The Terrible Trial of Kennedy Abrams

by Katherine Powell

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 7, 2026

About the author

Katherine Powell was born and raised in Bel Air, Maryland. She has a B.A. in Political Science from Brigham Young University, with a concentration in Political Strategy and a minor in Creative Writing. She began pursuing a juris doctorate at Penn State Dickinson Law School in 2023. Katherine has been writing since she was seven years old and has won multiple awards for her work. Her multimedia novel DEAR SYDNEY has been read over three million times in 50 countries and was the recipient of a 2016 Watty Award. Her drama-mystery novel TREADMILL was shortlisted for a 2021 Watty Award, and its sequel, THE TERRIBLE TRIAL OF KENNEDY ABRAMS, won a 2022 Watty Award. When she isn’t writing or studying, Katherine can usually be found reading, listening to Taylor Swift, or rewatching a sitcom.

Reviews

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Suits and Criminal Minds, this is a book you’ll want to pick up. It follows Kennedy Abrams after she’s arrested for a hit-and-run accident, immediately pulling you into a high-stakes, tension-filled trial.

The suspense throughout the story made it nearly impossible to put down. With each new revelation, the author delivers just enough clues to keep you guessing, while still managing to weave in a few well-placed twists. I flew through this book because I had to know how it all unfolded.

There was one part that kept me from giving it a full five stars as I, personally had a difficult time believing the circumstances and questioned the motive. But that was probably just me. And the scene did add to the intensity of the book, so ultimately it was needed.

[Madison Beardslee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through this book. From the opening pages, it was very fast and the tension in the courtroom kept me turning pages.

The premise centers on Kennedy Abrams, who is on trial for murder of Hank. Over the course of the trial, we learn more and more secrets that each individual involved is holding. Each chapter brought more twists.

It is very clear the author understands legal settings! I found that intriguing in itself. Each new revelation changes how you feel about the circumstances and characters, which creates this evolving story.

Each chapter, another layer of the story is added, with its own twists and character building.
If you enjoy courtroom thrillers with complicated relationships, secrets, and plenty of surprise, I would definitely check this out!

Thank you to Katherine Powell for the ARC :)

[Katie Eakins · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Sequel to Treadmill, Kennedy is on trial and we are about to find out if she’s going to prison or not. If Rebecca will get away with her part in the events. If the empire will fall. Oh man, are we in for it.
Over the course of the trial, and the weeks afterward secrets are revealed, deals are made, and some truly scandalous events take place and I was HOOKED. I flew through this book! It was page after page of secrets, lies, and just being shocked. Right to the last pages! Thank you, Katherine, for sending me an eARC!!

[Quinn Connelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think the first book could be beat, but this one is even better! You can tell the author is a law student, the writing shines in a number of tense courtroom scenes throughout the novel. It's also very well-structured, and a number of twists throughout do an excellent job of keeping things interesting as your ideas about the characters evolve. The best twists recontextualize the original and made me want to reread it immediately. Best book of 2026 so far, I highly recommend it.

[Jennifer Bendel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an arc from the author herself. I read Treadmill and loved it. The trial was absolutely fascinating. To get inside Kennedy’s head and feel her emotions made me feel for her. I was rooting for her for a majority of the book this time. I can’t express most of my thoughts without giving away spoilers but this book was amazing and I would absolutely love a third book.

[Jenny W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was nice and short and it did have a good story line to it, it was just not something I would normally read!!!

[Kells (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'M SCREAMING AT MY KINDLE! I've never been so mad that a book ended before (in a good way).
I've had such a love/hate relationship with these girls and their bad decisions.