What do you think?
Rate this book
The Trial Trilogy #2
The Curious Case of Faith & Grace
Almost two years ago, Faith and Grace Tiddle arrived home from their Saturday morning dance class to find both of their parents face down in pools of bloodFive days later, the twins — only nine years old at the time — were arrested for the double homicide.And now, twenty months on, the entire country awaits with bated breath as the jury are dismissed to deliberate their verdict on a case that has become a national phenomenon.But if Lead Detective Denis Quayle — the man who knows the case better than anybody else — isn’t fully convinced of the twins’ guilt…Can a twelve-person jury be?
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2020
723 people are currently reading
499 people want to read
About the author
David B. Lyons
25 books140 followersDavid B. Lyons is an international bestselling author from Dublin, Ireland
He writes psychological thriller novels and has achieved No.1 rankings in the Amazon crime charts in Ireland, the UK, Canada and Australia.
Former freelance journalist David grew up in Dublin - the city his novels are set - but currently spends his time between Birmingham in the UK and the Irish capital. David is married to a Brummie, Kerry, and they have one daughter, Lola.
Before becoming a novelist David was a football writer, a celebrity columnist and a music reviewer. He has lectured in Journalism and in Creative Writing in colleges and universities in both Ireland and in the UK.
You can connect with David here:
Website: TheOpenAuthor.com
Twitter: @TheOpenAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorDavidBLyons/
He writes psychological thriller novels and has achieved No.1 rankings in the Amazon crime charts in Ireland, the UK, Canada and Australia.
Former freelance journalist David grew up in Dublin - the city his novels are set - but currently spends his time between Birmingham in the UK and the Irish capital. David is married to a Brummie, Kerry, and they have one daughter, Lola.
Before becoming a novelist David was a football writer, a celebrity columnist and a music reviewer. He has lectured in Journalism and in Creative Writing in colleges and universities in both Ireland and in the UK.
You can connect with David here:
Website: TheOpenAuthor.com
Twitter: @TheOpenAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorDavidBLyons/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 3, 2020
I had the following effects while reading this book - couldn't stop reading once I started, heart racing, palms sweating, pacing around the room, swearing every other minute, not believing what I just read. The exact reasons why I fell in love with the author's writing in the first place.
I could connect with all the characters - everyone of them were living, breathing characters and I felt for them.
From the beginning I was busying thinking and wondering. Are they guilty? Are they not guilty? They may be guilty. But what if it was someone else? I was undecided until the end.
I spent my Friday through Sunday with it and loved every moment of it. I couldn't even stop thinking about it when I went to bed. My hands were itching to grab my kindle and keep reading - this book is that good. I never saw the punches coming my way. And the best part is - I loved them all! This book is an absolute must read!
I could connect with all the characters - everyone of them were living, breathing characters and I felt for them.
From the beginning I was busying thinking and wondering. Are they guilty? Are they not guilty? They may be guilty. But what if it was someone else? I was undecided until the end.
I spent my Friday through Sunday with it and loved every moment of it. I couldn't even stop thinking about it when I went to bed. My hands were itching to grab my kindle and keep reading - this book is that good. I never saw the punches coming my way. And the best part is - I loved them all! This book is an absolute must read!
October 10, 2020
I am surprised by the high ratings credited to this book! The summary intrigued me, enough for me to download the book, however the unfolding material didn't live up to its promise.
What I particularly disliked was the style in which Lyons delivered this tale. Great swathes of chapters told in a sort of report like writing - more suitable for a work of non-fiction; the endless back story which made up a significant proportion of the tale. What happened to the "show not tell" principle?
Also, as someone else has commented, the lack of credibility to the whole thing. This is a modern day story - there is no way this would have been tried in an adult court, and where where the assessments from psychiatrists and clinical psychologists?
All I can say is that it was a good idea, but poorly executed. Appreciate that it hits the note for many, but not for me unfortunately.
What I particularly disliked was the style in which Lyons delivered this tale. Great swathes of chapters told in a sort of report like writing - more suitable for a work of non-fiction; the endless back story which made up a significant proportion of the tale. What happened to the "show not tell" principle?
Also, as someone else has commented, the lack of credibility to the whole thing. This is a modern day story - there is no way this would have been tried in an adult court, and where where the assessments from psychiatrists and clinical psychologists?
All I can say is that it was a good idea, but poorly executed. Appreciate that it hits the note for many, but not for me unfortunately.
April 6, 2023
Fantastic read, keeps you gripped the whole way through. Highly recommended!
November 19, 2022
Enjoyment: 4.5
Total rating: 4.71
Mind Blown. Why aren't more people talking about David B. Lyons?? This trilogy is amazing, enthralling, fascinating, and expertly written.
If you enjoy creepy kids and want to check your moral compass, this book is for you. 9-year-old twins Faith and Grace are on trial for brutally murdering their parents, and until the very chapter, I was flipping from believing their innocence and thinking they are guilty. The end satisfied me, and I wish I could talk about it... But no spoilers here. DAAAAAANGGGGG! I loved this book so much!!
The Curious Case of Faith & Grace is the perfect buddy-read or book club pick. Please don't make the lonely mistake I made; find someone to talk to about it when you're done!!
Total rating: 4.71
Mind Blown. Why aren't more people talking about David B. Lyons?? This trilogy is amazing, enthralling, fascinating, and expertly written.
If you enjoy creepy kids and want to check your moral compass, this book is for you. 9-year-old twins Faith and Grace are on trial for brutally murdering their parents, and until the very chapter, I was flipping from believing their innocence and thinking they are guilty. The end satisfied me, and I wish I could talk about it... But no spoilers here. DAAAAAANGGGGG! I loved this book so much!!
The Curious Case of Faith & Grace is the perfect buddy-read or book club pick. Please don't make the lonely mistake I made; find someone to talk to about it when you're done!!
October 30, 2025
Setting: Dublin, Irish Republic; modern day.
Faith and Grace are the nine-year-old twins of church leaders Clive and Dorothy Tiddle at the time their parents are found stabbed to death in their house - and most people are quite willing to believe that these strange children are perfectly capable of the murders. That is apart from the lead detective Denis Quayle - an experienced officer but one who refuses to even countenance that the children could have been responsible for their parents' deaths as the investigation continues and he comes under pressure from senior officers....
In another thread of the story, Alice is a juror at the trial of Faith and Grace for the murder. The evidence has all been presented and the two sides will be summing up on the following day. Alice is convinced of their guilt but then receives a text message from an unknown number telling her that she must ensure that the twins are not convicted otherwise a video of her having sex with another man will be sent to her husband. She then has to try to ensure that the jury cannot even reach a majority verdict by ensuring that two other jurors are unsure of their guilt....
This was a highly entertaining and very different read, with some great twists at the end. A couple of the characters were perhaps a bit extreme - I couldn't believe how dim the supposed detective inspector was in regard to the children and Alice's actions were sometimes a bit bizarre - but overall I enjoyed the book and will be looking out for more in The Trial series - 9/10.
Faith and Grace are the nine-year-old twins of church leaders Clive and Dorothy Tiddle at the time their parents are found stabbed to death in their house - and most people are quite willing to believe that these strange children are perfectly capable of the murders. That is apart from the lead detective Denis Quayle - an experienced officer but one who refuses to even countenance that the children could have been responsible for their parents' deaths as the investigation continues and he comes under pressure from senior officers....
In another thread of the story, Alice is a juror at the trial of Faith and Grace for the murder. The evidence has all been presented and the two sides will be summing up on the following day. Alice is convinced of their guilt but then receives a text message from an unknown number telling her that she must ensure that the twins are not convicted otherwise a video of her having sex with another man will be sent to her husband. She then has to try to ensure that the jury cannot even reach a majority verdict by ensuring that two other jurors are unsure of their guilt....
This was a highly entertaining and very different read, with some great twists at the end. A couple of the characters were perhaps a bit extreme - I couldn't believe how dim the supposed detective inspector was in regard to the children and Alice's actions were sometimes a bit bizarre - but overall I enjoyed the book and will be looking out for more in The Trial series - 9/10.
December 21, 2025
I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did.
I know it's the second in a trilogy.
I read "She Said, Three Said" a few books ago - which I liked but didn't love.
The first book I've read by David B Lyons was "Whatever Happened To Betsy Blake" - I really enjoyed this book.
"The Curious Case of Faith & Grace" is an enjoyable book - just not great.
Unfortunately I had to use my Kindle dictionary way more than I'm comfortable doing for unusual use of words like "baulked" "pinkeens" "peripherals" 'gombeen" "chicaned"
It's a quite confusing book to read, I don't like the way some of the chapters begin and not know who the chapter is about, or when it occurred.
Maybe I'm just a little bit slow.
Not sure I'll finish the Trilogy.
But David B Lyons has written many books so I'll probably pick a different one, not trial type.
I know it's the second in a trilogy.
I read "She Said, Three Said" a few books ago - which I liked but didn't love.
The first book I've read by David B Lyons was "Whatever Happened To Betsy Blake" - I really enjoyed this book.
"The Curious Case of Faith & Grace" is an enjoyable book - just not great.
Unfortunately I had to use my Kindle dictionary way more than I'm comfortable doing for unusual use of words like "baulked" "pinkeens" "peripherals" 'gombeen" "chicaned"
It's a quite confusing book to read, I don't like the way some of the chapters begin and not know who the chapter is about, or when it occurred.
Maybe I'm just a little bit slow.
Not sure I'll finish the Trilogy.
But David B Lyons has written many books so I'll probably pick a different one, not trial type.
February 14, 2021
This book started off well, but the ending is disappointing and lacked imagination.
July 3, 2020
Set in Dublin, The Curious Case of Faith and Grace tells the story of nine-year-old twins, Faith and Grace Tiddle, who are accused of the murder of their parents, Clive and Dorothy.
The twins were at their usual Saturday morning ballet and tap class and, when they returned home, were horrified to find their mother and father lying dead, from multiple stab wounds, in the kitchen of the family bungalow at the foothills of the Dublin mountains.
Clive, aged 52, and Dorothy, aged 50, run the church at the local community centre after the original St Benedict’s Church closed. The couple are old fashioned, very religious and rather strict with their girls, who were conceived via IVF after 17 years of trying. They said prayers over the girls’ cribs when they were born and, as they grew older, made them chant Hail Marys and Our Fathers and pray for forgiveness if they were naughty.
The story is told from several viewpoints. The first is from Detective Inspector Denis Quayle, the lead investigator on the case, who is based at Rathcoole Garda station, and is from the days immediately after the killings. The second is from Alice Sheridan, one of the 12 jurors from the trial, which takes place nearly two years later and is coming to a close after nearly two weeks, with deliberations due to start shortly. Interspersed with these viewpoints are descriptive sections that tell us more about the background of the rather strange Tiddle family. These are fascinating and rather eye opening and give us an interesting alternative view of the well-thought-of family!
Quayle is rather incompetent and out of his depth, struggling to keep hold of his investigation while the two detectives from Tallaght, Tunstead and Lowe, try to take control. He believed the girls were not guilty and battled hard to convince his colleagues that the case needed more investigating and they should look at other local people as suspects, rather than just the twins. Rathcoole station is only small with four police staff: Quayle, uniformed officers, Johnny Gibbons and Olivia Sully, and Detective Superintendent Brigit Fairweather, who is nearing retirement and spends all her time on the golf course rather than doing any work.
Juror Alice Sheridan is married to Noel and they have two children, Zoe (23) and Alfie (14). They also suffered from problems with conceiving and their youngest was born after IVF and four miscarriages. Alice tries not to get too close to the other jurors and has nicknames for them like Obese Guy, Red Head, Quiff Boy, Scarhead, etc!
We learn early on that a member of the jury is being blackmailed and must encourage the other jurors to vote not guilty to avoid their darkest secret being revealed to their family. It was really interesting to see the thought processes of the jury and how they deliberated everything. There were a lot of arguments and strong opinions as the group tried to remain objective and decide whether the girls (now 11 years old) were guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. The evidence certainly seemed lacking in parts.
This was a cleverly plotted and well-paced courtroom thriller; it was engaging and compelling and I felt like I was there with DI Quayle as he tried to get to the bottom of the dreadful killings. Later on, I imagined being in the jury rooms in Dublin’s Criminal Courts as the jury are deliberating and considering their verdict.
It was an absorbing, tense and thought-provoking read with some good twists and turns throughout – there was a lot more going on in the lives of the Tiddle family than the police realised and they definitely overlooked various clues and revealing events! The twins were rather creepy and disturbing and rather shocked me out with some of their actions and discussions but I still swayed between thinking they were guilty and not guilty as the story progressed. A really entertaining novel!
The twins were at their usual Saturday morning ballet and tap class and, when they returned home, were horrified to find their mother and father lying dead, from multiple stab wounds, in the kitchen of the family bungalow at the foothills of the Dublin mountains.
Clive, aged 52, and Dorothy, aged 50, run the church at the local community centre after the original St Benedict’s Church closed. The couple are old fashioned, very religious and rather strict with their girls, who were conceived via IVF after 17 years of trying. They said prayers over the girls’ cribs when they were born and, as they grew older, made them chant Hail Marys and Our Fathers and pray for forgiveness if they were naughty.
The story is told from several viewpoints. The first is from Detective Inspector Denis Quayle, the lead investigator on the case, who is based at Rathcoole Garda station, and is from the days immediately after the killings. The second is from Alice Sheridan, one of the 12 jurors from the trial, which takes place nearly two years later and is coming to a close after nearly two weeks, with deliberations due to start shortly. Interspersed with these viewpoints are descriptive sections that tell us more about the background of the rather strange Tiddle family. These are fascinating and rather eye opening and give us an interesting alternative view of the well-thought-of family!
Quayle is rather incompetent and out of his depth, struggling to keep hold of his investigation while the two detectives from Tallaght, Tunstead and Lowe, try to take control. He believed the girls were not guilty and battled hard to convince his colleagues that the case needed more investigating and they should look at other local people as suspects, rather than just the twins. Rathcoole station is only small with four police staff: Quayle, uniformed officers, Johnny Gibbons and Olivia Sully, and Detective Superintendent Brigit Fairweather, who is nearing retirement and spends all her time on the golf course rather than doing any work.
Juror Alice Sheridan is married to Noel and they have two children, Zoe (23) and Alfie (14). They also suffered from problems with conceiving and their youngest was born after IVF and four miscarriages. Alice tries not to get too close to the other jurors and has nicknames for them like Obese Guy, Red Head, Quiff Boy, Scarhead, etc!
We learn early on that a member of the jury is being blackmailed and must encourage the other jurors to vote not guilty to avoid their darkest secret being revealed to their family. It was really interesting to see the thought processes of the jury and how they deliberated everything. There were a lot of arguments and strong opinions as the group tried to remain objective and decide whether the girls (now 11 years old) were guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. The evidence certainly seemed lacking in parts.
This was a cleverly plotted and well-paced courtroom thriller; it was engaging and compelling and I felt like I was there with DI Quayle as he tried to get to the bottom of the dreadful killings. Later on, I imagined being in the jury rooms in Dublin’s Criminal Courts as the jury are deliberating and considering their verdict.
It was an absorbing, tense and thought-provoking read with some good twists and turns throughout – there was a lot more going on in the lives of the Tiddle family than the police realised and they definitely overlooked various clues and revealing events! The twins were rather creepy and disturbing and rather shocked me out with some of their actions and discussions but I still swayed between thinking they were guilty and not guilty as the story progressed. A really entertaining novel!
June 4, 2021
The synopsis was intriguing but didn't deliver. The characters were bland, very little was made of the "weirdness" of the twins that was the basis for everyone's belief they were guilty and the twist at the end came across as a limp afterthought. Did Alice have to try to blatantly use the suggestion of sex with the stereotyped fat guy to keep his vote no guilty? Surely it was a kick in the balls for men and women everywhere to have to read something so obvious, played to death and tacky. And did the characters really have to say "eh... "so many times in one conversation? Grr.
Having written this and worked myself into a tizz realising I could have spent the time reading something better or finally defrosting my freezer, I've come to think my original 3 stars was too generous and am going to take it down to 2 stars.
Having written this and worked myself into a tizz realising I could have spent the time reading something better or finally defrosting my freezer, I've come to think my original 3 stars was too generous and am going to take it down to 2 stars.
June 17, 2022
I was so interested in the premise of this being sat on the jury of a high profile crime but felt really disappointed in this read. I thought there would be more going into the details of the case in the courtroom or even background information but it just didn’t deliver.
The switching between POV and timelines didn’t feel very smooth and was confusing without adding any benefit to the plot. Also the back story of the one jurors just didn’t really add much to the story in my opinion.
I thought there would be more information about the twins, everyone kept talking about them being ‘creepy’ but other than one flashback and a couple of conversations there was hardly anything said about them which elaborated on that.
This one just fell really flat for me sadly 😔
I know it is part of a trilogy and each can be read as a stand-alone (this is number 2) so maybe the others are better?
The switching between POV and timelines didn’t feel very smooth and was confusing without adding any benefit to the plot. Also the back story of the one jurors just didn’t really add much to the story in my opinion.
I thought there would be more information about the twins, everyone kept talking about them being ‘creepy’ but other than one flashback and a couple of conversations there was hardly anything said about them which elaborated on that.
This one just fell really flat for me sadly 😔
I know it is part of a trilogy and each can be read as a stand-alone (this is number 2) so maybe the others are better?
December 26, 2020
Didn't like the main characters, needed a better proof reader
I didn't like any of the main characters, I thought maybe you weren't meant to and there'd be this big twist. I read to the end just to see whodunnit, but even that was a disappointment tbh. There were spelling mistakes and I found it hard to get into it as it wasn't clear at the beginning of each chapter who and what time line was being written about and a lot of times the speech marks weren't there so you weren't sure if it was a thought or someone saying something.
It was an okay read, it felt almost like it was based on real events at times, but ultimately I didn't enjoy this book.
I didn't like any of the main characters, I thought maybe you weren't meant to and there'd be this big twist. I read to the end just to see whodunnit, but even that was a disappointment tbh. There were spelling mistakes and I found it hard to get into it as it wasn't clear at the beginning of each chapter who and what time line was being written about and a lot of times the speech marks weren't there so you weren't sure if it was a thought or someone saying something.
It was an okay read, it felt almost like it was based on real events at times, but ultimately I didn't enjoy this book.
January 25, 2022
This is the second book in the Trial trilogy that I have read by David. I am not enjoying this trilogy as much as I enjoyed The Suicide Pact - Tick-tock trilogy.
It entails a set of twins called Faith and Grace who allegedly killed their parents which leads into a rather long drawn out court case just like the long drawn court case in She said three said which was the first book in this trilogy. At least in The curious case of Faith and Grace there is conclusion to the story not like She said three said.
I have yet to read the final book Coincidence in the Trial trilogy.
It entails a set of twins called Faith and Grace who allegedly killed their parents which leads into a rather long drawn out court case just like the long drawn court case in She said three said which was the first book in this trilogy. At least in The curious case of Faith and Grace there is conclusion to the story not like She said three said.
I have yet to read the final book Coincidence in the Trial trilogy.
November 13, 2022
I'm not sure how I felt about the book. None of the characters are likeable, but I suppose that's not really a problem in this genre. The plot was interesting and I read it in like a day. Its written from multiple points of view and its all interesting. You want to know whether they're found guilty, what happens to the juror, what the detective will screw up next. My biggest issue was the ending, I don't like open endings. I want to know how long the were sentenced for, what happened between Alice and her husband/daughter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2021
Hmmm.. Feels like this should have been a much better book. Deeply unpleasant protagonist, not drawn particularly well. There's a lot of very badly described sex. I'm going to guess that David B Lyons really likes doggy style. Because man does he make sure the reader knows that's the position every separate couple has sex in. The twins could have been sinister but just ended up kind of meh. Also women never, but never, 'get wet' from a hand on the knee. Also how many spelling errors??
November 1, 2022
Did Faith and Hope kill their mom and dad? Did one of the twins kill then and the other is keeping quiet? Why kill when they knew they’d soon be heading for their dream vacation?
I read this straight through. It caught my attention and I felt anxious to know if these young twins had committed such a crime. The ending was when I fully believed what I was feeling. Until then I was back and forth thinking they did this crime and then right back to thinking that they surely had not.
I read this straight through. It caught my attention and I felt anxious to know if these young twins had committed such a crime. The ending was when I fully believed what I was feeling. Until then I was back and forth thinking they did this crime and then right back to thinking that they surely had not.
July 7, 2020
Disappointed....
Sorry but I feel this book was nowhere near as good as any in the tick tock trilogy. It didn't hold my interest and I struggled with it. Such a shame. Also cannot bear sentences that begin with 'And'....... Or very short ones where a common would have sufficed. I was really looking forward to this but it didn't meet my expectations.
Sorry but I feel this book was nowhere near as good as any in the tick tock trilogy. It didn't hold my interest and I struggled with it. Such a shame. Also cannot bear sentences that begin with 'And'....... Or very short ones where a common would have sufficed. I was really looking forward to this but it didn't meet my expectations.
March 27, 2021
This book should have been better than it was. The editing was so bad that it was actually a distraction, particularly verb tenses. The concept was interesting, but the storytelling and the characters never engaged me. I got so bored with Denis whining and the jury deliberations that I skipped to the end. Do not bother.
May 1, 2021
The book was great, couldn't put it down. However there were unanswered questions and the Author wants me to click a link. I think that's unfair as we bought the book. Also my kindle browser does not support the file link. Are we expected to be computer savvy to work that out another way. Would have given 5 stars but for that.
May 22, 2023
Not my favorite
My issue with this entire book was the fact these two sweet 9 years old, they were presented through the entire book as if they were 15 or older. They didn't have the mental capacity to behave this way, who lets their kids walk to dance class at 9? Who allows them to be tried as adults? Super disappointing book and end
My issue with this entire book was the fact these two sweet 9 years old, they were presented through the entire book as if they were 15 or older. They didn't have the mental capacity to behave this way, who lets their kids walk to dance class at 9? Who allows them to be tried as adults? Super disappointing book and end
Read
April 18, 2024An unlikeable book with unlikeable characters. I felt like I needed a shower to shift the sense of greasiness left by reading it.
I'm not sure if it was intentional or if the author needs to invest some time into using a dictionary, e.g. describing an older person as 'brightly' when the word 'sprightly' would make more sense
I'm not sure if it was intentional or if the author needs to invest some time into using a dictionary, e.g. describing an older person as 'brightly' when the word 'sprightly' would make more sense
December 9, 2020
It made me feel dirty. If this was the intent then so be it. There is evil in this world, this book is evidence of that
I felt dirty after reading this. If this was the intent, so be it. There is evil in a his world, this book only enhances that.
I felt dirty after reading this. If this was the intent, so be it. There is evil in a his world, this book only enhances that.
December 29, 2020
Good storyline but needs proof reading
Overall, I thought I'd was a well written story with some interesting plot twists. Unfortunately, there seemed to be many basic writing errors. Worth reading if you're not the grammar police!
Overall, I thought I'd was a well written story with some interesting plot twists. Unfortunately, there seemed to be many basic writing errors. Worth reading if you're not the grammar police!
April 18, 2021
Oh my.
I found the sex referenced a bit blatant for me (but they were necessary to the way the story ran). I also find stories with multiple points of view to be irritating, but this one was excellent, each character having a very different voice.
An excellent read.
I found the sex referenced a bit blatant for me (but they were necessary to the way the story ran). I also find stories with multiple points of view to be irritating, but this one was excellent, each character having a very different voice.
An excellent read.
July 25, 2020
Sorry but this just didn’t work for me. Too long-winded with story lines that got confusing and too many un-answered questions. Have like his other books but not this one.
January 10, 2021
A real page turner
This was a great psychological thriller. I loved that the story was told from various points of view. The ending also did not disappoint; I highly recommend.
This was a great psychological thriller. I loved that the story was told from various points of view. The ending also did not disappoint; I highly recommend.
November 14, 2020
It was okay. Not what I imagined and lacked something for me.
February 7, 2021
Good read
However I feel that a few loose ends could have been tidied up as I feel that questions were not answered
However I feel that a few loose ends could have been tidied up as I feel that questions were not answered
May 13, 2021
Not bad
Ive actually read another book with bribery and threats to a jury member.
I quite enjoyed this although it took me a while to read. Not very fast paced.
Ive actually read another book with bribery and threats to a jury member.
I quite enjoyed this although it took me a while to read. Not very fast paced.
June 14, 2021
Gripping
Another brilliant book could not out it down. Brilliant author have followed him can't wait to read another book of his
Another brilliant book could not out it down. Brilliant author have followed him can't wait to read another book of his
July 13, 2020
Faith and Grace – 9 year old twins who come home from a dance class to find their parents have been brutally slain in their home. The investigating detective doesn’t believe the twins could be guilty of such a terrible crime but he appears to be the lone voice protesting their innocence.
We know most people believe the twins are guilty because The Curious Case of Faith & Grace tells two stories. One chapter addresses the murder and the investigation which is being conducted while the next chapter jumps forward around two years to the deliberations of the jury who have to decide if the twins are guilty or not guilty of murder. It’s a police procedural story and a legal drama too – win win!
But the fun doesn’t stop there…the reader gets to join the jury and look in on their discussions as we follow Alice, one of the jurors. Alice fully believes the twins are guilty, however, someone knows that Alice has a secret and if Alice doesn’t convince enough of the other jurors to return a Not Guilty verdict then that secret will be shared with Alice’s family and friends. For Alice this cannot be allowed to happen so she must put aside her own opinions and argue to free two young girls who may actually be cold blooded killers.
The story swings between Alice’s predicament and that of investigating officer Denis Quayle. Both characters are fighting a losing battle to convince those around them of the twins innocence. Readers also get to dip into events prior to the murders as the author lets us see what life was like for Grace and Faith. Their parents were somewhat unusual and the girls were brought up in small town Ireland as part of a church who welcomed visitors from far across the globe. Not all the locals enjoyed the variety of visitors to their town, could a stranger be responsible for the terrible crime? Quayle believes the Church and its congregation played a part in the murder of Mr and Mrs Tiddle.
Nicely paced. Cleverly plotted. You cannot help get drawn in to the jury deliberations. Are the Twins guilty? Should Alice be trying to help free them (even if it is only for her personal gain)? Is Quayle right and the twins are innocent? If so then why are we seeing their trial? You keep reading because you want answers – a definite contender for a book group read, the moral discussions will split the room. I enjoyed this a lot and was already recommending it before I started writing this review.
We know most people believe the twins are guilty because The Curious Case of Faith & Grace tells two stories. One chapter addresses the murder and the investigation which is being conducted while the next chapter jumps forward around two years to the deliberations of the jury who have to decide if the twins are guilty or not guilty of murder. It’s a police procedural story and a legal drama too – win win!
But the fun doesn’t stop there…the reader gets to join the jury and look in on their discussions as we follow Alice, one of the jurors. Alice fully believes the twins are guilty, however, someone knows that Alice has a secret and if Alice doesn’t convince enough of the other jurors to return a Not Guilty verdict then that secret will be shared with Alice’s family and friends. For Alice this cannot be allowed to happen so she must put aside her own opinions and argue to free two young girls who may actually be cold blooded killers.
The story swings between Alice’s predicament and that of investigating officer Denis Quayle. Both characters are fighting a losing battle to convince those around them of the twins innocence. Readers also get to dip into events prior to the murders as the author lets us see what life was like for Grace and Faith. Their parents were somewhat unusual and the girls were brought up in small town Ireland as part of a church who welcomed visitors from far across the globe. Not all the locals enjoyed the variety of visitors to their town, could a stranger be responsible for the terrible crime? Quayle believes the Church and its congregation played a part in the murder of Mr and Mrs Tiddle.
Nicely paced. Cleverly plotted. You cannot help get drawn in to the jury deliberations. Are the Twins guilty? Should Alice be trying to help free them (even if it is only for her personal gain)? Is Quayle right and the twins are innocent? If so then why are we seeing their trial? You keep reading because you want answers – a definite contender for a book group read, the moral discussions will split the room. I enjoyed this a lot and was already recommending it before I started writing this review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews