Book number three in the Adam Green Barrister series, and aside from Adam no longer being a trainee, this is pretty much the same as the first two books in the series. Adam complaining about his work load, his mother being highly irritating and, by this stage of the series, fairly pointless (I understood it at the beginning to develop Adam's character), and two unrelated cases causing Adam to decline any social invitations or anything else that may actually make him enjoy himself. So with Adam not having grown as a character at all, I found myself bored and frustrated.

Additionally, whilst the cases are interesting to a point, Adam doesn't actually use his legal skills to draw the truth out, it just all conveniently comes together at the end - magic! I'm not a barrister, but I doubt their jobs are that straightforward!

So this one is a miss for me, sorry to say, and I don't feel inspired to continue with the series.

2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I was super excited to read the third instalment of Adam Green's adventures/misadventures. As with the first two, this was a brilliant read - Rinder has really got a hold on me with these books.

I love that the cases are always high-profile, adding to the excitement of the book and whilst one may feel the stories are predictable, I am ways hooked to see exactly how it plays out.

The courtroom scenes are the best thing about this series - I love seeing into the lives of barristers (even if it is dramatised for the book).

If you like mystery novels, you definitely ought to pick thus up!

Thank you to NetGalley for the earc.

3.5 stars
This is the third instalment in Rob Rinder’s legal series featuring the young barrister Adam Green. While I didn’t like it as much as the first one - The Trial , I enjoyed it more than the second book - The Suspect. As expected, many of the now-familiar characters return, along with a few new additions. The two main cases are interesting and the descriptions of the inner workings of the Old Bailey and the barristers’ chambers remain a highlight (although there are much less of these here compared to the previous two books). The courtroom scenes are still detailed and compelling. However, the phone calls with Adam’s mother that added much charm in the previous books feel a little tired and repetitive here. They don’t offer much new and lack the sparkle they had in the earlier books. Overall, I still enjoyed the story and will definitely read the next one in the series; I just hope it will be a bit more gritty and dynamic.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Protest by Rob Rinder in return for my honest review.
This is the third book in the Adam Green series it can be read as a standalone but I would highly recommend reading them order you won’t be disappointed. This is a really well written court room drama and a great edition to the series I can’t wait for the next instalment.

This was such an excellent read. I loved Robert Rinder’s other books but this one was another level. It was great but also filled with a sense of being overwhelmed to hear of the hours and work the barristers take on. Having said that, it led to a very powerful story. I loved the court scene with Lexi, I was sure the opposite verdict would be given I was completely shocked by the story.

It’s June and a warm summer evening as the ‘great and good’ arrive at London’s Royal Academy for a Max Bruce retrospective. The curator of the exhibition, Natasha Fitzjohn, has managed to acquire Bruce‘s masterpiece ‘Primal Scream’ which is now awaiting the artists tardy arrival for the unveiling. One hour late, he arrives, wifies and son in tow, to an explosion of press cameras. Just as Natasha is announcing the much anticipated first sighting of the painting, the event is dramatically interrupted. Before the very eyes of the attendees and the press, an unholy cry erupts and before anyone can react, Max is covered in blue paint. This was a yet another high profile Blue Face protest against the war in Khanistan. As a security guard drags Lexi Williams, the perpetrator, away, Max breathes his last.

Meanwhile, at Stag Court Chambers, the formidable Morris Brown returns. Much to Adam’s astonishment, Morris gets the Lexi Williams defence case and Adam is to be his second. To add to the surprise, perhaps an even bigger one is that Jonathan Taylor-Cameron, also Stag Court, is to prosecute, and that really is a mystery to one and all. Needless to say this is not the only case Adam is involved with as he’s also roped into a court martial case.

It’s so good to be back at Stag Court with Adam et al as all the characters and the proceedings have an authentic feel. There’s are some characters to like and some to sigh over or groan about, yes, you Jonathan! This is Rob Rinder‘s world and so you would expect Chambers life and law courts to feel real. I like Adam very much, his persistence to get to the truth, his feelings of being overwhelmed at times are how you would expect lawyers at the level that Adam is working at to be. There’s also his helicopter mum to consider and that does give some light relief and the odd chuckle or two! Adam does need to get himself a bit more of a social life, all work and no play, Adam! Stop putting Georgina off and get out there and let your hair down.

I thoroughly enjoy the cut and thrust of Chambers life, there are some excellent descriptions of court proceedings, good interchanges between the various adversaries and some good dingdong’s between the prosecution and defence lawyers. Of the two cases, I enjoy the court martial more, that is absolutely gripping and has tension in spades.

The Blue Face case is good as Lexi is a bit of a loose cannon so that makes for many interesting and unpredictable scenes where you aren’t sure exactly what she’s going to do or how she’ll react. However, the ending is one of those to be continued ones, so I’m hoping that is resolved in book 4.

Overall, this is another good read with plenty of wit and panache, courtroom twists and turns with characters to mostly like.

I was disappointed with this one :( I’m not sure if it’s because this was the first one I’ve read and it’s part of a series or I just didn’t find it very interesting. There was a lot of referring to previous cases, so maybe I need to read others but I also found it rather slow going and boring in places.
I have one of the others in my kindle so I’ll stick with it but this one a flop.

A famous artist is killed after being sprayed by blue paint laced with cyanide. The young woman charged is a member of a protest group who spray their targets but have never killed one. She claims not to know about the cyanide and Adam Green is coopted onto her defence team working alongside his chambers' star barrister. He is also asked to help defend a young soldier who is being court-marshalled about the death of young boy during an overseas war.
This is the next instalment in the series about Adam Green, a young barrister who is starting to make a name for himself. I find these rather interesting books as they are written in a very populist style who is to be expected from the celebrity author but there are often some interesting messages hidden. Here the headline case is predictable but nicely played with a predictable ending, it is the court marshal where there is some heft, all about guilt in combat zones and the culpability of those on the ground and those in power.

I was really happy to see Adam Green return in the third novel from Rob Rinder.
Adam is pulled into another high-profile case when a famous artist is murdered by a protester at a public viewing of his most famous work. Working with top barrister Morris Brown, they are up against Adam’s old pupil master, Jonathan Taylor-Cameron.
Alongside this high-profile case, Adam is also asked to work as a Military Court case with his mentor Bobby Thompson. It was interesting to learn how military court differs from normal courtroom proceedings.
Both cases are morally complex, with neither defendant denying that they had committed their crime, Adam is yet again forced into some sleuthing to find out who is truly responsible.
Another enjoyable read from Rob Rinder.

This is the third thriller in Rob Rinder’s Adam Green series, following an idealistic London barrister juggling complex cases and personal challenges – but you don’t need have to have read the first two books to enjoy this one. At a glamorous art gala, renowned artist Max Bruce is sensationally doused in blue paint by a protester – and dies moments later. The paint is laced with cyanide, and all evidence points to Lexi Williams, a gallery employee and activist. Adam is assigned to defend her, but as he digs deeper, he uncovers rivalries in the art world, financial secrets and a protest movement with sinister undercurrents.
Adding to his workload pressure, Adam also takes on a highly sensitive case: a military court-martial of a young soldier accused of killing a child on a peacekeeping mission.
Through fast-paced courtroom drama, Rinder delivers a gripping page-turner. Light relief is provided courtesy of Adam’s telephone conversations with his quintessentially Jewish mother. Though the cases challenge Adam’s confidence, he proves quietly tenacious, but will it be enough to ensure justice prevails? A quick read, this is just the ticket for fans of legal thrillers.

What you see is what you get with Rob Rinder and I feel like this book is no different, he just writes a courtroom mystery so well. I loved being back in the world of Adam Green

Adam Green is now a bit further up the legal ladder, although he still second guesses himself far too much and his loving Jewish Mama despairs of him findig a nice Jewish girl! This time he is the 'second' in a case that looks like a hopeless case. Lexie is a protester who is willing to be thrown in the deep end. At a major reflective art exhibition she sprays blue paint at the artist, who collapses and dies moments later, the paint can having been laced with cyanide. She readily admits to spraying the paint. (difficuly to get out of that one, considering the crowd) But she swears she had no knowledge of the cyanide.

This was a great story, the contrast between Adam's time in court and outside play off each other nicely. The author takes us into the world he knows so well and the reader can't help but be swept up in it. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. I'm already looking forward to the next one!

At the opening of a new celebration for a renowned artist, chaos hits when he is sprayed in the face with blue paint. All seems okay for a moment and then he is down, dead right there in the gallery. The killer seems obvious but can it really be as simple as that.

This is book 3 in the series and although not necessary it helps to read the others to get a sense of Adam's progression and development. There's more than one plot running through this adding a bit more intrigue to the story. The main case takes centre stage of course but I found the other one just as interesting if a little harder to read about, it deal with some tough things. The ending I must admit was not how I wanted it to go and yet it fit with the story. Adam is likeable and makes a great lead. Another great instalment and I hope for more in the future.

I was sent an advance proof copy of The Protest by Rob Rinder to read and review by NetGalley. It never ceases to amaze me how the author manages to make court trials so engaging and engrossing! This is yet another great read from Rob Rinder, which I finished in just a couple of days. I like the continuity of characters and the way they grow throughout each novel. You get a real sense of the stresses and frustrations that go along with working in Law and the author really does make you think ‘what would I do?’ if you were a juror in one of these trials. I can’t wait for the next book!

A really good book. When I read the first book by Rinder I expected it to be a celebrity book but he proved he can write. This was just as good continuing with many of the same characters. As the book is set in the law courts, Rinder writes with knowledge and a touch of humour. Adam is a great character with all the ability of the other barristers but none of the ego. Rather than just a legal procedural , it is also a murder hunt. Can't wait for the next one. Hopefully Adam will start being appreciated by colleagues.

Another very enjoyable instalment in this series of books about Adam Green and his life as a barrister. This is a world with which Rob Rinder is very familiar, and that fact shines through the writing. I really like the depiction of the various tenants of Stags Court, and the working life of a barrister. There is also an element of the detective in Adam, as he follows his hunches and attempts to work out what has happened and who is actually responsible for the crimes with which the people he is defending have been charged. There is plenty of variety in the cases, and Adam is a very sympathetic character who is easy to like.
An easy read, which I finished in two days, although once again I did feel that the ending was a little rushed.. I am now looking forward to reading the next instalment, which can't come quickly enough!

At Stag Court Adamhears that Morris Brown has returned to the Chambers after being in the US. His reputation precedes him and when Adam is told that he will be beside him in a major case he is very anxious. The case is the very public murder of an artist at the Royal Academy.. Adam also has to juggle his caseload of bread and butter cases and a court martial that Bobby has asked him to help with. No wonder he has no food or furnishings in his flat as he is never there.
An entertaining tale about the life of a barrister and court processes.

When I saw Net Galley had the latest Rob Rinder book in the Adam Green series, I was delighted to be granted an advance review copy. I then realised I’d missed the second book in the series, The Suspect, so had to read that first! Here’s the blurb for book three:

“A world-famous artist. A fatal brush with death.
At a star-studded opening night for the Royal Academy’s celebration of renowned artist Max Bruce, someone is hiding a dark secret.
As the night reaches its climax and Max addresses his admirers, the occasion takes a shocking turn when a protester runs from the crowd and sprays the artist with blue paint.
Max collapses and it soon turns out that the paint was laced with cyanide. Someone has been plotting to kill him.
All evidence points to the protestor – and newly qualified barrister Adam Green is assigned the impossible task of their defence.
But could there be others who wanted Max dead?”

The book starts exactly as per the blurb – and again Rob has characters which you immediately recognise from popular culture (a nepo-son with a hot sauce brand remind you of anyone?!) The book also follows the skeleton of the previous books with Adam working on a high profile case, interweaved with another case – and I quite enjoyed the light and shade, or shade and shadier, that this brought to the book.

I felt that this time Adam’s Mum didn’t feature quite as much – which was a shame, as I love her!! But she’s always there in the back ground – and her phonecalls are classic.

This book would stand alone – but knowing the back story of all of the characters definitely adds to it – and it’s interesting to see how they all develop. It also emphasises just how overworked young barristers are.

There are lots of twists and turns in the book as the story progresses – some of which I have to confess guessing in advance (but that does make me feel smug and clever, so isn’t necessarily a bad thing!)

My one niggle is there were quite a few grammatical errors and odd inconsistencies – for example Adam quotes a text from his Mum and says why would she use 1 emoji when she could use 3 or 4 – but in the text he quoted, she’d only used 2! I suspect that this may be because I read an early proof copy – and some anal editor (my dream job!) will have picked these up before the book is actually published! And it didn’t detract from a great book.

The Protest was out a few days ago, so if you like the sound of it – or would like to reconnect with Adam Green from the previous books – then you can buy it right now!

Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for my advance review copy.

The Protest is the third book of Rob Rinder’s Adam Green series, about a young barrister as he goes about his work.

In this novel Adam is involved in two major cases connected with a fictitious war.

The first is about a protest against the war which ended in the death of a famous artist set at the old bailey. While the second is a military court martial involving a young man accused of killing a young child in that same war.

With The Protest being the third book in the Adam Green series, readers who have read the previous books will be wanting to know if this series is worth continuing with this book.

The simple answer to that question is an unqualified yes, as while the novel has all the things you have enjoyed in the previous novels, there is also an improvement in the writing.

This does not mean that the previous books were badly written, as this was definitely not the case.

The improvement is seen in the quality of the court scenes and particularly the cross examinations, which are starting to have that edge of your seat feeling, particularly in the court martial scenes.

While, The Protest is written as a courtroom drama, the scenes outside the court really add depth to the characters particularly with this being an ongoing series. You are starting to get into the individual side characters, giving them a reason for their actions.

As to can this novel be read as stand alone, while the novel does give information on events that happened in the previous novel this seems more aimed at readers of previous books in the series, then those who have not read the previous books.

Having said that, The Protest contains cases that are not in any other of the previous books but new readers will miss on knowing the full story on how previous books' interactions affect Adam’s current dealings with recurring characters.

In addition there are some spoilers from previous books, which may affect you reading of earlier books if you read them out of order.

However the greatest side character is not one of Adam’s work colleges or those involved in the cases but his mum.

Who turns up regularly in the novel as a phone call and usually tells Adam off for working too hard or even saying how proud she is.This not only gives the novel a bit of light relief but allows Rob Rinder to bring in the general public's opinion on the case in an enjoyable format.


So if you have read the previous books in the series and are wondering if you should read The Protest by Rob Rinder or do not care about reading a book series in order then the answer is a definitive yes.

For a little while, it looked as though Sir Max Bruce, the country's most famous living artist, was not going to show up for the opening of his retrospective at the Royal Academy. Still, he arrived in the nick of time, complete with his two wives and six children, one of whom filmed what happened. Being an influencer, you tend to do things like that, but it was fortunate that there was a record of the protest. Lexi Williams, an intern at the RA, grabbed a spray can of blue paint from under a chair and proceeded to spray Bruce in the face, whilst shouting Stop the War. It seemed to be part of an ongoing series of 'blue-face' attacks, but this was different. The can had been laced with cyanide, and Sir Max Bruce was dead.

It seemed like an open-and-shut case, and one set of barristers at Stag Court were jubilant that they had the simple job of prosecuting Williams. There might even be a terrorism charge to add into the mix as the Home Secretary had been attacked the previous week. Had he been intended to die too? The defence barristers, with Adam Green as the junior, were less convinced of the girl's guilt. She wasn't particularly likeable, and had found lockdown difficult, but what evidence was there that she had been radicalised? Why would she want to kill the artist?

As if Adam didn't have enough to do, preparing this case, he was roped into a pro bono case where a lance corporal in the army was accused of murder. Once again, it appears that a guilty verdict is likely, but not everything is as it seems.

Rob Rinder writes the Adam Green series of novels from intimate, inside knowledge, and it shows. It's easy to see when a book has been written from research, with every little bit of information shovelled in in the hope of achieving verisimilitude. The Adam Green books are the reverse: you sense that there's a lot more that hasn't been said. It's the law as it works, and this is what gave me a slight disappointment about the book. I like an answer, a resolution and The Protest doesn't end with a satisfied sigh from the reader. It was, though, a good read, and I finished it within twenty-four hours.

As well as reading the book, I listened to an audiobook that I bought for myself. It was narrated by Josh Dylan, who has narrated earlier books in the series. He has an excellent range of voices - I was never in any doubt as to who was speaking, which is no mean feat when listening to a story about barristers and their juniors. It would be easy for them all to sound alike. Dylan also has a knack of not intruding between the author and their reader, which makes for a more engaging read. I hope he'll narrate further books in the series.