Play Book Tag discussion

The Holdout by Graham Moore
3.5 (round down to 3)

First and foremost, this book was exactly what it advertised itself to be: an engaging legal thriller with 12 Angry Men vibes. And, along those lines it delivered. But the devil, as they say, is in the details.

In 2009, Maya Seale is a juror on the murder trial of the decade in LA. Bobby Knock has been accused of murdering real estate heiress Jessica Silver, his student who he allegedly had a sexual relationship with. Despite never finding Jessica's body, the prosecution thinks it has a slam dunk. Until Maya convinces the other jurors to vote not guilty.

Flash forward to the 10-year anniversary of the verdict that shocked the city, and the jurors are reconvening to hear "new evidence that will prove Knock's guilt" from one of the original 12 jurors, which will be revealed to the world in a Netflix docuseries. Maya reluctantly goes, but when one of the jurors ends up dead, she finds herself under arrest for murder.

The thing I liked most about this book was the 2009 time line. The book alternated back and forth between 2009 and 2019, but, while the 2019 story was told exclusively from Maya's POV, the 2009 timeline was told through the eyes of jurors with them each getting a chapter. It not only showed the progression of the Knock trial, but it also provided insight to each of the jurors and the events of their personal life that impacted their view of the case and, ultimately, how they voted on the verdict.

The think I liked least about this book was the 2019 time line. Sweet mother, if you have any kind of legal training you have to absolutely suspend your beliefs. Three things in particular irritated the crap out of me:
1. (view spoiler)[After Maya came under suspicion for the murder of Rick she ACTIVELY INVESTIGATES THE CRIME. WTF? She tracks down Bobby Knock, she calls Lou Silver, she meets up with every one of the 2009 jurors. Seriously?!? (hide spoiler)]
2. (view spoiler)[Lily confesses to Maya that she killed Rick and Maya doesn't march her ass down to the police station so that the murder charges against Maya are dropped. Instead, Maya says thinks like Lily will never confess. GIRL, LILY JUST SPILLED HER GUTS TO YOU IN HER KITCHEN AFTER LIKE 2 MINUTES OF CONVO. SHE WILL NEVER KEEP THIS SECRET. And Maya is concerned for Aaron. Then be Lily's lawyer for free but don't just hang on to those murder charges!!! WTF?! (hide spoiler)]
3. I despise the "bad guy/killer confesses all to the protagonist when they are alone in a room" resolution. And we get that here. The person who was involved in both the 2009 and 2019 murders ends up detailing—and revealing new details—every single step they took in the final 10 pages of the book. It just irks me.

All in all, it is not that I didn't enjoy the book—as I said, fast-paced legal thriller—but it was not outstanding enough to break free of the 3-star pack.

Also, the narrator of the audiobook was grating.