They f*uck you up, your mum and dad—and then they sue.
Review: IN HER DEFENSE by Philippa Malicka
Philippa Malicka’s debut novel, “In Her Defense“ is a sharp, unsettling courtroom thriller about unlicensed therapy, recovered memories, and the limits of law.
What Authors Are Saying
"Thanks for the detailed book review...I'm glad you enjoyed Coded Justice."
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"Thank you for reading and for this thoughtful write-up! Seeing the book through this lens is really sharp and compelling, especially in the context of courtroom thrillers."
— Kevin Nguyen, Author of My Documents.
Thanks so much for reading and reviewing The Pain Brokers! So happy to have these women's stories out in the world,"
— Elizabeth Chamblee Burch, Author The Pain Brokers
"Thank you so much for reading - I loved your insights on impact statements. I'm sure Edward would agree! This legal fiction resonates deeply with the themes you explored."
— Abigail Dean, Author of The Death of Us.
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"Thank you for your thoughtful and generous piece. I've been so interested to hear how lawyers, in particular, might interpret this book, and your smart, nuanced examination of the legal aspects really had me thinking " — Gabriel Urza, Author of The Silver State.
"Wow. This is a fabulous review of a gripping legal fiction."
—Janice Hallett, Author of The Killer Question.
Featured by Random House for “Mississippi Blue 42”
“A wild, brilliant takedown of race, greed, and the NCAA’s unpaid labor system . . . What if a courtroom thriller could double as a civil rights case brief and still make you laugh? That’s the high-wire act Mississippi Blue 42 pulls off.” —The Judicial Junkie, a must-read among book reviews for fans of legal fiction.
About Judicial Junkie
Ever read a courtroom scene in a legal thriller and yell, “That’s totally wrong!”? Same here. Surprised when they get it right? Even better. I'm not here just to nitpick (well, not only).
Judicial Junkie is a book blog written by a Brooklyn Law School grad (yes, I passed the Bar) and an erstwhile journalist (I filed stories on John Gotti by fax!). My two decades spent advocating for foster youth in countless New York City family court appearances taught me that a five-minute hearing can profoundly reshape a life.
This blog covers book reviews of legal fiction, exploring themes in courtroom thrillers—from the subtle to the dramatic to the ironic—and examines how law plays out, both in and out of the courtroom.
Got a Book for a Legal Junkie?
Judicial Junkie focuses on book reviews of courtroom thrillers, legal fiction, and literary works where a subpoena or statute plays a crucial role in the story. If your book involves any aspect of law, we want to hear from you.
Please send book ideas, Advance Reader Copies (ARCs), and finished copies from authors and publishers.
Contact Info
Please send all inquiries and submissions to: thejudicialjunkie@gmail.com. We specialize in book reviews, particularly focusing on courtroom thrillers and legal fiction. Find us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judicialjunkie.reads/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/judicialjunkie.bsky.social Substack: https://judicialjunkiereads.substack.com Medium: https://medium.com/@thejudicialjunkie