Sorry, this one wasn’t for me at all
I couldn’t connect with this story not sure if it was me or the book.

The following is my review as posted.

Whilst her husband is out of town, Laura Holland is attacked one night in her own home. The attacker runs off after Laura screams but she is left very shaken and regularly having nightmares about that horrific night. This leaves her husband helpless and at a loss as to what he can do. He decides that therapy may be a way forward and asks Laura to attend some sessions. Laura agrees to do so and after much discussion and upon meeting defence attorney, Thomas Bennett, she decides to write an account of what could have happened if she had taken matters into her own hand; as if the case were to go to court.

Free of Malice is a different take on a psychological thriller. We're given a detailed approach from a legal point of view. Laura is distrustful of almost everyone she meets and finds it hard to relax the more she delves into 'what if'. As far as she's concerned, suspicious characters are everywhere she turns giving rise to her anxiety and trust issues.

Parts of the book I found interesting, other parts would veer into tedium at times. Length wise the book is not that long yet I still found moments where I entered 'mind wandering territory'.

For a debut it's fairly well accomplished and actually the ending did come as something of a surprise. Rating wise I would give this a solid three stars. It will be interesting to see where Lazarus goes in her writing trajectory.

Recommended. My thanks go out for my review copy.