OH. MY. GOD. Ya'll I stayed up half the night finishing this book. I loved every moment of this book and I had to give it ALL the stars. If I had more than 5 to give I would. The characters, the writing, the plot, the twists and turns - all of it was so suspenseful and gripping.

Rachel North is a law student at Harvard who has been assigned to her summer internship in her husband's (also a lawyer) arch nemesis' office. He is a defense attorney, she works for the DA's office - it's not the recipe for friendship. Now Rachel is working for the enemy, and Jack is not a happy camper.

This book follows Rachel's journey in her internship, along with how it affects her marriage. Also, it dives in to the past to set up the events of how she met her husband and first became acquainted with her new supervisor, Martha. Through the deep dive into the past, you have this mystery evolve related to jury duty, murders, trials, etc. The book will keep you guessing up until the very end, where any of the character's could be the culprit. Ryan gives you just enough information at each interval to keep you coming back for more.

This book is my definition of a good thriller/suspense novel. I related to all the characters, became invested in their story, and was totally shocked at the end how it all played out. It is the perfect murder mystery novel and if you are a fan of Lisa Scottoline, you should definitely pick this one up. Props to Ryan for putting together a book that flows through the past and present SO well. I've got no critiques, zero.

This is the best book I've read in a long time. Do yourself a favor, and go pick it up.

Wow, this book is fantastic! A taut, psychological thrill ride and I loved every page. This book will keep you reading well into the night. This is my first book by Ryan, but I look forward to reading many more. We have three main characters, Rachel who is a law student assigned to an internship at the District Attorney's office, Jack is her high profile defense lawyer husband and Martha, who is the Assistant DA that Rachel is assigned to. These characters come to life within the pages of this book. They are complex and true to life. There's so many twists and turns in this murder mystery. Who killed Dani? There are so many possibilities! This is a powerful novel about the intricacies of the legal system. Is it really all about winning for these lawyers? I was immediately immersed in this book and invested in the characters. The ending is absolutely explosive! There is no way you can even guess the outcome! This book blew my mind! An absolute must read and one of my favorite books this year! Don't miss this one! Such a well crafted story with an amazing plot. I loved it!!

Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "The Murder List" by Hank Phillippi Ryan, MacMillan Publishers, August 20, 2019

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Author of "The Murder List" has written a captivating, intriguing, intense, edgy, and thought-provoking novel. The Genres for this novel are Suspense and Fiction. The novel has a realistic feel to it.  The timeline for the novel is set in the present and goes back 6 years. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.

This reminds me of several of the courtroom dramas that have been on television such as "Law and Order", "Perry Mason", Columbo" and more.  I could easily see "The Murder List" being made into a TV series or movie. I appreciate the author's research and intriguing legal information.

Rachel North is a law student that seems to be sandwiched in between her husband a well know Defense Attorney, and a top aggressive Prosecuting Attorney, who is her mentor for the summer. Both attorneys have an uncomfortable and hostile relationship between them. The two have battled in court before, and it hasn't been pleasant.

A murder case from six years ago is reopened and involves Rachel, her mentor, and her husband. There are twists and turns, suspicions, betrayals, and danger. Will justice be served? Can justice be served? Who is the murderer? I didn't pay close attention to the clues and was in for quite a shock. I highly recommend this intense and suspenseful story.

I always get excited about a new book by Hank Phillippi Ryan! Ms. Ryan never disappoints in her thrillers. They are well plotted, with surprises you don't see coming and therefore can't guess. At the same time, her stories are not overly complicated like some - you won't need a spreadsheet to follow along. I especially like her heroines; they are women you can relate to and understand. The danger feels real as you root for (and sometimes pray for) them.
In this particular book, the protagonist is serving as an aide to a prominent senator while studying to become a lawyer. There are complications involving both of her careers and she doesn’t know who to trust. By the time she figures it out, you will have had a great time with a great book.

I realize that I am in the minority, but while I didn't think this was a bad read, I actually enjoyed most of it, but I did not find it a compelling read at all. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A book by the lovely Hank Phillippi Ryan is always a treat, and this standalone psychological suspense thriller does not disappoint.

Harvard law student Rachel North knows her husband, Jack, is unhappy that she accepted an internship with his rival, Martha Gardiner, but she is stunned when he tries to forbid it. Nonetheless, she proceeds, unaware that the internship will return her to not one, but two cases all three were involved in six years ago. Although she is still haunted by these cases, she thought they were firmly in her past,

The first is a court case in which Rachel served on the jury. Her "guilty" vote was motivated more by worry over missed work than by conviction, a fact she's kept secret. Related is the second case--the unsolved murder of Danielle Zander, Rachel's onetime rival.

Rachel is flattered when Gardiner seems to favor her over the other interns, even as her husband's displeasure grows. But as Rachel questions Gardiner's motives and honesty, she turns to Jack for support.

Ryan skillfully navigates different points of view and time periods, building suspense and making the reader wonder who can be trusted. The shocking ending will surprise most readers. #NetGalley #TheMurderList

THE MURDER LIST
Pulled between puppet masters, a puppet may suffer tangled or even broken strings — whom to trust? Where to find allies? It’s all very treacherous. As lawyers fight to win, guilt or innocence becomes a secondary issue. The plot was so compelling that after I went to bed tired, I got back up because I couldn't leave the story . . . and the ending? I did NOT see that coming!
This may be one I'll have to reread, as a college professor once prescribed for "any book worth reading,” not that it's unclear the first time, but rather that it's worth savoring and admiring the craft. How did she do that so well? It’s an art!
Characters are strong, compelling, and memorable, but I was troubled by the realization that I didn’t find any of them likeable, and I missed that aspect. Then I widened the scope of the quest and found something to like: “a duck flapped in the Charles . . . the iridescent mallard and then the dusky female slash off into the sky.” Hurrah for the ducks! . . . and good books!
Fair warning, begin reading when you have a fairly clear calendar.

WOW!!! I really don't know how to review this book, as I don't want to ruin it for someone else! I was very confused through the whole story, but that' wasn't a bad thing. There is a murder in the beginning. I wrongly assumed that would be the central connection throughout, but nooooo. That one actually just served a small part as the story moved on to become a top-notch cat and mouse thrill-ride featuring 2 VERY competitive, excellent lawyers and an intern, who just happens to be married to one of the 2 lawyers. We then learn about a SECOND murder, this one a cold-case that all 3 played a part in back in the day. Through a series of flash-backs and present day interaction we race to a conclusion that I NEVER saw coming. Ms. Ryan does a masterful job of wavering back and forth with "who's the villain?" Martha? Jack? I highly recommend this one and can't wait for more!!
Thank to Hank Phillippi Ryan, NetGalley and Forge Books for this ARC!!
I will also review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble and social media on August 20th.

Another outstanding book from Hank Phillippi Ryan!! The Murder List is part legal thriller, part domestic thriller and part murder mystery...with an ending that will shock you! Hank, in real life, is an investigative reporter which, to me, shows in the fast pace of this book, There's no chance to get bored in the middle of a long narrative, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
When the book opens, Rachel and Jack are married. Jack is a defense attorney and Rachel a law student. They plan on becoming partners after Rachel passes the bar. The problems start when Rachel gets an internship with Boston's top prosecutor. Hank masterfully moves through time using alternating points of view until the stunning end. You may think you know what's going on....but think again!
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel is a law student interning for the summer for the DA’s office. Not a bad job except it puts her opposite her husband, who is also a lawyer. On top of this, Rachel’s boss wants to reopen a cold case Rachel is familiar with. Rachel used to work in a senators office and one of the staffers was murdered. There were many suspicions, was the senator guilty, his wife, or someone else? Rachel is pulled back into the case and old memories come up.

When I heard about this book, I was very excited to read it. I was not disappointed. Throughout the entire book you learn little clues. Despite these clues I did not see the ending coming. I was shocked and I needed to reflect back on the book to see what clues I missed. I would highly recommend this book!

The Murder List by Hank Phillippi Ryan is a must-read! A super intense page-turner that boasts complex characters and a forward-moving plot that will have you staying up past your bedtime to finish. Those are the best kinds of books, right?

Here’s the scoop:

Law student Rachel North will tell you, without hesitation, what she knows to be true. She’s smart, she’s a hard worker, she does the right thing, she’s successfully married to a faithful and devoted husband, a lion of Boston’s defense bar, and her internship with the Boston DA’s office is her ticket to a successful future.

Problem is–she’s wrong. And in this cat and mouse game–the battle for justice becomes a battle for survival.

I don’t want to give the whole story away because its best you enter into the novel not knowing what to expect.

Told from alternating timelines of past and present, this is loaded with twists and suspense. I initially thought the actual Murder List was a list of a serial killer but that was incorrect. I am so excited for everyone to read and enjoy this book.

Available on August 20.

Great minds think alike.

And they tend to gravitate toward one another.

Hank Phillippi Ryan has created quite the cat-and-mouse scenario in this one. She's got attorneys set up to out-think, out-maneuver, out-pace one another in this weighty legal bundle tied with loose string that will soon begin to unravel.

Rachel Kirkland is a bit late to the game at age thirty-six stepping into the inner circles of an internship at the Middlesex District Attorney's office. She's set to graduate from Harvard Law School next year. Her life is somewhat complicated in that she's married to Jack Kirkland, the very lawyer involved in a case in which she served as a juror six years ago. Their attraction was instantaneous. Love does set bear traps like that.

To tangle things up even more, Rachel is completing her internship in the office of Martha Gardiner, Jack's arch enemy. He recently lost a case to her and the bitterness is still palatable. The tension is not lost on Rachel who is reminded of this woman's actions on a daily basis. Jack won't leave it alone and Rachel won't drop out of her internship.

Ryan sets up her chapters in a past and present manner entitled with each character's name. The story spins back and forth but doesn't give you a full plate of events of the past. Ryan is holding back on that until we get the remaining courses at the end. Someone is living a lie here and, as readers, we're ready to pin it on any one of the main characters. They all seem to be wearing cologne with a shifty nature. Ryan's gonna make you work it out. And we all enjoy a tightly twisted challenge.

I received a copy of The Murder List through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Forge Publishing and to Hank Phillippi Ryan for the opportunity.

This was my first Hank Phillippi Ryan and I cant wait to read more, I loved the suspense and the characters. I couldn't love the characters more! Every character was so detailed and just enough left out that I wondered if all of the main chapters at one point was the murder but then quickly dismissed the thoughts. This is defiantly a twisted read that will have you guess and rooting for others till the end.
I read a review that said Hank was the master of Character building and I completely agree and cant wait for more!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forge Books for my copy for honest review.

With the Murder List, Hank has dropped us in a world where nothing is as it seems, although she does a great job of convincing us. I loved the husband/wife dynamic, the careful tension between them and Rachel's shifting state of mind - it was so true to life I felt like I was eavesdropping. And what a premise, pitting husband and wife against her new job and boss! My idea of who the villain really was pendulumed throughout the book and you don't see the ending coming until...but I can't tell you that! Clues were woven so carefully when I finished I had to go back to see what I missed and what could be understood differently now that I knew the ending. A perfect read for the mystery lover - save it for a weekend because you won't want to put it down!

Wow! Another awesome book by Hank Philippi Ryan. Kept me interested from the first page to the last. I so did not see how this book was going to end. Highly recommend this book!!!

I am a huge Hank Phillippi Ryan fan, having read all of her books within days of their publications. I was delighted to get a chance to read The Murder List a few days early. Building on the skills she demonstrated in Trust Me, Ryan takes us into the realm of psychological thriller rather than a classic "whodunit". This twisty ride focuses on the complexity of legal gamesmanship and came with an ending that is chillingly unanticipated. Exploring questions of shifting loyalties and the impact of past choices on present relationships, Ryan reminds us that answering how a murder occurs is never enough. The lawyers in The Murder List will need to find out why the crime was committed before they can close the case. Best read when you can clear your calendar and stay with the characters for the whole day!

Definitely a beach read if you're looking for something other than a Rom Com.
The Murder List seems to be a professional goal of public defenders for which to be chosen. These are high profile cases and have a lot of cache attached to them. That said, can I just say someone is Cray-Cray in this book. There are (maybe) villains everywhere. No one is above suspicion. Our judicial system is in more trouble than we all think if there is an ounce of truth to this story. My head was whipping back and forth between trying to decide "who did it" and who is just awful, regardless of the murder. The story will take you back and forth between 6 years, a few legal cases, political shenanigans of the Clinton years nature (even Monica was brought up) and of course, the current murder. If you like lots of suspects and a good dose of misdirection, this is the beach read for you.

This is an ARC provided by NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hank Phillippi Ryan and Forge Books for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel North is a law student who knows that she is smart, hard working and generally does the right thing. She’s happily married to successful defense lawyer, but her internship with the DA’s office is upsetting her marriage; but that’s okay because she thinks she is her ticket to a successful future. The problem is, she’s very wrong, The battle for justice becomes a battle for survival.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect out of this novel because the synopsis is so vague, but I love Ryan’s writing and just had to give it a go anyway! I loved the writing in this novel and how it is all set up going back and forth between all the main characters, as well as between the past and the present. I love that in a novel and this way, we slowly got the story of how Rachel decided to go back to school to be a lawyer. I loved Jack and Rachel, but I didn’t trust them. It felt like they were both hiding something right from the first few pages! This one came at a perfect time for me because my husband and I are on a true crime kick and this one has that sort of feel about it, even though it’s not! I loved the twists, especially the ending! I also loved seeing the cases from both sides of the system and I feel like I learned quite a bit about the process. Definitely recommend giving a try!

Out August 20th!

Murder List may be one of Hank Phillippi Ryan’s best!

As a total coincidence, just prior to receiving this book, I received a jury summons, so this book gave me such a unique perspective of jury trials from both sides. I certainly hope any juries that I serve on are less dramatic.

There are so many layers to this book and it takes awhile to sort them out. However, a rhythm is soon established and the book flows. Not only is it written during the present, but there are also chapters that go back to 6 years earlier. In addition, the story is told from different perspectives, Rachel, Jack and Martha. Then, there are the connections between the three —Jack and Martha are lawyers and Rachel is “almost a lawyer.” Jack and Martha are adversaries. Jack and Rachel are married. Rachel works for Martha.

I was anticipating more action initially, but the story continued ramp up until I couldn’t stop reading. Just when I thought I knew which side some of the characters were supporting, suddenly a piece of evidence would change the dynamics. As the book was coming to a conclusion, I had to stop and reevaluate the actions and conversations of several characters.

I love the complexity of the storyline. This is not a simple, straightforward tale about lawyers or jury trials. This is a book that makes you think and one I would highly recommend.

Wow- I did not see that ending coming!

I’m not going to lie- this book took me a minute to get into it. There were a lot of characters to follow and it skipped around to before/now, but the complex storyline and character development paid off. Sometimes I appreciate a story that makes me wait it out before completely pulling me in and this book did just that.

Rachel North, a law student, who is married to a successful lawyer is doing an internship with her husband’s rival. She’s hoping to learn valuable information from the prosecution side to give intel to her husband’s defense and provide an advantage for their future partnership together. What she finds is that she’s entered into a situation of possible payback for cases her husband has won and questionable legal strategies from both sides. This is a brilliant game of cat and mouse and a must read for August!

This was a clever and suspenseful legal thriller that kept me guessing until the end. And man- what a satisfying ending!

Thank you Netgalley and Forge Books for my advance reading copy.