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A review by swampkun
The Trials of Lila Dalton by Laura J. Shepherd
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC! Spoiler-free review below.
For fans of: 1899, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Anatomy of a Fall, The Wedding of Natsume Arata
I think this book had a solid foundation to start: part courtroom thriller, part conspiracy theory hunt, and a dash of light speculative fiction to keep you constantly trying to pick apart the mystery. The narration felt unreliable in an effective, deliberate way, allowing for me as a reader to constantly feel as susceptible to conspiracy as the character herself—a particularly clever bit of writing that suited the both the story and the broader points the author was trying to explore about truth, reality, and the rise of disinformation very well. However, I felt that the narrative was lacking towards the end, with the final reveals leaving me both underwhelmed and confused. Characters stopped talking like character and instead like think pieces on the dangers of a post-truth society and cancel culture, twists felt telegraphed from a mile away, and ultimately it felt as though a satisfying narrative ending was pushed aside to allow the author to grandstand a bit.
Overall, I really enjoyed the legal drama elements and how the author explored modern day Nazism’s relation to theosophy and occultism as a means to build an atmospheric thriller. The story fell flat towards the end, with more than a couple questions lacking satisfying payoff. I don’t know—maybe it’s because I read this so late at night, but there were some questions I had left upon finishing that I think the author really felt she had answered but that I just don’t grock?
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC! Spoiler-free review below.
For fans of: 1899, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Anatomy of a Fall, The Wedding of Natsume Arata
I think this book had a solid foundation to start: part courtroom thriller, part conspiracy theory hunt, and a dash of light speculative fiction to keep you constantly trying to pick apart the mystery. The narration felt unreliable in an effective, deliberate way, allowing for me as a reader to constantly feel as susceptible to conspiracy as the character herself—a particularly clever bit of writing that suited the both the story and the broader points the author was trying to explore about truth, reality, and the rise of disinformation very well. However, I felt that the narrative was lacking towards the end, with the final reveals leaving me both underwhelmed and confused. Characters stopped talking like character and instead like think pieces on the dangers of a post-truth society and cancel culture, twists felt telegraphed from a mile away, and ultimately it felt as though a satisfying narrative ending was pushed aside to allow the author to grandstand a bit.
Overall, I really enjoyed the legal drama elements and how the author explored modern day Nazism’s relation to theosophy and occultism as a means to build an atmospheric thriller. The story fell flat towards the end, with more than a couple questions lacking satisfying payoff. I don’t know—maybe it’s because I read this so late at night, but there were some questions I had left upon finishing that I think the author really felt she had answered but that I just don’t grock?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Antisemitism
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
The entire novel centers on a bombing, which resulted in mass death. The details of the bombing are discussed in clinical detail. There are brief passages dedicated to describing the injuries that resulted from the bombing.
Because the defendant of the crime is a far-right neo-Nazi, Nazism and white supremacist beliefs are discussed in detail.