This is the 2nd book in a series
This book lacked the thrilling elements. The plot twists were lacking
A major disappointment

Apologise for the extremely late review on this but I thought I had not downloaded it.
This was a good book and good storyline and I apologise for not reading it sooner. The characters were good and I liked the writing style.
Recommended

The main protagonist in this book is a barrister with a difference, one that actually hunts down criminals himself! Not sure how realistic that is but it made for a good book.

I loved this book and definitely want to read more (I think it's a series). The main character was intelligent and gutsy but also sufficiently flawed to make him feel real and likeable. He goes above and beyond to seek out the truth and also seems to know all kinds of people who can help him do that.

There were a couple of scenes I doubted the believability of, but mostly I really enjoyed this book.

Time got away from me and I’m sorry for this late review.
I enjoyed this story quite a bit. I love a good courtroom thriller but this one adds much more to the usual ones. The settings and the murders are definitely adding way more than expected and it made me think of Harlan Coven’s Innocent book in parts.
While I haven’t read the previous book in the series, I felt like there’s no need to go back as the characters were drawn up very well and they are very interesting and likeable.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

It's well written and the characters are interesting, unfortunately the plot didn't keep my attention and it fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

brilliant couldn't put this book down, one of my favourites hope there's a sequel! had me gripped right to the end!

I would like to thank Bloomsbury Publishing plc (UK & AUZ) Raven Books, Gary Bell QC and NetGalley for the advance copy of Post Mortem an for giving me this opportunity to give an honest review.

This is a sequel but I read it as a standalone novel which was just fine as I did not feel I lost anything in the story.
I really enjoyed this fast pacing thriller it wasn’t your usual courtroom drama.
I loved the main characters who are both likeable. Elliot Rook the QC and the intern Zara Barnes who soon becomes his sidekick as they investigate their court cases together.
I will definitely be reading more from this author as he writes a real page turner of a story. I like all the twist and turns as it keeps you guessing as they investigate.

Post Mortem is the second instalment in the Elliot Rook QC series, set in and around London. It's Tuesday January 9th and Wormwood Scrubs prison has been locked down due to a fatal stabbing. The next morning the bodies of 13 men are found each having died from bleeding or choking. It isn't long before the newspapers catch on and call it what it is: murder. Elsewhere, Elliot is doing a little breaking and entering at a kennel in Croydon where 9 dogs are being especially bred for illegal blood sports by Jacob Werner. 5 of the 9 are American pit bull terriers and the remaining 4 are the type of dogs Elliot had broken in looking for - Dogo Argentinos, each around a hundred pounds of muscle under pure white fur - the perfect aggressive breed of fighting dog. His visit was precipitated by criminal Billy Barber recommending his services to drug dealer Isaac Reid, who wants him to appeal his conviction for double murder. The killings had happened when business rivals had moved into his territory in the Kentish coastal town of Margate and the newcomers were hacked to death sending Reid down for life. The key to his appeal was a Dogo Argentino that had belonged to the dead dealers. It was Reid’s argument that, since the dog had been standing guard over the property that night, the actual killer must’ve been known to the victims, or else he would never have made it past the animal alive. Before leaving the pound he ends up rescuing a quivering bait dog with a tattered ear and missing lip.

Meanwhile, Zara Barnes, Rook's pupil and a gay, mixed race woman has almost completed her six-month pupillage at the chambers of Miller & Stubbs Criminal Barristers. She is representing Andre Israel who is currently in Wormwood Scrubs awaiting trial in a weeks time on a charge of possession with intent to supply Class As. He claims to have only stopped off at the Princess Alexandria pub to relieve himself while on a run when the police raided the place and was nicked alongside 5 members of the E10 Cutthroats gang. Rook also finds himself representing Charli Meadows, an operational support officer at HMP Wormwood, indicted for bringing prohibited List A items into prison, contrary to Section 40B of the Prison Act 1952. Drug smuggling. The synthetic drug Spice was apparently discovered under the spare tyre in her Vauxhall Corsa. Evidence later emerges that the two cases may be connected. Can Rook and Barnes get to the bottom of it all? This is a riveting and utterly captivating legal thriller with a complex plot and enough action and excitement to keep you on edge throughout. The story is given authenticity by the fact that it's written by a QC and all the legal shenanigans are based in reality. It's compulsive and Rook once again takes centre stage as the central protagonist; he's not afraid to get his hands dirty and is ruthlessly efficient at his job. It's a gritty and scintillating read based around the buying and selling of drugs and the gangs involved in their manoeuvre. Highly recommended.

I did enjoy reading this book however I felt that some of the situations were maybe a little far-fetched however there was some great information in the book about the legal system workings and some insight also into prison procedures.. Being written by a QC you knew that you could rely on the legal scenes although (much like real life I guess) some scenes did seem to stretch out a little too long.
This is the second book in the series and although it is the first I have read it came across well even as a standalone.
I look forward to seeing which direction this series will go in.
4 out of 5 stars for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing and Gary Bell for giving me access to an digital advanced review copy of the book in return for leaving an unbiased review.
This book will be published in e-book format on 14th January 2021.
#PostMortem #NetGalley

This is the second outing for QC Elliot Rook so to get the very best from it, you might want to read Beyond Reasonable Doubt first. If nothing else, you'll get more background to Rook's past and how he got to the Bar and got teamed up with Zara. And it's a cracking read so, why not!?
We start with Rook getting himself a new pet when he takes pity on an abused bait dog whilst investigating (illegally) the premises of illegal blood sports which he has broken in to. He has a reason for being there - wanting to know more about a certain breed of fighting dog.
Meanwhile Zara is representing Andre, a young man on a drugs charge. His arrest coming from a Police raid on a pub. It really doesn't quite smell right to the two of them and Zara leans to Rook for help. He on the other hand is representing a single mother and Prison support guard who is accused of drug possession with intent to supply the prison, them being found in her car parked at her work. Drugs that could be responsible for killing those who partake. Again though, something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
And so begins a cracking tale of secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour, with a smattering of fraud and gangland behaviour which will have our duo chasing their tails all the way to the rather thrilling and wholly satisfying conclusion.
I took to both Rook and Zara and their chalk and cheese relationship in the first book and I am pleased to say that I am still rooting for the both of them at the conclusion of this, their second. They are completely different personalities but, at the same time, they are very much the same - and yes, that does make sense!
It's very well plotted and executed and the pacing matches the narrative all the way through. Characters - both series and episode are well crafted and all play their parts well. I especially loved Rook's new found friend - bless! We also reconnect with an old friend - see I told you to read book one first!
All in all, a very worthy sequel to what was already a cracking series opener. Roll on book three. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Post Mortem is the second book in the legal series by Gary Bell featuring Elliot Rook and Zara Barnes and it is another very enjoyable and easy read that kept the pages turning.

The story moves along at a good pace and the characters are well sketched out making it a good book to keep track of who is who etc. Also the legal side is clearly explained without taking over the storyline

Definitely recommended

#Post Mortem #
Wow this is so different, I love legal books. Especially when a small person , female or male. This is my family now. As a rookie cop who’s turned is life around and he just hopes his past does not comes back to haunt him. However it does when he starts getting blackmailed to keep stum or not only would his children would now becomes a prisoner now in the prison he’s trying o find another set back. Although he thinks he knows.....full of unexpected twist and turns that lead you here, there and everywhere over there. Here’s and everywhere. Just when you think you have got it another suprisgly bomb as just gone
Off. Bloody brilliant read now if you w
Any to know more and you like legal mystery to then it’s a must read

This is the sequel to Gary Bell's new legal series featuring divorced QC Elliot Rook, of Miller and Stubbs Criminal Barristers, a man apparently with an establishment background but in fact pulled himself up and out of a more precarious and troubled past, including being homeless. He has developed a close relationship with offbeat, doc martens wearing, intern, Zara Barnes, a determined mixed race young woman who reminds him of his younger self. Rook still carries elements of his rule breaking past as the novel opens with him breaking and entering the premises where dogs are being bred for illegal blood sports by Jacob Werner. Rook is particularly interested in a rare breed of white South American fighting dog, Dogo Argentino used by criminals, with regard to a client, but ends up rescuing a horrifically abused bait dog that he eventually ends up taking home.

Zara is struggling financially as an intern, and is even more worried about whether she will be taken on as a barrister, there is only one place on offer and there is heavy competition, with many more orthodox candidates from the usual wealthy and public school backgrounds. In comparison, Zara stands out like a sore thumb, but she is no quitter as she pulls out all the stops to win her cases and make an impression. Zara is representing a young man, Andre Israel, in Wormwood Scrubs awaiting trial for drugs offences arising out of police raid on a pub, along with men from the Cutthroats drugs gang. Rook find himself representing Charli Meadows, a single mother working as a support guard, arrested after drugs were found in the boot of her car shortly after 13 men were found dead in prison. Rook and Zara find themselves in danger as they join forces when it begins to emerge there might be connections between their cases.

Bell writes a terrifically compulsive and riveting legal thriller, the highlight of which are his central protagonists, particularly Elliot Rook, forging a life after divorce, but lacking the social skills and close friends which leave him lonely and alone, despite his professional success. Mentoring Zara and working closely with her provides him with an opportunity to enrich his life and he does all that he can support her, including trying to ensure she has a future at Miller and Stubbs. This is a gritty read about drugs gangs in London, rumours of the return of a drugs king pin from the past, more deaths occur, with Rook and Zara trying to do the best they can for their clients. This is a terrific addition to the series, a legal thriller that had me biting my nails until the wonderful finale at the end. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.

I enjoy a good legal thriller and am always pleased to give newcomers to the genre a go.
Post Mortem is the second in a series featuring barrister, Rook and his pupil, Zara. It is possible to read it without having read the first book as I did, but there are references to Rook and Zara’s earlier escapades within the pages.
The plot is quite complicated and focuses on Rook defending Charli , a prison guard accused of smuggling drugs into Wormwood scrubs. Meanwhile Zara is involved in a case where Andre Israel, is arrested for dealing drugs and he pleads innocence claiming to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. How do these 2 cases connect and are their clients really innocent of wrongdoing?
Rook and Zara decide to investigate in order to help the defence and matters become rather complicated.
There were a lot of characters in the novel and consequently some were not as well developed as they might have been. I liked the relationship between Rook and Zara as he mentors her passage to the bar and she helps in the investigations.
My main complaint was that the plot was over complicated and it was quite hard to maintain complete interest in some parts of the novel. There was not a lot of courtroom drama- most of the story plays out in the real world.
It was quite an enjoyable read which I did finish. Consequently I will probably look out for the next book in the series as I particularly liked the two main characters. For that reason I am giving it 3 and a half stars rounded up to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Net Gally, Bloomsbury publishing and Raven books for this Advanced reader copy (A.R.C) in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Post mortem is the tale of Elliot Rook the once homeless barrister now fighting for justice in the courts as well as the odd spot of breaking and entering and occasional punching of a known criminal, his protege is the young and equally feisty Zara how is coming to the end of her time as a junior with Rook's law firm and the big guns at the company must soon decide wether to keep her or not offer her a place at chambers. Against the backdrop they take on two new cases. A prison officer accused of smuggling a deadly batch of drugs that has killed several inmates is taken by Rook, while Zara gets a case of alleged wrong place, wrong time when a young man is arrested as a drug dealer in a police pub raid. As they work together they realise that their cases are connected and a new drug gang is behind them both.
I found the plot interesting and twisty enough to keep me turning the page. The depictions of crime and drug ridden Leyton in London and the speech patterns of the locals did seem stereotypical but then again they may be justified as I have never been there 🤷‍♂️.
I think I would have enjoyed the book much more if it were a bit more realistic, in that Rook rose from homelessness to barrister, even being homeless through his early semesters as junior barrister. It all seems a bit too far fetched for me. Make him a working class lad done well (like the actual author/barrister) by all means but just can't see a practising, albeit junior, barrister living on the street.
I believe this book is the second in a series. It can just about be read as a stand alone but there is a fair bit of reference to Rooks earlier adventures.
An enjoyable legal thriller/whodunnit, with an interesting plot. It also had engaging lead characters (I don't know why but in my head Rook was played by Alan Davies of Q.I. fame, must have been the curly hair.) And OK bordering on good book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for me.

I do liek leagal thrillers but this was totally unbelievagle and nothing to do with usual bar work or post mortems! Odd bunch of characters that I couldn't relate to. I did finish it though.

I enjoyed reading this book
In parts it was a little bit grisly especially at the beginning.
A good story line,complex characters,some truly evil ones to the other extreme of Rook a character who endeared himself to me from the outset after rescuing a bait dog.
I hope there are other books with Rook as the main character and Zara his trusty sidekick.

I first read Gary Bell’s autobiography Animal QC and then his first book about Elliot Rook. By then I was hooked and was so pleased to read the second book in the series. A brilliant, fast paced legal thriller and an excellent story, I was not disappointed. It helps to know that all the legal aspects are right and be able to learn along the way! There is a touching relationship with his ‘Junior’ who appeared in the previous book and it is refreshing to read about a maverick lawyer skirting the boundaries of the law to get to the right conclusion. I thoroughly recommend.it, even to people who are wary of legal thrillers as a good readable novel. Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an early reading copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

An enjoyable and easy read which is also surprisingly educational about the legal process

The second in this enjoyable series featuring the unlikely partnership of Rook and Barnes who complement each other perfectly.

Tha author’s deep personal knowledge of the Criminal Justice System is enhanced by his ability to tell a cracking tale. The book oozes authenticity and rattles along, takin your with it.

I finished this in a couple of days and greatly enjoyed it. A worthy addition to my collection of legal thrillers.