Innocent or guilty. It’s all a matter of interpretation…
Single mother Revelle Lee is an interpreter who spends her days translating for victims, witnesses and the accused across London. Only she knows what they’re saying. Only she knows the truth.
When she believes a grave injustice is about to happen, and a guilty man is going to be labelled innocent, she has the power to twist an alibi to get the verdict she wants. She’s willing to risk it all to do what’s right.
But when someone discovers she lied, Revelle finds the cost might be too high… and she could lose everything, including her son.
The most dangerous person in the courtroom isn’t always the killer…
The Interpreter may be Brooke Robinson’s debut novel, but she’s an experienced playwright – and it shows. Her dramatic finesse is put to excellent use in this context, delivering a meticulously controlled thriller that builds in intensity chapter by chapter. Each new layer of suspense and intrigue nudges the stakes a notch higher. At times, I had to remind myself to breathe.
Revelle, our polyglot protagonist-narrator, is a masterful study in unreliable narration. With the book told primarily from her first-person perspective, we get a good insight into her flaws and motivations. But is she what she seems? She appears to have good intentions and a strong moral compass, but countless question marks hover over her complex backstory. I found this tension incredibly compelling, casting a niggling shadow of doubt that adds to the urgency of the narrative.
There is also the matter of a second perspective, whom we meet at the start of the book but whose identity remains disquietingly veiled until a shocking, satisfying reveal. The presence of this sinister voice further fuels the break-neck momentum of this compelling page-turner.
Robinson is a Sydney native, but she studied drama in London, where the novel is set. I enjoyed her gritty portrayal of the city – it’s somewhere I’ve never been, but I felt familiar with its streets (and courtrooms) by the end of the book. I was also fascinated by the well-researched insights she gives into the UK justice system, and the light she shines on the completely undersung role that interpreters play in ensuring that justice is upheld.
The Interpreter is a standout crime thriller debut for 2023 – readers of Louise Candlish, Sarah Vaughan and Harriet Tyce, take note! This is the perfect book for a weekend in – just be prepared to lose some sleep. I was hooked from the first page and found myself reading increasingly late into the night as I careered toward the ending…
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