Leila who loses her mom at the age of 18 takes on the task of raising her 11-year-old sister she will let nothing get in her way. Life moves forward for both, and Leila now finds herself quite successful. She is still very close with her sister and there is nothing she won't do. So, on a given morning her brother-in-law calls and ask Leila to please take Max to school she thinks nothing of it. After picking up Max she is faced with a work crisis and her mind is focused on solving this situation as she is always good at solving problems. Leila gets to work and solves the crisis, and everything is going well until she gets a call from her brother-in-law that the school has called and mention that Max is not at school and suddenly, she realizes that she has committed a terrible act. The majority of this story is the trial that takes place as a result of this accident or was it really an accident? This is definitely a page turner; you cannot read the pages fast enough to see what happens next with the story building up to ending you do not see coming. Gives this a read and you will not be disappointed. Be warned there are some triggers in this book concerning a young child's death.

Next of Kin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Thriller
Format: Physical Book
Date Published: 9/20/22
Author: Kia Abdullah
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 384
GR: 4.30

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and HarperCollins and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: 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. His son’s nursery has called to ask where little Max is. 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 IS ABOUT TO COME TRUE. 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…

My Thoughts: Just wow. This was intense, tense, gripping, distressing, and tragic, all of the elements of a brilliant thriller. Just a warning, there is a child perceived death, but I believe it was done with such grace and sensitivity, I was able to read it. The twists were unpredictable, which was refreshing as most of the time I can guess the twists. Then the ending was fireworks explosive! The story is broken down into three parts, the event, the trial, and then after. I left the synopsis as vague as possible as it is better to go into this blind. The characters are well developed, with multifaceted depth, tension, deceitful, and not very likable, written by design. The author’s writing was complex, suspenseful, twisty, intriguing, and kept me engaged the entire book. This would make an excellent book for a book club discussion. This is the most gripping, riveting legal thriller that I have read in awhile and I have read a lot of thrillers this year. I cannot recommend this enough, it releases tomorrow!

Oh this was a very intense read of sibling rivalry, jealously and resentment. It was a thrill ride from beginning to end and the author did a phenomenal job at keeping me hooked into the story.

This book was interesting and very well-written. I would likely want to read more from this author and will recommend this to friends.

Legal Thriller With Most Explosions Outside The Courtroom. This is a British legal thriller where the trial actually ends with about a quarter or so of the book left to go... and *then* the explosions start. By the end of the trial, you think you know what happened. And then there is the Detective, who, like in V for Vendetta, just isn't quite satisfied with the answers he's been given. So he continues to poke around a bit... and in the process the reader gets put through a shock and awe campaign that would wow even the Iraqis circa 2004. Truly an excellent tale very smartly told but covering topics which make a lot of us cringe at - which is one surefire sign of a tale that *needs* to be told. Truly the only potential negative mark here is for those readers who like every single plot thread tied up neatly in a nice little bow by the end of the book. This book... is more messy and "true to reality" than that. Still, partly *because* of that abrupt ending, this book is thus very much recommended.

Leila Syed receives a frantic call from her brother-in-law just as she is leaving for work. He has a work emergency and needs to go in immediately, and needs her to come over and pick up her nephew Max and drop him off at daycare on her way to work. She reluctantly agrees, even though it will be taking her out of her way to do so. Max is bundled into his rear-facing car seat and put into the backseat of her car, right behind the driver's seat. But thanks to a perfect storm of events, Leila forgets to drop Max off and leaves Max sitting in her hot car, until the daycare contacted Andrew to let him know his son was never dropped off that morning. By then, it was too late. What follows is a grueling investigation and courtroom drama that pits family members against each other, and leaves people wondering... "Did Leila leave Max in her car on purpose, or what really happened?"

I am still reeling from the final twist of the book. I love this author's books, so I was prepared for there to be a twist at the end, but she hit me with several right there at once. This would make a perfect book club read. There are a lot of discussion topics I could see that book clubs would find appealing. This is perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult & Lisa Genova. If you want a book that will leave you thinking, one that will stay with you long after you have finished it, one that you want to tell everyone about, then you have found it.

Oh my gosh, Kia, what have you done?

Next of Kin had me gasping one moment and in tears the next! Kudos to Kia Abdullah for being able to write about a sensitive, emotional topic.

Leila has only ever wanted to take care of her sister, Yasmin. So when she's asked to pick up her nephew as a favor to her brother-in-law, she doesn't hesitate. But she forgot to take him to nursery school, with devastating consequences. Now she is torn apart by her actions and the need to feel guilt. Her sister, Yasmin, can't even look at her after what she's done. And now everything will hang on 12 jurors.

I felt so invested in every one of the characters and this story made me think about what it would feel like to be in any one of their shoes. The moral and ethical questions it raises are just beyond what I ever want to be presented with. And a good book does just that: it leaves us thinking about the characters and their actions long after we've read it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360, HQ for an advance reader's copy.

I love legal thrillers, and NEXT OF KIN hit the mark! Leila was supposed to drop off her nephew Max at daycare on her way to work. Busy and distracted, she doesn't give Max another thought until her brother-in-law calls in a panic to tell her Max's daycare reported that he hadn't shown up.

Leila races to her car, but it's too late. Soon she finds herself front and center in a high profile courtroom drama that tears the family to shreds. However, as the case progresses, it soon becomes clear that there is much more to the case than what lies on the surface. Tense, thrilling, and with some jaw dropping twists that I never could have predicted. My only gripe is the extraordinarily long chapters, but as the book progressed, I was so riveted I stopped noticing!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this early read. Publishes September 20, 2022.

Oh my. I was hesitant to start this book, knowing the subject content. How horrific! But curiosity won out so start it, I did. Once I started it, everything else was background to this story. It’s told so well, without dwelling on the saddest parts & the twists that you’ll never see coming will throw you for a loop. This is a great, fast paced read that holds your attention & then some. Five fabulous stars!!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

It is a testament to this author’s talent that I, a boy mom, could tear through this book. Tragic and twisty every step of the way, I savored every page. My favorite thriller of 2022.

Next of Kin
by Kia Abdullah
Thank You Harper 360 and NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
Holy crow!! I loved this book. It was mind-blowing how this book just sets you into a place where you just use some fall-out of your chair, as well as your mind. Brilliantly written. I had to savor this one, not rush, and make every bit of the shocking last. I will revisit this one, and smack it down in hardcover to some friends.
Kia Abudullah you hit this home run out of the best yet. Bravo!!!

Kia Abdullah knows how to write a heart wrenching, page turning, crazy legal thriller!!

Next of Kin follows Leila Syeds court case of accidentally leaving her nephew, Max, in a locked car on the hottest day in the summer resulting in his death. This situation is any parent/caregivers worst nightmare. Leila’s sister, Yasmin, who was raised by Leila is now torn apart with grief and hurt at her sister’s fatal mistake. Sounds straightforward? Think again, there’s countless twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I would highly recommend Next of Kin and will be picking up Abdullah’s backlist right away!!

There are legal thrillers…then there are legal THRILLERS!

WOW! This book was equally powerful both in and out of the courtroom.

A successful business woman, Leila is starting her day like every other. As she is about to step outside leaving for work she gets a call from her brother-in-law pleading for help. He explains he needs to run into work immediately and asks Leila if she can drop off his son Max at the nursery. Not a problem. Leila adores her nephew and easily agrees.

But on the way Leila receives a call of her own from work and needs to get to the office stat! What a day this has turned into. Her thoughts are now on work, not on her nephew sitting in the backseat.

A devastating, horrific mistake. But the police believe otherwise, sensing there was more to this tragedy. Now this family will be torn apart in their private lives as well as in the courtroom.

Kia Abdullah writes a highly compelling and unsettling legal thriller. The court room action was taut. The characters…heartbreaking.

So many times I had to pause for a moment to think….feel. After all, isn’t that what we all search for in our books?

Simply outstanding! I have one more book from this talented author on my kindle and I cannot wait to get to it!

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360, HQ

Truly remarkable. This was a fully immersive story that had me gasping, my stomach turning, my mind racing and I wasn’t able to start another book for a couple of days as these characters stayed in my head and my heart. My car gives me a warning every time I exit to lookin the back seat and I have read other novels concerning children dying in an overheated car. This plot starts with the death and grief for the family. Then it becomes an almost second novel. Please read it, it’s the best of the year. I still think of these not particularly sympathetic characters and I will probably read it again later in the year.

Leila receives a call from her brother in law, asking her to drop off his son Max at nursery school. A distracted Leila drives to work instead. Hours later, when Max never arrives at school, Leila realizes what she’s done, and the tragic outcome results in Leila’s arrest. Next of Kin is a relentless thriller, with spellbinding courtroom drama and tension-filled family dynamics. You’ll find yourself surprisingly rooting for Leila as the plot unfolds, as characters are torn between seeking justice or vengeance. Crisply written, this is a winner! I received an arc of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review,

This book hooked me from the very beginning and never let me go. The pacing was amazing! Unwanted to flip forward to learn what was happening because I couldn't t read it fast enough. However, I refrained and I am glad I did. The story unfolded on pace and I gasped and cried just like the author wanted me to. An amazing read!

I have been hearing great things about this author and was excited to be approved to read and review NEXT OF KIN.

What would you do if you asked your sister to take your son to nursery and she forgets him in the hot car, and he’s left to die?

I read this in one and a half sittings. I absolutely could not put it down. The writing is stellar. The characters are complex and well fleshed out. The topic is every parent’s worst nightmare and I found myself in tears several times. The dynamics between the sisters was so complicated and sometimes heartbreaking. I felt so many emotions reading this story. There are some gut punching twists towards the end, and I had to put the book down several times and take a breath.

Overall, this book is brilliant, and heart-wrenching and I was completely invested in the story from beginning to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC.

My first read by this author and I'm happy to say I freaking loved it!
Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah is a phenomenal legal thriller story.
Brilliant writing, complex storytelling with a compulsive and gripping narrative.
The pacing was perfect and kept me enthralled and intrigued till the very end.
Characters were so interesting and Leila's story kept me glued to the pages.
Looking for your next page-turning book? Grab Next of Kin!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

HQ,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my blog, platforms, BookBub, B&N, Kobo and Waterstone closer to pub date.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Next of Kin.

I enjoy legal thrillers, as long as it's not too legal, you know what I mean?

Just a bit to get me reading and turning the pages, sort of like an extended Law & Order episode.

Next of Kin is an interesting story, almost ripped from the headlines, so to speak, featuring two sisters, their complex relationship, their personal grievances, jealousies and sorrow, and a dead child.

When Leila's nephew ends up dead after a horrific mistake, the sisters are pitted against each other in court. And bitter truths eventually come to light.

Was it a mistake? Is Leila's ambition and cold demeanor an excuse to accuse her of an unspeakable crime?

But, things are not always what they seem and both sisters have been hiding secrets from their spouses. And from each other.

There are standard tropes to be found here; Leila and her husband are both incredibly attractive; so is Leila's younger sister, who is a charming flirt.

Leila is a tough, smart business woman and in our patriarchal society, she's punished for qualities a man in the same position would be praised for, not surprisingly.

Everyone is hiding something from each other; Leila and her sister, their spouses, no one is reliable so the narrative can't be trusted. We have to rely on Leila, and we soon find out we're unable to.

I'm not a fan of this literary device; purposely hiding facts from the reader, but this isn't a standard mystery where the detective pounds the pavement looking for a killer or killers.

This is a domestic thriller so you expect certain details to be withheld.

I liked the writing, the prose flowed, and the tone and style made it easy to follow the story.

I didn't like the sisters, though I didn't dislike them. I found the sisters too shallowly and typically characterized, including their husbands, who are mostly in the background, though they make fatal mistakes of their own that jumpstart the action.

Also, I'm not sure how believable it is for a father to automatically assume his child is sick because he knows the signs but has not confirmed it with a medical professional?

I know I would run straight to the doctor but that's me.

That strained my ability to suspend disbelief a bit but I was curious to see how the rest of the story would unfold so I let it go.

Overall, I liked the pacing of the story, the twists at the end were soap opera-ish but at that point, I was waiting for it.

I appreciate the opportunity to read Next of Kin, and I would read the author's next book.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper 360, HQ for the copy of Next Of Kin. This was a fabulous book and every sentence made me want to keep reading until the end. Leila and Yasmin have a complex, realistic relationship that made me care about both of them. The gripping story was totally immersing and the shocks just kept coming. If you’re looking for a book that won’t let you look away, this is it!