By: Kristin Koval
Narrator: Thérèse Plummer
ISBN: 9781250384225
Publisher: Celadon Books
Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: 01/28/2025
Format: Audio/Other
Duration: 11 Hours, 57 Minutes
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ALC, ARC)
For readers of Ann Patchett and Celeste Ng, Penitence is a poignant exploration of love and forgiveness. It’s a suspenseful, addictive page-turner filled with literary insight that compels readers to consider whether the worst thing we’ve ever done is all that defines us.
When a shocking murder occurs in the home of Angie and David Sheehan, their lives are shattered. Desperate to defend their family, they turn to small-town lawyer Martine Dumont for help, but Martine isn’t just legal counsel—she’s also the mother of Angie’s first love, Julian, a now-successful New York City criminal defense attorney. As Julian and Angie confront their shared past and long-buried guilt from a tragic accident years ago, they must navigate their own culpability and the unresolved feelings between them.
Spanning decades, from the ski slopes of rural Colorado to the streets of pre-9/11 New York City and back again, Kristin Koval’s debut novel Penitence is an examination of the complexities of familial loyalty, the journey of redemption, and the profound experience of true forgiveness.
About the Author
Photo by James P. Valin
Kristin Koval is a former lawyer who always wanted to be a writer but initially wandered down other paths. She attended Phillips Exeter Academy, Georgetown University and Columbia Law School. She lives in Boulder, Colorado and Park City, Utah with her husband, two sons and two Great Danes.
Connect with Kristin:
Exceptional Authors. Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
Behind the Book & the Author
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW.
Q&A Elevator Ride with debut Author
Kristin Koval & PENITENCE
Welcome to the second January 2025 #AuthorElevatorSeries with special guest author Kristin Koval and her dazzling knockout debut novel, PENITENCE. The novel examines the complexities of familial loyalty, the journey of redemption, and the profound experience of true forgiveness.
PENITENCE is a poignant exploration of love and forgiveness for readers of Ann Patchett and Celeste Ng. It’s a suspenseful, addictive page-turner filled with literary insight that compels readers to consider whether the worst thing we’ve ever done is all that defines us.
Join us as Kristin shares some fascinating behind-the-scenes exclusives from the book and up-close and personal fun moments from this talented author.
Welcome, Kristin!
Behind the Book
Q. RESEARCH: Any fascinating research for the novel, or anything you learned along the way?
I parsed through much of Nelson’s Textbook of Pediatrics (there are close to 5,000 pages in two huge volumes), sometimes actually reading, sometimes skimming, trying to find the right condition for Nico that fit the novel and then trying to portray juvenile Huntington’s correctly, and also read the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) to learn about how various mental health issues might present in teens and children. The research was interesting and necessary… but I’m glad I majored in English and went to law school instead of spending four years in medical school!
Q. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Your favorite character to write, and/or most challenging?
Exploring the story from Nora’s point of view was complicated. I initially wrote her chapters in the third person, but those chapters weren’t working, and I realized that even with serious revision, a close third-person narrator wasn’t the best option. First, I couldn’t reflect the turmoil that might be happening in her head without answering certain questions too soon. Second, even after I did the relevant research, I realized I didn’t fully understand that turmoil—maybe in part because the experts don’t fully understand mental health issues in children ages thirteen and under. I eventually chose to use an omniscient narrator to provide distance from Nora, and found that it also gave me the space to explore the injustices and inequities in the juvenile justice system and the juvenile detention center where she was held—things she might not have noticed as a thirteen-year-old but that I definitely wanted to highlight in the novel.
Q. ADAPTATION: For fun, do you have any cast of stars in mind for any of your leading roles for movie or TV series?
Meryl Streep or Frances McDormand would both make an excellent Martine!
Q. WRITING: Do you have a favorite chapter or scene in the novel you enjoyed writing the most?
I loved writing the prologue, Chapter 13 (where Ignacio is driving Nora to the courthouse), and certain scenes from the final chapter. I knew exactly what I wanted to say and the words flowed quickly and easily—and interestingly, those sections of the novel underwent very little revision during the publishing process.
Q. TAKEAWAY: What important message, theme, or takeaway would you like readers to be left with when reading your book?
The primary reason I wrote Penitence was to explore the idea of forgiveness, which is a complicated issue for most people. I hope readers will also be attuned to the ideas of mercy (which we need to grant to others after they’ve made mistakes) and empathy (which can help us develop mercy). And, while the novel leans heavily into the themes of forgiveness and mercy on an individual level, I hope it also shines light on the lack of forgiveness and mercy within the criminal justice system, on the many inequities and biases in the criminal justice system, and especially on the system’s failure to handle juveniles fairly, especially in its practice of charging juveniles as adults.
Q. DID YOU KNOW? Name someting that readers may (or not) know about your new book. (or a detail that readers may not find in the book).
The town of Lodgepole is a fictional town based in southwest Colorado, but I wrote it while living in the town of Telluride during the winter of 2021-2022, so much of the topography is based on the topography of Telluride. In addition, I lived steps away from the historical Lone Tree Cemetery, and walked there every morning with my dogs. We occasionally saw coyotes, and that is how the scene with Jack stealing a bone from a coyote kill was born!
Continue reading below for more up close and personal with the author.
Behind the Author
FAVORITE THING ABOUT WHERE YOU RESIDE?
Colorado and Utah are full of natural beauty, and I can ski, hike, trail run, and bike out my back door. The open skies make for killer sunrises.
YOUR FAVORITE GO TO DRINK OR FOOD WHEN THE WORLD GOES A LITTLE CRAZY?
A whiskey or a strong margarita.
YOUR SECRET TALENT?
Making up limericks on the spot.
FAVORITE KITCHEN/COOKING/HOME/GARDEN PRODUCT OR TIP:
Grow or buy lots of basil in the summer and use it to make oodles of pesto that you can freeze and later thaw for tasty, home-made winter meals.
FAVORITE FOOD/DRINK?
Dark chocolate
MORNING/NIGHT PERSON?
Morning
FAVORITE HOBBY?
Photography
DESCRIBE A PERFECT DAY?
Any day that starts with watching the sunrise.
IF YOU WERE STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR ALONE WITH ONE CELEBRITY, AUTHOR, OR CHARACTER— WHO WOULD IT BE? (Male or Female)
That’s an impossible question! There are so many talents out there — but I love strong women like Meryl Streep, Michelle Yeoh, Frances McDormand, Viola Davis, Kate Winslet, and Florence Pugh. As for men, 100% Keanu Reeves.
THE FIRST BOOK YOU REMEMBER READING THAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME AN AUTHOR—THE ONE YOU CANNOT STOP THINKING OF.
A Wrinkle in Time when I was a little girl, and then in high school and college, writers like Louise Erdrich, Jorge Luis Borges, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I especially loved the wild and lyrical nature of Garcia Marquez.
FAVORITE HOLIDAY OR SEASON?
Fall! The days are warm but the nights are cool and the Colorado aspens turn golden yellow.
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH READERS KNEW ABOUT YOU?
I competed in (and finished!) a half-Ironman last December!
WHEN YOU RECEIVE A SPARK OF INSPIRATION FOR A BOOK:
I stop what I’m doing and type all my thoughts into my phone or write it on a post-it. I have post-its all over my house.
YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE?
At home, because I have access to all my favorite snacks and the company of my great danes, Juno and Lucy
DESCRIBE ONE THING ON YOUR DESK, CURRENTLY?
Two oranges.
NAME SOMETHING YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF TO BE VERY GOOD AT?
Skiing
NAME ONE THING YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF TO BE BAD AT?
Technology
YOUR MOST PRODUCTIVE TIME OF THE DAY?
Morning
YOUR GO-TO RECIPE FOR A NIGHT IN?
Any kind of Italian food!
WHO GIVES YOU THE COURAGE TO TRY NEW THINGS?
Me! I love to try new things. New sports, new food, new routes when I run or walk or hike or drive, visiting new countries, approaching life a different way.
Fascinating! Thank you, Kristin, for spending time with us today!
Praise
Goodreads Most Anticipated Books of January and Hottest Debuts of 2025.
Named Indie Next for February
"Koval maintains the pacing of a thriller while going deep on themes of guilt, forgiveness, and the toll of keeping secrets. Readers won’t be able to look away."
―Publishers Weekly
"While exploring the complexities of personal and family relationships, this engrossing, emotionally charged novel also examines the way forgiveness comes from acceptance that 'each one of us is more than the worst we’ve ever done.' An intelligent, deftly crafted suspense debut."
―Kirkus
“Fans of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE will appreciate this deeply moving novel about what it takes to let go of guilt and find redemption. Koval’s background in law lends realism to her image of America’s broken criminal justice system, and her prose poignantly exposes what it takes to find forgiveness.”
– Booklist
“This story begins with a shocking act of violence but unfolds into a tender story of family, long-held secrets, and what ifs. Penitence is both a gripping page-turner and a loving exploration of what it really means to forgive.”
―Mary Beth Keane, bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes and The Half Moon
“Big-hearted, bold, and deftly plotted, Penitence tells a shocking tale of fratricide against the backdrop of two families linked by love, chance, and tragedy. I couldn’t put it down. Kristin Koval emerges as a remarkable new voice in fiction.”
―Adrienne Brodeur, bestselling author of Little Monsters and Wild Game
"Deeply humane, spiky, yearning, heartfelt, rendered in brisk and often stunning prose, Kristin Koval's Penitence poses so many rich and complicated questions about where and how guilt lives."
―Lynn Steger Strong, author of Flight
"Kristin Koval’s prose is crisp and readable and insightful... Penitence will grab you on its first page and hold you tight until the end.”
―Laura Spence-Ash, author of Beyond That, the Sea
“Penitence, riveting as a thriller, is a wise and profound novel. After a shocking tragedy unfolds in a small Colorado community, those intimately affected must grapple with their limitations and their buried histories. Kristin Koval relays their stories with great wisdom and compassion in this remarkable debut.”
―Claire Messud, bestselling author of The Emperor’s Children and This Strange Eventful History
My Review
Kristin Koval, former attorney turned novelist, delivers a stand-out, character-driven, and compelling debut, PENITENCE —a beautifully written literary thriller and domestic suspense of family, love, forgiveness, and redemption. Top Books of 2025— Lawyers seem to make the best authors.
With hauntingly vivid prose, discover your next book club read—PENITENCE!
For starters, I love this quote by a favorite author:
"Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done." —Bryan Stevenson
I highly recommend Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (book and movie). This quote sets the novel's tone and eloquently explores this ongoing theme in this emotionally charged tale. It reminds us that each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done, a sentiment that resonates deeply in the story of Nora and her family.
About...
Nora Sheehan sits in a jail cell in Lodgepole, Colorado. She is 13. She does not look like the sort of girl who just killed her brother, Nico, 14, with Huntington's disease.
Angie Sheehan, the mother, is at home grieving the loss of her only son, Nico, while her husband, David, is trying desperately to find a lawyer for their daughter, Nora, who has been arrested for the murder of her brother.
David knocks on Martine Dumont, a small-town local attorney's door, to defend their family. She isn't just any attorney but the mother of Angie's first love, Julian, a now successful NYC criminal defense attorney.
In addition to the story of Nora and Nico, there is also a back story of Julian and Angie when they were teens and Angie's younger sister's (Diana) accidental death. There is a lot of guilt from the past and now the present.
Martine knows she is not capable of handling a murder case, but her son is. Will he and Angie be able to put their past aside for Nora?
My thoughts...
What a debut! PENITENCE is a riveting tale of a shocking tragedy, from a murder and the fallout. This couple has lost their son and possibly their daughter. Full of suspense and twists, it is not a whodunit but a whydunit. It is a profoundly moving page-turner thriller of domestic suspense of a family (s) in turmoil, guilt, secrets, and the true meaning of forgiveness.
Koval taps into a world of emotional family drama, both heartbreaking and suspenseful—an essential study of humanity, family, grief, and hope in the aftermath of unfathomable trauma.
Koval's writing is heartfelt and compassionate, deeply emotional, insightful, and rich in character. She skillfully weaves a narrative with dual timelines and multiple points of view, unraveling the past and each character's role. The novel also sheds light on the flaws of the juvenile justice and legal system, ultimately delivering a powerful message of forgiveness.
As you read PENITENCE, you'll find yourself on an unpredictable and gut-wrenching journey of two complex families and their dynamics as the past converges with the present.
Koval's storytelling will keep you hooked from the first page to the satisfying conclusion. This is a remarkable debut from a new voice in fiction, and you'll be amazed that it's a debut novel. You'll be left eagerly anticipating what this talented author will bring us next.
Complex, multi-layered, and psychologically rich, PENITENCE is ideal for book clubs, further discussions, and prime for the big or small screen.
Audiobook...
I had the privilege of reading and listening to the captivating audiobook. Thérèse Plummer (favorite narrator) captures the essence of the story brilliantly— with intensity, emotion, and her signature style for an engaging listening experience. The audiobook adds another layer of depth to the story, making it a highly recommended option for those who enjoy audiobooks.
Interview...
Stay tuned for my Featured #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A ride with this talented new author and this exceptional debut, where we go behind the scenes of the book and author. (pub day, Jan 28)
Recs...
PENITENCE is for fans of well-written family dramas and those who enjoy literary thriller. Also works by by Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain, Kristin Hannah, Lisa Scottoline, Celeste Ng, Michele Campbell, and Elizabeth Strout.
Special thanks to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for an ARC and ALC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #MacAudio2024.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Jan 28, 2025
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