Suzie Miller

Jodie Comer is fantastic as a narrator as she seems to be good at everything she does. Her ability to speak a barely discernible Liverpool accent in her barrister persona and then switch to a softer but more obvious version when she’s with her family is terrific. Even though she’s a native of Liverpool this makes it perhaps even more impressive.
However I can’t be so enthusiastic about the book. Towards the end the Barrister makes a speech which I really didn’t believe she’d be allowed to make in court and which came across as an insult to me as a reader (listener). First of all the statistics quoted in the speech have been fed into the story already and are well known but secondly the fact that we have to be bludgeoned over the head with the speech seems to underestimate us as readers. It’s difficult to talk about without giving spoilers but to me the whole thing would be massively more effective if the book ended with the verdict and left it at that. Anyone paying attention would get the message without it being further telegraphed.
My second disappointment was the constant switching better “now” and “then.” Yes, it works for the first part of the book but becomes increasingly irritating as the story progresses. In particular the tension of the court case is dissipated by the interruptions.
I’m sorry to be so negative as the story is an important one. I just don’t think the structure of the book helps get the message across effectively.… (altro)