3.5 stars rounded up to 4

First, I love legal thrillers with courtroom drama, so when I got the opportunity to review The Accused, I was delighted.

When a popular college girl is murdered, and her international German roommate is the suspect, the girl’s law professor, Margeaux Robbins, stands by her side. However, Chase Crandall, a burned-out defense attorney who blames himself for a tragic mistake with his client, is assigned the case. Robbins is aghast at the thought that her quiet German student will be in the hands of Crandall.

While I couldn’t wait to start reading, I soon discovered that it wasn’t going to be my cup of tea. Although some parts were interesting, the book ultimately proved disappointing. Here are some of the reasons:

1. I found it slow-moving, and the writing didn’t capture my interest. Only toward the end of the book was I happy to keep reaching for it. Things were beginning to happen.
2. Though I’m perfectly fine with Christian fiction, this aspect felt forced into the story.
3. For a person who loves courtroom scenes, it offered too little too late.
4. While the plot and the relationship between the lawyers sounded promising, I needed the story to be tightened and the relationships to feel less flat.

Final Thoughts
In retrospect, I may have made assumptions after reading the blurb that this was a legal thriller. In my opinion, this book is more of a mystery and Christian romance novel with international vibes than a legal thriller. Would I still rate it the same? Yes. But I do believe my expectations were incorrect.

If you enjoy Christian mysteries, I recommend trying The Accused by Cara Putman. This review is in the minority, so you’re apt to really like the book.

When German student, Anneliese, is accused of killing her roommate, her professor, Margeaux Robbins, has to team up with local attorney, Chase Crandall, to prove Anneliese's innocence; or will they discover that she really is a killer? While Anneliese sits in jail, she becomes more and more despondent while Margeaux and Chase are constantly butting heads about how to proceed with her defense. Can they prove her innocent, or will they discover that she is killer without a conscience?

I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves to solve a mystery, lovers of Christian fiction, and unexpected happily-ever-afters!

I received an ARC from the author; however, my review is done of my own and done of my own volition.

This was an interesting court procedural novel! I have always been interested in the whole Amanda Knox case and this gives a great perspective of what it must be like for someone in another country being accused of a heinous crime. Anneliese has been so grateful that her parents were able to send her to the United States to further her studies and she cannot wait to take all of her knowledge back to Germany for trying to better her own country. But when one of her three roommates is murdered, the police quickly paint her as the murderer and she is soon trying to navigate a system she does not understand. She is innocent, so why is she locked up and why will no one believe her? Chase gets assigned the case and finds himself saddled with Margeaux who refuses to allow her student to fight this battle on her own. However, Margeaux is just a professor of the law, she hasn't had to prepare for an actual trial in a real court room. Not a fan of one of Chase's past cases, she often uses that as a dig when she isn't agreeing with his thinking or ways. But the two need to work together, for this foreign student is about to end up in prison in a country far from home and there's a good chance she is innocent. I really enjoyed how everything played out and felt that Anneliese's character was well written. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and Austenprose Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

“Sometimes you have to do what’s right even when it could cost you everything.”

Stunned! That was my reaction on finishing The Accused, a legal thriller by Cara Putman. A spin on the Amanda Knox case of a few years ago, my heart was in my throat nearly all the way through the book.

Putman starts out by introducing us to the two main characters, Margeaux Robbins and Chase Crandall. Margeaux teaches law at a small college, cares deeply for her students, but has no courtroom experience. Chase, conversely, is a burnt-out court-appointed criminal defense lawyer who doesn’t appear to care much about his clients.

When German exchange student Annaliese is arrested for murder of her roommate, she contacts Margeaux, who cannot help…not only is she not qualified for the courtroom, as Chase so quickly points out, but Annaliese won’t confide in Margeaux or anyone.

Each doubting the other’s legal abilities, Chase and Margeaux team up to defend Annaliese in court. Strange, given their mistrust of each other. “I wonder which is more important to the attorney. Justice? Or the truth? Because sometimes they get in the way of each other when we’re trying to live by ‘innocent until proven guilty.’” However, both lawyers begin to see Annaliese as worth defending, although the doubts of her innocence start to creep in. The evidence is invariably confusing and Annaliese won’t talk.

I wasn’t sure I would survive the stress until it was all sorted out. Or if I would like the outcome. I was certainly left slack-jawed at Putman’s ability to create a legal thriller with so many twists and turns.

I like how faith was an integral part of the novel . Margeaux’s past has made her slow to believe God is always with her. Chase has turned away. With the stakes so high, will the two do things their own way or look to God for help?

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“God should never be her last resort, yet he often was.”

“Slowly she sensed his peace flowing into her, reminding her that even when she forgot to turn to him first, he was still working and waiting for her to remember. She was never built to be an island. And even if she was alone, she wasn’t ever alone.”

“Emotion is dangerous in my line of work…I have to keep a tight grip on logic to defend my clients.”

“A simple twist here and another twist there and suddenly constitutional protections disappeared, lost in meaningless legal wrangling.”

Wonderful legal thriller by Cara Putman!

Margeaux Robbins enjoys her career as a law professor. She makes extra efforts with a foreign student that seemed to have difficulty acclimating to her new environment. Then Anneliese is accused of murder and Margeaux is the only advocate around.

Defense Attorney Chase Crandall is considering a career change when he gets assigned to represent Anneliese.

The suspense of trying to figure out what really happened to Anneliese's roommate was thick. I loved that Margeaux and Chase both had opportunities to contemplate their career choices in the pages. Haven't we all wondered what if I did something different?

Enjoyable legal thriller from beginning to end.

A political suspense that will keep you guessing what will happen next!

I received an ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

"What situation would she walk into?
She didn't know, so she couldn't what-if during the drive, playing out and preparing for different scenarios. Instead, she wondered what it would take to save a client from terrible accusations. She'd had no criminal cases during her short stint in private practice. Most of the stories she told her students involved other people. Other lawyers morphed into the hero, and she remained the onlooker."

Margeaux Robbins loves the law - from behind the podium anyway. As a law professor, she loves instructing and sharing scenarios. But when a student finds herself accused of a crime she swears she didn't commit, Margeaux agrees to help. She isn't quite sure that she trusts the assigned defense attorney, Chase Crandell to represent the student well. So she reluctantly joins the legal team. Perhaps nothing is as it seems.

A well-written legal defense book includes enough information about the case without so many details that can bog down readers who are not in the legal profession. This is a fine line to walk, and the author does it brilliantly. I feel like I had an unofficial education about some of the procedures and aspects of developing a defense for a reluctant client.

Two friendships are important to Margeaux - Janae and Chloe. They provide a support system to her and know her story. Janae is featured in the first "Secrets to Keep" book, The Vanished. I would recommend reading that book first because it connects to the characters, but this book could be read as a stand-alone title.

Margeaux overcame a complicated situation. That part of her story plays a role in this book. When the truth comes out, healing begins.

The faith element is strong in this book. The romance element is understated. Parts are suspenseful, but the real emphasis is on the relationships and on the legal aspects.

I really enjoyed this book! So glad I was able to read an early copy on a launch team. I planned on reading this book no matter what. All opinions are my own.

Once we met the main characters and the mystery was laid out, this book was so fast-paced, I couldn't stop reading! I needed answers!

I loved getting to know these characters. They had weaknesses, yet they were trying to seek God and mature. Their compassion grew, and they wanted to put others first. I loved the quirky and wise secretary!

The crime and mystery were good, though a little angsty. The reader is stumped and confused along with the main characters. Then the big reveal happens, is dealt with, and the story is wrapped up well.

I really wanted to give 5 stars, but there were a few questions that weren't answered. Overall, this is an amazing legal suspense novel!

I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. Opinions are my own.

I haven't read a legal mystery like this in a little bit, and this one was SO good!

Anneliese is a German exchange student who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now she's accused of murdering her roommate. Margeaux is determined to offer all the moral support she needs.

Chase is a good attorney, but he seems to be overworked and understaffed. And then he gets forced to take Anneliese's case, and he's not sure he wants it. Margeaux is sure he won't do it justice. And so, they find themselves, although kind of at odds with each other, working toward a common goal.

Chase also had plans to take a different position, and move away from some of the intensity of criminal law. But now, with Anneliese's case on his desk, someone doesn't want him digging in and spending time on it. Why?

This legal battle was intense and fascinating. It has lots of action, details, excitement, and more! Lots of drama, and so many things that just didn't add up. I loved how the story played itself out, bit by bit. I felt like I was watching this before my very eyes.

If you enjoy a good legal thriller, I highly recommend this one!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

What a roller coaster ride of emotions and suspense!
If you were caught up in any way with the Amanda Knox headlines, you will love the twists and turns in this story and not want to put it down until the end....

I’m not normally one for legal thrillers, but this one was so good! I thought the storyline was well thought out and it kept me invested. There were definitely some twists I wasn’t expecting. I enjoyed the subtle romance between Margeaux and Chase. I do think the ending was left slightly open ended. The case wasn’t fully fleshed out and solved like it is in a lot of thrillers. But I think that makes sense in this case because a lot of legal cases aren’t solved and it kind of leaves it up to the reader’s interpretation.

Cara Putman’s latest release The Accused, is the second installment of Ms. Putman’s Secrets to Keep series, and it’s a stellar read! The Accused takes the Reader on a wild ride into the United States Justice System when foreign exchange student Anneliese is accused of killing her roommate. Being from Germany, the United States is not what Anneliese expected. Anneliese has had trouble making friends, coming off shy and aloof because Annelise grapples with the English language. With only Professor Margeaux Robbins and Court Appointed Attorney Chase Cranford in Annelise’s corner, all three have a rough road ahead of them to prove Annelise’s innocence. This is easier said than done when Margeaux and Chase don’t even see eye-to-eye, especially when a previous student of Margeaux’s dies in jail while being represented by Chase—plus both believe Annelise is hiding something. As Chase and Margeaux uncover the clues layer by layer, the truth of the crime leads to other unsavory crimes being uncovered, shocking everyone involved.

I have been a fan of Cara Putman’s books and was excited when I got the opportunity to read The Accused! I love how Cara Putman puts layer upon layer into the plot of The Accused, leading up to a shocking conclusion! I love meeting the Characters and how Ms. Putman wrote their personalities! I really liked how Margeaux, Chase, and Annelise were written. The way Margeaux and Chase care for people in their respective fields and how hard they worked on the behalf of others truly came across to the Reader. Even though Annelise was a major character and not on the page as much as Chase and Margeaux, I loved the way she was portrayed in the book. My heart went out to Anneliese. Ms. Putman wrote Annelise in such a way that I could truly see Annelise’s point of view and how she saw things. I have not read the previous books in the Secrets to Keep series, but The Accused read as a standalone book to me and I am looking forward to getting caught up on the series. As I was reading The Accused, I wondered a lot what was going on with the Characters and where the storyline was headed. I found that annoying at times, but at the same time I was truly excited because that meant I could not figure who did it at all…and when the true Culprit was revealed I was absolutely gob smacked! (This means you definitely need to read The Accused!) I also loved the way that Ms. Putman illustrated the plot with such a sense of not knowing what lied ahead, because it pushed Margeaux and Chase to fully Trust and Depend on God with the unknown. If you a looking for a read that is a full blown suspenseful read that shows you a lesson in waiting for God’s Timing while you are walking through tough stuff, I highly recommend The Accused by Cara Putman! I can’t wait to see what Ms. Putman does next with the Secrets to Keep series (and to get caught up)!

Have you read The Accused? What did you think of the book?

I would like to thank Karen from Book Lovers & Launchers (as well as the Publisher and NetGalley) for giving me a copy of The Accused to review and for letting me be on Cara Putman’s Launch Team. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My review is also on Amazon, Goodreads, and my blog Leslie's Library Escape.

Suspense, check, Legal Thriller, check, Mystery, check. All the ingredients for a page turning adventure, check, check. Author Cara Putman is a creative storyteller drawing from different settings to create a one-of-a-kind story. No bookA would be complete without romance so even though there are misgivings between law professor Margeaux Robbins and burnt-out lawyer Chase Crandall, they do find that sometimes opposites do attract. I heartily endorse and give The Accused five stars!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This legal thriller had an interesting murder to solve, suspects who could be guilty, a defendant who might or might not be innocent and intriguing evidence to follow. I doubted the suspect till the end and it didn’t really end as expected. It felt like there was some open ended questions for me with regards to some revelations but the overall mystery was solved and concluded.

I enjoyed the dynamics between Chase and Margeaux and the history between them involving a previous student who Chase defended added to some boiling moments.

Due to the focus more on the legal aspects of a murder defense than art theft in the previous book, I enjoyed this one more than the previous book in the series.

I enjoy mysteries and prefer books that show God and prayer in the characters' lives. This book satisfied both those preferences. I was a little concerned the first half of the book, because I really didn't find any of the characters likeable. I have not read the first book in this series and felt like that may have left some gaps in my understanding of the background. I may not have finished the book if I hadn't offered to review it. After finishing the book I'm glad I stuck it out. The book was wrapped up nicely in the end.


My gratitude to the publisher/author for a complimentary e-copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.

This is a book that will keep you reading into the wee hours of the night. It had many twists and turns. I anxiously await to read more of this authors books in the future.

This is the second book in Cara Putman's Secrets to Keep series. While this book can be read as a standalone, I do recommend reading the first book.

As a legal suspense book, the reader is quickly drawn into a murder mystery that will leave you wondering what happened until the end. Putman shows a great wealth of knowledge in the legal system and how it works.

The characters are realistic in their individual struggles. As you wait to find out how the story ends, you are brought into the characters lives and how they cope with the ongoing pressures of the case and their personal lives.

I like how the ending had a few surprises, but wish their were a few more surprises and a little more action in between. I did appreciate the legal suspense, and I'm left waiting to read the next book.

I received an ARC but was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Accused had me flipping pages like I was prepping for court. When a college student is murdered, her quiet, international roommate Anneliese is suddenly suspect number one. But law professor Margeaux Robbins isn’t buying it—and neither will you.

Enter Chase Crandall, a defense attorney ready to hang up his briefcase after a tragic loss. The last thing he wants is another criminal case… especially one this messy. But when he’s assigned to defend Anneliese, sparks fly—both legal and romantic—as he and Margeaux team up to find the real killer.

Cara Putman weaves a clever, layered legal thriller that mixes courtroom tension with a dash of slow-burn chemistry and a whole lot of heart. Just when I thought I had it figured out—boom—another twist.

If you love legal suspense, flawed-but-loveable characters, and stories that keep you guessing, this one’s guilty… of being totally addictive.

Thanks to Kregel Publications and NetGalley for this review copy.

#TheAccused #NetGalley

If you're in the mood for a legal drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat, trying to piece together the crime, this one delivers. Cara has crafted an amazing story with this one. A roommate is murdered, a young student is accused, a professor's career hangs in the balance, and a lawyer is reluctantly drawn into a case he was trying to avoid. From the start, you get a glimpse into the lives and personalities of Chase and Margeaux. The complexity of the case, along with the other intriguing cases we catch glimpses of, adds so much depth. Cara also takes us beyond the courtroom, bringing us into the classroom, which adds even more layers to the story. The case itself is full of twists and secrets that will keep you hooked. The series title really fits with this story, and I was definitely surprised by what unfolded, especially the ending. If you’re a fan of legal suspense with a hint of romance, this one is perfect for you.

I received a complimentary copy, and this review reflects my honest opinion.

I love to watch court room dramas and I was excited to read about one.

It was interesting to see behind the scenes of a criminal case and the amount of investigating that needs to take place.

I loved how Margeaux had such supportive friends in Janae and Chloe. They held her accountable and provided extra support.

Chase was an enjoyable character as he fought for the truth without giving in to emotions.

Thanks to the author for the arc. The opinions are my own.