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The Body in Question
The place: central Florida. The situation: a sensational murder trial, set in a courthouse more Soviet than Le Corbusier; a rich, white teenage girl—a twin—on trial for murdering her toddler brother.
Two of the jurors: Hannah, a married fifty-two-year-old former Rolling Stone and Interview Magazine photographer of rock stars and socialites (she began to photograph animals when she realized she saw people “as a species”), and Graham, a forty-one-year-old anatomy professor. Both are sequestered (she, juror C-2; he, F-17) along with the other jurors at the Econo Lodge off I-75. As the shocking and numbing details of the crime are revealed during a string of days and courtroom hours, and the nights play out in a series of court-financed meals at Outback Steak House (the state isn’t paying for their drinks) and Red Lobster, Hannah and Graham fall into a furtive affair, keeping their oath as jurors never to discuss the trial. During deliberations the lovers learn that they are on opposing sides of the case. Suddenly they look at one another through an altogether different lens, as things become more complicated . . .
After the verdict, Hannah returns home to her much older husband, but the case ignites once again and Hannah’s “one last dalliance before she is too old” takes on profoundly personal and moral consequences as The Body in Question moves to its affecting, powerful, and surprising conclusion.
Listening length: 5 hours, 26 minutes
Two of the jurors: Hannah, a married fifty-two-year-old former Rolling Stone and Interview Magazine photographer of rock stars and socialites (she began to photograph animals when she realized she saw people “as a species”), and Graham, a forty-one-year-old anatomy professor. Both are sequestered (she, juror C-2; he, F-17) along with the other jurors at the Econo Lodge off I-75. As the shocking and numbing details of the crime are revealed during a string of days and courtroom hours, and the nights play out in a series of court-financed meals at Outback Steak House (the state isn’t paying for their drinks) and Red Lobster, Hannah and Graham fall into a furtive affair, keeping their oath as jurors never to discuss the trial. During deliberations the lovers learn that they are on opposing sides of the case. Suddenly they look at one another through an altogether different lens, as things become more complicated . . .
After the verdict, Hannah returns home to her much older husband, but the case ignites once again and Hannah’s “one last dalliance before she is too old” takes on profoundly personal and moral consequences as The Body in Question moves to its affecting, powerful, and surprising conclusion.
Listening length: 5 hours, 26 minutes
6 pages, Audiobook
First published June 11, 2019
797 people are currently reading
20206 people want to read
About the author
Jill Ciment
14 books357 followersJill Ciment was born in Montreal, Canada. She is the author of Small Claims, a collection of short stories and novellas; The Law of Falling Bodies, Teeth of the Dog, The Tattoo Artist, and Heroic Measures, novels; and Half a Life, a memoir. She has been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts, a NEA Japan Fellowship Prize, two New York State Fellowships for the Arts, the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Ciment is a professor at the University of Florida. She lives with her husband, Arnold Mesches, in Gainesville, Florida and Brooklyn, New York.
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June 13, 2019
The Body in Question by Jill Ciment is a 2019 Pantheon Books publication.
An unvarnished but addictive legal drama!
The jury has been selected for a sensational criminal trial where a teenage girl is accused of murdering her younger brother. The story follows the shocking developments of the trial, but the primary focus is on the jury, which has been sequestered. The spotlight zeroes in on juror C- 2, a 52- year old photographer, and F-17 – a 41- year old anatomy professor who forge a complicated relationship while being cooped up in an Econo-Lodge. In fact, they are so distracted by their secret dalliance they may not be paying close enough attention to the courtroom testimony.
But when the jury finally begins to deliberate, they are stunned to discover their relationship has yet another repercussion, as it becomes clear the jury is divided. Will their affair effect the outcome of the trial?
A new spin, and maybe even a mini-trend, on the standard legal thriller, is to put the jury front and center. We see the trial through their eyes only. It’s a lurid, and strange case and I had a sinking feeling about it almost from the get-go. However, just like C-2 and F-17, my attention was often diverted from the nuances of the trial, by the drama going on with the jury members.
C-2 is coping with her much older husband’s many health maladies, while worrying the other jurors will catch on that she and F-17 are hitting the sheets. F-17 is taking the relationship seriously, while C-2 considers it a brief fling, one that she intends to end once the trial is over.
Meanwhile, the other jurors, who curiously enough are not given a number, but are instead referenced by descriptive nicknames, brings even more suspense to the drama, as some of them could cause trouble for the lovers. How will they respond when their suspicions about C-2 and F-17 are confirmed?
This is an interesting setup. I could see our scandal obsessed media turning a horrific crime into a circus. It also exposes the flawed court system, forcing a jury to reach a decision without pertinent information, which most assuredly would have had an impact on their final verdict. The public, of course, knows more than the jury, which turns the jury members into pariahs.
But what makes this book so interesting, is the author’s bare bones prose. She presumes her readers are smart, she gives them the credit they deserve by getting straight to the point. We don’t need everything explained in minute detail. However, the drawback of this approach is that the story is colorless. There are no emotional pulls or appeals one way or another.
Still, the result is affecting, as we see how being a part of this trial impacted the lives of the jury, often cruelly and unfairly. The lawyers, the judge, the media, all come under scrutiny, but not in a heavy- handed way. It is up to the reader to make up their own minds about the moral ethics of the jury members, and if they deserve redemption, at the end of the day.
The story gives one plenty to ruminate over about jury ethics, with the legal system. It’s a compulsive read, and because the writing is so spare, it moves at a very brisk pace. I easily read it in one sitting.
As a fan of legal dramas, this book was an easy sell for me. I appreciated the unique approach and the food for thought. Despite the lack of any deep character analysis, I still found myself thinking about the accused, and the jurors, and the complexities of justice or the lack thereof.
An unvarnished but addictive legal drama!
The jury has been selected for a sensational criminal trial where a teenage girl is accused of murdering her younger brother. The story follows the shocking developments of the trial, but the primary focus is on the jury, which has been sequestered. The spotlight zeroes in on juror C- 2, a 52- year old photographer, and F-17 – a 41- year old anatomy professor who forge a complicated relationship while being cooped up in an Econo-Lodge. In fact, they are so distracted by their secret dalliance they may not be paying close enough attention to the courtroom testimony.
But when the jury finally begins to deliberate, they are stunned to discover their relationship has yet another repercussion, as it becomes clear the jury is divided. Will their affair effect the outcome of the trial?
A new spin, and maybe even a mini-trend, on the standard legal thriller, is to put the jury front and center. We see the trial through their eyes only. It’s a lurid, and strange case and I had a sinking feeling about it almost from the get-go. However, just like C-2 and F-17, my attention was often diverted from the nuances of the trial, by the drama going on with the jury members.
C-2 is coping with her much older husband’s many health maladies, while worrying the other jurors will catch on that she and F-17 are hitting the sheets. F-17 is taking the relationship seriously, while C-2 considers it a brief fling, one that she intends to end once the trial is over.
Meanwhile, the other jurors, who curiously enough are not given a number, but are instead referenced by descriptive nicknames, brings even more suspense to the drama, as some of them could cause trouble for the lovers. How will they respond when their suspicions about C-2 and F-17 are confirmed?
This is an interesting setup. I could see our scandal obsessed media turning a horrific crime into a circus. It also exposes the flawed court system, forcing a jury to reach a decision without pertinent information, which most assuredly would have had an impact on their final verdict. The public, of course, knows more than the jury, which turns the jury members into pariahs.
But what makes this book so interesting, is the author’s bare bones prose. She presumes her readers are smart, she gives them the credit they deserve by getting straight to the point. We don’t need everything explained in minute detail. However, the drawback of this approach is that the story is colorless. There are no emotional pulls or appeals one way or another.
Still, the result is affecting, as we see how being a part of this trial impacted the lives of the jury, often cruelly and unfairly. The lawyers, the judge, the media, all come under scrutiny, but not in a heavy- handed way. It is up to the reader to make up their own minds about the moral ethics of the jury members, and if they deserve redemption, at the end of the day.
The story gives one plenty to ruminate over about jury ethics, with the legal system. It’s a compulsive read, and because the writing is so spare, it moves at a very brisk pace. I easily read it in one sitting.
As a fan of legal dramas, this book was an easy sell for me. I appreciated the unique approach and the food for thought. Despite the lack of any deep character analysis, I still found myself thinking about the accused, and the jurors, and the complexities of justice or the lack thereof.
June 13, 2019
...AVOID REVIEWS...
...READ IT...
....READ IT! READ IT!! READ IT!!!
Magnificent & Brilliant!!!!
One sitting read for most readers. You won’t be able to put it down!!!
A few small excerpts- but no spoilers in this review:
“The point of no return is the moment when continuing a journey becomes less dangerous than turning back”......
“What else but guilt”, asks the defense counsel, “would cause an innocent person to confess?”
“You either photograph what you know, or photograph what you want to know. But the giants photograph what they don’t want to know”.
A rare treat - that we could analyze together - as community -
WHY IS THIS BOOK SOOO ADDICTING?? ...
What makes it rare? Exciting? What gives it THIS MUCH ENERGY?
Hope readers enjoy it!!! I loved it crazily!!!!
...READ IT...
....READ IT! READ IT!! READ IT!!!
Magnificent & Brilliant!!!!
One sitting read for most readers. You won’t be able to put it down!!!
A few small excerpts- but no spoilers in this review:
“The point of no return is the moment when continuing a journey becomes less dangerous than turning back”......
“What else but guilt”, asks the defense counsel, “would cause an innocent person to confess?”
“You either photograph what you know, or photograph what you want to know. But the giants photograph what they don’t want to know”.
A rare treat - that we could analyze together - as community -
WHY IS THIS BOOK SOOO ADDICTING?? ...
What makes it rare? Exciting? What gives it THIS MUCH ENERGY?
Hope readers enjoy it!!! I loved it crazily!!!!
June 23, 2019
A tense court drama, superbly written, that focuses on the jury rather than the defendant. A teenage girl is accused of killing her toddler brother and the jury of 6 are tasked with giving the verdict. Sounds familiar? Yes, quite, but I was surprised by the Author who, apart from unravelling the story of the tragic death of a baby, tells a story of an unexpected relationship between two jury members, and how jurors relate to one another. Still familiar? I can assure you that the narration makes the plot original and captivating. For a long time I pondered upon the title of the novel, and it occurred to me that the characters are ‘bodies’. We are given information on their appearance rather than their inner lives. Everybody watches one another, and draws conclusions from their observations . I did not relate to any of the characters, though was moved by the death of a baby and the fact that his half-sister may have murdered him. The trial itself is fascinating as nobody knows anything more than the others. Just sit, observe, make notes and think.
June 17, 2019
Spoiler-free review:
Far more than a simple courtroom drama, this book puts the sequestered jury as the focus. We learn details of the trial of a wealthy teenager accused of murdering her toddler brother only through their eyes, or, more specifically, through juror C-2’s eyes (we learn her name only in the last half). Her observations, her thoughts, her notes, and her relationship with juror F-17 are what drives this story and makes it so fascinating. The first half of this book deals with the time of the trial, and the last half deals with the juror's private lives and the aftermath once they return home.
I went in blind after hearing it recommended on a podcast and I am so glad I did. I recommend not reading blurbs and summaries. Intelligent and well-written, I was immediately sucked in and glued to the page. The writing is spare and unemotional which could keep a reader from connecting to the characters but in this case it worked for me. At less than 200 pages I read it in one day. Powerful and profound, this is a book that reminds me of why I love to read. The themes are intricately woven and takes the reader in some surprising directions. It’s a book I won’t soon forget.
Having served on a jury three times, one being a murder case, some of the juror types were very familiar to me, which made the story even more interesting to me. Reading this book as an exploration of our jury system alone would make this a worthwhile read, but it is so much more.
This book won’t appeal to those looking for tidy answers at the end, but read it if you enjoy a book that makes you think long after you have closed the last page. It would make a terrific book club choice. This was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last.
• Many thanks to Edelweiss for a copy of the book for review
• This was a buddy read with Marialyce, one that inspired one of our best discussions. For our duo review of this and others please visit her blog at https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
Far more than a simple courtroom drama, this book puts the sequestered jury as the focus. We learn details of the trial of a wealthy teenager accused of murdering her toddler brother only through their eyes, or, more specifically, through juror C-2’s eyes (we learn her name only in the last half). Her observations, her thoughts, her notes, and her relationship with juror F-17 are what drives this story and makes it so fascinating. The first half of this book deals with the time of the trial, and the last half deals with the juror's private lives and the aftermath once they return home.
I went in blind after hearing it recommended on a podcast and I am so glad I did. I recommend not reading blurbs and summaries. Intelligent and well-written, I was immediately sucked in and glued to the page. The writing is spare and unemotional which could keep a reader from connecting to the characters but in this case it worked for me. At less than 200 pages I read it in one day. Powerful and profound, this is a book that reminds me of why I love to read. The themes are intricately woven and takes the reader in some surprising directions. It’s a book I won’t soon forget.
Having served on a jury three times, one being a murder case, some of the juror types were very familiar to me, which made the story even more interesting to me. Reading this book as an exploration of our jury system alone would make this a worthwhile read, but it is so much more.
This book won’t appeal to those looking for tidy answers at the end, but read it if you enjoy a book that makes you think long after you have closed the last page. It would make a terrific book club choice. This was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last.
• Many thanks to Edelweiss for a copy of the book for review
• This was a buddy read with Marialyce, one that inspired one of our best discussions. For our duo review of this and others please visit her blog at https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
June 21, 2019
Wow! I resented the time I had to take away from this book due to family obligations... seriously an addictive and riveting story, a real page turner!
A murder trial, a sequestered jury.... things happen...
Thank you Elyse for bringing this to my attention!
A murder trial, a sequestered jury.... things happen...
Thank you Elyse for bringing this to my attention!
August 21, 2019
I almost think this should be called the anatomy of a body. A crime takes place and a jury is selected. However, in this clever narrative, characters are only known by their jury number.
The jurors are sequestered. An affair begins between C-2, in what she believes to be her last fling at 52 and married to an aging husband, and F-17 an anatomy professor.
When the trial is over, an unravelling of character begins.
There is a sacred beauty depicted in the dissection of a body donated to science. It’s not just about how someone died but also how they lived.
An unusual but fascinating one that goes beyond the courtroom.
4 ⭐️
The jurors are sequestered. An affair begins between C-2, in what she believes to be her last fling at 52 and married to an aging husband, and F-17 an anatomy professor.
When the trial is over, an unravelling of character begins.
There is a sacred beauty depicted in the dissection of a body donated to science. It’s not just about how someone died but also how they lived.
An unusual but fascinating one that goes beyond the courtroom.
4 ⭐️
July 26, 2019
A teen girl, a twin that is on the spectrum, has been accused of murdering her 18 month old brother. A jury is chosen. We follow along with the jury.
Two of the jurors (which are only referred to by their juror #'s rather than names) C-2, a 52 yr old photographer that is married to a much older man, and F-17, a 41 yr old anatomy professor decide to carry on an affair while being sequestered at the Econo Lodge. When it comes time for the jury to deliberate C-2 can't believe that F-17 is on the opposing side of hers.
The trial comes to a close and the jurors return to their lives but the consequences of their verdict will be felt by all the jurors. (I, personally, didn't agree with the verdict they had reached.)
For C-2, that means returning to her 86 year old husband that has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
This book was so much different than what I was expecting it to be. First off, the trial is secondary to the jurors themselves which for me was a little disappointing. I wanted to get into the nitty gritty of the trial but that isn't the focus here. The focus is primarily on C-2 and how she comes to terms with her affair and her husbands mortality. Honestly, to me, she is not a very nice person. The way in which she treats her husband was off-putting at best. The idea that she felt it was okay to have one last dalliance (she admits to previous affairs) before she was too old didn't sit well with me because at the same time she claims her undying love for her husband. My heart really broke for him. I also should mention that I never really understood or felt the chemistry between C-2 and F-17. With all that being said this is still an interesting and quick read but it just fell a little short of my expectations. Better than 3 stars but can't quite push it to 4 so ... 3.5 stars!
Before I end this review I'm going to post one quote that I love in all its brutal honesty:
“You know you’re old when you look and feel like the morning after but there was no night before."
Am I the only one that feels like this some days? 😉
Two of the jurors (which are only referred to by their juror #'s rather than names) C-2, a 52 yr old photographer that is married to a much older man, and F-17, a 41 yr old anatomy professor decide to carry on an affair while being sequestered at the Econo Lodge. When it comes time for the jury to deliberate C-2 can't believe that F-17 is on the opposing side of hers.
The trial comes to a close and the jurors return to their lives but the consequences of their verdict will be felt by all the jurors. (I, personally, didn't agree with the verdict they had reached.)
For C-2, that means returning to her 86 year old husband that has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
This book was so much different than what I was expecting it to be. First off, the trial is secondary to the jurors themselves which for me was a little disappointing. I wanted to get into the nitty gritty of the trial but that isn't the focus here. The focus is primarily on C-2 and how she comes to terms with her affair and her husbands mortality. Honestly, to me, she is not a very nice person. The way in which she treats her husband was off-putting at best. The idea that she felt it was okay to have one last dalliance (she admits to previous affairs) before she was too old didn't sit well with me because at the same time she claims her undying love for her husband. My heart really broke for him. I also should mention that I never really understood or felt the chemistry between C-2 and F-17. With all that being said this is still an interesting and quick read but it just fell a little short of my expectations. Better than 3 stars but can't quite push it to 4 so ... 3.5 stars!
Before I end this review I'm going to post one quote that I love in all its brutal honesty:
“You know you’re old when you look and feel like the morning after but there was no night before."
Am I the only one that feels like this some days? 😉
January 31, 2020
What a different novel with so many elements that I enjoy...
courtroom drama, the behind the scenes jury discussions/happenings, deliberations, a side affair, complications at home, controversy and so much more!
Thanks to Elyse for her review that prompted me to pick this one up (library loan). Would be a good buddy read or book club discussion.
There is so much to think about... even after finishing...
Although some may question the ending, I was satisfied.
Look forward to her next novel!
courtroom drama, the behind the scenes jury discussions/happenings, deliberations, a side affair, complications at home, controversy and so much more!
Thanks to Elyse for her review that prompted me to pick this one up (library loan). Would be a good buddy read or book club discussion.
There is so much to think about... even after finishing...
Although some may question the ending, I was satisfied.
Look forward to her next novel!
June 16, 2019
There are times when a short little book can pack in a lot of very strong feelings, excellent writing, and encourage a taste for information, discussion, and awareness. Jan and I found this little book packed with a plethora of questions, ones we often struggled to comprehend, and yet this story is powerful and timely.
For what seems to be a very long time, courtroom drama has become a voyeuristic look into the workings of our legal system. Spurred on by the now famous OJ Simpson trial followed by many other lurid trials, we have become a culture where through social media, a frenzied press, and our own human need, we find ourselves drawn into the lives of others. Such was the case with this story of a sensational trial involving the heinous murder of an eighteen month child by an adopted teenage handicapped sister.
Jurors are called in and those who are selected, are to be sequestered during the trial proceedings. It is during this time that two of the jurors, C-2 and F-17 carry on an affair. As the horrendous proceedings occur at the trial, the jury called to deliberate find themselves conflicted and some suspect that part of that conflict is because the two lovers are on opposite sides of a guilty verdict. How could these two lovers, so caught up in one another, be fair judges of what has gone on in the trial proceedings?
There are so many themes running through this book. Explored is the concept of May December marriages, which is what Hannah, Juror number C-2 is experiencing with her much older husband. Hannah is looking for that one last fling, the one last time to prove that she is desirable and wanted, needing to affirm the fact that she has life left within her. Is the fairness of our trial system, where often details are left out compromising the decisions made, as fair as we all think it is? Is the sensationalism we often see in today's press, that strives to publish all the gruesome details available and make headlines, so often compromising the people involved as well as often pushing the veracity of their reporting right and fair to all involved?
This short book leaves the reader with many questions. There are no solutions and as Ms Ciment writes brief and poignant prose, we are left to ponder the many complicated experiences we have after and during the reading of this story. The author lets us be our own jury scrutinizing ourselves, our feelings, and looking for the knowledge that our mind does often query many things without getting any real answers. Perhaps in the end, there are no solutions.
Recommended to those who enjoy stories that raise much awareness in your thought process, disturb your preconceptions, and leaves you feeling unsettled and rattled.
For our duo reviews you can look here: http://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpress...
For what seems to be a very long time, courtroom drama has become a voyeuristic look into the workings of our legal system. Spurred on by the now famous OJ Simpson trial followed by many other lurid trials, we have become a culture where through social media, a frenzied press, and our own human need, we find ourselves drawn into the lives of others. Such was the case with this story of a sensational trial involving the heinous murder of an eighteen month child by an adopted teenage handicapped sister.
Jurors are called in and those who are selected, are to be sequestered during the trial proceedings. It is during this time that two of the jurors, C-2 and F-17 carry on an affair. As the horrendous proceedings occur at the trial, the jury called to deliberate find themselves conflicted and some suspect that part of that conflict is because the two lovers are on opposite sides of a guilty verdict. How could these two lovers, so caught up in one another, be fair judges of what has gone on in the trial proceedings?
There are so many themes running through this book. Explored is the concept of May December marriages, which is what Hannah, Juror number C-2 is experiencing with her much older husband. Hannah is looking for that one last fling, the one last time to prove that she is desirable and wanted, needing to affirm the fact that she has life left within her. Is the fairness of our trial system, where often details are left out compromising the decisions made, as fair as we all think it is? Is the sensationalism we often see in today's press, that strives to publish all the gruesome details available and make headlines, so often compromising the people involved as well as often pushing the veracity of their reporting right and fair to all involved?
This short book leaves the reader with many questions. There are no solutions and as Ms Ciment writes brief and poignant prose, we are left to ponder the many complicated experiences we have after and during the reading of this story. The author lets us be our own jury scrutinizing ourselves, our feelings, and looking for the knowledge that our mind does often query many things without getting any real answers. Perhaps in the end, there are no solutions.
Recommended to those who enjoy stories that raise much awareness in your thought process, disturb your preconceptions, and leaves you feeling unsettled and rattled.
For our duo reviews you can look here: http://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpress...
May 2, 2019
A sensational murder trial would soon commence in Central Florida. A six-person jury would be selected. Potential jurors C-2 and F-17 flirt while waiting to be interviewed. The jury box chosen consists of five women and one man with one alternate, if needed. C-2 and F-17 are both chosen to serve on the jury. The trial, requiring sequestration, will last for approximately three weeks.
Juror C-2 is a former portrait photographer for Rolling Stone Magazine. Uninterested in working in this capacity, she accepts an assignment as a photographer for a Pulitzer-winning journalist whom she later marries. Her husband is now eighty six years old, she is fifty two. "...for how much longer can he still navigate the days obstacles?" "If C-2 is sequestered, she will only have to take care of herself-a much needed respite justified by civil duty." Juror F-17 is a fortyish anatomy professor. His face is pitted with acne but he has striking blue eyes.
Television reporters and crews magnify the scope of the trial of rich teenager Anca, accused of killing her toddler brother. Senior citizens in Central Florida are bused in to occupy the back pews and view this engrossing celebrity trial. Why did Anca confess...did she commit the crime? Anca is an identical twin. From birth, Stephana appeared to be hearty while Anca was frail. Anca seemed mute, therefore, Stephana did all the talking for both of them.
"The Body in Question" by Jill Ciment was a well constructed procedural that focused on a teen's guilt or innocence, a dalliance and its repercussions, and a tabloid-type frenzy created in the court of public opinion. A thoroughly enjoyable, thought provoking read I highly recommend.
Thank you First to Read Program and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review "The Body in Question".
Juror C-2 is a former portrait photographer for Rolling Stone Magazine. Uninterested in working in this capacity, she accepts an assignment as a photographer for a Pulitzer-winning journalist whom she later marries. Her husband is now eighty six years old, she is fifty two. "...for how much longer can he still navigate the days obstacles?" "If C-2 is sequestered, she will only have to take care of herself-a much needed respite justified by civil duty." Juror F-17 is a fortyish anatomy professor. His face is pitted with acne but he has striking blue eyes.
Television reporters and crews magnify the scope of the trial of rich teenager Anca, accused of killing her toddler brother. Senior citizens in Central Florida are bused in to occupy the back pews and view this engrossing celebrity trial. Why did Anca confess...did she commit the crime? Anca is an identical twin. From birth, Stephana appeared to be hearty while Anca was frail. Anca seemed mute, therefore, Stephana did all the talking for both of them.
"The Body in Question" by Jill Ciment was a well constructed procedural that focused on a teen's guilt or innocence, a dalliance and its repercussions, and a tabloid-type frenzy created in the court of public opinion. A thoroughly enjoyable, thought provoking read I highly recommend.
Thank you First to Read Program and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review "The Body in Question".
March 20, 2020
Was this about a murder trial? An elicit affair to while away the hours in between the trial? Dealing with end of life issues? There is too much and also not enough.
This author and I are not a good fit. I read a previous book, Heroic Measures, and I had the same feelings of detachment from the story and characters turning the last page and asking myself…and the point was?
There are many glowing reviews, I’m definitely in the minority on this jury, but my verdict is guilty by reason of inconsequential storytelling.
This author and I are not a good fit. I read a previous book, Heroic Measures, and I had the same feelings of detachment from the story and characters turning the last page and asking myself…and the point was?
There are many glowing reviews, I’m definitely in the minority on this jury, but my verdict is guilty by reason of inconsequential storytelling.
December 30, 2019
This was a superb, little novel that served as my last read of 2019. I was shocked when I went back and read the Goodreads summary that it gives so much away. I think it serves a person considering this as their next read well to completely ignore the summary and know one thing: This is not a typical courtroom drama. The drama surrounds the jury; particularly jurors C-2 and F-17. The case itself takes a backseat to the lives of our two main jurors, their affair and the outcome that affair has on the decision of the court case.
An easy, one day read - there is a lot to unpack in the dense 173 pages. The superb writing (although it took me a bit to understand where it was going and to get in the flow) provides plenty for book group discussions. I think it's too bad this book didn't get more attention since it's such an interesting character study. This definitely won't work for everyone, but it pushed my boundaries as a reader and I always appreciate that. Judgement is the theme in a lot of varying facets and that's always interesting to me.
I'm so thankful to the NYTimes for posting this as a selection for best fiction of 2019 as well as my trusted Goodreads friends for their wonderful reviews. Thanks as well to the Buffalo Library for providing my copy and getting me to my goal of 72 books for the year!
Review Date: 12/30/19
Publication Date: 06/11/19
An easy, one day read - there is a lot to unpack in the dense 173 pages. The superb writing (although it took me a bit to understand where it was going and to get in the flow) provides plenty for book group discussions. I think it's too bad this book didn't get more attention since it's such an interesting character study. This definitely won't work for everyone, but it pushed my boundaries as a reader and I always appreciate that. Judgement is the theme in a lot of varying facets and that's always interesting to me.
I'm so thankful to the NYTimes for posting this as a selection for best fiction of 2019 as well as my trusted Goodreads friends for their wonderful reviews. Thanks as well to the Buffalo Library for providing my copy and getting me to my goal of 72 books for the year!
Review Date: 12/30/19
Publication Date: 06/11/19
November 17, 2023
4.75 Stars — Wow… This one is so so so close to being a big-boppa-five-star-sweetheart it’s palpably difficult to not just get it there! Jill Ciment has written a genuine, thoughtful, charismatic and disturbing novel of distinction here that has gone far too deep under-the-radar.
The Body in question is part court/jury procedural, part contemporary-light-drama & perhaps somewhat mystery. The important thing, is that it’s bloody brilliant and that the authors prose is the idyllic vessel for these fault-ridden good intentioned, deeply human characters to shine in this drama where the jurors and the accused become blurred to represent society in all of its mental-toxic-sinew laden glory.
C-2 is a juror whom recognises her own personal battles within her psyche for supremacy and in her fallibility, is able to empathise yet not project, with the woman on trial — for a rather heinous, brutal and ugly crime — in all of the ways we as people rarely allow ourselves to. There is an emotive pull here, that wretches at your inner-self without the colloquially redundant observer to reveal what’s true and what can happen with just a small amount of crazy at the opportune times.
In all seriousness, this drama is simply riveting on scandalous, yet utterly personal levels — the parallels and paradoxes work together to create a mind-sapping thrill to turn pages and feel as though we are live in the action of it all, as C-2 and her merry-jurors must decipher fact from folly.
The best way to read this is one long session and to just open up to it and soak it all up, without any cogitation in-between the pages for full affect of the whole story that’s able to be unravelled here — reading a second time really helped me convalesce, size-up this gnawing feeling and categorise it as that foggy, deep and often dulled emotion we call consciousness.
The Body in question is part court/jury procedural, part contemporary-light-drama & perhaps somewhat mystery. The important thing, is that it’s bloody brilliant and that the authors prose is the idyllic vessel for these fault-ridden good intentioned, deeply human characters to shine in this drama where the jurors and the accused become blurred to represent society in all of its mental-toxic-sinew laden glory.
C-2 is a juror whom recognises her own personal battles within her psyche for supremacy and in her fallibility, is able to empathise yet not project, with the woman on trial — for a rather heinous, brutal and ugly crime — in all of the ways we as people rarely allow ourselves to. There is an emotive pull here, that wretches at your inner-self without the colloquially redundant observer to reveal what’s true and what can happen with just a small amount of crazy at the opportune times.
In all seriousness, this drama is simply riveting on scandalous, yet utterly personal levels — the parallels and paradoxes work together to create a mind-sapping thrill to turn pages and feel as though we are live in the action of it all, as C-2 and her merry-jurors must decipher fact from folly.
The best way to read this is one long session and to just open up to it and soak it all up, without any cogitation in-between the pages for full affect of the whole story that’s able to be unravelled here — reading a second time really helped me convalesce, size-up this gnawing feeling and categorise it as that foggy, deep and often dulled emotion we call consciousness.
April 25, 2019
You know all those fancy literary novels where you read hundreds of pages of beautiful prose but nothing happens? This is not that. This is a fancy literary novel, but at its center is a whole lot of plot. It is still Literary Fiction, so of course there are well-off middle-aged white people and double of course there is marital infidelity. But there is also a high-profile trial where a teenage girl is accused of murder. (Note: this involves the death of a child, and it's rather gruesome if that's an issue for you.)
It is so easy to get sucked into this book. Like the main character (called C-2, her juror number, for much of the book) we want to know what the crime is and what happened. We want to know how it's going to turn out and if the jury will find her guilty. And happily the book lets you have all that, it doesn't withhold the goods for the sake of Fancy Literary Ideas. But crime readers who like a really juicy plot may find their interest waning as the trial winds down and we have to confront C-2's relationship with her elderly husband and more traditional Literary Fiction territory.
I am all for the tearing down of genre as ghettoized, I love seeing so-called "highbrow" writers move into so-called "lowbrow" genres. And I can't recall a novel that has done this in crime as well as this one. It was a little hard for me because I do have some expectations around crime novels, but ultimately I really enjoyed the way Ciment took this tabloid-worthy subject matter to such an interesting place.
It is so easy to get sucked into this book. Like the main character (called C-2, her juror number, for much of the book) we want to know what the crime is and what happened. We want to know how it's going to turn out and if the jury will find her guilty. And happily the book lets you have all that, it doesn't withhold the goods for the sake of Fancy Literary Ideas. But crime readers who like a really juicy plot may find their interest waning as the trial winds down and we have to confront C-2's relationship with her elderly husband and more traditional Literary Fiction territory.
I am all for the tearing down of genre as ghettoized, I love seeing so-called "highbrow" writers move into so-called "lowbrow" genres. And I can't recall a novel that has done this in crime as well as this one. It was a little hard for me because I do have some expectations around crime novels, but ultimately I really enjoyed the way Ciment took this tabloid-worthy subject matter to such an interesting place.
August 2, 2019
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
2.5 Stars
I picked up The Body In Question after reading JanB’s amazing review (proving once again that Goodreads has some seriously talented bookpushers in its midst). I followed her suggestion and went in blind, but fully admit I had presuppositions (is that the word I’m looking for? probably not) since this was a book that focused on the jury rather than the accused, victim or attorney parties that it would be a bit . . . .
If I had read the publisher’s blurb – which literally tells THE ENTIRE BOOK – I may have steered clear. Bottom line? If Juror C-2 and I ended up the same room together, she’d probably have something like this to say to me . . . .
2.5 Stars
I picked up The Body In Question after reading JanB’s amazing review (proving once again that Goodreads has some seriously talented bookpushers in its midst). I followed her suggestion and went in blind, but fully admit I had presuppositions (is that the word I’m looking for? probably not) since this was a book that focused on the jury rather than the accused, victim or attorney parties that it would be a bit . . . .
If I had read the publisher’s blurb – which literally tells THE ENTIRE BOOK – I may have steered clear. Bottom line? If Juror C-2 and I ended up the same room together, she’d probably have something like this to say to me . . . .
May 6, 2025
I was in the mood for a good courtroom drama jury trial. So, I did an online search at my local library and this book came up.
As I began to read, I was finding myself interested in who made up the prospective jury. But at the same time, I was also finding myself a bit detached from the characters, as well. Almost as if the author intended for it to be that way. Could it be because the author gave the characters no names?
As an example, she labeled jurors by names such as corn-rows or church lady or with letter-numbers to denote who they were, like C-2 and F-17. Even when they were within their personal home settings. Why did the author feel it was important to do this? Did she believe that it would bring another sense of mystery to the storyline? Even when the story wasn’t a mystery?
As readers we know that C-2 is a married woman. And, we know that the jurors are now sequestered and not allowed to interact with other jurors. But what if they do? Will those actions affect the verdict?
And, as names are revealed, will we as readers have more of a personal connection to the characters?
This short, brisk story is a sexy, compelling, morality read that should be entered blindly. It will most likely leave readers feeling a bit unsettled as they contemplate their feelings about what they just read. Especially when asked to consider a case, and how much jurors really know when they are expected to render a verdict.
4.5 stars
As I began to read, I was finding myself interested in who made up the prospective jury. But at the same time, I was also finding myself a bit detached from the characters, as well. Almost as if the author intended for it to be that way. Could it be because the author gave the characters no names?
As an example, she labeled jurors by names such as corn-rows or church lady or with letter-numbers to denote who they were, like C-2 and F-17. Even when they were within their personal home settings. Why did the author feel it was important to do this? Did she believe that it would bring another sense of mystery to the storyline? Even when the story wasn’t a mystery?
As readers we know that C-2 is a married woman. And, we know that the jurors are now sequestered and not allowed to interact with other jurors. But what if they do? Will those actions affect the verdict?
And, as names are revealed, will we as readers have more of a personal connection to the characters?
This short, brisk story is a sexy, compelling, morality read that should be entered blindly. It will most likely leave readers feeling a bit unsettled as they contemplate their feelings about what they just read. Especially when asked to consider a case, and how much jurors really know when they are expected to render a verdict.
4.5 stars
Read
August 18, 2019Thought I would like this but didn't. Should have more to say but don't.
June 18, 2019
5 Stars. Loved it! Thank you Elyse...
June 12, 2019
In central Florida, a photographer is called to jury duty. The trial is sensational, high-profile stuff: a teenage girl is accused of murdering her 18-month-old brother by way of arson. During sequestration, the photographer begins an affair with another juror, an anatomy professor. Throughout the trial, we only know the photographer and her lover by their court aliases, C-2 and F-17. Only much later are we told what they're really called; it's funny how those real names never quite seem to fit.
C-2 met her husband when she was 24, he in his late fifties; now 86, he is in the throes of an illness he fears will kill him, and C-2 is his sole carer. F-17, on the other hand, is ten years younger than her. No doubt because of the large gap in her marriage, C-2 often computes things in terms of age: 'She would like one last dalliance before she gets too old... If her husband lives another ten years, his mother's life-span, she will be sixty-two – young for a widow, but old for a dalliance.'
I liked this well enough, but I felt it could've been elevated. I look at the description above and think, I have written about this in such a dull and matter-of-fact way – but that is the tone of the book itself, clinical and devoid of passion. I wanted the whole concept to be passed to another writer (Laura van den Berg kept coming to mind) who could really have exploited its potential. As it is, The Body in Question is finely crafted and well-written, but lacklustre. C-2 is oddly lacking in interiority; neither her marriage nor the affair ever become emotionally absorbing. I'm unsure what sort of reaction her story is intended to provoke in the reader.
The trial, on the other hand, is very interesting. So the overall experience is like watching a really good crime drama while a boring couple are having an argument right in front of you, so you can only hear about 30% of the dialogue. I realise the point is to show that juries are fallible, they're human, they have other stuff going on, they miss crucial details and develop prejudices among themselves – but it's not a good look for a novel when the background plot is three times as compelling as the 'main' one.
I think those who loved Jamie Quatro's Fire Sermon might enjoy this too. Personally, I want a novel about an affair to make me really feel something, something more than 'I'm annoyed these people aren't taking the trial seriously'.
I received an advance review copy of The Body in Question from the publisher, Pantheon.
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C-2 met her husband when she was 24, he in his late fifties; now 86, he is in the throes of an illness he fears will kill him, and C-2 is his sole carer. F-17, on the other hand, is ten years younger than her. No doubt because of the large gap in her marriage, C-2 often computes things in terms of age: 'She would like one last dalliance before she gets too old... If her husband lives another ten years, his mother's life-span, she will be sixty-two – young for a widow, but old for a dalliance.'
I liked this well enough, but I felt it could've been elevated. I look at the description above and think, I have written about this in such a dull and matter-of-fact way – but that is the tone of the book itself, clinical and devoid of passion. I wanted the whole concept to be passed to another writer (Laura van den Berg kept coming to mind) who could really have exploited its potential. As it is, The Body in Question is finely crafted and well-written, but lacklustre. C-2 is oddly lacking in interiority; neither her marriage nor the affair ever become emotionally absorbing. I'm unsure what sort of reaction her story is intended to provoke in the reader.
The trial, on the other hand, is very interesting. So the overall experience is like watching a really good crime drama while a boring couple are having an argument right in front of you, so you can only hear about 30% of the dialogue. I realise the point is to show that juries are fallible, they're human, they have other stuff going on, they miss crucial details and develop prejudices among themselves – but it's not a good look for a novel when the background plot is three times as compelling as the 'main' one.
I think those who loved Jamie Quatro's Fire Sermon might enjoy this too. Personally, I want a novel about an affair to make me really feel something, something more than 'I'm annoyed these people aren't taking the trial seriously'.
I received an advance review copy of The Body in Question from the publisher, Pantheon.
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September 24, 2019
Do human impulses need reasons? A hard hitting novel that explores the potential damages of infidelity. Almost unrelenting tension builds towards an emotionally satisfying ending. You may want to set some uninterrupted time aside for this. Once you start you likely won’t want to stop.
June 6, 2019
From the first page of The Body in Question, there was no question: this was going to be a riveting read. I picked it up mid-afternoon and by nightfall, the house could have fallen down on me and I would not have even noticed. That’s how good this book is.
The book centers around a sensationalistic trial in Central Florida – think something like Casey Anderson. The defendant: a wealthy teenage girl who may be on the spectrum who is accused of a heinous murder. Jurors are chosen and sequestered, and two of them are a 52-year-old photographer, married to a much older, once celebrated man in failing health, and a single 42-year-old anatomy professor. We know them only as C-2 and F-17.
During the mind-numbing days that follow, as the jurors are cut off from the world and housed in an Econo Lodge without cell service, TV, or other distractions, the plot thickens. Much to my chagrin, the back cover includes ample spoilers, including the verdict. I’m surprised the publicist allowed these spoilers and urge readers to just dive in (as I did after I was forewarned).
The focus on the book is not the trial, for the most part; it’s the two jurors and the profound choices that must be made both in and out of the courtroom. It’s about the restlessness of grief and the complications and twists of life.
After reading Jill Ciment’s Tattoo Artist – one of my contemporary favorites – and Heroic Measures, I knew I was in for an immersive reading experience. This book, to me, is an unqualified 5-star.
The book centers around a sensationalistic trial in Central Florida – think something like Casey Anderson. The defendant: a wealthy teenage girl who may be on the spectrum who is accused of a heinous murder. Jurors are chosen and sequestered, and two of them are a 52-year-old photographer, married to a much older, once celebrated man in failing health, and a single 42-year-old anatomy professor. We know them only as C-2 and F-17.
During the mind-numbing days that follow, as the jurors are cut off from the world and housed in an Econo Lodge without cell service, TV, or other distractions, the plot thickens. Much to my chagrin, the back cover includes ample spoilers, including the verdict. I’m surprised the publicist allowed these spoilers and urge readers to just dive in (as I did after I was forewarned).
The focus on the book is not the trial, for the most part; it’s the two jurors and the profound choices that must be made both in and out of the courtroom. It’s about the restlessness of grief and the complications and twists of life.
After reading Jill Ciment’s Tattoo Artist – one of my contemporary favorites – and Heroic Measures, I knew I was in for an immersive reading experience. This book, to me, is an unqualified 5-star.
November 9, 2019
3.5 stars
I wouldn’t have chosen this one, but I read it for a book club. The Body in Question is an odd little novel. It seems a bit disjointed, with lots of plot strands that eventually come together at the end. Hannah is in her 50s, married to a man in his late 70s. She is called for jury duty, for a horrendous murder trial. The story focuses on the relationship between the jurors, Hannah’s relationship with her husband, and the family at the centre of the murder trial. It’s not a mystery, but very much about human dynamics. It’s not a book for readers who feel a need to like the main characters in a novel. But it’s an interesting study in human dynamics.
I wouldn’t have chosen this one, but I read it for a book club. The Body in Question is an odd little novel. It seems a bit disjointed, with lots of plot strands that eventually come together at the end. Hannah is in her 50s, married to a man in his late 70s. She is called for jury duty, for a horrendous murder trial. The story focuses on the relationship between the jurors, Hannah’s relationship with her husband, and the family at the centre of the murder trial. It’s not a mystery, but very much about human dynamics. It’s not a book for readers who feel a need to like the main characters in a novel. But it’s an interesting study in human dynamics.
January 25, 2024
Aside from the fatphobic comments on what felt like every other page, this was such an interesting book. I read it all in one sitting bc I couldn't put it down. Definitely interested in reading more from Ciment in the future.
November 26, 2019
4✚ 🚬 🚬 🚬 🚬
This is a short and smart intoxicating read. Just like the six jurors have to discuss and deliberate their verdict, so too the reader will wish (s)he has an in person book club to mull this one over. The acts of judging others and self-indulgence with all accompanying consequences are all over the pages and will remain in your brain for a while after completion.
Caution: this one may make you want to take up smoking or start again if you've quit. Once the smoke clears you're not sure about anything except you want another cigarette—and another book of course.
This is a short and smart intoxicating read. Just like the six jurors have to discuss and deliberate their verdict, so too the reader will wish (s)he has an in person book club to mull this one over. The acts of judging others and self-indulgence with all accompanying consequences are all over the pages and will remain in your brain for a while after completion.
Caution: this one may make you want to take up smoking or start again if you've quit. Once the smoke clears you're not sure about anything except you want another cigarette—and another book of course.
June 25, 2019
4.5 stars and my second enthralling modern read within one week. Unheard of!
This one is short and like a flaming arrow hitting a target 100 yards away within 2 inches of the bulls' eye in the end zone. It's adult and starkly real. And the first 2/3rds didn't at all lead me to believe what the last 1/3rd ending entailed at all. And I'm a fairly good guesser.
Jill Clement has gotten the mundane reality of jury duty even within homicide trials of wide acclaim/ media exposure. Plus she has another HUGE issue dominating the ending.
I was pulled into a twisted neglect of getting read for a trip, all kinds of duty tasks etc. by this book. I read it within about 3 or 4 hours of an overnight "what comes next" fervor.
It's centered upon an affair. Between anonymous numbered individuals. The detailing and prose skill are above average. As is the psychology knowledge and some medical detailing too.
This is not a book to read if you are looking for flippancy or savvy humor. Or wit, nor even well met good guys doing their "duty". Not at all. It's close to jury service as it lives. But not in my big city court rooms in which jurors don't even deem to say hi or goodbye to each other. I do know. Peers? That's always amazed me. Some people could not be considered peers of the accused or any defendant in any portion of possible definition rationalizing, IMHO.
The ending left me breathless. This is the next big issue that is going to come full blown after late term abortion and infanticide. Morality / law/ lives. Up is down and down is up.
Recommend if you have eyes /stomach to take this shot, one gulp, without nary diluting ice or water.
This one is short and like a flaming arrow hitting a target 100 yards away within 2 inches of the bulls' eye in the end zone. It's adult and starkly real. And the first 2/3rds didn't at all lead me to believe what the last 1/3rd ending entailed at all. And I'm a fairly good guesser.
Jill Clement has gotten the mundane reality of jury duty even within homicide trials of wide acclaim/ media exposure. Plus she has another HUGE issue dominating the ending.
I was pulled into a twisted neglect of getting read for a trip, all kinds of duty tasks etc. by this book. I read it within about 3 or 4 hours of an overnight "what comes next" fervor.
It's centered upon an affair. Between anonymous numbered individuals. The detailing and prose skill are above average. As is the psychology knowledge and some medical detailing too.
This is not a book to read if you are looking for flippancy or savvy humor. Or wit, nor even well met good guys doing their "duty". Not at all. It's close to jury service as it lives. But not in my big city court rooms in which jurors don't even deem to say hi or goodbye to each other. I do know. Peers? That's always amazed me. Some people could not be considered peers of the accused or any defendant in any portion of possible definition rationalizing, IMHO.
The ending left me breathless. This is the next big issue that is going to come full blown after late term abortion and infanticide. Morality / law/ lives. Up is down and down is up.
Recommend if you have eyes /stomach to take this shot, one gulp, without nary diluting ice or water.
August 16, 2019
It was a mistake not reviewing this book immediately upon finishing it. After a week long beach vacation, this book seems just out of mental reach. It is a quick read that presents the jury in an interesting light. Different, but forgettable for me.
June 2, 2019
4 stars Thank you to Penguins First to Read and Pantheon for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Publishes June 11, 2019.
This was a story within a story. While sitting on a jury, two of the jurors started an affair. Juror C-2 and Juror F-17, as they are known throughout most of the novel, are sneaking around and quickly falling in love. C-2 is married to an older man. F-17 is a single anatomy professor.
The trial the jurors become sequestered for involves a set of twin girls, one of whom set their house ablaze and killed their younger brother. We are privy to the trail process, the sentencing, and all the publicity that surrounds and follows it.
So you are following two separate stories, awaiting two separate outcomes, and silently trying to decide what results you really want. The conclusion may surprise you.
This is my first book by Ciment. For me it was a page turner. She did not overrun her work with too many characters or too much off track distraction. The two main characters carried the story from the jury selection right to end. Plain and simple. This is an author that I will read again.
This was a story within a story. While sitting on a jury, two of the jurors started an affair. Juror C-2 and Juror F-17, as they are known throughout most of the novel, are sneaking around and quickly falling in love. C-2 is married to an older man. F-17 is a single anatomy professor.
The trial the jurors become sequestered for involves a set of twin girls, one of whom set their house ablaze and killed their younger brother. We are privy to the trail process, the sentencing, and all the publicity that surrounds and follows it.
So you are following two separate stories, awaiting two separate outcomes, and silently trying to decide what results you really want. The conclusion may surprise you.
This is my first book by Ciment. For me it was a page turner. She did not overrun her work with too many characters or too much off track distraction. The two main characters carried the story from the jury selection right to end. Plain and simple. This is an author that I will read again.
December 27, 2022
I was initially drawn to this book because of it's basic description - two people called to jury duty, sequestered for a few weeks as a high profile murder trial plays out, who begin an affair with one another and possibly fumble their roles as jury members because of it. It sounded like a new, slightly provocative take on the legal thriller genre. Turns out, everything from the plotlines to the style of storytelling were way too remote and cold for my liking.
C-2 and F-17 (the two jurors) were not alluring, in my opinion. I didn't find their motivations - on and off the jury - to be compelling or curious. They felt very detached from their own story, and while at least C-2 was briefly described as simply "wanting one last affair before she got too old", F-17's strange instant passion for C-2 is never characterized for the reader to be believable or to simply connect where his desire or impulse comes from. The idea that he's just a man with nothing to do and nobody else to be around for three weeks wasn't enough for me - not considering how intense and immediate his love was for C-2. It just didn't add up and it was too apathetic in itself (the writing) to keep me engrossed in their actions.
In fact, the trial portion of the story, which is actually meant to serve as a simple backdrop to C-2 and F-17's antics, was actually the most interesting part of the book. I'd rather have read a book about it entirely.
C-2 and F-17 (the two jurors) were not alluring, in my opinion. I didn't find their motivations - on and off the jury - to be compelling or curious. They felt very detached from their own story, and while at least C-2 was briefly described as simply "wanting one last affair before she got too old", F-17's strange instant passion for C-2 is never characterized for the reader to be believable or to simply connect where his desire or impulse comes from. The idea that he's just a man with nothing to do and nobody else to be around for three weeks wasn't enough for me - not considering how intense and immediate his love was for C-2. It just didn't add up and it was too apathetic in itself (the writing) to keep me engrossed in their actions.
In fact, the trial portion of the story, which is actually meant to serve as a simple backdrop to C-2 and F-17's antics, was actually the most interesting part of the book. I'd rather have read a book about it entirely.
June 15, 2024
A teenage girl has been accused of murdering her toddler brother in a horrific way. The jury for her murder trial has been chosen and sequestered in an Econo Lodge. Jurist Hannah, known in much of the book as juror C-2, is a 52-year old married well-known photographer. She’s married to a much-older man, an 85-year-old Pulitzer Prize winner. She finds that she’s very attracted to one of the jurists, Graham (known as juror F-17), who is a 41-year-old anatomy professor. Hannah and Graham find ways to be alone, which is prohibited by the court, and they begin to have an affair. They don’t discuss the case when alone but find that the affair causes some distraction during the hearing of evidence. However, the effects of their affair are not seen only during the trial and deliberation but for long afterwards.
This is an intelligent and compassionate look at two people drawn to each other during a time in their lives when they’re asked to weigh some heavy issues that will result in finding a young girl innocent or guilty of a horrendous crime. I found these characters to be true to life and believable. The author handles the plot with delicate finesse and never makes a misstep. The case at trial is a heart-breaking one and the jurors are not always given all of the facts, which is the way it often happens in trials. The story of Hannah and her elderly husband is a touching, faithful rendition of the effects of old age in a marriage. And the affair between Hannah and Graham is portrayed with a non-judgmental hand. I loved reading this book and thought it was very well written.
Most highly recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
This is an intelligent and compassionate look at two people drawn to each other during a time in their lives when they’re asked to weigh some heavy issues that will result in finding a young girl innocent or guilty of a horrendous crime. I found these characters to be true to life and believable. The author handles the plot with delicate finesse and never makes a misstep. The case at trial is a heart-breaking one and the jurors are not always given all of the facts, which is the way it often happens in trials. The story of Hannah and her elderly husband is a touching, faithful rendition of the effects of old age in a marriage. And the affair between Hannah and Graham is portrayed with a non-judgmental hand. I loved reading this book and thought it was very well written.
Most highly recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
December 10, 2019
This is a tiny little book, barely five hours to listen to the whole thing. If it had been much longer, I don’t know if I would have stuck with it. The story just didn’t land with me, and I never really connected with any of the characters. I was mildly entertained enough, but just never really invested enough to care too much about what was happening.
And, yes, some pretty wild things happen! There is a horrific murder which brings these jurors together, but even that felt flat to me. The trial just kind of plays as background noise to the subsequent affair and fallout, which, again, just felt pretty, for lack of a better onomatopoeia... meh.
There were definitely some interesting ingredients here that just needed just a wee bit of life breathed into them. Maybe just a pinch or two more of salt to add some flavor to the story. Maybe a proverbial kick in the pants to really get this thing figuratively all the ground. It was nice to finish it in a short amount of time, but I don’t think I’ll really think about this one much after today, and, with my inability to retain important information, I’ll likely forget about it soon.
Meh.
And, yes, some pretty wild things happen! There is a horrific murder which brings these jurors together, but even that felt flat to me. The trial just kind of plays as background noise to the subsequent affair and fallout, which, again, just felt pretty, for lack of a better onomatopoeia... meh.
There were definitely some interesting ingredients here that just needed just a wee bit of life breathed into them. Maybe just a pinch or two more of salt to add some flavor to the story. Maybe a proverbial kick in the pants to really get this thing figuratively all the ground. It was nice to finish it in a short amount of time, but I don’t think I’ll really think about this one much after today, and, with my inability to retain important information, I’ll likely forget about it soon.
Meh.
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