I didn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hoped and hadn’t realised it was the second in a series. Maybe if I’d read the first one I might have been a bit more in tune with it. The writing was good but the story seemed to drag for me and there seemed to be a lot of unnecessary padding. I was hoping for a fast-paced legal drama but this was a slow burn which didn’t really grab me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

Killer Instinct is the second book in Nicola Williams crime/legal procedural series featuring barrister Lee Mitchell. Williams does enough so that no knoweldge is needed of the first book (Until Proven Innocent) but as with all similar series, it always helps to start at book 1.

This book revolves around the murder of the head clerk of Mitchell's chambers, Tom Mannion. The clerk organises all of the work of the barristers and generally knows where all of their skeletons are, in this case literally as Mannion held a bunch of secrets that he used to his advantage. The junior clerkl Dean is accused and it is up to Mitchell to defend him.

This is a solid legal thriller series that is a combination of investigation and British courtroom drama (which I personally always find more interesting than American courtroom drama). All anchored by a well rounded protagonist who continually has to prove herself in the white, male dominated world of the British bar.

I went into Killer Instinct without having read any of Nicola Williams’ other books, and it honestly didn’t matter at all. There were a few little mentions of past cases, but they just made me curious rather than confused.

Right from the start, I was pulled into barrister Lee Mitchell’s world, a mix of tense courtroom battles, office politics, and a murder case that’s about so much more than the obvious. The pace is spot on, and while the plot keeps you guessing, it also digs into things like prejudice, privilege, and the way people can be written off far too easily. Lee’s such a great character, clever, determined, sometimes a bit stubborn, but that’s what makes you root for her.

It’s sharp, addictive, and full of little twists that kept me turning the pages. By the end I was already looking up her earlier books.

Thank you to the author, Penguin General UK - Hamish Hamilton and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting, I have had continuing familial health challenges to contend with in the past months.

I didn't realize this was part of a series, and found it read well as a standalone. Centered around the prestigious Maple Court Chambers, this legal thriller reveals how essential reputation is for the legal profession. A young female lawyer defends a young clerk who is accused - without any pertinent evidence. This is a gripping read and the mixture of realistic descriptions of police procedural and courtroom drama kept me keep engaged to the end..

Killer Instinct by Nicola Williams is an enjoyable thriller based around a legal firm's chambers and involving a lot of legal characters and drama - which I am particularly interested in.

The death of a senior clerk following a social event is the pretext; police identify a suspect and seek to prosecute.

There is a good level of tension and I did feel for the accused. The other characters were also well developed - none moreso than the deceased.

Overall an excellent read!

This was the second book in the series by Nicola Willians and I was very excited to read it after enjoying her first. Legal thrillers are some of my favourite types of book so the fact that this was set around a solicitors office was right up my street. Whilst the crime is committed to a not very likeable character, it made me all the more determined to work out who actually did it!

I loved seeing the legal aspects to the crime being covered in this book and learned so many new things from it! The characters are great and it feels especially impactful because the main character is a strong, black female. I hope there’s more from this series as I have so enjoyed reading both books.

I didn't realise this was book 3 of a series but it works well as a standalone. Set around Maple Court Chambers in London, Tom Mannion is the effective but highly disliked senior clerk. Nothing happens without his knowledge and say so. When Tom is found dead, the finger of suspicion falls on his junior, Dean Carter, despite a well publicised fight with wealthy philanthropist Hal Marlowe that same night. There's more to the situation than meets the eye especially when Tom's "diary" where he records every piece of dirt he can find on colleagues and enemies alike. Dean is arrested although everyone knows he didn't do it. As readers we have several suspects although I completely missed the actual perpetrator. There's behind the scenes drama, suicide attempts, a throwback to organised crime, and complicated personal relationships. A lot to get your teeth into - I raced through it in a day. #netgalley #killerinstinct

Loved that storyline and the build of characters it was such a brilliant read and I enjoy have the access to it

On interesting read, it was however, I felt, somewhat padded out in parts. Plenty of twists along the way.

Killer Instinct is a sharp, suspenseful legal thriller that probes the dark underbelly of justice, class, and ambition. When a senior colleague is murdered, barrister Lee Mitchell is thrust into a case that threatens to unravel everything she thought she knew about her Chambers. Nicola Williams expertly weaves courtroom drama with a gripping whodunit, exposing systemic bias and personal betrayals. With a compelling protagonist and twists that keep you guessing, this is a taut, thought-provoking read that delivers both thrills and depth.

4.0 out of 5 stars Realistic Police Precedural & Courtroom Drama
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 July 2025

30+ Black barrister Lee Mitchell works successfully in prestigious Maple Court Chambers in London‘s Temple. When the well-hated Senior Clerk dies in suspicious circumstances, Junior Clerk Dean is being arrested for his murder even though no pertinent evidence has been found. Lee promises to represent him in court…a mixture of realistic descriptions of police procedural and courtroom drama will keep you at the edge of your seat throughout. Thanks to Publishers Penguin General UK for an ARC. 4.0 out of 5 stars Realistic Police Precedural & Courtroom Drama
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 July 2025
30+ Black barrister Lee Mitchell works successfully in prestigious Maple Court Chambers in London‘s Temple. When the well-hated Senior Clerk dies in suspicious circumstances, Junior Clerk Dean is being arrested for his murder even though no pertinent evidence has been found. Lee promises to represent him in court…a mixture of realistic descriptions of police procedural and courtroom drama will keep you at the edge of your seat throughout. Thanks to Publishers Penguin General UK for an ARC.

Lee Mitchell is a barrister at a high-profile chambers. She has overcome prejudices in many forms to get where she is, and it has taken its toll on her personal life. When Tom, the omnipotent head clerk of chambers, dies in suspicious circumstances, it casts a shadow on the chambers. Dean, the junior clerk, is charged with Tom's death, and Lee defends him in a complex and compelling trial. The story showcases the betrayal, deceit, prejudice and pressure to succeed in the legal world. Reputation is everything and is to be protected at all costs, regardless of the collateral damage. I appreciated the authentic portrayal of the legal world, the characterisation that presents the reader with an array of characters who are believably flawed and the socio-political elements that make this story contemporary and relevant.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Tom Mannion was brusque, sexist and proud of the fact that he held secrets over many people at the barristers' Chambers where he was senior clerk. After an event where he got into an altercation with another man and after drinking heavily, Tom is found dead in an alleyway. It's not certain where it was manslaughter or an accident but the police arrest his junior clerk, Dean. Now barrister Lee Mitchell has to defend one clerk for the manslaughter of another and the prosecution is pushing hard. However as Tom's secrets start to come out in the open, friendships are pushed.
I haven't read Williams' other novels so came to this with fresh eyes. Overall it's a solid enough novel and the courtroom bits are excellent. However, there's a lot here so some areas are not explored as much as they could be. What I did really like was the angle that Williams takes, the book is focused on those who lack privilege but are making the most of their chances to improve, not just because of race but also because of class.

I was surprised to find this was the second book in a series about a lawyer called Lee as this book works well as a standalone novel. It is a slow burner but it definitely keeps you interested throughout. Here she is trying to defend a clerk at Maple Court who is accused of murder. An interesting story with a few twists.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the advance copy of this book.

Book 2 featuring barrister Lee Mitchell
A legal courtroom/chambers drama, filled with twists and turns.
The senior clerk from Maple Court Chambers is found dead in an alleyway, not far from the high end members bar where he had been drinking with his junior clerk, Dean Carter. Did he stumble and fall, or was he pushed?
The police are under pressure to make an arrest, despite Dean’s repeated denials he is charged with manslaughter.
Lee Mitchell from chambers knows Dean is a hard working young man from a working class family, she knows he is innocent and immediately decides to defend him.
There is an undercurrent in chambers, deception and secrets, the courtroom drama is tense, as Lee strifes to untangle the events leading up to Toms death, to steer the jury away from Dean, question who else had a motive for murder.
A clever twisty read with a brilliant conclusion.
I highly recommend this book and I will be hoping there will be a book 3
Many thanks to Net Galley and Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

At first I found it difficult to get into this book because I had not read the first book in this series, something I strongly recommended..
Lee Mitchell is a black female barrister working in a prestigious London chambers when the senior clerk is found dead in an alley after a firms social evening.. The police suspect murder and suspicion falls on his junior who had been seen drinking with him earlier..Lee is reluctantly drawn in to defending her colleague as secrets about the firm and its members are unearthed.. The story has several strands and the truth is found in an unlikely and surprising place. Racism, child grooming, blackmail and drug abuse are among the subjects in this sometimes dark story.. Alongside her work Lee is struggling with her personal relationships with friends and her partner.I am glad I persevered with this book as it turned out to be a very good read but as in many series would benefit from starting at book one.

If you loved watching Judge John Deed or Silk, then this is definitely a novel you must read!
When barrister Lee Mitchell ends up defending Dean, one of her colleagues, she gets more than she bargained for. The fallout from this case impacts upon everyone and everything within their Chambers, nothing will be the same again. All of it started with Tom being murdered or having an accident whilst on a night out. The case builds with circumstantial evidence against Dean, but they don't seem to want to look any further into the case as they think they've got their man!?
Would love to see this turned into a film!!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this. Highly recommend.

This book reads fine as a standalone as I had not read book 1. It is a slow burner but definitely will not lose your interest. It is based around Lee who is an upcoming lawyer and is full of intrigue. The author is very descriptive about all those who are involved in Maple Court, highlighting just what happens within the court. There are lots of characters with a great range of personalities , which adds to the story although you may not like them all !!


Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review

I had no idea what to expect from this book but thoroughly enjoyed it.

Killer Instinct is a mix between a whodunnit and a court procedural and it works really well - although it does make you wonder exactly how many people end up in the system without deserving to be there.

Tom Mannion is Senior Clerk at Maple Court, a small but successful Chambers where he rules the roost. But it's not just wits or contacts that keeps Tom at the top of his game as Junior Clerk, Lee, finds out one night.

However Tom's reign at Maple Court is about to come crashing down and everyone at Chambers will be affected one way or another.

Nicola Williams has given us a tightly plotted, twisty and clever story that is hard to put down and extremely enjoyable. She's an author new to me but I'll definitely read more of her work.

Definitely recommended. Would make a great holiday read.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the advance review copy.

The second outing for barrister, Lee Mitchell, sees her defending someone from her legal Chambers - Junior Clerk, Dean. Dean's boss, Tom Mannion, was found dead in a dark alley after a night out drinking, & Dean was the last person to be seen with him. Even though the evidence, what there is of it, is mostly circumstantial, the police & judiciary seem oddly keen to prosecute the case. Lee knew Tom too & knows that there are many others who had reason to dislike Tom but did they dislike him enough to kill?

I enjoyed this one slightly more than the first book. It was frustrating but true to life, to see the rich & [en]titled with their private clubs & 'old boys' networks conspire to focus attention on working class Dean. If there's a criticism, i would say that again the solution to the case literally walks through the door, it's not really found by Lee as such. I spent most of the book wondering why no-one had looked for the CCTV on the bus Dean caught back home, because it wasn't even mentioned until almost three-quarters of the way through. It's a solid legal thriller though & I'm kind of warming to Lee.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin UK/Hamish Hamilton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.