Against the Shoals

A Novel

By: T. K. Szepesi

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Nick Connor emerged from a turbulent childhood in the projects to become a high-powered partner at an elite New York law firm. While leading a professionally fulfilling but emotionally sterile life, he meets and is retained by Maddie Monnehan, an alluring, award-winning poet who has confessed to shooting her husband, Senator Andrew Monnehan.

As Nick mounts Maddie's defense and fights to unravel the secrets lurking within a seemingly unwinnable case, he is plunged into reliving his own hellish nightmares. He is haunted by his past, consumed by traumatic events that defined and devastated his youth. Nick believes that his redemption now lies in the pursuit of justice.

Maddie's high-profile case presents Nick with perplexing dead ends. She is fiercely reluctant to provide information that could help him exonerate her. There is also Maddie's disturbing relationship with the eligible Chris Logan, the Attorney General for the State of New York. And above all, there is the mystery shrouding Maddie's past. In his quest for justice, redemption, and love, Nick remains determined to prove Maddie's innocence.

This is a tale of loss, survival, and desire, and how some ghosts refuse to be vanquished. It is a powerful love story, deploying the courtroom drama as a vehicle to explore the terrain of dark secrets and the factors that shape one's character and behavior. This complex emotional ride asks the age-old question: Are our actions borne of choice, or are they preordained by our past? And ultimately: Does love conquer all?

©2020 Kathalin Gross (P)2021 Kathalin Gross

Refreshing Read

Love this book. Psychology, drama, a twist-and-turn story, and legal issues all wrapped in one great listen.

Scott Brick at his best

One of the best books I have read in a long time

I rarely write reviews, I guess because I’m too lazy, but this book is so good I felt compelled to write one. This author is new to me and very talented. The plot was very interesting and the characters well-rounded and fleshed out and there were a lot of really good twists and turns. T.K. Szepesi writes very intelligently and while courtroom dramas are not a genre I typically read, I typically prefer British mysteries, there is a very good mystery here! As usual Scott brick did a fantastic job narrating. . I highly recommend this book and hope to see more by this author.

Great legal thriller!

First, thanks to Audible listener Shelley whose review made me aware of AGAINST THE SHOALS. She is the best reviewer of mystery/thriller novels at Audible.

Against the Shoals is more a character driven novel than most legal thrillers. The two main characters, a woman who killed her US senator husband and her lawyer, are both emotionally damaged and deeply flawed. The novel is told from the perspectives of the lawyer. The plot is heartbreaking. I could say more but doing so would give away the plot. Scott Brick narrates superbly as he always does.

I wondered throughout whether the author is a man or a woman. It turns out that author T. K. Szepesi is a woman.

Couldn’t stop listening!

This has to be one of the best legal audio books I’ve ever heard. If you like John Grisham books you will really enjoy this one! Finished in two days- and Scott Brick was perfect as usual! My favorite narrator. Enjoy!

Engaging! Brilliant! Mind-Blowing !

What can I say my favorite part about this read was the very last sentence!

You will thank me later!
Enjoy.

Job Well Done T.K.S what’s next?

Get this book!!!! Outstanding!!!!

Against the Shoals is a debut book by T. K. Szepesi. This is another book I probably would have been on the fence about if it were not for the narrator. Once I saw that Scott Brick was narrating I knew I had to give it a try. So very glad I did.
This book is an exceptional legal drama with plenty of suspense. A woman kills her husband who just so happens to be a senator. She claims not to have known it was her husband but thought it was an intruder. Throughout the book the protagonist (Nick Carter) who is her attorney is convinced that she is innocent. But the truth of what happened that night is far worse than anyone could have imagined. This comes out in bit and pieces about 1 1/2 hours before the end.
This book is so much more than the legal drama I was expecting. I found it brought so very real feelings and thoughts of what would I do. I hope this doesn’t SPOIL this book for anyone. At the heart of the story is a disabled young woman. Being the parent of physically disabled adult twin daughters I found this easily relatable. Although I think any parent would be able to empathize. It’s the ending that threw me, that was totally unexpected.
SCOTT BRICK... need I say more?
This book has my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.
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Excellent but a Little Predictable

It took a while to get to know the characters, but once I knew them, I loved them. I was caught up, but I shortly figured out the ultimate conclusion. There was an interesting spin on how it got there. I anxiously look forward to more from this author. As always Scott was exciting and preformed a wide variety of characters with convincing voices.

Disappointing

The book's premise was super-compelling:
An attorney is retained by an alluring, award-winning poet who has confessed to shooting her Senator husband.

If only the author would have stuck to the storyline, I would have stuck with this book.

I did not want to listen to the attorney whine about his abusive father. I wanted to listen to a story about why a woman confessed to murdering her husband.

I can usually listen to Scott Brick read the phone book but I could not finish this book.