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Mine
In this riveting tale of psychological suspense, a divorce lawyer risks her career, her sanity, and her life when she falls into an illicit, all-consuming affair with her client—who becomes the primary suspect in his estranged wife’s sudden disappearance.
Young divorce lawyer Francine Day has methodically built her career doing everything right. She’s one big case away from securing her place among London’s legal elite. But when she meets her new client, Martin Joy, the natural caution that has protected Francine and fueled her rise melts away. Powerless to fight the irresistible magnetism between them, client and counsel tumble into a blistering affair that breaks every rule.
Though Martin insists his marriage is over, Francine doesn’t believe him. Certain details he’s told her don’t quite add up. Consumed with a passion she cannot control and increasingly obsessed with Martin’s relationship with his wife, Donna, Francine follows the woman one night . . . and discovers her having dinner with her supposedly soon-to-be-ex-husband.
The next morning, Francine awakens in her neighbor’s apartment with blood on her clothes and no recollection of what transpired after she spied Donna and Martin together. Then Francine receives more devastating news: Martin’s wife has vanished. That dinner was the last place anyone has seen Donna Joy alive.
Suddenly, Francine finds herself caught in a dangerous labyrinth of deception, lies, and secrets, in which one false move could lead to her undoing. What happened that night and why can’t Francine remember? Where is Donna and who is responsible for her disappearance? The further Francine goes to find answers, the tighter the net seems to draw—around her lover, herself, and the life she’s meticulously built.
Young divorce lawyer Francine Day has methodically built her career doing everything right. She’s one big case away from securing her place among London’s legal elite. But when she meets her new client, Martin Joy, the natural caution that has protected Francine and fueled her rise melts away. Powerless to fight the irresistible magnetism between them, client and counsel tumble into a blistering affair that breaks every rule.
Though Martin insists his marriage is over, Francine doesn’t believe him. Certain details he’s told her don’t quite add up. Consumed with a passion she cannot control and increasingly obsessed with Martin’s relationship with his wife, Donna, Francine follows the woman one night . . . and discovers her having dinner with her supposedly soon-to-be-ex-husband.
The next morning, Francine awakens in her neighbor’s apartment with blood on her clothes and no recollection of what transpired after she spied Donna and Martin together. Then Francine receives more devastating news: Martin’s wife has vanished. That dinner was the last place anyone has seen Donna Joy alive.
Suddenly, Francine finds herself caught in a dangerous labyrinth of deception, lies, and secrets, in which one false move could lead to her undoing. What happened that night and why can’t Francine remember? Where is Donna and who is responsible for her disappearance? The further Francine goes to find answers, the tighter the net seems to draw—around her lover, herself, and the life she’s meticulously built.
432 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2018
401 people are currently reading
6142 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Butler
2 books104 followersJ. L. Butler is the pseudonym of a popular London-based British author who has a background in law and magazine journalism.
Pseudonym for Tasmina Perry
Pseudonym for Tasmina Perry
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 511 reviews
April 2, 2021
Francine Day, a divorce lawyer, has spent years bringing her career up to this level.
Usually I loved hearing the sound of his voice, but that afternoon I could hardly bear to speak to him, not after the things Phil had told me which had jolted me into a reality I did not want to face.
She is strong, ruthless and lives by an iron code...until Martin Joy comes into her life.
Martin Joy, her latest client, is rich, handsome...and there's just something about him that sends her sizzling in the wors way.
They circle, coming ever closer to each other...and disaster.
When Martin's wife goes missing, he's the top suspect and Francine is devastated.
She can feel herself cracking - and she has to get to the bottom of this or she will lose herself entirely.
Whew.
So, I won this one on an Instagram Giveaway ages ago...and two years later...I finally got around to reading it.
Overall, this one felt interesting but not stunning.
In all fairness - this is technically well-written. It was solid in composition, pacing and setting...but there were other aspects that overshadowed that.
I was intrigued by the ever growing personal drama but about halfway though it felt like too much.
Instead of being amazed, I felt tired.
It was exhausting with every twist, turn and grand reveal.
I couldn't connect to the characters. Maybe it's because I'm just too far removed from the divorce lawyer world but to got that far for a man? It felt unbelievable.
I ended up disliking most of the people in the book and that kept pulling me out of the story.
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May 17, 2018
I thought that this one read like a Hollywood movie (and I can easily see it playing out on the big screen). Thoroughly enjoyed this "guilty pleasure" which was sexy with slow burning suspense (which I liked).
The narrator is a London divorce lawyer named Francine and she falls hard for her wealthy client, Martin. She is young and on the fast track to a prestigious legal career. She just can't help resist Martin and they have a palpable chemistry (not to mention a steamy affair). She becomes insecure about Martin's intentions towards her and starts following him (she may also be a window peeper)!
Martin's estranged wife, Donna fails to show up at her court hearing and no one has been able to get in contact with her. Fran is so head over heels for Martin that she can't even fathom that he could possibly have anything to do with his wife's disappearance.
I just became engrossed in the whole plot with the missing wife, a super creepy neighbor, and finding out what happened to Donna. The pace was perfectly matched to the building suspense. I wouldn't say a page-turner, but one that I wanted to keep reading!
Thanks to William Morrow for my ARC. Release date is set for June 26,2018
April 22, 2019
Mine by J.L. Butler is a slick sexy thriller based around the divorce/criminal courts in London.
It's fast paced, surprising, and breath catching I spent most of this book screaming inside " oh for god sake what now " and the classic " Noooo!!"
It has everything from forbidden relationships, stalking and a missing soon to be Ex wife 😱
If you have a free weekend this is the book I definitely would recommend as once you start there's no stopping .
It's fast paced, surprising, and breath catching I spent most of this book screaming inside " oh for god sake what now " and the classic " Noooo!!"
It has everything from forbidden relationships, stalking and a missing soon to be Ex wife 😱
If you have a free weekend this is the book I definitely would recommend as once you start there's no stopping .
April 2, 2018
Whilst the writing was good (and considering the author's alter ego unsurprisingly) I just didn't get along with this one that well, although I did read to the end to see if the resolution upped the ante. It didn't.
Don't get me wrong this isn't terrible by any means, if you are a fan of psychological thrillers this one will probably hit a lot of marks for a lot of readers. I AM a fan of psychological thrillers, even though I'm probably over saturated with them I can't seem to stop reading them -but these days I look for so much more than the well worn cliche's in order to give the higher rating. I need either a character I can get behind, a story that follows a dissimilar path to it's peers even if that path is somewhat well worn, a twist in the tale that is surprising or that edgy unsettling feeling that can come from reading an oft told tale written with an emotional grit or underlying fear factor. Sadly in my honest opinion "Mine" provided none of those things.
So we follow a so called professional barrister, a family lawyer, about to apply for Silk, respected in her field, building a name for herself. So far so good. But God she is stupid, so honestly the whole "brilliant lawyer" thing didn't ring true AT ALL. Bi-polar. Ok fine. Drinks a lot. Yawn. Even when faced with extreme danger follows the stupidest path possible. Oh God. Here are my main issues (minor spoilers please don't read further if you don't want to know)
LAST CHANCE.
Right
She drinks a lot even whilst talking about how she knows her bi-polar meds don't sit well with alcohol. Not just once either. She starts a hot and heavy affair with her client. She obsesses to the point that she follows him - see's him with his wife who he is divorcing - then drinks herself stupid to the point she blacks out and can't remember what she did later in the evening. Oh and the wife goes missing the same night...PLEASE.
Upon her lovers insistence that she should probably delete all their hot and heavy messages so as not to get caught up in white noise during the search for his missing wife, she ums and ah's then DOESN'T delete them as she doesn't want to lose their history. SIGH.
She walks out in the middle of a case she is unprepared for (due to drink and you know BEING STUPID) just walks out before final argument, after receiving a text message about her lover - just LEAVES mumbling about urgent situations - this respected ,professional lawyer. Please pull the other one, the first one is beginning to ache.
At that point I'm all just I don't care. So I skim read through watching her get more and more stupid then we find out who did what to who and it was a little pulled out of nowhere (although not entirely so at least there's that)
Plus she still had a job at the end of it.
Anyway let's end on a positive note. This is one for those of you looking for a light, bang through beach read, that has occasional hot and heavy scenes, a decent eye for characters even if you hate them. You'll enjoy it if you like that sort of by the numbers, well written, not badly plotted psych thriller that you've loved before and will love again.
I'm just a grumpy old reviewer.
:)
Don't get me wrong this isn't terrible by any means, if you are a fan of psychological thrillers this one will probably hit a lot of marks for a lot of readers. I AM a fan of psychological thrillers, even though I'm probably over saturated with them I can't seem to stop reading them -but these days I look for so much more than the well worn cliche's in order to give the higher rating. I need either a character I can get behind, a story that follows a dissimilar path to it's peers even if that path is somewhat well worn, a twist in the tale that is surprising or that edgy unsettling feeling that can come from reading an oft told tale written with an emotional grit or underlying fear factor. Sadly in my honest opinion "Mine" provided none of those things.
So we follow a so called professional barrister, a family lawyer, about to apply for Silk, respected in her field, building a name for herself. So far so good. But God she is stupid, so honestly the whole "brilliant lawyer" thing didn't ring true AT ALL. Bi-polar. Ok fine. Drinks a lot. Yawn. Even when faced with extreme danger follows the stupidest path possible. Oh God. Here are my main issues (minor spoilers please don't read further if you don't want to know)
LAST CHANCE.
Right
She drinks a lot even whilst talking about how she knows her bi-polar meds don't sit well with alcohol. Not just once either. She starts a hot and heavy affair with her client. She obsesses to the point that she follows him - see's him with his wife who he is divorcing - then drinks herself stupid to the point she blacks out and can't remember what she did later in the evening. Oh and the wife goes missing the same night...PLEASE.
Upon her lovers insistence that she should probably delete all their hot and heavy messages so as not to get caught up in white noise during the search for his missing wife, she ums and ah's then DOESN'T delete them as she doesn't want to lose their history. SIGH.
She walks out in the middle of a case she is unprepared for (due to drink and you know BEING STUPID) just walks out before final argument, after receiving a text message about her lover - just LEAVES mumbling about urgent situations - this respected ,professional lawyer. Please pull the other one, the first one is beginning to ache.
At that point I'm all just I don't care. So I skim read through watching her get more and more stupid then we find out who did what to who and it was a little pulled out of nowhere (although not entirely so at least there's that)
Plus she still had a job at the end of it.
Anyway let's end on a positive note. This is one for those of you looking for a light, bang through beach read, that has occasional hot and heavy scenes, a decent eye for characters even if you hate them. You'll enjoy it if you like that sort of by the numbers, well written, not badly plotted psych thriller that you've loved before and will love again.
I'm just a grumpy old reviewer.
:)
Want to read
March 19, 2019Woo Hoo! I'm a winner for the 2nd time this month! Thank you, Goodreads! 😁
June 21, 2018
Francine Day is a divorce lawyer who should know better. Falling in love and lust with a client is a big no-no. Martin Joy is a handsome, charming man who insists that his marriage is over ... but Francine worries, even though she keeps seeing him.
Consumed with a passion she cannot control and increasingly obsessed with Martin’s relationship with his wife, Donna, Francine follows the woman one night . . . and discovers her having dinner with her supposedly soon-to-be-ex-husband.
The next morning, she awakes in her neighbor's apartment with no memory of what happened the night before ... and there's blood on her clothes.
Shortly after, Martin's wife goes missing and he is the prime suspect. The last she was seen was the night she dined with Martin. What happened that night and why can’t Francine remember? The further Francine goes to find answers, the tighter the net seems to draw—around her lover, herself, and the life she’s meticulously built.
This is a well written psychological look at a woman possessed, lit with jealousy, and one who drinks a little too much from time to time. I can't say I liked the character of Francine. For someone so smart and knowledgeable, she sure places herself in places and situations she should know better. Martin may be charming, but I don't see him as a prince. He seems secretive and he's been caught lying, so why would he lie if everything is on the up and up?
Highly suspenseful, the book drew me in from the first page and held my interest throughout. There are twists and turns that keep the reader reeling. The ending came as quite a surprise.
Many thanks to the author / William Morrow Books / Edelweiss for the advanced digital copy of this Psychological Thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Consumed with a passion she cannot control and increasingly obsessed with Martin’s relationship with his wife, Donna, Francine follows the woman one night . . . and discovers her having dinner with her supposedly soon-to-be-ex-husband.
The next morning, she awakes in her neighbor's apartment with no memory of what happened the night before ... and there's blood on her clothes.
Shortly after, Martin's wife goes missing and he is the prime suspect. The last she was seen was the night she dined with Martin. What happened that night and why can’t Francine remember? The further Francine goes to find answers, the tighter the net seems to draw—around her lover, herself, and the life she’s meticulously built.
This is a well written psychological look at a woman possessed, lit with jealousy, and one who drinks a little too much from time to time. I can't say I liked the character of Francine. For someone so smart and knowledgeable, she sure places herself in places and situations she should know better. Martin may be charming, but I don't see him as a prince. He seems secretive and he's been caught lying, so why would he lie if everything is on the up and up?
Highly suspenseful, the book drew me in from the first page and held my interest throughout. There are twists and turns that keep the reader reeling. The ending came as quite a surprise.
Many thanks to the author / William Morrow Books / Edelweiss for the advanced digital copy of this Psychological Thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 1, 2019
The old game of playing with fire…it’s dangerous, intoxicating, heart pounding and exciting…until it all comes crashing down tenfold and you find yourself crumbled and destroyed.
Having an affair is definitely not the wick you want to set alight!
Francine has made it. A life in the city, a cute apartment, an amazing job as a divorce Lawyer and a possible chance of promotion. She just does not have that someone to share it with!
Here comes Martin, handsome, rich, successful and MARRIED! It happened so fast…one minute he was a client in Francine’s office proceeding with divorce papers and the next minute, Francine is drowning in a murder case. How did she get there?
From cheese and wine to bondage and hot sex, their quickly growing relationship is racing at Formula 1 speeds. It started off so innocently…they met by chance while shopping, enjoyed their conversations and proceeded with real feelings from there on out. But how about Donna, Martin’s soon to be ex-wife? She doesn’t show up to court dates and has been seen to meet with Martin in a restaurant that ended up with a hook-up. Is it a slip back into their relationship? Are they even getting a divorce?
Francine is on Martin’s side for the longest time. As allegations of him killing Donna after her disappearance amount to more and more evidence against him, Francine finds herself left in danger and her job on the line.
What does it take to crack this case? Is Martin a good guy? Or will Francine realize she has made a mistake and rather settle with her neighbor who has been smitten with her for a long time?
A twisted rollercoaster ride that will have the reader guessing till the end!
***
I listened to this novel on audio. I was drawn to the gorgeous cover and I haven’t read a thriller in a while (plus it was available on Overdrive).
I certainly knew that getting involved with a married man would be a bad idea. At some points I thought, common Francine, you are a smart woman, you should know better than this! But I also know that relationships can be so convoluted with feelings, that I let this trait in character slide and gave her some slack.
Francine and Martin’s relationship which was mostly based on sex didn’t go as deep as I would have liked to hear. It was all about the rush and longing, but less about companionship and love. Considering I knew early this was how it will be and my expectations were not going to be met in more romantic ways, I proceeded anyway as the case of missing Donna had to be solved and I mostly hung on to that.
Albeit the novel being long for its premise it ended up delivering in the last quarter of the book. The murder mystery and general pace picked up and crumbs of clues were falling left and right. With a more exhilarating pace, the suspense builds to a twisted conclusion I could not believe.
The qualities in this book lie balanced on two things: If you like the rush of unapologetically naughty sex and a mystery to solve that boasts with riddling clues to figure out, then you will hit the jackpot as a reader!
For me personally, it was a middle lane, entertaining book. I just don’t hover on either side of those extremes but it was well enough to finish. I wanted it to grab me more, but again as I often do, I went into this book blindly not knowing what to expect. My feelings about it are definitely more positive than negative. It may be the perfect book for other readers…only one way to find out.
Happy Reading
Find my reviews here:
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/
Having an affair is definitely not the wick you want to set alight!
Francine has made it. A life in the city, a cute apartment, an amazing job as a divorce Lawyer and a possible chance of promotion. She just does not have that someone to share it with!
Here comes Martin, handsome, rich, successful and MARRIED! It happened so fast…one minute he was a client in Francine’s office proceeding with divorce papers and the next minute, Francine is drowning in a murder case. How did she get there?
From cheese and wine to bondage and hot sex, their quickly growing relationship is racing at Formula 1 speeds. It started off so innocently…they met by chance while shopping, enjoyed their conversations and proceeded with real feelings from there on out. But how about Donna, Martin’s soon to be ex-wife? She doesn’t show up to court dates and has been seen to meet with Martin in a restaurant that ended up with a hook-up. Is it a slip back into their relationship? Are they even getting a divorce?
Francine is on Martin’s side for the longest time. As allegations of him killing Donna after her disappearance amount to more and more evidence against him, Francine finds herself left in danger and her job on the line.
What does it take to crack this case? Is Martin a good guy? Or will Francine realize she has made a mistake and rather settle with her neighbor who has been smitten with her for a long time?
A twisted rollercoaster ride that will have the reader guessing till the end!
***
I listened to this novel on audio. I was drawn to the gorgeous cover and I haven’t read a thriller in a while (plus it was available on Overdrive).
I certainly knew that getting involved with a married man would be a bad idea. At some points I thought, common Francine, you are a smart woman, you should know better than this! But I also know that relationships can be so convoluted with feelings, that I let this trait in character slide and gave her some slack.
Francine and Martin’s relationship which was mostly based on sex didn’t go as deep as I would have liked to hear. It was all about the rush and longing, but less about companionship and love. Considering I knew early this was how it will be and my expectations were not going to be met in more romantic ways, I proceeded anyway as the case of missing Donna had to be solved and I mostly hung on to that.
Albeit the novel being long for its premise it ended up delivering in the last quarter of the book. The murder mystery and general pace picked up and crumbs of clues were falling left and right. With a more exhilarating pace, the suspense builds to a twisted conclusion I could not believe.
The qualities in this book lie balanced on two things: If you like the rush of unapologetically naughty sex and a mystery to solve that boasts with riddling clues to figure out, then you will hit the jackpot as a reader!
For me personally, it was a middle lane, entertaining book. I just don’t hover on either side of those extremes but it was well enough to finish. I wanted it to grab me more, but again as I often do, I went into this book blindly not knowing what to expect. My feelings about it are definitely more positive than negative. It may be the perfect book for other readers…only one way to find out.
Happy Reading
Find my reviews here:
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/
August 4, 2018
Es de esos libros que te mantienen enganchado desde las primeras páginas. Una abogada lleva entre manos un caso de divorcio complicado donde hay mucho dinero en juego. La mujer desaparece y desde ese momento empiezas a sospechar de todo el mundo. He cambiado de teoría cien veces durante el transcurso de la historia y llega un momento en el que todos parecen culpables.
Me encantan estos libros en los que el culpable no es predecible y todos parecen sospechosos.
Eso si, no lo empecéis por la noche o corréis el riesgo de no poder soltarlo hasta la mañana siguiente.
Me encantan estos libros en los que el culpable no es predecible y todos parecen sospechosos.
Eso si, no lo empecéis por la noche o corréis el riesgo de no poder soltarlo hasta la mañana siguiente.
August 13, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Earmarked as a hot new thriller of 2018 by bookseller WH Smith, Mine is the sinister, gripping and dark novel from J.L. Butler. Mine is the perfect example of a twisted and tautly told tale. It revolves around the world of lawyers, courts and their clients, as the lives of a barrister and her wealthy client converge in a tale of obsession.
Francine Day is not your ordinary divorce lawyer, she has fought hard to gain a respected reputation in the London Courts. She is from the north, she has a lower class background and she was educated in a public comprehensive. But still, Francine is on the road to success, she is almost on the cusp of gaining entry into the silks, a much revered position in the legal world. All this comes crashing down in quite the pitiful fashion when Francine makes a number of poor choices in her personal life, which ultimately impacts on her career. When she meets Martin Joy, a client, she becomes obsessed with, her obsession leads her to initiate a secret love affair with Martin. But when his ex wife goes missing, it is Martin who is cast as the first suspect in his ex’s case. However, it is Francine, who followed Donna the very same night she disappeared, who is now in hot water, as she was the last person to see Donna alive. Mine is a tale of mystery, obsession, possession, treachery and murder, as Francine must consider if the new man in her life is capable of murder, or is she?
I was immediately drawn to Mine, based on the fact that it is written by J.L. Butler, which is actually the pseudonym for Tasmina Perry, a bestselling author of mainly women’s fiction novels that I have enjoyed in the past. When a bestselling author makes a name and genre shift it certainly makes pay attention. Overall, I found Mine to be a very fine addition to the very popular thriller genre.
The main character of Mine, Francine Day, is quite a fascinating young woman. I liked that she entered the law profession in an unconventional manner. This makes Francine an alluring protagonist. It also made me question time and time again why Francine fell so hard for Martin and why she made such appalling errors in judgement while locked in affair with this man. With her career so close to gaining a spot in the Queens Counsel, I was at odds as to why Francine was willing to risk it all. But, I guess this is sheer power of some love affairs, they do have the power to make you put everything on the line.
The secondary characters are almost all a complex bunch in Mine. Martin seems to be an ambiguous character that I couldn’t exactly work out. While a colleague from a law firm, Fran’s best friend, Martin’s business partner and his wife, along with Fran’s neighbour completes this tale. The interplay between Fran and her creepy neighbour adds another splash of intrigue to Mine.
Further mistrust in this perplexing tale comes in the form of Fran’s battle with a disorder, she is bipolar. Butler treats Fran’s medical condition with insight and sensitivity. I came away from reading this part of the novel with a better understanding of the disorder. As the events of the book unfurl, Fran is caught over indulging in her consumption of alcohol, which ultimately impacts on her medication for managing her bipolar disease. It transforms this high flying and ambitious lawyer into one rather unreliable narrator. Fran is our primary narrator of the novel, so we need her version of events to be clear in helping solve the mystery of Donna’s disappearance. Mine is a novel that clearly taps into one of the defining ingredients of a dark psychological thriller, an unreliable narrator, usually female.
Butler’s representation of Fran’s love affair with Martin rings true. It is sexually charged, seductive, all consuming and lusty. Fran seems to put all inhibition aside for the sake of Martin, she indulges in some uncharacteristic moves, but this helps the reader to understand the power this man has over Francine.
Butler also does a fine job of outlining the setting. The UK based background is represented well by Butler. The majority of the book plays out in the chambers of London’s court system. There was a sense of realism to the scenes, which I put down to this author’s previous career as a trained lawyer. I loved the British television series Silks, and Mine reminded me very much in places of this addictive law based series.
Mine follows a short and sharp chapter format. The pages of this tightly plotted novel seem to turn by themselves. I found that I had raced through this book in just a few hours. Mine is a puzzling novel, with plenty of twists, it is well written and comes with an ending that tied up all the questions this book issues the reader.
Relentless in its pursuit for Donna’s whereabouts, Martin’s involvement and the repercussions for the heroine of the tale Francine, Mine is a gripping legal based thriller. Recommended.
*I wish to thank Harper Collins UK for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Earmarked as a hot new thriller of 2018 by bookseller WH Smith, Mine is the sinister, gripping and dark novel from J.L. Butler. Mine is the perfect example of a twisted and tautly told tale. It revolves around the world of lawyers, courts and their clients, as the lives of a barrister and her wealthy client converge in a tale of obsession.
Francine Day is not your ordinary divorce lawyer, she has fought hard to gain a respected reputation in the London Courts. She is from the north, she has a lower class background and she was educated in a public comprehensive. But still, Francine is on the road to success, she is almost on the cusp of gaining entry into the silks, a much revered position in the legal world. All this comes crashing down in quite the pitiful fashion when Francine makes a number of poor choices in her personal life, which ultimately impacts on her career. When she meets Martin Joy, a client, she becomes obsessed with, her obsession leads her to initiate a secret love affair with Martin. But when his ex wife goes missing, it is Martin who is cast as the first suspect in his ex’s case. However, it is Francine, who followed Donna the very same night she disappeared, who is now in hot water, as she was the last person to see Donna alive. Mine is a tale of mystery, obsession, possession, treachery and murder, as Francine must consider if the new man in her life is capable of murder, or is she?
I was immediately drawn to Mine, based on the fact that it is written by J.L. Butler, which is actually the pseudonym for Tasmina Perry, a bestselling author of mainly women’s fiction novels that I have enjoyed in the past. When a bestselling author makes a name and genre shift it certainly makes pay attention. Overall, I found Mine to be a very fine addition to the very popular thriller genre.
The main character of Mine, Francine Day, is quite a fascinating young woman. I liked that she entered the law profession in an unconventional manner. This makes Francine an alluring protagonist. It also made me question time and time again why Francine fell so hard for Martin and why she made such appalling errors in judgement while locked in affair with this man. With her career so close to gaining a spot in the Queens Counsel, I was at odds as to why Francine was willing to risk it all. But, I guess this is sheer power of some love affairs, they do have the power to make you put everything on the line.
The secondary characters are almost all a complex bunch in Mine. Martin seems to be an ambiguous character that I couldn’t exactly work out. While a colleague from a law firm, Fran’s best friend, Martin’s business partner and his wife, along with Fran’s neighbour completes this tale. The interplay between Fran and her creepy neighbour adds another splash of intrigue to Mine.
Further mistrust in this perplexing tale comes in the form of Fran’s battle with a disorder, she is bipolar. Butler treats Fran’s medical condition with insight and sensitivity. I came away from reading this part of the novel with a better understanding of the disorder. As the events of the book unfurl, Fran is caught over indulging in her consumption of alcohol, which ultimately impacts on her medication for managing her bipolar disease. It transforms this high flying and ambitious lawyer into one rather unreliable narrator. Fran is our primary narrator of the novel, so we need her version of events to be clear in helping solve the mystery of Donna’s disappearance. Mine is a novel that clearly taps into one of the defining ingredients of a dark psychological thriller, an unreliable narrator, usually female.
Butler’s representation of Fran’s love affair with Martin rings true. It is sexually charged, seductive, all consuming and lusty. Fran seems to put all inhibition aside for the sake of Martin, she indulges in some uncharacteristic moves, but this helps the reader to understand the power this man has over Francine.
Butler also does a fine job of outlining the setting. The UK based background is represented well by Butler. The majority of the book plays out in the chambers of London’s court system. There was a sense of realism to the scenes, which I put down to this author’s previous career as a trained lawyer. I loved the British television series Silks, and Mine reminded me very much in places of this addictive law based series.
Mine follows a short and sharp chapter format. The pages of this tightly plotted novel seem to turn by themselves. I found that I had raced through this book in just a few hours. Mine is a puzzling novel, with plenty of twists, it is well written and comes with an ending that tied up all the questions this book issues the reader.
Relentless in its pursuit for Donna’s whereabouts, Martin’s involvement and the repercussions for the heroine of the tale Francine, Mine is a gripping legal based thriller. Recommended.
*I wish to thank Harper Collins UK for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
October 28, 2018
Divorce Lawyer Francine Day aged 37, is dedicated to her work, starting from her humble beginnings at a comprehensive school through to the respected London Courts. Her next big client could gain her entry into the silks (you normally have to work at least 10 years to gain this) This is an enormous accolade!!!
Everything is on target career wise until she meets new client Martin Joy who is divorcing wife Donna. They start a relationship but when Donna goes missing Martin is the main suspect.
Francine made some rotten decisions. For a woman so dedicated to her career, sleeping with a client was a sure fire way of losing her job. For a clever woman she was rather naive!!
I started off liking this book but my enthusiasm waned half way through, but managed to find it in time for the ending!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Everything is on target career wise until she meets new client Martin Joy who is divorcing wife Donna. They start a relationship but when Donna goes missing Martin is the main suspect.
Francine made some rotten decisions. For a woman so dedicated to her career, sleeping with a client was a sure fire way of losing her job. For a clever woman she was rather naive!!
I started off liking this book but my enthusiasm waned half way through, but managed to find it in time for the ending!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
April 12, 2018
I received a free copy of Mine by J.L. Butler from Goodreads for my honest review.
This was an intense and gripping psychological thriller. I was hooked from the very beginning. Fast paced and wonderfully written. A must ready.
This was an intense and gripping psychological thriller. I was hooked from the very beginning. Fast paced and wonderfully written. A must ready.
June 14, 2018
I won't need to say much about this book as it would just spoil the experience. If you are looking for an intelligent, highly addictive and entertaining read, this is perfect! It certainly hit the spot for me!
September 4, 2018
Obsesión es un thriller adulto. El libro está contado desde el punto de vista de Francine, una abogada de divorcios que empieza una aventura con Martin, uno de sus clientes que está en medio de un divorcio complicado.
La novela nos empieza a mostrar desde el comienzo que Francine no es una narradora fiable y esto añade un nuevo nivel de intriga a la historia. Es un libro que engancha desde el principio y te sumerge en una espiral de suspense y mentiras en la que no sabes en qué personajes puedes confiar.
El libro trata el tema de la salud mental sin profundizar en él y lo hace de una manera muy delicada e informada. El autor, lejos de perpetuar el estigma de la salud mental como a menudo sucede en el género, trata de enfrentarse a él abiertamente.
Personalmente el desenlace no me disgustó pero me parece que podría haber estado más elaborado y me hubiese gustado que así fuera.
En definitiva, Obsesión es una novela sumamente adictiva que te entretiene y te engancha irremediablemente.
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La novela nos empieza a mostrar desde el comienzo que Francine no es una narradora fiable y esto añade un nuevo nivel de intriga a la historia. Es un libro que engancha desde el principio y te sumerge en una espiral de suspense y mentiras en la que no sabes en qué personajes puedes confiar.
El libro trata el tema de la salud mental sin profundizar en él y lo hace de una manera muy delicada e informada. El autor, lejos de perpetuar el estigma de la salud mental como a menudo sucede en el género, trata de enfrentarse a él abiertamente.
Personalmente el desenlace no me disgustó pero me parece que podría haber estado más elaborado y me hubiese gustado que así fuera.
En definitiva, Obsesión es una novela sumamente adictiva que te entretiene y te engancha irremediablemente.
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March 6, 2019
Adorei tudo neste livro. Muito bom mesmo.
August 30, 2018
"Obsesión es un Thriller frenético donde nada es lo que parece. Ten cuidado, ya que en cuanto lo empieces, no podrás hacer nada más que leerlo hasta el final. Una trama sobre el amor tóxico y obsesivo."
Reseña completa:
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-Blogger: http://addicionaloslibros.blogspot.co...
Reseña completa:
-Wordpress: https://suenosentreletras.wordpress.c...
-Blogger: http://addicionaloslibros.blogspot.co...
April 1, 2018
Book is closer to 3.5 stars but I'm rounding down to 3 stars. I might be being a bit harsh in doing that but I suspect this book will get plenty of higher ratings to counter balance.
I really hate the rating I had to give above. I think what's weighing on me the most is that I don't want to be the first person to do so. I truly believe this book is going to become a best seller and have lots and lots of fans. I wish I could have loved it more. I just simply didn't. Now, don't get me wrong I did not hate it. There were some really good things about the book, but the biggest downfall just had to be one of my biggest pet peeves. Ughh, why did the author have to do it? Why?
So here's the break down:
Writing is actually really good! It is obvious the author is a well-seasoned author and can churn out an exciting book. After doing a bit of easy research I found that the author is London based Tasmina Perry. She appears to have a very successful career writing romance/ chick-lit type books. I have never read any of them before this though. I'll say that the fact she writes romance makes sense, especially since there were love scenes included in this book and I felt they were done very believably. They did not have that cringe factor I sometimes feel at some author's attempts.
So still haven't explained the lower rating have I?
Here it is in a nutshell
The lead character was too unbelievable! She was bat-shit crazy. The woman was written as completely stupid, essentially a walking moron. She made incredibly unbelievable decisions and reacted to situations like a 12 year old "might". I say "might" because it still would have been a dumb 12 year old to do the silly things she did. And NO... the lead character was not the villain. If that had been the case I'd have been all for it and applauded the character building. Nope, we were supposed to follow this character and sympathize with her. The author tried to lead us into caring what was happening to her and care that she was not harmed. (I found myself rooting for the bad guy! haha) Oh, and I forgot to mention we're supposed to believe she's a highly successful lawyer. Pffttt...... I think NOT!
So I'll sum this up this way:
I think reading this book is worthwhile, like I said I suspect it will become a hit. If you are the type of person who can go completely with the author and follow a story along without question this will be great for you. (I'm not saying that a negative. Seriously! I'm often envious of those who can truly let themselves go and trust the author to tell her story) But, if you're anything like me this book will drive you mad! It is full of characters doing and reacting to things that you will not feel are wholly believable. Be warned you will be rolling your eyes a lot and it will be harder for you to love.
In compliance with FTC guidelines------I received this book free from a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. The content of this review is not influenced by that fact. The feelings expressed are solely mine. I sincerely appreciate the chance to read and review this book.
3*/4.43
I really hate the rating I had to give above. I think what's weighing on me the most is that I don't want to be the first person to do so. I truly believe this book is going to become a best seller and have lots and lots of fans. I wish I could have loved it more. I just simply didn't. Now, don't get me wrong I did not hate it. There were some really good things about the book, but the biggest downfall just had to be one of my biggest pet peeves. Ughh, why did the author have to do it? Why?
So here's the break down:
Writing is actually really good! It is obvious the author is a well-seasoned author and can churn out an exciting book. After doing a bit of easy research I found that the author is London based Tasmina Perry. She appears to have a very successful career writing romance/ chick-lit type books. I have never read any of them before this though. I'll say that the fact she writes romance makes sense, especially since there were love scenes included in this book and I felt they were done very believably. They did not have that cringe factor I sometimes feel at some author's attempts.
So still haven't explained the lower rating have I?
Here it is in a nutshell
The lead character was too unbelievable! She was bat-shit crazy. The woman was written as completely stupid, essentially a walking moron. She made incredibly unbelievable decisions and reacted to situations like a 12 year old "might". I say "might" because it still would have been a dumb 12 year old to do the silly things she did. And NO... the lead character was not the villain. If that had been the case I'd have been all for it and applauded the character building. Nope, we were supposed to follow this character and sympathize with her. The author tried to lead us into caring what was happening to her and care that she was not harmed. (I found myself rooting for the bad guy! haha) Oh, and I forgot to mention we're supposed to believe she's a highly successful lawyer. Pffttt...... I think NOT!
So I'll sum this up this way:
I think reading this book is worthwhile, like I said I suspect it will become a hit. If you are the type of person who can go completely with the author and follow a story along without question this will be great for you. (I'm not saying that a negative. Seriously! I'm often envious of those who can truly let themselves go and trust the author to tell her story) But, if you're anything like me this book will drive you mad! It is full of characters doing and reacting to things that you will not feel are wholly believable. Be warned you will be rolling your eyes a lot and it will be harder for you to love.
In compliance with FTC guidelines------I received this book free from a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. The content of this review is not influenced by that fact. The feelings expressed are solely mine. I sincerely appreciate the chance to read and review this book.
3*/4.43
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2020
There's a lot going on in the book - though all is relevant to the story and definitely builds up to the twists and tensions.
There's the illicit romance between Martin Joy and his lawyer Francine Day.... and then there's the disappearance of his (soon to be ex) wife, Donna Joy. The night Donna goes missing, Francine follows Martin and Donna to Donna's house - and then wakes up with no memory of what happened after seeing them, with a bleeding leg. Adding to the story is speculation that Martin is a violent bully to Donna and his employees. There's rumours Martin's business partner Alex was having an affair with Donna.
What happened to Donna? Is she missing? On holiday? Dead? Did Francine hurt her in a possible manic episode after being consumed with fury and jealousy, topped up on alcohol? Did Martin hurt her for trying to take half of his earnings/business and defying him by going for the divorce and money? Has Martin hurt her because of the supposed affair with Alex?
So many questions, so many twists! Great book - the one thing that kind of disappointed me about the story was there's still a big question at the end that can't be answered (reading the book you'll understand the question) and it's leaving me wondering! I really like books that clear everything up, but it has added to the dramatic twist at the end.
There's the illicit romance between Martin Joy and his lawyer Francine Day.... and then there's the disappearance of his (soon to be ex) wife, Donna Joy. The night Donna goes missing, Francine follows Martin and Donna to Donna's house - and then wakes up with no memory of what happened after seeing them, with a bleeding leg. Adding to the story is speculation that Martin is a violent bully to Donna and his employees. There's rumours Martin's business partner Alex was having an affair with Donna.
What happened to Donna? Is she missing? On holiday? Dead? Did Francine hurt her in a possible manic episode after being consumed with fury and jealousy, topped up on alcohol? Did Martin hurt her for trying to take half of his earnings/business and defying him by going for the divorce and money? Has Martin hurt her because of the supposed affair with Alex?
So many questions, so many twists! Great book - the one thing that kind of disappointed me about the story was there's still a big question at the end that can't be answered (reading the book you'll understand the question) and it's leaving me wondering! I really like books that clear everything up, but it has added to the dramatic twist at the end.
March 8, 2019
Ler este livro depois do “o homem das castanhas” não foi muito boa ideia ... estive sempre a comparar e não há comparação possível.
Neste livro acho que a escritora tentou ao máximo deixar nos presos a aguardar um final surpreendente e acabou por se espalhar ao comprido.
Eu adivinhei quem era o criminoso embora me tenha enganado no motivo.
Mas sinceramente não me convenceu. Cheguei a adormecer a ler este livro o que nunca será um bom sinal 😒
Neste livro acho que a escritora tentou ao máximo deixar nos presos a aguardar um final surpreendente e acabou por se espalhar ao comprido.
Eu adivinhei quem era o criminoso embora me tenha enganado no motivo.
Mas sinceramente não me convenceu. Cheguei a adormecer a ler este livro o que nunca será um bom sinal 😒
September 23, 2018
Totalmente prescindible ,que flojo,que predecible todo ,que plano .Es como si hubiera visto una película de antena 3 de fin de semana. Lo corroboro es una copia de una película cuyo protagonista es Michael Douglas y ahí lo dejo. Si no lo leeis no perdeis gran cosa. 😑😑
August 30, 2018
An enjoyable story where nobody can be trusted. Great narrator always helps!
April 12, 2018
Oh dear. I can find very little to recommend in the clique ridden, charicature filled novel.
The main character is Fran who has dragged herself up by her northern bootstraps to forge a successful career as a barrister in the mecca that is London. She is portrayed as clever and sharp but one smoldering look from Martin, a client consulting her about his divorce proceedings, turns her into a simpering wreck. He is, of course, very good looking and very rich.
Part way through the divorce proceedings his wife vanishes and he becomes a major suspect in her disappearance. We are constantly reminded that she only married Martin for his status and money. Only Fran can save him now!
This book does nothing for strong female characters. Most submit to the concept of the alpha male and in one excruciating scene Fran yields to the sexual advances of a spotty PhD student in order to save her man, Martin and her reputation.
The throw away references to mental health are unnecessary and seems to be an excuse for the way Fran behaves. In this day and age this is really not acceptable. The sympathetic background drove me slightly nuts. There are only so many ways to describe a wet and cold day in London.
I only finished this book to see what happened and the ending was predictable and equally sexist. The term ‘psychological novel is banded around far too frequently and it does not describe this book which is more Mills and Boon gone a bit wrong.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
The main character is Fran who has dragged herself up by her northern bootstraps to forge a successful career as a barrister in the mecca that is London. She is portrayed as clever and sharp but one smoldering look from Martin, a client consulting her about his divorce proceedings, turns her into a simpering wreck. He is, of course, very good looking and very rich.
Part way through the divorce proceedings his wife vanishes and he becomes a major suspect in her disappearance. We are constantly reminded that she only married Martin for his status and money. Only Fran can save him now!
This book does nothing for strong female characters. Most submit to the concept of the alpha male and in one excruciating scene Fran yields to the sexual advances of a spotty PhD student in order to save her man, Martin and her reputation.
The throw away references to mental health are unnecessary and seems to be an excuse for the way Fran behaves. In this day and age this is really not acceptable. The sympathetic background drove me slightly nuts. There are only so many ways to describe a wet and cold day in London.
I only finished this book to see what happened and the ending was predictable and equally sexist. The term ‘psychological novel is banded around far too frequently and it does not describe this book which is more Mills and Boon gone a bit wrong.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
October 1, 2018
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**3.5 stars**
Mine by J. L. Butler. (2018).
Francine is a high-flying lawyer about to apply for silk; she just need one headline grabbing client to seal her place as Queen's Counsel. Enter Martin - a high profile divorce case. The attraction is instant and they start a secret affair. But then Martin's ex Donna goes missing and Martin is the prime suspect. As the case unravels so does Francine because it turns out she was the last person to see Donna alive...
I didn't mind this one at all, it was fairly gripping. I'd probably say it was above average for a thriller. The negatives for me was I don't really have much knowledge the whole London lawyer system so the constant references to getting 'silk' and the different types of lawyers/barristers/solicitors/head of chambers etc went over my head. The other thing that irritated me was the use of the 'c word' in reference to a woman's genitals in the context of being 'sexy' and 'arousing' - sorry but to me it's a crude word and doesn't work in that context. BUT put those two things aside and you've got a solid thriller with a strong female lead character. Fran was quite the interesting woman and pretty intense! The plot has plenty of little twists and a decent ensemble of characters that add to the drama. This novel would be a great holiday read for readers that enjoy thrillers.
*Fun fact for you - J. L. Butler is the pseudonym for popular women's fiction writer Tasmina Perry.
**3.5 stars**
Mine by J. L. Butler. (2018).
Francine is a high-flying lawyer about to apply for silk; she just need one headline grabbing client to seal her place as Queen's Counsel. Enter Martin - a high profile divorce case. The attraction is instant and they start a secret affair. But then Martin's ex Donna goes missing and Martin is the prime suspect. As the case unravels so does Francine because it turns out she was the last person to see Donna alive...
I didn't mind this one at all, it was fairly gripping. I'd probably say it was above average for a thriller. The negatives for me was I don't really have much knowledge the whole London lawyer system so the constant references to getting 'silk' and the different types of lawyers/barristers/solicitors/head of chambers etc went over my head. The other thing that irritated me was the use of the 'c word' in reference to a woman's genitals in the context of being 'sexy' and 'arousing' - sorry but to me it's a crude word and doesn't work in that context. BUT put those two things aside and you've got a solid thriller with a strong female lead character. Fran was quite the interesting woman and pretty intense! The plot has plenty of little twists and a decent ensemble of characters that add to the drama. This novel would be a great holiday read for readers that enjoy thrillers.
*Fun fact for you - J. L. Butler is the pseudonym for popular women's fiction writer Tasmina Perry.
August 6, 2018
I've given this a B at AAR.
The premise for J.L Butler’s Mine sounded really intriguing, as did the idea of a barrister heroine, so I jumped right in and was immediately pulled into the story. I don’t read many mysteries (I tend to prefer romantic suspense), but this one grabbed me right away, and even though there were a few things about the plotline and central character that made me scratch my head, I was pretty much gripped from beginning to end.
Francine Day, a hard-working barrister in her late thirties is a bit of a misfit in her profession. She comes from a working class family, she doesn’t have a public school education and she’s from Lancashire, her voice still carrying a bit of the northern twang she grew up with. She works mostly in the field of family law, and has made herself a reputation as one of the best divorce lawyers around, specialising in the marital splits of the very wealthy. It’s this reputation that brings her a client by the name of Martin Joy, an obscenely wealthy investment banker whose wife is out to take him to the cleaners for everything she can get. Donna Joy wants half of everything Martin owns, including half his future earnings - and he wants to protect the company he and his friend, Alex Cole, have built from nothing.
The initial meeting over and arrangements made for the preliminary hearing, Fran is surprised to bump into Martin a few days later, in Selfridges of all places, and he invites her to have a drink with him. One drink leads to another and eventually leads to their ending up in bed at Martin’s East London apartment and to a passionate affair that is completely outside Fran’s normal experience of sex and relationships.
This should perhaps ring the alarm bells. She’s built a career on being upfront and doing what’s right – possibly as a reaction against her rather ‘wild-child’, rebellious adolescence – and she’s being encouraged by her colleagues and superiors to apply to take silk (which means she will become a QC, Queen's Counsel, which is a prestigious appointment in her profession), and needs to keep her nose clean. But she’s never felt this way about anyone and the thrill of being with Martin pushes all thoughts of her career into the back seat. Eventually, however, the stress of keeping their relationship a secret begins to take its toll, and Fran finds herself gradually drowning amid the lies, her heavy workload and the hints of resurgence of the bi-polar disorder that she normally keeps under control through medication. Even as she recognises the absurdity of her actions, when she suspects Martin is lying to her, and that perhaps his marriage is not as dead as he claims it is, Fran follows him one night and sees him meeting Donna, for a meal and then continues to watch them as they return to her house late that night.
Angry, frustrated and jealous, Fran gets blind drunk – and then wakes up on her neighbour’s sofa the following morning with no idea of how she got there or what happened after she saw Martin and Donna going into the house.
But worse news is to follow a few days later when it transpires that Donna Joy has vanished, and Fran may well have been the last person to have seen her. Martin insists that Donna was prone to just taking off for days and weeks at a time without warning, but the fact that she took nothing with her – no bag, ID or clothes – says this is something more than her usual impulsive flit. The police pursue a missing persons enquiry but it’s clear that they suspect Martin has something do so with his wife’s disappearance, especially given everything he stands to lose in the divorce. Yet in spite of things she’s learned about Martin since they first met, in spite of the fact that he’s lied to her and is clearly a ruthless operator, Fran knows he’s innocent. But she can’t prove it. Even so, she goes all out to protect Martin and to protect herself, becoming more and more deeply enmeshed in the ever expanding circles of secrets and lies that are spiralling out of control.
My fellow AAR reviewer Shannon – who reviews a lot of mysteries – often says that she doesn’t have to like characters for them to be engaging or interesting, and that’s definitely something that was going through my head as I read Mine. It’s not always easy to believe that Fran is the highly-educated, dedicated professional we’re asked to believe her to be, and there’s no denying she makes some unwise choices. Getting involved with a client is certainly unprofessional, and the fact that she drinks to excess on occasion, even though she knows she should avoid alcohol because of the medication she takes – yet she still manages to be an engaging heroine.
She’s someone who hasn’t had a lot of close personal relationships in her life, which perhaps makes her obsession with Martin understandable. He’s hot, he’s rich and he’s clearly interested in more than just a short fling with her, and she likes the power-rush she gets from knowing the effect she has on him in the bedroom, especially. But this element of the plot falls down somewhat because the character of Martin, as written, isn’t particularly charismatic. He’s described as being handsome, charming and magnetic, but he’s underwritten, which makes it difficult to fully buy into Fran’s obsession with him and thus to understand some of her less sensible decisions. But with that said, her mistakes make her seem more human, more ordinary and relatable somehow; and I was able, in spite of them, to become sufficiently invested in her to need to know how things would pan out.
Mine is an expertly woven, well-paced and intense story, and I enjoyed it in spite of its flaws. The friendship between Fran and her bestie, Claire, feels very genuine, and the author’s depiction of life in a busy chambers and of the London locations (and the area of Essex I live in) all ring very true. I didn’t see the final twist coming, which is always a bonus, and while the characters might not be particularly likeable, I didn’t mind it; their shortcomings make them interesting, at the very least. If you’re looking for an engrossing but not too dark and gory mystery to while away a few hours this summer, Mine might very well fit the bill.
The premise for J.L Butler’s Mine sounded really intriguing, as did the idea of a barrister heroine, so I jumped right in and was immediately pulled into the story. I don’t read many mysteries (I tend to prefer romantic suspense), but this one grabbed me right away, and even though there were a few things about the plotline and central character that made me scratch my head, I was pretty much gripped from beginning to end.
Francine Day, a hard-working barrister in her late thirties is a bit of a misfit in her profession. She comes from a working class family, she doesn’t have a public school education and she’s from Lancashire, her voice still carrying a bit of the northern twang she grew up with. She works mostly in the field of family law, and has made herself a reputation as one of the best divorce lawyers around, specialising in the marital splits of the very wealthy. It’s this reputation that brings her a client by the name of Martin Joy, an obscenely wealthy investment banker whose wife is out to take him to the cleaners for everything she can get. Donna Joy wants half of everything Martin owns, including half his future earnings - and he wants to protect the company he and his friend, Alex Cole, have built from nothing.
The initial meeting over and arrangements made for the preliminary hearing, Fran is surprised to bump into Martin a few days later, in Selfridges of all places, and he invites her to have a drink with him. One drink leads to another and eventually leads to their ending up in bed at Martin’s East London apartment and to a passionate affair that is completely outside Fran’s normal experience of sex and relationships.
This should perhaps ring the alarm bells. She’s built a career on being upfront and doing what’s right – possibly as a reaction against her rather ‘wild-child’, rebellious adolescence – and she’s being encouraged by her colleagues and superiors to apply to take silk (which means she will become a QC, Queen's Counsel, which is a prestigious appointment in her profession), and needs to keep her nose clean. But she’s never felt this way about anyone and the thrill of being with Martin pushes all thoughts of her career into the back seat. Eventually, however, the stress of keeping their relationship a secret begins to take its toll, and Fran finds herself gradually drowning amid the lies, her heavy workload and the hints of resurgence of the bi-polar disorder that she normally keeps under control through medication. Even as she recognises the absurdity of her actions, when she suspects Martin is lying to her, and that perhaps his marriage is not as dead as he claims it is, Fran follows him one night and sees him meeting Donna, for a meal and then continues to watch them as they return to her house late that night.
Angry, frustrated and jealous, Fran gets blind drunk – and then wakes up on her neighbour’s sofa the following morning with no idea of how she got there or what happened after she saw Martin and Donna going into the house.
But worse news is to follow a few days later when it transpires that Donna Joy has vanished, and Fran may well have been the last person to have seen her. Martin insists that Donna was prone to just taking off for days and weeks at a time without warning, but the fact that she took nothing with her – no bag, ID or clothes – says this is something more than her usual impulsive flit. The police pursue a missing persons enquiry but it’s clear that they suspect Martin has something do so with his wife’s disappearance, especially given everything he stands to lose in the divorce. Yet in spite of things she’s learned about Martin since they first met, in spite of the fact that he’s lied to her and is clearly a ruthless operator, Fran knows he’s innocent. But she can’t prove it. Even so, she goes all out to protect Martin and to protect herself, becoming more and more deeply enmeshed in the ever expanding circles of secrets and lies that are spiralling out of control.
My fellow AAR reviewer Shannon – who reviews a lot of mysteries – often says that she doesn’t have to like characters for them to be engaging or interesting, and that’s definitely something that was going through my head as I read Mine. It’s not always easy to believe that Fran is the highly-educated, dedicated professional we’re asked to believe her to be, and there’s no denying she makes some unwise choices. Getting involved with a client is certainly unprofessional, and the fact that she drinks to excess on occasion, even though she knows she should avoid alcohol because of the medication she takes – yet she still manages to be an engaging heroine.
She’s someone who hasn’t had a lot of close personal relationships in her life, which perhaps makes her obsession with Martin understandable. He’s hot, he’s rich and he’s clearly interested in more than just a short fling with her, and she likes the power-rush she gets from knowing the effect she has on him in the bedroom, especially. But this element of the plot falls down somewhat because the character of Martin, as written, isn’t particularly charismatic. He’s described as being handsome, charming and magnetic, but he’s underwritten, which makes it difficult to fully buy into Fran’s obsession with him and thus to understand some of her less sensible decisions. But with that said, her mistakes make her seem more human, more ordinary and relatable somehow; and I was able, in spite of them, to become sufficiently invested in her to need to know how things would pan out.
Mine is an expertly woven, well-paced and intense story, and I enjoyed it in spite of its flaws. The friendship between Fran and her bestie, Claire, feels very genuine, and the author’s depiction of life in a busy chambers and of the London locations (and the area of Essex I live in) all ring very true. I didn’t see the final twist coming, which is always a bonus, and while the characters might not be particularly likeable, I didn’t mind it; their shortcomings make them interesting, at the very least. If you’re looking for an engrossing but not too dark and gory mystery to while away a few hours this summer, Mine might very well fit the bill.
February 8, 2019
4.5*
Primeiro que tudo referir o facto de que este livro teve uma campanha de marketing deliciosa [(ou não viesse o meu exemplar acompanhado de chocolate... Não... ainda não o comi... estou de dieta ;)].
De admitir que este livro surpreendeu-me. Se por um lado o título e a capa dá ideia de que se trata de um romance, por outro lado assim que começamos a leitura apercebemo-nos de que não é bem isso. Sim, tem romance, sem dúvida. Quanto mais não seja pelo facto de Fran ter-se envolvido amorosa e intensamente com um dos seus clientes: Martin Joy.
Ora comecemos, resumidamente, pelo inicio: Francine é uma jovem advogada de divórcios, com perspectivas de um futuro brilhante pela frente. Mas nem sempre assim foi. Em tempos, Fran foi uma jovem problemática com problemas de saúde muito graves que a levavam a extremos complicados. Era por isso que ela parecia sempre algo obsessiva com o seu espaço, as suas coisas e em tudo o que fazia. Não fugia da rotina. Apanhava sempre o mesmo autocarro para casa e passava o dia e, muitas vezes, as noites a trabalhar. Vivia para o trabalho e era feliz assim, ou, pelo menos, ela pensava que seria. Até ao dia em que lhe dão o caso de Martin Joy. O financeiro cheio de dinheiro e bem parecido que quer divorciar-se da esposa. Foi química instantânea de parte a parte e o envolvimento era inevitável. A questão é que Donna Joy, a esposa, não aparece no tribunal quando devia e desaparece dos radares de toda a gente, inclusive da irmã que foi a primeira a dar o alerta.
Opinião Completa no Sinfonia dos Livros
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Primeiro que tudo referir o facto de que este livro teve uma campanha de marketing deliciosa [(ou não viesse o meu exemplar acompanhado de chocolate... Não... ainda não o comi... estou de dieta ;)].
De admitir que este livro surpreendeu-me. Se por um lado o título e a capa dá ideia de que se trata de um romance, por outro lado assim que começamos a leitura apercebemo-nos de que não é bem isso. Sim, tem romance, sem dúvida. Quanto mais não seja pelo facto de Fran ter-se envolvido amorosa e intensamente com um dos seus clientes: Martin Joy.
Ora comecemos, resumidamente, pelo inicio: Francine é uma jovem advogada de divórcios, com perspectivas de um futuro brilhante pela frente. Mas nem sempre assim foi. Em tempos, Fran foi uma jovem problemática com problemas de saúde muito graves que a levavam a extremos complicados. Era por isso que ela parecia sempre algo obsessiva com o seu espaço, as suas coisas e em tudo o que fazia. Não fugia da rotina. Apanhava sempre o mesmo autocarro para casa e passava o dia e, muitas vezes, as noites a trabalhar. Vivia para o trabalho e era feliz assim, ou, pelo menos, ela pensava que seria. Até ao dia em que lhe dão o caso de Martin Joy. O financeiro cheio de dinheiro e bem parecido que quer divorciar-se da esposa. Foi química instantânea de parte a parte e o envolvimento era inevitável. A questão é que Donna Joy, a esposa, não aparece no tribunal quando devia e desaparece dos radares de toda a gente, inclusive da irmã que foi a primeira a dar o alerta.
Opinião Completa no Sinfonia dos Livros
https://sinfoniadoslivros.blogspot.co...
February 22, 2019
Opinião completa em: https://marcadordelivros.blogspot.com...
3,7*
3,7*
April 6, 2018
Francine Day has worked hard to build a reputation as a top London divorce lawyer. Against her better judgement she becomes romantically involved with one of her clients, Martin Joy. Fran can't fight the feelings she has for Martin and is obsessed with his relationship with his soon to be ex wife, Donna Joy. After following Donna one night, Fran awakes the next morning with no clear memory of what happened the night before. When Donna goes missing, Fran does whatever it takes to protect herself and the man she loves.
This is the book I have been waiting for in the suspense genre. In recent years there have been a few books that were quite good but didn't really live up to the hype. This book hit all the right notes for me. I thought Fran was an interesting and complex character. I was never quite sure in what direction the book would go which made for an on the edge of my seat type of read. I really enjoyed watching the story unfold.
This book might have a few flaws but my enjoyment was never lessened because of them. The book starts off a bit slow but definitely before page 100 I was hooked. At times watching this smart, successful woman make poor decisions based on her obsession with Martin can be difficult to read. However, in some respects that was also the strength of the book because you never really knew what could happen next. Overall, this was just one of those fun reading experiences and I definitely hope others enjoy it as much as I did.
I won a free copy of this book but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
This is the book I have been waiting for in the suspense genre. In recent years there have been a few books that were quite good but didn't really live up to the hype. This book hit all the right notes for me. I thought Fran was an interesting and complex character. I was never quite sure in what direction the book would go which made for an on the edge of my seat type of read. I really enjoyed watching the story unfold.
This book might have a few flaws but my enjoyment was never lessened because of them. The book starts off a bit slow but definitely before page 100 I was hooked. At times watching this smart, successful woman make poor decisions based on her obsession with Martin can be difficult to read. However, in some respects that was also the strength of the book because you never really knew what could happen next. Overall, this was just one of those fun reading experiences and I definitely hope others enjoy it as much as I did.
I won a free copy of this book but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
June 29, 2018
Thank you so much to William Morrow Books for providing my free copy of MINE by J.L. Butler - all opinions are my own.
This is a fast-paced psychological thriller that really defines the word obsession. Francine Day is a hard working divorce lawyer in London. She’s worked tirelessly building a reputation in a male dominated field, but against her better judgment, has an affair with her client, Martin Joy. She becomes obsessed with Martin and fixated on his soon-to-be ex-wife, Donna. When Donna goes missing, Martin is the first person suspected and when Fran wakes up with blood on her clothes and no memory of what happened the night before, she wonders if she is somehow involved. Why can’t she remember?
I love it when thrillers have short chapters; no matter how big the book, it reads super-fast. Francine is a complex and interesting character, who makes bad decision after bad decision, but you can’t stop reading about it. Butler does an amazing job capturing that heightened passion and obsessive compulsiveness that can drive you to ignore all reason. This story is very well-written, highly suspenseful, and intense. I was gripped from start to finish and had to know what happens next. MINE is full of twists and will keep you second guessing everything.
This is a fast-paced psychological thriller that really defines the word obsession. Francine Day is a hard working divorce lawyer in London. She’s worked tirelessly building a reputation in a male dominated field, but against her better judgment, has an affair with her client, Martin Joy. She becomes obsessed with Martin and fixated on his soon-to-be ex-wife, Donna. When Donna goes missing, Martin is the first person suspected and when Fran wakes up with blood on her clothes and no memory of what happened the night before, she wonders if she is somehow involved. Why can’t she remember?
I love it when thrillers have short chapters; no matter how big the book, it reads super-fast. Francine is a complex and interesting character, who makes bad decision after bad decision, but you can’t stop reading about it. Butler does an amazing job capturing that heightened passion and obsessive compulsiveness that can drive you to ignore all reason. This story is very well-written, highly suspenseful, and intense. I was gripped from start to finish and had to know what happens next. MINE is full of twists and will keep you second guessing everything.
July 9, 2018
Excellent
Really enjoyed reading this psychological thriller, narrated by the main character. Done really well with some humour and drama.
All the characters are well developed.
Really did not see the ending, there was obviously a twist coming, but I couldn't see which way it was going.
Really enjoyed reading this psychological thriller, narrated by the main character. Done really well with some humour and drama.
All the characters are well developed.
Really did not see the ending, there was obviously a twist coming, but I couldn't see which way it was going.
March 29, 2019
Um livro soft que se lê muito bem, sem grandes stresses. Confesso que esperava bem mais, mais emoção, mais suspense, mais... Até o titulo não me parece muito adequado. "Tu és meu!" a mim remete-me para algo bem mais complicado e obsessivo. Ficam também algumas coisas por explicar e pontas soltas. Um leitura simples e descomplicada
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