Penitence: A gripping story of love, grief and forgiveness
Kristin Koval
Jan 2026 · Simon and Schuster · Narrated by Thérèse Plummer
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12 hr 13 min
Unabridged
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'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.
'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.
'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
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About the author
Kristin Koval is a former lawyer who always wanted to be a writer but initially wandered down other paths. Her debut novel, Penitence, is a Barnes & Noble Discover Pick, a Book of the Month Pick, an Indie Next Pick, an Apple Books Staff Pick, an Apple Audiobooks Must Listen, a People Magazine Book of the Week and a Goodreads Most Anticipated Pick and Hottest Debut selection. She attended Phillips Exeter Academy, Georgetown University and Columbia Law School. In her free time, she enjoys photography, travelling, skiing, running, biking and triathlons. She lives in the Rocky Mountains in the United States with her husband, two sons and two Great Danes.
Kristin Koval is a former lawyer who always wanted to be a writer but initially wandered down other paths. Her debut novel, Penitence, is a Barnes & Noble Discover Pick, a Book of the Month Pick, an Indie Next Pick, an Apple Books Staff Pick, an Apple Audiobooks Must Listen, a People Magazine Boo...
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