This is the third book in the series, following Adam's court cases. Very well written. I was gripped from the start and what an ending! I do hope there will be many more books in this series. I look forward reading further adventures of Adam and his colleagues.

I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy and leave this review voluntarily.

The Protest is the second book in Rob Rinder’s series, and it delivers a thrilling blend of courtroom drama and shocking twists set against the backdrop of the art world.

The story begins at the star-studded opening of a Royal Academy exhibition celebrating renowned artist Max Bruce. But the night takes a dramatic turn when a protester douses the artist with blue paint—and Max collapses, poisoned by cyanide hidden in the paint. The protester, a young girl named Lexi, is arrested, and newly qualified barrister Adam Green is tasked with defending her.

As Adam digs deeper into the case, it becomes clear that more people may have had a motive to kill Max, and the case becomes far more complicated than it initially appeared. Alongside his work on this high-profile case, Adam is also involved in a court-martial case with his friend Bobby, adding further layers of tension and legal drama.

Though this is the second book in the series, I didn’t find that not having read the first one detracted from the story. Adam’s character development is evident, and it’s clear that he’s evolving as a barrister, though he still struggles with imposter syndrome. His relationship with his colleagues, especially Georgina, and his close bond with his mother add depth to his character.

While the ending leaves some questions unanswered, it sets up the potential for a compelling continuation in the next book. Adam’s growth as a barrister and his relationships are key themes to watch for in future instalments.

If you enjoy legal thrillers with complex characters and plenty of twists, The Protest is worth a read. However, I would recommend starting with the first book to get a full understanding of Adam’s journey.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I love a series read and this one is great. I hope it continues into a long standing series.

In this book the young barrister Adam Green has two high profile cases. One is to defend an anti war protester who takes part in the blue face campaign with terrible consequences. The second is a court martial for a young soldier who has been at war and then acting as a peace keeper. The two cases are not linked, other than through the theme of war. But I kept wondering throughout whether they would be linked in some way.

Adam is swamped in paperwork but still finds time to investigate, finding relevant information overlooked by the police. I feel as though this is the least realistic part of the book - surely these investigations would be handed over to the police? Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book very much, it is interesting and engaging with a different perspective to other crime novels. I really enjoy the short chapters which are telephone conversations between Adam and his mum. This injects some gentle humour into the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book I’ve read about young barrister Adam Green. In this book he has 3 cases to juggle although the focus is mainly on 2 of them, the third is about a doctor and botched cosmetic surgery.
Adam is flattered to be second chair to the recently returned to Stag Court, Morris Brown. They are defending Lexi who is a Stop the War Protestor, she murdered famous artist Morris at the opening night of his latest show in front of his family by spraying him with a can of blue paint laced with cyanide.
Adam is also asked to be second chair on a case by his mentor Bobby. It’s defending a young soldier against murdering a young boy while on a peace keeping mission.
It’s an enjoyable read and good to follow Adam’s career now he’s newly qualified barrister. The pressure of juggling his caseload, owning a new flat, friendships, and his mum constantly phoning him to make sure he’s looking after himself and to ask questions about his work. As Rob Rinder was a barrister it feels as though he’s writing about a subject he knows well. I look forward to the next in the series.

I love this crime series from #robrinder, so I was delighted to be approved to read a free review copy via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well, this was another delightful cosy escape into the murky legal world. If you’ve read the first two (and if you haven’t, why not?) then you’ll be pleased to know the vibe is very much the same in this third instalment. We get an interesting legal case, this time involving the death of a prominent artist, and junior barrister Adam tries to investigate as we go along. What I will say about this one, without spoiling anything, is that I particularly liked the ending to this book. It felt more realistic than some other cosy crime books.

If you’re a fan of cosy crime, I highly recommend this series. I suggest you start with book 1 though for full character development and to avoid spoilers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75 stars)

I don't usually like courtroom books, but this book focuses more on investigating the cases than the actual trials. Saying that it does include the trials, but the whole plot moves fast. I was rather surprised at how much I had read in one sitting, time flew past! The characters are written well so they feel more realistic and the plot kept me interested. In my opinion, a good book

Book Review: The Protest by Rob Rinder

As someone who loves a gripping mystery with a dash of intrigue, The Protest by Rob Rinder absolutely hit the mark! From the very first page, Rinder pulls you into a world of high art, dark secrets, and high-stakes drama.

The story begins at a star-studded event at the Royal Academy celebrating the famous artist Max Bruce. The evening, full of glamour and anticipation, takes a shocking turn when a protester disrupts the event, throwing blue paint at Max. But the twist? The paint is laced with cyanide, and what was supposed to be a minor act of defiance turns into an attempted murder.

The setup is a perfect storm of tension, and I was hooked immediately. The book's central character, Adam Green, a newly qualified barrister, is thrust into a complex case where all evidence points to the protester as the culprit. But as Adam digs deeper, he starts to question whether the true villain has been caught or if the motives run much deeper. Could there be others who wanted Max dead? The mystery of the artist’s past, combined with his complicated relationships, creates a web of potential suspects, making the investigation all the more tantalizing.

Rinder’s writing is sharp and compelling, filled with clever twists and turns. Adam’s journey as a lawyer facing an almost impossible task is both captivating and relatable, especially with the moral dilemmas he faces while defending someone who may not be as innocent as they seem. The characters, especially Adam, feel real and nuanced, which added a lot of depth to the story.

The pace is fast, keeping you on your toes, and the drama builds to a satisfying, yet thought-provoking conclusion. It’s a mystery that stays with you long after the final page. The combination of high society, a world-class artist, and a deep dive into human nature makes The Protest a compelling read for fans of thrillers, legal dramas, and art world mysteries.

I absolutely loved how Rob Rinder brought his experience as a barrister to the table—there’s an authenticity to the legal proceedings and Adam’s character that adds a layer of realism. If you enjoy a twisty, well-crafted thriller with moral dilemmas and a touch of suspense, The Protest is a must-read. It's an absolute page-turner that doesn’t let up!

Artist Max Bruce is murdered in front of his many family and fans, spray painted in the face with blue paint. The paint, laced with cyanide, shows intent and all evidence points to a protestor. Adam Green – who we’ve met in Rob’s previous two novels – is tasked with defending the would-be culprit, alongside a very dashing KC. The media’s attention is on the case, Adam’s got personal and professional woes and another case that will tug at everyone’s heartstrings. There’s a lot going on but will he be able to separate the truth from fiction? The level of detail in this is impressive and Rob has created a character who doesn’t always get it right but whom you’re rooting for nonetheless.

We are once again back with Adam in the chambers. There are two cases. The most interesting is one where a ‘Stop the War’ protestor has sprayed a famous artist with a can of blue paint lined with arsenic which has killed him. The reaction on social media, the crowds outside and the inevitable filming of the death all seemed sadly real. Lexi, the defendant, wasn’t a particularly nice character which was unusual and made the book more believable. I enjoyed the characters of Jonathan and Georgina and Adam’s crazy mother. The reason for three stars this time is the ending. I won’t give anything away but I didn’t find it satisfying, Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

This is the 2nd book I have read of Rob Rinder, I really enjoyed the first one, so I was grateful to be asked to review this one. Even though I haven't read the 2nd book in this series it didn't really matter.

Adam Green is still working in Stag Court as a Barrister, but he has more experience now but still seems to feel like an imposter at times. This book follows him defending two crimes the first is working with the talented Morris Brown on the murder of a famous artist by a young girl Lexi, who has publicly sprayed blue paint in his face as a protest against the War, and secondary working with his friend Bobby on a court martial case.

The story is great but I felt that there was no real conclusion at the end of the book, but hopefully it is set up nicely for the next book. There are lots of things to explore with the next book, Adam needs to grow a bit of a backbone if he is going to one day be a star of Stag Court, and his relationship with his colleagues especially Georgina is something to look forward to. I love the relationship with his mother, it shows what kind of person he is. I would recommend this book but maybe read the first book, if you haven't already, to get a grounding of who Adam is

This is the third in the series of Rob Rinder's books that center around Adam Green, a new barrister at Stag Court in London. The story itself does standalone and doesn't require you to have read the previous two books, but it does contain some spoilers for those stories so if you're going to start somewhere... Start with 'The Trial's - largely because it's an excellent read.


In this book, Green has many cases to defend but it's the murder of artist and a court martial that are the feature cases here.

The story has some strong twists and turns and is a very engaging read but the ending wasn't as satisfying as in the other book, nor did it give me what I needed!

Rob Rinder's 'Adam Green' series is back for its third instalment in the gripping 'The Protest'. We follow Adam as he takes on a client in the centre of what the media is dubbing 'The Blue Face Case'. Acclaimed artist Max Bruce is the target of a climate protest and sprayed in the face with blue paint. Unlike previous harmless but messy protests by this environmental group, this can of paint is laced with cyanide. So we have a dead artist, a young woman in prison and Adam trying to work out who is responsible for the poisoning (he is getting a bit of an Agatha Christie reputation).

As this is book 3, we are a few years into Adam's career as a lawyer now. He is winning cases, but I am concerned he hasn't actually grown much. He is still overworked, overwhelmed and winning his cases through luck and people giving him tip offs. I appreciate the stories Rinder creates, particularly the court martial case in this novel which was fascinating, and how the details are so specific and realistic. However, I need Adam to get a clue in future books! He needs to grow a spine, let his hair down, and finally ask Georgina out. Maybe in Book 4 I will get my wish!

I really like this series and am clearly emotionally invested in these characters. 4 stars! And a request for Book 4 asap.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rob Rinder. is fast becoming one of my favour authors. This book doesn't disappoint.
.. Enjoyed getting to know the characters better as they are each book. Would definitelyThis recommend book

,

3.5 stars rounded up!

This is the 3rd book in Rob Rinder’s series which centres around new barrister, Adam Green. Whilst it is a standalone story, it does contain some spoilers for earlier books - and I think some of the relationships between characters could be confusing for someone starting with this book. So I would recommend stepping away from The Protest right now, and going and getting yourself a copy of The Trial!

In this latest instalment, Adam is pretty settled into Stag Court now, and finds himself supporting an intimidating, experienced lawyer, Morris Brown, on the case everyone is talking about - the murder of famous artist Max Bruce in the name of the Stop the War campaign.

In a subplot, Adam works with his old friend Bobby on a military court case, where they suspect that a young soldier is being made a scapegoat for something more sinister.

Having really enjoyed the first 2 books, I found I didn’t quite get on with this one as well. I’m starting to find Adam a bit too passive a character - I know it’s not the job of a barrister to solve a crime, but given that the police don’t do anything in these books, it’s just a bit disappointing that things seem to just land in his in-tray rather than there being any clever investigation!

And the main storyline, in which a celebrity is poisoned to death in a public display - is kind of also what happened in the second book!? I actually found the secondary story about the young army corporal and the soldiers turning peacekeepers to be more gripping than the main story.

The twist towards the end was a good one - but the ending itself was not quite as satisfyingly conclusive as I would have liked!

The Protest is the third book in this wonderful legal series with Adan Green now a junior barrister doing well with his own cases but still expected to go above and beyond to assist more senior barristers as their second.
At an exhibition at a the Royal Academy a famous artist is there as one of his famous paintings is being shown. Suddenly he has blue paint thrown at him by an assistant at the academy in protest against war, unfortunately this paint has been laced with cyanide and the artist drops dead in front of all the attendees. As far as the police etc are concerned it’s an open and shut case as Lexi Williams action was not only witnessed by many it was also filmed by the artists son on his phone.
Adam is brought in as second chair for the defence whilst also having to assist in a court martial of a soldier accused of murdering a civilian child whist on duty in Kandistan.
With great characters , depth and humour and court scenes with sparkling dialogue this is another immensely enjoyable read from this talented author. I did suspect the twist at the end but not the unexpected finale.
These books would make a great TV series especially with the telephone conversations between Adam and his Jewish mother ( a role made for Maureen Lipman) I look forward to more of the lovely Adam Green and his growth as a barrister and person.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Another intriguing story from the courts of law.
Up to date with the damage done by protesters to many priceless arts this is typical of a young girl who is bored during lock down and finds ways of amusing herself. Lexi seems to be confused young girl with one aim and sets about achieving this the way she has been taught, unfortunately for her someone else interferes and her tarfget dies. Can Adam and Brown save her? Will Adam perform miracles again at the last minute? I have a feeling this story isn't finished yet..........

I’ve been a long time lover of this series and I look forward to each new Rob book. I’ve found them to be so entertaining and such easy win reads.

I’ve loved Adam’s character and the insights into a busy legal career. It’s always filled with the best type of drama and there’s plenty to keep you hooked. I’m always hanging off every chapter and they go so quickly!

We have a bunch of new cases in this one, namely the ‘Blue face murder’ where a young protester gets herself into hot waters. Adam is assigned to her legal team along with a Court Marshal that sees him burning the candle at both ends. Talk about a workload! And I also live for his phone call chapters with his mum. Her sharp checking in is the absolute best.

After the ending, I could easily have read for a couple of extra 100 pages. I neeeeed to know what happens next!

It was another fantastic book and I enjoyed it massively.

I have read all of the Adam Green books now. I do enjoy them as I read, they are easy and light and there is always something compelling about the plot.

However, I'm ready for Adam to grow a bit now. His naive, unconfident persona started to grate a bit in this book.

I also found elements quite repetitive. So and so and her massive bag. One character 'still in her thin blue anorak', a defendent still in her white shirt and blue skirt... it was primarily descriptions, but they were repeated word for word throughout.

I liked the drama and unfolding once the courtroom kick started on the two main cases. But otherwise, I found the plots a repetitive cycle of Adam travelling places and despairing at his workload.

I do find the series compelling, but I don't think this was the strongest book in terms of writing, and as a series reader, I'm ready to see Adam move beyond insecurity and moaning about long work days.

Another great courtroom drama from Rob Rinder. I love the characters Rob creates, especially Adam, who is no longer a pupil, but a junior barrister. He is still being hassled by his mum for his lack of girlfriend.

In this book, Adam defends a young female activist accused of poisoning a famous artist. I liked that the story was relatively straightforward, which made it easy to follow. The beauty of these books is in the characters and their relationships.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolute love this, this a great edition to an ongoing series by a big name celeb that lives up to his big name in his writing. Stories are individual told with a real sense of heart and humour they keep you interest though out and you are forever rooting for Adam of whom is developing into a one of my favourite characters. Well done again judge I find you guilty of writing of a well plotted, well written quirky witty read!!!' More please