I have mixed thoughts about this book. I loved the mystery part - trying to figure out what in the world was going on along with Lila, her aha moments & when she instinctually knew something, and all the courtroom drama.
However, the trial Lila is working on has to do with terrorism, white supremacy, and secret societies, and that is not something I like to read about. I skimmed some of the parts, reading enough to understand the background and make sense of the plot, but it took away from the rest of the book for me, as it made the book too dark.
Overall, I liked the plot and the writing.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Trials of Lila Dalton.

I was pleased my request was approved since the premise was so intriguing but I wasn't a fan of the narrative.

Lila Dalton wakes up in a courtroom with no idea how she got there; all she knows is she's a barrister and has been appointed to represent a murderer and terrorist.

As Lila pursues her own investigation into how she came to be there, a complicated and increasingly silly narrative unfolds regarding neo-Nazism, government conspiracies, brainwashing, scientific experiments involving mind control, convoluted ideologies regarding freedom and speech and oh yeah, let's throw in the kitchen sink, too.

I can't help but feel the author is trying to communicate their personal political agenda (in a not subtle way) through this messy story and I don't like it.

I wasn't happy with the vibe, the plot, or the characters.

I get that Lila finds herself in a strange, unfamiliar place, and she's confused and disoriented, but she gets flustered and weepy too often, and is characterized as a stereotypical female.

It was hard to take Lila seriously as a competent lawyer, especially since she repeats the same words often like 'despicable' but that's the author's fault.

There was too much going on, and not much of it made sense.

If the author had focused on just one plot, for example, the mind control experiment conspiracy, then the narrative would have more sense, as much as a conspiracy makes sense.

This was a very unexpected read! The premise and cover hooked me and I was excited to sit down with this. Undoubtedly L.J. Shepherd is a strong writer and I was happy to be introduced to her work as I will keep my eye out for more of her books in the future.

I am rating this just under 3.5 stars. The story has a lot going for it, starting with a lot of intrigue that carried throughout. While the tension built up, so did the new additions to the plot, with mystery upon mystery introduced. This got a little tiresome after the first handful because I wanted a stronger focus on seeing the central premise through. The various plot points were certainly extremely thought provoking and I liked the developments on their own and would have enjoyed them across several unique books. With some restraint and pruning of events, this story would be stellar (the ending alone was so good!).

The author shows a lot of talent and this book has a lot to offer. While it might be a touch too much for me, it does remind me of several celebrated authors who were able to spin out very popular series to the delight of readers, and I would recommend this to readers with their past interests in those books in mind.

Thank you again for the ARC, Poisoned Pen Press, it is much appreciated and I enjoyed the read and the opportunity to share my feedback.

Thrilling, engaging, nicely written. The characters had their own secrets and issues and I was interested in figuring them out. I would recommend this to fellow thriller lovers.

Im sorry but I really struggled with this book. I have put it aside and will try it again as I hate giving up. I just found it a bit all over the place but it might have been the mood i was in. Sorry

Amazing book . 100% recommended !!! The plot is amazing you won’t figure out . There are a lot of twist . I love the way it was written .

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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I look up to find twelve strangers staring back at me… and I realize I'm the one they're waiting for.

Lila Dalton has no memory of how she came to be in this courtroom; no memory of how she got to the courthouse at all, or why she's facing a jury who seems to be waiting for her. The man on trial is accused of mass murder, and she's his lawyer, but she can't remember any details of the case. She can't remember anything… Stranded on an island in the Atlantic Ocean where the most serious crimes are tried, Lila has to prove her client's innocence if she wants to go home. But how can she solve this case when she's not sure she can trust anything around her, including her memory?

The Trials of Lila Dalton is a twisty, unexpected locked-room mystery that follows one woman's race against time to find a killer, clear her name, and escape the island that threatens to keep her trapped forever.

Okay, the premise for this book is amazing but I just did not "get it" ... it utterly baffled me. I actually restarted it to see if I would understand it but I did not. I slogged through to the end but did not enjoy it. At all. Honesty sometimes backfires.

#shortbutsweetreviews

I am obsessed with this cover.

I stopped after chapter 1 (3%) but that said, the writing was witty and quick-paced and flows well, the voice is strong, the premise is amusing, and I can see it being an easy three stars with the target, four to five for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.