This book was well written, with strong characters, but the story at times is too factual and not interesting to the plot. Overall, this is a great book and I enjoyed reading it. Learning about the differences with the Polish system was interesting, and overall, did add to my enjoyment of the book, even though it was not pertinent to the story at times. I would recommend this book.

I haven't read a legal thriller in quite some time, so Final Appeal by Remigiusz Mróz really hit the spot! I do think some things got lost/changed in the translation of the book but overall, it was fairly easy for me to understand what going on and I loved the dry humor. I was grossed out a few times while reading this one and occasionally it was a very disturbing read. Kordian and Joanna were interesting characters, and while I liked Joanna more than Kordian, I really hope to see them both in the next installment. There are quite a few viewpoints that pop in and out and not all consistently reappear, but I found them all easy to keep track of.

The audiobook for Final Appeal is narrated by Laurence Dobiesz and while I think a full cast would have been best for this many POVs, I still liked his narration and was satisfied with it. I wouldn't say he is my favorite of all time, but he did a good job, and I did like the sound of his voice. The ending was a doozy, and I wasn't expecting it at all. There were also some pretty intense scenes that were spots of action in an otherwise slower burn. Read this if you enjoy translated crime fiction, a dash of courtroom drama, and learning about international law.

This novel was disappointing. I was interested in the characters and the mystery, and I kept waiting for the turning point where the mystery is resolved. There were small moments along the way where a piece would fall into place, and, instead of a turning point where the mystery is reolved, the novel abruptly ended just as the mystery teetered on the edge of that turning point. Framed as a legal thriller, this is anything but. I wish I had not spent my time listening.

The narration was good.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for a free copy of #FinalAppeal by Remigiusz Mroz. All opinions are my own.

I DNFed this book at 30% mark. I didn't like the narrator and felt he was too monotonous. It seemed that the author referred to the characters by their first name or their last name on a whim and I often got confused between the characters because of that

Copied from Goodreads
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up. The translation of "Final Appeal," a Polish legal thriller originally published in 2015, feels like Lisa Scottoline writing a Jussi Adler Olsen thriller. I can't speak for the original, but the colloquialisms and references, along with the quintessential morose villain, frequently reminded me of other novels. This is not a bad thing, but it is interesting. The protagonists, a criminal defense lawyer and her protege, banter well and their characters are well-developed, if not terribly inventive. The plot moved along quickly with appropriate red herrings and misdirections. The one issue I had with the book was the cliffhanger ending. It ends so abruptly that I thought my audiobook was incomplete. It does look like this is a series, so that information probably would have helped my appreciation of the thriller. I won't be on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment, but I won't dismiss the book if it comes my way.
TW: death, physical and sexual abuse, prison, substances

PS: As I post this, I see that Lisa Scottoline actually did write a book called Final Appeal (2000). It subject does not seem similar.

The English translation of "Final Appeal" was released in the U.S. on February 6, 2024. Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this audio ARC given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I couldn’t get with the narrator. It was too monotonous I couldn’t get thru it to focus on the story.

As a polish person I'm really happy to see my homeland author getting into different markets! Remigiusz Mróz is probably the most popular thriller writer here, while this series is so wildly popular!

I loved this book. It's a legal thriller with many twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat!

A great story for those who would like to learn something about laws in a different part of the world.

A graphic description of the sinister lengths the underworld take to control theirs and others lives. To be entangled in their plans is a dangerous but enlightening experience, especially through legal means!

I received this ARC as the plot sounded like something I would read however it ended up a bit off a struggle to listen to. I’m not sure if it was the narrator’s voice, the names of the characters (I found them difficult to remember) or the major plot change which twisted the story around.
I did like some parts of the finding out-lawyer bits. And the protagonists, a lawyer and an intern at the law firm, did grow in depth but it’s not enough for me to rush to another.

This book was interesting. I enjoyed the characters and how they worked to figure out what happened. It also makes you wonder how often things like this happen in real life.

First I would like to say that I loved the narrator. His voice is so soothing.
I’m not normally a fan of legal type stories, so it took me a bit to get into it. But when I did I enjoyed the story and the way the characters worked together. I was a bit confused on the why things happened the way they did. And I don’t really feel like I got an answer to the why or what happens next…

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

I enjoyed everything about this book, clever mystery, with multi-dimensional, believable characters and an intriguing story.

Actually Joanna (the main character )reminded me of another character I love - Joanna was like the Jane Tennison (Prime Suspect) of the legal world.

Wonderfully entertaining, smart novel, I hope many more of this author's novels are translated into English. I checked right away as I would love to hear more from this author. I received this book in audiobook format, and the narrator was equally as engaging as the story.

A pair of Warsaw attorneys take on a murder case when everything is stacked against them in Remigiusz Mróz's Polish legal thriller debut, FINAL APPEAL.

Now on screen in PBS's series The Defense. The author has signed a two-book deal.

Set in Poland, Trainee lawyer Kordian Oryński has recently started at the prestigious Anglo-Polish law firm Żelazny & McVay in Warsaw. He will be assisting criminal justice lawyer Joanna Chyłka.

The case: A man charged with MURDER, killing two people and living with their bodies in his apartment for ten days until his arrest. However, it is the son of their largest client.

They need a WIN. However, nothing is as it appears. The case is more complex and shocking than they could ever imagine. Businessman Piotr Langer's wealth has shielded him from any criminal repercussions arising from the accusations that he's taken advantage of women immigrants. He can only help his son just so far. The police found him in his apartment with a pair of ten-day corpses.

Piotr is alleged to have sat in his apartment for ten days with two corpses before calmly opening the door to the police as though nothing had ever happened. The client, Piotr Langer Jr, does not admit guilt, but neither does he claim innocence. He speaks in only short sentences and does not give out information.

Gauging how long the bodies had been in the apartment was gross because of the bugs embedded and multiplied on/in the body. Disgusting.

Senior Associate Joanna Chyłkais thought they would get an insanity. She was assigned to defend the accused and to assist the new legal trainee, Kordian Oryński.

The defense must deal with the following:
Everyone assumes Langer is guilty
The Defendant's father is paying the legal bills on the condition that he pleads NOT guilty by reason of insanity.
The defendant says he is NOT insane.

The defense has more enemies than they know. A grey-haired man and a bald man are determined to undermine the defense. Then, an unexpected turn.

We get different personalities and back and forth, like a tennis match between Kordian and Joanna. A love interest? Can they put their differences aside to clear their client's name? First, they must survive.

The first part was a good setup; the middle was slower; the last part was out there, and then it ended. I lost all interest. Assume it is set up to continue for the next in the series. I was not fully invested and doubt I will read the next one in the series. I was bored by the end.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Laurence Dobiesz, which did an ok job for an international thriller, but his voice got tiring and mundane after a while with no emotion.

My Thoughts: FINAL APPEAL is for those who enjoy international legal thrillers with a detective/mob vibe. I am a fan of legal thrillers; however, I would NOT put this book in the same class as John Grisham, David Baldacci, John Lescroart, or other US legal thriller authors.

Not a fan of international thrillers. I am in the US. Possibly because this is Polish versus English, fans of Polish or international legal thrillers may enjoy more. I also agree with other reviewers regarding the continued usage of the leading character names (first and last); changing them up with no rhyme or reason throughout was annoying.

According to the publisher, Mróz is the most popular author in Poland. Each of his novels has reached the number one bestseller spot, selling more than seven million copies.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 6, 2024
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Final Appeal is a Polish legal thriller that is full of twists and corruption, with a dash of romance thrown in. I enjoyed reading this thriller and the perspective of a Polish criminal defense attorney. My only complaint is that the book abruptly ends; however, this is supposed to be the first book of a series following attorney Joanna Chylka, so based on this, I look forward to reading the next book.

I recommend listening to this audiobook if you enjoy international legal thrillers.

Thank you @dreamscape_media for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

This was not for me.. I did finish the book but was really not into any part of the story other than learning what Langer did or didn't do. The character evolution is spotty and the relationship between Joanna and Kordian goes from icy to friendly to maybe we like each other so fast with little plot that makes this make sense. The other big issue I have is how the author refers to the characters by both their first and last name within the same paragraph or even the next sentence.. This was very confusing at first, probably over halfway I finally was able to keep the characters straight- there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason why they are referred to by these different names throughout the story. A lot of the story is somewhat legal jargon with the assumption the reader already has an understanding of the system. My biggest con of the book is the ending, maybe a slight spoiler here, but there is no real resolution and almost a cliff hanger- so perhaps there is a sequel. Overall, this took me several days to get through as I wasn't sold on the plot or characters.

Final Appeal.. a legal thriller.
This was not the book for me. It was hard to follow and just didn't flow well for me.. that is just my opinion. Maybe some things were lost in translation but I just could not get into this book. Overall solid plot just not for me.

A CLIFFHANGER! OMG I so want to know what happens next! I love the relationship between Joanna & Kordian, even though she pretends to "hate" him, we all see through her tough exterior! This was my 1st book by Remigiusz Mróz but will not be my last! I am adding his books to my TBR!

#FinalAppeal
#NetGalley

🎧 Final Appeal
✍️ Remigiusz Mróz
⏳️ 10h 33m
🧬 Legal Thriller
💭 Third Person

My rating ⭐️

✨️My review✨️

I throughly enjoyed the first 20% of this book. After that it just fell flat. The characters are not likeable and there isn't much to them. The story just drags. It also seemed like a lot was going on, but at the same time nothing was happening. I couldn't connect with any of the characters or really have any feelings toward them. I just felt neutral and really didn't care what happened to or with any of them. I just really struggled through this book, the narrator didn't help with the struggle.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️ could have been a DNF 10/10 don't recommend
⭐️⭐️ It was meh
⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was good but...
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ really liked it. Doesn't live rent free but comes to visit every now and then.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Obsessed! It will live rent free in my head forever and always

I hate when a book actually isn't about the description. A top lawyer and her protégé are tasked with defending an obviously guilty client. The client is unhelpful with his own defence and is sent to prison. This all happens in the first 20% of the book. The remainder had nothing to do with anything. However, I liked the characters, the banter and their budding relationship. Also, I know this is the first book in a series but the ending just.. ended. Unsatisfying.

Great book and even more interesting to get a book written by a polish author. Opening up more and more the world to authors from other parts of the world. Very well thought out book and love the well developed world building.