While I really enjoyed the beginning of this book and the premise sounded so interesting for me, I don’t think the writing style and the ultimate way the story unfolded was for me and felt a bit disjointed. Thank you to the publisher for the e-galley!!

Thank you NetGalley, L.J. Shepherd, and Poisoned Pen Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest option of this book.

My second DNF of the year. The cover really drew my attention but that’s about it. Lots of political topics in this book and I just could t do it.

i was sooo excited for this one after reading the blurb, but unfortunately it fell short for me. While it was still good, I personally could not get well connected with the characters or the storyline overall. The concept was super intriguing and there were interesting plot twists, but as it went on things fell flat.

i would defiantly still read something from the author in the future, I just think this one just wasn't it for me. Thank u for the ARC<3

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me an Advanced Readers copy. This book was high in my expectations, but sadly didn't make it. I DNF'd it around 65% into the book.

I must say the book starts out really strong. Lila not knowing anything about who she is and what trail she is in, in that exact moment. It was engaging to read, and you wanted to know more about it. But as things rolled on, it felt like the story hit some major slow patches. Kinda sucked 'cause I enjoyed the whole trail thing, but everything else just felt like it was dragging or didn't hit the mark.

I do feel like people who are super into crime thrillers will like this, however it sadly didnt for me.

TL;DR: A confusing, compelling, and well-crafted mystery set on a remote island, with a protagonist that has no memories, a sweeping sense of foreboding, and a Black Mirror-y vibe.

I am in a bit of a conundrum. I think this book was written in such a compelling way, and yet I don’t feel comfortable giving it more than 2.5 stars. So I am departing from my usual structure for reviews, to try and put my finger on what I liked and what I disliked of The Trials of Lila Dalton.

First of all, however, a quick synopsis: the book begins when Lila Dalton opens her eyes and realises that (1) she has no idea where she is; (2) she has no idea who she is; (3) she has no idea why what really looks like a jury is staring at her. After a short analysis of her surroundings, she realizes that she is in a court room, her name is Lila Dalton, and the jury is staring at her because she is a defence barrister. She really knows the law and how to handle herself in a courtroom, but this is where her knowledge stops. Why is she on this isolated island (no pun intended) in the middle of the Atlantic? Who can she trust if she can’t even trust her memory? How can she prove her client’s innocence and go home?

Things I liked about this book. I really couldn’t put it down. I read the bulk of it in about three days and kept on saying “just one more chapter”. The pacing was truly perfect. I think that the idea was also quite interesting. As you read, you not only realize that nothing is as it seems but have also this increasing foreboding feeling. The more into the story you go, the more the vibes become similar to Stuart Turton’s “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” or to a very specific episode of Black Mirror (White Bear). The mystery is well crafted, and Lila’s confusion and desperation really shine through.

Things that weren’t for me. I really didn’t like the ending. I found the last four to five chapters anticlimactic and confusing (I really can’t say I understood the solution of the mystery), with a preachy undertone about the dangers of social media. Don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly agree on the dangers of social media and Post Truth Societies, but I don’t think the topic was needed to provide closure to this book. But, most importantly, I really think that Shepherd could have done so much more with the dejá vu’s, the repeating sentences and patterns. They are only partially explained in a couple of rushed sentences, and I really really liked how pervasive they were throughout the whole book. I think this is the reason why I don’t feel like giving three or more stars to this book.

All in all, I still did enjoy the reading experience, though, and I would like to thank L.J.Shepherd, Poisoned Pen Press, and Net Galley for the Digital Advance Read Copy of this book!

I recommend to pick it up if you liked Seven Deaths and Black Mirror (and don’t feel to strong about book endings that leave you in a state of mild confusion).

😭😭😭😭 Nooooo I was so excited for this book. And I feel somewhat dumb and very sad to announce that i did NOT understand this book :(
All the while i had abso-fucking-lutely no idea what was happening in the book. Things coming and going, people saying stuff- quoting quantum physics, virginia woolf and whatnot. i was SO confused😭. But i hanged on because i thought the book was supposed to make me confused since the MC too didn't have any memories. I thought it would start to make sense but then it got weirder and weirder. I swear the introduction of a conspiracy group and all that O87 talk went over my head. And from then i knew i would not get this book.
Okay. Now, now don't get sad because maybe i am not that smart to understand this book. maybe it does makes sense but just not to me. Sooo bear with me and let me tell you what this book is about and maybe then you can decide if you want to read it or not-
This story starts with a woman who just opens her eyes and realises that she is standing in a courtroom and does NOT remember how she got there or who she is. She looks down and found herself to be wearing uniform of a barrister. Upon looking here and there, she realises that she is supposed to say something as she is defending a man (who seems to have participated in bombing of a place). She asks for a break and from then she tries desperately to know what is going on. She doesn't know whom to trust and she is seeing things that no one does.... or do they? Now she gotta plan for her escape or carry on with the case.... that she doesn't remember about.
The premise was veryy promising but i just feel that the story didn't deliver.

If you enjoyed Shutter Island, i am sure you would like this book. But unfortunately, i didn't like Shutter Island either.

Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for providing me an ARC for this book in exchange of my honest reviews :)

I recently read The Trials of Lila Dalton, which was quite unique and a refreshing change of pace. The plot was intriguing, and while it had a strong political theme, it was interesting to see these themes explored in a fictional context. The story dealt with some sensitive issues that may be triggering for some readers, but I appreciated the author's approach to these topics.

The story's trajectory was unique, and I found the main character complex and thought-provoking. The blending of reality and dreams was executed in a way that was both creative and engaging, and it kept me invested in the story until the end.

While this book may not be for everyone, I believe it's a worthwhile read for those looking for something different. It's an excellent choice for readers who enjoy exploring complex themes in a fictional context and who appreciate dreamlike surrealism. Unfortunately, I have since discovered this is not for my personal preferences.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who are open-minded and willing to explore new ideas in their reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This story wasn't for me. I was intrigued in the beginning but as the story went on, I was getting real sick of Lila's whining and internal dialogue. I found the case interesting in the beginning but about halfway through, it seemed silly. There was too much going on at once and the story would've been a lot more believable if less was happening all at once. It felt like someone was trying to push a political agenda.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy. This was an ok read. I did enjoy it . Although it wasn’t a four star for me it was a well written book

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy to read.
It started out very good however took a weird turn into nazi conspiracies and time travel. Hard to finish and not my favorite read.

When I read the blurb, I found this intriguing especially since it focused on law. The starting pages of the book were captivating till the whole science experiment angle crept in.

Lila would have been a really interesting character if she wouldn't have been so vague and naive all the time. So many scenes in the book did not make sense and were over the top. Compliments to the author for giving us a detailed insight into law. However, an author should bear in mind that most readers will have no idea of such intricacies and will also be from different countries. So a better, simpler explanation would have made the court proceedings fun.

What didn't work for me was the ending as it didn't bring any satisfactory closure to the story and I was also able to predict certain characters. I wish the whole science conspiracy angle would not have been dragged so far.

I give 2 stars for this book.
I thank NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This novel fell flat for me. The plot was compelling enough but I think it got lost in courtroom drama and political agenda. I did not identify with any of the characters and not one of them had any empathetic qualities. The few plot twists were thinly disguised. Overall, it was a no for me.

I was so excited to read this book based on the blurb. However, the plot was confusing at times. It seemed like the author was trying to do too many things at once. The book did trail off toward the end, instead of gaining momentum.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy!

This is one where I liked the idea more than the execution, I'm afraid. I'm trying not to discuss too much of the plot in this review because I'm conscious this is still yet to be published, but there are a few details that show up early enough in the story that I think I can touch on.

Part of this might be related to not understanding trial procedure and/or the culture around trials in the UK - like, ok, one example. Lila receives messages that she interprets as threats. Would you not immediately report those to the cops...? There are all kinds of protections for people in the criminal justice system, especially in a case that is as high profile as this. And also, I know there are ~other reasons~ that are revealed later, but I'm so baffled by the lack of reporters and public interest as well - the case that she's trying would be pretty much the only relevant news story for the entirety of the time it was in court. Even if this is later explained, why isn't Lila curious about this when she's trying to figure out what happened?

None of those elements on their own were a big deal, but they added up, especially when the concept itself requires quite a lot of suspension of disbelief. The ending also demands quite a bit from the reader. There are some interesting concepts - I think the island itself could have a lot of potential, with its isolation and other unique factors, but I found that the parts of the story that I think are compelling were muddled behind a lot of elements that made it difficult to buy in.

Also, as someone who really loves trials and cross examinations - I can't exactly root for our protagonist to make a great point on cross when she's defending an alleged white supremacist domestic terrorist? It's just not as fun if our protagonist's actions go against my perceived concept of justice in this world, and there wasn't enough either to try to redeem the defendant or to justify it from Lila's end for me. Yeah, I know, everyone deserves a valid defense, but I don't have to root for it either.

Trials by Lila Dalton left me disappointed & confused. There was way too much going on, added to the fact that Lila couldn’t remember anything, This book with all its British legal jargon was too much and very confusing . The premise of this book sounded so good unfortunately this was a DNF for me @60% . I tried several times to get through this book to give a fair review , but it fell flat for me . I, however would love to try reading something different from this author.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the early review in turn for my honest thoughts

Pub date: Aug 27, 2024

"The Trials of Lila Dalton" by L. J. Shepherd presents a gripping and mysterious tale that unfolds in the confines of a courtroom on a remote island in the Atlantic Ocean. Lila Dalton finds herself thrust into a baffling situation as she wakes up with no memory of how she arrived at the courthouse or why she's defending a man accused of mass murder. Shepherd expertly crafts a tension-filled narrative as Lila struggles to piece together the fragments of her memory while navigating a trial that could determine her fate. The sense of isolation on the island heightens the suspense, adding an additional layer of urgency to Lila's quest for answers. As she races against time to uncover the truth, readers will be drawn into a labyrinth of secrets and deception, where nothing is as it seems. With its intricate plot and unexpected twists, "The Trials of Lila Dalton" promises to be a captivating locked-room mystery that will keep readers guessing until the final page.

The premise of the book is what drew me in and I love court room/flashback tropes- the excitement of piecing back together. However, as the story starts to take shape, it felt like it was going on many different directions that I my attention was starting to falter. Between the British courtroom lingos to political plots, it just went way over my head and I struggled to connect with the story. There are few instances towards the end that had my attention for a bit but overall, I was hoping to be fully engaged and invested in the story but it didn’t quite deliver as I hoped it would. Thank you so much NetGalley for the chance to review this book in advance and provide my honest feedback

Really unputdownable, loved it and kept me on the edge of my seat! I would totally recommend this author and would read more from them. Thank you very much for the ARC,

Thank you to Netgallery and Poisoned Pen Press for an early release copy of The Trials of Lila Dalton by L.J Shepard, this book will be available for purchase on August twenty-seventh of 2024.

The trails of Lilia dalton was a dnf for me, I pushed through to page 198 (65%) in hopes to be able to give a fair review for dnfing the arc. I want to say I didn’t realize that the setting was in 1996, I was expecting a more modern day setting. These older court room terms/court room talk is honest just confusing me rather then explaining to me what is really happening.

I wasn’t aware going into this book that there was going to be a lot of talk about politics and religion which are two subjects I just don’t find interest in reading. Both of these topics are discussed heavily in this book and it really draws me away from the mystery of Lila trying to get her memory back/her just trying to figure things out in general. There are also some sexist comments from the men towards the main character, it just makes it hard for me to like any of these characters in here at all. Lila herself even makes a comment or two about the way women dress.

I really wanted to try and push through with this one because there are some interesting things going on in the story but I just think the way something’s were writing could have been written a bit better then they were. The plot of Lila trying to regain her memory’s while trying to defend someone is an interesting one, I think the writing style is decent but the topics of religion and politics as well as the sexist comments really pull me away from this book.

A whirlwind is the best way to describe this homodiegetic narrative that flickers between the present, past and subconscious thought. The twists and turns are unpredictable and build an exciting original narrative, which is a true page turner. Well worth reading this year.