. Her brother goes missing after accusing the Judge of being corrupt, and Madison must get to the bottom of it.

My biggest issue with the book, and again, a personal issue is that I am an attorney. I went to law school. I work in the field of criminal law. Little unrealistic things that are not an issue in thriller books were a huge distraction for me. Overall, I would still recommend this book to the thriller lovers out there, I just ended up putting it down halfway through because I could feel myself getting irrationally annoyed.

Was some of this a little far fetched? Yes.
Was some of the dialogue unnatural? Yes.
Did I enjoy this read and feel invested in the characters? Also yes.

This is my 3rd book by Michele Campbell and I think the best executed of those I’ve read.

Solid legal thriller.