In Her Defense

A young woman at the periphery of a high-stakes celebrity trial is the only one with the evidence that can make or break the case—but spilling her secret could ruin her life. The whole country has been riveted by the trial: beloved TV star and national treasure Anna Finbow has accused therapist Jean Guest of brainwashing her daughter Mary for nefarious purposes. Jean counters that Mary’s trauma is from her upbringing and her tumultuous time studying at a prestigious art school in Rome: and Jerry is the only one who can heal her. But as the trial unfolds, it’s Augusta “Gus” Bird, Anna’s former employee—an insignificant bystander, a nobody—who holds the key to unraveling the tangled web of lies and deceit. What really happened to Mary in Rome? And if her memories can’t be trusted, how will they ever uncover the truth behind her estrangement? Only Anne knows. But will she tell her tale? Bewitching, seductive, and endlessly riveting: In Her Defense is a compulsively readable debut for fans of Lucy Foley and Laura Dave.