Next of Kin – review (AD)
I was kindly given an electronic copy of Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah in exchange for an honest review*.
Next of Kin book blurb
ON AN ORDINARY WORKING DAY…
Leila Syed receives a call that cleaves her life in two. Her brother-in-law’s voice is filled with panic. He’s at his son’s nursery to pick up Max. But he isn’t there.
YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE…
Leila was supposed to drop Max off that morning. But she forgot.
Racing to the carpark, she grasps the horror of what she has done. Max has been locked in her car for six hours on the hottest day of the year.
IS ABOUT TO COME TRUE…
But she’s too late.
What follows is an explosive, high-profile trial, that will tear the family apart. But as the case progresses it becomes clear there’s more to this incident than meets the eye…
A gripping, brave and tense courtroom drama, Next of Kin will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, heart-stopping page.
My overall thoughts on Next of Kin
I found Next of Kin to be a harrowing and heartbreaking read (especially as a parent), but one that will keep you firmly gripped until the very last page.
Next of Kin is an emotional rollercoaster right from the off, opening with an intense and upsetting situation,
I devoured Next of Kin and was on the edge of my seat with every twist that unravelled the further into the book I read.
The courtroom scenes are tense but definitely not boring.
There was a couple of big twists at the end of the story that were shocking, and they made the story so much more than it already was. It added so many more layers to an already difficult and complicated situation, and I loved that.
The complex relationships are brilliantly explored, constantly leaving you with the feeling that there’s more going on.
I was drawn into every character’s perspective – Yasmin as a grieving mother, Leila as the blamed victim, and Andrew as the husband who’s left to pick up the pieces.
The dynamics between the families are so complex and interwoven. I didn’t feel like I really liked any one of them but I was so invested in their stories.
I was absolutely gripped throughout, which is all down to Abdullah’s immensely powerful writing.
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*Disclaimer
This review has been written with 100% honesty.
I was not financially compensated for this post. I was given an advance copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are completely my own based on my own experience.
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