Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 276 pages
Genre: Literary / Legal Thriller
Publisher: Dos Perro Press
Release date: June 2022
Content Rating: PG13+M because it involves mature themes, occasional mild profanities, non-explicit sex scenes and mild violence.
“Belinda is a thrilling novel with gripping layers of legal and corporate intrigue, but it’s Zvonkovic’s character work and timely themes that propel the narrative to new heights. Part romance, part legal drama, Zvonkovic blends genres and defies expectations with each turn of the page, ultimately creating an emotional exploration of justice, purpose, and legacy.” — James Wade, Spur Award-winning author of River, Sing Out
“Fans of characters such as Tom Clancy’s John Clark, as well as other readers who are interested in the techno-thriller genre, should find Belinda to be a thoroughly captivating and satisfying read.” — David Loux, Author of Chateaux Laux
“A spy thriller meets legal fiction meets romance novel.” — Kirkus Reviews
About the Book
Set in the conference rooms of a white-shoe Houston law firm and the stunning coastline of Baja California, Belinda is the story of a woman’s bravery and resourcefulness at the end of her brilliant career. Her decision to fight her firm’s men in suits who demand her retirement is called into question when a man once her lover appears after a long unexplained absence.
Against a backdrop of romance and legal drama, the novel explores questions about love, the law, and the anxious precipice of life change. Is it ever too late to be swept away by romance? Can true justice ever be attained when the law’s practitioners are corrupt? And when your work is what defines you, what’s left after retirement?
During a week of surprises and abstruse events, Belinda sees the once presumed greatness of her life flicker as she forces the moment for her decision to a crisis.
My Review
Belinda combines romance, a legal thriller--and some real-world human nature. I loved the first book in the Raymond Hatcher series, and after reading The Narrows, which moved away from the characters I loved early on, I looked forward to revisiting Jay and following his story again. I enjoyed the writing style of this novel. The author still creates many of his characters via storyline insights and conversations in this novel. However, the dialogue of this novel was very engaging, and the legal thriller aspects aligned well with the moral issues of the characters and the romantic elements of the flow of the story to create suspense and interest in the characters and the outcomes.
The Characters Again Drive the Novel. I enjoyed the strength and presence of Lyn's character, and Jay was a favorite character from the first novel I read from the series. The relationships, the dialogue, and the slight plot twists make this another page-turner that was difficult to set aside. While the legal thriller forms the plot--the characters coming to terms with their later life stages create much more depth and meaning to the novel.
Would I Recommend Belinda? I loved the first book in the series; I got a little bogged down in the dialogue of the second book--but I think I loved this third book the most. I felt connected to the characters and enjoyed watching the scenes play out. Things played out differently than I would have wanted at times--but it felt true to the nature of the series. I would recommend this book to fans of legal dramas and life stories where older characters "come of age."
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