Review of Byline
Posted: 25 Jan 2022, 15:50
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Byline" by Kimberly Paulson.]
Byline by Kimberly Paulson is a crime fiction that revolves around a murder mystery in a small town, Washtenaw. A young college boy, Curt, is murdered and found bloodied on the streets. Initial investigations point to Henry, a guy on the streets. Forced to think the drama has ended, we are soon proven wrong when Sohni, a public defender, ventures into her private investigations. Sohni is a passionate and empathic lawyer who is assigned to Henry. In a bid to defend her client, doubts arise. Sohni uncovers hidden clues, pointers, and truths lost in the hasty investigation conducted by the Police. One thing is clear; there is more than meets the eye. Who could be behind the threats? Could Henry be innocent despite his past? What could be the killer’s motives? So many questions, so much to be unearthed. Byline takes us through a wild journey of truth-seeking.
The novel has a lot of positive aspects. Through the help Sohni got from different persons at different points, she is able to move forward in her investigations. This strongly emphasizes teamwork and cooperation. She needed all the help she could get. She could not have ventured alone without the help she got from her colleagues, Peter, Daniel, her husband, and Frank, Curt’s dad, amongst others.
Quite commendable is the fantastic support system Matt was to her. His care and love for his wife were apparent, pushing him to be overprotective when the need arose. Manju also proved to be a great support in helping Sohni manage her stress level even though their parents were neither supportive nor encouraging.
Sohni is presented as a strong and compassionate woman who is very diligent in her duties despite being the most junior at the public defender’s office. Never deterred by the seemingly little evidence and dead ends, she continues her investigations relentlessly. The devastating consequences of a poorly conducted analysis are highlighted and how justice can be perverted through it. It would be pretty absurd if I do not comment on how the author tried to break down the complexities of trials, proceedings, and other legal whatnots. It made the trial process understandable and entertaining.
More so, the role of the press in shaping the view, mindset, and attitude of the public is also highlighted in the novel. Most distinctively, the author brings into focus the effects of parents’ unhealthy pattern of raising children of which Sohni and Zach are victims. Some may move past it, while others may be caught in the web of such an unhealthy upbringing. However, I could not find any negative aspects to this novel. I did find some errors which I consider minor. This goes to show that the story was professionally edited, and so I rate it a 4 out of 4.
I recommend this book to crime fiction lovers, lovers of murder mysteries, or detective novels. They would really find this book enjoyable.
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Byline
View: on Bookshelves
Byline by Kimberly Paulson is a crime fiction that revolves around a murder mystery in a small town, Washtenaw. A young college boy, Curt, is murdered and found bloodied on the streets. Initial investigations point to Henry, a guy on the streets. Forced to think the drama has ended, we are soon proven wrong when Sohni, a public defender, ventures into her private investigations. Sohni is a passionate and empathic lawyer who is assigned to Henry. In a bid to defend her client, doubts arise. Sohni uncovers hidden clues, pointers, and truths lost in the hasty investigation conducted by the Police. One thing is clear; there is more than meets the eye. Who could be behind the threats? Could Henry be innocent despite his past? What could be the killer’s motives? So many questions, so much to be unearthed. Byline takes us through a wild journey of truth-seeking.
The novel has a lot of positive aspects. Through the help Sohni got from different persons at different points, she is able to move forward in her investigations. This strongly emphasizes teamwork and cooperation. She needed all the help she could get. She could not have ventured alone without the help she got from her colleagues, Peter, Daniel, her husband, and Frank, Curt’s dad, amongst others.
Quite commendable is the fantastic support system Matt was to her. His care and love for his wife were apparent, pushing him to be overprotective when the need arose. Manju also proved to be a great support in helping Sohni manage her stress level even though their parents were neither supportive nor encouraging.
Sohni is presented as a strong and compassionate woman who is very diligent in her duties despite being the most junior at the public defender’s office. Never deterred by the seemingly little evidence and dead ends, she continues her investigations relentlessly. The devastating consequences of a poorly conducted analysis are highlighted and how justice can be perverted through it. It would be pretty absurd if I do not comment on how the author tried to break down the complexities of trials, proceedings, and other legal whatnots. It made the trial process understandable and entertaining.
More so, the role of the press in shaping the view, mindset, and attitude of the public is also highlighted in the novel. Most distinctively, the author brings into focus the effects of parents’ unhealthy pattern of raising children of which Sohni and Zach are victims. Some may move past it, while others may be caught in the web of such an unhealthy upbringing. However, I could not find any negative aspects to this novel. I did find some errors which I consider minor. This goes to show that the story was professionally edited, and so I rate it a 4 out of 4.
I recommend this book to crime fiction lovers, lovers of murder mysteries, or detective novels. They would really find this book enjoyable.
******
Byline
View: on Bookshelves