The book started off well, with an intriguing premise but gradually got very far-fetched and unrealistic.

Looking for an original thriller to read this summer? The Interpreter is definitely a book that you need to pick up!

As a thriller lover, I sometimes feel like I'm reading the same recycled concept or twist, but The Interpreter definitely impressed with its refreshing originality. Entertaining and thought-provoking, it's a brilliantly unique take on a courtroom drama and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Although the story didn't grip me, my intrigue was held throughout as I was completely unaware of which direction the twist was going to come. I knew something felt off, but I was excited to find out how everything would unravel.

The only thing that let me down was that I couldn't completely get behind Revelle's character. She seemed to have a dark side, but one that she instantly regretted and felt guilty about. I just wanted her to be more confident, more assertive, and for her actions to have a really messed up malice behind them. That would have probably made this a five-star read for me, removing her self-doubt which I found a little underwhelming.

But that's me - the darker the better - so I'm sure this will appeal to a much wider readership who will love the twists and intrigue of this exciting thriller!

The concept of this book was good however it never really hit the heights it could have for me. Revelle Lee, who is fluent in many languages, is an interpreter covering many criminal cases. At the same time she is trying to adopt a young child. Someone however is trying to wreck that opportunity for her.

Revelle realises that by changing the odd word in translation she could affect the outcome of cases and at times wanted to be judge and jury. Personally I felt the story didn't flow particularly well. It was quite slow although did gain pace towards the end with interesting twists to the tale. As I said previously it had the potential to be a good storyline but maybe could have done with a better execution of it.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Finding a story that is very different is difficult these days, so I was pleased to find a story that taught me about the workings of an interpreter. I had no idea how they found or were offered work so this was as much an education as a well written story. Our interpreter in this story decides to change a few words during work with police and the courts, and this has the effect of either sending someone to prison or setting them free. The second voice in the book had me guessing who was speaking, but only appears from time to time. The mixture of an interpreter receiving their work at very low notice, while trying to adopt a young boy often made me worried about how Ravelle Lee would manage to get through her life, especially when she started messing around with her interpreting skills. and someone is stalking her.
Reading about how interpreters are treated in the legal system and outside, it's easier to look at them with more respect. I did wonder about the relevance of the stepfather living thousands of miles away from her, but rest assured, this does all become clear by the end of the book. I enjoyed this writers manner and her characterization and while I am unsure if there are going to be more in the series, I hope to read more of her work. An excellent first novel and a story that kept me interested from the beginning until the very end.

"The Interpreter" by Random House UK, Vintage, Vintage Digital, is a captivating novel that had me completely engrossed. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this intriguing book. The plot is refreshingly unique, and I found myself flying through the pages out of sheer curiosity. The positive vibes throughout the story, despite the presence of difficult decisions, added an extra layer of enjoyment. I highly recommend this book to readers seeking an engrossing and thought-provoking read. It unquestionably deserves a resounding 5-star rating.

Ravelle is an interpreter for court or the police and a polyglot (she can speak ten or eleven languages) she is trying to adopt a six year old boy Elliot as well as hold down a job. I just couldn't connect with her and felt that she made some extremely rash decisions based on what she thought an outcome should be in the court or with the police.
We keep getting hints that she had already made questionable interpretations in the past, with one case in particular. She seems to be getting blackmailed by someone who knows what she's done and wants her to.pay. At first she thinks it is Elliots birth parents but they wouldn't know who or where she is. I just wonder how Ravelle is going to manage with Elliot, she doesn't feel like she'll cope, after all she's only got this far based on lies, will they find out before the adoption goes through?
Sorry but it wasn't a book for me.

I was intrigued by the plot of this novel and was keen to read it. However, I became annoyed when the author stressed how accurate an interpreter needs to be to do the job properly but I kept noticing grammatical mistakes in the narrative. I became more annoyed at the ongoing repetition of how the main character had failed one particular client. Then the main character kept having more and more historical failures at her job. I lost track of the storyline apart from the repetition and the finale was too implausible.

The premise is interesting and is a real insight into how much trust is put into a correct translation. We only need to use Google translate to see how the meaning can be changed so easily! However the double story confuses the first half of the book, the paranoia and over thinking of everything gets repetitive and the sub plots get a little lost, which is a shame because it could have been a page turner. Great idea, but a little confused in execution

This is an interesting take on a courtroom drama, or a police station thriller. Reveller is an interpreter, a polyglot who is confident in 10 languages. She’s skilled at translating the words of others, whether that’s reporting what a passer-by to a crime noticed or helping a victim share their deepest thoughts. In each room, she is the only person who can report truthfully and accurately what her client is saying. But events come about that cause her to make a lifechanging decision: after all, what is one word of difference really mean? A lot if you’re changing not guilty to guilty… Couple with that, Revelle has family issues – as in trying to create one for herself while dealing with past relationships – and money worries. She’s willing to risk it all to get justice for what’s right. But someone knows what she has done and they want to reap their own version of justice. Cleverly written, definitely one to savour in one go.

This was such a different read from what I was expecting but a brilliant one. It had superb twists and turns, great characters and reveals, I was thoroughly gripped and would be interested in reading more of Brooke's books in future.

Definitely an interesting premise, how the effects of just a word or two, literally lost in translation can have such an immense impact and one which is hard to reverse.
The main character of the story had a tricky childhood, being moved from pillar to post across different countries but it did mean she is now fluent in an impressive number of languages which she now uses in her role as an interpreter.
She is also currently fostering a six year old boy and hoping to make his permanent and pass for his adoption. I found her life and scatty nature a little disconcerting and surprising that she eventually passes the criteria for the adoption to go ahead as her life seems huge chaotic and fleeting, maybe echoing her transient childhood, nothing ever being permanent or solid.
She starts to have a feeling she’s being watched and odd gifts start arriving and she can’t help herself, seemingly, to make minor adjustments in her translations which have huge consequences when they’re as part of witness statements for courts.
The narrative was compelling enough and the plot clever but I couldn’t quite bring myself to empathise with the main character and the way she kept making errors of judgement and putting her adoption under threat made me slightly on edge in a bad way. I guess this is part of the tension building in the plot, constantly waiting for karma to bring some kind of justice. Overall a good read.

This is Brooke Robinson's debut London based psychological thriller that goes back and forth in time, that immerses the reader in the world of an interpreter, more specifically the stress of the crucial role they can play within a judicial setting. This was a mixed bag of a read for me, the storyline and character stretched credulity too much, but I enjoyed the parts that illuminate what interpreters do, the challenges, and the delicate balance they can hold in the system. Having spent considerable time moving when young, Revelle Lee is fluent in numerous languages, that mean she is often deployed in courtrooms and at crime scenes. Wanting to be a mother, she is in the process of adopting 6 year old Elliot, but finds herself in a precarious position where everything is threatened. We learn of Revelle's past that has left her exposed, a decision made under the belief that justice needed a helping hand. Thinking there would be no repercussions, she is in for a rude awakening.

I think other readers may possibly enjoy this more, so suggest that readers read other more positive reviews. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

An original concept and there was suspense and intrigue but I didn't connect with the main character and was left feeling uneasy throughout the read. I didn't like her actions and found her frustrating and I was fearful for the child as she seemed out of her depth.

"Thriller" is a genre that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, and this definitely delivers. From the very first page, the tension is palpable, and the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, making it difficult to put the book down. The characters are well-developed and the author does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing as to who can be trusted and who is hiding something. The pacing is spot-on, with just the right amount of action and suspense to keep the reader engaged. The writing style is gripping and evocative, making it easy to visualise the scenes and feel the emotions of the characters. The author's attention to detail and ability to create a believable world adds to the overall experience of the book. Overall, this is an excellent example of the thriller genre. It's a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end and is sure to satisfy fans of the genre. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good suspenseful read.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I was initially not going to give feedback on this book but I feel that it may be of benefit if I do so.

I had high hopes for this book, it sounded amazing, and the premise was but the execution fell flat. The plot was lacking and all we really got was that the main character was a liar and she was obsessed with a case she interpreted for.

She had a kid that she was adopting but she had lied her way to that point.

It was slow going and the character was not at all interesting and ultimately I ended up DNF’ing at 44%

The Interpreter is the author’s debut novel, published on 1st June 2023. Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for my advance copy.

The story centres around Revelle, who’s an interpreter. She speaks eleven languages and works in many situations, often with the court and police. She’s in the process of adopting Elliot, a six year old boy. Revelle thinks she is being blackmailed and that someone is trying to sabotage the adoption. Throughout the book she hints at a mistake she made eight years earlier.

The story is mainly told from Revelle’s point of view. There’s also a mystery character who seems quite menacing and wants revenge.

I couldn’t connect with Revelle at all and thought she made some questionable decisions a lot of the time. I found her very self-centred, entitled, and irritating. I’m not sure why she even wanted to adopt as she didn’t seem very prepared for a child. I didn’t really warm to any of the other characters either which was a shame.

For me, the book seemed to drag on and on and I just wanted to get it finished. I didn’t get into the story mainly because I couldn’t connect to the characters. I wasn’t gripped by the story at all and I thought it was quite far fetched at times. You definitely need to suspend your disbelief.

The ending fell pretty flat and there were a few loose ends and characters never mentioned again.

From the blurb, I thought this book would be right up my street, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me.

I liked the premise of this book, although I can't imagine it will do much for the reputation of interpreters, but it felt like the whole story was based on one event which, when it was eventually revealed felt a bit underwhelming.
I enjoyed the writing style, but feel I've read too many books recently which rely on a separate narrative in italics from an unknown source. Revelle was obviously a complex character but I'm not sure I really understood her any better in the rather rushed ending than I did at the beginning.
As a debut novel it felt there were some good ideas contained in it and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book

The interpreter of the title is Revelle, a polyglot who speaks ten languages and is employed on a freelance basis mainly doing police and court work. All is rosy with her life until during a court hearing she changes a word in an alibi to stop someone who she deems guilty from being found innocent.
The consequences of this and the story that follows is unbelievable in parts, but that can be said of many a book.
I wouldn’t say the book had me riveted, but it managed to keep me interested to the end.

I enjoyed this one it just fell a little flat for me. It was written brilliantly and I loved the style of it. It flowed easy and you were unsure if the FMC was trustworthy from the beginning. However, I just felt this was slightly predictable with where it was going and didn’t have that tense build up I wanted. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable read and I still flew through it, I loved the premise as it’s completely unique too! I think it would be a 3.5 star for me!

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

Revelle is a polyglot; she spent most of her life moving from one country to another. She works as a freelance interpreter, mostly courtroom or police station-related gigs, but sometimes in other gigs. She is one of the best her agency has but that's not true, she has made mistakes unintentionally as well as on purpose. She is trying hard to adopt Elliot but her dark past is getting in the way.

This book promised many things but failed to serve all of them. The concept was exciting and I was completely prepared to be blown away but unfortunately, the execution was poor. Revelle was a confusing character, I struggled to connect with her, her action didn't make sense and writing didn't help either. There were so many hints about that past mistake and the whole story revolved around that but the twist was so underwhelming. The pace was so fluctuating, in some parts story was dragged enough to make me sleepy, on the other hand, the last chapters were so quick, and the ending was rushed and unsatisfactory. I skimmed it a lot and don't regret it.