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.

This was one of the more unusual books I have read in a while. It's hard to review without giving too much away but there are lots of unknowns to work through here which keeps the suspense level high. My only criticism would be that the ending was a let down and did not make a lot of sense to me. Having said this though, I would not hesitate to read this authors next book.

an interesting read - i love a good female protagonist who suddenly finds herself in the middle of a trial - and then the adventure unfolds.
a court room thriller, with twists and turns and a lot of interesting tidbits about the legal system. well written and good read.

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

An intellectual court room thriller with a lot of potential. A unique and quirky read

I can truly say that I’ve never read a book like this. I love the unique plot line, and how quickly the main character had to get herself together as she ‘wakes up’ in the middle of a huge trial.

I really loved this book until I got to the ending. I wasn't a big fan of how the book ended and it ruined the whole build up for me. I appreciate a good plot twist, but this one just didn't make sense to me.

I really enjoyed the characters, the writing style, the confusing, the suspense and the plot (until the last few chapters).

Even with the disappointing ending I would still highly recommend this book! It kept me on edge and I had a hard time putting it down.

I read half of this book, so I don't know that I should write a review; but here are my thoughts. This book opens up with a female attorney being on an island defending a court case she has no memory of. She doesn't remember anything about her life or how she got to the island. She does begin to figure things out by the time I stopped reading, but not at a pace that kept my interest. There were too many unknowns that stayed unknown for too long. The excitement just wasn't present often enough for this type of book, and I did not feel like I knew anything about the characters, so I was not invested. I am grateful to have gotten to try this book, so my thanks to poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book just wasn't really for me. I didn't find myself wanting to reach for it and I'd have been okay dnfing.

Thank you so much for this ARC! I ate up this book. I’m really shocked that it’s a reading 3 stars on Goodreads. The social commentary about the growth of modern technology and the justice system was so interesting. The ending/explanation was really exciting and the epilogue was the cherry on top of the book.

This was a fantastic court room thriller with so many twists and turns. I was confused throughout much of the book and always asking what or why but at the end it was all tied beautifully together!