The Holdout by Graham Moore

Frequent readers of this blog know that I love mysteries so here is a new one worth reading:  THE HOLDOUT by Graham Moore who also wrote The Last Days of Night and the screen play for The Imitation Game. In his latest offering, Moore introduces readers to Maya Seale, a defense lawyer defined largely by “the most intense experience of her life:” serving on a jury, having doubts, and convincing the others to vote to acquit a murder suspect. It is now ten years later and a reunion of sorts is arranged, but a fellow juror is murdered and Maya becomes a key suspect. This legal thriller reveals motivations and secrets about many of the original jurors. Fast-paced and full of flashbacks, this mystery deals with themes of justice, racism and inequity. Moore cleverly characterizes their deliberations: “in this way they realized that a jury’s votes were like Tolstoy’s families: All “guilty” votes had to be alike in reasoning.  But all “not guilty” votes could be for different reasons and still reach the same result.”  THE HOLDOUT received starred reviews from both Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.