I’ve always enjoyed a good courtroom thriller, the questioning, the cross examination. Me trying to solve the crime as the evidence is laid out in the theatrics the barristers perform. Is Maria guilty of trying to murder her husband? If she is (and she did admit it), it’s the why I needed to know!

Maria is an interesting character, she has admitted to the attack, but what’s her story? Is she psychopathic, cold blooded, money grabbing? The more I got to know the accused, the more I could sympathise with her predicament. But then there’s meek Lottie. Under pressure from her husband to get out of jury duty but determined to sit through the case. Is that a mistake?

Reading the deliberations of the jurors both during the trial and when they were sent out was entertaining. The power struggle, the petty bickering, the instant judgments. I’ve never sat on a jury but this is what I imagined it could be like.

For me, Degrees Of Guilt is reminiscent of a older John Grisham novel. It’s not just a legal thriller, it’s a legal thriller with that bit more to it. The blurb references three other novels which I have read and I wholeheartedly put Degrees Of Guilt in the same box as that trio.

This is a brilliantly tense legal thriller. It packed a punch from both sides of the courtroom and from Maria and Lottie’s personal lives. I hope there are more to come from Chandler!

This book is ultimately a thriller, but a courtroom drama too, and unfortunately I found it to be all a bit confusing. The characters themselves were difficult to relate to and I found myself have no idea what was going on.

An amazing read full of twists and turns. Great twist at the end too. Definitely recommend! Can't wait for more from the author.

This book has been innocently sitting on my shelf for ages and luckily I started reading it!!!! An amazing story about a woman accused of attempted murder and the jury that are watching her on trial. The story focuses on the lady on trial and Lottie who is in the jury and having a drama of her own. Just loved it!

Slow to start, this courtroom drama is worth sticking with because when it picks up, it really picks up. It brings up the issues surrounding abusive relationships and what happens when a woman is pushed too far.

Thought provoking and filled with turns, this is another great read by Helen Fields with HS Chandler.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

This book was interesting, the beginning had me really hooked. I liked the way the trail was set up and how the evidence etc was all delivered.

However, I didn’t like the jumping back in time so much and I saw the twist coming, which was a little disappointing.

Anything that has the name Helen Fields on it I have to read as I know it is going to be good and I was not disappointed.
A book that starts with an admission of guilt and the subsequent trial had me hooked from page one. As the story unfolds you get to see more about why the "murder" happened and the interactions between the jury. To say too much gives a lot away but the story s told from the defendant and a member of the jury.
There are a few books that I can not put down and this was one of them grab it and read it you will not be disappointed.

A really good courtroom drama focussing on different people and abuse. It’s really compelling and the characters are so realistic. I have given this 5/5 and I’ll be buying more by this author.

Degrees of Guilt is my first book by this author but certainly not my last.
At first I contemplated Maria’s plea of not guilty, but admittance to killing her husband! As the trial went on and we hear from both lawyers and the behind the court room door private discussions between the jurors, I wondered what if my fate lay in the minds of regular people, some I found so single minded and some so selfish. And then after having been part of a jury myself recently, the lawyers themselves! They can twist the evidence they have using clever words and phrases. I didn’t know until the jury decided themselves which way Maria’s fate lay.
How unfair it seemed sometimes, but this is our legal system and whether it’s down to clever lawyers or manipulative jurors, there are 12 people, 2 lawyers, a judge and whatever witnesses ( if any) to decide whether someone is innocent or guilty.
The author did an amazing job of portraying the courtroom, the jurors room and the characters. I felt like I was in the courtroom watching and then anonymously and quietly in the jurors room watching.
The main juror that the author focuses on is Lottie who has problems of her own. Although I felt for Lottie in her own marital situation, I didn’t agree with a lot of her decisions. She is a great character to get to know and her strength of character developed throughout the book.
This book drew me into Maria’s world, Lottie’s world and allowed me to consider what would I have done in Maria’s world and what would I have done if I were on that jury.
A thought provoking fabulous courtroom drama with a twist of thriller and domestic noir. Just grippingly fantastic.

I love courtroom dramas and a massive fan of the expert in this genre John Grisham. I really enjoyed this book it is full of tension and intrigue. I am looking forward to reading more from these authors.

Maria is trapped in an appalling marriage, with a man who controls her every move, and almost her every thought. Little by little, her life has shrunk to an existence which is confined to her home and garden - her beautiful home and garden that her husband insists she should be grateful for. To outside eyes, her husband, Edward is a well respected campaigner for animal and environmental rights. Only Maria knows the truth behind Edward's public persona.

Then one day....a fateful call to the police..."I've killed my husband".

Maria now finds herself on trial for the attempted murder of her monster of a husband. How can she make a jury believe that the violence inflicted upon Edward was justified?

Lottie has found herself a member of the jury called to pass judgement on Maria. Lottie is lacking in confidence since the birth of her child, and feel herself confined to the role of wife and mother. She feels unqualified to make the decision that will affect another human being's freedom.
Excited at the prospect of a break from motherhood, Lottie finds herself drawn to another member of the jury and becomes entangled in a situation that proves to be far more complicated that she imagined.

Who are the guilty and who are the innocent?

*********************************************************************************

This book is brilliant! It is so easy to call a thriller un-put-downable these days, but believe me when I say that this one is a genuine page turner. I actually could not put this down until I had reached the climax and found out the truth - which hits you exactly like Edward was hit with the chair leg!

The plot pays out as the court case progresses, until the truth unfolds right at the end of the book. The tension during the trial is palpable and builds beautifully. You can almost feel yourself sitting in the court room, listening to the judge, barristers and witnesses.

There are a couple of superb twists, that you will genuinely not see coming. You may even find yourself using a juicy swearword out loud when you find out what actually happened - I know I did (fortunately within the privacy of my own kitchen!).

There has been quite a lot in the press recently about coercive abuse within a relationship, so this debut is particularly well timed. Some of the moments described here are quite difficult to read, but I think it is important to be aware that this type of abuse is real.

Degrees of Guilt is a first-class thriller and a cracking read!

For me this book was a bit of a slow burner. I struggled to really sink my teeth into it. Although the courtroom story was gripping I was getting the point of the love interest story for one of the lead female characters.

The book comes into it's own about two thirds of the way through. All becomes clear and I couldn't put it down after that point. A couple of really clever twists to it. I wish I had stuck with it better when I first picked it up.

This book centres around a court case, and it in its essence a courtroom drama, but it manages to be so much more exciting, intriguing and addictive than I expected it to be – I loved it!

Throughout the novel we are presented with two main narratives – Maria’s story, as she reflects on killing her husband and the years that led up to it, and Lottie’s story, as she sits on the jury in Maria’s trial. There are some shocking moments as we hear about Maria’s marriage, and various important themes and issues are touched upon as the trial continues, making this a thought-provoking and, at times, quite disturbing book. HS Chandler does a brilliant job of illustrating just how someone can feel trapped within a marriage – and not just with Maria’s character as the obvious example.

I loved the surprises that we’re presented with along the way – and the fact that, even with these surprises, the story wasn’t too outrageous but felt very believable. Not every single element is tied up neatly at the end, but the important parts are, leaving me feeling satisfied, thoughtful and thoroughly entertained. The characters are convincing (if not always likable) and the story is addictive.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough – I really didn’t want to put it down!

Thanks to Net Galley and Orion Publishing Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Wow - I hated having to put this book down. Captivating from page one! Filled with twists and drama right to the last page.
The drama in the courtroom is intense, Maria is on trial for attempted murder, she almost managed to kill her husband, he’s been left with severe brain damage. The story unfolds chapter by chapter and reveals why Maria hated her husband enough to want to kill him.
Maria calls the emergency services herself and tells the operator she has killed her husband.
We get to know the jury as the case is played out, 2 of the jurors have an affair which could end in disaster.
This book is definitely worth reading. Congratulations to the author - this is a 5 star read.

A story of coercive control and emotional abuse which results in murder. The resulting trial is the main part of the story. A great psychological thriller.

Thank you - we featured H.S. Chandler on Caboodle (website and newsletter) in 2019! We look forward to working with you in 2020.

As a fan of courtroom dramas, I was looking forward to reading this and I was not disappointed, Putting an unusual twist on the genre, the story is told from two points of view - Maria who is on trial for attempting to murder her husband, and Lottie who is one of the jurors on the case. Dealing sensitively with the topic of domestic abuse, there are plenty of twists and turns throughout the book to keep you guessing - I raced through the book keen to find out what happened and the ending did not disappoint,

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review..

I loved loved loved this book!
I did not want to put it down and was reading it any time I had even a spare minute.
Full of suspense, and mystery, explosive drama.
I would highly recommend it. One of the best books I have read all year

Wow such a great book with a nice twist, highly recommend
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Superb, absolutely loved this book
Had me gripped right from the start.
Strong characters and a right few twists along the way.
More of the same please