I wasn't sure I was going to like this book... I started reading it and the first chapter had me feeling a little sluggish. But then it really starts to pick up the pace and had me hooked into the characters. It's a complex story about a young exchange student at a university who doesn't seem to get along with her roommate. The roommate ends up dead and the exchange student is immediately to blame. Even though there is little hard evidence to prove otherwise.

Besides the exchange student being a main character, most of the time is spent with Margeaux Robbins (the student's law professor) and Chase Crandall (the court appointed lawyer). Margeaux and Chase have had differences in the past, but they must find a way to work together to prove Anneliese's innocence. Something isn't right about this case all the way through the book. It's hard to believe that Anneliese would murder her roommate and there doesn't seem to be much for the team to grab onto in terms of helping her case.

But they are committed to finding the truth and keeping her out of prison, even if it costs them both everything they have.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book and their complex personalities. Both of them struggle deeply with believing in themselves and they both put up walls to keep themselves protected from being harmed by others. This made for a difficult road throughout most of the book for them to find a way to work together, but they also both are attracted to one another which helps them thaw their tough exteriors the longer they work together.

I was emotionally invested in all three main characters and knew I would be overwhelmed at the end no matter how things turned out. A young woman from another country that is seemingly setup to look like she murderer her roommate, just screams to all the current issues going on in our country.

But I digress. I was incredibly impressed with this story and the path it took me on. It's books like this that really got me into the crime thriller genre and wanting to be faux detective, through the pages of good books!

The story and writing pulled me in and kept me hooked for most of the book. The author did a great job setting up the details and developing the main characters' conflict with each other. The premise is intriguing, and the author instilled just enough doubt throughout about the accused to keep me guessing my instincts. The final 30 pages or so felt rushed, as if the author was running out of word count and had to scramble to pull everything together. It lost me to a significant degree at that point and wasn't as believable as if the younger sister's pregnancy had been hinted at earlier on. All in all, it was a worthwhile read, but a little more time taken on the final stretch would have really pulled it together better.

Court room drama! I was thrilled to get this book as an ARC! I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy the prepping for a murder trial type of book. It was exciting and thrilling with the tiniest touch of romance. It for sure was a who done it story. Anneliese is a foreign exchange student from Germany just trying to make it in America. She is stuck with a roommate who likes to party and argue. Anneliese comes home and finds her roommate, Lauren not moving, dead. She gets blood on her hands and next thing she is being arrested for killing her. Margeaux her professor of law is brought in to help her. Her appointed lawyer Chase is in charge of seeing she is found innocent. I don’t want to give to much information out but these lives and others are intwined in this story. This was a great read and I was honored to read.

This book will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. Chase and Margeaux navigating Anneliese's case and their attraction to each other kept me intrigued. I love the reminders throughout that God is always with you. You just have to ask for his help when needed. It felt like I was in the courtroom watching the trial, and that plot twist at the end was riveting also. Overall, it's a great read!

This is my first book from this author and I am excited to read more. The story grabs you fast and I enjoyed how it was written. I don’t read many legal thrillers so I appreciated the behind the scenes action of a courtroom drama with excellent characters and a great plot.

There are many twists that make the story unputdownable. I love making guesses of the big reveal to see if I can figure it out. This one had me guessing the whole time. I liked how Chase and Margeaux were forced to work together to help Anneliese. They have a shaky past from a previous case of Chase’s. The story moved fast as I was swept into the story.

I received a NetGalley link from the publisher. All views are my own.

I really enjoyed this novel by Cara Putman. She writes the best courtroom drama's. This one is very similar to the Amanda Knox story. I felt like I was part of the story. I had a hard time putting this one down because I couldn't wait to see how it would end. I highly recommend this one!

You won't want to put this book down! The Accused is a fast moving book as a German student, Annaliese, is charged with murdering her popular college roommate! I loved how law professor, Margeaux Robbins, went to bat for her lonely student. Chase Crandall, a burnt out defense attorney, is assigned to the case but you will wonder if he will put the necessary commitment to the case. Police evidence points to Annaliese! Can you imagine being a quiet young woman with no friends, who is not acquainted with American customs and put in jail on murder charges! Ms Putman has written a story that will keep you reading far past your bedtime! If you like suspense, The Accused is a must read! I received a complimentary e-book of The Accused. This is my honest opinion.

This was a gripping and compelling legal thriller that drew me in and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was full of twists and turns, and an ending that I was not what I expected.

In addition to the courtroom drama, I really enjoyed the enemies to more romance, and the light faith element.

It was a very enjoyable read, and one I would recommend.

I received a copy from the publisher and Austenprose PR via NetGalley, but a positive review wasn’t required.

Ripped from the headlines, The Accused is a gripping legal thriller that kept me guessing! Cara Putman weaves a compelling courtroom drama with an enemies to more romance & touch of faith in this exciting Secrets to Keep sequel. I was completely drawn in to the plight of Anneliese, a college student from Germany, who’s accused of murder. It’s a down to the wire, suspense-filled mystery that kept me quickly turning the pages.

Law professor Margeaux Robbins doesn’t believe her quiet, shy student could be capable of murdering her roommate. But, when she’s found at the crime scene with incriminating evidence, Margeaux knows it’s going to be an uphill battle, especially when she learns who the defense attorney is. When she herself is implicated, she’s determined to work with the too handsome for his own good attorney to clear Anneliese’s & her name.

Chase Crandall is burned-out & ready to give up criminal law after one of his clients dies. But, when he’s assigned Anneliese’s case he feels compelled to give it his all especially when he’s being prodded along by the feisty college professor. But, Anneliese won’t talk & he’s finding it hard to prove her innocence. Will he be able to discover the truth in time?

I love courtroom dramas & this one definitely kept me riveted. There were so many twists & turns leading up to a surprising ending. I thoroughly enjoyed the push & pull between Margeaux & Chase with that crackling romantic tension between them. The hint of faith was beautifully woven throughout as well.

Highly recommend! I received an advanced copy from the publisher with no expectation of a review. All opinions are completely my own & voluntarily provided.

What an awesome legal thriller/drama! I was drawn right into this story from the first chapter. The characters are multifaceted with real issues and pasts revealed a little at a time in the novel. I loved Chase and Margeaux and found myself thoroughly invested in their story and their journey to prove the innocence of the accused. I did not want to put this book down to go to work or to sleep.

Cara Putman’s knowledge of the court system and legal process shows in her writing. The scenes are realistic as is the dialogue. She keeps the story moving and the twists and turns coming. The suspense is top-notch and kept me turning pages in search of justice for the victim and the accused.

Although this is the second book in the Secrets to Keep series, it can be read as I stand alone. I have not yet read the first book and I had no problem understanding and enjoying this one. I intend to read the first one now that I have read this one.

This is an intriguing, courtroom drama. Margeaux Robbins knows the legal system, that comes from being a lawyer and now university professor. She loves her students, and she loves teaching. When one of her students calls her for help, after she was found in the middle of a murder scene, Margeaux couldn’t stand by when she knew this student was innocent. Chase Crandall is an attorney and is questioning if he wants to change direction toward business law. But when the judge assigned him as the public defender for a young foreign exchange student accused of murder, he did what he does best. This story really does pull you in from the beginning and holds strong until the final verdict. You become involved with the characters and their fight for justice. There are many twist and turns that keep you guessing on who could commit such a heinous crime. Greed, envy, jealousy, pride, power, they all lead to disappointment. Laws justice, faith, kindness, honesty, all lead to truth and goodness. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have to be completely honest with you.

This book made my stomach hurt. And my chest tight. And I held my breath a lot. And I was so angry through most of the book.

And I loved every minute.

Cara Putman has crafted a ripped from the headlines nail biter that will have readers racing to the end to find relief! But get ready for an explosive wrap up you will never see coming.

The justice system in our country is the best in the world but it has some serious flaws and blind spots. Putman captures those flaws and blind spots perfectly in her new novel.

So prepare for an emotional roller coaster unlike any I’ve read this year. Gripping fiction because you’ll be gripping the book hard!

I received an advance copy from the publisher. My review is not solicited and I’m under no obligation. Very highly recommended.

I loved the pairing of a college professor who is so zealous to promote and protect her students with the disillusioned defense attorney. The storyline will keep you turning pages so fast you're not sure you can keep up! You'll be rooting for Chase and Margeaux, along with their client Anneliese every step of the way.

Legal suspense

This story had great courtroom drama that felt like it could have come directly from today's news headlines. I really enjoyed the passion for justice displayed through the two main characters.

The second book in the Secrets to Keep series was a thrill ride, and I can't wait to read more!

This is a legal suspense/thriller with lots of unexpected twists and a whole cast of possible suspects to keep you reading. Annaliese is a college student in the U.S. who is from Germany and who is the central focus and the title character. She is almost a loner, not making friends easily and that makes her an easy target for the justice system when they begin to look for the person who killed her roommate. Lost in the maze of legalities, Annaliese depends on her professor Margeaux Robbin to help her. Margeaux unexpectedly becomes part of her legal defense team and insists persistently to Chase Crandall, her defense attorney, that Annaliese could not possibly have killed anyone. I loved the surprises within the story that were breathtakingly complex and completely engrossing. The story of Chase’s dogged determination to represent Annaliese well was gripping and fascinating as the author portrayed well the investigation leading up to the trial as well as the courtroom scenes themselves. All of the action rolled like a movie in my head and included some nail-biting suspense as well as a budding romance. I liked getting to know the characters and found them to be likable and relatable. Annaliese was a sympathetic character, far from home and totally dependent on others to get her out of her predicament but not able to offer much of an alibi that would help her legal team. My favorite character was Margeaux, the professor who related well with her students and thus was able to befriend Annaliese and to help in her defense. This story is expertly crafted and led me on a merry chase to find clues and figure out what was happening within the ranks of the police department as well as the office of the commonwealth attorney. The plot was fast-paced with authentic details about the legal process that were fascinating and that kept me immersed in the unfolding drama. The intricate plot threads were well woven together at the end, making this a totally satisfying and richly entertaining story.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own honest thoughts about this book.

Margeaux is living a great life as a law professor in a small community surrounded by family and friends she grew up with. Her world is upended when a student calls her in the middle of the night and tells her she found her roommate murdered and needs help. The police immediately lock in on her student and Margeaux doesn't trust the attorney the commonwealth has assigned to defend her. She signs on to help her student but ends up getting pulled under.

I loved Margeaux, she was passionate, determined, and loyal. The defense attorney, Chase, was stubborn, but deep down was exactly who Margeaux and her student needed. The surprises in this book made is seriously hard to put it down. I loved the ending I never saw coming!

This is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book for me. It is the second in the Secrets to Keep series, but you don't need to read the books in order to enjoy them.

WOW! I don't normally like legal suspense thrillers, but the plot seemed really interesting, so I picked it up. And I wasn't disappointed! The characters are very dynamic and grow so much in the story and I loved reading about the trial. This story grabbed me from the very first chapter and found it incredibly hard to put down! Overall, I loved everything about this book and would highly recommend it!

I received this book to read and review - all opinions are my own.

I have read a couple of this authors books, even the first one in this series. But this one will grab your attention and take you on a very intense, nerve racking ride. You will have a front row seat to how the court system works and an insight as to what goes into either proving a persons innocence or guilt. Margeaux is a professor who teaches law at the college and gets drug into a murder investigation involving one of her students. Chase is a defense attorney who is burnt out and upset over one of his clients. Then you have Anneliese who is a student from Germany that is accused of murdering her roommate. Did she, if she did what was her reason? How will Margeaux and Chase put aside the differences to help a young lady who doesn't understand the legal system? This book will have you wondering what will happen and just when you think you know,boom out of nowheres something else happens. This sentence stuck out to me "You can't be great if you never fight to the end for your client." I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own. I loved this book so much that I bought a copy to go on my bookshelf.

An enjoyable legal thriller that kept me guessing. Law professor Margeaux Robbins, and defense attorney Chase Crandall don’t really like each other but are forced to work together when Chase is assigned to defend Anneliese, an international student accused of killing her roommate. The roommate, Lauren, was a student athlete and well-known on the college campus. The mystery kept me guessing and wondering what clues I was missing and why Anneliese was the only focus of the investigation. The story is told from both Margeaux and Chase’s points of view and I liked seeing the personal and professional struggle each faced along with their evolving relationship, it made the story and the characters real. The outcome was satisfying and I would enjoy reading more books with these characters. I recommend this to readers that enjoy a legal thriller.

Cara Putman is a new to me author. While I don’t usually read legal mystery thrillers, I was looking forward to trying something new. The Accused has it all, a roommate murdered, a young student accused, a professor's career in the balance, and a lawyer reluctantly drawn into a case he didn’t want.

Even so, this book didn’t cut it for me as I found the story to drag on, often thinking “get to the point already”. The main characters were authentic and accurately represented their professions (international student, lawyer, professor), but not overly likeable. Putman did an amazing job at foreshadowing, often leaving hints that there was more going on/ to figure out. But the ending was so unrewarding, wrapping up too quickly leaving too many story components unanswered, for clarity.

The Accused, appropriately titled, is the second book in the series, but I don’t think reading book one would improve my experience.