DON’T MISS THE BRAND-NEW THRILLER FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF EVERYTHING BUT THE TRUTH AND ANYTHING YOU DO SAY

It’s the day her father will be released from jail. Izzy English has every reason to feel conflicted – he’s the man who gave her a childhood filled with happy memories. But he has also just served seventeen years for the murder of her mother.

Now, Izzy’s father sends her a letter. He wants to talk, to defend himself against each piece of evidence from his trial. But should she give him the benefit of the doubt? Or is her father guilty as charged, and luring her into a trap?

Published April 18th by Penguin (UK)  

~ Review ~  

This was my second time reading a book by Gillian McAllister, Last year I read and loved Anything You Do Say and had had my eye on this book ever since I saw it in my Amazon recommends. So when I got my hands on an early copy, I dove in right away.

The Evidence Against You tells the story of Izzy, a thirty something year old living on the small Isle of Wight. With it’s small population, everyone knows each others business, and Izzy’s family are notorious. Because Izzy’s Father is a murderer. His victim – Izzy’s mother. And after seventeen years he’s just about to be let out on parole, determined to disprove to Izzy all the compelling evidence against him.

What makes Gillian McAllister’s books so utterly compelling and gripping is the conviction with which they are written. McAllister combines moral dilemmas, raw emotion and legal justice intricately making her novels  complex and convincing, filled with shade, doubt and question. I absolutely love how she makes her character’s actions believable, how she casts doubt, offers compassion and makes me question everything.

I was completely caught up in Izzy’s dilemma of wanting to believe in her father while at the same time hating him, especially in light of the huge amount of damning evidence against him. It was like going on a journey with this character, as a reader I felt the turmoil and emotion alongside her.

As well as the legal aspects, which are fascinating and thought provoking, The Evidence Against You also explores the effect of prison on an individual. I thought Izzy’s father, Gabriel, was incredibly well portrayed, and found the loss of potential, bitterness and anger he feels touchingly sad. Yet at the same time, I was suspicious. Gabriel is also an expert manipulator. He’s had a long time to perfect it.

Once again Gillian McAllister has written an edgy, thought provoking, compelling read full of complex layers. I managed to read it all on that lovely Easter Monday holiday, sitting in my garden and was completely glued. I found it difficult to tear myself away from it. It held my attention from beginning to end and gave me a lot to think about after. Wholeheartedly recommended.

I read an advance copy courtesy of the publisher.

Due to some unforseen, difficult circumstances this is a late addition to the currant blog tour. please do check out these other bloggers to find out what they thought.