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outsmartyourshelf's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
In a dystopian future, Grace Gunnarsson works for Janus Justice, a private contractor that has taken control of the treatment of offenders. Their treatment has Tiers One through to Four, with the first two dedicated to the reforming of criminals & taking away their need to offend to survive, whilst the second two levels are more punitive. Grace works for Tier 2 as a psychiatrist but is asked to step in for a colleague on a Tier 3 treatment. Grace is reluctant as she disapproves of the treatment which involves the offender reliving their crime but as the victim or Aversion therapy. It may seem harsh but results seem to be encouraging, until Grace's reporter husband tells her that there are reports that those supposedly cured by Tier 3 & released are reoffending. Grace is, therefore, distraught to see the name of an old childhood friend on Janus's files, Remy went through Tier 3 but has reoffended & his fate is now to be taken to Tier 4 known as Siberia, where there is no hope of ever escaping. As she tries to help her old friend, Grace realises that a flaw in the system is allowing people to get away with murder.
First of all, the concept for this is brilliant - I really liked the whole tier-system of justice plot line & I thought it was well-written on the whole. I did think that one of the guilty parties was far too easy to spot though & can't believe that Grace didn't have a moment's doubt about them. Grace also made some rather silly decisions for a supposedly intelligent woman, where just thinking about things for a moment, would have perhaps made her realise that something wasn't right. She was also perhaps just a little too obsessed with her old friend, Remy. Overall, it was a great concept but the main character missed the mark at times.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Canelo, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
First of all, the concept for this is brilliant - I really liked the whole tier-system of justice plot line & I thought it was well-written on the whole. I did think that one of the guilty parties was far too easy to spot though & can't believe that Grace didn't have a moment's doubt about them. Grace also made some rather silly decisions for a supposedly intelligent woman, where just thinking about things for a moment, would have perhaps made her realise that something wasn't right. She was also perhaps just a little too obsessed with her old friend, Remy. Overall, it was a great concept but the main character missed the mark at times.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Canelo, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abortion
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