A gripping blend of legal drama and emotional reckoning, *Penitence* explores the weight of past mistakes and the tangled threads of family and love. When Angie and David Sheehan’s world is upended by a shocking murder, they turn to Martine Dumont for help—only to find their fate intertwined with Angie’s first love, Julian. As buried secrets resurface, the novel deftly navigates themes of guilt, redemption, and forgiveness across decades and settings. With rich storytelling and compelling characters, *Penitence* is a thought-provoking debut that lingers long after the final page.

the setup…
David Sheehan pounds on the door of Martine Dumont, a lawyer and former family friend of his wife Angie. He desperately needs her help to deal with the monstrous tragedy that’s just happened in his home. Their fourteen-year old son Nico is dead and their thirteen-year old daughter Nora called 911 and said she shot him. Martine agrees to help but doesn’t have the experience for a juvenile criminal case of this magnitude so she turns to her son Julian who is a successful criminal defense attorney. He’s also Angie’s first boyfriend and their former relationship is what created a wedge between the families. It’s beyond complicated.

the heart of the story…
I first believed this was going to be all about why Nora killed her brother. But it was just the catalyst that had everyone involved exploring their own pasts, the guilt associated with past transgressions, some small and some of great magnitude. Forgiveness can sometimes be elusive but when it’s your own child or someone very close to you, how do you get there? And is the why of the crime essential in the decision to forgive? How each moved on is insightful and enlightening.

the narration…
Thérèse Plummer gave an exceptional performance in managing the weight of so many significant characters, the emotional constructs and the storytelling.

the bottom line…
I’m pleased that the mystery took a backseat to the characterizations and complexities of not only the parents but all involved peripherally. The juvenile justice system is laid bare in all its bleakness and my hope is that it will change perspectives about juvenile offenders. There aren’t any clear solutions here but the ending was absolutely powerful. Such a surprise for a debut novel, so much that I’ll automatically read whatever comes next from this author. 4.5 stars

Intriguing, interesting, had me thoroughly invested - however, I wanted more. The open ended conclusion and lack of concrete answers do not please me as a reader when there is a central mystery. The book was well written and kept me engaged, but I wished the ending provided more clarity and a sense of conclusion for the story.

I had heard good things about Penitance, but I was not prepared for just how moving a story it would be. A chilling mystery about a family dealing with the absolute worst thing happening, it held me in its grip from the first page to the last. Highly recommend this one.

Thérèse Plummer did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Kristin Koval, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Penitence took me completely by surprise. It's unexpected, devastating, and incredibly complex. By the time I finished the book, I was in tears, overwhelmed by the depth of the story. Wow.

At first glance, it seems like a story about a young girl who kills her brother, with everyone—her family, her community, and the readers—searching for the truth: why did she do it? But what unfolds is so much more than I ever anticipated.

Kristin Koval has crafted a deeply interwoven, human narrative that explores loss, grief, hope, love, family, and self-discovery. The story is told through a dual timeline. The first timeline takes us back to the 90s, following Angie and Julian, two Colorado teens who fall in love on the slopes, share a tragedy, and struggle with the fallout. They move to New York City, and their lives splinter in different directions. In the present-day timeline, set in the mid-2010s, Angie—no longer with Julian—now has teens of her own, one of whom is involved in a shocking murder. She and her husband, David, seek help from Julian's mother, Martine, a retired lawyer who doesn't specialize in criminal defense. She calls on her son, Julian, now a successful criminal defense attorney, to assist with the case. As their paths cross again, memories from the past resurface, and Koval masterfully bridges the gap between then and now. Over the span of decades, we uncover the history of these complex characters and explore the power of forgiveness.

Koval’s characters are flawed, multi-dimensional individuals doing their best to navigate a world full of obstacles. Through their journey, we are reminded of the highs and lows of life: we love, we lose, we succeed, we fail, we suffer, we laugh, and we cry. This novel beautifully highlights the intricacies of our existence—the complexity of joy and sorrow that make life both painfully hard and heartbreakingly beautiful.

At its core, the story delves into the theme of deception—how our attempts to protect those we love can sometimes backfire. Even when done with the best of intentions, deception still hurts.

Ultimately, Penitence is a story about true forgiveness—not the forced or selfish kind, but the kind that is a gift for those brave enough to reach its summit.

The combination of these themes creates a stunning and heartbreaking portrayal of life’s complexities, both the joy and the pain. Life is, undeniably, devastatingly beautiful.

If I had one minor gripe, it’s that the story takes a little while to pick up speed in the beginning. It moves at a slower pace initially, but once it gains momentum, it turns into a slow to medium burn, drawing you deeper into the story. If you find yourself in the same spot, don’t worry—keep going. There’s a beautiful reward waiting for you.

A family is sent into chaos when Angie and David’s 13 year old daughter fatally shoots her terminally ill brother. Their lawyer happens to be the mother of Angie’s first love Julian, and memories and feelings of guilt are dredged to the surface after the pair were both involved in a tragic accident when they were teens.

This book felt reminiscent of a Jodi Picoult novel, though I wouldn’t say it reads on quite the same level. It covered a number of very heavy topics (and glossed over others), yet I kept thinking I wanted more edge to it.

What I liked:

-the dual storyline and the flawed characters.
-the characters paying “penitence” for their actions and how that affected their futures
-the messy family dynamics

What I didn’t like:

-the slower pacing
-the unsatisfying ending—I was shocked when I realized I had only 5 minutes left and wasn’t going to get the reveal I was waiting for
-one storyline felt more developed than the other
-there was a clearly a third storyline in the book that was glossed over and should have been front and centre of the book.

While despite the intriguing premise, I wasn’t wowed by this one. However, don’t let my review dissuade you as I have trusted friends who rated this one 5⭐️. A good reminder that everyone takes away something different from a book!

This was a very emotional and heartbreaking story. The audio was great — well paced and easy to follow along. I enjoyed the time flashbacks in the story, and the way information was slowly revealed. Excited to read more of this author!!

Wow, Kristin Koval hit it out of the park with Penitence! I listed to the audio and for a portion of the book, I also followed along with a physical copy. The narration was easy to listen to and captures each word perfectly. The plot was thick and had the perfect elements of family, forgiveness wrapped up in a bit of crime. There were so many unexpected parts, which made the entire book enjoyable. Some sections were heartbreaking, yet relatable, and the ending wrapped up well. I'd highly recommend this book (already told my neighbor about it).

Thank you to @netgalley and @celedonbooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

Kristin Koval's "Penitence" is a deeply emotional, character-driven novel that explores the complexities of forgiveness and guilt. While not a mystery or romance, the book excels in its realistic portrayal of human drama.

The intricate history and underlying tensions between the characters are skillfully developed, never feeling overwhelming. The story's deliberate pacing, while occasionally repetitive due to the nature of the emotional themes, effectively conveys the characters' internal struggles.

Each character is distinct and well-rounded, possessing both admirable and flawed qualities, which adds to the story's authenticity. The central theme of forgiveness, both of oneself and others, is handled with sensitivity and realism. The narrative avoids simplistic resolutions, offering a satisfying conclusion that acknowledges the complexities of human relationships.

Thérèse Plummer's nuanced audiobook narration adds significant depth to the characters, particularly the mother, whose emotional turmoil is conveyed with remarkable empathy, even when her actions are not sympathetic.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #celedonebooks #macmillanaudio #penitence #kristinkoval

Kristin Koval's suspenseful debut is an exploration in family dynamics, mental health, and the impulsiveness of youth. The characters are well developed and the issues they face are interesting, ultimately I would like to have seen a greater understanding of the why behind the shooting at the center of this book but I respect the author's choice in focusing more on the consequences of the act.

Kristin Koval’s debut novel, Penitence, is a powerful story of forgiveness, family bonds, and the secrets that we keep close to our chest. I was first introduced to this book back in the fall at a Celadon reader event. As you know, it’s not my typical genre that you see posted here but when I was asked to be a part of Celadon’s Read Together program where they partnered me with @saraplanzreadz @tammyreads62 @heyjudereads and @k2reader , I knew I had to take a chance. I’m so thrilled I did because this book was incredible. Imagine learning that your youngest child has murdered her ill older brother with her father’s work issued handgun and confesses to it. The family was already under stress providing medical treatment to their son so when they must hire an attorney and the only one in town is about to retire and not well versed in this type of law, she calls in her son, Julian. There was a tragic past accident involving him, Angie who was his high school girlfriend (and mother of both the victim and murdered children) and her sister while skiing that sends him across the country. Now he returns to his childhood town in Colorado from is life in New York City to build a case to defend her daughter. I want to thank @celadonbooks and @macmillan.audio for a gifted copy, as well as aranging an author zoom.

Penitence is an emotional book that follows two families as they live through the aftermath of a 13 year old shooting the brother she dearly loves. It is told from two sides. One is the side of the defense attorney's, Martine and her son Julian, and the other the side of Nora's mother Angie and father David. There is an added layer to this with a past story between Julian and Angie and the death of Angie's younger sister. The story flows seemlessly between the question of how Diana, the sister died, why Julian and Angie broke up, Nora's trial and the aftermath of Nico's death. This is a book that is truly heartbreaking. At times, I had trouble with the character of Angie, especially with her past and maybe that was part of what creates such a tragic dysfunctional family and story. It is a hard hand she is dealt dealing with one child who has killed another. There is definitely a lot of trauma all around and some big secrets that are revealed. The book is full of surprises, perfect for an in depth discussion in a book club. I loved reading this, and it was easy to stay engaged. I would definitely recommend. Especially to an adult book club, I think it could illicit a lot of great discussion.

I'd like to thank Celadon Publishers and NetGalley for the audioarc to preview.

This was an excellent audio—well paced, distinct voices, easy to follow along. I enjoyed the time flashbacks in the story, and the way information was slowly revealed. This was a heartbreaking novel with deeply complex characters that are all fairly unlikeable, each feeling quite human. Excited to read more of this author!!

The debut novel manages to strike a balance between a legal and family drama with the inciting crime actually only being a foundation for the story. The exploration of complex relationships, guilt and forgiveness, is handled with care and insight. If you're looking for a nice, neat ending, this isn't the book for you.

The narration was good - nothing special but nothing distracting.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #CeladonBooks for a free copy of #MacmillanAudio by Kristin Koval. All opinions are my own.

Kristin Koval’s debut Pentitence delivers a compelling writing style while exploring rich familial drama. A shocking murder shatters Angie and David Sheehan’s lives, leading them to lawyer Martine Dumont, who is also the mother of Angie’s first love, Julian. As they each confront their past and long-buried guilt, the story spans decades and settings, diving deep into complex themes of love, loyalty, and forgiveness. While the suspense and literary depth are strong, I was left hoping for a redemptive quality that never materialized. Koval’s relentless focus on emotional turmoil drained me, leaving me exhausted. Still, it’s an engaging and thought-provoking read, earning a solid 3.5 stars.

Thérèse Plummer is a new to me narrator I believe, but found her incredibly easy to listen to. Excellent narration!

I went into this book blind thinking from the opening chapters that this would be a thriller or suspense. That’s how it’s billed, but it didn’t end up feeling that way to me. There was a murder at the beginning of the story that really hooked me. From the opening scenes, I was so worried about the alleged suspect. I was surprised when the narrative jumped from the present to the past.

While the past laid the ground work for the current events, it wasn’t as compelling as the present time line. By the end of the book, I had all the information I needed to wrap up everyone’s life except for the suspect. It was her story I wanted the most.

There was a small plot twist, but it felt obvious. This is more of a family drama than a suspense or thriller. I wasn’t quite sure which genre this was going to fall into. I was interested in the story but also confused. I think it would have been helpful to know a head of time where the focus of the book was going to be.

I enjoyed the audio and thought that the narrator did a good job creating the tone of the story.

This book contains scattered strong profanity and mentions of intimacy.

Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for a review copy.

When an author is compared to Ann Patchett and Celeste Ng, it's a must-read for me. Penitence is a quiet, slow burn type of novel that is part family drama and part suspenseful mystery. Each character seems to be fighting an inner battle and each of the individual stories shone for me. If you enjoy a family saga with lots of family secrets, give Penitence a read. "Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done..."

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.

When a shocking murder occurs in Angie and David Sheehan household, they turn to an old family friend for help. Still, Martine is the mother of Angie’s first love, Julian - a successful criminal attorney in New York. As Julian, Martin, Angie and David work on the current case shattering the Sheehan household, they are also working on unresolved feelings of guilt from their past and secrets that come to light.

Interesting, I think this book has dealt with some really heavy topics, some of which I wasn't sure I enjoyed how it was handled, especially the big reveal in the end did not sit particularly well with me.

I enjoyed the storytelling, and I enjoyed the authors writing enough that I would read more of her work in the future. I liked the back-and-forth between the past and present as the author unveiled some of the history between Angie and Julian, I just did not enjoy Angie's choices...

I took 1 star off because I didn't feel like the animal death in this book was warranted, but this is my personal belief.

Thank you publisher for allowing me to review this book for free in exchange of a review.

I really enjoyed this book! I'll link to the review later once I put it up, but I thought it was a magnificent debut. good character work, strong relationship building, & ethical dilemmas. there was a tad bit of predictability and the ending felt a little too rushed for me in the confrontation with Julian and Angie, but otherwise I recommend it! reminded me of Jodi Picoult.

The audiobook narrator "acted" a little too much for me.

PENITIENCE is an ideal companion to this seemingly endless winter season: set in snowy rural Colorado, this mystery is propulsive while still filled with depth.

The story opens when thirteen year-old Nora kills her fourteen year-old brother, Nico. Nora’s parents, David and Angie, seek legal counsel from the rural town’s best known lawyer, Martine, who is on the brink of retirement and not well versed in murder trials. Martine calls her son, a famed NYC defense attorney, Julian, for back-up. To make things even juicier, Julian and Angie have a deep romantic history.

PENITENCE reminded me of old school Jodi Picoult, the courtroom drama mystery novels I devoured on summery holidays in middle and high school. I similarly devoured this one; I looked forward to picking it up each night and to my commutes with the audiobook.

Kristin Koval executes a dual timeline brilliantly in this novel, with one timeline focusing on Angie and Julian’s history and the other focusing on the present day murder of Nico. The structure develops the key players, keeps the story propulsive, and strengthens the emotions behind the mystery.

I love nothing more than a mystery that goes beyond the blueprint set for the genre, and PENITENCE certainly does that. Though the pacing is propulsive, it is largely a character-driven novel. There are captivating family dynamics, the relatably powerful emotions of first love, discussion of the power of forgiveness, and commentary on the American legal system.

This is not, however, a perfect novel. The plot is scattered at times, the character development is inconsistent throughout, and there are elements left unresolved. It is, though, a strong and solid debut that kept me highly entertained. I’ll be on the lookout for whatever Kristin Koval writes next. The audiobook is very well done!