It wasn’t for me. I gave it a valiant effort, but I just couldn’t engage with the characters or the storyline. I felt like there were so many random story elements just thrown together in the hopes that something would shake out in the end.

The Trials Of Lila Dalton by LJ Shepherd,, Imagine you become aware of the fact you’re in a quart room and everyone is hanging on your every word and yet you have no idea who you are let alone why you’re there. That was the premise for this book and OMG what a book it is. If this is her debut novel, then make way because I do think we will be hearing from Miss Shepherd more in the future. This book not only has a super overall arc but the subplots are just as intriguing there is so much happening in this book I do think if you’re not familiar with British courtroom vernacular you may not like it I am only kind of knowledgeable in that subject and I absolutely loved it I thought it was great I thought she was awesome and did I mention she’s stuck on an island in the middle of the Atlantic there’s just so many great aspects to this book that make it more intriguing because conspiracy theories are only that if they’re not true right? It’s OK if you don’t believe in conspiracy theories but be warned by the time this book is over you may just believe people are living in the Hollow Earth and that the earth is flat. This book was so good I cannot wait to see what she has to author for her next book I really am jamming with this author and totally can’t wait to read more in the future.#NetGalley, #PushkinPress, #LJShepard, #TheTrialsOfLilaDalton,

An interesting, twisty ride. Lila Dalton is trying a murder case, but she can't remember anything about her life before then. This book really gripped me for the first half and I was there for the ride. So many suspicious people, clues and conspiracies. Then after that I felt as confused and upset as Lila herself. I couldn't figure out what was going on or who to trust and there was a lot of legal jargon and the organization and the way it worked was very hard to understand.

I kept reading though because I was hoping for a satisfying ending to explain it all. I did get that, sort of...the ending was satisfying, but it didn't really clear up all of the confusion. As a debut novel though, I thought it was a lot to take on and the book was certainly unique. I would be interested in reading another to see how the author is improving.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

This book is an odd mix of courtroom drama, speculative fiction, and psychological suspense.

Lila Dalton awakes in a courtroom with no memory of who she is or her life. She quickly surmises that she’s a lawyer whose job it is to defend a man who planted bombs that killed 27 people. The trial is being held on an isolated island in the north Atlantic where the most series crimes are tried. She starts receiving threatening messages, knows she is being monitored, and is even accused of a crime, so she doesn’t know whom she can trust even as it becomes apparent that it is imperative that she succeed in having her client acquitted.

The chaotic plot requires a great deal of suspension of disbelief. Its a muddled mishmash that goes madly off in in all directions, touching on conspiracy theories, far-right extremists, white supremacists, satanism, government cover-ups, the nature of time, mind-control, and memory tampering. The convoluted plot with its implausible scenarios is confusing and difficult to follow.

Then there’s the ending! The last scene is a coming-full-circle scene which is a nice touch but there are so many unanswered questions. The ending that is supposed to explain everything doesn’t, so it’s definitely not a satisfactory closing.

Another problem is that it is difficult to connect with Lila. We get to learn very little about her and she acts in a scatter-brained manner. For example, she knows she should be focusing on the case but she goes off and wastes time, later admitting, “How could I have dropped the ball so badly?” We do see glimmers of intelligence during her cross-examinations of witnesses, but otherwise there’s no depth to her. There’s a similar problem with the secondary characters who are also flat. So many of the men are stereotypical misogynists?

The only time I found myself agreeing with the novel was during the discussion of the dangers of the internet: “’This is going to be an information war. And the casualties will be logic and truth. The bombs will be lies and rhetoric. . . . People will be controlled by the internet. Even weirder, they’ll think they’re in control.’”

This book was definitely not for me. Much of the time I felt like Lila: lost and disoriented. Was this the author’s intention? The labyrinthine ideologies espoused by various characters and the illogical sequence of events make this a bizarre read. For me, it was a real trial.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

I really enjoy a good legal thriller and this one captured me right away. This is my first book by this author and won't be my last. Thank you for my gifted copy. I'll be recommending this title to customers.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a free review. I feel very neutral about this book, not bad but also not great. Would still highly recommend!

I hate writing a bad review but honestly I don’t even know what I just read?! This story started off so great but went downhill soooo quickly! This story was all over the place, going around and around in circles, and just straight up confusing!! I could not wait for this story to end because I was just so over it! Lila had no idea what was going on and her memories were gone and she didn’t even know who she was, it was starting to make my brain hurt! Even in the end it just felt like a waste of time and honestly wish I never read this story at all. This was NOT for me.

If you like court room stories, with politics, court jargon, laws, and governments and their involvement then this is for you. I was sooo bored and I felt like I was learning something in a classroom that I could care less about. I’m so sorry again for an awful review/rating but I will not be reading anything else by this author in the future.

Not my typical type of read. This book was really interesting and a little bit chilling. I enjoyed it. This would be a good fall book club pick!

3.5 stars. 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 must get her client off scot-free or end up losing her daughter and never escaping the island.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this e-arc.*

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lila Dalton has no memory of how she came to be in the courtroom, and there she finds twelve strangers staring back at her, waiting for her. She had to defend a man he barely knew, let alone the details about the case and what he did. Also, she doesn't know who she is or why she's there in the first place.

As the story progressed, she uncovered that the island she's on is secluded for trials for horrendous crimes and that there are people watching from the outside to know how the case will unfold. She also later discovered conspiracy theories revolving around the government and O87. As the book came to its climax, gray areas with the book were addressed, although the book left me hanging as to what's the court decision with Dalton's case. And some parts were predictable.

Rating this as 3.5 stars. If you're into legal stuff and want a good mystery book, this is perfect for you.

I got a little lost with this book and it wasn't a favorite. Heavy on the British legal system and a bit dense and political at times.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

The Trials of Lila Dalton by L.J. Shepherd
#sixtyninthbookof2024 #arc #thetrialsofliladalton

CW: death, murder, assault, terrorism, nazi-based beliefs, memory loss

From NetGalley:
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 own memory?

My thoughts:
I was really excited for the concept in the description, and while the book held true to that blurb, I ended up getting something completely different than I was hoping for.
I expected this to be a legal based thriller, and it definitely was, but it was way more politically based than I wanted it to be. I found the background of the politically motivated crime to be boring, and I don’t know UK politics very well, but it didn’t hold my interest and I had trouble connecting with the case. I didn’t love the substance of the reveal, and I think I was the wrong audience for this one. Someone based in the UK will have more appreciation for this one. The writing is well done though, and I am curious to explore further novels from this author.

Thank you to @poisonedpenpress and @netgalley for the advance copy. (pub date 8/27/24)

It took a while to get into this book because the beginning felt slow. There were times when Lila was annoying especially towards the start of the book.

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 big thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC copy of this book.***

In L.J. Shepherd's debut novel, *Lila Dalton*, a lawyer with no memory of how she got there, finds herself defending a man accused of terrorism by the UK Government. Struggling with confusion and threats to her daughter’s life, Lila must unravel the mystery surrounding her client while grappling with her own lost memories.

Set on a remote British island, Lila faces mounting pressure from mysterious figures demanding an acquittal, forcing her to navigate a web of intrigue and danger. Shepherd crafts a compelling story with strong pacing, intriguing characters, and numerous plot twists that keep readers guessing. This debut offers a thrilling blend of legal drama and suspense, leaving readers eager for more from this promising new author.

I am kind of obsessed with this book. I had very few expectations, but I could not put it down (in the second half). The first half was a bit slow and took some getting into, but it was super interesting.

A bit cultish, full of conspiracy theories, court procedural... Like an accident you can't tear your eyes away from.

I DNF’d this book about 20% in, mostly because it felt too dense with legal terms to make sense. Adding on top of it not being an American court and I felt pretty lost. Maybe I just wasn’t the target audience.

I enjoy discovering new authors and seeing how they will make the most of their writing. L.J. Shepherd does well with this debut piece, mixing the law with a number of thriller aspects to create a strong novel. A key aspect of the narrative is the building momentum, which is seconded only by the quick approach of the narrative flow. With some interesting characters, Shepherd weaves a story of intrigue, mystery, and legal conundrums that is sure to capture the reader’s attention. I was impressed with this debut.

This author has a really great writing style. I enjoyed this book very much however I think the subject matter just wasn't for me. I had a hard time following some parts but because she is an amazing storyteller I was never confused for long. Would consider reading another book if she produces more. Glad I read it but probably wouldn't read again!!!!

An intriguing, twisty, a bit frustrating legal drama that hinges on Lila, a barrister working without a memory. She's found herself defending an accused far far right bomber but she's not sure how she got there or how to answer some of the things being thrown her way, including threats. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc. It's difficult to describe and I suspect some will dnf but it's a worthy read albeit with a somewhat unsatisfying ending.