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lavanda4 's review for:
The Trials of Lila Dalton
by L.J. Shepherd
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.