After reading the synopsis for The Holdout, I was expecting great things. But in all honesty, this book just didn’t do it for me. It started off well but then by the second half of the book I was quickly starting to lose interest as the story just seemed to be lacking pace. Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author for the chance to review.

I do love a good legal thriller and The Holdout was no exception.

Ten years ago, Maya Seale was one of 12 jurors who set Bobby Nock free. Charged with the murder of Jessica Silver, Maya always had doubts about the evidence against him. They became notorious after the verdict, with the majority of the public believing Nock guilty.

In the present, she is a successful lawyer in her own right when she's invited to a jury reunion of sorts. Rick, her fellow juror, thinks they made a mistake, and says he has new evidence that he's about to announce to the group... Whether she wants to or not, Maya is forced to reexamine her memories and the case as it stands today.

It's a twisty turny ride as you might expect and I enjoyed the flashbacks to the case as it was, as well as the slow unveiling of what was happening in the present. I had no problem believing that Maya was so inspired by the case that she became a driven and successful lawyer years later. The other characters weren't quite as interesting but I did find myself wishing we could spend more time with Bobby Nock.

I was able to guess where the book was going but still found the end very satisfying.

The book is told between 2009 and 2019 usually as a 2009 and now chapter for each person. A group of disparate people on jury service - where a black man is accused of murdering a white schoolgirl. I wouldn't usually put anything about colour, but in a way the story hinges on that fact.

Loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read an advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

A case of 'the biter bit' perhaps. Ten years ago a young woman, Maya , became one of the jurors at the trial of a young black teacher, Bobby Nock, for the murder of one of his 15 year old white female students, Jessica Silver, . Her blood, hair and DNA were found in his car, he admitted that she had been it it, they had been having a sort of relationship but he didn't kill her. No body ever found. Half the book deals with the trial and then the four months taken by the jury to come to a unanimous decision - not guilty, persuaded by Maya. Moving on 10 years and Maya has suffered a lot of abuse and aggravation having been the cause of that final decision but she is now a successful lawyer herself. One of the other jurors, Rick, claims that he has evidence that Bobby really did kill Jessica and a TV show sets up for a 10-year's on event. Most of the original twelve are persuaded to attend this and, during one evening, Rick is murdered in Maya's room. She is the prime suspect. The second half of the book revolves around her defense and its final resolution. Both cases are thought provoking and challenge preconceptions of modern society. All jurors have something to hide and that may, or may not, add to or detract from those preconceptions. A well written story, excellent dialogue and just about sufficient context to keep me happy. Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved it!

A great read that drew me in and enticed me from the opening page. I will not say anything about the storyline as I see that it has already all been said beforehand.

It was an original plot that was credible and the strength of the book was the characterisations and sent eof time and place as the book ranged between the past and ten years' on.

An author that is new to me but this is an excellent legal thriller and well worth reading.

Although I love a courtroom drama this was a bit of a let down for me, after my expectations were raised by the hype from fellow crime novelists. It has a rather hackneyed premise which has been done better before, but the dialogue is convincing and I think it would work much better as a screenplay.

An enjoyable and readable 'whodunnit', and courtroom/juror thriller. Lots going on, keeps your attention. A couple of instances where I said to myself 'Hang on, what's she doing that for', but all that aside, a recommended read.

An intriguing courtroom drama. The story is well constructed and told in both the present and the past, when the jury make a decision that will change their lives.

25 year old black teacher Bobby Nock, is on trial for killing white 15 year old pupil Jessica Silver, heiress to a billion dollar fortune. Her body hasn’t been discovered, but that isn’t going to stop this trial going ahead.

There are 12 members of the jury in this high profile murder trial, and it’s expected that Bobby Nock’s conviction is a foregone conclusion - that is until jury member Maya Seale manages to persuade the other jury members to vote not guilty.

Fast forward 10 years, and Maya is now a successful lawyer - but she’s also the prime suspect in the murder of one of the jurors after a reunion at the hotel in which they were sequestered during the trial.

I think it’s a case of the less you know, the more interesting you’ll find this one. As legal thrillers go it’s pretty good, though I personally didn’t identify with any of the characters for some reason. Nevertheless this was a riveting read with twists and turns, and not least it was a cracking ending. If you enjoy legal dramas then look no further.

Not my usual type of read but I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent courtroom thriller which held my interest throughout.

I found it a bit of a 'cat and mouse' read but it had well developed characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

NO SPOILERS

Reading this book was, for me, another attempt to find something in this genre which I might enjoy and I was until the first murder; at that point I’m afraid I wanted it over and done with. I wanted to know who and why, although very early on I deduced the main twist so really I wanted to know if I was right. I was, mostly, but not on every point, and this is why I find this genre difficult; if I can see it, why can’t the characters see it?

I think a big reason why I do not enjoy such writing is I invariably find it predictable and contrived, although I understand by its very nature it has to be contrived. I know plot twists are compulsory but to me they are tedious. I know readers who love them and I know readers who will love this book but I was hoping for an in-depth study of perception versus knowledge. I was disappointed, ‘tis just another whodunnit.

Genre aside, I did not warm to any of the characters but I did like the way the back story of each juror was presented; not clunky, not irrelevant but smoothly placed. The writing is simple, but not simplistic and it is a fast, easy read. But I found the plot dull and frankly, I didn’t care who did it…

If I am not familiar with an author, after reading the book, so as not to have any pre-conception, I go a-Googling. About a third of the way in I thought this book would be very easy to transfer to film and felt it had been written with that in mind. My post-read googling told me that Moore is an Oscar winning screen writer!

But…I absolutely loved the tiny bit of the plot where the Daily Mail published a fake story, that was true to form!

As such thrillers go, this is one of the best I did not like. However, I know there are many people who will enjoy it so I should perhaps stop trying. I’m never going to say I loved it, just as someone who hates Marmite is never going to say it’s delicious. (Me? I love Marmite!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion for the Advanced Reader Copy of the book, which I have voluntarily reviewed.

A pacy and intriguing page turner. I raced through this courtroom/jury based drama. And I didn't see the ending. Very clever.

A surprising book, which certainly was not what I was expecting. A thriller that twisted it's way to a very interesting conclusion. I really enjoyed it.

Gripping tale of what happens when a jury decide a suspected murderer is innocent when the rest of the country believes he is guilty. Many fabulous twists and turns with plot scenes that you really won't see coming. This would make a great film.

Ten years ago, Maya was part of a jury that acquitted Bobby Nock of kidnap and murder. Her refusal to back down was instrumental in the verdict and it's been the subject of much speculation ever since. Now one of her fellow jurors wants to get everyone back together for a true crime podcast recording - but there are still secrets and a lot has changed. One of the jurors is dead, and everyone thinks Maya is responsible, but what really happened with the decision? Was Bobby responsible for Jessica's death and if not, who was?

I really enjoyed this. A mixture of flashback and modern day unravelling as Maya tries to find out what really happened. We get snippets of all the jurors lives and their motivations for the decision they made ten years ago, as well as how things have changed for them since. There are understandably a lot of people to keep track of, but it works, you get an impression of their characters if not a full idea. It would also work really well as a film or TV series!

I really did enjoy this book and the development of the characters. We see Maya ten years ago with her fellow jurors give a verdict on a murder case that overturns their lives. Ten years later theres a a meet up for a new documentary and another murder that brings past and present colliding in the forefront. I was gripped from the start and seeing how my opinion of characters changed throughout the story shows the qualities of a good writer. I loved the time lapses and the whodunnit style story. Mayas pursuit of the truth uncovering more problems than help and the ending with the ultimate twist was absolutely brilliant. I look forward to reading more by Graham Moore.

This is the first time I have read Graham Moore and I suspect I will be seeking out other novels by this author as it was a brilliant read.

It could be said that it was a courtroom drama with a murder or a murder embroiled in a courtroom drama. Whichever way round it was an addictive read that I was unable to put down.

‘The Holdout’ follows the lives of a jury which was involved in acquitting a man accused of murder ten years before against the belief of the general public at the time. Somehow the names of the jurors had been made known and they spent several months sequestrated. Maya appeared to be the one who persuaded the rest of the jurors that Bobby Nock, a black man, was innocent of the murder of Jessica Silver, a young while girl who was the daughter of a rich local businessman.

A ten-year anniversary meeting is arranged by a television network and Rick, the juror who had a book published condemning Maya, is found murdered in Maya’s hotel room. As the story unfolds with the narrative switching from ten years ago to present day the reader learns secrets and lies of those involved on the jury as well as others around.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Graham Moore for my ARC in return for my honest review.

Excellent Read. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed it and haven't read a courtroom drama for a long time. I like the way it was written in both the past and the present. You can tell the writer is a screenwriter and it would be suited to the big screen.
I would recommend it, but quite slow-paced for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy in which I give my honest opinion.

The Holdout is amazing!

Flashing back to 2009 Bobby was found not guilty of the murder of teenager Jessica Silver thanks to juror Maya, in the present day Maya is a defence lawyer....what happens when she’s charged with murder?

The book is full of action, dramatic storylines and the dilemmas of telling the truth. Dark and gritty. This is an absolute page turner!

A detailed thriller revolving around courtroom drama and the jurors. Full of tension and twists and turns,which I enjoyed, but felt it was a little drawn out in places.