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 post-9/11 New York City and back again, Kristin Koval’s debut novel is an examination of the complexities of familial loyalty, the journey of redemption, and the profound experience of true forgiveness.

This book contains scenes that depict the death of a child and mentions of sexual assault.

Don’t judge a book by its cover—unless that book is Penitence! As the wintery scene on its jacket suggests, this novel is the perfect February read. Crack open its pages and you’ll find a story that chills you to the bone, keeps you guessing, and compels you to believe in forgiveness.

Penitence starts out with a bang—literally. Nora Sheehan is only thirteen years old when she shoots and kills her brother. Her parents, Angie and David, are faced with the dark reality of their daughter’s actions and the loss of their son. So, when secrets from Angie’s past are uncovered, the Sheehans’ already difficult predicament becomes even more tragic.

We have all looked into the eyes of a family member and felt, simultaneously, deep anger and unconditional love. Common wisdom has it that love will always prevail—but is there a breaking point where rage overtakes it? Penitence begins at that critical moment for the Sheehan family. Though the darkness and violence it contains may surprise you, Penitence ultimately shines from within with a kind of boundless empathy. You simply must read it.