The Intern

by Michele Campbell

• ISBN10: 1250274974
• ISBN13: 9781250274977
• Publish Date: 3 October 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kim Deister]

The story is told through the dual perspectives of Madison Rivera, a law student who lands a coveted internship with a favorite proffessor/judge, and Kathryn Conroy, the judge herself. Both women hold secrets that could all too easily end both of their careers, secrets that throw them together in unexpected and inextricable ways.

The book does begin a little slowly, but it picks up quickly, and then it doesn’t stop. It is an exciting read with so many twists and turns. It’s a page-turner!

There is so much character development as the story unfolds, particularly with Kathryn’s character. The author takes the reader deep into the life and mind of the judge, although less though with Madison. But through both women, we explore the other characters involved. Kathryn’s POV delves into her past, revealing dark secrets that have informed her past, present. and future in terrifying ways. Her secrets forced her into decisions and situations that she otherwise never would have made, a life she was desperate to escape. Her story was very compelling to me, figuring out how her circumstances came to be. Madison’s perspective was very different, as she’s forced to navigate the treacherous waters between career, family, and being true to yourself.

The story was chilling at times, heart-pounding, in no small part because the events and situations occuring felt entirely possible in real. There was no suspension of belief necessary at any point, none of it seeming impossible or even improbably. The conclusion was very satisfying, answering all the necessary questions in a way that felt right to the story.

My only complaint was the imbalance between Kathryn’s story and Madison’s. There was much more focus on Kathryn’s, with her character being the real driving force behind the story. The reader is offered a much deeper look into Kathryn, into her past. But the same is not true for Madison, and I feel like a deeper insight in her might have made her feel more like a fully formed character, rather than a dupe or plot device for the judge. Although, this did change eventually.

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Madison Rivera is a young and determined Harvard law student. She knows that, unlike her peers, she has to work twice as hard to overcome the challenges of her background. You can't just slide through life (or Harvard) when you're not rich.

So when Madison gets the chance to intern for her hero, Judge Kathryn Conroy, you better believe she jumped for it. Unfortunately, it couldn't have come at a worse time, with her brother recently arrested – and Judge Conroy is the one assigned to the case.

My Review:

If you're looking for a new legal thriller, be sure to check out The Intern. It's dark, compelling, and has so much family drama! If that is your cup of tea, I think you'll enjoy the events that unfold here.

The Intern is probably not for you if you're looking for an accurate legal thriller. The events in this book are larger than life, especially as they involve two distinct family lines and all the danger/drama that entails.

Overall, I would say that I enjoyed The Intern. My biggest problem with the book had to be the characters. I didn't like any of them? Madison is pushy and otherwise feels like a flat character. Judge Conroy felt more like a pawn half the time. And don't even get me started on Madison's mom. Ugh.

Still, I'm glad I gave The Intern a try. It was different and fun, and sometimes that's good enough.

Highlights:
Mystery/Thriller
Legal Elements
History of Secrets

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[chymerra]

Important things you need to know about the book:

The Intern is a fast-paced book that burns through the storyline. For the most part, the storyline keeps up with the author’s fast dialogue and pacing. But, it does get a bit choppy (not laggy, choppy) in the middle of the book (during Kathryn’s storyline, when her co-worker gets blown up). The choppiness didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book, but it did distract me from what was happening.

The Intern is told from a dual point of view: Madison in the present day and Kathryn in the past. When the author switches, she clearly states who it is and, in most cases, where that person is. I did not have an issue following the storyline back and forth.

There are trigger warnings in The Intern. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

• Violence: This book has a lot of violence, both on and off the page.
• Gore: Again, the gore is both on and off the page.
• Abusive Relationship: I did go back and forth when deciding to put this as a warning. But Kathryn is in an abusive relationship with her half-brother and his mother. It goes back years (to when she was 12 years old). The abuse is primarily verbal and psychological, but there are instances of physical abuse.
• Assault: In prison, Madison’s brother, Danny, is assaulted. There are attempts of assault on Madison throughout the book.
• Cancer: Kathryn’s mother had leukemia in the past and present of The Intern.
• Death: There is a lot of death in The Intern. The deaths range from accidents to murder.
• Gun Violence: There is gun violence throughout the book, both on and off the page.
• Police Brutality/Corruption: This is a massive theme throughout The Intern. Almost every police officer/correctional officer, except a couple, is in cahoots with Charlie.

Sexual Content: There are some light kissing scenes, mainly between Kathryn and her deceased husband. There are implications of Kathryn’s mother sleeping with Eddie at the beginning of the book.

Language: There is explicit language.

Setting: The Intern is set in Boston and the surrounding suburbs (northeast and south). Some scenes are set in Washington, D.C., New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The author didn’t give a ton of detail about Boston or any of the other states. However, the author provided enough for me to agree that the author did her research.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

A Harvard student, Madison is thrilled to be in a class taught by her idol, Judge Kathryn Conroy. She is even more delighted when the judge offers her an internship in her chambers. But Madison’s joy turns to disbelief when her brother, arrested on drug charges, tells her that Kathryn is dirty. Then, he goes missing. So, it is up to Madison to find out where he is and if Kathryn is dirty. But Kathryn has her secrets. With Madison wary and looking for answers and Kathryn needing to protect hers, there will be a showdown, and someone will get hurt. When the dust settles, who will be left standing?

Main Characters:

Madison Rivera: I liked her, even if I did find her slightly annoying. She had to work hard to get to where she was. But, once her brother dropped his bombshell, Madison immediately acted. She was determined to help him and find him when he disappeared. Her determination, her wanting to network, and (if I’m going, to be honest) her being nosey were a massive part of why Madison ended up embroiled in Kathryn’s issues. There was a point in the book where I wondered if she would become expendable, but that was put to rest by the end. I am glad that her storyline ended the way it did.

Judge Kathryn Conroy: I am not going to mince words here. She had a crap life up to the age of twelve. Her mother was self-absorbed and an awful mother. Her father treated Kathryn like a dirty secret. Uncle Ray skeeved me out. The worst thing that could have happened to her was her mother getting sick and her going to live with Eddie. Kathryn was set up from that age on to become a part of a vast criminal network, and no matter how many times she tried to get out, they found ways to pull her back in. I didn’t judge her for doing what she did after her husband’s death. I would have done the same thing if I were in her shoes. I was just surprised she kept it a secret from Ray for a long time. I also would have struck the same deal that she did with Madison.

My review:

The Intern was a well-written thriller that kept me glued to the book. I didn’t know where the plotline would take me from one page to another. When I finished the book, I felt like I should double-check the locks on my doors. I was that unnerved.

The mystery/thriller angle was terrific. As I said, I didn’t know what I was getting from one page to another. There were some interesting and surprising twists thrown in throughout the book. But the one that surprised me was what happened with Ray at the end of the book. I was expecting something else.

The end of The Intern was typical. I liked how the author wrapped up the storylines. I had no issues believing the end of Madison’s storyline. The end to Kathryn’s was a little more unbelievable, but it didn’t matter. I enjoyed it.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Michele Campbell for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Intern. All opinions stated in this review are mine.