I loved this book so much! The writing was so well done and so was the character development. I could not put it down!

This novel centers around the murder of Nico, who has Huntington’s disease, by his 13 year old sister Nora. Her motive is unclear and she is unable to recall the event, initially even refusing to speak. Her parents respond to this event in very different ways, with her mother, Angie, essentially shutting her out until the end. We get a lot of Angie’s perspective and history and the additional storyline of how she had a relationship with Nora’s defense attorney when they were younger. This is a story of many secrets and some forgiveness. I expected a few more twists and surprising moments. The reveals were somewhat predictable and I really wanted the story to focus on Nora, because Angie was unlikeable. Even though there were some disappointments along the way, I was invested in this story (maybe hoping for more Nora) and kept coming back to see how it would end.

Impressive first novel by author/lawyer Kristin Koval. You can certainly tell that Koval has experience as an attorney since much of this novel follows a mother and her son who are representing her son's former girlfriend, which brings a sort of Peyton Place element to this dramatic novel. I've been snowed in most this week so it was to settle down with this novel, wondering why this 13-year-old girl murdered her 14-year-old brother with Hutchinson's disease, the former sweethearts who hadn't seen each other in 16 years, reconnected as the legal representation for the couple having to make sense of this horrific tragedy, and then the lingering tragedy that involved these same families decades earlier. Many secrets, much grief, and endless losses that more or less return full circle, though some secrets remain secrets, and other mysteries remain unknown, yet, the families reconnect and it's a compelling read for the readers of this engaging novel.

Very much the same feeling when reading Celeste Ng - intense and eager to find out the outcome of a harrowing story. Deep topics covered - complex and heartbreaking at times reading about the intersection of these two families. Multiple perspectives helped make this an emotional read.

This is a hard tale, one where a young girl commits fratricide. There are many secrets being kept from others, and they are slowly revealed throughout the course of the book. It’s worth a read, especially for the very last bit, which made me cry.

That said, this was such a slow burn that it won’t be on my re-read list. However, Koval’s thoughts on forgiveness and redemption will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the eARC.

This book packs an absolute emotional punch. So much pain for these people without any true resolution (in my mind). This book centers on a young girl shooting and killing her brother. If that alone doesn't break your heart, the rest of the story will. While some plot points felt wrapped up and finalized to me, others didn't. 4/5 for me. This could have been a 5 star read, but without answers on specific things that happened in this book I couldn't.

This is such a poignant read with flawed characters, complex circumstances, family drama, and loss. The pace is a slow burn, but the story is so deep in character, in multiple POVs, that it maintains your interest. I’m so glad I got an ALC and the ebook because Thérèse Plummer's narration was great. Thank you MacMillan Audio and Celadon Books for the gifted ALC and ebook.

Penitence is a remarkable debut. This is a gripping family drama centered on siblings Nico and Nora, whose lives are forever changed by a devastating act. Thirteen year old Nora has shot her older brother, Nico. But why would she commit such an unthinkable act?

As Nora’s parents Angie and David, wrestle with the unimaginable loss of one child and the effective loss of another, they face a community that has turned its back on them and the only lawyer available is the mother of Angie’s ex lover. They struggle to uncover the truth and navigate a justice system that feels as broken as their family.

Although I often find non-linear timelines challenging, this story was so absorbing that the shifts between past and present felt seamless. The narrative is woven with tension and emotion, making it difficult to put down.

This story involves a lot of difficult topics, but the writing is sensitive, thoughtful, and never veers into sensationalism. Themes of guilt, forgiveness and a very broken justice system feature heavily throughout.

Ultimately, Penitence is a poignant and thought-provoking read, with a lot to unpack. It would be an ideal choice for book clubs, since there are so many discussion points.

This book publishes January 28. Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a difficult review to write - I didn’t enjoy the story but it’s not the author’s fault. The story is very well written but it is a difficult topic to read about. When 13 year old Nora kills her 14 year old brother Nico she calls 911 and reports it herself. She is immediately taken to a juvenile detention center and her parents are left alone in the home to plan a funeral and find an attorney to defend her. Along the way we learn about the family’s past and their relationships. There’s a lot going on, but it’s all rather depressing. Three and a half stars.
Thank you Netgalley and Celadon Books for the digital ARC.

I really liked the opportunity to both read and listen to this story, the audio was exceptionally done.

Penitence is a tragic story, the emotions were palpable, and I'm left utterly gutted.

This is an extremely well wtirren character driven story, I was truly transported into the lives of these characters. The author excelled in showing, not telling.

Although a bit slow, Penitence is an impressive debut and I will definitely read more by this author

4.5 starts rounded up! This is just the book I needed to really start my reading year after slightly slumping into 2025! Defending Jacob by the infamous William Landay meets Days of Wonder by Caroline Leavitt meets What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan. Koval writes the legal aspect with a deft hand, which makes sense — turns out she’s a former lawyer! But the heart of this story is found in the four walls of two families’ homes. Come to find out how the Sheehan family will make sense of the unthinkable, but stay for the much more complicated web that Koval spins with skill. The ending was a bit abrupt and, if you’re like me, you’ll be left wanting more justice to be served.

Thank you to Celadon Books, Net Galley and the author for the e-galley!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy!

Absolutely floored that this one has so many positive reviews. I found the story of this book so incredibly interesting—a 13-year old girl shoots her 14-year old brother and the mystery of why she did it—but it was told in such a slow pace, with so much repetitiveness and unneeded over-explaining, that I had to slog my way through it. I swear each character's thoughts are a constant repeat of the past, their regrets, their issues, etc, over and over again. Minute details are drawn out and make the story exceptionally boring, such as a whole paragraph about the minivan's odometer being stuck. What I thought would be a page turning mystery or crime drama was really a deep delve into a bunch of adults who are involved in Nora (the 13-year old murderer's) life. I don't mind books that are character-driven, but there wasn't enough for me to love here sadly.

From the beginning, readers might sense that while this is going to be an excellently written story, it's not ever going to be an easy one. We know from the beginning that Nico, a young teenager with a recent Huntington's diagnosis, is dead, and his sister, Nora, just thirteen, shot and killed him and called 911 to report it. What follows is a deeply emotional story of grief, justice, and the weight these things carry in individuals and society. There are a lot of genuinely infuriating moments in this one and I struggled with some of the ways this story turned out. I think one of the truisms of life is that grief and its legacy isn't a linear, one size fits all process, and we see that reflected in the characters. This isn't a story that has a pretty bow that packages it, and I think because of that it's staying with me in an even more profound way.

I have read about this type of thing in the news and have felt true sorrow for the families whose child picks up a gun and shoots a sibling. But I have never thought past that and put myself in the place of the family. This is a story of a families reaction to the loss of a child at the hands of another one of their children. And wow, the author did a great job. What a powerful book! This could be a very controversial book if you have strong views on governmental gun controls.

4.5- Thank you so much to Celadon Books for the gifted copy of this book & having me apart of the Read Together event!

This book will be out January 28th, 2025.

I feel like this book is going to be one that a lot of people will be talking about this winter. This book has so many layers and get more complex as the story goes on.

"I didn't want it to suffer."
"I know.

This story is told from 2 timelines as well as multiple point of views (3rd person). I was very invested in the past timeline of the relationship between Angie and Julian. I was curious how the book would merge the past and present timeline as that is the case in most books. I may have been in the minority of readers in this (need to review my fellow readers review) but I was rooting for Angie and Julian throughout the book. They were childhood friends turned high school sweethearts but the mix of trauma from a skiing incident followed by alcohol addiction, changed this couple. They grow within the pages and I can't say I agree with a lot of the decisions that were made by them as young adults as well as grown adults but that is what made them feel realistic. We are messy humans and sometimes we don't make the best decisions especially under stress.

"Nostalgia is nothing more than a trick of the mind, she tells herself. A way to turn plain memories into great ones."

Nora did not get a lot of page time. At least not as much as I would have liked. I would have love to have seen more of her before the shooting. More of her with her brother. I just would like to have more inside of her brain. Though there was a moment that was very telling into her logic as to why she did what she did.

I don't want to say the end was truly shocking but I was caught by surprised on how it all wrapped up. Clues were dropped so readers may be able to figure out some of the turns. It continues to make you think after you are finish and I know was left with questions.

It did not feel like a debut by the way the book was written. I am anxious to see what Kristin does in the future!

“Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve done.”

This novel is as complex as it is simple. It begins with a horrible tragedy and then follows the affected people while they attempt to reconcile the event and what they know to be true. In determining the path forward, the various connections between the characters are explored and they are forced to come to terms with their own decisions of years past.

While the publisher’s blurb describes this as “a suspenseful, addictive page-turner,” this was more of a slow burn and character study. I love this type of novel, but readers should know to not expect a fast-paced suspense/thriller.

I was unsure in the beginning if this was going to be for me, but ended up settling in to where this story took me and quite enjoyed it. Since I am from Western Colorado, the setting had me excited and a little distracted, as I tried to determine where exactly the fictional town of Lodgepole would be.

Overall, I would recommend this novel if you like a slow-burn suspense, with unlikable characters, dual timelines, and stories that make you think about what you would do in a particular situation.

I can, with full confidence, predict that Penitence will be in my 10 ten books of 2025. While thoroughly original, her writing can be compared to Celeste Ng and Angie Kim. Loved the development of the characters and look forward to reading more from Koval. Will be highly recommending to others.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When 13 year old Nora is arrested for murdering her brother, her parents are struggling with how one child could have killed the other. They hire small-town lawyer, Martine Dumont, who is also the mother of Angie’s first love, Julian, a now-successful New York City criminal defense attorney. The way the lives of these 2 families intersect is the multi-layered subject of the novel.

This is a well written, domestic drama with a full cast of flawed characters and relationships. Major themes include guilt, penitence and forgiveness. The author does an excellent job of bringing her book to its emotional and believable ending. Highly recommend.

Kristin Koval, an attorney turned novelist, delivers a stand-out, character-driven, and compelling debut, PENITENCE —a beautifully written literary thriller, domestic suspense of family, love, forgiveness, and redemption. Top Books of 2025— Lawyers seem to make the best authors.

With hauntingly vivid prose, you discover your next book club read—PENITENCE!

For starters, I love this quote by a favorite author:
"Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done."
—Bryan Stevenson

I highly recommend Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (book & movie). This quote sets the novel's tone and eloquently explores this ongoing theme in this emotionally charged tale. It reminds us that each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done, a sentiment that resonates deeply in the story of Nora and her family.

About...

Nora Sheehan sits in a jail cell in Lodgepole, Colorado. She is 13. She does not look like the sort of girl who just killed her brother, Nico, 14, with Huntington's disease.

Angie Sheehan, the mother, is at home grieving the loss of her only son, Nico, while her husband, David, is trying desperately to find a lawyer for their daughter, Nora, who has been arrested for the murder of her brother.

David knocks on Martine Dumont, a small-town local attorney's door, to defend their family. She isn't just any attorney but the mother of Angie's first love, Julian, a now successful NYC criminal defense attorney.

In addition to the story of Nora and Nico, there is also a back story of Julian and Angie when they were teens and Angie's younger sister's (Diana) accidental death. There is a lot of guilt from the past and now the present.

Martine knows she is not capable of handling a murder case, but her son is. Will he and Angie be able to put their past aside for Nora?

My thoughts...

What a debut! PENITENCE is a riveting tale of a shocking tragedy, from a murder and the fallout. This couple has lost their son and possibly their daughter. Full of suspense and twists, it is not a whodunit but a whydunit. It is a profoundly moving page-turner thriller of domestic suspense of a family (s) in turmoil, guilt, secrets, and the true meaning of forgiveness.

Koval taps into a world of emotional family drama, both heartbreaking and suspenseful—an essential study of humanity, family, grief, and hope in the aftermath of unfathomable trauma.

Koval's writing is heartfelt and compassionate, deeply emotional, insightful, and rich in character. She skillfully weaves a narrative with dual timelines and multiple points of view, unraveling the past and each character's role. The novel also sheds light on the flaws of the juvenile justice and legal system, ultimately delivering a powerful message of forgiveness.

As you read PENITENCE, you'll find yourself on an unpredictable and gut-wrenching journey of two complex families and their dynamics as the past converges with the present.

Koval's storytelling will keep you hooked from the first page to the satisfying conclusion. This is a remarkable debut from a new voice in fiction, and you'll be amazed that it's a debut novel. You'll be left eagerly anticipating what this talented author will bring us next.

Complex, multi-layered, and psychologically rich, PENITENCE is ideal for book clubs, further discussions, and prime for the big or small screen.

Audiobook...

I had the privilege of reading and listening to the captivating audiobook. Thérèse Plummer (favorite narrator) captures the essence of the story brilliantly— with intensity, emotion, and her signature style for an engaging listening experience. The audiobook adds another layer of depth to the story, making it a highly recommended option for those who enjoy audiobooks.

Interview...

Stay tuned for my Featured #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A ride with this talented new author and this exceptional debut, where we go behind the scenes of the book and author. (pub day, Jan 28)

Recs...

PENITENCE is for fans of well-written family dramas and literary thrillers. And those who enjoy books by Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain, Kristin Hannah, Lisa Scottoline, Celeste Ng, Wendy Walker, Michele Campbell, and Elizabeth Strout.

Special thanks to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for an ARC and ALC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #MacAudio2024.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Jan 28, 2025
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I cannot believe this is a debut novel!

Kristin Koval has written a story which in its stripped down version is of a sister who kills her brother after he receives a terrible diagnosis. But the story expands to so much more than just what happened. We see the reverberations through the family, we learn of secrets in the past of the parents and in that of a lifelong friend and former lover who becomes their lawyer and of the shortcomings of the juvenile court system.

I was engaged throughout this novel which I took in via print, ebook and audio. The author, a former lawyer, has written a compelling story, of moral quandaries and the danger of secrets.

I felt for each of the well built characters. I found myself thinking about how I might have reacted to some of the actions taken by these characters.

I look forward to reading more by this author and thank @celadonbooks for advance copies in exchange for my honest opinions. Penitence publishes January 28, 2025. If you are a fan of Tracey Lange, Ann Patchett and/or love great characters and thoughtful themes, then pick this book up!

I read Penitence as part of the #CeladonReadsTogether initiative.