Thank you to Flashpoint Publisher and NetGalley for my pre-publication digital copy of this book. It is the first I have read by this author.

I found this a compelling read, though at times I thought the plot a little unbelievable, having said that I do know that life can be stranger than fiction, in terms of coincidences etc! I have been in the periphery of prisons in the UK when I was a social worker, and found it interesting, though very disturbing, to read some ofthe statistics for female prisons in US. I know this must all be factual background information for the story as Amanda DuBois is a lawyer. Charlis story with Camille Delaney representing her and other women in heartbreaking cases is really well written, described and executed. It’s definitely a page turner which I recommend, and I learned a lot from it which is always a bonus.

Received this ARC courtesy of netgalley in exchange for my review. This is due to be published on 04/02/2025. It appears to be part of a series however it was a great standalone story.

Wasn't sure what to expect as I've not read anything by Dubois before and wasn't sure I'd have time to complete in one sitting, however, I couldn't put it down.

It certainly challenges perceptions of people incarcerated particularly women who are imprisoned for a variety of crimes. I think this book shows the issues faced with women who are not only treated differently because of their gender but also the impact it has on their children. Those issues are well interwoven into a detailed story that takes you on a bit of an adventure. There's a few twists and turns with the biggest to the end.

I started the journey feeling really angry for Charli and her experience and I think that's what pushed me to finish the book. I needed to know what happened to Willow and needed to know there'd be justice for Charli.

This compelling, fast moving book taught me a lot about incarceration and the unbelievably painful status of women in prison. What is even more alarming is the situation of those women's children, and the inability of the women to retrieve their children once they leave prison.The book is suspenseful, emotional, and educational. As a former university professor, I would definitely recommend this book for students, especially female students. There's a lot to be learned here.

I did like the disparate cast of characters who work with Camille, the lawyer who is trying to help Charli, who had her baby abducted just minutes after she was born in a prison setting. Although there were a lot of characters in the book, they all added something substantive, including Camille's mother. (Of course, the fact that I have worked multiple times with refugees on a Greek island endeared me to her.) Camille's team is also rich with diversity, and that is important to the structure of the plot and its conclusion.

The settings of the book also create and establish multiple backdrops that lend depth to the book. Seattle, the San Juans, and the Olympic National Park provide contrast to the action of the plot.

The aspect of drugs and their negative impact on the women in prison and on their families and abandoned children is also highlighted in the book. And, a plot twist at the end is certainly surprising but logical.

Thanks to Flashpoint and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. It is my first by Amanda Dubois, but I will definitely read the two earlier books by the author.

A story about the trials and treatment of incarcerated woman, what put them there, and a kick-arse team of professional woman and others that help them.
Amanda Dubois has a way of making you feel you're in the story. The tears and truimphs of the woman feel almost like your own. An emotional read with a plot twist I did not see coming!

I thought this was a great book. It brought to light a lot of issues women in prison deal with and how hard it is to succeed once released. It also talks in depth of how hard it is for the women to be reunited with their children after prison. There was suspense and even some twists!! The book was a little long and slow in some parts which is mostly due to the research involved to educate the readers. I love how the author created the Unshackle Her Fund to really help those who are affected by this kind of thing, it’s a great charity to support. I hope many people read this book and understand the struggles these women face.

Unshackled, the third book in the Camille Delaney Mystery series by Amanda DuBois, is a non-stop, complex page-turner with a social conscience.
The book, which sees lawyer Camille Delaney embroiled in a cold case that intertwines with the worlds of addiction and its impact on women, straddles a fine line between shining light on the plight of women in the prison system for drug related crimes and preaching on the subject. While at times somewhat repetitive, the underlying mystery of a missing child taken at birth and the framing of that child's mother is heart-wrenching, and the reader learns along with Camille as she navigates a different type of law practice.
The characters are compelling, the storyline full of action, and the book difficult to put down. And just when you think where it's going to go, you end up surprised.
I am thankful to have received an ARC of #Unshackled from #NetGalley.

Unshackled is not an easy read as it provides a lot of detail about the legal system, prison daily life, drug addiction - its motivation and consequences, domestic abuse, and the working of the system that should protect children but ends up endagering them and putting an even wider gap between mothers and their children. It's also a story of greed, corruption, heartbreak and difficulties faced by people who were given medicine to help them be cured but that threw them in a much wider abyss told from the women's point of view. Although men have different motives to drive them to addiction and violence I believe some of them have the same difficulties to adpat to life after prison and to reach their children and family. I'm glad to learn through the press that finally the companies responsible for the Oxy epidemic in the US are now being held responsible and having to pay for their greed.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Amanda DuBoise’s Unshackled offers a raw and gripping exploration of the turbulent lives of female prisoners and the unique struggles faced by their children. Through powerful storytelling, the book sheds light on systemic injustices while raising awareness about the ripple effects of incarceration on families.

At the heart of the story is a passionate lawyer and her determined friends, whose quest for justice serves as a beacon of hope for those wrongfully accused. Their unwavering dedication adds depth and humanity to the narrative, making readers reflect on the real-world implications of such stories.

The plot is well-paced, with a blend of emotional weight and moments of tension that keep the reader engaged. The action, particularly toward the climax, is riveting, driving home the gravity of the stakes for all involved. The authenticity of the characters and situations makes the story resonate deeply, leaving the impression that this fictional tale could easily mirror real-life struggles.

DuBoise’s ability to craft a narrative that feels both heartfelt and socially significant is commendable. Unshackled is not just a story of resilience and justice but also a call to action—an invitation to consider how society can better support marginalized families.

For readers who value emotionally resonant stories with a purpose, Unshackled is a must-read. It’s a compelling reminder of the power of justice, compassion, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Book Title: Unshackled
Author: Amanda DuBois
Series: Camille Delaney Mystery #3
Publisher: Girl Friday Books
Genre: Medical- Legal Thriller
Pub Date: February 4, 2025
My Rating: 3.6 rounded up
Pages 462

I knew I wanted to read this knowing nothing about it other than I read and enjoyed the other Camille Delaney Mystery series ~ "The Complication" as well as "Deliver Them from Evil".

Camille is a former nurse and now a family-practice lawyer. She and her husband Sam, a doctor at the University live in a houseboat with their three daughters (Two daughters are sister they adopted from Korea and the third is a foster daughter).

Charli Zhao had been transported to the hospital from prison, where she is serving time for a crime she states she didn’t commit
She is shackled to her bed against the pleas of the medical staff.
Within hours of Charli giving birth to a beautiful daughter she names Willow. As she start to bond with her baby however knows that she cannot keep her with her in prison. The next of kin is notified and next thing, the baby is kidnapped. He appears her husband who isn’t the baby’s father abducted the baby.
Charli of course is devastated – and gears she will never be reunited with her child when she gets free.

Story was different than the others I read in this series. I always enjoy good courtroom drama and that part did not disappoint. However, I was curious why Ms. DuBois chosen to write a story on this topic.
In her Acknowledgements she tells us that over the years she was able to become friends with women who served time in prison. Through the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound, women in prison were able to take college classes These women as well as other moms in prison inspired as will helped her bring this story to life.
I encourage readers to be sure to read both the Acknowledgement as well as ‘About the Author’.

Thank you NetGalley and Girl Friday Books for this interesting as well informative story.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 4, 2025

cold-case, prison-systems, criminal-injustice-system, drugs-issues, abduction, lawyers, multiple-perspectives, unputdownable, action, urban, family-dynamics, family-history, family-drama, feminist, social-activism, social-injustice, social-issues, social-justice, emotional-pain, friendship, private-investigators, framed*****

Not an unbiased nor uninformed review as I worked as an RN in Midwest jails for seven years, so I can say that most readers will get an education in things they'd rather not know about but are all too true for too many. The publisher's blurb gives a good hook to join the story, but it is so much more and totally engrossing.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected proof copy from Girl Friday Productions | Flashpoint via NetGalley. Thank you!
Avail Feb 04, 2025 #Unshackled by Amanda DuBois #CamilleDelaneyMysteriesBk3 Girl Friday Productions | Flashpoint #NetGalley #CriminalInjustice #WomenInPrison #Investigations #Dramatic

Unshackled tells the story of Charli Zhao, a pregnant prisoner, who is shackled to a bed while giving birth. Charli gives birth to a girl, naming her Willow. She wishes Willow be given to the biological father, but before this happens, the baby is kidnapped by Charli's husband. By the time Attorney Camille Delaney gets involved it has been a number of years since Willow's abduction.

Author Amanda DuBois does an excellent job of giving the reader information about the subject, the drawback to this is that it stalls the plot. I felt the book was too long and repetitive when discussing the plight of incarcerated women. I realized when I read the Acknowledgements that this is a personal subject for the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Girl Friday Productions, for an ARC. The review is my own.