Believability: 1 star
Entertainment: 4 stars
Overall Rating: 3 stars

Wowza this was a ride! As part of the Boston legal community, this book appealed to me from the jump. Ambitious law students and lawyers, corrupt judges, dirty cops, criminal setups, and mob bosses?! Yes, please! However, it took me a bit to get invested and the story was definitely a bit... out there!

I really liked that the novel was done in parts and alternated between Madison and Kathryn. This format provided a ton of backstory and kept the story really moving forward.

I definitely had to suspend belief to allow myself to fully enjoy this novel. Some things were too disjointed to really make sense - a super paranoid, security-conscious judge allows a near-complete stranger full access to her house to CAT SIT a few days after meeting her? What? A judge internship is awarded to a student the day after they apply? Um, no. But, again, allowing these things to just be, really allowed me to immerse myself in the drama and entertainment of the story.

I really liked the narrator, Sarah Mollo-Christensen. She had two very distinct voices for Judge Conroy and Maddy and they were flawless. I will definitely be on the lookout for more novels narrated by her.

If you love a good legal and mob thriller, this is one I absolutely recommend. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the copy.

THE INTERN • Michele Campbell • Pub Date: October 3, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I have not read anything close to a legal thriller in a loooong time, so this was a great change of pace!

(Tweaked) Goodreads Synopsis: Madison Rivera lands the internship of a lifetime working for Judge Kathryn Conroy, but Madison has a secret that could destroy her career - her troubled younger brother Danny has been arrested, and Conroy is the judge on his case. Naturally, this did not come up during the interview process. When Danny goes missing after accusing the judge of corruption, Madison’s search for answers brings her deep into the judge’s world. Who 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? As the two women circle each other in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game, will they save each other, or will betrayal leave one of them dead?

While there was nothing new or stand-out with this book, it is certainly one that readers will fly through. Once you get past the slower start, the plot really gets moving! The plot certainly carried the story too, as MC Madison was a rather bland, disinteresting character. She was a 2L (aka second year law student) with no real experience (or common sense whatsoever), but she is somehow able to outwit all these criminal masterminds? Luckily, Judge Conroy brought some fun and depth, so thank goodness for two POVs!

TL;DR: I do not think this book will be one that sticks with me for too long, but it was a fun read that could easily pull anyone out of a reading slump given its fast-paced nature!

What happens when you land the internship of your dreams with someone you have idolized but they don’t turn out to.be who you think they are. Madison is a go-getter pursuing a career in Law and is handpicked by Judge Kathryn Conroy for an internship. They both need each other for different reasons and they are on a wild ride together. Madison is trying to help her brother get out of jail for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and Kathryn is fighting for freedom from a corrupt lifestyle she did not choose. This book is full of twist and turns and these characters lean on each other to accomplish their goals in the end.

THANK YOU and happy early Pub Day to @michelecampbell & @stmartinspress for the eARC of The Intern!

For everyone who wants to get into spooky season but might be a lil scared to dive into intense thrillers/horror, this one is for you! Think of it as a light thriller 😉🔪

I’m always curious to pick up law school related books, since that’s currently the world I’m living in, and I found The Intern to be on point and engaging!

The Intern started off with some Gossip Girl-esque drama vibes but quickly dove into the heart of the story. When I’m trying to unravel the mystery before the reveal at the end, I know I’m into it and The Intern had me theorizing all kinds of plots throughout!

In the end, I was left with a few unanswered questions, but nothing that made this read unenjoyable.

Overall, The Intern is perfect for a thrilling, spooky season read!

LIKES:
👥 Dual POV
⏳ Dual timeline
📕 Fast paced
🔪 Thriller
💵 Reflection on class privilege
👩‍👧‍👦 Family dynamics
🩸 Murder mystery
⚖️ Organized crime

I couldn't put this book down! I got unexpectedly invested in the story and the "what would I do" of it all, and it was a nice departure from the typical domestic thrillers.

Well, this is quite the wild ride. Law student Madison Rivera is thrilled to get a coveted internship with Judge Kathryn Conroy, her idol. But, of course, Madison declines to tell the judge one "minor" fact--her brother Danny was recently arrested, and his case is before Judge Conroy. Because why would you just come clean with someone who could probably help you? Instead, please open yourself up to utter stress, the dangers of lying on security clearance forms, and possible expulsion. I was so not here for the beginning of this book and the fact that it was filled with so much miscommunication and lying. I dislike those tropes immensely!

Luckily, this thriller picks up and turns into a far-fetched but quite readable tale. Danny goes missing, and Madison does not know if Kathryn is a friend or foe. It's a story of corruption, abuse of power, family ties, and good versus evil. Emotions run high and danger is around every corner. If you can suspend disbelief for a bit, it's an enjoyable read.

I finished The Intern yesterday and after ruminating on it for the night it lands around 3.75⭐️.

It’s an easy and quick read with a TON of drama from start to finish. I enjoyed some of the characters stories more than others and found the ending to be solid. However, there was some inconsistency and moments of implausibility that I struggled with and that dropped it down on the rating scale.

I tried the audio at first and didn’t like it. There were pauses and inflections done at the wrong time which distracted from the story and the main character felt to breathy for the type of person she was supposed to be. I switched to my physical book halfway through and enjoyed it a lot more that way.

The Intern
By Michele Campbell
Oct. 3, 2023
St. Martins Press
* thriller
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
A young Harvard law student falls under the spell of a charismatic judge in this timely and thrilling novel about class, ambition, family and murder.
While this isn’t my favorite by this author, there was enough intrigue to keep me reading,
4 star

Madison Rivera is at the top of her Harvard Law School class when her idol, Judge Kathryn Conroy offers her an internship. Madison accepts but is hiding a secret that she conveniently leaves off her background check. Judge Conroy has her own ulterior motive for hiring Madison, keeping her own secrets close to the vest.

This story takes us to into dark side of the legal system. Told by Madison, trying to believe in her family but trusting her mentor. In Kathryn’s turn, her younger years are exposed, carrying over to her current caseloads. Behind closed doors so many secrets are slowly brought to light. Both characters are realistic. Madison is young, idealistic, ready to make a difference. Kathryn is seasoned, hard, victim or villain? The beginning I found on the slower side, but when I got into the storyline, it moved fast. Enjoyed the character development of Kathryn, hard at first, but her edges softening. You could feel Madison’s underlying turmoil. Emotions that I didn’t expect when I started reading came out. Ending was somewhat predictable, but in no way lessened the storyline. The secondary characters are what you would expect…seedy, shady, most are unlikable. If you enjoy legal thrillers, I recommend this book. Ms. Campbell’s background and expertise comes shines thru. I’ve been a fan since It’s Always The Husband.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

The Intern is a fabulously thrilling read. It hooks you in from the start and keeps you guessing and on edge right to the end. The action is never unbelievable and flows nicely. I didn’t want to put it down until I could see how it would end.
The characters are exactly what you desire in a great legal thriller - Devious, sly and morally ambiguous. The family dynamics and drama is on full display. The criminals are dark and twisted. Everyone lies and no one is truly who they seem to be. The twists and turns abound and you won’t see the end coming.

I have posted this review on Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5776718715

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwNktzZrUFB/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

And Amazon.

* I reviewed this arc for BookSparks / Book Tour.

This book was not for me, but I have to say that it is very well written and engaging, and I think others will love it.

Madison is a law student who lands a prestigious internship with a respected federal Judge. Madison has a secret. Her brother was arrested, and her boss was the Judge on the case. Her brother goes missing after accusing the Judge of being corrupt, and Madison must get to the bottom of it.

My biggest issue with the book, and again, a personal issue is that I am an attorney. I went to law school. I work in the field of criminal law. Little unrealistic things that are not an issue in thriller books were a huge distraction for me. Overall, I would still recommend this book to the thriller lovers out there, I just ended up putting it down halfway through because I could feel myself getting irrationally annoyed.

Was some of this a little far fetched? Yes.
Was some of the dialogue unnatural? Yes.
Did I enjoy this read and feel invested in the characters? Also yes.

This is my 3rd book by Michele Campbell and I think the best executed of those I’ve read.

Solid legal thriller.

There is just something that hooks me when it comes to legal thrillers and/or procedural thrillers, and this one had it all!

✨Fast-paced ✅
✨Morally Grey Character(s)✅
✨Corruption ✅
✨Familial Drama✅
✨Law/Courtroom Activity✅
✨Idolization✅


I can’t even count how many times I audibly gasped, at surprises I did not see coming (which is huge for me because I usually can predict “plot twists” even the wildest ones), but this book kept me on my feet!

5.0✨

Special thanks to @stmartinspress and NetGalley for the eARC

THE INTERN by Michele Campbell is a gripping, cat-and-mouse suspense novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. Harvard law school student Madison Rivera is thrilled to land a highly-coveted internship with the famous Judge Kathryn Conroy, someone she has idolized since childhood. But Madison is hiding a secret about her younger brother, Danny, that could derail this amazing opportunity. Danny is under arrest for dealing drugs and it is one of Judge Conroy’s cases. While secretly trying to get answers about her brother’s case, Madison learns that the judge may not be who she seems. Both women have secrets that could put their careers and their lives in danger. Can they trust each other enough to help each other, and Danny, before it’s too late? The story is narrated by both Madison and Kathryn and provides the perfect blend of legal drama and mystery. It is full of secrets, lies, manipulation and corruption and kept me guessing right until the end. I really enjoyed this fast-paced legal thriller and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

[ Thank you @stmartinspress & @netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own! ]

PUB DATE: October 3, 2023

THOUGHTS:

Need a thriller rec for spooky season? Look no further!!

This was a classic cat and mouse thriller. I really liked the different povs - Madison (the law student) and Kathryn (the judge). I honestly like reading both pov, especially Kathryn’s background chapters.

It was fast paced and unputdownable. I was hooked on this legal thriller. It was a bit predictable but I didn’t care because I still wanted to see how it was going to end!

Overall, solid story! I’ll definitely be checking out the author’s backlist novels.

Madison Riviera, a Harvard student who has taken an internship in Federal Judge Kathryn Conroy’s chamber. When Madisons’s brother is arrested for a drug bust she finds herself at a difficult crossroads. In a world of dirty cops and crooked crimes, she can trust no one. Will she lie, or will she try to help her brother out?

Such a fast paced, wild game of cat and mouse. Where you may not be able to trust a single soul. I love legal thrillers so I was thrilled to have this in my possession!

This book is written in dual perspective, between Madison and judge Conroy. Allowing to see the parallels between our two main characters. The dual perspective really lets you see a larger picture even if the book in the end allows you to draw your own conclusion.

This tense, page-turner will leave you breathless with every twist and turn.

Important things you need to know about the book:

The Intern is a fast-paced book that burns through the storyline. For the most part, the storyline keeps up with the author’s fast dialogue and pacing. But, it does get a bit choppy (not laggy, choppy) in the middle of the book (during Kathryn’s storyline, when her co-worker gets blown up). The choppiness didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book, but it did distract me from what was happening.

The Intern is told from a dual point of view: Madison in the present day and Kathryn in the past. When the author switches, she clearly states who it is and, in most cases, where that person is. I did not have an issue following the storyline back and forth.

There are trigger warnings in The Intern. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

Violence: This book has a lot of violence, both on and off the page.
Gore: Again, the gore is both on and off the page.
Abusive Relationship: I did go back and forth when deciding to put this as a warning. But Kathryn is in an abusive relationship with her half-brother and his mother. It goes back years (to when she was 12 years old). The abuse is primarily verbal and psychological, but there are instances of physical abuse.
Assault: In prison, Madison’s brother, Danny, is assaulted. There are attempts of assault on Madison throughout the book.
Cancer: Kathryn’s mother had leukemia in the past and present of The Intern.
Death: There is a lot of death in The Intern. The deaths range from accidents to murder.
Gun Violence: There is gun violence throughout the book, both on and off the page.
Police Brutality/Corruption: This is a massive theme throughout The Intern. Almost every police officer/correctional officer, except a couple, is in cahoots with Charlie.
Sexual Content: There are some light kissing scenes, mainly between Kathryn and her deceased husband. There are implications of Kathryn’s mother sleeping with Eddie at the beginning of the book.

Language: There is explicit language.

Setting: The Intern is set in Boston and the surrounding suburbs (northeast and south). Some scenes are set in Washington, D.C., New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The author didn’t give a ton of detail about Boston or any of the other states. However, the author provided enough for me to agree that the author did her research.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

A Harvard student, Madison is thrilled to be in a class taught by her idol, Judge Kathryn Conroy. She is even more delighted when the judge offers her an internship in her chambers. But Madison’s joy turns to disbelief when her brother, arrested on drug charges, tells her that Kathryn is dirty. Then, he goes missing. So, it is up to Madison to find out where he is and if Kathryn is dirty. But Kathryn has her secrets. With Madison wary and looking for answers and Kathryn needing to protect hers, there will be a showdown, and someone will get hurt. When the dust settles, who will be left standing?

Main Characters:

Madison Rivera: I liked her, even if I did find her slightly annoying. She had to work hard to get to where she was. But, once her brother dropped his bombshell, Madison immediately acted. She was determined to help him and find him when he disappeared. Her determination, her wanting to network, and (if I’m going, to be honest) her being nosey were a massive part of why Madison ended up embroiled in Kathryn’s issues. There was a point in the book where I wondered if she would become expendable, but that was put to rest by the end. I am glad that her storyline ended the way it did.

Judge Kathryn Conroy: I am not going to mince words here. She had a crap life up to the age of twelve. Her mother was self-absorbed and an awful mother. Her father treated Kathryn like a dirty secret. Uncle Ray skeeved me out. The worst thing that could have happened to her was her mother getting sick and her going to live with Eddie. Kathryn was set up from that age on to become a part of a vast criminal network, and no matter how many times she tried to get out, they found ways to pull her back in. I didn’t judge her for doing what she did after her husband’s death. I would have done the same thing if I were in her shoes. I was just surprised she kept it a secret from Ray for a long time. I also would have struck the same deal that she did with Madison.

My review:

The Intern was a well-written thriller that kept me glued to the book. I didn’t know where the plotline would take me from one page to another. When I finished the book, I felt like I should double-check the locks on my doors. I was that unnerved.

The mystery/thriller angle was terrific. As I said, I didn’t know what I was getting from one page to another. There were some interesting and surprising twists thrown in throughout the book. But the one that surprised me was what happened with Ray at the end of the book. I was expecting something else.

The end of The Intern was typical. I liked how the author wrapped up the storylines. I had no issues believing the end of Madison’s storyline. The end to Kathryn’s was a little more unbelievable, but it didn’t matter. I enjoyed it.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Michele Campbell for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Intern. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

#FirstLine ~ She loved the way her professor moved.

The Intern is a gripping novel by an author who skillfully navigates the intricate terrain of class, ambition, family, and murder, readers are taken on a thrilling journey into the high-stakes world of Harvard law student Madison Rivera and the charismatic Judge Kathryn Conroy.

The Intern masterfully navigates the complexities of power, influence, and morality within the legal system. The author deftly crafts a narrative that is rife with suspense, intrigue, and moral ambiguity. Readers will find themselves captivated by the intricate dance between Madison and Judge Conroy, two strong-willed women whose lives become inextricably entwined in a perilous cat-and-mouse game.

The novel's tension escalates with each page, as secrets unravel, alliances shift, and danger lurks around every corner. The relentless pursuit of truth and justice keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning pages to uncover the next revelation. The author's ability to maintain a sense of uncertainty and unpredictability throughout the story adds to the overall thrill of the narrative.

The Intern is a timely and riveting legal thriller that delivers on its promise of suspense, intrigue, and moral quandaries. Readers will be enthralled by the intricacies of the legal world and the intricate web of relationships woven by Madison and Judge Conroy. This novel is a compelling exploration of ambition, loyalty, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of truth, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

When I started this book, I was a little uncertain about whether I would like it or not because the intro is a slow burn as the characters get into place. But, let me just say, WOWZA! Once the action got started, it never stopped all the way to the end! Madison Rivera is a lower middle class law student at Harvard whose idol is Judge Kathryn Conroy. When the judge suggests that Madison should apply to be her intern, Madison is over the moon with excitement, until she realizes that her family secret may thwart her success with the judge. Told in the points of view of both women, this novel became a pulse-pounding race to the finish to see if ether of them would survive their machinations against the local crime bosses. The secrets are revealed slowly within the story, making the plot complex and compelling. The characters were all dynamic but none more so than the main characters whose lives depend on each other and they don’t really trust one another. With a fast pace and characters that are as complex as the story, this book is one to remember and then discuss with friends, book groups or whoever will listen to me rant about how much I loved the twists in the plot and the surprise ending. Expertly crafted by a master storyteller, this is a powerful story about class, corruption and trust. I loved the subplots and the depth to the story, especially how the author tied everything together neatly at the end. This book is a cleverly written page-turner that surprised me constantly and kept me engrossed in the plot and the lives of the characters.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

The Intern is a psychological thriller. Michele Campbell writes a timely story that will have you wondering how this story will end. I highly recommend.