This is a difficult book for me to review, because I didn't love it but I also didn't hate it. I felt the writing was well done, the pacing flowed fairly well if not a little repetitive at times, and the overall plot was well thought out and executed. My dislike of the book rests solely with FMC Stella, who is not only the center of the book but also the narrator. Unreliable isn't quite the right category, because as a reader she is the subject matter expert when it comes to being assigned as the lawyer to represent 9 year old Rose. I didn't really love learning about her backstory, specifically with Charlie and maybe romance with the detective could have been left off the page, but I really disliked her. As a character, as a person. Arrogant and obnoxious borderline with a martyr complex just grated on me. I finished it, because I did want the ending but I didn't really like the journey.

Thank you SMP for the gifted ARC.