When I saw the premise of Genna Black’s The Evidence of Us online, it sounded like it was made for me. A murder mystery rom-com featuring a forensic psychologist in the pursuit of truth? Sign me up.
Dr. Lila Jennings manages her grief by throwing herself into her work as a forensic psychologist. After her best friend dies of cancer, she throws herself into the case of Henry Mayfair, a wealthy man who was murdered, and his son convicted of the crime.
Lila never believed the story added up, and after another member of the Mayfair family turns up dead, she decides it’s time to investigate further. Emily Mayfair happens to be a friend from college, so under the guise of caring for her in her grief, Lila gains access to the Mayfair estate.
And who better to come with her and help than the former defense attorney for the son who was convicted of the original murder? Theo Grayson left practicing law behind after he lost the case and turned his attention to teaching, but the case never stopped bothering him. Nor did Lila Jennings. So when she suggests they fake a relationship and work together to solve the case, he’s powerless to resist.
The Evidence of Us is about a dysfunctional family, a tangled mystery, but more than anything, it’s about two idiots in love. This is one of the best tropes in romance, where two people are obsessed with each other, pretend to hate each other, and both of them think that there is no way they have a shot. Lila and Theo are book smart and relationship dumb and it is a delight to read.
He’s insufferable. Condescending. The human embodiment of an exasperated sigh wrapped in a well-muscled package.
These characters are dynamic and dimensional, and I loved every interaction between them. Their chemistry is remarkable, and it’s hard not to root for these two disastrous academics.
This book is a slow burn, with lots of simmering tension. The author definitely makes us wait for it, and when they finally get together, it’s perfect. The dynamic between Lila and Theo is incredibly sexy, and I would have read hundreds more pages of them together.
The Evidence of Us was always going to be a win for me as a reader. I love forensics, so of course, the mystery aspect to this story was appealing, and I’m also quite fond of the world of academia. On premise alone, this was well on its way to a five-star read.
It’s not just the premise that makes this book fantastic, though. It’s structured in a very clever way to keep the reader engaged and asking questions. The descriptions are efficiently detailed, painting a vivid picture without over-explaining.
The Evidence of Us is also just flat-out funny in a wry sort of way, with clever observations of the legal system and quippy banter in the dialogue.
Nothing says healthy relationship like unresolved trauma and a shared obsession with homicide.
I loved every page of this book, and was delighted to discover it’s the first in a planned series that I will be anxiously awaiting. The Evidence of Us is all at once exciting fun and tender emotion, and it hits every note I want in a romantic comedy beautifully.
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