Intriguing story with countless ‘twists and turns’

This story is a courtroom thriller which provides the reader with a view of how a court and its proceedings.
It shares the Judge’s thoughts about the Barristers and the accused, the Barristers thoughts and rationalisation of the evidence and the thoughts of their clients. Each person has a story including the victim also brings some intrigue into the equation.

The reader receives a bird’s eye view of the proceedings in the criminal court overlaid with how each character ‘ducks and dives’ which enriches the story. It brings out so many questions and makes one realise how the facts of what happened can be challenged, distorted and twisted back on themselves.

The detective is one that you would not want to have working with you on such a serious case of three young men accused of murder, yet his character adds another r dimension to the events.

All in all, this is a book I thoroughly enjoyed and an author I will read again.

I was not sure what to expect and I was very surprised by this powerful and intricate novel! Gory details were depicted though which I found disturbing.... So many characters, but the author always mentioned who they are and what they represent (defendant, prosecutor...) at the beginning of each chapter. The characters are absolutely fascinating, no clichés here. Some have colourful language as well as intriguing personalities. What they all have in common is the wish to win. Very thought provoking when one deals with Justice.... The plot is brilliant in the sense that the reader has to make up her/his mind as to the verdict, the same as the jury. I had no idea what/whom to believe!! The conclusion came as a shock in more than one way! Very well done!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

To be honest, I almost gave up reading this book at around 10%. The case is about an extremely brutal murder and at one point I thought that the Author was offering the deprived circumstances of the suspects upbringing as justification/ excuse for the killing….and this I could not accept. However, I persevered and eventually got hooked into the unfolding web of evidence as the trial unfolded. I am glad I did as I do not think the author was necessarily trying to blame society in general for these crimes rather than holding individuals responsible for their acts.
The book is written from the multiple perspectives of the people involved: Prosecutor, Defendants, Defence Counsel and the Judge. This is a clever technique as it places the reader as a member of the jury, having to listen to evidence from multiple sources, judge their relevance and accuracy and come to an opinion on each of the Defendant's guilt or innocence. Like I imagine most jurors must act, I had an ever changing scenario in my mind on what actually happened the night the crime was committed, as the evidence and testimony were presented.
A word of caution to the faint hearted. This is a pretty gritty book with gruesome acts and not much light relief. There are not many endearing characters and the believable incompetence of the Police investigation plus the vagaries of the court system certainly left me despairing about the state of criminal justice in this country.
I am a big fan of murder mystery and police procedurals but this is the first court procedural I have read and it proved to be quite a page turner in the end. The Author has a real skill of putting together a complicated plot involving a cast of characters and as mentioned, an ingenious way of telling the story. It’s a thought provoking read rather than a feel good book but I would recommend it to those who enjoy crime fiction.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing pre publication access to this book.

Unlike many legal thrillers out there this is very much, pretty much 100% court room based. Given the author's background the detail and the authenticity is unquestionable - whether that translates well in the way it is presented for the average reader may differ by reader (I like the fact it didn't dumb down explanation/ terminology even if at times I wasn't entirely sure what it meant)
Told from multiple view points of those involved in the trial of three youths accused of brutally murdering an elderly man - the prosecutor, the defence lawyers, the judge and the defendants themselves, none of the characters came across as likeable (which presumably was the author's intention).
This is a brutal book - the crime itself is extreme and the detail is intense at times, as is the language: it didn't bother me but for readers not comfortable with swearing and violence in their reading it may be at the upper end of comfort. (although I have to say some of the defendant sections did grate a little in terms of the authenticity of the language/ slang/ voice used: this is what older people think youth speak sounds like)
This read as a story of the moment: we've seen a depressing number of similar stories in the news to make it relevant - but along with that and some serious issues it raises, don't go into this expecting a relaxing read: it's depressing with no levity anywhere within (I'm not saying there SHOULD be - just saying that this is not the story you read to unwind after a long day).

It’s New Years Eve, very close to midnight, and three youths are having a wander around town, possibly up to no good, but who knows? When they come across elderly teacher Bernard Hooper, the more than slightly inebriated trio lead Bernard to a quiet alleyway for a little ‘fun’.

What actually happens in the following few minutes is open to much speculation and debate. Enough to say that two of the boys are arrested at the scene of the crime and one a few hundred yards, cowering in bushes.

Fast forward to the day of the trial at Crown Court, where all three are being prosecuted for murder. But who to believe? And how faithful to events are the accusations?

Told from various POV, this story takes the reader from Day One of the trial through to its conclusion and beyond.

Throughout the storyline the thoughts, actions and backgrounds of the accused, the barristers, both defence and prosecution, and the judge are put forward, with some surprising twists.

A genre I am very happy with, and although not one of the best examples I have read, it was still very engaging. Some of the more lengthy narratives could do with a trim, and the legalese may put some readers off, but all in all not a bad read.

A recommendation for readers who enjoy court procedural fiction.

3.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how authentic the entire book was and I liked the addiction of the documents at the beginning of the book. All the perspectives in the story are easy to differentiate between, especially in the early chapters. This was an exciting and interesting plot and I found myself wanting to repeatedly turn the page. The descriptions in the court are so vivid and I loved the formatting. I would love to read more from S J Fleet, as this is the kind of legal storyline I've been wanting to read for a long time.

Found this quite hard to read but if your into the legal system you will love this book
It follows 3 boys who are accused of murdering an old man on NYE
I am not into the legal system system don’t understand all the jargon and found it quite boring - sorry
But thanks to net galley for arc

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. This book is a very in depth look at a courtroom trial of 3 teenagers on trial for murder. The story is told from multiple pov and is very detailed and has lots of legal terminology. The story delves into a detailed criminal trial and makes you aware of how you shouldn’t judge a situation without hearing all the facts. Overall an interesting read that I would recommend.

New Year's Eve. An elderly teacher is killed.

Three teenage boys are accused.

Each one denies it. Each one blames the others.

Three defence barristers trying to persuade the jury that their particular client is innocent.

And a prosecution needing desperately to win...

Brilliant

Well written foray into the criminal justice system.
Three young men are on trial for murder. All have their own legal representation and are fighting for their liberty. But who is telling the truth?
Follow the trial through the eyes of the defendants, the defence barristers, the prosecutor and the judge.
Recommended.

Twisted trial full of surprises that is presented in an unusual way.

This book really opens your eyes if you do not understand the legal system here in the UK. The twists and turns of the prosecutors and defence. Story is told from all people involved in the trial. A unique take on a murder, are they guilty or are they not? Who really did the killing and why?

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

This courtroom drama is a new genre for me but I'm familiar with the secret barrister and so wanted to read this novel. It is based around the trial of three teenagers charged with the murder of a loving husband on New Year's Eve. Are they all guilty, or one or none? We are certainly kept guessing and my viewpoint moved around as each protagonist gives their version of events in turn.

There were parts where I was gripped and wanted to read on, and parts where it slightly dragged and I was tempted to skim read. This may be a feature of it being a first novel - or just my lack of familiarity with the genre. It is certainly an exercise in trying to decide who are the unreliable narrators, or even if they all are, given how differently we all see events.

I'm pleased to have read this, but don't think I'll pursue courtroom based novels for future reading. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy.

Courtroom drama’s aren’t my favourite sub genre of murder mysteries, they’re inclined to be too passive and formulaic. The secret barrister overcomes this hurdle by having each chapter narrated from the viewpoint of one of the protagonists. This adds plenty of variation to the story and, especially in the case of the chapters narrated by the politically incorrect judge, a dark streak of humour. The author brings each character to life giving them individual voices and exposing their flaws. The reader gets emotionally invested in their fates and the author leads us down a twisting path that appears to conclude in a just verdict. I wouldn’t want to give away any spoilers, but the epilogue is superb and throws a new interpretation on what’s gone before. Like Michael Connelly, S J Fleet knows his way round a court and this adds an air of authenticity to proceedings. ‘The Cut Throat Trial’ confounded my expectations and delivered a gripping read.

Three 17 year olds are on trial for the murder of a man on New Year's Eve. The title relates to a cut throat defence where a defendant gives evidence which is designed to damage a co-defendant's case and hopefully exonerate him/herself. The case is related to us in four parts and through six different points of view; the prosecutor, the judge, the three defendants and the counsel for the third defendant.

The way the book follows the different stages of the trial including witness testimony, police testimony and judge's comments keeps the reader guessing as to whether the defendants are guilty or not. It also gives an insight into how cases are put together for presentation in court and the information juries have to listen to and absorb before returning their verdict. I found myself changing my mind between the guilt or innocence of the three defendants several times whilst reading and the ending came as quite a surprise.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and hope that there will be more to come from the author.

Thanks to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan and S J Fleet for an eARC in return for an honest review.

Although not the thriller I was expecting, this courtroom drama is very well crafted and incredibly detailed. I found the pace too slow, but I liked the narration of chapters by different characters, giving the view of the trial from every angle. Not for me, but readers of this type of book should find it fascinating.

The inside knowledge of "The Secret Barrister" takes us right into the crown court system and the emotions, opinions and feelings of all those involved in this particular case. Absolutely fascinating. The case itself - three young men caught numerous times on cctv attacking a man in his 70s - appears open and closed, but jaw dropping twists and errors mean it becomes very complex and hard to call, as the 3 protagonists turn against each other and the prosecution faces investigative errors.
What an ending!
I couldn't devour it quickly enough!

This is an intriguing tale of a rather nasty murder or is it? It is written by the secret barrister. We are given the viewpoints of the prosecutor, the defence barristers, the judge, and each of the defendants of whom there are three. It becomes increasingly obvious that there is no obvious answer because someone is lying;nothing is straightforward. The three defendants are not adults but only 17 years old. This seems to add to the unreliability of the transcripts. When you hear the defendant talk, he might declare himself innocent but you are never sure whether he is an unreliable narrator or not.

The novel keeps you guessing until the end. However, I did get fed up with the relentlessness of each point of view as it was so difficult to keep up with who was saying what. I thought I had made up my mind fairly early on but new evidence came to light which cast doubt. And there is a final twist which I certainly did not see coming.

I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers but my views on my own. If you like it crime story told from the point of view of the trial itself, you will enjoy this.

A courtroom drama which does what it says on the tin.
I wasn't a fan of the style of writing, not quite my thing.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

One pensioner, brutally killed on New Year’s Eve. Three teenagers who stand accused of killing him as a game. With a ton of evidence against the boys’ claims of innocence, it’s an open and shut case surely?
The story is told through the perspectives of the accused, their barristers, the prosecutor and the judge to give the reader a 360 degree view of the trial.
Legal thrillers are right up there in my favourite books, so I was looking forward to this book. However. I can’t say this is the best I have read in the genre. I wasn’t a fan of the style of writing which felt a little dry at times. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat whilst I read it. It does have a good twist or two and a satisfying ending . It wasn’t for me. However, many other people have loved it, so if legal thrillers are your go to genre, snap up a copy and see what you think.


Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Incredible! I don't know where to start with this book. A courtroom drama which is told from the perspective of the three teenage boys - Jamal, Aaron and Craig - charged with murdering an old man. All three have brilliant lawyers who argue their case diligently. But who killed Mr Hooper? And was he hiding a dark secret too? I really liked the main prosecutor Aliyah. She seems constantly conflicted by her job. And the disingenuous people around her (like Rose) make her question everything. Rather like the Netflix series
"Adolescence" there's a social commentary in this novel. The disenfranchised young men who are influenced by toxic older members. Their impressionable minds easily manipulated. I cannot write anymore for fear of giving away the incredible shocking finale. This book is utterly captivating. Thank you so much Pan MacMillan and the author for the eARC on NetGalley. Denise