In Doubt

by Drusilla Campbell

[Leah]

When I spotted In Doubt on Netgalley, I thought it sounded super interesting. I love the odd crime novel and it’s been ages since I read one, so I was quite excited to dive in. I especially like when the novel is set around the world of the law, it’s a fascinating process and in another life I might have liked to be a lawyer, though I’m still not sure if I’d be a prosecutor or a defender!

In Doubt was a clever novel – told in third person, and including many, many different characters, but the crux of the story is Donny Crinder’s attempt to kill the Governor of San Sebastián, Maggie Duarte. She’s like a national treasure, and so the entire community is stunned when Donny does what he does, but Sophie decides to take on his case, and as she digs further and further into Donny’s life she sees it isn’t an open and shut case as her ex, and prosecutor, Ben assumes.

I enjoyed In Doubt, it had a good pace to it, lots of threads to the story and it unravelled at just the right speed, so you’re never overwhelmed with information. I liked that Sophie was willing to defend Donny, and I was quite disappointed Donny wasn’t more forthcoming, he was like a closed book that wouldn’t open no matter what. It would have been nice to hear things from his perspective.

My only issue with the novel is the abrupt ending – that seems to happen to me frequently, recently. Books just end! And I’m left with unanswered questions – who was targeting Sophie, with threats and breaking into her home, and stealing her shoes, what had happened to Hamp’s daughter? Why ask the questions if they aren’t answered? But other than that, In Doubt was a fascinating read, with so many layers to it! No one was as they seemed, and I liked the doubt thrown over everyone!