Maria is on trial for severely injuring her husband – she has confessed to the crime, but how much do the Lottie and her fellow jurors believe she can be held accountable for her actions?

I liked that the Degrees of Guilt was focussed around the jury on the case and I really enjoyed the characters, including Maria who is on trial. I must admit I did get quite frustrated with the main character Lottie, although it was nice to see her drawing parallels from her own life to Maria’s story but I did find myself internally yelling at her bad decisions. The romance element was also a little cringey, I felt that if I read any more about Cameron’s ‘tight t-shirt’ I was going to scream!

In thriller stories I love having occasional chapters which are from the perspective of a character we don’t know. This might be the perpetrator or an important character or maybe someone we’ve actually met before but are seeing a completely different side to without giving away the twist of who they are. In Degrees of Guilt however, we get a few alternate chapters from someone who tells us exactly who they are and how they fit into the story but they are not integrated into the actual plot at all until the end. I felt that this actually gave away the twist ending a bit too much as we were just waiting for this character to come into the picture to explain everything and tie up the loose ends.

I did like the pacing of the book though and it kept me gripped throughout. The plot kept me bouncing around ideas as to whether Maria was guilty or innocent and how much her actions could be justified by her past. I thought the portrayal of the slow burn of control in Maria’s abusive marriage and I liked the ambiguity in how much things were seen in public. Some of the twists felt a little predictable but some were less so and genuinely shocked me.

Overall Degrees of Guilt was a well paced read that kept me guessing and gripped throughout. Thank you to Netgalley & Orion Publishing Group – Trapeze for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A complelling book built on lies and deceit about the power that people are capable of holding over others. Throw in a sordid affair and add the courtroom drama. All that makes Degrees of Guilt a fast-paced, tension-filled thriller.

We meet a myriad of characters during the book, all of which have a story to tell, our central characters though are Maria and Lottie. Along with various professionals, Maria’s lawyer James Newell, prosecution Imogen Pascal and a psychiatrist whos cleary on the side of Dr Bloxham plus DI Anton makes a formidable team shes up against.

Maria’s story begins after 20 years of abuse at the hands of her ‘Environmental celebrity’ husband Dr Edward Bloxham and we see her arriving for court, charged with his attempted murder. An unprovoked attack which has left him wheelchair bound and needing round the clock care.

Lottie a housewife and mother of one, is pulled in to sit jury service on Maria and feels totally out of her depth, assuming that she’s no longer an important part of society, however as the story moves along she remembers the person she once was and how enjoyable it felt. She wants that thrill back and she becomes distracted when she finds it in the arms of Cameron, a fellow jury member.

Cameron a self-employed builder takes a liking to Lottie and things go from courtroom to bedroom before shes had time to blink. He, however, has plans and secrets of his own that he needs to deal with.

A brilliant twist lies in wait, and who doesn’t love one of those. This book will keep you turning the pages late into the night and create a sense of morality and self awareness. Its thought provoking and sensitive nature means this book will leave you considering the story long after youve turned the last page.

5☆ An Authentic and Enthralling Legal Thriller.

I haven't quiet read anything like this one before it really gripped me, a thoroughly enthralling page Turner!

Maria has admitted trying to kill her overbearing, manipulative, abusive, bully of a husband and now is about to stand trial for attempting to murder him.
But did she really do it?
I mean if she admitted it she must of done right?

Well who am I to judge, I'm not the jury!
But Lottie is! And Maria's fate lies in her hands alongside the rest of the jury.


But what is the truth?
Are things quiet What they seem?

This book will get under your skin, the court room drama is simply riveting, enthralling and Suspensful as the plot thickens and the truth begins unravelling!
But just when I thought I worked things out something else popped up. Fantastic twists!
The characters are superbly written, very flawed and believable, they will get under your skin!
The slower pace to this book is perfect as it creates so much tension and Suspense.

Be prepared for so many secrets, lies, a sizzling affair, betrayal, abuse, violence and a riveting court room battle, once you start reading Degrees of Guilt you won't be able to put it down!


Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours and Trapeze Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I really liked the cover. It is very appealing designed. The writing style is pleasant and very fluently to read. The characters are very well described and look well thought out and consistently interesting. The tension is always present. The descriptions of surroundings, feelings and scenes were also very good. The story is told pleasant and it succeeds from the first pages to dive directly into the story. The storyline as a whole is very coherent and it seems very understandable and authentic. A very fascinating story that you won't like to stop reading.

The Luc Callanach series by Helen Fields is a firm favourite of mine so I went into Degrees of Guilt with confidence of a good story. There are essentially two main characters, Maria who is on trial for the attempted murder of her husband and Lottie who is on the jury. This book deals with coercive control and what a devastating effect it has on a person's self esteem. Maria claims that her now seriously injured husband controlled every aspect of her life to the point where she snapped and tried to kill him. Lottie is a young mother who is bored in her marriage to a loving but workaholic husband who is clueless to her discontent. Initially, she wants no part of jury duty as it will upset her daily routine. Gradually she starts to enjoy the intrigue of the case, the hunky Cameron sitting next to her doesn't hurt either! There are parallels to both women's lives that become apparent as the book goes on. While I enjoyed this book I did find some parts very far fetched. Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy for an honest review.

Edward Bloxham, ecologist, author and broadcaster lies broken on his kitchen floor. HIs wife Maria stands over him clutching the broken chair leg with which he was struck in her hand as his life blood slowly drains from him. She calmly picks up a mobile phone and rings the emergency services, telling the operator at the end of the line "I've killed my husband". Maria confessed what had happened to the officers who arrived at the house, yet once in custody at the police station she refused to respond to their questions.

This is the scenario presented to the jurors in court who are to decide Maria's fate. We are introduced to Lottie from who's perspective the trial is related. She's a housewife with a 3 year old son, disillusioned with the life her controlling husband Zain has manoeuvred her into. After her initial reluctance to do jury service Lottie settles in and starts to feel she is making a contribution so something outside her home environment. In the time the jurors have outside the courtroom Lottie finds herself making judgments about the personal lives of her fellow jurors and it's clear that there are going to be strong differences of opinion among their group. After a first day clash with self employed Cameron, which he makes the effort to apologise for the following day, Lottie finds herself in his company more and more. Others in the group are drawn to outspoken Tabitha, the foreperson for the jury, but Lottie and Cameron aren't keen to be in her company so end up spending time outside the court together and get much closer than perhaps is advisable. My instinct told me that Lottie really didn't know what she was getting involved in with Cameron and was getting out of her depth very quickly.

While we are hearing events from the jury's side of the courtroom, we also have Maria's thoughts being presented as the trial progresses. There's definitely something we're not being told but with Maria having made a full confession of guilt and been found with the weapon in her hand it's not clear what the missing information could be. She seems quite willing to take any punishment the court finds appropriate so what are we missing...?

The court proceedings with lawyers Imogen Pascal prosecuting and James Newell defending are typical of this type of novel, with the usual challenges and protestations to the judge. The prosecution manages to get a rise out of the defendant as the case is presented which proves that there is a hidden fire inside Maria and it's not until the defence puts its case that we start to understand Maria much more. The whole case is so well written, with the author demonstrating a strong knowledge of the court system and the tricks used by the law teams on both sides.

The book has a great balance of the relationships between the jurors and those involved in the case being tried. Lottie definitely learned some life lessons during her time on jury service and there is a strong message coming across to the reader in respect of making judgments about people's circumstances and personalities at face value. The truth of events which happened in Edward Bloxham's kitchen that day will have you raising your eyebrows at the very least - and while I had a smidgeon of a gut feeling that all was not as it seemed I don't think you will work out the mystery. Sometimes a case hinges more on what isn't said rather than what is.

Great writing as always from this author, I found this to be the perfect book to snuggle down on the sofa and get engrossed in.

I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked until the very end. It manages to cover the stages of a trial without being dull and I couldn’t put it down. It’s such a clever premise and is written extremely well. I wasn’t a massive fan of some of the characters but that just added to the story. I questioned pretty much everything except the main thing I was supposed to. Did not see that coming.

The author manages to tackle some difficult topics extremely well but TW for domestic abuse and rape.

For anyone who is a fan of psychological thrillers and legal/courtroom dramas I highly recommend checking this book out.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I had heard lots of good things about Degrees of Guilt and when I was asked to organise the blogtour by Orion I jumped at the chance and popped my blog down too putting the book aside for my holiday pile. I hadn’t read much about what the book was about, but had seen lots of raving reviews from my book club members and fellow bloggers and if they said it was fantastic that was good enough for me.

I started this on holiday and despite spending 5 hours walking around Pompeii I managed to read this book in a day, which basically confirms all you may have heard about this being a gripping, page turner which is literally unputdownable.

Degrees of Guilt is a clever and thoroughly addictive courtroom drama with an edge of domestic noir. HS Chandler (Helen Field) has given us a superb legal thriller and her knowledge and experience as a criminal barrister is evident throughout this fast paced story.

Degrees of Guilt has two fascinating leading female characters: Maria Bloxham who is on trial for the attempted murder of her husband, the famous humanist, TV presenter and author Dr Edward Bloxham and Lottie, a young mother who is part of the jury tasked with deciding Maria’s fate.

As we delve deeper into the story we learn more about Maria’s marriage and life to her controlling and sadistic husband and the reader begins to feel sympathy for her predicament, but concern that she will be judged on her actions rather than the circumstances leading to her vicious attack. Lottie is also a compelling character, a young beautiful mother to a 3 year old son married to an older and controlling man she begins to question her own marriage and life once she is faced with examining the facts of Maria’s downfall.

Domestic abuse is featured heavily in the story and this makes for some very uncomfortable reading, however the author tackles these subjects with sensitivity at all times.

I absolutely devoured this book and highly recommend it to fans of psychological, legal, or courtroom thrillers and give this 5 stars.

Oh wow - tried to put this book down around 3.30am but found myself thinking about where it was going and who did I believe to the point that I finally gave in and continued reading to the end (around two hours later). It is an incredibly well crafted story which has you gripped from the very first chapter. A fantastic five star read

Maria is in trial for attempted murder, theres no disputing that she hit her husband but the question lies in whether it was self defence or not. The jury have to decide that and it's a tricky case. Lottie is a juror who wanted something more than being a mum but was this really the best idea especially when she finds herself falling for a fellow juror. Can the truth be figured out?

This was an interesting story with a clever premise. The plot develops well and just when you think you know the truth, it throws in a twist. It kept me guessing until the very end which I loved. The ending itself was clever and finished the book nicely though I would have liked to have seen Zain's reaction at the end. It was interesting to see the story told from the jury as well as Maria. It gave a deeper insight. This does focus on some heavy issues but I think it was handled well.

Maria does not come across as likeable but that actually works better because it leaves you wondering on her motives. Through the book, I warmed to her more. I struggled with Lottie a bit as I wanted to like her but her actions stopped me, by the end though she had won me over. I think I loved Jack the most though.

I thought this was a fast paced, gripping book that was a fantastic read!

The reader is pulled into the story from the start with an intriguing introduction to Maria and the crime she has just committed. From this opening the reader soon ascertains that this case will not be straight forward and there is more to it than meets the eye.

The story is told in alternate chapters from the point of view of Maria and Lottie who is serving on the jury. This means the reader is able to see both sides of the case and therefore draw their own theories which I always enjoy. Despite the circumstances in which we meet her I actually warmed to both women quite quickly and found myself sympathising with them. On the surface the two woman seem quite similar and it was interesting to find out more about them as the book develops.

This is the first book I’ve read which describes a court case in so much detail which I found quite fascinating. The reader is is taken through the case exactly as it would develop in a court case which made me feel like I was there watching everything unfold. As well as being able to assess all the evidence alongside the jury, we are also given an insight into Maria’s thoughts and feelings which was fabulously done. I found myself constantly changing my mind about what had happened and my opinion on the case throughout the book which I always really enjoy. I found this book quite hard to put down because of this as I really wanted to find out what had really been going on.

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Trapeze for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

I started off loving the story and looking forward to seeing how the two narratives would overlap but about a third way in and it lost its’ way. Lottie was so mercurial I lost patience with her and the unlikely scenarios that followed spoilt the whole thing for me. It was a shame because it really did have promise.

Maria has just killed her husband. Yes really. She can’t quite believe it has finally happened. She hit him over the head with a chair leg, one that needed repairing. She calls the police and hands herself in. Her husband was a well respected ecologist with a large on-line following. Lottie has been called for jury service, something she is looking forward to with a mixture of anticipation, nerves and excitement. Her day to day role is that of a wife and mother to Zain and Daniyal, so socialsing is limited to toddler groups. Her husband Zain comes across as someone who not only takes her for granted but puts her down at any opportunity. Lottie is part of the jury for Maria’s trial as she has entered a not guilty plea for attempted murder. Lottie soon finds in the other jurors that there are a mixture of people, some to get on with and others to avoid. Oohh!! This drew me in right from the start. There is a brilliant tension in the chapters and the stories of both Maria and Lottie intermingled. Never a dull moment. We all feel for those that are controlled or where coercive force is used and it’s not always as simple as “just leave” as many still think. Abuse can take many forms and can be husbands, wives, siblings or even parents that are the perpetrators. A brave topic told not only carefully but very cleverly. A brilliant page turning read.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickisbookblog
(amazon review posted under misfits farm)

A very timely tale in the world we live in. Helen has tackled an extremely emotive and potentially tricky subject of coercive control, and done so with real skill and finesse. Love the way in which the two main POV's are woven together, and the stories they're telling becoming equally as compelling in their own right.

So refreshing to read a book that covers the sensitive issue of domestic abuse and coercive relationships from the courtroom. Told from the defendants perspective and a jury members perspective the case really unfolds. Add to this the dynamics of the jury and the book is crackling with tension throughout.

Bored housewife meets goodlooking jack the lad while doing jury service, what could possibly go wrong...
Maria is on trial for the attempted murder of her husband. The case is not straight forward, Maria at times comes across as cold, angry but the jury need to find out why. Lottie is bored at home with her young child and working husband so being picked for jury duty give her a boost she needs and some excitement but is the grass greener on the other side.
I absolutely loved this book, it’s kept me hooked from start to finish. The characters are intriguing, the character of Cam more so than any of them. The plot was well thought out and makes the reader feel like they are apart of the jury, changing sides at each chapter. Very well researched and brilliant to see a book mainly base on the coercive control in a domestic abuse relationship within the court system.

Tense, twisted and terrifying, lock your doors, find a comfortable spot to hide in behind the sofa and get ready to lose yourself in H.S. Chandler’s jaw-dropping and chilling tale, Degrees of Guilt.

Maria Bloxham seems to lead a charmed life. Married to a rich, successful and charismatic man, she is the envy of all her friends, family and neighbours. However, scratch beneath the glossy exterior and strained smiles and you will find a desperate woman living a life where she is tortured, humiliated and abused on a regular basis. Maria dreams of the day where she will be unshackled from her husband, her jailer and abuser and the man who makes her life a living hell every single day. Pushed to the very limit and unable to spend another second trapped in this hellish existence, she snaps – and ends up on trial for attempted murder. The odds are stacked against her: she confessed to the crime and was found with the murder weapon in her hand. Her fate lies in the hands of the jurors, but will she be given a fair hearing? Will they judge her actions and not the desperate circumstances which have pushed her this far? Or will she be exonerated?

One of the jurors, Lottie, knows that you shouldn’t take pleasure out of other people’s misfortune, yet being one of the jurors on this trial is a much needed escape that will get her out of the house and give her a purpose. Lottie’s life revolves around her family and she has had it with spending days on end cooking, cleaning and catering to her family’s every whim. Lottie wants something more from life and this trial has given her the chance to be herself again and to discover just what she has been missing whilst she has been trapped indoors. However, Lottie’s unexpected freedom from responsibility has also made her reckless and when her life starts to spiral out of control, she too finds herself in very deep water.

As the lines between the guilty and the innocent become more and more blurred with every passing day, will Maria and Lottie get justice? Or will they end up being held hostage by events outside their control?

H.S. Chandler knocks it out of the park with Degrees of Guilt, a shocking, sinister and sensational thriller that is certainly not for the faint-hearted. A chilling read that is so brilliantly written that putting it down simply is not an option, Degrees of Guilt is a pacy, nail-biting and thought-provoking tale readers will devour in a single sitting.

A fabulous courtroom drama that delivers on all counts, readers who loved Apple Tree Yard are going to lap up Degrees of Guilt.

What I know about jury duty comes from watching American Tv shows and I’ve always found it interesting. Twelve people who decide the fate of one person, who decide if that person is going to walk out free or if they are going to spend the rest of their life in a prison cell. How do you know if you made the right decision? In DEGREES OF GUILT, there is no question whether the defendant, Maria, is guilty or not as she admits right away that she used her husband’s head for baseball practice. No, what’s in question here is: why did she do it? What led her, one afternoon, to pick up a leg chair and swing it to her husband’s head?

And while Maria’s future is in doubt, another woman questions her life choices and wonders about her own future. Charlotte, “Lottie”, is a wife, a mother, and a bored housewife. At the beginning she was reluctant, but then she finds jury duty exciting (and not only because of the attention of a handsome man). This is her chance to be part of something big, something important. Lottie is tired of spending all her time cooking, cleaning, and playing the happy and obedient wife at her husband’s events. Will she risk everything in exchange for a thrill and some purpose in her life?

H. S. Chandler knows how to keep the reader on edge and glued to the pages. There are two women. One is a killer, but is she also a victim? Maria’s story is heart-breaking and thought-provoking. It shows that there is always more than one side to a story, but which side is telling the truth? At times, she seems cold-blooded, showing no emotions or regret, but there are other layers under the impassive facade of Maria that are slowly unpeeled. On the other hand, Lottie, has so many feelings. She is looking for excitement, but she feels guilty. She worries about what other people think of her, but she is not afraid to speak up. And, like Maria, she has her own secrets to hide. Those two woman are far from perfect? Sure. Sometimes their behaviour annoyed me? Yep. And then the author did a great job developing them and giving them the determination and courage of standing up to the men who tried to put them down and finally taking their own lived into their own hands.

DEGREES OF GUILT is a compelling, gripping, character-driven novel about control and abuse, full of tension and twists. Looking for a brilliant legal thriller? Then this should be at the top of your list…

This story really opens with a bang with the attempted murder of Maria’s husband in their kitchen. Unfortunately for him, he somehow manages to survive by a tenuous thread, although the life he is subjected to living is not much of a life as he is effectively paralysed and brain dead.

Maria confesses and finds herself on trial for his attempted and with her husband unable to give evidence on his own behalf we only have Maria’s word for what happened and the words from the lawyers as they try to paint their respective pictures from both sides.

Maria’s tale is oh so tragic and at times really difficult to read. I warn readers now that this story heavily revolves around domestic abuse, not necessarily in the physical sense, but in the emotional sense. The author has clearly done her research in this area as the descriptions she gives when Maria is describing her time married to her husband is captivating in a way that made me feel so much sympathy for Maria.

The other main character, Lottie, is tasked with deciding Maria’s fate when she finds herself one of twelve individuals on the jury at her trial. As I read through the book and listened to the evidence unfold, much as Lottie would have done whilst on the jury, I found myself wondering what way I would have decided, Guilty or Not Guilty, had I been on that jury.

Lottie’s character has more to add to this story though than just being a member of the jury. She finds herself in a rather tricky situation and I must admit that towards the end of this book there were a few twists and turns I did not anticipate or see coming.

I really enjoyed this book as it got me thinking about a range of different things. Definitely one I would recommend and after the calibre of this author’s writing, definitely a name I will be keeping in mind for future reads.

Maria calls the police to tell them she’s just killed her husband, Edward. She’s so shocked to find he’s still alive and she’s been arrested for attempted murder.

This then becomes a courtroom drama, as we learn about each of the jurors, especially Lottie and Cameron. They slowly begin with a flirtatious after court drink, but this soon becomes a bit more…..But Lottie wants it to end, she has a son and husband to think of….Cameron is quite determined to carry on.

All the while the trial is in full swing as we hear of Maria’s life, and the coercive control exerted by her husband…..this is sometimes hard to read, as it’s such an insidious behaviour that happens behind closed doors and can be almost invisible to those outside. Maria had managed to talk to a support line, where Ruth became her confidant, but she refuses to let her give evidence at the trial…..

Was Maria justified in her actions?

I found this to be a compelling read, about the difficult subjects of coercive control and self harm, but in a realistic and sensitive manner, I did wonder how the seemingly two separate sides of the story would come together, the trial and the jurors deliberations, but I needn’t have worried as it worked so well. It reminded me a little of 12 Angry Men. An emotive and breathtaking thriller…..I loved it.

Thank you to The Author, the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free. . This is my honest, unbiased review.