I really enjoyed her fascinating and shocking memoir "In Black and White" so this was a natural progression for Alexandra Wilson and I thoroughly enjoyed a more than decent first go at a legal thriller that burst into life at the end with a well plotted denouement.

Her description of life as botha black barrister and a black defendant with the incidents of unconscious and indeed conscious bias that they faced rang three from her experience and I think this could turn into an excellent series after such a promising beginning.

I enjoyed this debut novel from Alexandra Wilson set around barrister Rosa. I was drawn into the plot and did not anticipate the twist at the end. Looking forward to reading more from Alexandra Wilson. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

This was a good read for a debut novel. I couldn't connect ro the characters but the plot was interesting. Junior Barrister Rosa Higgins is acting on bealf of Emneth Hamiton a teenage black boy is accused of murder but he swears he didn't do it. I was intrigued as to what the outcome would be, so I kept turning the pages in anticipation. The outcome unfolded very well.
I look forward to reading more courtroom drama by this author

Rosa is a black barrister who defends a young black man. I found the storyline quite gripping and engaging. True is was a little padded in place but it held my attention. From other reviews it is a marmite book. I look forward to more from this author. Thanks to Net Galley for a splendid ARC.

This is a mixed bag, especially considering it's the author's first novel. Personally, I found the excessive use of purple prose quite tiresome; the lengthy descriptions, such as those of a car park, felt unnecessary and slowed down the pacing significantly. Additionally, the use of eye dialect to portray the granny was hard to read and detracted from enjoying it. The main character was also difficult to connect with. All this made me consider stopping several times.

However, the book did start to get interesting once the trial began, showcasing the authors potential in crafting engaging courtroom drama. Overall, I would rate it 2.5 stars.

Rosa is a black barrister who is put on the case of Emmett a young black boy who was found kneeling next to a young white boy who had been stabbed numerous times and the police arrest him for the murder, Rosa`s boss thinks it is a open and shut case but Rosa starts to delve deeper to get some answers.
It`s a very slow start but then you can`t put the book down to find the ending.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

Dnf the content was not to my liking found it too procedural and didn't get into the run of it. I usually like a court room drama but found this a bit too technical.

A black female barrister has been appointed to represent a young black man accused of murder. Slowly, slowly Rosa unravels the truth, but not without her own family dramas. Life is tough for this young woman; her dedication to her client never fails despite his uncooperative behaviour. Great characters, especially Rosa and Emmett the accused, and a very credible story, make for a compulsive read. I so enjoyed this novel that I will now have on my list to read Alexandra’s earlier book In Black and White.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in return for an independent review.

Rosa is a black barrister tasked with defending a young black man accused of murder. I loved the writing style of this book, it was very easy to follow. I loved Rosa and really wanted things to go well for her the whole way through.

I was completely surprised by the twist in the book, I’d really recommend to anyone that enjoys a good fast paced legal thriller.

The Witness is a chilling and gripping thriller that delves deep into the complex themes of guilt and judgment. This captivating narrative explores the harrowing journey of a young woman who must summon incredible strength and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. With its richly developed characters and heart-pounding suspense.

The Witness marks the beginning of an innovative and groundbreaking new series that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Prepare to be enthralled by a story that challenges perceptions, tests moral boundaries, and sets a new standard in the thriller genre.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Rosa is a black barrister, with a difficult home life, defending Emmett, a young black boy from her neighbourhood. He has been charged with murder following a stabbing in the park. Emmett insists he is innocent of the murder, but cannot implicate his friends in the crime. The book tells the story of Rosa's quest to help Emmett, going beyond her duty, trying to find out more about the prosecution witnesses, and to identify another witness filmed at the scene. Rosa takes a lot of risks, before and during the court case, some of which seem unexpected for a barrister. A good, fast paced read.

A fast paced legal thriller with a twist that came out of nowhere.
The plot surrounds a murder case involving three young black boys. The victim is a white male nurse, Thomas Dovey. The two darker boys are eliminated but the lighter boy Emmett Hamilton is seen cradling Thomas, as he lies dying and is immediately arrested for his murder. His fingerprints are all over the knife. and there are two eyewitnesses claiming to have seen the whole fight. Emmett's attorney drafts in the help of a bright mixed race barrister Rosa, whose grandmother used to clean house for him.
Right from the start Rosa believes their client is innocent and literally jumps through hoops to prove it even if it means that her priorities are sometimes misplaced. Her grandmother has cancer, her mother in prison and she must care for her younger brother Toby in the absence of any male presence.
The case is not made any easier either as Emmett is unwilling to give his account of what really happened or name his friends who were present that night in the park. Why we will find out but only at the end.
Wilson tackles some interesting issues, illegal immigration, racism and the legal system. For me however her skill lay in giving credible voices to her characters. Who could not fall in love with "Nana" the typical Jamaican matriarch and Mo's naivety that he has friends despite regularly ending up in the prison hospital wing.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this excellent first in the series. Loved it!

An intense and hard-hitting story that is exhausting to read. There is so much at stake, so much emotion and so much of the way that real life can become so complicated, that it is difficult not to become totally caught up in the frustrations of the story. Twists at the end come almost as a relief that finally the truth is known.

This is the first in a promising new series by Alexandra Wilson, a hard hitting and thought provoking London based legal thriller that focuses much needed attention on the law enforcement and judicial system, pinpointing how it fails the black community generally, and the specific issues of race as experienced by young black men. Oxbridge educated Mercedes 'Rosa' Higgins is a mixed race barrister swamped by a white male dominated profession, well connected confident men from privileged circles operating the patriarchal 'old boys network', untouched by the insecurities and fears that plague Rosa.

Rosa has the additional pressures of her family, her mother is in prison, she and her yonnger brother, Toby, live with their beloved strong, patois speaking Nana, with serious health issues, she has a often uneasy relationship with the posh white Tristran, and barely sees friends like Orissa. Rosa finds herself in a high profile case of murder with its racial overtones, her client the young mixed race Emmett Hamilton, accused of knifing white victim, respectable nurse Thomas Dove, who garners a lot of public sympathy and support. However, Emmett is far from forthcoming about what happened, or his friends who had run away from the crime scene, leaving him behind. As Rosa tries to do her very best to help an Emmett who ends up on trial at the Old Bailey, the strains of her life threaten to overwhelm her.

Wilson gives us a glimpse of Emmett's inner turmoil and quandry, why he does not protest his innocence more vociferously, giving more details of what occurred in the park that fateful day, plus we get an insight into his experiences on remand, and the developments in his character during this period. A lonely Rosa shows incredible strength of character as she goes out on a limb for Emmett on what almost to the end looks to be a lost cause, it is her dogged determination that unearths an unexpected and reluctant witness. There are well plotted twists and turns in this engaging legal thriller, not perfect as there are some pacing issues and too much detail on some occasions, but otherwise a gripping read with its surprising conclusions. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

So it has a really good style of writing that flows well and draws you in. The plot moves forward and its impossible not to be invested in it. Its certainly a very solid legal thriller. However, as a mixed race black scot, I do often struggle with British stories about black brits because they're either so riddled with stereotypes or the complications of being black here is so heavy handedly put across or whatever so I was wary to start this. The 1st thing that caught my attention was the fact the characters are called Emmett and Rosa which automatically calls to mind Emett Till and Rosa Parks and the struggles they faced. The parallels between Emmett Till and the characters Emmett are impossible to ignore! The patois was a really nice addition, even though it did take a bit of getting used to but the book is written very authentically. It's very accurate to life as a mixed race, black presenting person. Like getting your name mis pronounced or shortened without your permission. Like the assumptions you know every other black person in your area. the comments about having done well for yourself, especially considering your background. All the tiny wee micro aggressions people accidently slip in to normal conversation and that you can't ever call out for fear of being told you're being touchy or "playing the race card". I'm very impressed. Possibly the 1st book that's delt with being black British in a realistic and honest way without harping on about it or being too over the top with it. It's really perfectly written

A white man is murdered in broad daylight in the middle of a busy park. Witnesses claim it was the young mixed-race boy who stabbed him. He was found covered in blood, but Emmett maintains his innocence. Yes, he was there. Yes, he had been involved. But no, he hadn't murdered anyone. He offers no more explanation than that. Rosa, a barrister, also mixed race, vows to prove his innocence. But the evidence is all pointing towards him.being guilty. She needs to find the truth before it's too late.

I was a little unsure about reading this book, as I'm not usually a fan of legal thrillers. But I actually really enjoyed this one. It was fast-paced and extremely well written. The racial side of this sends a powerful message to the reader and really draws you in.
It's definitely made me rethink my stance on legal thrillers. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A gentle courtroom thriller which jogs along nicely.
I didn't predict the ending which is always a bonus and whilst it didn't exactly light any fires, it is an easy and enjoyable read.
I warmed to the central character and would probably read more by this author.
Many thanks.

An intense and gripping legal book.
Emmett is charged with a murder that he says he did not commit, but is seen by witnesses with the victim holding a knife and covered in blood, and Rosa must prove his innocence
I liked the main character Rosa and would definitely like to read more books with her legal cases as a series in the future.

A gritty, intense and very timely legal thriller.

When Emmett is arrested and charged for the murder of a white man, he insists he is innocent. But the system is against him from the start, and Emmett can't explain what he was doing in the park at the time of the murder. His only hope lies in his barrister, Rosa, who is determined to do all she can for Emmett.

This is a really gripping thriller with some hard-hitting messages about systemic racism. A very impressive debut from a talented author.

A great, gritty and intense legal read! I thought this was a great debut and will definitely read more from this author.