The best read of 2025 to date! No surprise to learn that the author was previously a barrister as the writing flowed through the legal matters an a way which engaged and captivated the reader. Brilliantly written and very, very clever. A must read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

An absolutely cracking novel. A legal crime drama with a massive twist. I certainly didn't see it coming. It's made up of very toxic people I wouldn't want to mix with but it's totally addictive. Do I think she is guilty, well you'll have to read and find out. All I'll say is that I understand a lot of it .

Cozy mystery vs feminism vs law vs The Unexpected - all mixed into one book.
This book makes you think who and what the characters are like - there's a lot of mystery and deception.
Leila - you don't know her full past, and what she's not telling us.
Julian - what is he up to?! He's not my favourite character and I kept rolling my eyes at him trying to win over the jurors... Well, I'll be!
Witness X is a mystery. I thought it was definitely one of the characters introduced on the side, but I guessed completely wrongly.

Towards the last few chapters of the book, there is a big plot twist, which will astound and astonish you! A complete wow factor!

This is a book for those who like court dramas and plot twists... Now, how does one get on the jury service?!

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for letting me read this ARC! Amazing stuff!

A fast paced, interesting thriller. Focusing on the legal perspective means that this book feels unique. The twists as you read keep you continually guessing and the revelation of unreliable narrators so late forces you to question all of your previous predictions. The very ending is a bit confusing at first but a great read overall!

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

I have read many courtroom dramas over the years but I've never read one quite like this! This book is so well written and the plot is razor sharp. The twists and turns were plentiful and for once I had no idea where the storyline was leading me and how it was going to end.

This book kept me gripped from the first page until the last, highly recommend from me.

What a read! The is easily one of the best books I've read this year. I've read Jo Murray's previous works under her Roxie Cooper pseudonym and her writing is just excellent.

Dissection of a Murder is exactly that - a full breakdown of the death of Judge Anton Smythe argued by two barristers who also happen to be husband and wife; KC Julian and our protagonist Leila. The characters are flawed and well rounded, it felt so easy (if slightly terrifying!) to imagine these events playing out in real life.

This book kept me guessing until the end and boy did it deliver. It's no surprise this has already been picked up by Apple TV and I look forward to seeing it on screen too!

Huge thanks to PanMacmillan/Netgalley for the ARC!

I was completely hooked by Dissection of Murder. Jo Murray’s writing flows beautifully, it’s sharp, immersive, and filled with twists that genuinely shocked me (which doesn’t happen often in this genre!). The courtroom setting is handled brilliantly: it adds tension and realism without being weighed down by heavy legal jargon, making it easy to follow even for readers unfamiliar with legal thrillers.

What really stood out for me was the character work. These aren’t flat, disposable figures, they’re layered and believable, and you truly come to care about what happens to them. That emotional pull made every twist and revelation land with even more impact.

This book has everything I look for in a crime/courtroom drama: strong writing, engaging pacing, authentic characters, and a story that keeps you guessing until the very end. I’d highly recommend it to fans of legal thrillers, crime fiction, or anyone who enjoys a well-crafted mystery that’s as accessible as it is suspenseful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic book.

I famished this book in less than a day; it was a truly captivating read. The courtroom drama was especially gripping, with legal matters presented in a very accessible manner.
The end left me so shocked I actually gasped out loud!
This is a very thought-provoking novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend to all.

Jo Murray’s Dissection of a Murder is more than a courtroom thriller—it’s a study in silence, power, and the fragile architecture of truth. When Leila Reynolds is unexpectedly handed a high-profile murder case, she steps into a courtroom thick with tension and secrets. Her client, Jack Millman, refuses to speak. Her opponent is her own husband. And the stakes are far higher than a verdict.

Murray, herself a barrister, writes with quiet authority. The legal intricacies are rendered with clarity, never overwhelming, and the emotional undercurrents—marital strain, professional ambition, buried trauma—are woven with subtlety and grace. The narrative unfolds like a chess match, each move deliberate, each revelation shifting the board.

What elevates this novel is its restraint. The twists are sharp but never sensational. The characters are flawed, human, and compelling. And the courtroom scenes pulse with authenticity, drawing the reader into a world where justice is not always synonymous with truth.

For readers who appreciate the psychological nuance of Apple Tree Yard and the moral ambiguity of Blood Orange, this debut offers a compelling new voice in legal fiction. It lingers long after the final page—like a verdict you’re not quite sure was right.

With thanks to Jo Murray, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I completed this book in under 24 hours and found it to be a captivating experience. The courtroom drama was particularly engaging, and the legal concepts were presented in a very accessible manner.
The end left me so surprised, proper open-mouth moment! If you have also read this book, I would be interested in your perspective.
Beyond its addictive and fast-paced nature, the narrative effectively highlights the multifaceted nature of truth and how hard it is to determine if someone is guilty or not.

Wow this was a stunning courtroom / psychological mystery with a plot twist towards the end that knocked my socks off! The whole way the story was told and unravelled was very original and clever, and it also dealt with some quite disturbing themes of controlling, abusive behaviour as well as sexism in the workplace and some outdated practices in the legal industry – such as the elevated King’s Counsel barristers and pupilmaster relationships.

We meet Leila Reynolds, a lawyer in her 30s living in Durham, who has fought her way to where she is through determination and hard work. Now, she’s been personally requested by Jack Millman to defend him when he is accused of murdering high profile Judge Anton Smythe. There are two problems. One, Jack won’t tell her what really happened. And two, the prosecuting lawyer is Leila’s much more experienced lawyer husband, Julian.

Julian – like her – is determined to win the case. And he is more concerned about his reputation than his relationship with his wife and former pupil. His true colours come roaring to life. And soon Leila has another problem - messages from someone in her past threaten to reveal something she wants to keep hidden.

Most intriguing of all, are the chapters written by Witness X, who knows exactly what happened on the night Judge Smythe was killed.

This was so fiendishly well-written, clever and twisty beyond twisty! Just when I thought I knew what was going on, everything would be turned on its head once more!

When a judge is found murdered in an insalubrious location, and the only witness who knows everything is a defendant who will not share his version of events - even with his lawyers - it all turns into a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

And when opposing counsel just happened to be married, you know things are going to get complicated. But just how complicated this excellent legal thriller can get is a surprise for each reader to discover for herself. This one is well worth your time! It gets 3.5 stars.

This is very, very good, and thrilled to have been reading it in July 2025, months before its release. Leila Reynolds is undertaking her first murder case as a barrister against a titan in the legal field. Who happens to be her husband and whom she met while as a legal pupil. Jack Millman, the defendant, only wants Leila as his brief, but is not exactly being co-operative. With her husband seeing the case as an easy win, Leila thinks differently: she knows she has to win over the jury, somehow. Will she be able to pull something from her sleeve to persuade them that Jack isn’t responsible for the murder of a well-respected judge? It is so cleverly written, beautifully plotted, the characterisation is excellent.

The idea of a woman going up against her husband on opposite sides of a legal case grabbed me straight away and I found this a very compelling read, but as the twists and turns came it started straying a bit too far from being believable.

If you think this is just another courtroom drama think again. It is so much more. The case is high profile - the murder of a well-respected judge. Leila Reynolds, barrister for the defense, is inexperienced. The prosecutor, Julian, is very experienced and is Leila's husband. He is confidant of winning what appears to be an open and shut case. This has the makings of a great story but the stunning twists take it to the next level. Just when you think you know what is happening, the author lobs in another twist which explodes like a grenade. Issues of misogyny, child abuse and social class simmer in the background.
This is a superbly plotted novel with a cast of vividly-drawn characters and POV chapters by Leila and a mysterious Witness X. The major twist at the end is breathtaking.
I can't believe that this is a debut novel. It is so good. One of those books that you want to read again the moment you have finished it. If it doesn't appear on the lists of prize-winners I will be very surprised.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Incredibly well written, this book is not what it seems until it is done. A married couple, both barristers find themselves on different sides of the courtroom in a book full of gross ego’s and complex riddles

Unputdownable.

This was an impressive debut by an author with a deep knowledge of the legal system.

The plot was satisfactorily complex with some twists and turns that truly shocked and surprised me.

The characters were well drawn and the book truly sizzled its way to its conclusion- another surprise there too!

All in all a book to relish and savour.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me an ARC of this via NetGalley! That has not influenced my review and all opinions are my own.

Wow wow wow!!! This book is gripping, entertaining and mind bending. I love a thriller, and with this being dubbed as similar to The Silent Patient, I went into this with high expectations but this novel absolutely blew me out of the water.

Court room thrillers are incredibly hard to write; there are so many bits and pieces and medical/law jargon that we can sometimes have difficulty understanding but this was incredibly easy to read and digest. It takes the reader into the court room, and every time the page is turned we have more surprises and twists. There is a huuuuge plot twist in this book that I absolutely did not expect. This book gave me emotional whiplash (in a great way). I thought I had it figured out but then it changed direction rapidly.

It’s hard to write a spoiler free review for this book but I can’t even begin to describe how much I loved this book. I was so excited to finish it because I felt addicted, but now that I have finished it I feel like there’s a hole inside my soul!

The author does a really good job at making us feel emotions through different characters. I loved Jack and wanted to protect him with my life, and I absolutely despised Julian. The author has a great way of really dragging you into this story and making you feel like you’re living it as opposed to just reading it.

Overall I absolutely loved this book, and described it to my partner as being ‘a book that has baffled me and amazed me at the same time’. I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes mystery, crime thrillers, court rooms/law, and just generally unhinged and twisty books!

Rating: 5/5 (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Similar to what Fatal Attraction did to potential philandering husbands , this book will deter any lawyer repesenting a client in court when their spouse is in opposition. Indeed it could well put anyone off becoming a barrister. What a nasty bunch.
Leila and her husband Julian are both barristers who end up in opposition when Jack, a bouncer at an exclusive club, is accused of murdering a high court judge. But who is Witness X who has regular POV chapters throughout the book. There are a great bunch of well filled out characters as well as titbits of Witness X and an anonymous female .
One one hand the book is a courtroom battle and on the other hand it describes the history of two very disturbed people who came together at some time in the past. And there is also the mystery of the anonymous female. Plenty to interest everyone.
I am not usually a fan of courtroom dramas but I was absolutely hooked on this as well as trying to work out the identities of the unnamed characters.
And the major twist at the end took me completely by surprise and although it is slightly naughty how it was hidden , this is in keeping with the way in which this character views their life. I should not have finished this book last thing in the evening as I could not get to sleep thinking things over. Really looking forward to more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC

This debut completely blindsided me. I went in for the legal drama and stayed for the brilliantly drawn characters and an ending that left me stunned. A judge is found dead in his chambers, and Jack, a law student, is arrested. It looks like an open and shut case, except Jack refuses to say anything about what happened until he is on the stand. From there, the courtroom tension ratchets up in all the right ways.

What makes this book stand out is the added emotional complexity, the prosecuting barrister and the defence lawyer are married, and Jo Murray handles the moral conflict this creates with real finesse. Drawing on her own experience as a barrister, Murray brings an authentic, quietly gripping realism to the courtroom scenes and legal arguments.

The pacing is tight, without being rushed, the character development feels thoughtful and grounded, and I loved the insight into how high profile cases can ripple through personal and professional lives. A standout debut and an absolute must read for anyone who enjoys intelligent legal thrillers with emotional depth and a sharp twist you will not see coming.