Author: Jo Murray
Year published: 2026
Category: Adult fiction (thriller)
Pages: 412
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Location: (my 2026 Google Reading map): UK
Summary: A dead judge. A silent defendant. And a courtroom full of liars.
When Leila Reynolds is handed her first murder case, she’s shocked at how high-profile it is: the murder of a well-respected, well-known judge. This shouldn’t be the kind of case she’s leading; it’s way beyond her expertise. But the defendant, Jack Millman, is clear. He wants her, and only her.
To make things worse, he’s refusing to talk. How is she supposed to prove herself on what appears to be an unwinnable case?
Losing is not an option. She must find the most persuasive argument. Trials aren’t won by convincing judges or fellow barristers – they’re all about convincing a jury.
Suddenly, Leila finds herself fighting not only to keep Jack out of prison, but also to keep her own secrets buried.
It’s true what they say – there are two sides to every story.
Guilty or not guilty?
You decide . . .
Review: I have far too many BOTM books on my TBR shelf, so I am trying to work my way through them. Who are we kidding? I have too many books on my TBR shelf, but this one is over 400 pages, so I am sneaking it in for my last Big Book Summer Challenge.
I really, really enjoyed this novel. It had a great mix of mystery, courtroom drama, twists, and unreliable narrators. That all blended into a page-turner for me.
Leila, the main character, is smart, savvy, and trying to prove she has what it takes to be a Kings Counsel in the British legal system. Her husband seems like a good guy; he's her tutor, husband, and adversary in the court case. The unknown witness/narrator is intriguing for sure. S/he knows what happened the night of the murder, and seems to have a lock on other goings-on. Who is this person?! Are they as awful as they sound? Will they help Jack to be foun not guilty?
I like that we get the courtroom drama and the murder in parallel so we're finding things out as the jury does but from multiple angles. The writing is good, the plot kept me turning the pages, and the reveal wasn't a last-page thing, but a gradual release that felt realistic.
Challenges for which this counts:
- 20 Books of Summer
- Big Book Summer--412 pages
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