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Burton and Lamb #2
محاكمة علاء الدين
When an elderly local artist plunges 100 feet to her death at an overstretched Hampstead hospital, the police immediately sense foul play. The hospital cleaner, a Syrian refugee, is arrested for her murder after stolen jewelery is found at his home. He protests his innocence, but why has he given her the story of Aladdin to read, and why does he shake uncontrollably in times of stress? Judith Burton and Constance Lamb are reunited to defend a man the media has already convicted, uncovering not only the cleaner’s secrets but also those of the artist’s family, her lawyer, and the hospital, too.
- GenresFiction
Paperback
First published June 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 27, 2018
Chief Inspector Dawson is called to investigate at St Mark's Hospital how an elderly lady Barbara Henessy plunged to her death from a ward on the eleventh floor. She only went into hospital to have her bunions done. Mrs Henessy had her operation and was going home. I could picture the scene. The question is had she fallen or had she been pushed. In the beginning of the investigation no conclusions had been made, all options were being assessed. Unfortunately in the hospital it was impossible to move any patients out of their rooms. So there was no way to secure the crime scene from contamination in the hospital. I highly recommend reading The Aladdin Trail and The Pinocchio Brief.
April 21, 2018
LOVED The Pinocchio Brief and this follow up, The Aladdin Trial was just as compelling. I love the characters of Burton and Lamb and the plotting is divine, love how the mystery elements work. Review to follow as part of the official tour.
August 14, 2018
You can also find this review
on my book blog.
I was contacted by the publisher to review this book and when I read the synopsis it immediately made me want to read it. I love reading thriller/mystery genre and what stood out with this one for me is the setting and a very interesting murder case – a hospital cleaner gets blamed for the murder of an artist who happens to be a patient there! How exciting!
The Aladdin Trial begins with a, you guessed it, murder of an old woman who went in for an operation and was recovering at the hospital. Her death is very mysterious because where her body was found doesn’t make sense if you try and explain it with suicide – she couldn’t have jumped from a balcony because of her condition as well as age so there must be something more to it. Ahmad – the cleaner – gets thrown into jail and is awaiting trial for the murder of Mrs. Hennessy – the old woman – but there is something more to it. Mrs. Hennessy had children to whom she left an inheritance of two million pounds which could give one of the children the motive for her murder or the doctors might have something to do with it since one of them is trying to cover something up. To help us find the truth we have Constance Lamb and Judith Burton – two brilliant and flawed characters – who are trying to prove that Ahmad is innocent and there’s something more to Mrs. Hennessy’s death.
I have to apologize for my bad synopsis summary but you can always check out the Goodreads page for this book and get the better version of the synopsis. The chapters in this book are short and very readable. I found The Aladdin Trial to be such a thrilling read that after about 50% made me want to read on and don’t stop until I find out what exactly happened to Mrs. Hennessy. At times The Aladdin Trial fails with chapters finishing abruptly or being out of place which some people might find annoying. I found Ahmad to be so interesting as well as the mystery around his wife and sometimes I wanted to yell at him because I wanted him to tell more to Constance and Judith about his life and events that happened that night. The resolution of this book was very good and I found it satisfying.
The Aladdin Trial is a thrilling book that will make you want to read and read so you can find out the truth behind the mysterious death of one of Hampstead hospitals patients.
I would like to thank the publisher Eye/Lightning Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions written here are my own and weren’t influenced by anything.
I was contacted by the publisher to review this book and when I read the synopsis it immediately made me want to read it. I love reading thriller/mystery genre and what stood out with this one for me is the setting and a very interesting murder case – a hospital cleaner gets blamed for the murder of an artist who happens to be a patient there! How exciting!
The Aladdin Trial begins with a, you guessed it, murder of an old woman who went in for an operation and was recovering at the hospital. Her death is very mysterious because where her body was found doesn’t make sense if you try and explain it with suicide – she couldn’t have jumped from a balcony because of her condition as well as age so there must be something more to it. Ahmad – the cleaner – gets thrown into jail and is awaiting trial for the murder of Mrs. Hennessy – the old woman – but there is something more to it. Mrs. Hennessy had children to whom she left an inheritance of two million pounds which could give one of the children the motive for her murder or the doctors might have something to do with it since one of them is trying to cover something up. To help us find the truth we have Constance Lamb and Judith Burton – two brilliant and flawed characters – who are trying to prove that Ahmad is innocent and there’s something more to Mrs. Hennessy’s death.
I have to apologize for my bad synopsis summary but you can always check out the Goodreads page for this book and get the better version of the synopsis. The chapters in this book are short and very readable. I found The Aladdin Trial to be such a thrilling read that after about 50% made me want to read on and don’t stop until I find out what exactly happened to Mrs. Hennessy. At times The Aladdin Trial fails with chapters finishing abruptly or being out of place which some people might find annoying. I found Ahmad to be so interesting as well as the mystery around his wife and sometimes I wanted to yell at him because I wanted him to tell more to Constance and Judith about his life and events that happened that night. The resolution of this book was very good and I found it satisfying.
The Aladdin Trial is a thrilling book that will make you want to read and read so you can find out the truth behind the mysterious death of one of Hampstead hospitals patients.
I would like to thank the publisher Eye/Lightning Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions written here are my own and weren’t influenced by anything.
June 29, 2018
The dynamic legal duo of Burton and Lamb are back. When I first met them in The Pinocchio Brief they were up against the wall with a child who refused to talk and a lie detector machine making its debut in court. In this second novel from Abi Silver, they’re defending a hospital cleaner who is accused of murder. Did he do it or is there more to the case than meets the eye?
Abi Silver has again written a legal thriller with a difference. I’m not going to go too much into what the difference is because that would spoil the story. But this isn’t just a courtroom battle. Burton and Lamb are doing the leg work to prove the innocence of their client.
I really didn’t know where Ms Silver was taking me. I thought Ahmed was innocent but the prosecution arguments were so compelling, it dropped a seed of doubt in my conviction. Who was the real killer or was it suicide? There were so many motives offered up, I really couldn’t decide! Was it the cleaner, the artist’s own family, her lawyer, someone else entirely?! My finger could not decide which way to point in its accusing manner.
This is the perfect follow up to The Pinocchio Brief. I was kept guessing all the way through and the grand reveal was reminiscent of Poirot at his finest. I loved The Aladdin Trial. Just one question: When’s book 3 out?!!
Abi Silver has again written a legal thriller with a difference. I’m not going to go too much into what the difference is because that would spoil the story. But this isn’t just a courtroom battle. Burton and Lamb are doing the leg work to prove the innocence of their client.
I really didn’t know where Ms Silver was taking me. I thought Ahmed was innocent but the prosecution arguments were so compelling, it dropped a seed of doubt in my conviction. Who was the real killer or was it suicide? There were so many motives offered up, I really couldn’t decide! Was it the cleaner, the artist’s own family, her lawyer, someone else entirely?! My finger could not decide which way to point in its accusing manner.
This is the perfect follow up to The Pinocchio Brief. I was kept guessing all the way through and the grand reveal was reminiscent of Poirot at his finest. I loved The Aladdin Trial. Just one question: When’s book 3 out?!!
September 3, 2019
This is probably my favourite of the series as we glimpse further into the personal lives of Burton and Lamb as they defend a Syrian refugee accused of murder.
It is a very timely and harrowing read, reagrding the misuse of information and the lack of culpability in the emdia for creating, and maintaing, stereotypes about immigrants, refugees and the 'Muslim as terrorist' approach. All they do is entrench the fear of 'The Other' in the public conscience so that by the time Ahmad takes the stand, he has been found guilty in the damning court of popular opinion.
Barbara Hennessey has fallen from the 11th story external stairs in a hospital, the day after a bunion operation. She has been talking to cleaner, Ahmad, over the course of her 3 day stay in the private end of the ward, because her family have not visited and she was lonely. DNA represented by Ahmad's hair on her nightgown button and fingerprints on the door to the staffroom through which Barbra accessed the stairs seem to damn Ahmad. Added to this is the copy of 'Arabian Nights' that she asked him to buy her, after trying to understand the story of Aladdin,and Barbara's 2 rings which were found in a search of Ahmad's house.
But...
Barbara's 2 children who always thought their sparse existence courtesy of theirr eccentric artist mother meant she had limited means, are shocked at the contents of her will. Even more shocking are the stipulations that are left in order for them to inherit 50% of her 1.9 million pound fortune. And with a vicious, manipulative lawyer who seems to have more than a vested interest in Barbra lurking in the background, there seems like way more than one opportunist who could've killed her.
The surgeons are panicking as technically her death is on their mortality figures and there is the little case of the missing page from Barbra's notes, the page that gives consent for an optional robotic surgical procedure rather than a human surgeon-freeing up more time for surgeons to tackle their waiting list backlog. A robotic procedure called 'The Aladdin Trial'...
So many twists and turns lead up to a stunning court room climax, it is a moving and very timely story and I defy anyone reading not to be moved to anger by the racial abuse suffered by Ahmad and also the hopsital consultant, Hani, for being a person of colour wearing a backpack. The narrative which is from the perspective of Ahmad's daughter ,Shaza, intersperses the interviewing of suspects , the gathering of evidence and the desperate race of Joe and Tracy(Barbara's children)to claim their inheritence, really brings you down to earth with a bump. Between school, where she is racially abused and home, where she lives with her essentially mute mother, Aisha, her determination to work out what is happening in her small world by talking it through with her toys , is heartbreaking and so poignant.
I absolutely loved it and can thoroughly recommend this very satisfying court room drama to anyone who loves mysteries, feuding families, scheming lawyers and social justice.#
As the ladies themselves say-
''It's just like the best Agatha Christie,' Judith muttered to Constance gleefully.'How do you mean?''Everyone is here.All the suspects in one place.All we need now is some natural disaster.a snowstorm,to force us all to remain here for a few hours to allow ma and you to solve the murder.If no one else gets bumped off before then, that is.'
Roll on Burton and Lamb book 4!
It is a very timely and harrowing read, reagrding the misuse of information and the lack of culpability in the emdia for creating, and maintaing, stereotypes about immigrants, refugees and the 'Muslim as terrorist' approach. All they do is entrench the fear of 'The Other' in the public conscience so that by the time Ahmad takes the stand, he has been found guilty in the damning court of popular opinion.
Barbara Hennessey has fallen from the 11th story external stairs in a hospital, the day after a bunion operation. She has been talking to cleaner, Ahmad, over the course of her 3 day stay in the private end of the ward, because her family have not visited and she was lonely. DNA represented by Ahmad's hair on her nightgown button and fingerprints on the door to the staffroom through which Barbra accessed the stairs seem to damn Ahmad. Added to this is the copy of 'Arabian Nights' that she asked him to buy her, after trying to understand the story of Aladdin,and Barbara's 2 rings which were found in a search of Ahmad's house.
But...
Barbara's 2 children who always thought their sparse existence courtesy of theirr eccentric artist mother meant she had limited means, are shocked at the contents of her will. Even more shocking are the stipulations that are left in order for them to inherit 50% of her 1.9 million pound fortune. And with a vicious, manipulative lawyer who seems to have more than a vested interest in Barbra lurking in the background, there seems like way more than one opportunist who could've killed her.
The surgeons are panicking as technically her death is on their mortality figures and there is the little case of the missing page from Barbra's notes, the page that gives consent for an optional robotic surgical procedure rather than a human surgeon-freeing up more time for surgeons to tackle their waiting list backlog. A robotic procedure called 'The Aladdin Trial'...
So many twists and turns lead up to a stunning court room climax, it is a moving and very timely story and I defy anyone reading not to be moved to anger by the racial abuse suffered by Ahmad and also the hopsital consultant, Hani, for being a person of colour wearing a backpack. The narrative which is from the perspective of Ahmad's daughter ,Shaza, intersperses the interviewing of suspects , the gathering of evidence and the desperate race of Joe and Tracy(Barbara's children)to claim their inheritence, really brings you down to earth with a bump. Between school, where she is racially abused and home, where she lives with her essentially mute mother, Aisha, her determination to work out what is happening in her small world by talking it through with her toys , is heartbreaking and so poignant.
I absolutely loved it and can thoroughly recommend this very satisfying court room drama to anyone who loves mysteries, feuding families, scheming lawyers and social justice.#
As the ladies themselves say-
''It's just like the best Agatha Christie,' Judith muttered to Constance gleefully.'How do you mean?''Everyone is here.All the suspects in one place.All we need now is some natural disaster.a snowstorm,to force us all to remain here for a few hours to allow ma and you to solve the murder.If no one else gets bumped off before then, that is.'
Roll on Burton and Lamb book 4!
July 1, 2021
Loved this. So many suspects, and it really did keep you guessing throughout. There were moments where a chapter would end and I would say "ooooo" out loud, much to the amusement of those around me. I also like that the chapters are short, so you feel like you are zooming through and can take breaks to absorb things. This one earned one more star from me than the first book, but both good, and looking forward to reading the third.
September 17, 2018
This review is long overdue. Now that summer holidays are over, my kids have returned to school and “normal” is slowly returning I can try to catch up on writing reviews of my summer reads. I wanted to start with a good one so The Aladdin Trial was an easy choice in that regard.
The lead characters, Judith Burton and Constance Lamb, first appeared in Abi Silver’s The Pinocchio Brief. While reading the first book will give you a little extra detail on their background (and give you a great story to enjoy) you will not be disadvantaged in coming “cold” to The Aladdin Trial which can easily be read as a stand alone thriller.
In this story we have a distressing tale of an elderly artist taking a tumble from a hospital balcony and falling to her death. Suspicions are raised that this may not have been an accident and the police turn their attention to a hospital cleaner, a refugee from Syria, who had befriended the woman during her stay.
Judith and Constance will represent the cleaner in court but evidence is mounting up against their client and he is not providing his legal team with any reliable information with which they can defend him.
Away from the legal fact-finding and court preparations the reader also gets to see the children of the artist coping with the fallout of her death (and I assure you that no pun was intended there). Unbeknown to her children the artist had accumulated some personal wealth down the years and has drafted a will which requires certain conditions to be met before her children will inherit. Those conditions, while not unreasonable, show that the woman expected certain duties or responsibilities to be met by her offspring before they can inherit. Watching two adults (and their partners) trying to change their ways made for fascinating and frequently awkward reading.
Lots of twists and turns through the story made The Aladdin Trial a great story to spend time with over my holiday. If you like a courtroom drama then add Abi Silver to your reading lists – two goodun’s…and counting!
The lead characters, Judith Burton and Constance Lamb, first appeared in Abi Silver’s The Pinocchio Brief. While reading the first book will give you a little extra detail on their background (and give you a great story to enjoy) you will not be disadvantaged in coming “cold” to The Aladdin Trial which can easily be read as a stand alone thriller.
In this story we have a distressing tale of an elderly artist taking a tumble from a hospital balcony and falling to her death. Suspicions are raised that this may not have been an accident and the police turn their attention to a hospital cleaner, a refugee from Syria, who had befriended the woman during her stay.
Judith and Constance will represent the cleaner in court but evidence is mounting up against their client and he is not providing his legal team with any reliable information with which they can defend him.
Away from the legal fact-finding and court preparations the reader also gets to see the children of the artist coping with the fallout of her death (and I assure you that no pun was intended there). Unbeknown to her children the artist had accumulated some personal wealth down the years and has drafted a will which requires certain conditions to be met before her children will inherit. Those conditions, while not unreasonable, show that the woman expected certain duties or responsibilities to be met by her offspring before they can inherit. Watching two adults (and their partners) trying to change their ways made for fascinating and frequently awkward reading.
Lots of twists and turns through the story made The Aladdin Trial a great story to spend time with over my holiday. If you like a courtroom drama then add Abi Silver to your reading lists – two goodun’s…and counting!
December 3, 2018
I really enjoyed the plot that the author constructed in this book, it was clever and well thought out and the way the story worked from the initial death of the elderly artist, through the investigation and then into the courtroom with all the twists and turns the case took all worked really well together. The story flowed brilliantly and I was kept on the edge of the page throughout.
For me there was no particular character that stood out as they all occupy quite an even amount of the story. Enough background is given to each though to put them all in the mix and make them all interesting in their own individual ways. There was a brilliant twist at the end which I did not see coming and it wraps up the story nicely.
For me there was no particular character that stood out as they all occupy quite an even amount of the story. Enough background is given to each though to put them all in the mix and make them all interesting in their own individual ways. There was a brilliant twist at the end which I did not see coming and it wraps up the story nicely.
August 1, 2019
4.5* rounded up again. I enjoyed this book even more than the first. It concerns the death of a woman who falls from a high floor in the hospital where she has had her bunions removed. A Syrian cleaner Ahmad is charged with her murder, even though it is by no means clear that she was pushed.
Constance and Judith represent Ahmad and help the police get to the bottom of things. The timeline was more linear here than in the first instalment, which I prefer. It took a while for the "Aladdin" element to emerge, and again it was at the edge of reality/speculation. My only quibble was the way the victim's treatment was private one minute and on the NHS the next...?
Constance and Judith represent Ahmad and help the police get to the bottom of things. The timeline was more linear here than in the first instalment, which I prefer. It took a while for the "Aladdin" element to emerge, and again it was at the edge of reality/speculation. My only quibble was the way the victim's treatment was private one minute and on the NHS the next...?
September 29, 2018
Good One
Another fine entry in the series. Judith and Constance ride to the rescue once again. This time the defendant is a Syrian hospital cleaner charged with the murder of an elderly patient. Once again the prosecution 's case is weak, giving Judith very little to push against. Little by !little Constance gathers the needed information to free their client with many twists along the way.
Another fine entry in the series. Judith and Constance ride to the rescue once again. This time the defendant is a Syrian hospital cleaner charged with the murder of an elderly patient. Once again the prosecution 's case is weak, giving Judith very little to push against. Little by !little Constance gathers the needed information to free their client with many twists along the way.
July 7, 2019
Spectacular!
I do not give out five stars to mysteries, generally...even though it is my favorite genre. But I couldn't stop myself going all out on this one. I absolutely loved it. And I devoured it. I don't want to say more because I don't want to spoil ANYTHING for future readers. I'll be looking for everything by Abi Silver...and hope she has a long and successful career!!! More please.😀
I do not give out five stars to mysteries, generally...even though it is my favorite genre. But I couldn't stop myself going all out on this one. I absolutely loved it. And I devoured it. I don't want to say more because I don't want to spoil ANYTHING for future readers. I'll be looking for everything by Abi Silver...and hope she has a long and successful career!!! More please.😀
October 14, 2021
This was such a good book, very emotional as well. Ahmad was a syrian cleaner in a hospital, a patient was found dead at the foot of a fire escape, a single fragment of Ahmad's hair was found wrapped round a button on her nightdress. This was a dramatic ride through all of the evidence, the family of the Barbara Henessey the deceased, the hospital's shortcomings and Ahmad's family and the flight from syria. I have to admit that at the end I cried.
February 8, 2020
A Syrian hospital cleaner is charged with murdering a patient on very flimsy evidence and lots of prejudice. The book highlights some of the terrible tragedies faced by refugees, the appalling behaviour people can demonstrate when hoping to inherit money and how far people will go to cover up mistakes. There was a lot packed in and I really enjoyed this.
September 12, 2019
A plausible story and engaging characters. I found much of the thinking-aloud dialogue a bit tedious and found myself skipping through paragraphs which seemed to explicate what was already obvious to the reader. I did, however, want to know what happened to these people.
December 22, 2019
Animosity, Flight and Shame
Just a few emotions which will stir the hearts of the readers. The selfless actions of people to continue to keep the faith, protect their family and simply do what is right. Ahmad, you are my hero.
Just a few emotions which will stir the hearts of the readers. The selfless actions of people to continue to keep the faith, protect their family and simply do what is right. Ahmad, you are my hero.
June 28, 2018
A great thriller, it takes on important topics and doesn't leave out surprising twists either.
August 30, 2019
Wow. Didn't expect to find out who done it and who it was! Very interesting. Easy to read.
November 22, 2020
Second of her books I've read. Very good - really enjoyed this one and kept me guessing about who did it right until the end!
May 20, 2021
I love a court room drama and this didn't disappoint!
November 16, 2021
It took me longer than usual to finish this book, I didn’t feel engaged until after 50% read.
Full of twists, it’s not bad, just not my cup of tea.
Full of twists, it’s not bad, just not my cup of tea.
August 26, 2025
much preferred the storyline to Pinocchio brief, really
struggled to put it down!
struggled to put it down!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews