Madison Rivera, a Harvard law student, lands the internship of her dreams working for Judge Kathryn Conroy. The only problem is, Madison's brother Danny just got falsely arrested on drug charges and Judge Conroy is the judge in his case. If she admits this, then chances are, the offer will be rescinded - but if she omits the information on her application and they discover it anyway when they do the background check, she would be guilty of perjury.. There is no good solution. When Danny goes missing after accusing the judge of corruption, Madison’s quest for answers brings her deep into the judge’s glamorous world. Is Kathryn Conroy a mentor, a victim, or a criminal? Is she trying to help Madison or use her as a pawn? And why is somebody trying to kill her?

This book was excellent. It kept me on the edge of my seat, as Madison got drawn into Judge Conroy's life, and therefore by association, into the fringes of the mob. The stakes were high, and there was non-stop action and suspense, as Madison tries to find her brother and free him, and as she tries to determine exactly what side of the law Judge Conroy is on. On the flip side, Judge Conroy is trying to get away and is learning just how long their arms can reach and just how far they will go. The story is told first in Madison's POV, and then in Kathryn's, and Kathryn's goes back and forth from past and present so you see how she got mixed up with the mob to begin with. This is perfect for fans of John Grisham, Joseph Finder, and David Baldacci. I highly recommend it!

The Intern was a decent read for me. It was entertaining, and there were some great tense moments throughout the book. I really liked the flawed characters and their relationship to each other, and I really liked how the book ended.

Where it fell a little short for me was the way the book seemed to drag in the middle. I would have hoped for more of that tension throughout the entire book. I also didn't care for some of the dialogue, which felt awkward.

Overall, I still enjoyed the book and have seen some great reviews, so check this out if it sounds interesting to you! I'd give this 3.5 stars.

Michelle Campbell can do no wrong in my book! I absolutely devoured this one! When I was approved a few months back, I knew I had to save this for my vacation in Hawaii. I wanted to give it my undivided attention, sipping an umbrella drink and getting lost in a story. I am SO glad I did!

The writing was effortlessly good…the story felt really fresh but also incredibly timely. I LOVED the DC setting and had the House of Cards soundtrack playing in my mind in the background. I loved the slow burn build to the crazy final 1/3 of the book.

I loved the fact you could not trust anyone, and I freaking loved the ending! SO WELL DONE!!!

The Intern is the most recent release from Michele Campbell. I have greatly enjoyed some of Campbell's past works, so was highly anticipating this release. Thanks to Macmillan Audio, I was granted access to the audiobook and recommend that format. Sarah Mollo-Christensen's narration fit perfectly. Especially as the drama picked up, she had me at the edge of my seat.

In this story we are getting two perspectives, Madison Rivera, a Harvard Law student, and Judge Kathryn Conroy, a full-time Judge and professor at the Law School. Madison is in one of Judge Conroy's classes, but she has looked up to her for much longer than that. In fact, Judge Conroy's speech at a career day Madison attended inspired her to enter Law School in the first place. Because of this, when Judge Conroy pulls Madison aside after class and urges her to apply for an open intern position at Conroy's office, Madison cannot believe her luck.

Unfortunately, Madison has some family issues that present a huge conflict of interest. Her younger brother is currently working his way through the court process, after being arrested in a drug bust, and Conroy is his assigned Judge.

Madison, scared to reveal these details and risk her internship, hides the truth in her application. This omission has Madison on edge. She fears that like a house of cards, the entire thing, all her hard work and dreams, are just going to come crashing down around her. Unbeknownst to Madison though, Judge Conroy has some major secrets of her own and she's about to draw Madison in way over her head.

I ended up having an absolute blast with this one. Initially, the first few chapters, I will admit, I was on the fence. I would say that this requires a little patience in the very beginning. When you aren't quite sure where it is going to go and whether or not you should be liking these characters.

Rest assured, Campbell is doing her thing. She's building it up, until there will be no doubt, you should be liking these characters and you will care. I became so invested in this story. I hardly looked up after the action really kicks off. I felt once the pace picked up, it skyrocketed. I really enjoyed learning about these characters. Both Madison and Judge Conroy were very well developed, although I will say the focus was definitely more on the Judge than the intern.

In fact, we even get a past perspective for Conroy, which shines light on how she ended up in the precarious situation she finds herself in, and ultimately pulls Madison into. It was the back-and-forth between the two women though that I found truly engaging. I ended up loving both of them, but when you think about it, they were both quite similar and I think Judge Conroy felt that too. I think that's why she felt like Madison could handle what she was throwing at her.

Once you find out what is happening behind the scenes, the intensity continues to grow as well. As I approached the end, I started to feel a little desperate. I didn't see a solid resolution for either of the women.
I love how Campbell pulled me in and had me stressing over these characters. It was so well played. I went on a journey with these two and had a great time doing it.

I would recommend this one to anyone who has enjoyed Campbell's work in the past, or to those Readers who enjoy Thrillers featuring a cat-and-mouse format. Also recommend if you enjoy Thrillers in a legal setting, or anything involving the shadier side of Boston politics. After the slow start, I was tickled with where this went, how intense it got and how much I enjoyed it.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I cannot wait to see what Campbell is going to deliver next!

The paths of two strong women cross: they both need each other and also use each other in their personal quest.
   Madison is a second year law student who has worked hard to get to where she is from where she was. Family is most important to her and her spot at Harvard Law comes in handy when her brother gets pulled in on a drug raid.
   Judge Katherine Conroy, a teacher at Harvard, sees a spark in Madison and tells her to apply for the much desired internship with her. The spark that she sees, while Madison is certainly one of the brightest stars in the class, has more to do with how the judge can use her.
   Once she gets the internship she discovers Judge Conroy has her brother’s case and there appears a conflict of interest. If Madison discloses this conflict she’ll loose the internship but if she stays she can really learn what really happened at this drug raid by being part of the judge’s team. what does she choose? Family of future?
   Madison soon discovers the judge has a long history with a few seamy characters she’d like to forget and that’s why Madison has been chosen.
   Both women are sly, devious and determined and the narrative is told in their two voices which adds more interest to the reader as their similarities evolve in the story.
   A page tuner.

3.5 ⭐️

An entertaining legal thriller that is action packed. The majority of the book was closer to a 4, but the ending got a bit ridiculous for me. Still, I enjoyed the different plot lines.

I have not read a book like this before. From this author or category. It was a nice way to branch out. I loved it 4 stars for me. I would love to read again and read more from this author. My favorite part would just be woman supporting woman throughout the book. It wasnt a bad scary kinda thriller it was more like edge of your seat kinda thriller like having to know what is going to happen. I recommend this book. Thank you to Net Galley for this opportunity.

QUICK TAKE: it's kinda clunky and there are some plot holes you could drive a truck through, but I liked it. It's an easy read, it's a fun cat-and-mouse thriller, and I had a good time with it.

First time reading Michele Campbell and it won't be my last! This book drew me in very quickly and had me on the edge of my seat to see how this would all play out! A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I made it about 25% before I decided to call it quits.

Personally, I just didn’t connect with the characters or the overall story arch. The pacing was a bit too slow for me.

I will recommend this book to those I know that enjoy this type of novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an opportunity to read an advanced copy.

This book started out slow for me and then picked up, but unfortunately, I never really got invested in the plot or the characters. There was quite a bit of character and backstory building before we got to the main action of the book. Usually I enjoy that build up, but for some reason, it just seemed to drag for me. Perhaps it was because a lot of it just seemed just too far-fetched. I also just kept waiting for the legal part of "legal thriller" to kick in and it never did. Maybe it's me, but I don't think you can label a book a legal thriller based just on the fact that the main characters are a judge and a law-student. I expected a court-case or a trial or something beyond a potential corrupt judge. This was more a cat-and-mouse game that I just couldn't get into. So many others loved this book though so I do think it is just my personal preference!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The ending of this book really came through!! Such a great suspenseful read, it really had me second guessing everything and everyone.

A Fast Paced Legal Thriller

Madison Rivera, a top Harvard law student, is thrilled to be offered an internship by Federal Judge Kathryn Convoy. Convoy has been an inspiration to Madison and is one of the reasons she chose law.
There is a problem, however, Madison’s younger brother, Danny has been arrested on a federal drug charge and Convoy is the judge. Unwilling to give up the intern position, Madison hides the fact from the judge.

Madison’s position is complicated by the fact that her mother is pressuring her to help Danny. Then Danny disappears after being forced to plead guilty and accuses the judge of corruption. Madison is now faced with a dilemma. Is Judge Convoy corrupt? What is at the bottom of Danny’s case?

This legal thriller is fast paced and filled with tension and suspense. It’s hard to put down. The story is told from two points of view: Madison and Convoy. I liked having both women tell their own stories. You can see how Madison and particularly Convoy grow during the novel. My only criticism is the number of characters. Reading fast, I sometimes found it hard to remember how all the characters fit into the story. However, the book was a great read.

Thank to the publisher and Net Galley for this review copy.

This is my first book by Michele Campbell but I know it wont be my last. This was written so well. I don't know why but I love interns and anything in that realm.

It’s not the book, it’s me. I’ve tried to read this 2 times and I’m just not interested. Which kills me because it sounds like such a great book.

Hope to be able to come back another time and try to read it again!

DNF 30%

Although the title "The Intern" suggests a focus on Madison's role, it is evident that "The Judge" would have been a more fitting title, as the story primarily centers around her.

With a narrative that unfolds in dual timelines, we are transported deep into Judge Conroy's past, delving into her upbringing and the formidable challenges she had to conquer to attain her current position.

The story was intriguing and the plot was really what pushed this one forward-- very fast paced!

Ten years ago, Federal Judge Kathryn Conroy spoke at Madison’s career day. The Judge was someone she greatly admired and Madison was eager to follow in her footsteps. Now top of her class at Harvard law, Madison not only has the the Judge as one of her professors, she also has the opportunity to be an intern in her chambers. There’s only one thing holding her back, her brother has just been arrested on a drug charge and the Judge is on his case. Danny insists he’s been set up by dirty cops and his lawyer and even goes so far to say the Judge Conroy is involved. Could it possibly be true? Madison takes the internship, but is hiding her relationship to Danny. As she starts to investigate, all does not look kosher in the chambers of Kathryn Conroy. Could Madison have been wrong about her all these years. Kathryn takes Madison under her wing, but is she really a friend or a foe? A fast paced thriller that will grab you at every turn. This was a dual read/listen for me and Sarah Mollo-Christensen narrates perfectly throughout. Thank you to St. Martins Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for and ARC and ALC of this book.

This is a fun twisty thriller that constantly keeps you off balance by the characters unpredictable reactions to their ever-changing circumstances. I really enjoy that feeling of never being entirely sure what's going on and letting it play out. It does just that with a few surprises in later chapters and a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audiobook and the found the narration very well done.

The Intern by Michele Campbell was a fun beginner thriller. Not many suspenseful moments but a couple great twists tied it all together! I highly suggest for anyone interested in a more political thriller and less of a domestic or psychological thriller. I will definitely read more by this author and highly enjoyed my time reading.

The Intern by Michele Campbell is a skillfully plotted, intense, fast-paced and highly entertaining legal thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed reading every page of it. A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press, the author and NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy of the novel.

The Intern is told from dual perspectives and deals with family, class, ambition, blackmail and murder.

The story starts when Madison Rivera, a second year Harvard law student is tapped for an internship with Judge Kathryn Conroy. Someone she has admired and idolized since the judge was still a prosecutor and spoke to her class years ago. Kathryn is honestly the very reason why Madison went into law.

But things take quite the unexpected turn when Madison’s problematic younger brother Danny is arrested on the suspicion of selling drugs and judge Conroy is assigned to preside over his case. This puts Madison in a really precarious position. After Danny accuses the judge of being corrupt he goes missing. Madison’s search for answers to uncover the truth pulls her into the crosshairs of the judge’s entrancing life, but all is not what it seems to be. There is a seedy underworld of dirty cops and criminal activity that judge Conroy is caught up in. Who can Madison trust and is Kathryn Conroy really who she thought, a mentor or is she just another corrupt criminal? As these two dance around each other in a vicious game of cat and mouse will they be able to rescue each other or will one of them windup dead?

The Intern is electrifying and pulse-pounding. This amazing legal thriller will keep you up turning page after page with all of the twist and turns throughout the book. If you haven’t added this book to your reading list you definitely should!