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 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 . . .
Book Info: Print length: 384 pages. Publisher: Macmillan. Publication Date: 7 May 2026
My Thoughts:
Dissection of a Murder is a gripping debut legal thriller that’s generating a huge buzz ahead of it’s publication day on 7th May 2026 and suffering from acute FOMO I knew I had to get my hands on an early copy to see what all the fuss is about and if it lives up to all the hype.
The answer is simply YES. This brilliant courtroom thriller is an absolute page-turner and literally “unputdownable”. I devoured it in two sittings (if I didn’t have to work, eat and sleep, I’m pretty sure this could have been read in one sitting).
Although there are hundreds of great legal/courtroom thrillers out there, this one stands out for me for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the author was a Criminal Barrister and provides the reader with a very helpful and detailed explanation of all the legal procedures and terminology in basic layman’s terms throughout the book. Thus helping us to understand and appreciate the situations and scenarios without being blindsided by legal jargon. Secondly, the plotline is very, very clever.
A newly qualified barrister, Leila Reynolds, is given her first murder case. Her client is Jack Millman – accused of the brutal murder of a well respected Judge. This is a very high profile case and the defendant is refusing to speak about the crime before the trial. Another concern is that the prosecuting barrister is Leila’s husband, Julian. He’s determined to win this case by any means possible and his reputation is more important than his wife or marriage.
Told from the point of view of several characters, Dissection of A Murder, takes the reader on a tense and twisty tale. With a mystery narrator called Witness X, the reader hasn’t got a clue what really happened to the judge, why Jack Millman refuses to co-operate and how low Julian will stoop to discredit his wife and win this case.
With comparisons to The Silent Patient and Blood Orange, fans of courtroom dramas and psychological thrillers will absolutely LOVE this book
I don’t want to say much more, except pop the date in your calendar (7th May 2026) and pre-order your copy now.
