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emmmmmmliz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
becca_in_a_book's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I found myself unable to put this book down for long periods of time. However, while I was engaged in it, it wasn't ground breaking, nor was it overly interesting. I was not satisfied by the ending. I disliked all of the characters for one reason or another, but I found the ending was just included for the shock factor. I would have preferred if he was actually innocent. I suppose this is why I don't normally read mystery/thriller, because there are no overtly happy endings, and things are included for shock factor rather than wrapping things up in a nice tidy bundle.
kruppam's review against another edition
5.0
Recenzie : http://cititoriferoce.weebly.com/blog/roluri-inversate-lisa-ballantyne-vinovatul
kdurham2's review against another edition
3.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
From the beginning, the reader is swept into a story where one little boy is dead at a playground and another little boy is presumed guilty of his murder. At the same time, a story about one of the solicitors, Daniel, is being told as he moved into different foster homes and eventually into Minnie’s home where he finally finds his match. With contrasting chapters, the reader sees two young boys’ stories and how a rough childhood can greatly impact how they will face the world on an everyday basis.
From the beginning, the reader is swept into a story where one little boy is dead at a playground and another little boy is presumed guilty of his murder. At the same time, a story about one of the solicitors, Daniel, is being told as he moved into different foster homes and eventually into Minnie’s home where he finally finds his match. With contrasting chapters, the reader sees two young boys’ stories and how a rough childhood can greatly impact how they will face the world on an everyday basis.
carolpk's review against another edition
3.0
”A little boy was found dead in Barnard Park.
This simple sentence is telling. Daniel, an attorney finds himself the man, the protector, who will defend another little boy, Sebastian Croll who is the accused of the victim’s death. Sebastian is a clever, boy, but not much liked by his peers or their parents who see him as a bully. Daniel
immediately forms a bond with Sebastian. He’s not quite certain why but it may be “there but for the grace of God, goes I”. Daniel’s chance in life came in foster care, from Minnie who took Daniel in as a young boy. After a slow start and many missteps they work out a relationship and Minnie eventually adopts Daniel with his acceptance. He even begins to call her Mam. Then something goes horribly sour. The reader knows Daniel has suffered a huge betrayal by Minnie; you’re just not certain what it is. It’s so bad that Daniel wishes Minnie dead, and will not talk to her in his adult life. He can't forgive her and this makes me wonder if he is as much the guilty one as the boy he is defending.
The story unfolds from here being told in alternative chapters of Daniel’s defense of Sebastian, and his formation during his growing up years with Minnie.
The author states her story is base on The Case of Mary Bell, by Gitta Sereny. I might like to read this also.
A debut this novel explores the innocence vs. evil of children, a subject I'm always interested in reading about. My sincere thanks to William Morrow for providing this in e-galley format for my reading pleasure. Due to be published March 2013.
3.5 if only I could give the extra points.
This simple sentence is telling. Daniel, an attorney finds himself the man, the protector, who will defend another little boy, Sebastian Croll who is the accused of the victim’s death. Sebastian is a clever, boy, but not much liked by his peers or their parents who see him as a bully. Daniel
immediately forms a bond with Sebastian. He’s not quite certain why but it may be “there but for the grace of God, goes I”. Daniel’s chance in life came in foster care, from Minnie who took Daniel in as a young boy. After a slow start and many missteps they work out a relationship and Minnie eventually adopts Daniel with his acceptance. He even begins to call her Mam. Then something goes horribly sour. The reader knows Daniel has suffered a huge betrayal by Minnie; you’re just not certain what it is. It’s so bad that Daniel wishes Minnie dead, and will not talk to her in his adult life. He can't forgive her and this makes me wonder if he is as much the guilty one as the boy he is defending.
The story unfolds from here being told in alternative chapters of Daniel’s defense of Sebastian, and his formation during his growing up years with Minnie.
The author states her story is base on The Case of Mary Bell, by Gitta Sereny. I might like to read this also.
A debut this novel explores the innocence vs. evil of children, a subject I'm always interested in reading about. My sincere thanks to William Morrow for providing this in e-galley format for my reading pleasure. Due to be published March 2013.
3.5 if only I could give the extra points.
jenhern920's review against another edition
4.0
It was a good story line. I enjoyed the way it moved between the past and present. I liked how the character could relate to the boy he was defending, but it was a also surprising in the result of choices made by the characters.
louisealsford's review against another edition
4.0
The plot was a slow burner and didn’t particularly draw me in, but the characters made the book for me. Minnie the foster career turned adoptive Mam with a heart of gold and a painful past was my favourite, she felt so real and my heart was breaking for her by the end of the book. We didn’t need to hear her voice directly as a narrator to know exactly how she was feeling and understand why she did what she did. The book contains 2 storylines both told from the perspective of Daniel, in the 1980s the troubled son of a drug addict who is bounced around the care system getting in more and more trouble until Minnie sees something in him and takes him in. In the present day Daniel is all grown up and a criminal lawyer living in London and this storyline revolves around his involvement in the court case of Sebastian, an 11 year old boy charged with the murder of another child. In my opinion it’s a good mechanism for getting Daniel to examine his own past and not muchmore, Sebastian is an interesting character but I was far more invested in Daniel’s story. A few chapters written from Sebastian’s perspective would have helped daw me in to his story, but that’s beside the point because this is very much a book about Daniel. The parts of the story set in the past were the best bits for me.
katlinstirling_reads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 STARS!! I was hooked from the very first page! Well worth the read!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
stuckonamber's review against another edition
3.0
Lawyer Daniel takes on the defence of a child accused of murdering the boy next door. As he gets to know Sebastian, he recalls his own difficult childhood and the adoptive parent who turned his life around, but who he hasn't spoken to in years. Ballantyne grapples with some big issues - child justice, nature vs nurture, consequences of our choices, with a very easy to read narrative. Not my usual choice of reading matter, but an interesting tale.