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She Too
A novel about reputation, defamation, the exercise and abuse of power - and the pursuit of a fragile truth.
At age twenty-eight, Romola Cross is already jaded by her work as a criminal defence lawyer in Sydney. In the aftermath of her father's death, she decides to reinvent herself, and blindly accepts a position at prestigious Melbourne law firm Bassett Brown. She soon finds herself in a place where the clients are household names, and the stakes are higher than she could have possibly imagined.
Patrick Payne is the only son of famed property tycoon Malcolm Payne. After years spent in his father's shadow, Patrick is trying his luck in politics. But when Patrick's girlfriend Hana is found dead in his home, the media accuse him of being an abusive partner, drawing comparisons with the death of his teenage sweetheart many years earlier. At the insistence of his father, Patrick sues for defamation.
With his reputation in tatters, Patrick becomes Romola's first client. Under the watchful eye of a narcissistic supervising partner, Romola sets out to defend his reputation. Drawn into the Paynes' life of privilege, and torn by conflicting family and client loyalties, Romola confronts the question of how to prove Patrick is a good man without sacrificing all that she holds dear.
This whip-smart legal thriller is a thought-provoking commentary on the intersection between law and celebrity. She Too takes an unflinching look at the illusory nature of truth, guilt and innocence - and their manipulation by the media, the wealthy, and each one of us, depending on what we want to believe.
At age twenty-eight, Romola Cross is already jaded by her work as a criminal defence lawyer in Sydney. In the aftermath of her father's death, she decides to reinvent herself, and blindly accepts a position at prestigious Melbourne law firm Bassett Brown. She soon finds herself in a place where the clients are household names, and the stakes are higher than she could have possibly imagined.
Patrick Payne is the only son of famed property tycoon Malcolm Payne. After years spent in his father's shadow, Patrick is trying his luck in politics. But when Patrick's girlfriend Hana is found dead in his home, the media accuse him of being an abusive partner, drawing comparisons with the death of his teenage sweetheart many years earlier. At the insistence of his father, Patrick sues for defamation.
With his reputation in tatters, Patrick becomes Romola's first client. Under the watchful eye of a narcissistic supervising partner, Romola sets out to defend his reputation. Drawn into the Paynes' life of privilege, and torn by conflicting family and client loyalties, Romola confronts the question of how to prove Patrick is a good man without sacrificing all that she holds dear.
This whip-smart legal thriller is a thought-provoking commentary on the intersection between law and celebrity. She Too takes an unflinching look at the illusory nature of truth, guilt and innocence - and their manipulation by the media, the wealthy, and each one of us, depending on what we want to believe.
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First published February 28, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 21, 2023
I do enjoy a good legal thriller, and one set in Australia really had me excited. She Too is written by a lawyer and is the authors debut
And what a great first book. I was hooked. Meet Romola Cross, a criminal defence lawyer from Sydney. She is struggling with life and decides to move to Melbourne where her best friend is now living. As soon as she arrives she is thrown into her first case and it is a biggie. A deformation case for the son of the firms nuggets client, a multi billionaire business man. Patrick Payne seems to attract a certain kind of woman. There is more than one of his exes that are now dead, and now his girlfriend Hana has overdosed. The media are having a field day, and pointing the finger Patrick’s way. At the insistence of his father, Patrick sues.
We get to see how the media can manipulate the story to get a better, juicier story. We see how hard the lawyers behind the scenes work, and the struggles and politics behind how they work the case. And of course it is a man’s world isn’t it… Romola and her partner Imogen have to face the fact that they are women. But these women do not mess about and won’t take no for an answer.
A fantastic debut novel, I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next. Thanks to Echo Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to review.
And what a great first book. I was hooked. Meet Romola Cross, a criminal defence lawyer from Sydney. She is struggling with life and decides to move to Melbourne where her best friend is now living. As soon as she arrives she is thrown into her first case and it is a biggie. A deformation case for the son of the firms nuggets client, a multi billionaire business man. Patrick Payne seems to attract a certain kind of woman. There is more than one of his exes that are now dead, and now his girlfriend Hana has overdosed. The media are having a field day, and pointing the finger Patrick’s way. At the insistence of his father, Patrick sues.
We get to see how the media can manipulate the story to get a better, juicier story. We see how hard the lawyers behind the scenes work, and the struggles and politics behind how they work the case. And of course it is a man’s world isn’t it… Romola and her partner Imogen have to face the fact that they are women. But these women do not mess about and won’t take no for an answer.
A fantastic debut novel, I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next. Thanks to Echo Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to review.
December 8, 2023
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**3.5 stars**
She Too by Eve Thomson. (2023).
At age 28, Romola is a jaded criminal defence lawyer. After her father's death she decides to reinvent herself and accepts a position at a prestigious law firm. Her first client becomes Patrick. He is the son of a property tycoon, trying to get into politics. His girlfriend Hana is found dead and the media accuse him of being an abusive boyfriend, comparing it to the death of his teenage sweetheart many years ago. His father insists he sue for defamation. Romola is quickly drawn into the family's life of privilege, and torn by conflicting family and client loyalties. How can she defend Patrick without sacrificing all that she holds dear?
This is the debut fiction novel for the author, who is also a lawyer specialising in commercial litigation and defamation. The author's background has resulted in a storyline where defamation is plainly explained for those of us not in the know, and demonstrates just how much the general person can be manipulated by the media. The narrative also shines a spotlight on how hard lawyers work, with them basically being constantly on call for their clients. While the overall concept was interesting, I did find the book a bit dry in places. Romola was an intelligent woman but was a bit of a mess with her still grieving her beloved father, her new job complicating her friendship with her best (and only) friend, and her unnecessarily mean attitude towards her stepmother.
Overall: this legal thriller is a good debut for the author, and I'm intrigued as to what will be next from her.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**3.5 stars**
She Too by Eve Thomson. (2023).
At age 28, Romola is a jaded criminal defence lawyer. After her father's death she decides to reinvent herself and accepts a position at a prestigious law firm. Her first client becomes Patrick. He is the son of a property tycoon, trying to get into politics. His girlfriend Hana is found dead and the media accuse him of being an abusive boyfriend, comparing it to the death of his teenage sweetheart many years ago. His father insists he sue for defamation. Romola is quickly drawn into the family's life of privilege, and torn by conflicting family and client loyalties. How can she defend Patrick without sacrificing all that she holds dear?
This is the debut fiction novel for the author, who is also a lawyer specialising in commercial litigation and defamation. The author's background has resulted in a storyline where defamation is plainly explained for those of us not in the know, and demonstrates just how much the general person can be manipulated by the media. The narrative also shines a spotlight on how hard lawyers work, with them basically being constantly on call for their clients. While the overall concept was interesting, I did find the book a bit dry in places. Romola was an intelligent woman but was a bit of a mess with her still grieving her beloved father, her new job complicating her friendship with her best (and only) friend, and her unnecessarily mean attitude towards her stepmother.
Overall: this legal thriller is a good debut for the author, and I'm intrigued as to what will be next from her.
December 2, 2023
Loved this book - even as someone coming from a non-legal background! Fascinating plot, and a very interesting insight into Australian defamation law. My only issue is with the book cover - it depicts a Caucasian female, despite the plot centring around a Sri Lankan female POC. This feels on the publishers side like a massive discredit to the author that undermines the entire premise of the novel. I found this very very disappointing on the part of the publisher - especially given this is still happening in books published in 2023!
January 11, 2025
Loved loved loved. So sharp and clear .. and interesting! Would be a perfect series if books or TV! I need more Romola !!!
May 10, 2023
Finally got through this one! There was nothing awful about it, but I found it a real slog and so slow. I think there were simultaneousIy too many things going on narratively (trial by media, impact of social media, grief, step-parent relationships, privilege of wealth, power dynamics, gender roles) but also not enough interest to grab me.
It picked up toward the end (like right at the end, literally around 85% in) but I still wasn't overly surprised or impressed by the 'reveal' and the last few chapters while faster paced still didn't do much to raise my overall rating.
I liked the idea of a legal thriller, particularly one set in Australia, but this one wasn't for me
It picked up toward the end (like right at the end, literally around 85% in) but I still wasn't overly surprised or impressed by the 'reveal' and the last few chapters while faster paced still didn't do much to raise my overall rating.
I liked the idea of a legal thriller, particularly one set in Australia, but this one wasn't for me
March 13, 2023
In her debut novel, Eve Thomson gives the world of legal thrillers a strong (and much welcomed) new female heroine - Romola Cross. The narrative follows Romola as she moves from Sydney to Melbourne, from criminal practice to civil, and starts acting for high profile family, the Paynes. Themes of family, friendship and work-life balance are woven throughout the text, making the characters real and relatable, and the plot richer for it. Eve's eloquence and wit in her writing make She Too all the more a pleasure to read. I strongly look forward to future works from this author.
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June 23, 2024Always a fan of an Aussie book. Particularly interesting look into defamation law given I’ve spent a bit of time reading about it prior. Very intriguing plot and I loved every development. Can’t say it made the lawyer life all that glamorous, but at the same time I love a boss bitch female in charge👸🏾👩🏽⚖️
September 22, 2024
Man does this author love to hate on the weather in Melbourne 🤣🤣🤣
This book was ok, I love a legal novel but would have liked a bit more thriller and tension. It felt a bit meek at times. It gets a 3 and an extra 0.5 for the plot twist at the end
This book was ok, I love a legal novel but would have liked a bit more thriller and tension. It felt a bit meek at times. It gets a 3 and an extra 0.5 for the plot twist at the end
October 8, 2025
Awful writing. Downgraded from 2 stars to 1 star for using ‘peacock’ as a replacement verb for 'says'. As in: ‘“We have our pride”, he peacocked.’
I’m still cringing.
I’m still cringing.
March 27, 2023
3.75/5 stars
I have conflicting thoughts about this move but overall there was more good than bad. It's an important work of legal fiction that realistically depicts the power of wealth and privilege, trial by media, and the problematic nature of family.
Romola is the Sri Lankan-Australian lawyer defending the son of a Murdoch-family-esque family from a defamation suit after the suicide of his girlfriend. We deal with the corporate world (lawyers, businessmen, and journalists) and the personal (Judith, Lou, and Cliffy) making it well rounded enough to not get boring, but there were definitely weaker characters/storylines from this.
Romola is a likeable protagonist, but even she isn't without fault. Maybe that just adds to the characters complexity, but at times her arguing with her best friends and step mother did come across as childish and immature - it toned down the seriousness of the legal drama which probably wasn't for the best.
The pacing definitely improved as the book progressed. At the beginning it felt quite obvious that this was Thomason's first book - defaulting to descriptions of rooms and clothing like writing in highschool. There were some repeated writing cliches that grated on me, but for a debut novel these things are to be expected. As the plot took over and twists and turns bounded in, the pace really picked up and I was racing through to the end. I was excited to come back to this book each night and find out what would be uncovered next - definitely a page turner.
Unfortunately some (not all) of its twists were predictable but that just speaks further to the issues of power, privilege, and wealth that the book highlights. It's predictable because it is our reality, and it's good to see it being written about by Aussie authors.
Overall I'd recommend if you like Australian drama that's not about red dirt.
I have conflicting thoughts about this move but overall there was more good than bad. It's an important work of legal fiction that realistically depicts the power of wealth and privilege, trial by media, and the problematic nature of family.
Romola is the Sri Lankan-Australian lawyer defending the son of a Murdoch-family-esque family from a defamation suit after the suicide of his girlfriend. We deal with the corporate world (lawyers, businessmen, and journalists) and the personal (Judith, Lou, and Cliffy) making it well rounded enough to not get boring, but there were definitely weaker characters/storylines from this.
Romola is a likeable protagonist, but even she isn't without fault. Maybe that just adds to the characters complexity, but at times her arguing with her best friends and step mother did come across as childish and immature - it toned down the seriousness of the legal drama which probably wasn't for the best.
The pacing definitely improved as the book progressed. At the beginning it felt quite obvious that this was Thomason's first book - defaulting to descriptions of rooms and clothing like writing in highschool. There were some repeated writing cliches that grated on me, but for a debut novel these things are to be expected. As the plot took over and twists and turns bounded in, the pace really picked up and I was racing through to the end. I was excited to come back to this book each night and find out what would be uncovered next - definitely a page turner.
Unfortunately some (not all) of its twists were predictable but that just speaks further to the issues of power, privilege, and wealth that the book highlights. It's predictable because it is our reality, and it's good to see it being written about by Aussie authors.
Overall I'd recommend if you like Australian drama that's not about red dirt.
April 30, 2023
Our Review...
A legal thriller is a genre of fiction that centres around crime, the courtroom, and the legal system as it prevails along with all of the characters that make up the story.
She Too is a perfect example of how utterly addictive and engaging this type of book can be.
Once criminal defence lawyer Romola Cross has left Sydney after the death of her father in an attempt to reinvent herself in other areas of law and with an interstate move to Melbourne.
Having been accepted into the prestigious law firm Bassett Brown, Romola is thrown into the case of defamation of Patrick Payne, the son of property mogul who is preparing for a political career.
Patrick’s partner Hana has been found dead in the home they shared, and the media have created a storm of suspicion around the type of character Patrick is.
Driven by his father, Patrick sues for defamation as his reputation is in tatters as the rumours take hold throughout the community.
Romola Cross is on the case and is an intelligent, strong, and powerful female protagonist who has to walk the line of defending her client while trying to understand just who Patrick is.
Set amongst wealth, power, and privilege, this is a brilliant unravelling story with characters that are more complex than one might initially believe. A fabulous sophisticated fiction that unfolds piece by piece to create a true masterpiece.
Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books
A legal thriller is a genre of fiction that centres around crime, the courtroom, and the legal system as it prevails along with all of the characters that make up the story.
She Too is a perfect example of how utterly addictive and engaging this type of book can be.
Once criminal defence lawyer Romola Cross has left Sydney after the death of her father in an attempt to reinvent herself in other areas of law and with an interstate move to Melbourne.
Having been accepted into the prestigious law firm Bassett Brown, Romola is thrown into the case of defamation of Patrick Payne, the son of property mogul who is preparing for a political career.
Patrick’s partner Hana has been found dead in the home they shared, and the media have created a storm of suspicion around the type of character Patrick is.
Driven by his father, Patrick sues for defamation as his reputation is in tatters as the rumours take hold throughout the community.
Romola Cross is on the case and is an intelligent, strong, and powerful female protagonist who has to walk the line of defending her client while trying to understand just who Patrick is.
Set amongst wealth, power, and privilege, this is a brilliant unravelling story with characters that are more complex than one might initially believe. A fabulous sophisticated fiction that unfolds piece by piece to create a true masterpiece.
Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books
June 25, 2023
Romola is a criminal lawyer from Sydney who is looking for a fresh start after the death of her father. So she moves to Melbourne and accepts a position at Basset Brown, a large commercial law firm. Before she even steps foot into the office for her first day, Romola is thrown into the deep end when an article is published about one of the firm’s high profile clients, Patrick Payne, stating that he is the reason why his partner has taken her own life. Her supervisor, Imogen, believes that Romola’s experience in criminal law will be relevant - and Romola barely has an opportunity to get settled.
The accuracy of the legal processes is phenomenal in this book and it’s really clear that Thomson is a lawyer. But this book isn’t just about the law, it’s about people and relationships and how things that may seem insignificant can really have a profound impact.
Anyone can pick up this book - you’re not drowned by legalese - and the book is fast paced which keeps the reader captivated. Given that this book is a legal thriller, it’s no surprise that there’s a twist, and that twist is just superb.
She too has short chapters with clever names. I struggled to put it down. Overall, a great book!
The accuracy of the legal processes is phenomenal in this book and it’s really clear that Thomson is a lawyer. But this book isn’t just about the law, it’s about people and relationships and how things that may seem insignificant can really have a profound impact.
Anyone can pick up this book - you’re not drowned by legalese - and the book is fast paced which keeps the reader captivated. Given that this book is a legal thriller, it’s no surprise that there’s a twist, and that twist is just superb.
She too has short chapters with clever names. I struggled to put it down. Overall, a great book!
July 17, 2024
I have a strong affinity for legal thrillers, particularly those crafted by Australian authors and available through my local library. From the very beginning, I was captivated. The story skillfully weaves in numerous themes that are handled with depth and insight.
Romola, the female protagonist, truly steals the spotlight. I found myself rooting for her right from the first chapter. The books twists and turns related to influences from wealth, power, family dynamics, and the media, which were all superbly executed. Additionally, the exploration of defamation law within the storyline was a unique and engaging aspect for me.
Knowing this was the author's debut novel now leaves me sitting here, wishing there was more of her work to binge-read. I eagerly anticipate future releases, with a hope that future covers might better reflect the main character of the book (though I understand this may not have been within the author's control).
Romola, the female protagonist, truly steals the spotlight. I found myself rooting for her right from the first chapter. The books twists and turns related to influences from wealth, power, family dynamics, and the media, which were all superbly executed. Additionally, the exploration of defamation law within the storyline was a unique and engaging aspect for me.
Knowing this was the author's debut novel now leaves me sitting here, wishing there was more of her work to binge-read. I eagerly anticipate future releases, with a hope that future covers might better reflect the main character of the book (though I understand this may not have been within the author's control).
July 22, 2023
Very raw, very real. A story about a young Sri Lankan-Aussie lawyer who gets a job at a big Melbourne law firm and gets thrown into a high-profile defamation case. The story is gripping, and the characters are very real - it feels like I know them. The mean partner, the egotistic client, the conflicts of interest - it shows the dark side of practising law realistically without overdramatising it or making it silly.
But it portrays the practice of law very pre-2020. A lot of what is in this book is now done over Microsoft Teams. I had to laugh at the sheer amount of in-person client meetings. Most of the time practising law is sending emails and timekeeping - not a lot of that is captured in this book, especially since half of the main character's case was effectively done for free.
Nonetheless, a fun read that captures well the stress of legal practice and the power of the media.
But it portrays the practice of law very pre-2020. A lot of what is in this book is now done over Microsoft Teams. I had to laugh at the sheer amount of in-person client meetings. Most of the time practising law is sending emails and timekeeping - not a lot of that is captured in this book, especially since half of the main character's case was effectively done for free.
Nonetheless, a fun read that captures well the stress of legal practice and the power of the media.
March 8, 2023
A work of legal fiction that I really enjoyed.
Patrick Payne is a high profile member of a wealthy Melbourne family. His girlfriend, Hana, is found dead in his home. Media reports insinuate Patrick was an abusive partner, and so a defamation action is launched.
Romola Cross is the main character, a lawyer who has left Sydney to start in Melbourne, this is her first case with her new firm.
The current day issues of trial by media and trial by social media are at play here, and the author presents these issues in a realistic way. Some interesting law firm politics and also some difficult personal relationship issues are woven into the narrative.
Patrick Payne is a high profile member of a wealthy Melbourne family. His girlfriend, Hana, is found dead in his home. Media reports insinuate Patrick was an abusive partner, and so a defamation action is launched.
Romola Cross is the main character, a lawyer who has left Sydney to start in Melbourne, this is her first case with her new firm.
The current day issues of trial by media and trial by social media are at play here, and the author presents these issues in a realistic way. Some interesting law firm politics and also some difficult personal relationship issues are woven into the narrative.
March 29, 2024
If I’d read the blurb about this book properly I probably would not have started it. Melbourne’s constantly dreary weather was a bit depressing and high flying legal business, sensational media and lives of the rich and famous do not really interest me.
The main character seemed too young to be experienced enough for her legal decisions and proved too immature to manage relationships with friends, business partners and family.
Still, it was an interesting enough read, even if some of the content was somewhat disappointingly sordid. I know why I told my 6 year old that she could be anything she wanted to be when she grew up except for a prostitute, solicitor or politician because they were all the same jobs really.
The main character seemed too young to be experienced enough for her legal decisions and proved too immature to manage relationships with friends, business partners and family.
Still, it was an interesting enough read, even if some of the content was somewhat disappointingly sordid. I know why I told my 6 year old that she could be anything she wanted to be when she grew up except for a prostitute, solicitor or politician because they were all the same jobs really.
July 15, 2025
Absolutely loved this. I think it would have to be in my top 10 of all time. Romola felt like a real and relatable character to me, and the twists and turns as well as relationships between the characters in the book were compelling. I saw that the author is a defamation lawyer and it is very clear reading this that she has an intimate, in depth knowledge of the law - but still made it accessible for people like me with limited knowledge, and it didn't necessarily feel front and centre (the characters did). Such a great read, highly recommend.
November 19, 2024
Excellent book, yes at the start of the book was a bit of a drag. However the book does get really good. I loved the relationship connection between Judith and Romola it was so sweet and made me shed a tear. The surprise plot about Malcolm was draw dropping. I don't like Louise as a friend Romola was too forgiving. Louis didn't even apologise to Romola but Romola felt like the one that needed to apologise smh lol she's too kind.
April 29, 2023
Close to four stars for this well written story about power, privilege, family and the law. Romola Cross is a young lawyer finding her way in a large law firm when a high-powered client’s case is handed to her. Trial by media is at the heart of this compelling story as it slowly, painstakingly weaves its way to an interesting end.
July 18, 2023
A debut novel from a lawyer about the machinations of large law firms....insider knowledge is evident.
The surrounds of the story in melbourne are well known to me as are the workings and politics of large legal firms... CUT THROAT !!! BACKSTABBING !!!
Wonder what the next novel will be ....
The surrounds of the story in melbourne are well known to me as are the workings and politics of large legal firms... CUT THROAT !!! BACKSTABBING !!!
Wonder what the next novel will be ....
November 8, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. A defamation case involving the rich and famous of Melbourne. Romola looking for a change of scenery from Sydney, joins an elite legal firm who is taking on the defamation case. Romola takes on more than she bargained for. A great read.
November 14, 2023
A twisting trail through the law, and the wealth and privilege that many accept as their right. Eve Thomson is a new voice on the Australian literary stage, and this legal drama makes a change from police procedurals. I look forward to reading more from Eve in the years to come.
January 25, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this legal thriller. The plot moved at a pleasing pace and the characters were interesting. As a law student, I thought it provided thoughtful insight into defamation, private firm politics and the litigation process. A great summer holiday read!
April 11, 2023
Good story, well written, believable characters. Great debut novel - I how there will be more.
October 29, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book. Chapters moved pretty quickly and it was easy to read.
July 3, 2024
Real page turner and current.
Interesting twist at the end that I didn’t expect.
Enjoyed the local aspect, set in my home town.
Kept me changing my mind on Patrick’s innocence.
Interesting twist at the end that I didn’t expect.
Enjoyed the local aspect, set in my home town.
Kept me changing my mind on Patrick’s innocence.
January 27, 2025
Good book - a little slow to start but couldnt put it down in the end
June 24, 2025
Tell, don't show.
July 10, 2025
2.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews