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3.01 AVERAGE
3.01 AVERAGE
I absolutely loved this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the fact that it was so different than the fiction books I have been reading. It was a twisted tale of the dark side of the legal arena. I couldn't put it down, and I have already been suggesting it to others to read.
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you so much Poisoned Pen Press and @netgalley for the copy of this eARC!
This was a very different thriller based on a courtroom setting. The book throws us (the reader) in the middle of the court hearing.This is not your normal trial content. An intriguing courtroom mystery! A barrister on an island with no memory of how she got there or the killer she is defending in a high court.
I really wanted to love this book. It was so long and at times confusing but once the story started it picked up.Things got very creepy and mysterious I was engaged. I was eager to find out how Lila got there. She had no idea who she was or who the client she was defending was. There is a lot going on in this book. I would have understood it better if I knew the rules of the British court system. The trial has to do with terrorism, white supremacy, and secret society - not my cup of tea.
The ending was unexpected and somewhat confusing. I was left with so many unanswered questions. I wish the ending would have explained everything.If you like legal books, murder mysteries give this book a chance you will enjoy it.
The Trials of Lila Dalton by L. J. Shepherd is an indescribable mashup of genres and storylines. In ways it works swimmingly, in others it's over the top. But it's clever, imaginative and unforgettable. The thought the author put into it is unreal!
Lila Dalton realizes with a start she is in a room with several people expectantly waiting for her to speak. She realizes it's a courtroom and that she has something to do with a case. But who is she, where is she and why is she there? She is surprised to discover the legal jargon coming out of her mouth and during a quick recess pieces a bit of the puzzle together. She is a barrister defending a man accused of killing multiple people and injuring many others. She is on isolated Assumption Island far from home and locals are wary of her. But there is much, much more to it than the criminal case.
The first third had me on tenterhooks, practically chewing my fingernails in suspense. I just loved the intricate originality, twists and turns and unusual courtroom drama. The premise reeled me in immediately and I couldn't put my Kindle down for more than two seconds. However, as time went on things grew more and more implausible and it became a stretch to take in and follow the plethora of details and conspiracies. Yes to quirkiness! But yes also to a measure of believability, even with speculative fiction. None of the characters were particularly likeable but they were interesting.
If you crave something haphazardly unique, tense and flummoxing, this has your name on it. If it didn't get a bit messed up later on, this would be a solid thrilling read for me. But it may be an "it's not you, it's me" situation. I'd happily read more by L. J. Shepherd in future.
My sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this weirdly captivating novel.
Lila Dalton realizes with a start she is in a room with several people expectantly waiting for her to speak. She realizes it's a courtroom and that she has something to do with a case. But who is she, where is she and why is she there? She is surprised to discover the legal jargon coming out of her mouth and during a quick recess pieces a bit of the puzzle together. She is a barrister defending a man accused of killing multiple people and injuring many others. She is on isolated Assumption Island far from home and locals are wary of her. But there is much, much more to it than the criminal case.
The first third had me on tenterhooks, practically chewing my fingernails in suspense. I just loved the intricate originality, twists and turns and unusual courtroom drama. The premise reeled me in immediately and I couldn't put my Kindle down for more than two seconds. However, as time went on things grew more and more implausible and it became a stretch to take in and follow the plethora of details and conspiracies. Yes to quirkiness! But yes also to a measure of believability, even with speculative fiction. None of the characters were particularly likeable but they were interesting.
If you crave something haphazardly unique, tense and flummoxing, this has your name on it. If it didn't get a bit messed up later on, this would be a solid thrilling read for me. But it may be an "it's not you, it's me" situation. I'd happily read more by L. J. Shepherd in future.
My sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this weirdly captivating novel.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
If it weren't for the ending, my rating of this would be much higher. Also does anyone find it unclear what the other means that everything was an "app?" Because it seems to me they must have meant that the entire cast had had their consciousness downloaded into this app, but that wasn't made clear. And no resolution on the trial that was front and center? ugh, so promising!
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Imagine waking up in a courtroom, facing a man accused of a horrific crime, and not knowing who you are, or why you are there.
A very unique premise and I was hooked right from the start. I will admit it was a little hard to follow at the beginning. Reality and speculative fiction were intertwined beautifully. Lila Dalton, a very skilled barrister, comes to in a court room with a judge and 12 jurors looking at her, only to discover that she is the defense attorney in a terrorist case where 27 people died in a bombing. She has no memory of anything up to that very moment. She has to question everything and put on a face that she knows everything. Assumption Island, a fictional North Atlantic location where Lila Dalton must get her client off scot-free or end up losing her daughter There is a lot going on here. This is not a quick read. Take your time and watch this unfold.
This is a remarkable and impressive debut novel. I enjoyed it. This one is for those thriller fans and psychological thrill reads that like a good amount of court room drama. The twists were there, but I was able to see them coming.
A very unique premise and I was hooked right from the start. I will admit it was a little hard to follow at the beginning. Reality and speculative fiction were intertwined beautifully. Lila Dalton, a very skilled barrister, comes to in a court room with a judge and 12 jurors looking at her, only to discover that she is the defense attorney in a terrorist case where 27 people died in a bombing. She has no memory of anything up to that very moment. She has to question everything and put on a face that she knows everything. Assumption Island, a fictional North Atlantic location where Lila Dalton must get her client off scot-free or end up losing her daughter There is a lot going on here. This is not a quick read. Take your time and watch this unfold.
This is a remarkable and impressive debut novel. I enjoyed it. This one is for those thriller fans and psychological thrill reads that like a good amount of court room drama. The twists were there, but I was able to see them coming.
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book had me going HUH a lot! Starts off super interesting with Lila waking up in the courtroom and not knowing who she is or where she is. The story then veers into parts that were hard to follow for me when it came to conspiracy theories and far right extremist group. The ending though was really good which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. A little muddled in the middle of the book but the ending was pretty cool. Good read and kept my attention for the most part! This would be a good book for a book club because there could be a lot of discussions!
mysterious
medium-paced