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The Interpreter
Innocent or guilty. It's all a matter of interpretation...
A childhood spent moving around the world left Revelle Lee with an unusual gift - the ability to fluently speak 11 languages. Now, Revelle spends her days translating for witnesses, victims, and the accused across London crime scenes and courtrooms. It's a stressful job, though not as stressful as the process she is currently going through to adopt little boy, Elliot. She is determined to be the mother to him that she never had, and to make up for her own past mistakes.
But when it seems a murderer will go free, Revelle puts the adoption and her job at risk, deliberately mistranslating the alibi to ensure he is found guilty. No one can ever find out that she interfered or she will lose her son and her livelihood.
The problem is someone already knows what she's done... and they want justice of their own.
A childhood spent moving around the world left Revelle Lee with an unusual gift - the ability to fluently speak 11 languages. Now, Revelle spends her days translating for witnesses, victims, and the accused across London crime scenes and courtrooms. It's a stressful job, though not as stressful as the process she is currently going through to adopt little boy, Elliot. She is determined to be the mother to him that she never had, and to make up for her own past mistakes.
But when it seems a murderer will go free, Revelle puts the adoption and her job at risk, deliberately mistranslating the alibi to ensure he is found guilty. No one can ever find out that she interfered or she will lose her son and her livelihood.
The problem is someone already knows what she's done... and they want justice of their own.
319 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2023
121 people are currently reading
8055 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
September 19, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
ORIGINAL and INTRICATE
Reveille Lee is a polyglot who uses her fluency in 10 languages to “interpret “ testimony at crime scenes and in court cases across London. She is “sworn in” before her work begins, promising to interpret what she hears accurately, no matter what the charge and regardless of guilt or innocence.
Before arriving for a booking, she will not know if she will be translating for the ACCUSED, a WITNESS. a VICTIM or a member of a victim’s shattered family.
But, what if there is an error? Is there a system of checks and balances in place?! One wrong word in court can determine a person’s entire fate-
“WORDS ARE AS VIOLENT AS BULLETS- IT ONLY TAKES ONE”
And, what if your interpreter, decides to take matters into her own hands, and she changes a word on purpose to make sure that justice is served?
YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BECOME EMOTIONALLY INVESTED
Reveille is under a lot of pressure as a decision is about to be made on whether or not she can adopt Elliott as a single mother, and she will be devastated if the 6 year old boy she has been fostering is taken away from her.
She begins to receive anonymous messages, which seem to be threats from someone who is trying to sabotage the adoption. And, when she is called to interpret on a case where she knew the murder victim slightly, things begin to SPIRAL out of control, as for the first time, she risks her career as well.
Would she purposefully MISINTERPRET testimony?
This is definitely more of a psychological thriller, as Revelle is very introspective throughout (we spend a lot of time with her thoughts) which probably explains why early reviews have been less than enthusiastic.
Although I was never bored, I know a slower pace is a deal breaker for many readers, so I needed to mention that it isn’t a fast paced, twisty thriller.
But, I could see it becoming a tense, suspenseful movie if it were ever adapted for the screen though.
I personally LOVED the original premise, the intricate plot, and learning about the fascinating career of an interpreter, so I think if you are as tired of the same, overused plots as I am, and you don’t mind a slower burn, you might enjoy it too!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Harper Perrennial for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
ORIGINAL and INTRICATE
Reveille Lee is a polyglot who uses her fluency in 10 languages to “interpret “ testimony at crime scenes and in court cases across London. She is “sworn in” before her work begins, promising to interpret what she hears accurately, no matter what the charge and regardless of guilt or innocence.
Before arriving for a booking, she will not know if she will be translating for the ACCUSED, a WITNESS. a VICTIM or a member of a victim’s shattered family.
But, what if there is an error? Is there a system of checks and balances in place?! One wrong word in court can determine a person’s entire fate-
“WORDS ARE AS VIOLENT AS BULLETS- IT ONLY TAKES ONE”
And, what if your interpreter, decides to take matters into her own hands, and she changes a word on purpose to make sure that justice is served?
YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BECOME EMOTIONALLY INVESTED
Reveille is under a lot of pressure as a decision is about to be made on whether or not she can adopt Elliott as a single mother, and she will be devastated if the 6 year old boy she has been fostering is taken away from her.
She begins to receive anonymous messages, which seem to be threats from someone who is trying to sabotage the adoption. And, when she is called to interpret on a case where she knew the murder victim slightly, things begin to SPIRAL out of control, as for the first time, she risks her career as well.
Would she purposefully MISINTERPRET testimony?
This is definitely more of a psychological thriller, as Revelle is very introspective throughout (we spend a lot of time with her thoughts) which probably explains why early reviews have been less than enthusiastic.
Although I was never bored, I know a slower pace is a deal breaker for many readers, so I needed to mention that it isn’t a fast paced, twisty thriller.
But, I could see it becoming a tense, suspenseful movie if it were ever adapted for the screen though.
I personally LOVED the original premise, the intricate plot, and learning about the fascinating career of an interpreter, so I think if you are as tired of the same, overused plots as I am, and you don’t mind a slower burn, you might enjoy it too!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Harper Perrennial for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
October 21, 2023
I liked this a lot. The suspense was palpable, and the way the main character started to veer off in a very dangerous direction by her moral mistakes made me both frustrated and eager to see what would happen next. It shows how one slip-up makes it easier next time until it spirals out of control. There was also a decent twist, so I was satisfied for sure!
August 11, 2023
Revelle Lee works as an interpreter, mainly in courts and with the police when taking witness and suspect statements. She’s also in the process of adopting 6 year old Elliot and she’s desperate to make the best possible impression she can on the case worker who’ll help decide whether she’s awarded custody.
The story is divided between her job, which requires that she’s available at almost any time to speak for her clients, and taking care of Elliot while also earning his trust. On top of this, we get a slight sense that she’s carrying a troubling past, something serious enough to jeopardise both her job as an interpreter and her suitability to adopt a child.
Her job as an interpreter requires that she remains unemotional and removed from what is being said in court. She must simply translate the words spoken without adding any type of tone or inflection that might change the meaning of the words. It’s also important that she’s accurate when she translates the words spoken and, regardless of how guilty her client might seem, she should never do anything to affect the outcome of a case.
So when she finds herself interpreting on a case that is quite personal to her, the temptation to disobey the rules is staring her smack in the face. To give in to that temptation could risk everything she’s worked hard for.
The conceit of the book was quite an interesting one and appeared to promise any number of possibilities for a tense storyline. Far from being a clever and composed character, though, Revelle was frantic in both her physical actions and in her mind. The result is a mess of confusion as she lurches from one crisis to the next, barely in control.
She makes one bad decision after another throughout the course of the story and is then forced to attempt to clean up after herself. Her indecision and dithering, while a believable, real-world quality, was rather frustrating when applied to the heroine of a suspense story. Also frustrating was the speed with which she would jump to a solution to a problem, act on it, only to immediately regret her actions and jump to another solution. It all felt too out of control and frenetic at times.
Introducing a job in the legal system that I’ve never come across before marks The Interpreter as a unique take on the normal legal thriller. This alone ensures that it stands out in the field. The fact that the tension and drama is inexorably ramped up as the plot thickens gives it even greater standing and ensures that it’s memorable beyond the book’s final sentence.
There are parts of The Interpreter that are compelling and highly commendable, particularly the interaction between Revelle and Elliot as they start their mother/son journey. Similarly, her treatment of a homeless man, which epitomises a true caring nature and demonstrates exactly where her heart lies.
This is a thriller that suits someone who prefers a careful, well-structured build up with a deeper back story for greater context and a moving personal relationship. When the resolution comes, a number of seemingly random pieces of information are drawn together to create a neat conclusion.
The story is divided between her job, which requires that she’s available at almost any time to speak for her clients, and taking care of Elliot while also earning his trust. On top of this, we get a slight sense that she’s carrying a troubling past, something serious enough to jeopardise both her job as an interpreter and her suitability to adopt a child.
Her job as an interpreter requires that she remains unemotional and removed from what is being said in court. She must simply translate the words spoken without adding any type of tone or inflection that might change the meaning of the words. It’s also important that she’s accurate when she translates the words spoken and, regardless of how guilty her client might seem, she should never do anything to affect the outcome of a case.
So when she finds herself interpreting on a case that is quite personal to her, the temptation to disobey the rules is staring her smack in the face. To give in to that temptation could risk everything she’s worked hard for.
The conceit of the book was quite an interesting one and appeared to promise any number of possibilities for a tense storyline. Far from being a clever and composed character, though, Revelle was frantic in both her physical actions and in her mind. The result is a mess of confusion as she lurches from one crisis to the next, barely in control.
She makes one bad decision after another throughout the course of the story and is then forced to attempt to clean up after herself. Her indecision and dithering, while a believable, real-world quality, was rather frustrating when applied to the heroine of a suspense story. Also frustrating was the speed with which she would jump to a solution to a problem, act on it, only to immediately regret her actions and jump to another solution. It all felt too out of control and frenetic at times.
Introducing a job in the legal system that I’ve never come across before marks The Interpreter as a unique take on the normal legal thriller. This alone ensures that it stands out in the field. The fact that the tension and drama is inexorably ramped up as the plot thickens gives it even greater standing and ensures that it’s memorable beyond the book’s final sentence.
There are parts of The Interpreter that are compelling and highly commendable, particularly the interaction between Revelle and Elliot as they start their mother/son journey. Similarly, her treatment of a homeless man, which epitomises a true caring nature and demonstrates exactly where her heart lies.
This is a thriller that suits someone who prefers a careful, well-structured build up with a deeper back story for greater context and a moving personal relationship. When the resolution comes, a number of seemingly random pieces of information are drawn together to create a neat conclusion.
May 2, 2023
THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Revelle is a polyglot; she spent most of her life moving from one country to another. She works as a freelance interpreter, mostly courtroom or police station-related gigs, but sometimes in other gigs. She is one of the best her agency has but that's not true, she has made mistakes unintentionally as well as on purpose. She is trying hard to adopt Elliot but her dark past is getting in the way.
This book promised many things but failed to serve all of them. The concept was exciting and I was completely prepared to be blown away but unfortunately, the execution was poor. Revelle was a confusing character, I struggled to connect with her, her action didn't make sense and writing didn't help either. There were so many hints about that past mistake and the whole story revolved around that but the twist was so underwhelming. The pace was so fluctuating, in some parts story was dragged enough to make me sleepy, on the other hand, the last chapters were so quick, and the ending was rushed and unsatisfactory. I skimmed it a lot and don't regret it.
Revelle is a polyglot; she spent most of her life moving from one country to another. She works as a freelance interpreter, mostly courtroom or police station-related gigs, but sometimes in other gigs. She is one of the best her agency has but that's not true, she has made mistakes unintentionally as well as on purpose. She is trying hard to adopt Elliot but her dark past is getting in the way.
This book promised many things but failed to serve all of them. The concept was exciting and I was completely prepared to be blown away but unfortunately, the execution was poor. Revelle was a confusing character, I struggled to connect with her, her action didn't make sense and writing didn't help either. There were so many hints about that past mistake and the whole story revolved around that but the twist was so underwhelming. The pace was so fluctuating, in some parts story was dragged enough to make me sleepy, on the other hand, the last chapters were so quick, and the ending was rushed and unsatisfactory. I skimmed it a lot and don't regret it.
May 31, 2023
The Interpreter is a compulsive, highly-nuanced thriller with a truly unique plot, quite the feat in a genre that seems to revolve around identical, repetitive tropes the majority of the time. I must admit, some of the less-than-favourable reviews had me concerned that it was going to be tedious to read, however, that couldn't have been further from the truth. I appreciated that not only was it genuinely thrilling and suspenseful but managed to be intelligent and thought-provoking too. It follows Revelle Lee, a freelance translator currently in the process of adopting her six-year-old foster child, Elliot, whose biological parents had been abusive drug addicts. The plot is a mix of the trials and tribulations associated with the impending adoption and those that crop up during Revelle's job.
Speaking 10 different languages fluently, picked up while moving from country to country for her mother's job when she was just a child, enables her to work in the intriguing field of interpretation and translation, meaning she facilitates everything from the accurate representation of victims, defendants and witnesses in court and police stations to international business transactions and even the relaying of important health information between doctor and patient in clinical settings. However, she usually manages to remain fairly detached from the clients who hire her; that is until she hears a case much too close to home. A case that changes Revelle, her way of thinking and her behaviour, and life will never quite be the same again.
If you are looking for a hard-hitting, thoughtless and no-thinking-necessary type of suspense thriller with countless explosive twists then this may not be for you, but, for me, that is exactly why I enjoyed it so much. Robinson builds the suspense to a palpable level magnificently and with subtlety and nuance. It is a beautifully crafted yarn revolving around main character Revelle, with both her personal/family life and professional/working life integrated adeptly into the mystery; it's once these converge as the stakes rise when the ever-decreasing line between right and wrong begin to blur. It's a story that will make you think about how every word must be carefully chosen in a place as important as a courtroom as semantics could literally be the difference between life and death.
Speaking 10 different languages fluently, picked up while moving from country to country for her mother's job when she was just a child, enables her to work in the intriguing field of interpretation and translation, meaning she facilitates everything from the accurate representation of victims, defendants and witnesses in court and police stations to international business transactions and even the relaying of important health information between doctor and patient in clinical settings. However, she usually manages to remain fairly detached from the clients who hire her; that is until she hears a case much too close to home. A case that changes Revelle, her way of thinking and her behaviour, and life will never quite be the same again.
If you are looking for a hard-hitting, thoughtless and no-thinking-necessary type of suspense thriller with countless explosive twists then this may not be for you, but, for me, that is exactly why I enjoyed it so much. Robinson builds the suspense to a palpable level magnificently and with subtlety and nuance. It is a beautifully crafted yarn revolving around main character Revelle, with both her personal/family life and professional/working life integrated adeptly into the mystery; it's once these converge as the stakes rise when the ever-decreasing line between right and wrong begin to blur. It's a story that will make you think about how every word must be carefully chosen in a place as important as a courtroom as semantics could literally be the difference between life and death.
January 30, 2023
This started off really well and was a really intriguing concept, however it quickly turned to be unbelievable and Revelle was so frustrating why she would put her self in these situations constantly. The ending didn't sit well with me either think there needed to be more consequences for her.
September 24, 2023
I went to mark this as “currently reading” on Goodreads, and saw the relatively low rating of 3.31. I was worried this book would be a dud, but I personally think that rating is slightly lower than it should be. This was pretty original, and I liked it!
Revelle moved all over when she was a child, and thus she became a polyglot. (Actually, a hyperpolyglot, but she pretends to not know German). Learning these languages has given her a job as an interpreter, for everything from medical cases to criminal cases. She’s also working on adopting her foster son, Elliot, and that adds an extra layer to the book. Her job isn’t to be on one side or another, or to form any judgement or attachment - her job is just to state, word for word, what a person who can’t speak English is saying.
Word for word means exactly that - but sometimes, changing even one word can lead to huge ramifications. Revelle finds this out when she breaks her code of ethics and changes a word in a man’s criminal interrogation. She knows he’s guilty, and she doesn’t want him to get away with this crime. It’s just one word - how much can one word do?
You’ll find out, and it’s good. I think the reason for the relatively low rating is for a few reasons: Revelle can get annoying with how she acts in a hasty and sometimes reckless manner. The ending was pretty easy to figure out (with a slight twist). This was touching at times, but that could have been intensified. Overall though, I thought this was a good story, and one that will have you thinking about the power of words. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
(Thank you to Harper Paperbacks, Brooke Robinson and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
Revelle moved all over when she was a child, and thus she became a polyglot. (Actually, a hyperpolyglot, but she pretends to not know German). Learning these languages has given her a job as an interpreter, for everything from medical cases to criminal cases. She’s also working on adopting her foster son, Elliot, and that adds an extra layer to the book. Her job isn’t to be on one side or another, or to form any judgement or attachment - her job is just to state, word for word, what a person who can’t speak English is saying.
Word for word means exactly that - but sometimes, changing even one word can lead to huge ramifications. Revelle finds this out when she breaks her code of ethics and changes a word in a man’s criminal interrogation. She knows he’s guilty, and she doesn’t want him to get away with this crime. It’s just one word - how much can one word do?
You’ll find out, and it’s good. I think the reason for the relatively low rating is for a few reasons: Revelle can get annoying with how she acts in a hasty and sometimes reckless manner. The ending was pretty easy to figure out (with a slight twist). This was touching at times, but that could have been intensified. Overall though, I thought this was a good story, and one that will have you thinking about the power of words. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
(Thank you to Harper Paperbacks, Brooke Robinson and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
May 4, 2023
Read this ARC via The Pigeonhole in ten daily installments (known as staves).
The First Stave was promising, got my interest and looked like it could be a good story. Unfortunately the rest of the book failed to deliver. The plot just went too far fetched and implausible. In addition to Revelle's increasingly deranged state.
For e.g.:
1.The timeline for Elliot's adoption was way off, not to mention the lack of social worker input and the fact that someone in Revelle's situation (especially her apparent mental state, which deteriorated through the book) would have been a massive no-no as a potential adoptor.
2.The Interpreter with the life-threatening nut allergy would not have just accepted drink (or food) without checking what it was (especially from someone clearly "A few sandwiches short of a picnic").
3. The fact that Revelle managed to get through the book without any consequences.
I could go on. I know there is dramatic licence/timelines shorting for ease (in this case I would have had Elliot already adopted and them having their "sign off" by Revelle's social worker and Elliot's own social worker at the one year point) but this book just took things to the extreme. I really read it to find out that Elliot was safe (well as safe as he could be with Revelle).
Maybe younger readers, with less life experiences/less bothered about accuracy will enjoy it, but it just wasn't for me as I just found the plot and Revelle frustrating.
With thanks to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity.
The First Stave was promising, got my interest and looked like it could be a good story. Unfortunately the rest of the book failed to deliver. The plot just went too far fetched and implausible. In addition to Revelle's increasingly deranged state.
For e.g.:
1.The timeline for Elliot's adoption was way off, not to mention the lack of social worker input and the fact that someone in Revelle's situation (especially her apparent mental state, which deteriorated through the book) would have been a massive no-no as a potential adoptor.
2.The Interpreter with the life-threatening nut allergy would not have just accepted drink (or food) without checking what it was (especially from someone clearly "A few sandwiches short of a picnic").
3. The fact that Revelle managed to get through the book without any consequences.
I could go on. I know there is dramatic licence/timelines shorting for ease (in this case I would have had Elliot already adopted and them having their "sign off" by Revelle's social worker and Elliot's own social worker at the one year point) but this book just took things to the extreme. I really read it to find out that Elliot was safe (well as safe as he could be with Revelle).
Maybe younger readers, with less life experiences/less bothered about accuracy will enjoy it, but it just wasn't for me as I just found the plot and Revelle frustrating.
With thanks to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2023
This is a ludicrous book. Writers need to be told: this plot is paper-thin, the scenarios are unbelievable, the main character is a mess. How did the editor, publisher and publicist get away with this?
The premise? An interpreter “spots an injustice about to take place” and “twists an alibi” to get the verdict she wants. That in itself sounds fascinating. “The power of words”, “justice”, willingness to “risk it all"… Don’t believe that blurb on the back cover! By Chapter 7, I was still waiting for events to spin out of control or at least for something to happen. Not a good sign. From that point on, I skim read and managed to get to the end.
I was looking forward to a gripping (and preferably realistic) tale of courtroom drama, compromise and suspense. This book is not it. It’s actually a study of Revelle, The Interpreter, who is a nutjob of a woman barely coping with looking after a six year old boy called Elliot. Be warned by the first sentence of Chapter 1: “I don’t always jump when the phone rings, but today ELLIOT SCHOOL flashing on the screen sends my unsipped coffee to the floor…” Yep, it’s going to be about Elliot. And his ice-cream and his toy dinosaur and his backpack. Not interesting.
Revelle is dishonest, disorganised, friendless, erratic and neurotic, not surprising given the far-fetched situations she finds herself in. For example, she decides a homeless man must be guilty of murder. Because she just does. As you do. Then in a police interview, his homeless Polish friend gives him an alibi but Revelle knows he’s lying. Because she just does. Right. All clear so far. Of course, the obvious way forward is to falsify his witness statement. Which she does. In a clever and sophisticated way? No. By changing words, specifically from 'sandwiches' to 'sausages'. Yup. Down the track, an anonymous blackmailer pops up and tells her to replace a German interpreter at a particular time. Despite not being up to speed with her German and having no idea who the blackmailer is, she happily sets about forging a fake ID to get past security. And so it goes...
That back cover blurb has a lot to answer for. And the front cover has a lot to answer for too. The Interp-reter. Is that syllable breakdown by mistake or deliberate? It’s disturbing…unlike this very silly novel.
The premise? An interpreter “spots an injustice about to take place” and “twists an alibi” to get the verdict she wants. That in itself sounds fascinating. “The power of words”, “justice”, willingness to “risk it all"… Don’t believe that blurb on the back cover! By Chapter 7, I was still waiting for events to spin out of control or at least for something to happen. Not a good sign. From that point on, I skim read and managed to get to the end.
I was looking forward to a gripping (and preferably realistic) tale of courtroom drama, compromise and suspense. This book is not it. It’s actually a study of Revelle, The Interpreter, who is a nutjob of a woman barely coping with looking after a six year old boy called Elliot. Be warned by the first sentence of Chapter 1: “I don’t always jump when the phone rings, but today ELLIOT SCHOOL flashing on the screen sends my unsipped coffee to the floor…” Yep, it’s going to be about Elliot. And his ice-cream and his toy dinosaur and his backpack. Not interesting.
Revelle is dishonest, disorganised, friendless, erratic and neurotic, not surprising given the far-fetched situations she finds herself in. For example, she decides a homeless man must be guilty of murder. Because she just does. As you do. Then in a police interview, his homeless Polish friend gives him an alibi but Revelle knows he’s lying. Because she just does. Right. All clear so far. Of course, the obvious way forward is to falsify his witness statement. Which she does. In a clever and sophisticated way? No. By changing words, specifically from 'sandwiches' to 'sausages'. Yup. Down the track, an anonymous blackmailer pops up and tells her to replace a German interpreter at a particular time. Despite not being up to speed with her German and having no idea who the blackmailer is, she happily sets about forging a fake ID to get past security. And so it goes...
That back cover blurb has a lot to answer for. And the front cover has a lot to answer for too. The Interp-reter. Is that syllable breakdown by mistake or deliberate? It’s disturbing…unlike this very silly novel.
July 5, 2023
Revelle Lee works as an interpreter who is sent out to translate for those who do not speak English fluently in many different scenarios: medical appointments, business meetings, & even criminal trials. Revelle is currently adopting a 7-year-old boy named Elliot & learning to juggle life as a single working mother. At a trial when it seems that a murderer will go free, Revelle puts everything at risk by deliberately mistranslating to ensure he is found guilty.
I didn't realise that this was only a sampler of the first chapter or so that I had been approved for, so I can only give a review based on the bit I have read. It seems like it could turn out to be an interesting read. There wasn't really enough time to get to know the main character in any depth but I was intrigued enough that I have put this on my TBR list for future reading. 3.5 stars (rounded up).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Random House UK/Vintage/Harvill Secker, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
I didn't realise that this was only a sampler of the first chapter or so that I had been approved for, so I can only give a review based on the bit I have read. It seems like it could turn out to be an interesting read. There wasn't really enough time to get to know the main character in any depth but I was intrigued enough that I have put this on my TBR list for future reading. 3.5 stars (rounded up).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Random House UK/Vintage/Harvill Secker, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
April 9, 2023
Nope.
I didn't like anything about this. I didn't like or even understand the point of view of the main character and because of this, I would choose to do almost anything other than pick my kindle up to read this.
The story dragged and could have (should have) been SO much shorter.
I didn't like anything about this. I didn't like or even understand the point of view of the main character and because of this, I would choose to do almost anything other than pick my kindle up to read this.
The story dragged and could have (should have) been SO much shorter.
October 10, 2023
This was a unique plot that caught my eye. I have never read a book involving an interpreter. It has stalking , blackmail and I loved the side story of the adoption. I actually connected more to the adoption story.
July 12, 2023
It's been a busy summer. It doesn't usually take me so long to read such a short book. Of course, this book didn't have a ton going for it so that didn't help keep me interested either.
To start: This book was a giveaway that I won and it is absolutely the kind of book that I would pick up to read on my own. There's a lot that could have gone so right for this book, but ultimately it fell short on all fronts.
My biggest problem is with the main character. There are no redeeming or likeable qualities about her. She's a strange person and I had a hard time imagining her as a real person. Her motivations behind wanting to adopt a child should have been extremely questionable by a social worker. Why was she allowed to adopt a child? I just don't see how everything about her wasn't a red flag for this social worker, unless she was just an idiot. Maybe that's the point the author was trying to make about the social system in England?
That aside, the main character thinks that she is intelligent and an expert in things like DNA transference after only having read a few scholarly articles and speaking to one scientist. She's also the end-all to all morality and can obviously tell when someone is lying, which gives her the right to
Honestly...she's just a bad person. It wasn't fun to read from her perspective.
The story itself isn't terrible. It brings to light some interesting ideas about morality and being quick to judge someone, particularly someone who faces extreme judgement and criticism on a regular basis. I know it was an early edition but there were some spelling and grammar issues, which will hopefully be resolved before the final release of the book. The ending does fall flat. The entire book is essentially leading up to this ending, only for a single chapter to contain the entire climax. I hate to say it, but it was honestly kind of a boring climax for as much build-up as there was.
It wasn't the worst book I've ever read and I certainly don't hate it, but there was a lot that could have been improved on. Of course, this is only one reader's opinion and I see several shining reviews for this book. Maybe it just wasn't for me.
To start: This book was a giveaway that I won and it is absolutely the kind of book that I would pick up to read on my own. There's a lot that could have gone so right for this book, but ultimately it fell short on all fronts.
My biggest problem is with the main character. There are no redeeming or likeable qualities about her. She's a strange person and I had a hard time imagining her as a real person. Her motivations behind wanting to adopt a child should have been extremely questionable by a social worker. Why was she allowed to adopt a child? I just don't see how everything about her wasn't a red flag for this social worker, unless she was just an idiot. Maybe that's the point the author was trying to make about the social system in England?
That aside, the main character thinks that she is intelligent and an expert in things like DNA transference after only having read a few scholarly articles and speaking to one scientist. She's also the end-all to all morality and can obviously tell when someone is lying, which gives her the right to
Honestly...she's just a bad person. It wasn't fun to read from her perspective.
The story itself isn't terrible. It brings to light some interesting ideas about morality and being quick to judge someone, particularly someone who faces extreme judgement and criticism on a regular basis. I know it was an early edition but there were some spelling and grammar issues, which will hopefully be resolved before the final release of the book. The ending does fall flat. The entire book is essentially leading up to this ending, only for a single chapter to contain the entire climax. I hate to say it, but it was honestly kind of a boring climax for as much build-up as there was.
It wasn't the worst book I've ever read and I certainly don't hate it, but there was a lot that could have been improved on. Of course, this is only one reader's opinion and I see several shining reviews for this book. Maybe it just wasn't for me.
May 25, 2023
Looking for an original thriller to read this summer? The Interpreter is definitely a book that you need to pick up!
As a thriller lover, I sometimes feel like I'm reading the same recycled concept or twist, but The Interpreter definitely impressed with its refreshing originality. Entertaining and thought-provoking, it's a brilliantly unique take on a courtroom drama and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Although the story didn't grip me, my intrigue was held throughout as I was completely unaware of which direction the twist was going to come. I knew something felt off, but I was excited to find out how everything would unravel.
The only thing that let me down was that I couldn't completely get behind Revelle's character. She seemed to have a dark side, but one that she instantly regretted and felt guilty about. I just wanted her to be more confident, more assertive, and for her actions to have a really messed up malice behind them. That would have probably made this a five-star read for me, removing her self-doubt which I found a little underwhelming.
But that's me - the darker the better - so I'm sure this will appeal to a much wider readership who will love the twists and intrigue of this exciting thriller!
As a thriller lover, I sometimes feel like I'm reading the same recycled concept or twist, but The Interpreter definitely impressed with its refreshing originality. Entertaining and thought-provoking, it's a brilliantly unique take on a courtroom drama and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Although the story didn't grip me, my intrigue was held throughout as I was completely unaware of which direction the twist was going to come. I knew something felt off, but I was excited to find out how everything would unravel.
The only thing that let me down was that I couldn't completely get behind Revelle's character. She seemed to have a dark side, but one that she instantly regretted and felt guilty about. I just wanted her to be more confident, more assertive, and for her actions to have a really messed up malice behind them. That would have probably made this a five-star read for me, removing her self-doubt which I found a little underwhelming.
But that's me - the darker the better - so I'm sure this will appeal to a much wider readership who will love the twists and intrigue of this exciting thriller!
January 30, 2023
free to read at the pigeonhole
bro, what? this was absolutely bonkers.
this story centers on revelle, a polyglot freelance translator who regularly does work helping the police and courts. through this she meets a childminder who is then murdered, and this kicks off the main plot of the book; one part trying to solve the murder of a woman she has met twice, and one part abusing her power as an interpreter and being caught out for it.
the story is interspersed with flashbacks throughout that are developed upon in order to add some context to her actions, but at the end of the day she's an absolutely horrible person.
this book is so easy to read, but the ending doesn't really feel deserved based on the buildup and I honestly didn't like one single character.
bro, what? this was absolutely bonkers.
this story centers on revelle, a polyglot freelance translator who regularly does work helping the police and courts. through this she meets a childminder who is then murdered, and this kicks off the main plot of the book; one part trying to solve the murder of a woman she has met twice, and one part abusing her power as an interpreter and being caught out for it.
the story is interspersed with flashbacks throughout that are developed upon in order to add some context to her actions, but at the end of the day she's an absolutely horrible person.
this book is so easy to read, but the ending doesn't really feel deserved based on the buildup and I honestly didn't like one single character.
March 12, 2023
Revelle Lee spent her childhood moving around the world, leaving her fluent in 11 languages and now, she is an interpreter. She works with police, the courts, hospitals and on crime scenes, translating. But not all is as it seems. Because Revelle is tired of seeing the criminals let go. Lying to the police and getting away with it and changing just one word in her interpretation of their statement can make the world of difference.
This was another fast moving story that I become engrossed in quite quickly. It moved in a completely unexpected direction and loved the way the author revealed the characters backstory as she went along. Another enjoyable novel and I look forward to more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for this gifted copy.
This was another fast moving story that I become engrossed in quite quickly. It moved in a completely unexpected direction and loved the way the author revealed the characters backstory as she went along. Another enjoyable novel and I look forward to more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for this gifted copy.
December 23, 2023
Overcomplicated nonsense. If I could give a half star, I would.
May 26, 2025
I couldn’t resist picking up this book for obvious reasons. The main character is a spoken language interpreter but I related to the characters job all the same. It was far fetched at times, but a fun thriller read for sure! 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
June 28, 2023
I thought this was a fun, fast-paced book. It wasn't a particularly twisty thriller, but it held my attention from start to finish.
I found the concept interesting. I've never read a book about an interpreter before. It's definitely a concept I would be interested in reading again. The book ended in a way that doesn't need a sequel, but I wouldn't mind reading one if it get one.
I received a ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway listed by Harper. All comments are my own.
I found the concept interesting. I've never read a book about an interpreter before. It's definitely a concept I would be interested in reading again. The book ended in a way that doesn't need a sequel, but I wouldn't mind reading one if it get one.
I received a ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway listed by Harper. All comments are my own.
August 1, 2023
With the tagline THE MOST DANGEROUS PERSON IN THE COURTROOM ISN'T THE KILLER….. The Interpreter has an unique premise. A court room drama normally centres around the victim, criminal, jury, judge or even a member of the legal legal team, unusually Robinson’s protagonist is Revelle an interpreter which give the plot an original slant. I have often thought ‘how do you know the interpreter is relaying the conversation accurately?’ The author explores the far reaching consequences of deliberate untruths, and inaccuracies .
Revelle an interpreter works for the Courts and Social Services. She’s also in the process of adopting her six-year-old foster child, Elliot. I must admit found I had little empathy for Revelle her errors of judgement and the unbelievable situations that she found herself in really annoyed me. For someone who didn't want to risk losing her adopted son, Revelle doesn’t half make some terrible decisions! There is also sporadic chapters told from an unknown persons perspective. The presence of this sinister voice adds much needed to the tension to the plot.
I was really hoping for a gripping courtroom drama, unfortunately it’s not! I’m not sure if I struggled with the slow pace of the book or the characters but either way this read wasn’t as enjoyable as I was expecting.
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Revelle an interpreter works for the Courts and Social Services. She’s also in the process of adopting her six-year-old foster child, Elliot. I must admit found I had little empathy for Revelle her errors of judgement and the unbelievable situations that she found herself in really annoyed me. For someone who didn't want to risk losing her adopted son, Revelle doesn’t half make some terrible decisions! There is also sporadic chapters told from an unknown persons perspective. The presence of this sinister voice adds much needed to the tension to the plot.
I was really hoping for a gripping courtroom drama, unfortunately it’s not! I’m not sure if I struggled with the slow pace of the book or the characters but either way this read wasn’t as enjoyable as I was expecting.
You can follow me and read more of my reviews at
Blog: https://thebookreviewcafe.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookrevi...
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@reviewcafe
March 14, 2023
I'm afraid that this book didn't live up to it's potential for me at all - a great initial premise for a plot line but badly executed and really poorly resolved. It's easy reading, but right from the start, the plot line is far fetched and feels like it lacks research into e.g. the adoption process, which given that Revelle's adoption of Elliot is a major plot line, is a fairly glaring issue. The inconsistencies and improbabilities continue, eventually winding up in a conclusion which actually left me close to anger at the time I had wasted in reading this.
I read this through Pigeonhole and thank them for the opportunity, although I shall not be seeking this author out in future, I'm afraid. Perhaps other readers will enjoy this more, but I do think that people should note that many of the 5 star reviews are based on a sample rather than the full text.
I read this through Pigeonhole and thank them for the opportunity, although I shall not be seeking this author out in future, I'm afraid. Perhaps other readers will enjoy this more, but I do think that people should note that many of the 5 star reviews are based on a sample rather than the full text.
November 28, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for these sample pages of The Interpreter by Brooke Robinson. After only the first few chapters this author has me completely trapped in a creepy web of anticipation as to what is going to happen next, From the grief stricken husband to the evil heiress and the downtrodden assistant come childcare helper I really have no idea who to trust.
Fantastic writing from an author I would love to read more of. A gripping read I can’t wait to devour more of!
Fantastic writing from an author I would love to read more of. A gripping read I can’t wait to devour more of!
February 2, 2023
This book started of so promisingly and descended into utter tripe. The first couple of chapters set up a story of a foster mother desperate to adopt the child in her care and worried that something will happen to take him away from her.
Of course, various bad things do happen but there is no explaining how the various events were caused. By the end I really couldn’t have cared less about any of the characters and was glad to see the back of them all.
Of course, various bad things do happen but there is no explaining how the various events were caused. By the end I really couldn’t have cared less about any of the characters and was glad to see the back of them all.
June 30, 2023
2.5 rounded up
July 17, 2023
audiobook
I really liked this one. The premise of a court interpreter who changes one word to affect the outcome of a case was very interesting. The author created palpable tension as the interpreter was being blackmailed. I could feel her paranoia building as she dug herself deeper and deeper into the situation. At times I could feel her anxiety, stress and terror. This is amazing writing when the author can successfully transfer the character's emotions to the reader.
The tension in this book continued to build and became increasingly intense. This book is intriguing from the beginning and becomes more engrossing as the story progresses. This would make an incredible movie.
Recommended to anyone who likes thriller, suspense, and mystery.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this one. The premise of a court interpreter who changes one word to affect the outcome of a case was very interesting. The author created palpable tension as the interpreter was being blackmailed. I could feel her paranoia building as she dug herself deeper and deeper into the situation. At times I could feel her anxiety, stress and terror. This is amazing writing when the author can successfully transfer the character's emotions to the reader.
The tension in this book continued to build and became increasingly intense. This book is intriguing from the beginning and becomes more engrossing as the story progresses. This would make an incredible movie.
Recommended to anyone who likes thriller, suspense, and mystery.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2023
Not too sure what genre this fits into but more of a physiological thriller than anything else. Told entirely from the point of view of Revelle who is an interpreter working for the Courts and Social Services. This is a really slow burner and the reader needs lots of patience before we discover what Revelle has actually done wrong and who is blackmailing her. This was a great idea for a book with a great plot and so much potential however, the pace in the middle half of the book was just a bit too slow for me.
Briefly, Revelle is in the process of adopting Elliott but has her own dark secrets from the past which come home to haunt her. She is been forced to misinterpret comments made by suspects in court and she knows that if she is found out she will likely both lose the adoption and end up in prison herself.
This was a really interesting concept. It got me wondering if an interpreter in a court case could actually, either on purpose or mistakenly, misinterpret a word such that it gave a completely different meaning and could potentially affect the verdict. Full of suspense and an original storyline this was a good read and I would read the author again. 3.5⭐️
Briefly, Revelle is in the process of adopting Elliott but has her own dark secrets from the past which come home to haunt her. She is been forced to misinterpret comments made by suspects in court and she knows that if she is found out she will likely both lose the adoption and end up in prison herself.
This was a really interesting concept. It got me wondering if an interpreter in a court case could actually, either on purpose or mistakenly, misinterpret a word such that it gave a completely different meaning and could potentially affect the verdict. Full of suspense and an original storyline this was a good read and I would read the author again. 3.5⭐️
January 26, 2024
Let me just start with that i don't make a habit of not finishing a book, I hate it but this one..actually managed to piss me of.
I don't mind a little backstory, really don't but by reading the back of this i was expecting a thrill, some excitement and well was severly dissapointed. 150 pages in, nearing chapter 14 of the 34 i was still on backstory..there were a lot of flashbacks to her past, some povs of another unknown person but mostly the only thing i had read about at this point was that Revelle was a morally confused person who was struggling with motherhood, financial issues and a difficult adoption process. All very sad but not really what i was going for when i grabbed this at the bookstore and read the back...
I don't mind a little backstory, really don't but by reading the back of this i was expecting a thrill, some excitement and well was severly dissapointed. 150 pages in, nearing chapter 14 of the 34 i was still on backstory..there were a lot of flashbacks to her past, some povs of another unknown person but mostly the only thing i had read about at this point was that Revelle was a morally confused person who was struggling with motherhood, financial issues and a difficult adoption process. All very sad but not really what i was going for when i grabbed this at the bookstore and read the back...
January 30, 2023
This book had so much promise but really fell flat. It became very convoluted and the story became very unbelievable. I am not sure if you are meant to like Revelle but for me it was the opposite for me. The timing was off also. The book dragged and the last few chapters wrapped everything up quickly. At that point however I was grateful for the ending though even that annoyed me as there were no consequences for Revelle at all. I think there is potential for this to be a great book but it does need a good amount of rework. Get Revelle off the floor too. She loves being on it far too often!Thank you to the author and pigeonhole for the opportunity.
February 13, 2023
I am really glad I didn't read the reviews before reading this book as the reviews aren't great, but I have to say I really enjoyed everything about this book!
The book was set at a nice place throughout, and it had my mind racing ahead trying to work out who everyone was and what was going on etc
Great read - would recommend
The book was set at a nice place throughout, and it had my mind racing ahead trying to work out who everyone was and what was going on etc
Great read - would recommend
May 31, 2023
This book really started with a bang, and was really gripping - but the more it went on the less interested I became.
I felt the plot didn't have much of a focus the more the book went on, it went many different ways with multiple uninteresting subplots. Lacked focus and I felt a bit lost, eventually loosing interest completely.
I felt the plot didn't have much of a focus the more the book went on, it went many different ways with multiple uninteresting subplots. Lacked focus and I felt a bit lost, eventually loosing interest completely.
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