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Vita
A law intended to end capital punishment.
Prosecutors who seek the death penalty put their lives on the line if the guilty are later found innocent.
A lawyer convinced beyond reasonable doubt.
Justine Boucher is presented with overwhelming evidence in a brutal murder case. Her request for execution is granted.
But what if she’s wrong?
Prosecutors who seek the death penalty put their lives on the line if the guilty are later found innocent.
A lawyer convinced beyond reasonable doubt.
Justine Boucher is presented with overwhelming evidence in a brutal murder case. Her request for execution is granted.
But what if she’s wrong?
334 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published August 17, 2023
196 people are currently reading
2068 people want to read
About the author
Christina Dalcher
20 books1,707 followersChristina Dalcher earned her doctorate in theoretical linguistics from Georgetown University. She specialized in the phonetics of sound change in Italian and British dialects and taught at universities in the United States, England, and the United Arab Emirates.
Her short stories and flash fiction appear in over one hundred journals worldwide. Recognitions include first prize in the Bath Flash Fiction Award as well as nominations for The Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, and Best Small Fictions.
Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency represents Dalcher’s novels.
After spending several years abroad, most recently in Sri Lanka, Dalcher and her husband now split their time between the American South and Andalucia, Spain.
Her debut novel, VOX, was published in August 2018 by Berkley (an imprint of Penguin Random House) and has been translated into twenty languages.
Dalcher’s second novel, MASTER CLASS, will be out in the spring of 2020.
Her short stories and flash fiction appear in over one hundred journals worldwide. Recognitions include first prize in the Bath Flash Fiction Award as well as nominations for The Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, and Best Small Fictions.
Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency represents Dalcher’s novels.
After spending several years abroad, most recently in Sri Lanka, Dalcher and her husband now split their time between the American South and Andalucia, Spain.
Her debut novel, VOX, was published in August 2018 by Berkley (an imprint of Penguin Random House) and has been translated into twenty languages.
Dalcher’s second novel, MASTER CLASS, will be out in the spring of 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews
October 14, 2023
One of my most anticipated reads!
The moment I read the premise I couldn’t stop thinking about it, or talking about it to anyone who would listen!🤣
The premise:
As a prosecutor, if you seek the death penalty you better be 100% sure in the defendants’ guilt. (Which of course goes without saying anyway!)
But now there’s much more at stake. Should new evidence comes to light after the execution proving the person was in fact innocent…that prosecutor will now receive the death penalty themselves!
Shocking right? (Oops! Didn’t mean to place a pun there…but it fits so it stays!)😜
Having finished this read I’m left a bit conflicted. Did it turn out to be what I expected? Not exactly. I wanted and expected a shocking thriller. To me it felt a bit more like a thought-provoking read, regarding the death penalty and murder, wrapped loosely into a thriller.💁🏻♀️
And yes, it does make you think. The author did an amazing job drawing you in so deeply that the fear of the characters was palpable. My anxiety level was off the charts. With an elevated heart rate, I actually had to set the book aside a few times.
This was a difficult read no matter what side of the fence you’re on regarding the death penalty.
⚠️The author does go into very graphic detail of executions.
A buddy read with Susanne that gave us a lot to talk about!
The moment I read the premise I couldn’t stop thinking about it, or talking about it to anyone who would listen!🤣
The premise:
As a prosecutor, if you seek the death penalty you better be 100% sure in the defendants’ guilt. (Which of course goes without saying anyway!)
But now there’s much more at stake. Should new evidence comes to light after the execution proving the person was in fact innocent…that prosecutor will now receive the death penalty themselves!
Shocking right? (Oops! Didn’t mean to place a pun there…but it fits so it stays!)😜
Having finished this read I’m left a bit conflicted. Did it turn out to be what I expected? Not exactly. I wanted and expected a shocking thriller. To me it felt a bit more like a thought-provoking read, regarding the death penalty and murder, wrapped loosely into a thriller.💁🏻♀️
And yes, it does make you think. The author did an amazing job drawing you in so deeply that the fear of the characters was palpable. My anxiety level was off the charts. With an elevated heart rate, I actually had to set the book aside a few times.
This was a difficult read no matter what side of the fence you’re on regarding the death penalty.
⚠️The author does go into very graphic detail of executions.
A buddy read with Susanne that gave us a lot to talk about!
October 5, 2024
I, Justine Callaghan, lead prosecutor in the case of The People v. Charlotte Thorne, hereby seek the death penalty. I affirm that in the event of future exoneration of the defendant, I shall myself stand in her place, and this will serve as full and fair reparation of the wrong as stipulated by the State Remedies Act of 2016.
Imagine an America where the death penalty had been abolished in every US state. After a brutal, unrepentant murderer only gets life in prison, there’s a push to reinstate the death penalty, so the anti-death penalty people hatch a compromise: a defendant can only be sentenced to death if the prosecutor agrees to be executed themselves should it ever be proven that the executed defendant was actually innocent. Seven years ago, Justine got a death sentence against an accused child killer named Jake, who was just executed a week ago. Now, Jake’s widow has reached out to Justine claiming she has something that can prove Justine executed an innocent man ….
I really liked Ms. Dalcher’s 2018 debut novel, Vox. It had flaws in its dystopian world building, but the angry feminism absolutely worked in the political climate of the time. But each of her subsequent books have continued to engage in the exaggerated world building (especially Master Class). And perhaps that’s what led her to The Sentence, a novel where the world building is strained beyond the breaking point. Imagine a world where the death penalty has been abolished in every US state? It’s impossible to imagine. We don’t even accept evidence of actual innocence as grounds to reconsider a death sentence. And that’s just the tip of the flawed iceberg of the illogical world in the novel. Why would the prosecutor’s life be in jeopardy when the defendant pled guilty knowing he faced the death penalty? Why would the prosecutor—not the DA, not the jurors who actually convicted and imposed the death sentence—be the only person to face execution? (I know there’s an explanation in the story, but it was unconvincing).
As is the above weren’t enough, The Sentence has many other problems. Structurally, it’s a bit of a mess. The book begins with a back-and-forth about whether Justine will seek the death penalty against Charlotte Thorne, only for Ms. Thorne to never be discussed again. At the same time Justine is scared she’ll be accused of executing an innocent man, the same thing happens to a Florida prosecutor … who far too coincidentally just happens to be the ex-girlfriend of Justine’s boyfriend. The shadowy group who conducts these hunts against prosecutors is led far too coincidentally by the guy Justine dumped in law school.
But worst of all is the fact that the characters’ actions in The Sentence don’t make sense throughout the story. They are necessary to advance the beats of the story, but they are completely illogical. There were so many that I kept a running, spoiler-filled list:
I’d definitely still recommend reading Vox. But The Sentence is a disappointing, unconvincing mess of a story. Not recommended.
November 20, 2023
Not a read I was expecting it to be like.
I’d put this under Legal Thriller (I don’t have a shelf for that on Goodreads!)so I’ll leave it at the selection I’ve made already and it’s sort around that area Genre wise.
It’s a very good plot. I liked it a lot.
It left me thinking of the Laws of the land around Moral laws which are two different things.
It’s bit like A life for a life….type of thing. If you sentence someone to execution/death because you are sure they are guilty then later you find out you were wrong but now if anyone else finds out…..well you’re literally on the chopping block yourself for getting it wrong!
A Life for a Life.
The ending of the book was a surprise and in my eyes somewhat hypocritical…..however, the writing was good, the author and narrator (I listened to this) had my attention so I’ve given it a favourable 4* as it made me think long after I finished reading it.
So if you like books with dilemmas, morality of decisions, two sides to every story…..why not chose this one?
I’d put this under Legal Thriller (I don’t have a shelf for that on Goodreads!)so I’ll leave it at the selection I’ve made already and it’s sort around that area Genre wise.
It’s a very good plot. I liked it a lot.
It left me thinking of the Laws of the land around Moral laws which are two different things.
It’s bit like A life for a life….type of thing. If you sentence someone to execution/death because you are sure they are guilty then later you find out you were wrong but now if anyone else finds out…..well you’re literally on the chopping block yourself for getting it wrong!
A Life for a Life.
The ending of the book was a surprise and in my eyes somewhat hypocritical…..however, the writing was good, the author and narrator (I listened to this) had my attention so I’ve given it a favourable 4* as it made me think long after I finished reading it.
So if you like books with dilemmas, morality of decisions, two sides to every story…..why not chose this one?
January 26, 2024
~ 2,5*
Christina Dalcher ist für mich leider so eine Art "Königin des verschenkten Potentials". Das habe ich bereits bei "Vox" so empfunden und das war auch hier nicht viel anders.
Sie hat so tolle, ans Geniale angrenzende Ideen, und dann macht sie schlussendlich gefühlt kaum was draus. Stattdessen "eiert" die Geschichte über hundert Seiten um sich selbst, um dann weitestgehend wirkungslos in Schall und Rauch aufzugehen.
Der Schreibstil hat sich im Vergleich sehr zum Besseren entwickelt, aber inhaltlich fand ich auch "Vita" wieder eher fad'; obwohl die Atmosphäre schon gepasst hat, aber die konnte es dann auch nicht mehr retten.
Christina Dalcher ist für mich leider so eine Art "Königin des verschenkten Potentials". Das habe ich bereits bei "Vox" so empfunden und das war auch hier nicht viel anders.
Sie hat so tolle, ans Geniale angrenzende Ideen, und dann macht sie schlussendlich gefühlt kaum was draus. Stattdessen "eiert" die Geschichte über hundert Seiten um sich selbst, um dann weitestgehend wirkungslos in Schall und Rauch aufzugehen.
Der Schreibstil hat sich im Vergleich sehr zum Besseren entwickelt, aber inhaltlich fand ich auch "Vita" wieder eher fad'; obwohl die Atmosphäre schon gepasst hat, aber die konnte es dann auch nicht mehr retten.
November 5, 2024
Christina Dalcher provides an interesting premise on capital punishment with this novel. After a controversial law comes into effect, prosecutors who seek the death penalty will have to be sure they have a solid case, as their lives hang in the balance. When Justina Boucher makes a choice, she will have to make sure that she knows what she’s doing, as she could lose it all. In a story that explores capital punishment and the vagueness that such a sentence poses when truth comes into play, the reader is taken on quite the journey. Dalcher dazzles and injects some great social commentary into this piece.
After the state passes a new law seeking to end capital punishment, the loophole left will leave prosecutors on the hot seat. If they choose to call for the death penalty, thy will have to ensure their case is strong enough. If the suspect is found innocent or the conviction is overturned, the prosecutor must pay with their life. Now, Justina Boucher has made a decision based on the facts and the waiting game commences.
Six years on, with an execution set to take place, Justina discovers that her certainty is anything but cemented. Not only has something come into her possession, but she is forced to ponder her entire legal career and how nothing is as clear-cut as it seems. Seeing things from both sides, Justina will have to weigh her options as an execution looms. A chilling story sure to keep the reader thinking.
While I know nothing about Christina Dalcher, I was eager to read this book. I enjoy dystopian novels and those that push the limits, seeking to have the reader think well outside the box. The narrative of the story clipped along and left the reader to piece things together as they synthesise all that is presented. The flashback moments were key to understanding the issues and the central thoughts of the protagonist. Characters emerge and flavour the story in their own way, while also pushing their own perspectives. Plot points help keep the reader on edge and wonder what awaits them. They also push ideas fo the reader to consider, especially important with such a controversial topic. I am eager to see what else the author has to offer and will look for other books to enjoy before long.
Kudos, Madam Dalcher, for keeping me thinking throughout!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
After the state passes a new law seeking to end capital punishment, the loophole left will leave prosecutors on the hot seat. If they choose to call for the death penalty, thy will have to ensure their case is strong enough. If the suspect is found innocent or the conviction is overturned, the prosecutor must pay with their life. Now, Justina Boucher has made a decision based on the facts and the waiting game commences.
Six years on, with an execution set to take place, Justina discovers that her certainty is anything but cemented. Not only has something come into her possession, but she is forced to ponder her entire legal career and how nothing is as clear-cut as it seems. Seeing things from both sides, Justina will have to weigh her options as an execution looms. A chilling story sure to keep the reader thinking.
While I know nothing about Christina Dalcher, I was eager to read this book. I enjoy dystopian novels and those that push the limits, seeking to have the reader think well outside the box. The narrative of the story clipped along and left the reader to piece things together as they synthesise all that is presented. The flashback moments were key to understanding the issues and the central thoughts of the protagonist. Characters emerge and flavour the story in their own way, while also pushing their own perspectives. Plot points help keep the reader on edge and wonder what awaits them. They also push ideas fo the reader to consider, especially important with such a controversial topic. I am eager to see what else the author has to offer and will look for other books to enjoy before long.
Kudos, Madam Dalcher, for keeping me thinking throughout!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
August 17, 2023
I found this a hard read because of the thought-provoking subject matter: the death sentence. In this kind of dystopian fiction, the death sentence has been protected in America with an Act that provides a form of redemption if the person guilty is later found innocent. What this means is that the Prosecutor on the case would be held responsible and then presented with the death penalty themselves. It is a life for a life and an attempt to prevent incorrect judgements… and lessen the use of the death penalty.
In this novel, Dalcher explores the moral dilemma that Justine, the protagonist, faces. Having lost her husband around the same time that she passed her final death sentence, Justine is haunted by these events on a daily basis. The story switches between Justine in the present, as well as her education as a law student, that eventually saw her spear-heading the movement that allowed the Remedies Act to be passed. I found her involvement in this movement to be really interesting and it explained her conflicting emotions in the present day narrative.
As well as this, there are excerpts of a journal from an inmate on death row. At first I struggled to see how this fed into Justine’s story, but I enjoyed how Dalcher gradually makes connections between the two. This got to the point that there were moments where I enjoyed the inmate’s story more than Justine’s, although the two grow increasingly tense.
This is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that explores the morality of capital punishment. In this alternative world, a “solution” is presented to prevent misjustice and incorrect killings, yet this still comes at a price. When a close Prosecutor suffers at the hands of the Remedies Act, Justine feels that her time is coming – especially as it would seem that there is new evidence available with her own case.
The closing of the story was really emotive and I still don’t know if I liked the open-ending. I guess it allows readers to choose a conclusion that they feel suits Justine and their personal attitudes towards capital punishment, so I think this was very effective. I found I was very much divided on what I wanted to happen to Justine at the end, desiring a happy-ever-after but also a fair conclusion. It still baffles me now.
What would have made this story more gripping was if there was just a bit more pace and tension. At times I struggled to follow Dalcher’s writing style because I found it quite dense and this, coupled with the heavy subject matter, meant I did have to keep putting it down to digest before reading it more. Although the chapters were relatively short, the writer does pack a punch each time, so some emotional and physical space was exactly what I needed when reading this book.
Once again, Dalcher explores a subject that is relevant and one that always provokes a discussion. I felt absorbed in watching the events unfold as the metaphorical noose starts to tighten on Justine’s life. The ambiguous conclusion means that readers can choose their ending, which I think allows further personal reflection on their attitudes towards capital punishment.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In this novel, Dalcher explores the moral dilemma that Justine, the protagonist, faces. Having lost her husband around the same time that she passed her final death sentence, Justine is haunted by these events on a daily basis. The story switches between Justine in the present, as well as her education as a law student, that eventually saw her spear-heading the movement that allowed the Remedies Act to be passed. I found her involvement in this movement to be really interesting and it explained her conflicting emotions in the present day narrative.
As well as this, there are excerpts of a journal from an inmate on death row. At first I struggled to see how this fed into Justine’s story, but I enjoyed how Dalcher gradually makes connections between the two. This got to the point that there were moments where I enjoyed the inmate’s story more than Justine’s, although the two grow increasingly tense.
This is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that explores the morality of capital punishment. In this alternative world, a “solution” is presented to prevent misjustice and incorrect killings, yet this still comes at a price. When a close Prosecutor suffers at the hands of the Remedies Act, Justine feels that her time is coming – especially as it would seem that there is new evidence available with her own case.
The closing of the story was really emotive and I still don’t know if I liked the open-ending. I guess it allows readers to choose a conclusion that they feel suits Justine and their personal attitudes towards capital punishment, so I think this was very effective. I found I was very much divided on what I wanted to happen to Justine at the end, desiring a happy-ever-after but also a fair conclusion. It still baffles me now.
What would have made this story more gripping was if there was just a bit more pace and tension. At times I struggled to follow Dalcher’s writing style because I found it quite dense and this, coupled with the heavy subject matter, meant I did have to keep putting it down to digest before reading it more. Although the chapters were relatively short, the writer does pack a punch each time, so some emotional and physical space was exactly what I needed when reading this book.
Once again, Dalcher explores a subject that is relevant and one that always provokes a discussion. I felt absorbed in watching the events unfold as the metaphorical noose starts to tighten on Justine’s life. The ambiguous conclusion means that readers can choose their ending, which I think allows further personal reflection on their attitudes towards capital punishment.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2023
3.5 / 5
Mixed feelings about this book, was thinking it was going to be one banging legal thriller but instead a very deep, philosophical discussion surrounding the death penalty and the power judges hold in court to demand a life be taken for crimes. The book touches on morality, what in the eyes of law is right and wrong and the internal moral compass. It gets you thinking a lot about what prisoners go through in the final days and hours leading up to execution.
I have to say the ending of the book went very differently to how I was predicting it to go. And in some ways abit hypocritical. I’ve not read a book touch so deeply on the human struggle between the eyes of the law and the internal moral compass, but equally I’ve not read a book that completely backtracks on their whole ideology. Again, my library classed this book as suspense fiction and thriller. But it’s no any of that. It’s a very deep book, bound for conversations after. Unfortunately wasn’t what I was expecting, but not a bad read either.
Mixed feelings about this book, was thinking it was going to be one banging legal thriller but instead a very deep, philosophical discussion surrounding the death penalty and the power judges hold in court to demand a life be taken for crimes. The book touches on morality, what in the eyes of law is right and wrong and the internal moral compass. It gets you thinking a lot about what prisoners go through in the final days and hours leading up to execution.
I have to say the ending of the book went very differently to how I was predicting it to go. And in some ways abit hypocritical. I’ve not read a book touch so deeply on the human struggle between the eyes of the law and the internal moral compass, but equally I’ve not read a book that completely backtracks on their whole ideology. Again, my library classed this book as suspense fiction and thriller. But it’s no any of that. It’s a very deep book, bound for conversations after. Unfortunately wasn’t what I was expecting, but not a bad read either.
December 28, 2024
What if a convicted murderer is found to be innocent after they have been executed? They cannot be brought back to life!
In this tale, the Prosecutor who proposed the death penalty is then to be executed. Sounds harsh, but this is seen as an effective way to prevent executions being sought - more importantly, to prevent innocent people being executed. I would hope that everyone would want that, and I know that there have been many occasions when this has been the case.
In the UK, we have not had capital punishment for decades, and I can instantly call up several examples of high profile cases where innocent people were hanged (our only method of execution), which is what led to its own demise.
This is a cleverly plotted, well written, and engrossing story around a very tough subject, and I read into the small hours this morning, only putting it down to fall into a well needed sleep!
4.5 stars rounded up.
In this tale, the Prosecutor who proposed the death penalty is then to be executed. Sounds harsh, but this is seen as an effective way to prevent executions being sought - more importantly, to prevent innocent people being executed. I would hope that everyone would want that, and I know that there have been many occasions when this has been the case.
In the UK, we have not had capital punishment for decades, and I can instantly call up several examples of high profile cases where innocent people were hanged (our only method of execution), which is what led to its own demise.
This is a cleverly plotted, well written, and engrossing story around a very tough subject, and I read into the small hours this morning, only putting it down to fall into a well needed sleep!
4.5 stars rounded up.
September 8, 2023
For the first half of this book I was quite enjoying it as I found the subject matter interesting. However by 2/3 in I was starting to get a bit bored.
The pacing seemed slow and not a lot was really happening.
Unfortunately as it neared the end I lost interest as I was finding it all a bit dull.
The pacing seemed slow and not a lot was really happening.
Unfortunately as it neared the end I lost interest as I was finding it all a bit dull.
August 17, 2023
First of I really love the striking cover, the red colour certainly draws your eye to it and then the scales of justice gives you your first clue as to what the book is about. The byline, 'The one decision, you can't take back' fits the book perfectly and hammers home the finality of The Sentence.
Do not think for one moment this is a straight forward court case based type drama, far from it!
The book has a somewhat different justice system than our current day one. The death sentence is available to be asked for by any prosecutor brave enough to put their own life on the line. As any prosecutor who presses for the death sentence and then that person that has been given the death sentence is then later found innocent is actually then sentenced to death themselves! They actually forfeit their own life for making that mistake.
The main character Justine has just returned to work after the shock murder of her soulmate, husband and father of her unborn baby so naturally her mental state is not where it would normally be.
When Jake Milfords case is given to her she literally reacts, she doesn't think about the possible future consequences. Jake Milford is accused of murdering a child and cannot account for his whereabouts when the heinous crime took place. Justine at this early stage in her grief is seeing things in very black or white terms. Usually she wouldn't make the choice she pushes for which is the death penalty.
It's only later when it's too late for Jake that he is proven to be not guilty, though some would say the innocent child was murdered because his association with him. Jake's wife, now widow approaches Justine with the evidence saying she isnt sure what she is going to do with it yet.
Justine finally confides in new partner Daniel who goes into full 'escape mode' as a close friend of his has had a case where the man she sent to his death was found innocent and has paid with her own life.
The book let's you into all the different lives involved, theres lots of flashbacks and the story of what happened almost step by step so you get plenty of background and current day information on each character. It's quite complex and heavy/in-depth in places. There's Justine - the prosecutor. Jake - the accused sentenced to death then his existence on death row, then finally his execution. Emily - Jake's wife, now single mother of Jake junior, who has the dilemma of what to do with the new evidence, does she want to go down the 'eye for an eye' route or accept the evidence is too late for Jake and just get on with life with Jake junior. Finally there's also Mary, Jake's first sweetheart, that marries his brother, a life long abuser. Mary the reason Jake couldn't say where he was at the time of the little boys murder.
The book certainly has you thinking about both the justice system in the book and comparing it to our current one. Is it right an innocent man should pay with his life for something he didn't do? Is it right a prosecutor who thought she had all the facts an sentences what turned out to be an innocent man to death, then pay for her mistake with her own life?
All these questions make this a must read book!
Powerful, thought provoking, so many variables.
What would you have done in Jake's position? Or Emily's? Or Mary's? Or Justine's?
So many different perspectives and one slight change to help one person could drastically affect and change another's life for the worse.
I'd like to think Mary chose to answer 'no' to the decisive life altering question Justine asked. That Mary & her son Caleb, the name her husband thought it weirdly fitting to chose to "keep her in her place" and Emily & Jake Junior had a happier life together as single parents. That Justine got to live a happy life with Daniel, getting married, more children maybe and got to watch her son grow up and have a family. I guess we will never know for sure and I believe that's exactly how the Christina Dalcher meant this book to end. The author wants you to decide on what you believe is the appropriate ending for Justine.The way there are pros & cons to the justice system in the book that you have to make your own mind up about is sort of the same way you make your own mind up about what you think and feel about the different characters in the book and the choices they made.
Summing up this is an amazing read, really thought provoking. The only concise description I could come up with for the book was that quite a few of the characters were faced with an unbelievable connected conundrum. It's the kind of book that keeps popping back into your head.
Do not think for one moment this is a straight forward court case based type drama, far from it!
The book has a somewhat different justice system than our current day one. The death sentence is available to be asked for by any prosecutor brave enough to put their own life on the line. As any prosecutor who presses for the death sentence and then that person that has been given the death sentence is then later found innocent is actually then sentenced to death themselves! They actually forfeit their own life for making that mistake.
The main character Justine has just returned to work after the shock murder of her soulmate, husband and father of her unborn baby so naturally her mental state is not where it would normally be.
When Jake Milfords case is given to her she literally reacts, she doesn't think about the possible future consequences. Jake Milford is accused of murdering a child and cannot account for his whereabouts when the heinous crime took place. Justine at this early stage in her grief is seeing things in very black or white terms. Usually she wouldn't make the choice she pushes for which is the death penalty.
It's only later when it's too late for Jake that he is proven to be not guilty, though some would say the innocent child was murdered because his association with him. Jake's wife, now widow approaches Justine with the evidence saying she isnt sure what she is going to do with it yet.
Justine finally confides in new partner Daniel who goes into full 'escape mode' as a close friend of his has had a case where the man she sent to his death was found innocent and has paid with her own life.
The book let's you into all the different lives involved, theres lots of flashbacks and the story of what happened almost step by step so you get plenty of background and current day information on each character. It's quite complex and heavy/in-depth in places. There's Justine - the prosecutor. Jake - the accused sentenced to death then his existence on death row, then finally his execution. Emily - Jake's wife, now single mother of Jake junior, who has the dilemma of what to do with the new evidence, does she want to go down the 'eye for an eye' route or accept the evidence is too late for Jake and just get on with life with Jake junior. Finally there's also Mary, Jake's first sweetheart, that marries his brother, a life long abuser. Mary the reason Jake couldn't say where he was at the time of the little boys murder.
The book certainly has you thinking about both the justice system in the book and comparing it to our current one. Is it right an innocent man should pay with his life for something he didn't do? Is it right a prosecutor who thought she had all the facts an sentences what turned out to be an innocent man to death, then pay for her mistake with her own life?
All these questions make this a must read book!
Powerful, thought provoking, so many variables.
What would you have done in Jake's position? Or Emily's? Or Mary's? Or Justine's?
So many different perspectives and one slight change to help one person could drastically affect and change another's life for the worse.
I'd like to think Mary chose to answer 'no' to the decisive life altering question Justine asked. That Mary & her son Caleb, the name her husband thought it weirdly fitting to chose to "keep her in her place" and Emily & Jake Junior had a happier life together as single parents. That Justine got to live a happy life with Daniel, getting married, more children maybe and got to watch her son grow up and have a family. I guess we will never know for sure and I believe that's exactly how the Christina Dalcher meant this book to end. The author wants you to decide on what you believe is the appropriate ending for Justine.The way there are pros & cons to the justice system in the book that you have to make your own mind up about is sort of the same way you make your own mind up about what you think and feel about the different characters in the book and the choices they made.
Summing up this is an amazing read, really thought provoking. The only concise description I could come up with for the book was that quite a few of the characters were faced with an unbelievable connected conundrum. It's the kind of book that keeps popping back into your head.
August 27, 2023
This is a no hards bard legal thriller . Set in a world where the death penalty is only on offer if the prosecutor agrees tha if the defendent is later found innocent due to new evidence the prosecutor is sent to death instead.
The narration is perfect the right tones give more calue to the story. The telling of justin character at various poibts in her life helps hive teal depth to tge story. Its a well written hook you in story that deal with mqny matute issuses. You don't have to be a legal eagle to enjoy this. The subject matter makes itxa hard listen in places and there is clear evidence of research.
It disturbed me in places due to the subjrct matter but it wad a compelling listen. Highly recommended 5 star listen . Thank you to netgallery publisher and author for my arc and also thanks to the narrator even iwhen i felt disturbed i trusted in your voice to carry on.
The narration is perfect the right tones give more calue to the story. The telling of justin character at various poibts in her life helps hive teal depth to tge story. Its a well written hook you in story that deal with mqny matute issuses. You don't have to be a legal eagle to enjoy this. The subject matter makes itxa hard listen in places and there is clear evidence of research.
It disturbed me in places due to the subjrct matter but it wad a compelling listen. Highly recommended 5 star listen . Thank you to netgallery publisher and author for my arc and also thanks to the narrator even iwhen i felt disturbed i trusted in your voice to carry on.
January 8, 2024
Kurzmeinung / Hör-/Leseerlebnis
Vielen Dank an Netgalley, der Verlagsgruppe Harper Collins und Harper Audio für die kostenlosen Leseexemplare.
Ein sehr interessanter Ansatz, vor allem weil die Todesstrafe in den USA immer noch Anwendung findet. Ein Buch bei dem man sich ständig fragt, wie man wohl selbst handeln würde.
Auch das etwas offen gelassene Ende lässt Raum für Interpretation und Diskussion.
Besonders gut gefallen hat mir, dass die unterschiedlichen Perspektiven von unterschiedlichen Sprechern eingelesen wurde.
#NetgalleyDE
#VITAungekürzt
#VITA
Vielen Dank an Netgalley, der Verlagsgruppe Harper Collins und Harper Audio für die kostenlosen Leseexemplare.
Ein sehr interessanter Ansatz, vor allem weil die Todesstrafe in den USA immer noch Anwendung findet. Ein Buch bei dem man sich ständig fragt, wie man wohl selbst handeln würde.
Auch das etwas offen gelassene Ende lässt Raum für Interpretation und Diskussion.
Besonders gut gefallen hat mir, dass die unterschiedlichen Perspektiven von unterschiedlichen Sprechern eingelesen wurde.
#NetgalleyDE
#VITAungekürzt
#VITA
April 19, 2024
Loved this, makes you think about what is morally and ethically correct. Many "what would you do?" moments. A fictional read but a believable dystopian thriller. Tackling a controversial subject in the American justice system - the death sentence. Told from the perspective of Justine Boucher as prosecutor, a supporter of the death penalty and Jake a prisoner on death row. Putting a rhetorical question to the reader - as a prosecutor, would you commit someone to the death penalty, knowing that if they were later found innocent you would then face the same penalty? Leaves you lingering over the subject matter long after you’ve finished the book. Some great twists and turns, questioning your moral compass.
August 15, 2023
The Sentence is a riveting and scalpel-sharp legal thriller set in what appears to be alternate-present-day America where the justice system now has a decidedly dystopian edge to it. Harvard-educated prosecutor and widow Justine Callaghan (formerly Boucher) is struggling slightly with the more stressful aspects of her legal career. For instance, across America of late there have been calls to outlaw the death penalty with different states falling into opposing sides of the argument. Unable to abolish it completely, a compromise has come into being - the State Remedies Act 2016 is an attempt to stop the use of capital punishment in criminal cases from the day of ratification. At the beginning of the book, Justine is the lead prosecutor in the trial of The People v Charlotte Thorne, the brutal murder of a young university student. She has overwhelming evidence of her guilt and a confession, but she is still not willing to risk pushing for the death penalty to be on the table.
Only two prosecutors have sought the death penalty in Virginia for the past 7 years; this is because the Remedies Act states that any prosecutor who seeks the death penalty where the person convicted later has their conviction overturned and is exonerated will take their place on death row, as this is what the law sees as full and fair reparation for the miscarriage of justice. This means that a prosecutor's career has now become equivalent to a game of high-stakes Russian roulette with the possibility of lethal injection at the end of it. We then learn the plight of Jake Milford, aka Death Row Inmate #39384, who 7 years ago Justine sought the death penalty for due to the crimes he was convicted of - the torture and murder of a child which affected her particularly profoundly due to being a mother herself. A mountain of DNA evidence and lack of an alibi convinced her enough to go for it. However, not long after his execution new evidence regarding his guilt/innocence arises sending Justine into a state of terror and panic.
She considers her options: fleeing to safety, destroying the evidence, making someone else aware of the new details or investigating them herself. She opts for the latter, but what will she discover and will she have to pay with her life for the huge mistake she may have made? This is a powerful, thought-provoking and unputdownable read from start to denouement and strikes the perfect balance between intense thrills and shocking twists in the tale and moments where legal ethics and morality are explored. The death penalty is still a divisive issue, and I loved how Dalcher discussed this topic while also creating a dystopian aspect to it. It was all handled very adeptly. It's tough to pull off a thriller that'll make the reader think as well as often have their heart in their mouth, so I cannot recommend this enough. Original, complex and extremely topical, this is a compulsively readable and fast-paced tale that leaves you with a hunger for more.
Only two prosecutors have sought the death penalty in Virginia for the past 7 years; this is because the Remedies Act states that any prosecutor who seeks the death penalty where the person convicted later has their conviction overturned and is exonerated will take their place on death row, as this is what the law sees as full and fair reparation for the miscarriage of justice. This means that a prosecutor's career has now become equivalent to a game of high-stakes Russian roulette with the possibility of lethal injection at the end of it. We then learn the plight of Jake Milford, aka Death Row Inmate #39384, who 7 years ago Justine sought the death penalty for due to the crimes he was convicted of - the torture and murder of a child which affected her particularly profoundly due to being a mother herself. A mountain of DNA evidence and lack of an alibi convinced her enough to go for it. However, not long after his execution new evidence regarding his guilt/innocence arises sending Justine into a state of terror and panic.
She considers her options: fleeing to safety, destroying the evidence, making someone else aware of the new details or investigating them herself. She opts for the latter, but what will she discover and will she have to pay with her life for the huge mistake she may have made? This is a powerful, thought-provoking and unputdownable read from start to denouement and strikes the perfect balance between intense thrills and shocking twists in the tale and moments where legal ethics and morality are explored. The death penalty is still a divisive issue, and I loved how Dalcher discussed this topic while also creating a dystopian aspect to it. It was all handled very adeptly. It's tough to pull off a thriller that'll make the reader think as well as often have their heart in their mouth, so I cannot recommend this enough. Original, complex and extremely topical, this is a compulsively readable and fast-paced tale that leaves you with a hunger for more.
December 22, 2023
Anwältin Justine Callaghan gehörte einst zu einer Bewegung, die das Rechtssystem beträchtlich umkrempelte – verhängt man die Todesstrafe, so bürgt man mit seinem eigenen Leben für die Schuld des Verurteilten. Sollte sich irgendwann durch neue Beweise oder Fakten herausstellen, dass ein Unschuldiger in der Todeszelle landete, dann heißt es Auge um Auge, Zahn um Zahn. Justine hat die Todesstrafe nur ein Mal verhängt und war sich absolout sicher über die Rechtmäßigkeit. Doch nun taucht ein neuer Beweis auf, der den ganzen Fall in einem anderen Licht erscheinen lässt und Justine muss sich mit den daraus resultierenden Folgen auseinandersetzen. Um ihre eigene Haut zu retten, begibt sie sich auf Spurensuche und will auf eigene Faust Licht ins Dunkel bringen.
Ich erinnere mich noch gut an den ersten Roman, den ich von Christina Dalcher gelesen habe. “Vox” (Rezension) hat mich damals von seiner Grundidee her total angesprochen, jedoch fand ich die Umsetzung und auch den Schreibstil nicht so gelungen. Trotzdem ist es eines jener Bücher, die mir auch nach einigen Jahren noch im Gedächtnis geblieben sind. Auch bei “Vita” hat sich die Autorin wieder an einer Dytopie versucht. Der Klappentext macht neugierig und hält ein Thema bereit, über das ich so noch nicht gelesen habe.
Das große Thema der Todesstrafe und deren Umsetzung wird sehr ausführlich im Buch besprochen. Im Verlauf wird auch auf die Gründung der Vita-Bewegung eingegangen und wie deren Agieren heutzutage aussieht. Zunächst hat man nur häppchenweise Informationen bekommen, doch durch Rückblicke wurde es mit der Zeit klarer.
Unsere Hauptprotagonistin geht im Buch durch einige Hochs und Tiefs. Nicht immer fand ich ihr Handeln logisch, aber in Anbetracht der Situation hat die Protagonistin wohl auch nicht immer den klarsten Gedanken fassen können. Die Schreibweise der Autorin empfand ich dieses Mal als sehr viel angenehmer und ich konnte sehr flüssig und schnell in die Geschichte eintauchen. Im Laufe der Handlung offenbaren sich Dinge, die man anhand des Klappnetextes niemals hätte erahnen können, so dass die Geschichte bis zum Schluss spannend blieb.
Insgesamt empfand ich “Vita” als eine sehr interessante und innovative Geschichte, die spannend geschrieben war und den Leser bei Laune gehalten hat. Ich bin gespannt in welche dystopische Welt uns die Autorin als nächstes entführen wird.
Ich erinnere mich noch gut an den ersten Roman, den ich von Christina Dalcher gelesen habe. “Vox” (Rezension) hat mich damals von seiner Grundidee her total angesprochen, jedoch fand ich die Umsetzung und auch den Schreibstil nicht so gelungen. Trotzdem ist es eines jener Bücher, die mir auch nach einigen Jahren noch im Gedächtnis geblieben sind. Auch bei “Vita” hat sich die Autorin wieder an einer Dytopie versucht. Der Klappentext macht neugierig und hält ein Thema bereit, über das ich so noch nicht gelesen habe.
Das große Thema der Todesstrafe und deren Umsetzung wird sehr ausführlich im Buch besprochen. Im Verlauf wird auch auf die Gründung der Vita-Bewegung eingegangen und wie deren Agieren heutzutage aussieht. Zunächst hat man nur häppchenweise Informationen bekommen, doch durch Rückblicke wurde es mit der Zeit klarer.
Unsere Hauptprotagonistin geht im Buch durch einige Hochs und Tiefs. Nicht immer fand ich ihr Handeln logisch, aber in Anbetracht der Situation hat die Protagonistin wohl auch nicht immer den klarsten Gedanken fassen können. Die Schreibweise der Autorin empfand ich dieses Mal als sehr viel angenehmer und ich konnte sehr flüssig und schnell in die Geschichte eintauchen. Im Laufe der Handlung offenbaren sich Dinge, die man anhand des Klappnetextes niemals hätte erahnen können, so dass die Geschichte bis zum Schluss spannend blieb.
Insgesamt empfand ich “Vita” als eine sehr interessante und innovative Geschichte, die spannend geschrieben war und den Leser bei Laune gehalten hat. Ich bin gespannt in welche dystopische Welt uns die Autorin als nächstes entführen wird.
September 26, 2024
The Sentence started out great, not so much a legal thriller as a surprisingly realistic dystopian tale. I know many people might disagree with the “surprisingly realistic” I’ve described this book as, but truly, it’s not inconceivable. In all honesty, before the US starting cutting way back on the death penalty in - what - the early 2000s, maybe? - it seemed a relatively fair compromise for overzealous prosecutors.
The compromise, being, of course, that prosecutors in Dalcher’s world can’t just push for the death penalty, not if there’s any reasonable doubt, even if that doubt is only 1%. Because in this world, when prosecutors ask for the death penalty, they’re putting their own lives on the line. If the convicted are later proved innocent, the prosecutor who asked for death (and the prosecutor alone, to stop the line of blame going on indefinitely) will face his/her own execution.
I really enjoyed it initially, at least about 75% of it. It’s a quick read, and as many reviewers have pointed out, “enjoyable” may be the wrong word (since the reading is actually quite uncomfortable, given the weightiness of the subject matter) but it still manages to raise a lot of interesting philosophical questions concerning hypothetical situations on life and death, and just how much accountability should be a prosecutor who insisted on putting someone to death face when evidence later surfaces, proving the person’s innocence?
It’s a horrible situation to be in, but the whole point of the new law (called “The Remedies Act”) was intended to prevent the high rate of executions where the executed is exonerated posthumously. After all, if one can demand a jury sentence a man (or woman) to death for a crime they believe so absolutely that the defendant committed, why not be willing to stake your own life on it? If your case isn’t ironclad then keeping someone in prison for life isn’t exactly a “letting them off easy” alternative approach.
What I really wasn’t fond of were all of the open-ended questions never answered in the book. I understand at times leaving things open for interpretation, but if it really bothers you not to get some clearer answers, then you might want to skip this.
I agree again with other reviews stating that it seemed a bit hypocritical to have this book leave off with so many unanswered questions, while the main message of the book itself is to have absolute certainty in your decisions and NOT to proceed based on mere assumptions. 3.5/5.
Ehh…
Well, apparently it took 9/25 as a finish date, so whatever. Better than none, lol.
The compromise, being, of course, that prosecutors in Dalcher’s world can’t just push for the death penalty, not if there’s any reasonable doubt, even if that doubt is only 1%. Because in this world, when prosecutors ask for the death penalty, they’re putting their own lives on the line. If the convicted are later proved innocent, the prosecutor who asked for death (and the prosecutor alone, to stop the line of blame going on indefinitely) will face his/her own execution.
I really enjoyed it initially, at least about 75% of it. It’s a quick read, and as many reviewers have pointed out, “enjoyable” may be the wrong word (since the reading is actually quite uncomfortable, given the weightiness of the subject matter) but it still manages to raise a lot of interesting philosophical questions concerning hypothetical situations on life and death, and just how much accountability should be a prosecutor who insisted on putting someone to death face when evidence later surfaces, proving the person’s innocence?
It’s a horrible situation to be in, but the whole point of the new law (called “The Remedies Act”) was intended to prevent the high rate of executions where the executed is exonerated posthumously. After all, if one can demand a jury sentence a man (or woman) to death for a crime they believe so absolutely that the defendant committed, why not be willing to stake your own life on it? If your case isn’t ironclad then keeping someone in prison for life isn’t exactly a “letting them off easy” alternative approach.
What I really wasn’t fond of were all of the open-ended questions never answered in the book. I understand at times leaving things open for interpretation, but if it really bothers you not to get some clearer answers, then you might want to skip this.
I agree again with other reviews stating that it seemed a bit hypocritical to have this book leave off with so many unanswered questions, while the main message of the book itself is to have absolute certainty in your decisions and NOT to proceed based on mere assumptions. 3.5/5.
Ehh…
Well, apparently it took 9/25 as a finish date, so whatever. Better than none, lol.
May 18, 2023
"They'll hate me. Well, half of them will hate me. But a woman can survive hatred. Hatred doesn't kill you. Hatred isn't on the same plane as a lethal cocktail working its way through your veins or two thousand volts of electricity stopping your heart."
Okay, now I have a complicated relationship with Dalchers work, I’ve found a lot of her previous writing problematic and struggled to reconcile the masterful dystopian hellscapes she creates with some of the damnable scenes and undertones. But The Sentence is the first book of hers I can say I'd recommend - it is completely breaking the mould from the usual narrative her stories follow and shoes a lot of evolution in the writing.
This is a harrowing, haunting narrative that delves into the complexities of the death penalty and capital punishment, asking us to examine a flawed justice system and those who ‘play God’. It is intense and suffocating, with a deeply affective uncanny valley feeling that gives us a familiar yet entirely strange world to see.
Justine's narration was a little convoluted for me, her story being told in a non-linear way that at times made it feel like the out of order style didn’t serve a purpose but it was still mostly readable and followable, allowing us to build up an image slowly but still giving gaps for us to make our own judgements. She leaves a lot to us, leaving things unanswered, and tasking the reader to make their own opinions — so if you’re looking for some neat and tidy conclusion, this isn’t the book for you. Her discoveries and moral journey pushed this story into a distressingly raw and honest human place — full of desperation, fear and love. As we switch to the perspectives of a death row inmate, I cannot overstate the pit in my stomach and the painful emotion Dalcher wove into these characters as they forced us to confront both mortality and morality.
Every character showed us a different facet of just how complex being human is — how blurry right and wrong can sometimes be, how easily we can condemn people from afar, how easily we can fall and how people shape and change us. It delves into both the beautiful and most deranged parts of people in a terrifying vivid way that stayed with me.
A deeply provocative and uncomfortable read that probes into human nature and our relationship with death — it’s not what you’d call an enjoyable read, but certainly a memorable one.
Okay, now I have a complicated relationship with Dalchers work, I’ve found a lot of her previous writing problematic and struggled to reconcile the masterful dystopian hellscapes she creates with some of the damnable scenes and undertones. But The Sentence is the first book of hers I can say I'd recommend - it is completely breaking the mould from the usual narrative her stories follow and shoes a lot of evolution in the writing.
This is a harrowing, haunting narrative that delves into the complexities of the death penalty and capital punishment, asking us to examine a flawed justice system and those who ‘play God’. It is intense and suffocating, with a deeply affective uncanny valley feeling that gives us a familiar yet entirely strange world to see.
Justine's narration was a little convoluted for me, her story being told in a non-linear way that at times made it feel like the out of order style didn’t serve a purpose but it was still mostly readable and followable, allowing us to build up an image slowly but still giving gaps for us to make our own judgements. She leaves a lot to us, leaving things unanswered, and tasking the reader to make their own opinions — so if you’re looking for some neat and tidy conclusion, this isn’t the book for you. Her discoveries and moral journey pushed this story into a distressingly raw and honest human place — full of desperation, fear and love. As we switch to the perspectives of a death row inmate, I cannot overstate the pit in my stomach and the painful emotion Dalcher wove into these characters as they forced us to confront both mortality and morality.
Every character showed us a different facet of just how complex being human is — how blurry right and wrong can sometimes be, how easily we can condemn people from afar, how easily we can fall and how people shape and change us. It delves into both the beautiful and most deranged parts of people in a terrifying vivid way that stayed with me.
A deeply provocative and uncomfortable read that probes into human nature and our relationship with death — it’s not what you’d call an enjoyable read, but certainly a memorable one.
April 2, 2024
I need to have a think about it
September 6, 2024
The real dystopia is the world in which this was published
September 5, 2023
I love an original idea and the premise of this book was certainly that. How these authors come up with these things I will never know but I am completely in awe of them.
What I wasn’t expecting though was all the tiny threads that made up the bigger picture and how cleverly they would come together.
Starting with an excerpt from a prisoners letter with only a prison number to identify them I was immediately sucked in and these continued to be interspersed throughout the book.
The main character is Justine Boucher and both her past and her present lead her to make certain decisions that could prove her ultimate downfall and cost her life. It is so difficult to not say too much as this is both a book I want to shout about, open my gob and let it all spill but also a book where it’s secrets are best discovered by the reader.
Really though the crux of this book was a group of people coming up with an idea to stop the death penalty being requested and how it all goes terribly wrong. The road to hell is paved with good intentions after all.
Living in England it is not something we have to really consider but I was surprised to learn that Britain only finally abolished the death penalty in 1998 and the last people executed in the UK were Peter Allen and Gwynne Evans on 13 August 1964.
I always thought my feelings on it were pretty clear cut but I hadn’t considered how I would feel if it was personal and a loved one was the victim. Would my feelings change? This is another big consideration that faces Justine.
This book completely and utterly blew my mind and the ending was sheer perfection. Not many books still have me thinking about them after I’ve moved on to my next read but this one will stay with me a long time.
Original, clever, thought provoking and thankfully just a work of fiction!
What I wasn’t expecting though was all the tiny threads that made up the bigger picture and how cleverly they would come together.
Starting with an excerpt from a prisoners letter with only a prison number to identify them I was immediately sucked in and these continued to be interspersed throughout the book.
The main character is Justine Boucher and both her past and her present lead her to make certain decisions that could prove her ultimate downfall and cost her life. It is so difficult to not say too much as this is both a book I want to shout about, open my gob and let it all spill but also a book where it’s secrets are best discovered by the reader.
Really though the crux of this book was a group of people coming up with an idea to stop the death penalty being requested and how it all goes terribly wrong. The road to hell is paved with good intentions after all.
Living in England it is not something we have to really consider but I was surprised to learn that Britain only finally abolished the death penalty in 1998 and the last people executed in the UK were Peter Allen and Gwynne Evans on 13 August 1964.
I always thought my feelings on it were pretty clear cut but I hadn’t considered how I would feel if it was personal and a loved one was the victim. Would my feelings change? This is another big consideration that faces Justine.
This book completely and utterly blew my mind and the ending was sheer perfection. Not many books still have me thinking about them after I’ve moved on to my next read but this one will stay with me a long time.
Original, clever, thought provoking and thankfully just a work of fiction!
November 15, 2023
Prokurator chce najwyższej kary, której nie da się cofnąć gdyby na światło dzienne wyszły nowe dowody. Justine Boucher skazuje mordercę na karę śmierci, nie mając żadnych wątpliwości. Wyrok winny, wyrok zostaje wykonany.
Co jeśli Boucher się myliła?
Zachodzą pewne zmiany w prawie, cel to wyeliminowanie kary śmierci.
Nie wiedziałam czego się spodziewać, oczekiwać sięgając po książkę. Lektura ta to mieszanka thrillera z kryminałem, ale skłaniam się bardziej ku temu pierwszemu.
Poznajemy prokurator Boucher, która wydaje wyrok kary śmierci na Jake’a, który w okrutny sposób pozbawił życia młodego chłopca.
Kobieta wie, że jeśli popełniła błąd nie będzie w stanie tego cofnąć, jednak mając tak twarde dowody jest pewna decyzji…do czasu. Niespodziewane spotkanie z żoną skazanego denata obróci sprawę o 180 stopni.
Muszę przyznać, że jest to dość specyficzna książka. Nie miałam wcześniej żadnego spotkania z autorką, więc ciężko mi stwierdzić czy to jej styl pisania, czy to tak ma być czy to już moje widzimisię🙈Plus za mocny temat, które wywołuje przeróżne emocje, swego czasu się nim interesowałam. Ciężko mi się było wbić w fabułę z samego początku, ale stopniowo szło to w lepszym kierunku. Zaskoczyła mnie postawa prokurator przy końcu, czy postąpiła słusznie? Oto jest pytanie.🤔
Z całości książki najlepsze są zapiski Jake’a, który w swoim dzienniku czekał na dzień wymierzenia kary śmierci. Opisuje jak to jest czekać, czas raz biegnie szybko a raz wolniej, przez co przechodzi itp., Z tych jego zapisek dowiadujemy się czy tak na prawdę jest winny morderstwu. Autorka serwuje nam plot twist, którego się nie spodziewałam. Uważam, że te zapiski są największym atutem fabuły.
Podniosę nieco ocenę, bo jest mi się wyjątkowo ciężko ustosunkować w 100% do niej.
3,75/5⭐️
6/10⭐️
Dziękuję wydawnictwu za książkę!
Co jeśli Boucher się myliła?
Zachodzą pewne zmiany w prawie, cel to wyeliminowanie kary śmierci.
Nie wiedziałam czego się spodziewać, oczekiwać sięgając po książkę. Lektura ta to mieszanka thrillera z kryminałem, ale skłaniam się bardziej ku temu pierwszemu.
Poznajemy prokurator Boucher, która wydaje wyrok kary śmierci na Jake’a, który w okrutny sposób pozbawił życia młodego chłopca.
Kobieta wie, że jeśli popełniła błąd nie będzie w stanie tego cofnąć, jednak mając tak twarde dowody jest pewna decyzji…do czasu. Niespodziewane spotkanie z żoną skazanego denata obróci sprawę o 180 stopni.
Muszę przyznać, że jest to dość specyficzna książka. Nie miałam wcześniej żadnego spotkania z autorką, więc ciężko mi stwierdzić czy to jej styl pisania, czy to tak ma być czy to już moje widzimisię🙈Plus za mocny temat, które wywołuje przeróżne emocje, swego czasu się nim interesowałam. Ciężko mi się było wbić w fabułę z samego początku, ale stopniowo szło to w lepszym kierunku. Zaskoczyła mnie postawa prokurator przy końcu, czy postąpiła słusznie? Oto jest pytanie.🤔
Z całości książki najlepsze są zapiski Jake’a, który w swoim dzienniku czekał na dzień wymierzenia kary śmierci. Opisuje jak to jest czekać, czas raz biegnie szybko a raz wolniej, przez co przechodzi itp., Z tych jego zapisek dowiadujemy się czy tak na prawdę jest winny morderstwu. Autorka serwuje nam plot twist, którego się nie spodziewałam. Uważam, że te zapiski są największym atutem fabuły.
Podniosę nieco ocenę, bo jest mi się wyjątkowo ciężko ustosunkować w 100% do niej.
3,75/5⭐️
6/10⭐️
Dziękuję wydawnictwu za książkę!
August 2, 2023
The Sentence by Christina Dalcher
I give this book 4.5 stars
Prosecutor, Justine Boucher has only asked for the death penalty once, in a brutal murder case.
In doing so, she put her own life on the line, if the convicted are later found innocent, the lawyer who requested the execution will be sentenced to death.
Justine had no doubt that the man she sent to the chair was guilty.
Until now.
Presented with evidence that could prove his innocence, Justine must find out the truth before anyone else does.
Her life depends on it.
I loved Vox and Q so I was excited to read this.
Set in the U.S in the not too distant future this has a clever slight dystopian twist Encompassing the law, the justice system,the death penalty and its ethics and impact. Told from Justine and Death Row Inmate #39384 pov and incorporating different timelines this is a gritty but gripping read.The author provides you with a well written,plausible and deeply thought provoking premise that really ramps up the fear of what if in you!
Would make an excellent buddy read to get everyone talking.
With thanks to Netgalley,Christina Dalcher and HQ for my chance to read and review this book.
I give this book 4.5 stars
Prosecutor, Justine Boucher has only asked for the death penalty once, in a brutal murder case.
In doing so, she put her own life on the line, if the convicted are later found innocent, the lawyer who requested the execution will be sentenced to death.
Justine had no doubt that the man she sent to the chair was guilty.
Until now.
Presented with evidence that could prove his innocence, Justine must find out the truth before anyone else does.
Her life depends on it.
I loved Vox and Q so I was excited to read this.
Set in the U.S in the not too distant future this has a clever slight dystopian twist Encompassing the law, the justice system,the death penalty and its ethics and impact. Told from Justine and Death Row Inmate #39384 pov and incorporating different timelines this is a gritty but gripping read.The author provides you with a well written,plausible and deeply thought provoking premise that really ramps up the fear of what if in you!
Would make an excellent buddy read to get everyone talking.
With thanks to Netgalley,Christina Dalcher and HQ for my chance to read and review this book.
August 23, 2024
Original idea executed really well in a thought-provoking, well-crafted book that is sure to make you wonder over the morally divisive subject matter.
I really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed it.
May 10, 2023
Brilliant. Harrowing. Intense.
I inhaled this book in about four hours, unable to put it down. The topic of the death penalty is so complicated and CD took me through a whole range of emotions regarding it whilst reading The Sentence. The ending was, despite frustrating me, perfectly done and expertly crafted to fit the narrative built throughout the story. If you haven't yet read a CD book yet I highly recommend you do. I don't want to add much detail now as I'm reviewing an advanced copy, but I will undoubtedly update my review once the book is out to fully discuss all my thoughts on this story
I inhaled this book in about four hours, unable to put it down. The topic of the death penalty is so complicated and CD took me through a whole range of emotions regarding it whilst reading The Sentence. The ending was, despite frustrating me, perfectly done and expertly crafted to fit the narrative built throughout the story. If you haven't yet read a CD book yet I highly recommend you do. I don't want to add much detail now as I'm reviewing an advanced copy, but I will undoubtedly update my review once the book is out to fully discuss all my thoughts on this story
January 2, 2024
4.75 ⭐️ (so close)
I really enjoyed this and totally recommend giving this a read. I think if I hadn’t read Notes on an Execution before this I’d have loved it just a little bit more and whilst the two aren’t the same, they’re similar with Notes being better imo. That being said this was still great, it’s a super fast read that pulls you forward.
The plot is dual-POV from Justine who is a prosecutor who has only requested the death penalty for one case, Jake Milford, as it’s clear he’s the culprit in a child murder. Jake makes up the other chapters in the form of a letter/diary style on his final day before being executed. In the present day, Christine is dealing with the struggles that come with being a prosecutor with people demanding she push for the death penalty more but then she receives a note from Jake’s wife saying she’s found something… And this is not to be taken lightly because in this alternate USA, if someone who’s been executed is found out to be innocent the prosecutor must pay with their life too. What ensues is a great literary thriller with her trying to find out what really happened before others can find out. Jake is also telling his tale about what really went down on that fateful day. Alongside these storylines, Christie thinks back on her past in law school where she met her husband Ian who’s later killed as they discuss their politics around capital punishment.
This book is so well theorised and put together and I was here for it all the way. This would make a great book club pic as there’s lots to unpack and discuss. The main one being how Dalcher uses lots of characters, their ideas, thoughts and actions to put forward the many sides and arguments surrounding capital punishment in contemporary American society. There is loads here and you the reader are made to think other these things… just amazing. The thriller aspect was super intriguing too, making you question many things, where you’re being lead and on the whole I loved how it concluded - I wished an alternative could’ve happened but given the way things panned out, this ending was superb. A lot of the time I was on the edge of my seat, was feeling anxious and also shocked too with me needed to put this aside a couple times too - the graphic execution scenes were visceral! I think this is more ‘literary’ then full on ‘thriller’ as Dalcher muses on the debate mentioned above wrapped up in a crime thriller but personally that worked out better for me as these were the best parts. I do think I’d have preferred some more parts from Jake’s POV but as it was was still really good.
I really enjoyed this and totally recommend giving this a read. I think if I hadn’t read Notes on an Execution before this I’d have loved it just a little bit more and whilst the two aren’t the same, they’re similar with Notes being better imo. That being said this was still great, it’s a super fast read that pulls you forward.
The plot is dual-POV from Justine who is a prosecutor who has only requested the death penalty for one case, Jake Milford, as it’s clear he’s the culprit in a child murder. Jake makes up the other chapters in the form of a letter/diary style on his final day before being executed. In the present day, Christine is dealing with the struggles that come with being a prosecutor with people demanding she push for the death penalty more but then she receives a note from Jake’s wife saying she’s found something… And this is not to be taken lightly because in this alternate USA, if someone who’s been executed is found out to be innocent the prosecutor must pay with their life too. What ensues is a great literary thriller with her trying to find out what really happened before others can find out. Jake is also telling his tale about what really went down on that fateful day. Alongside these storylines, Christie thinks back on her past in law school where she met her husband Ian who’s later killed as they discuss their politics around capital punishment.
This book is so well theorised and put together and I was here for it all the way. This would make a great book club pic as there’s lots to unpack and discuss. The main one being how Dalcher uses lots of characters, their ideas, thoughts and actions to put forward the many sides and arguments surrounding capital punishment in contemporary American society. There is loads here and you the reader are made to think other these things… just amazing. The thriller aspect was super intriguing too, making you question many things, where you’re being lead and on the whole I loved how it concluded - I wished an alternative could’ve happened but given the way things panned out, this ending was superb. A lot of the time I was on the edge of my seat, was feeling anxious and also shocked too with me needed to put this aside a couple times too - the graphic execution scenes were visceral! I think this is more ‘literary’ then full on ‘thriller’ as Dalcher muses on the debate mentioned above wrapped up in a crime thriller but personally that worked out better for me as these were the best parts. I do think I’d have preferred some more parts from Jake’s POV but as it was was still really good.
September 14, 2023
A legal thriller that posits a terrifying addendum.
At the heart of The Sentence is the ethics and morality of the death penalty. In Dalcher's reimagined US court system, the Vita movement dissuades prosecutorial discretion from killing the accused, through the State Remedies Act. If evidence is found that proves a prisoner innocent of their crime after death, then the prosecutor will forfeit their life in the same manner. A drastic decision could lead careless lawyers to the electric chair or lethal injection.
Justine Boucher helped found the Vita movement and propose the Remedies Act but, following the murder of her husband and fellow lawyer Ian, she moved away from the radicalised group. Then, in her subsequent grief, she committed a believed child killer to his death. However, years later, the accused's wife reaches out with evidence that could make Boucher a victim of her own principles and legacy.
Dalcher does a fantastic job of conveying the conflict within Boucher, contrasting the ambitious and vigilant legal mind she used to be with the exhausted and remorseful prosecutor she has since become. I felt her trepidation as Vita representatives, garbed in red, reappeared in her life like vultures circling.
However it is the thorough examination of US law's attitude towards the death penalty that really made this plot for me. Dalcher has clearly done a lot of research and the Remedies Act is a grisly but credible possibility. The Sentence is a cautionary tale as well as a nightmare scenario.
That being said, I found myself a little disappointed with the ending. Without giving too much away, two final acts are proposed but I think a third lies in the middle ground. Also, the denouement becomes more concerned with individual justice, at the expense of broader legal implications. Antagonists that were set up early on are notably absent in the end, mentioned but not seen. While I think it's difficult to find a credible resolution to The Sentence which doesn't leave a bitter taste in the mouth, I suspect Dalcher could have come up with something stronger than what was published.
Even so, I think The Sentence is a compelling thriller that balances both legal dilemma with social sci-fi. I will certainly pick up more of Dalcher's work in future. In the meantime though, I recommend The Sentence to those who feel passionately about the death penalty, on either side of the argument.
At the heart of The Sentence is the ethics and morality of the death penalty. In Dalcher's reimagined US court system, the Vita movement dissuades prosecutorial discretion from killing the accused, through the State Remedies Act. If evidence is found that proves a prisoner innocent of their crime after death, then the prosecutor will forfeit their life in the same manner. A drastic decision could lead careless lawyers to the electric chair or lethal injection.
Justine Boucher helped found the Vita movement and propose the Remedies Act but, following the murder of her husband and fellow lawyer Ian, she moved away from the radicalised group. Then, in her subsequent grief, she committed a believed child killer to his death. However, years later, the accused's wife reaches out with evidence that could make Boucher a victim of her own principles and legacy.
Dalcher does a fantastic job of conveying the conflict within Boucher, contrasting the ambitious and vigilant legal mind she used to be with the exhausted and remorseful prosecutor she has since become. I felt her trepidation as Vita representatives, garbed in red, reappeared in her life like vultures circling.
However it is the thorough examination of US law's attitude towards the death penalty that really made this plot for me. Dalcher has clearly done a lot of research and the Remedies Act is a grisly but credible possibility. The Sentence is a cautionary tale as well as a nightmare scenario.
That being said, I found myself a little disappointed with the ending. Without giving too much away, two final acts are proposed but I think a third lies in the middle ground. Also, the denouement becomes more concerned with individual justice, at the expense of broader legal implications. Antagonists that were set up early on are notably absent in the end, mentioned but not seen. While I think it's difficult to find a credible resolution to The Sentence which doesn't leave a bitter taste in the mouth, I suspect Dalcher could have come up with something stronger than what was published.
Even so, I think The Sentence is a compelling thriller that balances both legal dilemma with social sci-fi. I will certainly pick up more of Dalcher's work in future. In the meantime though, I recommend The Sentence to those who feel passionately about the death penalty, on either side of the argument.
October 4, 2023
'The Sentence' is an incredibly well-considered exploration of the criminal justice system and death penalty. The book is beautifully constructed and makes for a compelling read. I listened to the audiobook, and thoroughly enjoyed the narration by Laurel Lefkow and Greg Lockett. Christina Dalcher is the reigning Queen of Dystopian Fiction. The work she is producing is fresh, innovative and extremely exciting. A highly recommended read which would make for an immensely interesting book club choice.
October 10, 2023
HELLO???!!!! i need time to digest what happened law & order didn’t prepare me for this one
rtc 3.5/4 stars
oct. 10, 2023
rtc 3.5/4 stars
oct. 10, 2023
August 27, 2023
This is a no hards bard legal thriller . Set in a world where the death penalty is only on offer if the prosecutor agrees tha if the defendent is later found innocent due to new evidence the prosecutor is sent to death instead.
The narration is perfect the right tones give more calue to the story. The telling of justin character at various poibts in her life helps hive teal depth to tge story. Its a well written hook you in story that deal with mqny matute issuses. You font have uo be s legal eagle to enjoy this. The subject matter makes itxa hard listen in places and there is clear evidence of research.
It disturbef me in placrs fue yo tge subjrct matter but it wad a vomoelljng listen. Highly recommended 5 dtsr lisyen. Thank you to net fallery publisher and author for my arc and also tganks to the narrator even iwhen i felt disturbed i trusted in your voice to carry on.
The narration is perfect the right tones give more calue to the story. The telling of justin character at various poibts in her life helps hive teal depth to tge story. Its a well written hook you in story that deal with mqny matute issuses. You font have uo be s legal eagle to enjoy this. The subject matter makes itxa hard listen in places and there is clear evidence of research.
It disturbef me in placrs fue yo tge subjrct matter but it wad a vomoelljng listen. Highly recommended 5 dtsr lisyen. Thank you to net fallery publisher and author for my arc and also tganks to the narrator even iwhen i felt disturbed i trusted in your voice to carry on.
April 13, 2024
Best book I've read regarding the issues around the death penalty. Clever, thought provoking as well as a great story.
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