The Evidence Against You by Gillian McAllister

McAllister is getting quite the reputation when it comes to the premises of her books. She picks scenarios with no clear black or white answers. In fact her speciality is the murky variety of grey shades when it comes to questions of guilt, innocence and the foggy swampland of neither in between.

Izzy English isn't sure whether she should be relieved or worried. Today is the day her father is being released from prison. He has spent the last seventeen years behind bars for the murder of his wife and her mother. Izzy is sent into a little tailspin, because she doesn't know whether she should forgive him or stay away from him.

That is already a quandary, but what really shakes Izzy to her core is the fact her father maintains his innocence. The same man who was found guilty by a jury of his peers and who showed remorse to the parole board, is now saying that he didn't do it and that the guilty party is still out there somewhere.

She decides to start her own investigation into the brutal homicide of her mother, despite all the evidence pointing firmly in the direction of her family.

I enjoyed the way the author portrayed the main character in complete emotional turmoil. She wants what is left of her family back so badly that she is willing to risk her life to prove her father is innocent. At the same time she lies to her loved ones about looking for the real guilty party. and because they think her father is guilty in their eyes there is no danger.

It's a perfect game of cat and mouse, simultaneously it is a mind game full of paranoia and suspicion. Did he do it or didn't he? What does Izzy believe or rather what does she want to believe?

McAllister gives the reader a riveting read full of doubt, self-doubt and speculation. It's a psychological thriller that will keep you on your toes and keep you guessing until the end. You know what they say sometimes if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck - sometimes it's just a duck.

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Publisher: Penguin; pub date 18 April 2019
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Read my review of Anything You Do Say by Gillian McAllister
Read my review of No Further Questions by Gillian McAllister
Read my review of Everything but the Truth by Gillian McAllister

No Further Questions by Gillian McAllister

McAllister likes to present her readers with moral conundrums. Sometimes it isn't black or white, and the grey areas can be difficult to navigate.

This time she presents her readers with the worst nightmare for any parent or caregiver, the death of a child. In this case the death of a very young baby at the hands of the mothers sister.

The author doesn't imply that Martha carries any guilt because she is a working woman and wasn't looking after Layla herself, but rather because her choice of nanny was perhaps a little laissez faire. I am glad that distinction was made. Working mothers and stay-at-home mothers give themselves and each other enough grief about that, despite the fact they should all be united and stand together as one group.

Martha does feel guilty and inadequate for wanting to spend time away from the stress of a screaming baby, and for needing a moment to herself. Handing off the burden to someone else makes her equally guilty in her own mind.

I figured out the truth fairly early into the read. Although the story is driven towards that moment I actually think the scrutiny paid to both sisters, and their relationship both before and after, is what makes this read so compelling.

Think about it. It's one thing when a stranger hurts or neglects your child, it's a whole other ballgame when someone you love and care for causes your child harm. Your sister, your blood. How could she take your child from you? Is there any punishment that can give you any peace or satisfaction as a mother?

I really enjoy the moral dilemmas McAllister comes up with. It makes for a fascinating read, as do her other books. If you haven't read any of her previous books yet, then I highly recommend you do. Her plots always make for great discussions and moral debates, and this book is no exception.

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Paperback edition
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Read Anything You Do Say and Everything But the Truth, The Evidence Against You by Gillian McAllister

Anything You Do Say by Gillian McAllister

Fair warning *Possible Spoilers*

This is the kind of story which evokes a lot of emotions, controversy and discussion. So it probably isn't any surprise that I want to have a really good chin-wag about it.

There are so many elements of this story that are hot topics at the moment. The systemic abuse of women, cross-race effect, the morality of her actions, why self-defence is negated in cases of severe force and the whole decision whether or not to act or help.

The behaviour Joanna encounters in the bar is fairly atypical unfortunately. The fact it happens so frequently probably explains her lack of response, which is in no way meant to sound like victim-blaming. Women have become so used to the systemic abuse that they tend to brush it off or ignore it, because making a big deal or speaking up can lead to escalations.

Joanna is on edge when she leaves the bar and almost expects Sadiq to follow her home, and of course this assumption of bad intentions is part of the problem. Then there is the issue of cross-race effect, ergo being able to recognise faces of ones own race easier and finding it more difficult to differentiate the faces of different race. This phenomenon causes a lot of misidentification when it comes to crimes.

Then there is the issue of self-defence, and I can guarantee the majority of people will think they have the right to defend themselves themselves with any force necessary, however the truth is the legal situation isn't as simple as it may seem. Reasonable force is the important factor and whether or not the victim believes they are in imminent danger, but it must be proportionate to the supposed danger. If the response causes injury or death it can be ruled as excessive force, ergo the victim then becomes the perpetrator.

The story follows Joanna in two scenarios simultaneously, the Joanna who reports the incident and the Joanna who tries to cover it up. Put yourself in her shoes for a minute, ask yourself what you would do in the same set of circumstances. Would you leave, watch him die, call for help or pretend it never happened at all?

This book is an excellent read because it challenges our perception of this event and possible scenarios we might encounter. I think the foremost question on my mind, whilst reading this story, was what I would do in the same situation. The answer to that particular question will be different for every single one of us and based on our own frame of references.

McAllister likes to present readers with complex characters and the kind of situations that are neither black or white. The grey areas become murky and distorted, which is what makes her stories so compelling.

Buy Anything You Do Say at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

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Read Everything but the Truth by Gillian McAllister
Read No Further Questions by Gillian McAllister
Read my review of The Evidence Against You by Gillian McAllister

Everything but the Truth by Gillian McAllister

I have to admit this one had me muttering and shaking my head, whilst I was reading.

Aside from being a wee bit obsessed and jealous, Rachel is quite simply a rather big hypocrite throughout the entire book. Omitting the truth and keeping secrets, well let's just say Jack isn't the only person guilty of doing that.

I think McAllister has incorporated a pretty controversial topic in this read. How far would you go to defend your family and keep them safe? Seems like a straightforward question, right? I suppose if you disregard the law and a few morals it isn't such a big issue.

My dislike for Rachel, or rather her character, grew exponentially as she discovered more about Jack and judged him consistently. I understand why he did it. The law and the enforcement of the law is tantamount to a sham when the criminals can do whatever they like without any repercussions at all. To make matters worse, the victims can't legally protect themselves or their property without falling foul of the law themselves.

We live in an age, an era which allows a criminal who has broken into your home to sue you if you hurt them or they hurt themselves during their criminal escapade. The rights of the criminals seem to have taken precedence over those of their victims.

Taking all the prior events into consideration I fail to see why Rachel is so disturbed by it all. He lied to her, I can understand why that would be an issue, but surely she can find some compassion for the predicament he found himself in?

Told you, I just got very annoyed by her reactions, especially considering her own past indiscretions and unethical decisions. They are not far from being on equal standing where bad decisions are concerned.

To me a plot with a moral dilemma worthy of many a discussion is a good read. McAllister does it in a really subtle way, in a way that draws you in and makes you mumble under your breath. Ok, maybe that's just me.

Buy Everything but the Truth at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Follow @GillianMAuthor

Visit gillianmcallister.com

Read Anything You Do Say by Gillian McAllister
Read No Further Questions by Gillian McAllister
Read my review of The Evidence Against You by Gillian McAllister