Liz Lazarus

Is wanting to stop an attacker the same as defending yourself? Where does self-defense end and revenge begin? How do you know whether one acted free of malice and in good faith, i.e. avoiding any more force than one had to? These are just some of the questions raised in Liz Larus's debut novel. Based on the author's real-life experience of being attacked by a stranger in her home, this Atlanta-centered story follows six months in the life of Laura and her remarkable approach to deal with the attack. Initially reluctant to do so, Laura undergoes psychotherapy to overcome PTSD with a therapist who uses the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing technique (EMDR) which helps people to ease the unsolicited recollections of traumatic events. I found this was really interesting to read about. With the aid of Thomas, a defense attorney, Laura also starts to write a hypothetical legal case on the basis of what would have happened if she had actually shot her attacker.
Laura's first-person narration allows you to enter her mind and go through all the varying emotions with her. This was so well-written and cleverly constructed, it never felt like a debut novel. I actually thought I knew where this was going and who was behind the attack, but it turned out I was utterly clueless. Not only was Free of Malice exceptionally entertaining, it was also incredibly informative. I learned a lot about the criminal defense system and about gun ownership. I found the part about jury selection particularly fascinating. If that wasn't enough, this also raised some powerful questions about race. Definitely an author to watch out for in the future!
Great blend of suspenseful, mysterious psychological thriller and educational legal thriller. Highly recommended!
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.… (mais)