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Burton and Lamb #1
The Pinocchio Brief
A 15-year-old schoolboy is accused of the brutal murder of one of his teachers. His lawyers, the guarded veteran, Judith, and the energetic young barrister, Constance, begin a desperate pursuit of the truth, revealing uncomfortable secrets about the teacher and the school. But Judith has her own secrets which she risks exposing when it is announced that a new lie-detecting device, nicknamed Pinocchio, will be used during the trial. And is the accused, a troubled boy who loves challenges, trying to help them or not?
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
April 20, 2021
I can't sing loud enough The Pinocchio Brief should be your next read if you love reading thrillers like I do.
The Pinocchio Brief is so good that I strongly believe it should be snapped up by a film company and here is why. I was totally glued to this gripping courtroom thriller and with the truth about the latest technology in this page turning story.
And that's not all what I liked about this story I found the story utterly convincing with characters very believable.
I know that sometimes we hear about a teacher or a pupil that gets stabbed so this is another reason why I liked reading The Pinocchio Brief, as it really brought it home to me some of things that have happened in real-life in the past and will most very sadly go on to happening in the future.
I give full praise to Abi Silver for taking such a troubled story and adding those twists and turns that I adore reading.
So what’s the story about ?
Raymond Maynard with a very high IQ in science and maths is accused of stabbing a teacher to death at his all boys boarding school.
Lawyers Judith and Constance both believe that Raymond did not kill his teacher, which is why they both decided to defend Raymond. Both lawyers interview a few teachers and boys at the Richmond boarding school and try to piece together how the teacher was stabbed and most importantly is to why.
In court Raymond's evidence of the events that his teacher was stabbed to death is recorded by Pinocchio the lie detector. This is how the story became called The Pinocchio Brief.
I highly recommend The Pinocchio Brief as it kept me guessing the whole way through, did Ray with a very high IQ really kill his teacher or did someone else?
The Pinocchio Brief is so good that I strongly believe it should be snapped up by a film company and here is why. I was totally glued to this gripping courtroom thriller and with the truth about the latest technology in this page turning story.
And that's not all what I liked about this story I found the story utterly convincing with characters very believable.
I know that sometimes we hear about a teacher or a pupil that gets stabbed so this is another reason why I liked reading The Pinocchio Brief, as it really brought it home to me some of things that have happened in real-life in the past and will most very sadly go on to happening in the future.
I give full praise to Abi Silver for taking such a troubled story and adding those twists and turns that I adore reading.
So what’s the story about ?
Raymond Maynard with a very high IQ in science and maths is accused of stabbing a teacher to death at his all boys boarding school.
Lawyers Judith and Constance both believe that Raymond did not kill his teacher, which is why they both decided to defend Raymond. Both lawyers interview a few teachers and boys at the Richmond boarding school and try to piece together how the teacher was stabbed and most importantly is to why.
In court Raymond's evidence of the events that his teacher was stabbed to death is recorded by Pinocchio the lie detector. This is how the story became called The Pinocchio Brief.
I highly recommend The Pinocchio Brief as it kept me guessing the whole way through, did Ray with a very high IQ really kill his teacher or did someone else?
July 26, 2017
There can be no doubt that currently, the book market is swamped with psychological thrillers, tales of domestic noir and police and crime thrillers. Some are great, some struggle to compete in the market. The Pinocchio Brief is a thrilling and complex thriller, quite different to anything else that I've read recently and really gives the reader food for thought.
Raymond is fifteen years old and is accused of the murder of a teacher at his private school. Raymond himself is an intriguing, quite bizarre and intriguing character who is a marvellous creation. For me though, it was his legal team who are the star players in this compelling drama. His young solicitor Constance and out-of-retirement Judith; two extremely well written characters; like chalk and cheese. Old school and modern, yet both have the same beliefs and convictions.
Abi Silver introduces the idea of 'Pinocchio' to the story; a machine that will be used to 'judge' Raymond's testimony. This could appear to be outrageous, but the concept is so well explained, it feels entirely plausible, and in fact, it's probably not far from our future truth.
There is a refreshing authenticity to this story, and it is clear that the author's legal background adds depth to the story.
Extremely well written, this keeps the reader on their toes and is a fine debut. I look forward to reading more from this author.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
Raymond is fifteen years old and is accused of the murder of a teacher at his private school. Raymond himself is an intriguing, quite bizarre and intriguing character who is a marvellous creation. For me though, it was his legal team who are the star players in this compelling drama. His young solicitor Constance and out-of-retirement Judith; two extremely well written characters; like chalk and cheese. Old school and modern, yet both have the same beliefs and convictions.
Abi Silver introduces the idea of 'Pinocchio' to the story; a machine that will be used to 'judge' Raymond's testimony. This could appear to be outrageous, but the concept is so well explained, it feels entirely plausible, and in fact, it's probably not far from our future truth.
There is a refreshing authenticity to this story, and it is clear that the author's legal background adds depth to the story.
Extremely well written, this keeps the reader on their toes and is a fine debut. I look forward to reading more from this author.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
May 31, 2018
Netgalley #41
Many thanks go to Abi Silver, Lightning Books, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
Ooooh this was a good one! Very clever
A 15 year-old boy is arrested for stabbing his maths teacher to death and an attorney comes out of retirement to represent him against a state of the art prosecution tool called Pinocchio, a lie detector.
It's what happens in court that's earth shattering.
I was sucked in immediately. Did he do? Didn't he? How does Pinocchio work? Is that something that the courts will utilize soon? How do I feel about that? So then I start thinking about little white lies and how bad I probably am at that. So then I'm feeling guilty. And then I want to practice on people. No!no! No! That's not how any of this works!
Sorry (clears my throat) I lost control for a minute.
Anyway...this was a great book. Very ethical, very current event. I'd recommend it
Many thanks go to Abi Silver, Lightning Books, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
Ooooh this was a good one! Very clever
A 15 year-old boy is arrested for stabbing his maths teacher to death and an attorney comes out of retirement to represent him against a state of the art prosecution tool called Pinocchio, a lie detector.
It's what happens in court that's earth shattering.
I was sucked in immediately. Did he do? Didn't he? How does Pinocchio work? Is that something that the courts will utilize soon? How do I feel about that? So then I start thinking about little white lies and how bad I probably am at that. So then I'm feeling guilty. And then I want to practice on people. No!no! No! That's not how any of this works!
Sorry (clears my throat) I lost control for a minute.
Anyway...this was a great book. Very ethical, very current event. I'd recommend it
March 12, 2018
Ok then. Sociopathy has always made for some interesting reading, particularly when it’s backed by high IQ. It was certainly the star of this legal thriller. Normally not my favorite of thrillers, but there is also a murder mystery here technically. Two female lawyers, a young and an older much more experienced one who comes out of retirement just to take on a tough case, made all the tougher by introduction of a new technology that (surprise, surprise) originally was created to make things easier. Decent read, especially for a debut, narrative and interactions are slightly stilted outside of the court scenes, but otherwise a very professional job. Entertaining, with an obligatory twist at the end. All the while made me think of the movie Primal Fear, superlative by comparison, but this novel is different enough to be its own entity. Thanks Netgalley.
August 4, 2017
The Pinocchio Brief is the second courtroom drama I’ve read this year (the first being Steve Cavanagh’s fabulous The Defence) and it’s really reignited my love for this genre. I used to love reading the more legal based thrillers so I’m going to have to hunt some more out!
I thought the three main characters in this stunning debut novel were created impeccably! Connie, eager-to-please; Judith, she reminded me a little of Jonathan Creek is an odd but good kind of way; and then Raymond. Raymond is a creepy individual with his refusal to talk but I really enjoyed reading his first person chapters particularly during the trial as he analyses each witness’s testimony, providing intriguing insight into what happened!
You can tell that the author has drawn on her courtroom and defence experience; I felt I was sat with Connie, watching Judith cross-examine all the witnesses. Throughout the novel, I was there with them both getting a handle on what actually happened on that fateful day.
I cannot wait to read Abi Silver’s next novel. I would love to see more of the Judith/Connie pairing – they make a great defence team with Judith’s experience and Connie’s tenacity for justice!
A huge thank you to Diana Morgan of Ruth Killick Publicity for my copy of The Pinocchio Brief. I’ve discovered a new author who I’m excited to see more of!
I thought the three main characters in this stunning debut novel were created impeccably! Connie, eager-to-please; Judith, she reminded me a little of Jonathan Creek is an odd but good kind of way; and then Raymond. Raymond is a creepy individual with his refusal to talk but I really enjoyed reading his first person chapters particularly during the trial as he analyses each witness’s testimony, providing intriguing insight into what happened!
You can tell that the author has drawn on her courtroom and defence experience; I felt I was sat with Connie, watching Judith cross-examine all the witnesses. Throughout the novel, I was there with them both getting a handle on what actually happened on that fateful day.
I cannot wait to read Abi Silver’s next novel. I would love to see more of the Judith/Connie pairing – they make a great defence team with Judith’s experience and Connie’s tenacity for justice!
A huge thank you to Diana Morgan of Ruth Killick Publicity for my copy of The Pinocchio Brief. I’ve discovered a new author who I’m excited to see more of!
December 14, 2018
If you like legal thrillers with complex characters and an intriguing plot line then check out The Pinocchio Brief which is the first book in Abi Silver's new series featuring Constance Lamb and Judith Burton.
The story is told through the points of view of Raymond a 16 year old, quirky, schoolboy, accused of murdering his Maths teacher and Judith Burton, a very successful, retired barrister who is approached by Constance Lamb, a young and ambitious lawyer to help defend Raymond.
Alternating between time-frames, the story is easy to follow and the characters are well developed. The addition of a new technology called Pinocchio which is a lie-detecting device adds a clever and unusual twist to the normal courtroom dramas.
The story is told through the points of view of Raymond a 16 year old, quirky, schoolboy, accused of murdering his Maths teacher and Judith Burton, a very successful, retired barrister who is approached by Constance Lamb, a young and ambitious lawyer to help defend Raymond.
Alternating between time-frames, the story is easy to follow and the characters are well developed. The addition of a new technology called Pinocchio which is a lie-detecting device adds a clever and unusual twist to the normal courtroom dramas.
June 22, 2017
Really clever speculative courtroom drama, really well written and plotted. Full review to follow for the blog tour in July.
September 3, 2019
Another brilliant case for Burton and Lamb to solve, this time the case of a 15 year old boy who is presumed to have killed his maths teacher. Decribed as brilliant, but hard to get close to,by his room mate at a private boys school, Raymond Maynard is found, following a loud argument, standing over the dead body of his master, covered in blood spouting from the chest of Mr Davis, knife protruding from his severed left aorta.
Constance Lamb, brilliant, 5 years qualified and charged with defending Ray approaches retired Judith Burton to help her with this case. In her own words-
''You've handled more murder cases in your time at the Bar than any other barrister still around and you had the highest rate of success.''
When this is added to the exortation of Ray's mother to Cosntance, who has tracked her down to defend her son after knowing a friend of her's son was cleared of a shoplifting charge-
''Constance gasped.People never ceased to amaze her. Yes, she managed to have a theft charge dropped against a local boy,Jason Price,about two years earlier,but this hardly qualified her to defend this boy,accused of a violent murder.But she had underestimated Mrs Maynard,who was speaking again.
''Yes I know that was far less serious:I may be a little silly sometimes but I'm not stupid.Jeanie Price said you were the only one who listened to her and to Jason, that you worked morning and night for him, that you went against the police when they wanted to offer him a lighter sentence if he pleaded guilty and she said you cared.And that's what I want for my Ray. I want someone who cares.Because I tell you something, I am his mother and I know him.He did not do this terrible thing and you have to help him.''
And so, the stage is set.
Constance and Judith set out on their first case-the book is split into four parts, the gathering of evidence, a flashback of 6 years eariler, the courtroom and then the after effects of the verdict.
They interrogate fellow pupils and staff mercilessly as they also circle each other and work out a routine that they find mutually beneficial. And things are going well until the prosecution mentions bringing in the Pinocchio technology, Because suddenly, a whole new host of ethics and conflicts of interest are brought into play..
Rather than being attached to wires and sensors that can be easily tricked, the Pinocchio system, developed by Dr Greg Winters , head of Gepetto Inc, has been designed to be a computer programme which reads body language. So technically it is a kind of Siri-esque app that can be in any room and has been shown to be successful in several US based cases. The reason that this is being brought into this case is because Ray is refusing to talk, he is mentioned as having odd and weird behaviour, is saying he did not murrder Davis yet in the absence of an alternative suspect, the police, media and prosecution are having a hard time pinning it on anyone else.
The narrative is split between first person from Ray and third person from Burton and Lamb, which really intensifies the feeling of being inside Ray's head as he gives you a perspective of his intent which is unseeable to anyone else and heightens the tension.
The use of an infallible computer programme is very concerning as it is unknown if it can take into account those whose body movements and features can be affected by inherited, or acquired, disorders. And whilst this is a tech informed courtroom thriller, I can absolutely guarentee that this is accessible to any and all readers without feeling it is either patronising or over their heads.
It was really interesting going back to the beginning of the Burton/Lamb relationship, and things mentioned in Book 3, 'The Cinderella Plan' make more sense now. I am very much looking forward to reading Book 2 now, 'The Aladdin Trial'.
Thoroughly recommended for readers of mysteries, crimes, thrillers alike!
Constance Lamb, brilliant, 5 years qualified and charged with defending Ray approaches retired Judith Burton to help her with this case. In her own words-
''You've handled more murder cases in your time at the Bar than any other barrister still around and you had the highest rate of success.''
When this is added to the exortation of Ray's mother to Cosntance, who has tracked her down to defend her son after knowing a friend of her's son was cleared of a shoplifting charge-
''Constance gasped.People never ceased to amaze her. Yes, she managed to have a theft charge dropped against a local boy,Jason Price,about two years earlier,but this hardly qualified her to defend this boy,accused of a violent murder.But she had underestimated Mrs Maynard,who was speaking again.
''Yes I know that was far less serious:I may be a little silly sometimes but I'm not stupid.Jeanie Price said you were the only one who listened to her and to Jason, that you worked morning and night for him, that you went against the police when they wanted to offer him a lighter sentence if he pleaded guilty and she said you cared.And that's what I want for my Ray. I want someone who cares.Because I tell you something, I am his mother and I know him.He did not do this terrible thing and you have to help him.''
And so, the stage is set.
Constance and Judith set out on their first case-the book is split into four parts, the gathering of evidence, a flashback of 6 years eariler, the courtroom and then the after effects of the verdict.
They interrogate fellow pupils and staff mercilessly as they also circle each other and work out a routine that they find mutually beneficial. And things are going well until the prosecution mentions bringing in the Pinocchio technology, Because suddenly, a whole new host of ethics and conflicts of interest are brought into play..
Rather than being attached to wires and sensors that can be easily tricked, the Pinocchio system, developed by Dr Greg Winters , head of Gepetto Inc, has been designed to be a computer programme which reads body language. So technically it is a kind of Siri-esque app that can be in any room and has been shown to be successful in several US based cases. The reason that this is being brought into this case is because Ray is refusing to talk, he is mentioned as having odd and weird behaviour, is saying he did not murrder Davis yet in the absence of an alternative suspect, the police, media and prosecution are having a hard time pinning it on anyone else.
The narrative is split between first person from Ray and third person from Burton and Lamb, which really intensifies the feeling of being inside Ray's head as he gives you a perspective of his intent which is unseeable to anyone else and heightens the tension.
The use of an infallible computer programme is very concerning as it is unknown if it can take into account those whose body movements and features can be affected by inherited, or acquired, disorders. And whilst this is a tech informed courtroom thriller, I can absolutely guarentee that this is accessible to any and all readers without feeling it is either patronising or over their heads.
It was really interesting going back to the beginning of the Burton/Lamb relationship, and things mentioned in Book 3, 'The Cinderella Plan' make more sense now. I am very much looking forward to reading Book 2 now, 'The Aladdin Trial'.
Thoroughly recommended for readers of mysteries, crimes, thrillers alike!
July 7, 2021
3.5 stars.
July 26, 2017
There can be no doubt that currently, the book market is swamped with psychological thrillers, tales of domestic noir and police and crime thrillers. Some are great, some struggle to compete in the market. The Pinocchio Brief is a thrilling and complex thriller, quite different to anything else that I've read recently and really gives the reader food for thought.
Raymond is fifteen years old and is accused of the murder of a teacher at his private school. Raymond himself is an intriguing, quite bizarre and intriguing character who is a marvellous creation. For me though, it was his legal team who are the star players in this compelling drama. His young solicitor Constance and out-of-retirement Judith; two extremely well written characters; like chalk and cheese. Old school and modern, yet both have the same beliefs and convictions.
Abi Silver introduces the idea of 'Pinocchio' to the story; a machine that will be used to 'judge' Raymond's testimony. This could appear to be outrageous, but the concept is so well explained, it feels entirely plausible, and in fact, it's probably not far from our future truth.
There is a refreshing authenticity to this story, and it is clear that the author's legal background adds depth to the story.
Extremely well written, this keeps the reader on their toes and is a fine debut. I look forward to reading more from this author.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
Raymond is fifteen years old and is accused of the murder of a teacher at his private school. Raymond himself is an intriguing, quite bizarre and intriguing character who is a marvellous creation. For me though, it was his legal team who are the star players in this compelling drama. His young solicitor Constance and out-of-retirement Judith; two extremely well written characters; like chalk and cheese. Old school and modern, yet both have the same beliefs and convictions.
Abi Silver introduces the idea of 'Pinocchio' to the story; a machine that will be used to 'judge' Raymond's testimony. This could appear to be outrageous, but the concept is so well explained, it feels entirely plausible, and in fact, it's probably not far from our future truth.
There is a refreshing authenticity to this story, and it is clear that the author's legal background adds depth to the story.
Extremely well written, this keeps the reader on their toes and is a fine debut. I look forward to reading more from this author.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
July 30, 2017
Completely, utterly engrossed in this combination of legal thriller, murder investigation, and the possible benefits of new technology in criminal cases, saving government money. I've read a lot of good books this year, but, so far, this has to be the best. It has all the things I love: a deliciously complex storyline, with twist followed by twist - then another twist; lots of realistic court debates (the debut author's an ex-lawyer, which probably explains that); hugely memorable characters, both likeable (who you grew to really care for), and others not so; and a wonderfully original story. Goodness knows what the rest of the year's going to have in store, but I'm pretty sure we've got one of our Top Ten here. Can't wait to see what Abi Silver comes up with next..!
September 5, 2017
Though this is something different in the crime genre, part courtroom drama, part school-based whodunnit, too much doesn't work in the novel for it to have been either memorable or a page-turner.
15 year old Raymond is accused of killing his teacher in a private school. His defence is organised by young solicitor Constance, and a retired 'detective' Judith. Running alongside this is the idea of new and improved lie detector technology, which really does not convince. Certainly the novel needed something more, but not this. The language the author uses in descriptions was repetitive and at times inappropriate. And, just a small correction, halves of school rugby matches are 35 minutes, not 40...
15 year old Raymond is accused of killing his teacher in a private school. His defence is organised by young solicitor Constance, and a retired 'detective' Judith. Running alongside this is the idea of new and improved lie detector technology, which really does not convince. Certainly the novel needed something more, but not this. The language the author uses in descriptions was repetitive and at times inappropriate. And, just a small correction, halves of school rugby matches are 35 minutes, not 40...
July 6, 2023
Good characters. Good secrets revealed in their own time. Storyline pulls you right along. A very enjoyable read that went very quickly.
January 25, 2021
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author and Eye and Lightning Books. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The Pinocchio Brief is a well-constructed courtroom thriller with an instantly compelling hook: what if there was a computer program that could read facial expressions and body language to confirm whether or not you are lying?
Abi Silver mixes some psychology, legal drama, a murder mystery and technological morality issues together here to produce an entertaining story which raises some intriguing questions about the nature of lying and the detail of how deceit works.
I found it very plausible that the Pinocchio lie-detection technology in the story is created with entertainment in mind – in the form of reality tv shows or personal apps – but then immediately co-opted into the legal system as a means of determining innocence… or guilt. This chain of events very much mirrors real-life technologies, created with benign intentions, then weaponised. We get a lot of the mechanics of how the program is tweaked and tested, through a flashback from one of the main characters, Judith Burton, who reluctantly got involved in its early stages and is not best pleased to see it resurface in the courtroom at the same time that she does!
The story has two main characters (three, if you count the murder suspect, Raymond Maynard), Constance and Judith, who form a typical odd-couple pairing of young, idealistic lawyer and dragged-out-of-retirement, cynical but experienced lawyer. I found it hard to really get to grips with either of them, as they are both quite guarded and defensive, so that even the reader is held at arm’s length from their true feelings. Ironically, I found Raymond easier to ‘like’, as we get quite a bit of insight into his actions, thoughts and feelings from the sections from his viewpoint.
To be honest, though, liking the characters was pretty irrelevant to my enjoyment of the story, which had me completely hooked throughout on some deceptively simple questions: is Raymond lying? Who killed the teacher, and why? Why is Judith so reluctant to face Pinocchio (again)?
Incidentally, the fairytale aspect in the titles of this series, combined with the modern murder/court investigation was an irresistible combination to me, and whilst the link to Pinocchio was more thematic than plot or character-related, I still love the whole concept of the old tale and the new setting.
For fans of legal thrillers, this is definitely one to watch, and I’m going to pick up The Aladdin Trial and The Cinderella Plan to see where Burton and Lamb go next in their legal investigations!
'To Lie. Alternative words I could use: to tell untruths, to perjure oneself, to have somebody on, to fib, to tell stories, to be economical with the truth.
Dictionary definition? “To say something that is not true in a conscious effort to deceive somebody.”
Connected words: dishonesty, deceit, fraud, untruthfulness, corruption, treachery, duplicity, cheating and trickery.'
– Abi Silver, The Pinocchio Brief
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
The Pinocchio Brief is a well-constructed courtroom thriller with an instantly compelling hook: what if there was a computer program that could read facial expressions and body language to confirm whether or not you are lying?
Abi Silver mixes some psychology, legal drama, a murder mystery and technological morality issues together here to produce an entertaining story which raises some intriguing questions about the nature of lying and the detail of how deceit works.
I found it very plausible that the Pinocchio lie-detection technology in the story is created with entertainment in mind – in the form of reality tv shows or personal apps – but then immediately co-opted into the legal system as a means of determining innocence… or guilt. This chain of events very much mirrors real-life technologies, created with benign intentions, then weaponised. We get a lot of the mechanics of how the program is tweaked and tested, through a flashback from one of the main characters, Judith Burton, who reluctantly got involved in its early stages and is not best pleased to see it resurface in the courtroom at the same time that she does!
The story has two main characters (three, if you count the murder suspect, Raymond Maynard), Constance and Judith, who form a typical odd-couple pairing of young, idealistic lawyer and dragged-out-of-retirement, cynical but experienced lawyer. I found it hard to really get to grips with either of them, as they are both quite guarded and defensive, so that even the reader is held at arm’s length from their true feelings. Ironically, I found Raymond easier to ‘like’, as we get quite a bit of insight into his actions, thoughts and feelings from the sections from his viewpoint.
To be honest, though, liking the characters was pretty irrelevant to my enjoyment of the story, which had me completely hooked throughout on some deceptively simple questions: is Raymond lying? Who killed the teacher, and why? Why is Judith so reluctant to face Pinocchio (again)?
Incidentally, the fairytale aspect in the titles of this series, combined with the modern murder/court investigation was an irresistible combination to me, and whilst the link to Pinocchio was more thematic than plot or character-related, I still love the whole concept of the old tale and the new setting.
For fans of legal thrillers, this is definitely one to watch, and I’m going to pick up The Aladdin Trial and The Cinderella Plan to see where Burton and Lamb go next in their legal investigations!
'To Lie. Alternative words I could use: to tell untruths, to perjure oneself, to have somebody on, to fib, to tell stories, to be economical with the truth.
Dictionary definition? “To say something that is not true in a conscious effort to deceive somebody.”
Connected words: dishonesty, deceit, fraud, untruthfulness, corruption, treachery, duplicity, cheating and trickery.'
– Abi Silver, The Pinocchio Brief
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
February 18, 2021
I'd say this is a 3.5 I've rounded up to 4*. Mostly because I found that the story didn't really feature Pinocchio as much as I'd expected from the description. I mean, it's the title itself so I wanted a little more about it. The courtcase is a big old portion of the story yet the eponymous device hardly featured and I found that a little disappointing. I even made a notation when I was 28% in that I'd forgotten about the Pinocchio device, because it hadn't merited a mention and suddenly made a first appearance !! So I felt it had been mis-sold in the synopsis.
I was more than a little baffled at Judith's sudden detachment from Greg as well and why she all of a sudden stepped away from her original interest and fascination with his invention. Perhaps it was all a little too deep for me but I didn't "get it" myself. Then more confusion-I am VERY lefthanded and I even practiced stabbing motions myself, and if I stabbed someone standing in front of me I'd hit their right side unless I was jabbing in a diagonal direction, which I wouldn't do. So this also baffled me somewhat.
I liked Judith and Constance's relationship. Both very different characters but they made each other laugh and clearly have a lot of respect for each other, too.
It's not without its fair share of mistakes, either. Pot Noodle needs to be capitalised, there are some commas missed off which need to be there, as in, "I saw him but he wouldn't speak to me either" or "So, there you are then" or "He was a bit lonely I think" and it really mattered here: "Did you not think to go inside and see how Mr Davis was first ?" and with "Usher please" as well. There were more examples but I'm not typing them all out. There were missed fullstops and speechmarks here and there, too. Most noticeable was after the very last sentence Raymond spoke.....which made me tut.
There was one 'ouch' moment when she writes peak and not peek but no more spelling howlers.
I will probably try book 2, as I'd like to see how the ladies get on working together once more but wouldn't have it on the top of my list.
I was more than a little baffled at Judith's sudden detachment from Greg as well and why she all of a sudden stepped away from her original interest and fascination with his invention. Perhaps it was all a little too deep for me but I didn't "get it" myself. Then more confusion-I am VERY lefthanded and I even practiced stabbing motions myself, and if I stabbed someone standing in front of me I'd hit their right side unless I was jabbing in a diagonal direction, which I wouldn't do. So this also baffled me somewhat.
I liked Judith and Constance's relationship. Both very different characters but they made each other laugh and clearly have a lot of respect for each other, too.
It's not without its fair share of mistakes, either. Pot Noodle needs to be capitalised, there are some commas missed off which need to be there, as in, "I saw him but he wouldn't speak to me either" or "So, there you are then" or "He was a bit lonely I think" and it really mattered here: "Did you not think to go inside and see how Mr Davis was first ?" and with "Usher please" as well. There were more examples but I'm not typing them all out. There were missed fullstops and speechmarks here and there, too. Most noticeable was after the very last sentence Raymond spoke.....which made me tut.
There was one 'ouch' moment when she writes peak and not peek but no more spelling howlers.
I will probably try book 2, as I'd like to see how the ladies get on working together once more but wouldn't have it on the top of my list.
April 3, 2021
Very much enjoyed this! Primal Fear vibes the whole way through. Didn’t find any of the main characters particularly likeable, but had fun reading nonetheless.
September 18, 2017
"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference."
This book was from the WHSmith at Terminal 2, Heathrow airport. A new lie detecting program? I couldn't stop myself from taking the book to checkout immediately.
Things I Liked About It
- the plot
Every chapter is small. Each one well links with the next one. When Judith and Constance were doing the investigation, I wasn't able to put the book down. It was so interesting to get to know more step by step. Later in part 3, when they were in court, I was still hooked. Which was kind of surprising. The thing is that I never really liked court dramas. I've watched a lot of crime shows, but I hated the court scenes. #whyididntwatchhowtogetawaywithmurders
However, this book might just change my opinion.
- the characters
The main suspect Raymond 'Ray' Maynard is my favourite character. We could get into his mind first-handed.
Things I Disliked About It
To be honest, I truly enjoyed everything in this book.
Recommendation
I had a good time reading this book. I'll definitely pick up another work from Abi Silver, that is, if she writes another book.
You should pick up this book if you
- want to get into a genius' head
- are interested in court dramas
- like crime detective stories
- want to know about lie detecting
February 9, 2025
I found this book really dull for the first half, then it got a bit more interesting and by the end I grew quite fond of Judith and Constance. I might try to read the sequel, I’ve seen it’s much shorter.
April 21, 2018
This book gripped me from the first chapter. I’ve been interested in lying as a phenomenon for a while, probably not helped by the number of compulsive liars I have come across. Then for the last few with the science of micro-expressions and that was largely what the Pinocchio machine is based upon. The science of the likes of Paul Ekman brought alive by the tv show Lie to Me is definitely a topic I enjoy learning more about. So this plot line was always going to be one that I would enjoy.
The storyline provided me with enough intrigue, likeable, different characters to pique my interest and keep me reading. That and the fact I had no idea what was going to happen next.
The story was fast-paced and I raced through it to find out whether my suspicions would prove correct (They were in part!). It was very well-written with a great plot. I really enjoyed it. Would highly recommend.
The storyline provided me with enough intrigue, likeable, different characters to pique my interest and keep me reading. That and the fact I had no idea what was going to happen next.
The story was fast-paced and I raced through it to find out whether my suspicions would prove correct (They were in part!). It was very well-written with a great plot. I really enjoyed it. Would highly recommend.
August 5, 2017
A murder mystery in a prestigious school leads to a fascinating courtroom drama and we also have an accused that is something of an enigma.
Ray is a schoolboy, quiet, bullied and a genius. He is also accused of the murder of his maths teacher after being found in his room, hands covered in blood and unable (or unwilling) to provide police or his legal representatives with any information which may help clear him of the crime.
The aforementioned legal representatives are Constance, a young and diligent solicitor and Judith. Judith is a courtroom veteran who retired from practice some years previous to the Ray’s trial. Constance persuades Judith to come out of retirement to help defend Ray, but can the two combine the best of their skills to persuade a jury that the awkward loner did not kill his teacher.
What may be the biggest hurdle to overcome is the new Pinocchio technology which is being introduced to the courtroom. Developed as a more reliable “lie detector” the Pinocchio machine is intended to read the movements and mannerisms of witnesses or defendants in court and provide accurate feedback on whether they have lied to the court. Ray’s trial is the first big public test of the technology and Judith, for reasons of her own, is keen to have Pinocchio removed from the process.
Can a machine replace a jury? Why does Judith want the technology removed from the court? Why is Ray so unwilling to communicate with Constance and Judith? Who really killed the teacher, could it have been Ray – despite Judith’s conviction he is innocent?
All those questions kept me reading. Several hooks which all drew me in. The Pinocchio Brief is a cracking courtroom drama but the murder story is also really well thought out. Shades of classic Christie with the murder in the school, a small suspect pool who all have very different backgrounds and each of the suspects has a reason for bumping off the teacher. This is the type of book I love to read.
Ray is a schoolboy, quiet, bullied and a genius. He is also accused of the murder of his maths teacher after being found in his room, hands covered in blood and unable (or unwilling) to provide police or his legal representatives with any information which may help clear him of the crime.
The aforementioned legal representatives are Constance, a young and diligent solicitor and Judith. Judith is a courtroom veteran who retired from practice some years previous to the Ray’s trial. Constance persuades Judith to come out of retirement to help defend Ray, but can the two combine the best of their skills to persuade a jury that the awkward loner did not kill his teacher.
What may be the biggest hurdle to overcome is the new Pinocchio technology which is being introduced to the courtroom. Developed as a more reliable “lie detector” the Pinocchio machine is intended to read the movements and mannerisms of witnesses or defendants in court and provide accurate feedback on whether they have lied to the court. Ray’s trial is the first big public test of the technology and Judith, for reasons of her own, is keen to have Pinocchio removed from the process.
Can a machine replace a jury? Why does Judith want the technology removed from the court? Why is Ray so unwilling to communicate with Constance and Judith? Who really killed the teacher, could it have been Ray – despite Judith’s conviction he is innocent?
All those questions kept me reading. Several hooks which all drew me in. The Pinocchio Brief is a cracking courtroom drama but the murder story is also really well thought out. Shades of classic Christie with the murder in the school, a small suspect pool who all have very different backgrounds and each of the suspects has a reason for bumping off the teacher. This is the type of book I love to read.
October 24, 2017
A respected former barrister is coaxed from retirement by a young solicitor to defend a precocious pupil from a private school who is accused of murdering one of the teachers. The pupil is an unusual character, to say the least. The relationship (professional, not personal) between the demanding barrister and her junior pretender (both female) is another facet of the novel.
After getting used to this plot, the reader is thrown back in time to another plot about the development of lie detector software, which of course is related to the main plot. The plot relating to the lie detector also develops another relationship, which I won't go into to avoid giving too much away. With all this going on, there is the potential for a decent story, but unfortunately none of it is done particularly well.
The chapters featuring the barrister and/or the solicitor are told in third person and jump between heads, including minor characters, throughout the scenes, which is very distracting. To make matters worse, the dialogue tag "said" is banned, and Silver Abi wheels out every dialogue tag possible, as well as throwing unnatural action beats in as another alternative.
The chapters featuring the pupil are told in first person, talking directly to the reader, which doesn't work well. The fact that he is completely unrealistic and an unlikeable pompous twat doesn't help much either. The lack of any investigation by the police, and the antics in the courtroom, stretch credulity even further.
Despite its drawbacks, The Pinocchio Brief was a fast and easy read, and this saves it from a single star rating. Although there are some decent plot ideas in there, the way everything is developed means that it ends up being a bit of a mess. There is potential here, but more work to be done.
After getting used to this plot, the reader is thrown back in time to another plot about the development of lie detector software, which of course is related to the main plot. The plot relating to the lie detector also develops another relationship, which I won't go into to avoid giving too much away. With all this going on, there is the potential for a decent story, but unfortunately none of it is done particularly well.
The chapters featuring the barrister and/or the solicitor are told in third person and jump between heads, including minor characters, throughout the scenes, which is very distracting. To make matters worse, the dialogue tag "said" is banned, and Silver Abi wheels out every dialogue tag possible, as well as throwing unnatural action beats in as another alternative.
The chapters featuring the pupil are told in first person, talking directly to the reader, which doesn't work well. The fact that he is completely unrealistic and an unlikeable pompous twat doesn't help much either. The lack of any investigation by the police, and the antics in the courtroom, stretch credulity even further.
Despite its drawbacks, The Pinocchio Brief was a fast and easy read, and this saves it from a single star rating. Although there are some decent plot ideas in there, the way everything is developed means that it ends up being a bit of a mess. There is potential here, but more work to be done.
November 1, 2017
The crime market is flooded with psychological thrillers and domestic noir, so it was a welcome change to read The Pinocchio Brief, which is a courtroom drama and legal investigation.
The story centres around quirky & academically gifted 15-year-old Raymond, who has been accused of murdering his teacher at his private school. The two other main characters are his legal team - Judith (the older, experienced and more reserved one) and Constance (younger, more reckless and very enthusiastic).
Abi Silver has a great knack of describing her characters, both in terms of appearance and their thoughts and feelings. The chapters alternative between the points of view of Raymond, Judith and Constance. But, unusually, within every scene you get inside each person's head (known as head hopping). I don't often see this in crime fiction.
The premise of the novel - a lie-detecting device used in courtroom trials - is an interesting and intriguing one and instantly grabbed my attention. You can tell that the author has a legal background and is also a great researcher, as there's a lot of information packed within the pages. The book is divided into four parts, but I really found it to be a book of two parts. The first half (parts 1 and 2) contained a lot of scene setting, developing the characters and the build up to the courtroom drama. The second half (parts 3 and 4) was written at a much faster pace with lots of surprises.
Abi Silver certainly kept me guessing and knows how to plot a twisty book. I'll be interested to see what she comes up with next.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.
The story centres around quirky & academically gifted 15-year-old Raymond, who has been accused of murdering his teacher at his private school. The two other main characters are his legal team - Judith (the older, experienced and more reserved one) and Constance (younger, more reckless and very enthusiastic).
Abi Silver has a great knack of describing her characters, both in terms of appearance and their thoughts and feelings. The chapters alternative between the points of view of Raymond, Judith and Constance. But, unusually, within every scene you get inside each person's head (known as head hopping). I don't often see this in crime fiction.
The premise of the novel - a lie-detecting device used in courtroom trials - is an interesting and intriguing one and instantly grabbed my attention. You can tell that the author has a legal background and is also a great researcher, as there's a lot of information packed within the pages. The book is divided into four parts, but I really found it to be a book of two parts. The first half (parts 1 and 2) contained a lot of scene setting, developing the characters and the build up to the courtroom drama. The second half (parts 3 and 4) was written at a much faster pace with lots of surprises.
Abi Silver certainly kept me guessing and knows how to plot a twisty book. I'll be interested to see what she comes up with next.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.
October 14, 2021
What an amazing read!! I read this from cover to cover in one sitting, I couldn't put it down to go to bed! This is two female defence lawyers, Burton and Lamb, who come together to defend a schoolboy who has allegedly murdered his teacher. He is on the autistic spectrum and attends a public school. He is brilliant at anything to do with maths, science and computing, but has no social skills.
He is arrested and doesn't speak at all to his two lawyers, he draws or writes an occasional word, all of which is no help at all to them two. Raymond is not helping himself. Judith, one of the lawyers was once interested in a project which was called pinocchio, a computer programme that could detect by facial recognition, when a person was lying, not guilty or guilty. This programme is being tried out in court during Raymond's case, unfortunately the programme says he is lying on all his answers. ALL his answers, which means his date of birth, siblings, school, friends' names, everything. This should not be possible, therefore Judith puts a sound argument to the judge that the programme is faulty.
She calls in the help of the programme designer, he answers her call and stands up in court and discusses his programme. I won't spoil the ending but sufficient to say I found it incredible.
This is really a brilliant book and I would recommend it to anyone, the ending will leave you thinking, especially if there is such a programme knocking around the world anywhere at this time.
I would recommend this book to anyone as an amazing amazing read.
He is arrested and doesn't speak at all to his two lawyers, he draws or writes an occasional word, all of which is no help at all to them two. Raymond is not helping himself. Judith, one of the lawyers was once interested in a project which was called pinocchio, a computer programme that could detect by facial recognition, when a person was lying, not guilty or guilty. This programme is being tried out in court during Raymond's case, unfortunately the programme says he is lying on all his answers. ALL his answers, which means his date of birth, siblings, school, friends' names, everything. This should not be possible, therefore Judith puts a sound argument to the judge that the programme is faulty.
She calls in the help of the programme designer, he answers her call and stands up in court and discusses his programme. I won't spoil the ending but sufficient to say I found it incredible.
This is really a brilliant book and I would recommend it to anyone, the ending will leave you thinking, especially if there is such a programme knocking around the world anywhere at this time.
I would recommend this book to anyone as an amazing amazing read.
September 25, 2018
Guilty
Being able to judge whether or not someone is lying is such an ancient human desire that it appears in every marriage form from myths to comic books. Law enforcement everywhere would celebrate it there was an in unbeatable system. Pinocchio looks like the goods. Barrister Judith helped with the researchers until she realized she was a little to attracted to the software's owner and be a to have ethical doubts about the software. Years later Judith has retired early when a young admiring solicitor contacts her to ask if she will take on a new brief; a fifteen year old boy stands accused of the murder of his housemates at a boarding school. The two work together to free their client who will not speak. In the end the reader will ask what constitutes guilt. This is a mesmerizing courtroom thriller despite some faults, the prosecution 's case seems a bit flimsy to me and the pacing is little uneven but you will want the defenders to win which makes all the difference.
Being able to judge whether or not someone is lying is such an ancient human desire that it appears in every marriage form from myths to comic books. Law enforcement everywhere would celebrate it there was an in unbeatable system. Pinocchio looks like the goods. Barrister Judith helped with the researchers until she realized she was a little to attracted to the software's owner and be a to have ethical doubts about the software. Years later Judith has retired early when a young admiring solicitor contacts her to ask if she will take on a new brief; a fifteen year old boy stands accused of the murder of his housemates at a boarding school. The two work together to free their client who will not speak. In the end the reader will ask what constitutes guilt. This is a mesmerizing courtroom thriller despite some faults, the prosecution 's case seems a bit flimsy to me and the pacing is little uneven but you will want the defenders to win which makes all the difference.
October 12, 2020
I’m honestly gobsmacked by all the good reviews of this book.
We are introduced to a whodunnit case about the murder of a high school teacher which quickly flicks into an entirely different story about a lie-detecting technology. “Great!” You think. “This will come into play in this murder trial!” Except, it really doesn’t. It had literally no impact on the trial nor therefore on the story itself. For what was touted as the main storyline, it ended up being a useless red herring.
Not one of the characters is titillating or even likeable, and the reference to numerous secondary characters by their surnames only is messy and confusing.
And the “twist”?! That the only character you suggested may have done it actually did it?! Groundbreaking...
The love story ending is bizarre and unnecessary to say the very least.
I am only giving this two stars because of its ease to read but it is a classic lazy thriller in that you keeps you engaged just enough to keep reading hoping you will get a good ending but you just....don’t.
We are introduced to a whodunnit case about the murder of a high school teacher which quickly flicks into an entirely different story about a lie-detecting technology. “Great!” You think. “This will come into play in this murder trial!” Except, it really doesn’t. It had literally no impact on the trial nor therefore on the story itself. For what was touted as the main storyline, it ended up being a useless red herring.
Not one of the characters is titillating or even likeable, and the reference to numerous secondary characters by their surnames only is messy and confusing.
And the “twist”?! That the only character you suggested may have done it actually did it?! Groundbreaking...
The love story ending is bizarre and unnecessary to say the very least.
I am only giving this two stars because of its ease to read but it is a classic lazy thriller in that you keeps you engaged just enough to keep reading hoping you will get a good ending but you just....don’t.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2020
This book is about Constance, a lawyer who has taken on the case of a teenage boy accused of murdering one of his teachers. She approaches a retired barrister - Judith - to help her. Throughout the book you get the viewpoint of the boy, Raymond, who is very intelligent but appears to be on the ASD spectrum. The two lawyers spend the first part of the book investigating the crime and the second half defending Raymond in court. There is also a flashback to the development of software (Pinocchio) that the court wants to use to detect lies and assess if a defendant is telling the truth. The case is interesting and the ethics involved in Pinocchio are also thought provoking. It is the chilling end that made the book 4 stars for me.
December 3, 2020
This was just ok. I was fairly interested in the beginning but that quickly faded and I just wanted to get to the end. Without giving too much away, the blurb made things seem so much more exciting than they really were! I didn't connect with any of the characters, and they also made the most vocables of any people I've ever encountered; constantly tutting and coughing and gulping. I felt they could've been drawn a bit better overall as well - just how old were Constance, Judith and Greg? And Judith and Greg when they met? Constance mostly fades away into the background, which is strange given how important she was to get the ball rolling in the first place. Anyway, whatever. It's over now.
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November 6, 2019Absolutely brilliant!
I had been itching to tread this for a while and what an amazing read it was! Very cleverly put together.and I liked the way the author wrote in the first person as Raymond. The characters of both Connie and Judith were well crafted as well. As a lover of law and legal thrillers it was interesting to read about the background of prosecuting at the Old Bailey. As for the story a young boy is on trial for the murder of his teacher. As for the understanding of Pinocchio it relates to a software programme. Very ingenious! I don't like giving too much away but all I can say it is most definitely a good read!
I had been itching to tread this for a while and what an amazing read it was! Very cleverly put together.and I liked the way the author wrote in the first person as Raymond. The characters of both Connie and Judith were well crafted as well. As a lover of law and legal thrillers it was interesting to read about the background of prosecuting at the Old Bailey. As for the story a young boy is on trial for the murder of his teacher. As for the understanding of Pinocchio it relates to a software programme. Very ingenious! I don't like giving too much away but all I can say it is most definitely a good read!
May 31, 2019
This was a great book! A 15 year old boy named Raymond is accused of murdering his sports teacher. He is defended by a young solicitor Constance and an older barrister Judith. But the boy won’t help himself and says nothing at all so Constance and Judith have to find out all the answers themselves.
Raymond is very clever so why is he silent? As an added complication Judith has been involved in the development of a lie detector named Pinocchio which is going to be used in the trial.
A clever plot, good characters and a convincing story. Really enjoyable and clever - a 5 star read.
Raymond is very clever so why is he silent? As an added complication Judith has been involved in the development of a lie detector named Pinocchio which is going to be used in the trial.
A clever plot, good characters and a convincing story. Really enjoyable and clever - a 5 star read.
November 24, 2020
I love a good legal thriller, and this one makes you feel as if you're in the courtroom with the main characters. I was worried that the 'Pinocchio' lie-detecting technology might be a bit distracting, but it's simply an imaginative and interesting twist on what is already a well-written story. I look forward to seeing what Abi Silver thinks of next, especially since it means spending more time with the intriguing Judith Burton and Constance Lamb.
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