Set in the small ski resort town of Lodgepole, Colorado, we meet Angie Sheehan who is married to David, a park ranger. When the story begins, Angie's daughter Nora, 13, has been charged with the murder of her brother Nico, 14, who had recently been diagnosed with juvenile Huntington's disease. After Martine, a local attorney, is brought in to defend Nora, David requests that her son Julian help with the case. Julian, a defense attorney in New York City, is Angie's former boyfriend. The narrative alternates between the present, as Julian seeks the best way to defend Nora, who refuses to talk about what happened, and the complicated past of Angie and Julian, including another tragic family event.
Kristin Koval’s impressive debut novel Penitence is a heavy read. This emotional story features complex, flawed characters harboring secrets and pain, filled with deep regret and remorse. The author also provides interesting insight into the juvenile justice system. Can forgiveness be given for unforgivable acts? Julian's wife tells him that forgiveness can be achieved when we accept that “each one of us is more than the worst we’ve ever done.” It broke my heart.
Many thanks to Celadon Books for the advance.
Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Contemporary Fiction.
Publication Date: January 28, 2025.
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