Dissection of a Murder

The stakes couldn’t be higher for up-and-coming British defense attorney Leila Reynolds as she prepares for her first murder trial against her prosecutor husband in Murray’s razor-sharp debut. Leila, a scrappy barrister in Durham, England, is defending club bouncer and ex-con Jack Millman, who’s accused of killing Crown Court judge Anton Smythe. Because Jack insists he will not provide information for the customary defense statement before trial, but only give his version of events in court, Leila scrambles to investigate the case herself, gathering evidence and witness statements that put Jack in a positive light. All the while, she avoids tipping her hand to her spouse, prosecuting counsel Julian Kesler, who has been acting suspiciously in recent weeks, leading Leila to worry he’s having an affair. Compounding her stress are anonymous threats from someone who seems not only familiar with her every move, but also with explosive secrets from her past. Former barrister Murray lays out her intricate plot with the aplomb of a seasoned lawyer steering a jury to a verdict, shedding light on procedural idiosyncrasies and gender inequality within the British legal system en route to a jaw-dropping final twist. Readers will find this criminally captivating. (May)