Dissection of a Murder ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray


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G👀dreads About Summary

Breathlessly compulsive courtroom drama with expertly-crafted twists that you won't see coming, Dissection of a Murder is the razor-sharp debut novel from Jo Murray.
A dead judge. A silent defendant. And a courtroom full of liars.

Nothing is as it seems—and no one is telling the truth—in this “addictive page-turner” about a young lawyer forced to defend a man on trial for murder against the mentor who taught her everything: her husband (Alice Feeney, New York Times bestselling author).

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.

You decide . . .

Genre: Fiction, Crime, Legal Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

The How/Why: Influenced by prerelease SM ads. I enjoy a good mystery thriller plus working in law for over 20 years back in the day, I enjoy a good legal battle.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

🎉 Overall Storytelling? 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

🎣 Did it grab and keep my attention? 🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣

🗣️Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes ➕

🕮 Would I want a sequel? Maybe 🤷 Not necessary but since it ended with 'you decide' it might be interesting.

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author? Yes ➕

⚠️💣💥 📢 Content Warnings? MŪrdɇr, Infïdɇlïty, Sta⅃Ƙing and Hɐrɐssmɇnt, 
MiŞoǥyny,  Childh00d Trɐumɐ

🌶️🫑Spice? No

🌪 Plot Twist? YES

👟 Pace? Very good

💻 Tidbits ~ Skip to the end: I’ll be the judge of that. *All*The*Stars*

I am guilty of being hooked in beyond the shadow of a reasonable doubt. If you are a legal thriller junkie, it would be a crime to pass on this one. (Cheesy legal puns intended!)

“A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer.” 
~Robert Frost
I worked in law for 20 years and used to say: “The one with the most expensive lawyer wins”. Not always the case, but it happens more often than not. This legal battleground is a whole nother tipping of the scales of justice! 

Jack, a doorman/security worker at a men's club, is accused of killing a prominent Judge. He has specifically requested Leila to represent him. Right off I have two big questions: 

1. My first question was WHY? Why would Jack want Leila to represent him in his murder trial when she previously represented him and he was convicted?
Two things.
Thing one: Leila has never tried a murder case.
Thing two: The ruthless prosecutor in this case is her husband and former mentor.

Legal Side Note: In the US a married prosecutor and defense attorney cannot work on the same case. It’s a personal and professional conflict of interest.
Objection, your honor! 
My objection is overruled. Venue is England where the rules are a little different.

My second question? What does Jack know and who is he trying to protect? I feel a plot twist coming on early and Jo Murray brought it on! 

My Imaginary Marker Board: We have another mentor and his (much) younger wife, a mother-in-law battling dementia, the grieving widow and son of the mŪrdɇred judge, a mysterious "Witness X" providing the inside info, and in the shadows, someone from Leila’s past who is out to destroy her. 
My imaginary evidence board pointed fingers to Witness X's identity right away but I'm not sure you weren't supposed to figure that out. Was the author dropping breadcrumbs?* No spoilers here but I was right!

*Plot Twist Quote: "The ultimate plot twist is there is no twist. The answers are usually in front of you the whole time. And if you miss them, it's because you're not looking properly."  👀

This book is guilty of greatness IMO with these highlights:
Husband vs Wife Courtroom Battle 👫⚖️🥊🥊🤼
The Stalker’s Revenge and Past Secrets 🙈🙉🙊
Justice from Beyond the Grave  😵
The Scales of Justice are Slightly Twisted ⚖️🪢
Guilty or Not Guilty? You Decide. 🤔

Jo Murry brought the thrill into this thriller. It is her debut legal thriller but not her first experience in court. In real life she’s a criminal barrister (lawyer). She explained a lot about the British legal system along the way.
Fun Fact: If you enjoyed her writing style, she's published contemporary women’s fiction/romance under the pen name Roxie Cooper.

🎧 Narrator: Joanne Froggatt 👍👍

🎧12.0 hours (Libby) 🕮 416 pages






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