Ανατομία ενός εγκλήματος

by Jo Murray, Βαγγέλης Γιαννίσης (Translator)

Ένας νεκρός δικαστής. Ένας σιωπηλός κατηγορούμενος. Και μια αίθουσα γεμάτη ψεύτες. Όταν η Λέιλα Ρέινολντς αναλαμβάνει την πρώτη της υπόθεση ανθρωποκτονίας, ξαφνιάζεται από τον θόρυβο που έχει προκληθεί: το θύμα είναι ένας αξιοσέβαστος και γνωστός δικαστής. Πρόκειται για μια υπόθεση που υπερβαίνει την εμπειρία της. Ο κατηγορούμενος όμως, ο Τζακ Μίλμαν, είναι απόλυτος. Θέλει εκείνη και μόνο εκείνη για να τον υπερασπιστεί απέναντι στον μέντορα που της δίδαξε τα πάντα: τον σύζυγό της. Σαν να μην έφτανε αυτό, ο κατηγορούμενος αρνείται να μιλήσει. Πώς μπορεί να αποδείξει την αξία της σε μια δίκη που μοιάζει χαμένη από χέρι; Δεν έχει το περιθώριο να χάσει. Πρέπει να βρει αδιάσειστα επιχειρήματα. Οι δίκες δεν κερδίζονται πείθοντας τους δικαστές ή τους άλλους δικηγόρους· το παν είναι να στρέψεις με το μέρος σου τους ενόρκους. Ξαφνικά, η Λέιλα δεν αγωνίζεται μόνο για την ελευθερία του Τζακ, αλλά και για να κρατήσει τα δικά της μυστικά καλά κρυμμένα. Γιατί, όπως λένε, κάθε ιστορία έχει δύο πλευρές. Το συναρπαστικό δικαστικό θρίλερ πίσω από τη δεύτερη σεζόν της επιτυχημένης σειράς Presumed Innocent.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Fiction, Crime, Book Club

552 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2026

About the author

Jo Murray grew up in Teesside, England, during the ’90s, when working-class girls were told they probably shouldn’t try to become barristers. Thankfully, she ignored everyone. After studying Classics at Newcastle University, she went to law school and was a criminal barrister before leaving the profession to look after her two children. She lives in North Yorkshire.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik]

My fellow bookworms… may I?
Can I officially introduce the best legal thriller of 2026?
🥁 Drum roll, please… 🥁
The crown goes to Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray.

From the very first page, I fell hard for Jo Murray’s razor-sharp writing style. The second I finished, I immediately started searching for her backlist—scrolling, refreshing, scrolling again—only to realize this was her first novel. And yes… I actually screamed. Because I need more Jo Murray thrillers in my life, immediately. She is now on my auto-approved author list, and I will read anything she writes next without even checking the blurb.
A dream for legal-thriller lovers

And here’s the fun twist:
The upcoming Presumed Innocent Season 2 adaptation is already rumored to be spectacular—but I genuinely believe this story may top it.
Yes, I’ll miss Jake Gyllenhaal terribly… but with Rachel Brosnahan, Matthew Rhys, and Courtney B. Vance joining the cast, this adaptation is already screaming Emmy bait.
Rachel as Leila Reynolds? Absolute perfection. Tell me she won’t eat that role alive.
But first—let’s give this novel the standing ovation it deserves.

What makes Dissection of a Murder so addictive?
This book has everything I want in a legal thriller:
⚖️ Sharp courtroom tension
🧩 A layered mystery
🔥 High emotional stakes
👀 Dual timelines and perspectives
🕵️ A chilling, anonymous watcher

The story unfolds through Leila Reynolds and the mysterious Witness X, whose intersecting narratives blend past and present in a way that never lets you relax.

Leila learned the law from her husband and mentor, Julian—a legendary attorney who shaped her career and pushed her to the top, even helping secure her place in the Legal 500. Their relationship is built on ambition, loyalty, and shared victories… until everything cracks.
Five years earlier, Leila defended Jack Miller, a man wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for two years. Now, Jack is accused of murdering Judge Anton Smythe—the very man who once sentenced him, while Jack’s foster mother was dying of cancer.
And Jack requests only one lawyer: Leila.
The problem?
Leila has never handled a criminal murder case.
And the prosecutor?
Her own husband.
Julian plays to win. And this time, he has no intention of letting Leila save her client.

A shadow watching from the dark…
As the case grows darker, a terrifying presence emerges.
Someone is watching Leila and Julian’s home.
Someone sends Julian a cryptic birthday gift.
Someone stalks Leila, trolls her online, and knows far too much.

Who is Witness X?
What are they hiding?
And how are they connected to Jack, the judge, and Leila’s past?
Every clue is a thread—and when they finally connect, the truth is more disturbing than anything Leila is ready to face.

“Nothing is ever black and white—especially when it comes to the law.”

Final Verdict
This novel is fast, relentless, and impossible to put down.

You will:
bite off your perfectly manicured nails,
forget to blink,
and gasp at every twist.

By the end, you’ll need a spa day to recover from the stress—and it will be completely worth it.
This isn’t just a five-star book.
This is sky-full-of-stars, whole-planet-level brilliant.
The best thriller I’ve read in years.
I laughed like Villanelle at the end—shocked, thrilled, and already desperate for more.

📚 Go get your copy.
I already ordered mine for a future reread.
Endless thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for sharing this absolute MASTERPIECE in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I truly appreciate it.

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[Josh]

5/5 ★

It is going to be VERY hard to top this book on my favorite books of the year list because WOW I loved this.

It’s such a great feeling when you love a book so much that it reminds you why you love reading. This debut did that for me.

In Dissection of a Murder, young lawyer Leila Reynolds is forced to defend a murder suspect in a high-profile case against the ruthless prosecutor who knows her best: her husband. As secrets from her past resurface, Leila must fight for her client, her marriage, and the truth before everything she’s hidden is exposed.

I cannot believe this is a debut! Jo Murray is such a talented writer. This book reads like it was written by someone who has been releasing books for years.

The mystery was complex and the clues were perfectly plotted. The characters felt layered and real, and the tension, heartbreak, and passion for the case could be felt throughout the whole story.

Prior to this book, I thought courtroom legal thrillers were far from my type of book, but I left this one craving more of them. I especially found it interesting how the UK’s justice system is structured compared to the US. The fact that it was husband vs. wife made everything even more intense as the case became more and more competitive.

Leila was such a memorable protagonist and probably my favorite of the year. She has her flaws, but I haven’t felt such complex emotions for a character in a long time, which demonstrates just how well written this story was.

On top of the mystery being intense and the characters being complex and well developed, there are also MULTIPLE breathtaking twists. I was able to piece most of them together before they happened, but in a way that made me feel like a detective following the clues, not like they were obvious. I still had those jaw dropping moments I love when everything was actually revealed. I actually gasped on the last page when I saw how it ended.

Part of why I loved it so much could be that this was my introduction to the new subgenre of courtroom legal thrillers, as I mentioned, so the story arc felt very new to me and so well done.

I wish I could force everyone to drop what they are reading and read this book… it was that fast paced, intense, and gripping for me.

—

Follow my Bookstagram and Booktok for all things mystery, thriller, and horror novels!

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[Laura Lovesreading]

YOUR HONOUR… I OBJECT

Dissection of a Murder is a high-stakes legal thriller about Leila Reynolds, a barrister defending a client accused of murdering a respected judge. The case is complicated by a silent defendant, a prosecutor who is her husband, and her own hidden secrets.

Urghhhhhh! Listen I am not saying the high ratings for this book is wrong, I’m just saying… I don’t get it.

The beginning had me balls deep and I was super invested, but along the way I wanted to claw my eyes out! I was SOOOO BORED! Leila as a narrator was not doing it for me at all. I found her so uninteresting and somewhat idiotic. As a lawyer I promise you I would shit bricks if I found out she was the one defending me.

Now I don’t want to toot my own horn but that ‘twist’… I clocked it VERY early on! Is it a good twist… sure why not… but my main gripe of why it didn’t work for me will spoil the book!

I did enjoy the courtroom scenes! These always tend to be my favourite with legal thrillers, but everything outside of that was dull and somewhat dragged for me.

For me personally this would work better in a tv/ film adaptation. Not a bad book but the twist could have been executed better.



2.5 ⭐


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
I hear this is the legal thriller of the year!?
I can’t wait to be the judge of that! 😏
I hope it delivers!
🖤💛❤️🖤

[Joey R.]

4.0 stars— I have been wanting to read “Dissection of a Murder” by Jo Murray as soon as I began seeing multiple 5 star reviews on Goodreads several weeks ago. The fact that the book is a legal thriller by a brand new author just added to my anticipation. The book is told from the perspective of Leila, a criminal barrister in England. I had to do a little research during the early chapters of this book in order to understand the differences between the criminal justice systems of the United States and England. The book begins with Leila agreeing to accept the appointment of representing a murder defendant, Jack, who is charged with murdering a local judge. The case is complicated further by the fact that the prosecutor assigned to the case is Julian, Leila’s husband. Leila basically learned how to practice law under the instruction of Julian who was her pupil-master until she was ready to practice on her own. Although technically allowed under limited circumstances in both countries, I wouldn’t want to try a case (especially one this high-profile) against my spouse. Needless to say the relationship of Julian and Leila is put under great strain as a result of their decision to face off in court. “Dissection” did take a while for me to get into. The first half of the book was very slow in my opinion with a lot of character building and drawn out scenes that I lost interest in quickly. However, at about the halfway point (coincidentally when the murder trial began 🤔), this book picked up major momentum. In fact, I couldn’t put it down for the final half of the book. The book was able to tie together the very interesting trial to an initially very boring stalker mystery in a plausible and interesting way. The conclusion of the book was also very nicely done (although not the biggest fan of unresolved plot points). The courtroom scenes themselves were a little sparse on details, but not everyone is as good at writing courtroom scenes as Scott Turow. I definitely would recommend this book— as the last half of the book more than makes up for the slow start. I look forward to reading Ms. Murray in the future if this is the kind of twisting and turning courtroom thriller she publishes in the future.

[Karen]

“A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer.” – Robert Frost

The book begins with a clear understanding of working definitions of murder, the jury, solicitors and barristers, ending the explanation with the note that ‘this is how the criminal trial system works in England and Wales.’

“But not always.”

Which leads readers into a prologue that in first person narrative introduces the accused. Or does it?

“If this trial has taught you anything, ladies and gentlemen, it’s that not everything is as it seems.”

And that is truly the premise of this story. What readers think they know, think again. We are taken down a long, winding, twisting road that may confuse, bewilder, and manipulate us into believing one thing, only to discover something entirely different.

And then, the ending.

The question becomes: will readers enjoy the ride — or not? And, as is typical with murder mysteries packed with multiple plot twists, will justice ultimately prevail?

With unlikable characters and somewhat unreliable narrators, readers are left questioning what exactly they just witnessed — and whether the truth was ever really present to uncover in the first place.

Described as a ‘breathlessly compulsive courtroom drama with expertly crafted twists that readers won’t see coming,’ this debut novel will either completely capture readers or leave them feeling frustrated by its relentless misdirection.

For me, the verdict still feels undecided.

Because in the end, it will be all about the reader, anyway.

(No spoilers from me.)

Clearly this book has resonated with many readers, so I encourage you to read other reviews and see if it might work better for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars

[Stacy]

Everyone is lying in this book, and I loved trying to figure out who was telling the truth.

Leila is assigned her first murder case to defend, but there's one major complication, she has to face off against her mentor, who also happens to be her husband.

The story is told from multiple points of view, which is a style I always enjoy because it adds depth and keeps the mystery unfolding.

Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the author threw in a twist I never saw coming.

I enjoyed this book

[Sneha Gurumurthy]

no it doesn’t work like that, you can’t have the unreliable narrator be so unreliable they’re lying to themselves. that’s insane. that’s not a plot twist, it’s just insane

[Ceecee]

What is justice? It probably means different things to different people. Will Judge Anton Smythe, 56, get justice for his murder? Is the tale of the prosecutor, Julian Kesler, tells at trial the true version of events or does the defence lawyer Leila Reynolds put across a robustly different interpretation that may lead to a not guilty verdict for Jack Millman? What is Jack’s definition of justice? This indeed is a dissection of a murder, but remember, don’t trust anyone, especially the lawyers.

Oh my goodness, where to start with this one, perhaps with I reluctantly put it down when real life intrudes. There are so many layers involved in this very definition of a legal thriller that makes it such a clever novel. The dynamics are off the charts, between Julian and Leila, Leila and the characters in Chambers, Leila and Jack and so on with excellent characterisation into the bargain. Leila is especially fascinating as to whether she’s likeable, you decide. There’s so much misogyny directed at Leila my blood boils. The least said about Julian the better but I’d love to wipe that arrogant smirk of his smooth veneer. There are some side characters and I become desperate to know what the story is there and the identity of one of the points of view is a tantalising puzzle.

The author creates an escalating air of threat and menace, a watchfulness that gives prickles at the back of the neck. There’s twist upon twist, whiplash like, making it a terrific thriller as I genuinely have no idea what’s going to implode/explode next. Add in the legal element and that makes it big winner for me.

What of the trial? It’s electric, riveting and totally enthralling. It’s suspenseful, tense and very dramatic and I’ll say no more as this is one courtroom thriller that begs to be read.

Overall, it’s very clever and creative, it’s well written and perfectly paced with several points of view which works so well, building the suspense and a pile of questions. It’s a cracker of a book which praise be, has a really good conclusion.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[suspenseisthrillingme]

BANGER ALERT! BANGER ALERT!

WHAAAT?!? NO F***ING WAY!!! A twisty, page-turning, knockout of a debut, Dissection of a Murder had everything you could want in a binge-worthy novel. From the morally gray characters to the chess-like moves and cat-and-mouse games, it was a mind-blowing tale of murder, drama, intrigue, and well-plotted schemes. You see, not only were each of the characters multifaceted, complex, and true-to-life, but the story itself was fast-paced and propulsive as well as thought-provoking. Exploring power, revenge, justice, and love all while making me question right vs. wrong, it was a gripping psychological and legal thriller all rolled into one. Delivering both clever insight into human nature and high stakes courtroom drama, I was utterly blown away by this masterpiece of a novel. And that was before I even reached that last eye-popping page…

So what was the absolute best piece of this thriller? Well, beyond the legal setting, toxic relationships, and layers of dark secrets, there were a number of twists that hit just the right chords. You see, they had me shocked all the way down to my toes. Topped off by a perfectly timed climax with a plot-shifting reveal, it was still the *mic drop* move on the very last page that outdid all of the others in one single go. All in all, this deftly plotted tour de force has just been added to my favorite reads of the year. Emotionally charged and razor-sharp all while giving off an Anatomy of a Scandal-meets-The Silent Patient vibe, this is one book that’s guaranteed to live rent-free in my head for a very, VERY long time. After all, I not only ate up this banger of a novel in under twenty-four hours, but I’ve already added it to my must-reread pile. Rating of 5+++ stars.

SYNOPSIS:

When Leila Reynolds is handed her first murder case, she’s shocked by the victim: a well-known, well-respected judge, whose death sent shockwaves through the legal community. She’s also incredulous—she’s nowhere near experienced enough to handle such a high-profile assignment—but the defendant is insistent: he wants her, and only her, to represent him.

Except he’s refusing to talk. And if that wasn’t complicated enough, Leila soon learns her opponent is the most ruthless prosecutor she’s ever known: her husband.

It’s an impossible situation, yet Leila is determined to sway the jury—until she’s blindsided once again by a shadowy figure from her past. Suddenly, Leila finds herself fighting not only for her client and marriage, but also to keep her own secrets buried. And if she has to rewrite the rules to win, so be it.

Thank you Jo Murray and Dutton Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: May 5, 2026

Content warning: misogyny, sexism, dementia, stalking, gaslighting, blackmail, infidelity, violence, murder, alcoholism, toxic friendship/relationship, mention of: child abuse, pedophilia

[Dutchie]

Uh oh. What I was hoping to be a really awesome courtroom drama kind of fell into the meh territory for me.

Leila has just been assigned her first murder case. The defendant is making it near impossible to give him a proper defense, and to make matters worse, the prosecutor is her husband. As evidence comes to light, it is clear this isn’t an open and shut case.

I don’t know why this didn’t work for me. I was having a hard time staying interested during the first part; however, once the second part hit it, it definitely gained momentum. I’ve also come to realize that I don’t like unnamed narrators thrown into the mix. It completely takes me out of the plot. I’ve read a few books recently that have used this plot device, and it just doesn’t work for me; this was no exception. As for the characters themselves, they kind of lacked depth. I never got a good feel for their intentions besides seeing how the trial would play out. Lastly, maybe I read too many thrillers, but the twist kind of just fell flat for me.

It’s possible I would have enjoyed this more had I not just read a really awesome courtroom drama by Kia Abdullah.

I’m obviously an outlier; almost all of my GR friends really enjoyed this one, so please check out their reviews.

[Abbie Konnick]

This one was really interesting! It felt a little chaotic at the end, but I still think it all came together well and I enjoyed all the twists and turns!

[Audrey]

You will never convince me that the first person narrator lying to themselves, and the reader, the entire time is a good twist. God what a waste of time I hate books like this so much

[Rebecca]

“There are two sides to every story”

Murder mystery? Courtroom drama? Unreliable characters? Say less.

This was one of those books that had me constantly second guessing everyone. Just when I thought I had worked out what happened, another twist would appear and send me right back to square one. The courtroom elements added an extra layer of tension, and I loved trying to piece together the truth alongside the investigation.

The pacing was great, the stakes kept rising, and the question of guilt or innocence hung over every page. If you enjoy crime fiction that keeps you guessing and makes you play detective, this is definitely worth picking up.

I Highly Recommend!

4.5⭐️

[Rachel Hanes]

This was certainly a wild ride! I had fun with this book, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen!

In this story, Leila Reynolds is a young lawyer who is given her first murder case. The victim is a well-respected judge, Anton Smythe. The defendant in this case only wanted Leila to represent him, and no one else. Not only is Leila already nervous to be taking on such a high-profile case, but her defendant refuses to speak about what happened the night of said case. And did I mention that the prosecutor for the case is her very experienced husband, Julian?! Julian taught Leila all the tricks of the trade, how will she ever go up against that? Will their marriage be able to survive such a public and high-profile murder case?

Throughout this story each chapter is the POV from Leila or Witness X. Witness X was there the night of judge Anton Smythe’s murder, and X has 12 rules that they follow in life. Did one of these rules get messed up along the way? Or will all of these rules play out in the end?

This has been a very popular book, and I can see why! I do recommend reading this book, and I hope that everyone has as much fun dissecting this murder as much I did!

BOTM, May 2026

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️]

4.5 Stars

I really like how the author laid this thing out. I did still manage to figure out the main twist, but wasn't one huuuuuuunnnndred percent sure until the very end. So bravo.

I feel like anything else I try to say about this book might err on the side of spoiler, so I will only say that I enjoyed Leila as our main protagonist. I loved the interspersed Witness X chapters. The rules. The slow unfolding of character history. The interesting things I learned about the British system of law.

I can see myself re-reading this again to see what jumps out. I will definitely read more from this author.

[Darcia Helle]

I'm an outlier with an unpopular opinion on this one.

The premise intrigued me, and I enjoyed learning how different the UK legal system is from the US system. But I felt like pacing dragged, and the main character irked me with her constant whining.

People I know raved about the big twist, so I expected to be wowed. Well.. Rant ahead.

Here's the thing: When a book is written in first person, readers are in that character's head. Therefore, absolutely none of this story makes sense. Was Leila deceiving herself? Was she delusional? An unreliable narrator doesn't work if she's... What was she? I don't even know. Leila wasn't an unreliable narrator; the author was straight up deceiving readers. I get if Leila's conversations with other people were misleading, or if things were kept from readers, but her own inner thoughts were like she didn't know she'd been the one having an affair with Jack, or that she herself had killed Anton. Nothing makes sense. The pieces don't fit. I'm not wowed, I'm irritated. In order to pull this off, the POV needed to be third person, removing us from her constant inner chatter, because seriously, WTF?

Anyway... clearly most readers aren't as irritated by the ploy as I am. So ignore me. Read this one if it appeals to you.

*Thanks to Dutton Books for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*

[Nina (ninjasbooks)]

Now this was something else. Something delicious and intriguing. A new flavor in a sea of familiar tastes, one that stood out. It helps that it was already one of my favorite tastes, legal thrillers when done well always makes me very enthusiastic. And this one made
me so excited I could have run a marathon on the adrenaline it created. And the twist.
Well.
This. Is. The. Mother. Of. All. Twists.

Read it for yourself, and maybe you’ll discover a new favorite flavor as well.

[NILTON TEIXEIRA]

“Dissection of a Murder”, by Jo Murray

3 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I was expecting to love this book. Some of my friends loved it and claimed that this is the best book they have read that included an unreliable narrator. I take it that they have never read “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”, by Agatha Christie, which in my opinion is a masterclass in mystery that revolutionized the genre by using a highly deceptive narrator.

Anyways…

In the beginning I had the impression that I had read a similar story or watched a movie or tv show that had the same kind of premise. But I could be wrong about this.

Although I liked the concept and the development of the story, I found the writing to be very pedestrian, with very weak dialogues. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to finish it, but when I was at 15% I predicted the major twist and I had to continue reading just to prove me wrong. But I wasn’t.

There were some interesting scenes, but i was really looking forward to reading about the trial, which stars after 63% in the book. It was a long wait. Some parts did drag on for too long.

As for the trial, I didn’t think it was that thrilling or spectacular. There were some good points, but nothing that I could say was extraordinary.

The conclusion was extremely disappointing. A cheap trick that didn’t sit well with me, but I won’t explain why I didn’t like it, as it would spoil the experience. But my ratings are based only on the writing and concept, and not because I did not like the ending.

Anyways, in general it wasn’t a bad read. I was entertained and it was a fast read.

E-book (Kobo): 416 pages (default), 110k words, 73 chapters

[Krickette]

Dissection of a Murder written by Jo Murray was full of suspense and surprise. It’s written with a peculiar and creative pen, with chapters filled with anticipation and uncertainty. This twisty and feisty British murder mystery reveals itself in slow burn fashion… “dangling the carrot” just ever so… keeping the reader wanting more.

Was this worth the read?
Yes! It’s intriguing and suspenseful…♟️

PART ONE:
The first half of this novel was mostly setting the scene, creating suspicions, getting to know the handful of important characters and their relationships. Part one also allowed the reader to get to know the British legal system.

PART TWO:
The second half of the novel is the actual unraveling … the investigation… and the strategies of both sides, and the actual murder trial.
These pages are oozing with courtroom drama, and to me, this was the best part of the novel.

Between chapters, the investigation unfolds, laws are broken and lines are crossed. And once the trial begins … it’s pages are full of domestic tension as the Kings Council (the Prosecutor, Julian Keslar) is married to the accused council (Leila Reynolds)… AND the friction is palpable. 😳

Also included throughout the novel were flashbacks of Leila’s past which reveal toxic relationships and “rules” her father insisted she live by. In addition, it included a secret witness… who …if found… has the potential to damage everything.

I really enjoyed the build up of the story and its multilayered mystery. This is a 4 ⭐️ book for the keen writing and suspense.

(BTW… I did figure out the major plot twist and secret at about the 1/2 way mark. But so much was happening … I held on for the reveal!)😊

[Marialyce]

Wow! This was good! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⚡️
When they say "People think secrets are about lies or shame, But what secrets are is about fear" (Sonali Dev)

Being up against your husband in court but when that husband was your mentor puts a strain on Leila and Julian's marriage. Coming home each night to his disdain with your defending a man who is refusing to tell his story, the task for Leila seems insurmountable.

Jack is accused of murder, that of a high profile judge. She had previously defended him and lost, but Jack is insistent that Leila is the barrister for him. Julian, a smug nasty man is full of himself conceit dripping out of every pore, so he knows Leila will lose and he will once again be at the top of the mountain he has created.

Leila will fight hard but with the cards stacked against her, will she win? ...a Jack will not speak in his defense other than saying he did not commit the murder.

This book was like the layers of an onion, each one peeling away while revealing just enough to make the reader wonder and turn the page. Each nuanced character, has something to hide, something that it seems no one knows but its reveal can bury them.

This was so intense that I found myself gripping my kindle and while I thought I had it all figured out....I didn't

If you are a fan of courtroom drama, and a fierce exceptional story telling, then by all means pick this one up by a very talented emerging new author,

[Darla]

This legal thriller had me thinking about Perry Mason in the best way.

I know that shows my age, but the drama in the courtroom was off the charts!

Why ALL the stars?

🌟The big reveals. They keep on coming. Nothing is as it seems.

🌟 Witness X. Who is she? That question kept me guessing as we met potential candidates.

🌟 Rule #1: Don't get caught. Witness X has eleven rules for her life. Will she or won't she?

🌟 Courtroom drama. The prep, execution, and aftermath of the defense were absolutely riveting.

🌟 I listened to this one and Joanne Froggatt did a great job bringing it to life. I took extra walks just so I could hear more.

Hand this one to fans of Alice Feeney and watch for the next read from Jo Murray.🤩

[Jayne]

Meticulously performed dissections can be unsettling as layers are stripped away to vividly expose hidden inner workings.

➡️ SCALPELS, PLEASE!!!!
Let’s dissect what went right and what went wrong with this legal thriller.

➡️ THE ANATOMY OF WHAT WORKED
🔷 A Brilliant Premise: A female barrister is handed her first high-stakes murder case, only to realize her courtroom opponent is the most ruthless prosecutor she’s ever known: her husband. The domestic-meets-legal tension was ultra-compelling.
🔷 Sensational Courtroom Drama: The closing testimonies and legal battles were electric. Because the author is a former barrister, the legal details, procedures, and courtroom atmosphere felt authentic and sharp.
🔷 Unreliable Narrators: Mark this book as "reliable" for its gripping portrayal of unreliable narrators. I dare you to guess whose testimony is truthful.

➡️ WHERE THE DISSECTION FALTERED
🔷 Uneven Pacing: The book's slow, repetitive start took too long to build momentum.
🔷 Too Many Unbelievable Shocking Twists in Rapid Succession:
Once the book reached its final 25%, the narrative shifted into hyperdrive, delivering a dizzying barrage of "whiplash" shocking twists that felt more eye-rolling than earned.
🔷 "Witness X" Needed A Scapel. The alternating "Witness X" POVs did not work. Removing this POV and using a different strategy to add the "Witness X" reveal would have significantly helped the pacing.

I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Joanne Froggatt. Her performance was outstanding—carrying the listener through the slower chapters and bringing genuine gravitas to the courtroom scenes.

➡️ THE VERDICT:
A highly impressive debut with top-tier legal realism, held back by uneven pacing and too many eye-rolling moments.

3.5 Stars, Rounded Up.

[Holly B]

"Nothing is ever black and white."

A married couple, both lawyers, up against each other in the courtroom. It is Leila Reynold's first murder trial and she has been hired for the defence. Her husband, Julian, the most ruthless prosecutor she has ever known, also experienced.

This made for a great legal thriller with some anonymous chapters from a Witness X, some characters highly skilled in manipulation, an intense emotional chess game and plenty of dirty little secrets!

The final verdict, completely unexpected!

Published in May 2026

[Tracey]

Utterly engaging novel and a completely captivating audiobook!

[TwinreadsandReds-Heather]

3.75 stars

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread)]

An absolutely addictive legal thriller that I couldn’t put down.

I read this on the plane to Japan, I was completely blown away, what a story. It is full of shocking twists and dubious truths. Trust no one! Such a clever concept for a story… a husband and wife on either side of the law, in a case that looks to be a slam dunk guilty. Only things are not as they seem and there were so many times that I gasped out loud, and I clapped when I finished it. One of the best books that I have read in 2026, and I cannot wait for the TV adaptation.

You just need to read this and not know too much about the plot. A must read for lovers of legal thrillers. I loved that the author explained the legal system in the UK throughout the novel, especially as it is so different from other legal systems

Thank you so much to Dutton for my advanced copy of this fantastic book to read. Published on May 5th.

[Lenna]

a twist that feels insulting to readers and a boring legal thriller? that’s almost impressive👏

[Dee]

Standing ovation 👏🏽 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Bravo!!! Talk about understanding the assignment, this author took storytelling to the next level!! Wow, so like this is a bombshell of a story that will not let you down and leave you mind blown 🤯 with its very last words. I’m completely flabbergasted. This is going to mess with me all day!

Looking for an all around amazing story with high stakes court drama? Then stop right because it doesn’t get any better than this. Highly recommend, this one knocked my socks off and for that I say….Thank you very much!!

[Adi]

4.5/5 rounded down.

WOWWWWWWW!!!!! What. A. Debut. It took a little bit to hook me but I truly had to sit and read the last 250 pages in one sitting. I actually cannot believe how twisty it was and how well the author was able to throw me off the scent but then it all came together and DUH!!! I’m mad I didn’t figure it all out but also kudos to the author!!! This was a fantastic legal/domestic thriller. If you have patience to get through the build up it’s absolutely worth the read.

FYI I would caution from starting with the audio as it’s one narrator doing every POV and it’s confusing in the beginning!

[Elodie]

The devil couldn't reach me, so he made me a juror for a high profile murder trial... - How I feel like every juror probably felt in this book 😅

I loved this book way more than I was expecting! Legal thrillers are not always my favourite (except the ones with Eddie Flynn 🫶🏻), but this one grabbed me right at the beginning and held me in a death grip until the end.

I'll admit, for the first part of the book, it can be argued it's slow. However, I personally never felt this way, because I was too busy racking my brain trying to figure several things out. My theories were constantly changing, sometimes chapter to chapter, which really kept me engaged.

Then, in the second half, you are hit with twist after twist. Now, I read along with a bookclub on Fable and I always read comments after each chapter. For this book, I wish I hadn't, because I think I would have been a lot more shocked at some of the reveals had I not read ALL the theories people had 😅

So, I personally wouldn't say the twists in this book were predictable, though I do think a more minor one was, but obviously others reading along did correctly guess some. Though, most people often found the correct ones unlikely, so do with that what you will.

Now, this may be a niche praise, but I adored the social commentary on the Justice system throughout this book. As someone who has studied social work and worked in child welfare, I've seen the unfairness of the Justice system time and time again. Heck, in the media we have seen the unfairness and the bias So. Many. Times.

With that said, because I'm aware of how true some of the statements out main character Leila was making, especially about how guilt and innocence is usually determined more by likeability than evidence, I did find this book slightly depressing 🫠

Regardless, there was a lot of psychology integrated within this book, without making it overbearing or confusing, which I adored. Psychology and crimonolgy overlaps forever have my heart 🥹

Now, the one thing I didn't like, but also kind of loved, was the ending. I can't say much without giving any spoilers, but the book ends on a question being posted to the readers. While I don't usually like ambiguous endings, this one actually fit in a perfect way.

This author has officially made me see that ambigious endings have their place. So, kudos to them for that 👏🏻

Overall, this was a super great book and I devoured it in a single day. If you like books that make you question the entire justice system, have you second guessing who the villains and heroes are (or if anyone either or? 🤔), and questioning if the author is gaslighting you/playing mind games, then I highly recommend you check this book out!

P.S: There is a certain poetic effect to see lawyers demolish each other, while calling each other my friend in court 🤣