Editorial Content for In Her Defense

In her striking debut, IN HER DEFENSE, Philippa Malicka shocks readers with an immersive psychological thriller involving manipulated relationships.

Guest v. Finbow is a closely watched lawsuit being tried in the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Jean Guest alleges that her reputation as a therapist has been damaged by the libelous statements of Anna Finbow, an influential television personality. Anna shows no remorse, only indignant anger. She fumes that Jean turned her daughter, Mary, against her. She claims that the unlicensed “therapist” planted false memories in Mary’s head, which destroyed their close bond. Anna wants the world to know what this witch did to their relationship, and she hopes to keep Jean from wrecking other families. Not only has Anna lost her daughter, her marriage is now hanging by a thread.

"Augusta Bird is a highly sympathetic character. Until she’s not.... IN HER DEFENSE is a compulsive page turner. Does it end on the right foot? It’s up to you to find out."

In the weeks leading up to the trial, Anna interviews a young woman, Augusta “Gus” Bird. Gus, like Anna, is a ceramicist. She has dreamed of working with Anna, an artist with a brand of collectibles known all over the country. So Gus shows up for the appointment and gets the job. However, unexpectedly, the duties are not as Anna’s aide in pottery making but as the Finbows’ dog walker. Although disappointed, Gus accepts anyway.

Sometime back, Gus went to Rome in order to pursue her passion for becoming a great ceramicist. Struggling artists in an expensive city like Rome often find it difficult to survive. So when Gus was chosen to pose at a posh art school, she jumped at the chance as she desperately needed the money. As a bonus, the student she’d be sitting for was Mary Finbow. Tall, blonde, beautiful and rich, Mary has everything that Gus yearns for. And it doesn’t take long for Gus to fall in love with her. How can she get Mary to reciprocate those feelings?

What happens in Rome becomes a blur of drunken parties, sexual experiments and young people gone wild. Gus took up with a crowd of girls who have a lifestyle far different from what she has ever known. Sometimes their choices make her uncomfortable, but she needs acceptance. She craves it, along with constant reassurance. While Gus thinks she knows what she wants, she is open to suggestions. She easily can be manipulated. But Gus has no money, so why would anyone bother? For at least one person, there’s a very good reason.

Augusta Bird is a highly sympathetic character. Until she’s not. Her story twists and changes from one setting to the next, making it difficult to keep liking her. But it’s equally hard not to like her. Just when she does something really nice, she ruins it with a jaw-dropping slam. Or she might start out on a bad course only to finish off by setting things right.

Then there’s Anna Finbow. She lost contact with her only child. Was it her fault? Did Jean Guest plant memories? Did the therapist cause the rift between mother and daughter for her own gain? Who here did the manipulating? Who should win the lawsuit? Oh, there are so many questions.

IN HER DEFENSE is a compulsive page turner. Does it end on the right foot? It’s up to you to find out.