Firstly thank you to NetGalley and they author for an ARC of this book. This is the authors debut and it was certainly a five star read for me.

The story is of teenager Emily Keller dubbed “Keller the killer” who is on trial for the manslaughter of a family of four. The book jumps back and forth from the days of Emily’s trial and also the days leading up to the incident in question.

I raced through this book and found it hard to put down. The story covers sexual abuse, rape and self harm and is also quite a sad thriller. I can’t wait to read more from Kathleen Fine

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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Does doing one bad thing make you a bad person?

Sixteen-year-old Emily Keller, known by the media as Keller the Killer, is accused of causing the deaths of four family members, including young children. Emily is one of the youngest females to be accused of a crime so heinous, making this the nation’s biggest trial of the year. But what really happened that fateful night―and who’s responsible―is anything but straightforward.

Living in a trailer park in Baltimore with her twin brother and alcoholic mother, Emily’s life hasn’t been easy. She’s had to grow up fast, and like any teen, has made questionable decisions in a desperate attempt to fit in with her peers. Will her mistakes amount to a guilty verdict and a life in prison? It’s up to the jury to decide.

My answer is no ... we all make mistakes but Emily is kind of heinous. And devious. and Unlikeable....this book will be very polarizing so I will recommend it to book clubs and my patrons will eat it up as well. Expertly crafted, utterly readable --- fantastic book!
#shortbutsweetreviews