Shameless

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at first. Another ‘brilliant but troubled lawyer’ story? But *Shameless* hooked me within 20 minutes—not because of its premise (which *is* solid), but because of how *unlikable* Kenzi Rivera is allowed to be. Bernhardt doesn’t soften her; she’s ambitious to the point of cruelty, and Coello’s narration leans into that, delivering lines with a smirk you can *hear*. The case at the center—a wealthy client accused of a heinous crime—should feel familiar, but the way it forces Kenzi to confront her estranged brother (and her own complicity in their fractured relationship) gives it teeth. The courtroom scenes are taut, but the real tension lives in the quiet moments: Kenzi’s late-night whiskey-fueled monologues, or the way Coello’s voice drops to a whisper when Kenzi’s confidence cracks. That said, this isn’t a flawless listen. The mid-act sag drags slightly—Bernhardt spends a little too long on procedural minutiae that even Coello’s energy can’t fully animate—and the villain’s motives, when revealed, feel a touch undercooked. But the finale? Worth the wait. Coello *nails* the emotional whiplash of the last hour, and the ambiguous ending will leave you debating Kenzi’s choices long after the credits. If you love morally gray protagonists, razor-sharp dialogue, and narrators who *become* the character, this is a home run. Just don’t expect to like Kenzi by the end—you’ll respect her, fear her, and maybe, grudgingly, understand her." "tags": [ "female antihero lawyer thriller