The Body in Question

July 8, 2019
Ciement’s intriguing, swift-moving novel (after Act of God) is set in the midst of a sensational murder trial—a teenage twin is on trial for murdering her toddler brother, as two jurors engage in a love affair. Moving from jury selection to sequestering, the two jurors spend their days listening to grisly details of the crime, and their nights in furtive lovemaking. Juror Hannah, 52, the protagonist, struggles with her marriage to an 86-year-old. As she continues her torrid affair with Graham, a 42-year-old professor, they vow not to discuss the case. However, when the jury reaches deliberations, Hannah and Graham quickly realize they are on opposing sides, and to make matters worse, fellow jurors are aware of their dalliance. Once the verdict is read, Hannah returns to life with her husband, riddled with guilt over her indiscretion. Unbeknownst to Hannah, things are about to get worse. The case is soon in the headlines again as new information comes to light suggesting the jury convicted the wrong twin. Worse, the judge has received an anonymous note reporting that “two of my fellow jurors had sexual contact,” and suddenly, not only does Hannah face the destruction of her marriage, but public, moral outrage over her fling. Ciment expertly toggles between the thrilling twists and turns of the courtroom to the private and personal struggles of marriage and aging. This novel will hook readers with its powerful, magnetic narrative.

Hillary Huber's narration of this arresting audiobook is so precise and thoughtful that the listener is transported into the action--for better or for worse. At the heart of the story is "C-2," a juror in a horrific murder trial, whose real name is revealed once the trial ends. The story concerns the choices C-2 makes during the time she is sequestered. Huber creates a distinctive voice for each character--so much so that the listener knows which individual is speaking before they're identified. Huber's well-honed pacing and delivery make the story all the more engrossing. While there are moments in the plot that seem out of place, they serve to spotlight the inexplicable choices humans sometimes make. L.B.F. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine