In Her Defense

 

What happens when everyone in the courtroom is lying — including the witness?

In Her Defense by Philippa Malicka centers on a sensational libel trial where beloved TV star Anna Finbow accuses her daughter’s therapist of brainwashing her for financial gain. Told through three unreliable narrators, the story toggles between a London courtroom and flashbacks to Rome. And nobody is telling the whole truth.

This one didn’t fully land for me personally. I’m an action-oriented reader, and this leans much more literary fiction than thriller. The characters were hard to root for, and the central question — did a predatory therapist manipulate a vulnerable young woman to get her close to a “poor little rich girl”? — didn’t grip me the way I hoped. That said, the Rome setting was gorgeous. Narrator Anna Popplewell was outstanding. I had zero trouble telling characters apart. I found the ending was genuinely satisfying.

If you love psychological drama and morally complex women, this one’s for you. It’s a February Reese’s Book Club pick for a reason. Just know going in that it’s a slow burn. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook. All opinions are my own.

QOTD: what are you reading this week? 

#bookrecommendations #audiobook #booklover #psychologicalthriller #bookstagram

About the Author

Philippa Malicka was born in Essex and now lives in London. She is an alumnus of the Prose Fiction MA at the University of East Anglia. Her nonfiction has appeared in The Sunday Times (London), The Sunday Telegraph (London), and Grazia among others. In Her Defense is her first novel and has been longlisted for the Bridport First Novel Award.