A gripping story of love, grief and forgiveness
In the aftermath of a shocking murder, two small-town families must navigate grief, love and the far-reaching consequences of past mistakes – a riveting, poignant debut perfect for fans of Celeste Ng, Mary Beth Keane, Jodi Picoult and Ann Patchett.

'This terrific debut from a former lawyer announces the arrival of a formidable new talent' DAILY MAIL

'A gripping page-turner and a loving exploration of what it really means to forgive' MARY BETH KEANE

'Penitence, riveting as a thriller, is a wise and profound novel' CLAIRE MESSUD

Are you more than the worst thing you have ever done, or are some things too terrible to forgive?

When teenager Nora Sheehan fatally shoots her brother Nico in their family home one evening, her parents’ lives are left shattered. Nico had been diagnosed with a terminal illness – was what Nora did an act of mercy, or something far darker? And what will happen to her now, alone in a juvenile detention centre awaiting trial, unable or unwilling to speak?
 
Out of their depth, Angie and David Sheehan turn to local lawyer Martine Dumont for help. Martine isn’t just legal counsel – she’s also the mother of Angie’s first love Julian, now a high-powered New York defence attorney who returns to their rural Colorado hometown to assist with the case.
 
But Julian’s arrival stirs up secrets buried in his and Angie’s past – mistakes with far-reaching and damaging consequences. And as the verdict that will decide Nora's fate looms, the two families find themselves confronted with the same heart-wrenching questions: what will they will fight to hold on to, and what must they be prepared to let go? 

Riveting and poignant, Penitence is an unforgettable story of love, grief, guilt and forgiveness that establishes Kristin Koval as a must-read author for fans of Celeste Ng, Mary Beth Keane, Jodi Picoult and Ann Patchett.