The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne

The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne
Publisher: William Morrow
Publishing Date: March 19, 2013
451 Pages

Synopsis

An eight-year-old boy is found dead in a playground...and his eleven-year-old neighbor is accused of the crime. Leading the defense is London solicitor Daniel Hunter, a champion of lost causes.

A damaged boy from a troubled home, Daniel's young client, Sebastian, reminds Daniel of his own turbulent childhood - and of Minnie, the devoted woman whose love saved him. But one terrible act of betrayal irrevocably shattered their bond.

As past and present collide, Daniel is faced with disturbing questions. Will his sympathy for Sebastian and his own memories blind him to the truth? What happened in the park - and who, ultimately, is to blame for a little boy's death? Rethinking everything he's ever believed, Daniel begins to understand what it means to be wrong...and to be the guilty one.

My Review

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is Ms. Ballantyne's first novel, and wow, did she pack a punch! There is so much going on in this story, from the flashbacks of Daniel's past to the current trial of young Sebastian Croll. This book was actually different from what I expected, though I'm not sure I can exactly describe what I expected it to be. However, that is NOT a bad thing! I really, really enjoyed this story! It's suspenseful - we don't know what happened between Minnie and Daniel until the very end, though I tried to guess the entire time. We also have no idea what really happened in the park the day Ben Stokes was killed. Was Sebastian responsible? Was it someone else we don't know about? This book definitely keeps you guessing until the end. And then another final twist is thrown your way! This author is definitely one to look out for! Can't wait to see what else she comes up with! (:

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