For readers of Ann Patchett and Celeste Ng, Penitence is a poignant exploration of love and forgiveness. It’s a suspenseful, addictive page-turner filled with literary insight that compels readers to consider whether each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.

When a shocking murder occurs in the home of Angie and David Sheehan, their lives are shattered. Desperate to defend their family, they turn to small-town lawyer Martine Dumont for help, but Martine isn’t just legal counsel—she’s also the mother of Angie’s first love, Julian, a now-successful New York City criminal defense attorney. As Julian and Angie confront their shared past and long-buried guilt from a tragic accident years ago, they must navigate their own culpability and the unresolved feelings between them.

Spanning decades, from the ski slopes of rural Colorado to the streets of post-9/11 New York City and back again, Kristin Koval’s debut novel Penitence is an examination of the complexities of familial loyalty, the journey of redemption, and the profound experience of true forgiveness.

The premise of this one intrigued me which is why I snagged it from BOTM. Despite wishing that one of the central questions of the book had been answered by the end, I still found this to be a gripping and emotionally charged novel that delves deep into themes of grief and forgiveness.

From the very first page, Koval crafts a tense and heartbreaking narrative that explores the aftermath of an unthinkable crime: a daughter, 13-year-old Nora, shoots and kills her 14-year-old brother, Nico. The novel doesn’t just examine the tragedy itself but rather the ripple effect it has on the family left behind, particularly parents Angie and David Sheehan, who are forced to grieve one child while standing by another as she faces a murder trial. David employs the help of Martine Dumont, the mother of Angie’s ex-boyfriend, Julian – someone with whom Angie shares not only a rocky past but also a tragedy from their younger years. When Martine asks Julian for his help in the case, old wounds are reopened, further complicating the character’s lives.

The author perfectly portrays Angie and David’s shock and devastation over their daughter’s actions. The sheer horror of losing a son is compounded by the fact that their daughter is the one responsible. How does a parent grieve for one child while still supporting another who has committed the murder?

While the setup might sound like a crime thriller, this is not a murder mystery. It doesn’t seek to unravel a whodunit but rather focuses on the emotional wreckage of a family dealing with both loss and betrayal. The novel is a family drama at its core, one that explores the fragility of relationships, the pain of past mistakes, and the complex nature of love and loyalty.

One of the things I enjoyed the most was the way Koval alternated between the characters’ pasts and presents, creating intricate, layered relationships. Angie’s history with Julian adds layers of emotional complexity. Their past is more than just that of ex-lovers. There’s quite the history here, and unraveling their past was just as interesting as Nora’s trial. It’s tangled with old regrets and painful memories, particularly surrounding a tragic accident that took place years before.

The dynamic between Angie and David is also deeply nuanced. Their marriage is put to the ultimate test, not just because of their grief but because of the choices they must make in the wake of their daughter’s crime. Fingers are pointed, loyalties are tested, and hearts are broken.

One of the novel’s most intriguing (and admittedly, frustrating) aspects is the fact that Koval never fully explains why Nora killed Nico. Readers like me who expect a clear answer may find this annoying, but it also adds to the realism of the novel. In real life, people don’t always get closure. Sometimes, the “why” is murky, inaccessible, or even unknowable. However, given the depth of character development throughout the novel, it does feel like a missing piece. While I generally appreciate open-ended storytelling, I did find myself craving just a bit more insight into Nora’s motivations. There are hints and possibilities, but nothing definitive, and in a book that dives so deeply into its characters’ emotions, it felt like a slightly missed opportunity.

Overall, This is a book that is both heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. If you enjoy literary family dramas that tackle heavy themes with nuance and depth, this is a novel worth reading. While the lack of a clear answer regarding Nora’s actions may frustrate some readers, it’s still a powerful read. It’s a story about grief, guilt, and the painful complexities of family and one I’ll be thinking about for a while.

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