Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni

 

I'm a sucker for a good courtroom drama, and this book, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, is a winner. It's the second book featuring lawyer Keera Duggan, and it's every bit as good as the first one, Her Deadly Game.

Her father pressures Keera at their family law firm into taking the case of Jenna Bernstein, a woman accused of murdering her former business partner and lover. Keera has known Jenna since childhood and considers her to be a controlling sociopath incapable of telling the truth. Trouble seems to follow Jenna. Once a billionaire and CEO of a startup company, all came crashing down when, five years earlier, she was accused of murdering one of her employees. Keera's father successfully defended Jenna then; now it's Keera's turn. But Keera has her doubts. Can she get past her feelings toward Jenna and be the lawyer Jenna needs?

This is an excellently plotted book. In addition to Keera's moral dilemma, there's the question of Jenna's innocence. Did Jenna get away with murder once and possibly a second time? Jenna is not likable, and I was almost rooting against Keera winning the case. Watching Keera's strategy change as more information came to light was fun, as was her battle of wits with Jenna. Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 22, 2024.

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Run by Blake Crouch

 

Run is another excellent moralistic post-apocalyptic story from Blake Crouch. I loved Upgrade, Recursion, and Dark Matter; Run ranks right up there.  

People are killing people, and Jack Colclough doesn't know why. When he hears his name on the radio of people to kill in Albuquerque, he grabs his wife, Dee, and two children and heads north--destination unknown. As they travel through Colorado, they learn the reason why the killing is occurring and that Canada may be a haven from the madness. The killers are organized, and the trip is dangerous, but staying in one place is not an option: Jack and his family must run,

This twisty, pedal-to-the-metal story starts fast and never lets up. In a lawless environment, Jack and Dee must decide how far they will go to protect their children. Does it include murder? The plot is plausible, the characters are well-drawn, and the pacing is spot-on. If you are a science fiction lover and haven't discovered Blake Crouch, now is the time.

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 22, 2024.

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The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

I generally prefer the book version of a story to a movie or series based on it. This is true of this book. I'm grateful, however, to the Netflix series that helped me find this book. I initially wanted to read it because I had some questions about the series. After reading it, I am disappointed with the many licenses the Netflix series took. While the series is true to the overall story, significant changes were made—especially with the nationality of the characters. The series was cinematically beautiful, and I'm glad I watched it, but I prefer the book.

Beginning with the Cultural Revolution in China, the book follows Astrophysicist Ye Wenjie, her family, and her struggles when assigned to a secret communications monitoring base. Flash forward forty-plus years, and scientist Wang Miao, working in nanotechnology, is under investigation for his involvement with a group of elite scientists. Eventually, Wang's and Ye's paths cross when communication with an alien civilization becomes widely known. Some see the aliens as saviors for Earth's cultural and political problems, while others see them as dangerous conquerors. The ideological differences put the factions at odds and moved the story forward.

This is a hard science book with a compelling storyline. I admit I skimmed some more challenging scientific parts, but that didn't detract from the story or my overall comprehension. The characters face relevant moral and political dilemmas that make the story realistic and relatable. I sometimes got lost keeping the Chinese names straight, but focusing on three main characters helped. This is a fantastic book, and I look forward to the next book, The Dark Forest. 

5/5 stars. 

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