Wow what a fantastic story. Just when you think you have things figured out new evidence comes out.
A comprehensive look at 3 defendants as they stand trial for murder. Not only the back story of the defendant's but their respective barristers and the prosecution.
Even the judge is a fully formed character.
The intracies of the law, the criminal justice system and it's workings laid bare as a the trial progresses. Each of the 3 defendants protesting their innocence and blaming the other 2, each barrister doing their best with the evidence to protect and prove that their client was not involved or at the very least put doubts in the minds of the jury. It was gripping to the very last page.

A fascinating insight into the legal world, this book is obviously written by someone in the know. While not quite unputdownable, it is certainly a page-turner, and I wanted to know what would happen to the three defendants, as well as their legal representatives. I did not see the twist in the tail coming! The author builds the tension skilfully and does not disappoint. Recommended for an enjoyable holiday read that the reader can zip through.

This novel takes you through the process of a trial from the point of view of the defendants, the prosecution and defence and even the trial judge. Each participant tells part of the story and each has a differing viewpoint. The plots twists and turns and builds up to a a massive twist at the end. The story is absorbing and exciting and keeps you reading (and guessing) to the very end. The reader learns a lot about the legal process and the difficulties facing those within it. A very well-written novel that gets 5 stars from me.

Three youths on trial for murder and each blames the other. Told from multiple points of view meant that there was inevitably a little repetition. I disliked all of the defendants but they were all portrayed. A great courtroom thriller that kept my interest to the end. Thanks to Net Galley for ARC.

Three youths are on trial for the brutal murder of an old man. Each of them is blaming the other two. It is down to the barristers to unearth the truth of what happened on the fateful night.

The definition of a cut-throat defense is one where a defendant gives evidence that is damaging to a co-defendant's case, even going as far as directly accusing them of the crime committed. S. J. Fleet (The Secret Barrister) has used this as the basis for the novel The Cut Throat Trial.

From the opening pages, which detail the horrific crime carried out by the three defendants, Craig, Arron and Jamal, I was hooked and didn't want to put the book down until I'd finished. The trial is relayed from a variety of perspectives: the judge presiding over the case, the prosecuting barrister, the three defense barristers, and the three teenagers. Each has a very distinct voice, from the pompous barrister defending Craig, to Jamal's emotionally unstable barrister, through to the desperate prosecutor. We discover that the people behind the gowns and wigs have lives that impact the role they play.

Reading felt very much like being a fly-on-the-wall during the trial, with the added bonus of knowing the thoughts of the individuals concerned. There are hints that events are not as clear-cut as they first seem. Unreliable, volatile and unpredictable witnesses add confusion and make the task of the barristers more difficult.

As the trial progressed, we are introduced to multiple versions of what happened. As important information is withheld, both accidentally and intentionally, you never quite know what actually happened. Even when the defendants take the stand and, little by little, lies are uncovered, you still have that hesitancy. Can you trust what any of them are saying? Are they simply looking to protect themselves?

Despite the terrible crime committed, it was impossible not to feel some sympathy for the three young men accused of murder. Dysfunctional home lives show the clear route to crime, one that is played out on a regular basis around the country. We also see how Young Offender Institutions, where the three accused are held on remand, can be grim and violent.

By switching between the different characters and drip feeding us information, the author keeps the reader hooked and the pages turning. Not only was I fully invested in the outcome of the trial, but I also wanted to know what happened on the night in question. We are also given a glimpse of what proceedings in a Crown Court are like, as, hopefully, this is something very few of us will experience. It is vastly different from the vision we frequently see portrayed in American TV dramas.

Even at the end of the trial, when the jury gives their verdict, there is still that sense of misgiving, a feeling that not everything has been laid bare. Luckily, the final few pages put to rest those nagging doubts and worries.

Absolutely gripping tale of the workings of a serious murder case with 3 suspects, 3 barristers and the high court judge. The tale invites us to sympathise with different characters as the case progresses and new evidence is brought to light. It's a grim, chilling and depressing tale of abuse, violence, drugs, deprivation but the court scenes are well told and the judge is worryingly funny. Kept me guessing to the end.

Oh wow! Utterly brilliant!
This courtroom drama brilliantly captures the raw, unglamorous, warts and all reality of the legal system through a differing tapestry of perspectives.
From the sarcastic, world-weary judge who made me smile at his ruminations, to the three teenage boys accused of a brutal murder, their barristers, and the jaded prosecutor, every character is deeply flawed yet undeniably authentic.
The lack of a clear hero among the key players makes the narrative all the more realistic.
The story avoids sensationalism, focusing instead on the complex proceedings, from opening statements to cross-examinations. The meticulous attention detail blew me away!
The plot is a constant rollercoaster of twists and turns, expertly sowing seeds of doubt and shifting our allegiances.
We're left to question: who is telling the truth? What actually is the truth?
The book poignantly explores the challenges faced by young people born into poverty, highlighting the devastating consequences of a life lived without care and guidance.
The totally unexpectedly twist at the end is a perfect culmination of the moral gray areas explored throughout the novel.
If you are a fan of tense legal dramas like me then the Secret Barrister is for you.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This is my own opinion.

The Cut Throat Trial is an excellently written court room drama. A retired teacher has been brutally murdered and three teenage boys are on trial for his murder. The trial is told through multiple points of view including the Prosecutor, the Judge and the defendants which gives the reader insight into the different elements of the trial process. I was engrossed by the story and constantly waiting for the next piece of new information to drop.
I have to say though that I found this to be a completely depressing read. It’s a grim story and there is graphic detail during the book of the injuries suffered by the victim. Also, none of the characters are at all likeable. I think the third defendant and his defence Counsel were possibly the most sympathetic but none of them really engendered any positive feelings. Not really liking any of the characters made the plot as a whole less engaging than it might have been had I been rooting for any of them.
I know it’s fiction but the scenario and characters felt all too real and it all felt like a very sad indictment of our justice system and so although it was really well written, I can’t actually say that I enjoyed it.
Thank you as always to Net Galley and the publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a bit different as thrillers go, centred around the court room where three teenagers are on trial for the murder of an old man. The detail is quite graphic and brutal in places, but is only used to where fit and appropriate. The story unrolls through the eyes of the prosecution, the defence lawyer for the third boy and two of the accused, along with the judge. Each character tells part of the story as the trial proceeds, and gradually their voices and experiences become clear and their personalities and back stories are revealed.
It is hard to like or bond much with any of the characters, all of whom appear to be out only for themselves, but it does open up a greater understanding of the legal process and how the issues in a trial can swing from one way to the other, depending on the evidence being presented. I had to say the police do not come out well in this story - one can only hope it isn't always so - as evidence goes missing and leads are not followed up properly.
As the story unfolds, and the accused appear to happy to say whatever will get them the most leniency, I found my own allegiances shifting several times. Little did I guess the final unveiling however, as a final twist, changes everything, and flips innocence and guilt about.
Tight, well written and for me, at least, a very different read, that I very much enjoyed.
With thanks to Netgalley and PanMac Marketing for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

A masterful novel, full of intrigue. I was absolutely spellbound by the narrative and the form. The author’s professional life lends kudos to the prose but it never feels OTT or unnecessary.

I love a courtroom thriller, and this was spot on! With the twists and turns, keeping you guessing and conclusions flipping on who you really believed did it, or if there was more to the 'victim' than originally thought. I changed my mind several times during reading this and I love a book that does that!
Fantastic to have something so fresh to read in the genre!

I am not a person who reads many court room dramas but The cutthroat trial is a fascinating read by S J Fleet.
74-year-old Bernard Hooper goes to the local shop to buy some drink to celebrate the New year with his wife. But he never comes home. Three 17-year-old boys are on trial for his brutal murder where he was stabbed to death in an alley way, There Lawyers are doing a brilliant job or arguing their cases. But who did really kill Brendan Hooper and under what circumstance? The three boys accused of his murder and all pointing the finger at each other.
When I started this, I didn’t know what to expect from this. But I got more than I bargained for. This Is such a powerful read and quite different to other books of this type that I have read. Told from several points of view this is a very detailed account of a murder trial. I found it to be very realistic account of what goes on the British criminal justice system in every aspect between the trial, the prisons system etc. and the accused lives. I also like the twist at the end that turned everything upside down. This is a fantastic read. If you want to read one courtroom drama this year. I would recommend this one as I reckon this is going to be a best seller. 5 stars from me.

I loved this book. I thought it would be the usual courtroom drama, with a plucky barrister defending a client against all the odds, and miraculously producing evidence at the last moment to save the day. This book was so much better than that. The barristers seemed like real people (and I have met quite a number) and the ambiguity around the defendants makes the book an extremely interesting commentary on the criminal justice system. I really had no idea how the story would turn out. I am eagerly awaiting the next book from this author.

I had so looked forward to this book - ‘The Secret Barrister’ and their first foray into fiction.

Of course there was the legal knowledge but the book didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It was confusing, convoluted and downright odd.

There were many back stories for the numerous characters but you never quite felt you knew what was what. It could almost have done with a ‘who’s who’ at the front of the book. Numerous defendants meant numerous legal teams and keeping who went with who in one’s head was confusing.

This made the book hard going and I didn’t really enjoy it.

This is the first fiction book from The Secret Barrister, and it uses their knowledge of the English criminal justice system to build a tight courtroom procedural novel.

Three teenage boys are being tried for the murder of an elderly man. There is damning evidence against them and they are accusing each other to various degrees. The viewpoint characters are the prosecuting barrister, two of the accused boys, the judge and the defending barrister of the third boy. The novel is set during the weeks of the trial.

While this could have been quite a dry book, it is actually lively and readable. The contrasting viewpoints are not always fun to read but they keep up the pace and add variety, keeping the book from getting bogged down. The judge's inner monologue is as bigoted and objectionable as you might expect if you've read any of the Secret Barrister's other works, while the accused boys have similar but distinct voices as they recount their versions of events. There is a steady stream of new evidence introduced throughout the trial which is a procedural headache for the prosecutor but keeps things interesting for the reader.

There were times when this book didn't quite land for me. The ending was somewhat rushed and skips various scenes that would usually be considered key in a courtroom drama. I also personally could have done with less emphasis on the female barristers as mothers, given that there is no lingering on the family status of the men representing the accused. This may not bother other readers, of course.

The descriptions of crimes are naturally quite graphic and will not be within everyone's comfort levels.

Overall I found this to be a compelling read that is enhanced by the experience and expertise of the author.
Thank you to the publishers for providing a free copy. This review is left voluntarily.

If you have ever had the pleasure (?) of undertaking Jury duty, then this book really will resonate with you. If you haven't and you've ever wondered what goes on in the courtroom, the SJ Fleet's debut, The Cut Throat Trial, really will lift the veil on the processes, albeit, I hope, in a rather exaggerated and wholly fictional way. Few of us will ever be called on to serve on a trial as serious as this - three young adults on trial together for the murder of a pensioner - and thankful we should all be too. Told from the points of view of the prosecuting Barrister, one of the Defence Barristers, the Judge, and two of the defendants, we are led through what proves to be a very complex and charged case, one which is nowhere near as open and shut as it might appear, a rather worrying situation given three boys futures are literally at stake.

I like how the author sets this story up. From the very beginning we are drawn into the victim's world and a picture is painted of a New Year's Eve celebration that takes a decidedly dark and tragic turn. And that is important, setting us up to feel empathy for someone who would otherwise potentially be a rather under represented entity in this story. That may sound strange, given that the whole case is literally about their murder, but, when you are working through testimony and evidence about the act of murder, it is actually quite easy in a novel to almost forget the victim at the heart of the case. We get so caught up in events in the courtroom that it is easy to forget about the voice we cannot hear - that of the victim themself. SJ Fleet makes sure we have a sense of the victim going into the courtroom, something I appreciated more as the book progressed.

It's really hard to say a lot about this book that wouldn't give up too much of the story, but what I will say is that, the courtroom scenes especially carried such an air of authenticity that I almost felt like I was back I the room in which I sat during jury service a couple of years back. Everything the author observes about the jury, the different personalities and the sense of exactly who the foreman will be before the trial even begins is so true, it brought a smile to my face. One of the few things that did given the serious nature of this particular case, but if you have ever served, you will understand when you read exactly what I mean. As for everything else, I actually found it fascinating, if not a little worrying, the way in which the author leads us through the various elements of the Defence and Prosecution actions and meetings throughout the trial. I hope that no-one in such a responsible position is ever as dishonest, or perhaps just incompetent, as some of the people portrayed in this book, but I imagine to some degree their personalities are borne of a small amount of personal experience on behalf of the author.

The various points of view, far from being confusing, actually worked really well for me. I liked hearing the different perspectives, even if I thought the judge was a bit of a pompous ass at times. For the most part, his actions seemed to be in line with the law, even if there was the occasional expression of too much pleasure when things went against one side or the other. Hearing from just one of the defence Barristers, and allowing them to bear witness to the examinations and machinations of the others, actually helped as I think the character in focus here was the more relatable of the three. There was a strange vulnerability about her and the prosecuting Barrister, and the slow reveal of their private lives and how this impacts the way in which they handle the case, worked really well. As for the defendants, well, to be fair they leave a lot to be desired. Each has a part to play in what comes to pass, but as to their level of culpability - well, they key here is that we learn most of the evidence at the same time as it is revealed to the jury, and whilst we are able to gain some insight from what they think as well as what is actually said, it is up to you as an additional juror if you like, to determine how much of it you believe and whether or not you will come to the same conclusion that is reached by the jury.

This is an absolutely brilliant look into the workings of the courtroom, and in presenting the case as they have, SJ Fleet has truly given us as readers food for thought. Noone should rush to prejudgment, but you will. Be it because of one particular piece of evidence, the history of the people in the dock, the seeming incompetence of the police and the various legal representatives, I guarantee that something will have you leaping to a conclusion, long before the final evidence is presented. And I really enjoyed that and the very authentic way in which the author has presented the case. None of the showmanship you usually expect from a legal thriller, in fact it is almost brutally honest, from the way in which half of the evidence is presented in a binder rather than orated in court, to the summing up of the judge and the presentation of the route to verdict which really does help in determining what decision should be made, especially in a case as complex as this one.

The title really does fit the book in this case, on so many levels. Expect the unexpected, challenge your own prejudices, and prepare to be proven wrong. Put yourself in the shoes of the jury and decide that if, given all you know, or at least all you think you know, would you have reached the same judgment. I didn't always love any of the characters, didn't always respect any of them either, but this was absolutely fascinating and I'm really looking forward to see what the author will follow this with. Not what I was expecting and the ending was just brilliant. Just what the story needed. Definitely recommended.

A clever and original take on the courtroom drama. Gives a fascinating in insight into the criminal justice system. Told from multiple POVs, the book makes the reader feel part of the jury. The story had plenty of twists and kept me guessing throughout . This is a compelling and thought-provoking read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This courtroom drama is told from multiple points of view which works extremely well. The characters and the plot are very interesting as the action builds up to a brilliant, unexpected ending. Just when you thought you had it all figured out, there is another twist to keep you guessing. Three teenage boys on trial for murder but which one is the killer in this very clever piece of writing, that is the question. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to lovers of crime fiction. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

What a superb book. 3 friends are accused of a brutal murder but are they all guilty and who is the main offender? Each of them refuse to answer questions when picked up by the police and the main portion of the book is devoted to the court case. It's really gripping and made me feel as though I was actually in the courtroom on the jury panel.

This book is brilliant, especially if you like a courtroom drama with a ring of truth.

The Cut Throat Trial by S J Fleet: The Secret Barrister is a legal thriller of a murder case with three teenage boys as defendants. In this storyline each character is shown as a flawed individual, all of them be it the judge, one of the barrister or one of the defendants, no one person involved in the trial is shown in a positive manner.
The storyline follows the defendants, the barristers, the policeman and the judge from the beginning of the trial through to the end. It is a brutal and bloody murder of a former retired teacher, who again is portrayed as someone who is not portrayed as he really was. Maybe he wasn’t the innocent victim of an unprovoked attack. Or was he?
The barristers all have their own agendas to ensure that their individual client is shown in his best light as performed by his barrister during their court performance, despite or because of their own personal experience, .i.e whether one barrister is drinking throughout the trial to get her through her day or whether another barrister’s own teenage son was found guilty of a serious knife crime.
The prosecutor who needs to win this case despite or because of the personal failings of the senior police officer in charge of compiling the evidence.
Only when we reach the end does the whole story become clear or does it?
Very different approach to a legal thriller.
Highly recommended