This book had so much potential but ended up being very confusing, Excellent premise but the story behind it was very confusing to say the least.

L.J. Shepherd's debut novel, "The Trials of Lila Dalton," is a unique legal thriller with a twist. The story opens with Lila Dalton awakening in a courtroom with no memory of how she got there or why she's defending a man accused of mass murder. Set on an isolated island where the most serious crimes are tried, Lila must navigate this high-stakes case while grappling with her fragmented memory.

The premise is quite compelling, and Shepherd brings authenticity to the courtroom scenes, language/jargon, and legal nuances. The world-building of Assumption Island adds a unique dimension to the story, almost making the island a character in its own right.

However, I found the book is not without its flaws. While the legal details are immersive, they can occasionally become overwhelming, especially for readers unfamiliar with the jargon. Character development feels somewhat slight, with secondary characters coming across as stereotypical. The plot, initially tight and suspenseful, beginan to feel overly complex as new twists were introduced, leaving some threads unresolved by the end.

Nevertheless, "The Trials of Lila Dalton" was an engaging read. Its blend of legal drama and psychological thriller, combined with a unique setting and a high-stakes plot, makes it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre and legal aspects. Overall, I'd rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Im still confused as to what I read. It was both confusing and entertaining at the same time. But definitely not for everyone.

I really couldn’t even tell you what I just read but it was entertaining enough that I had to see it through the end. This book won’t be for everyone but if you do decide to read it , enjoy the ride

There were too many things happening in this story for me to keep up. I was confused from the beginning until the end and not in a "whodunnit" sort of way. The main character was confusing, her confidents were confusing, her foes were confusing. I still am not really sure what I just read.

I'm on the fence with this one. I think the book had legs, but for me it wasn't what I was hoping for. I like thriller/mysteries but I'm not sure this one was my cup of tea. I thank netgalley for giving me the arc for my review. And I look forward to trying other L.J Shepherd books.

What I Didn’t Like:
-This book touts itself as a locked room mystery. The fun of those is always in the idea that you have a small contained group of suspects. In this case you have an entire island, most of whom you aren’t familiar with through the story. That gives it an odd vibe.
-There’s a lot going on in this one that just defies logic and confuses the reader. I’m not sure I’m satisfied with the explanations either.
-The big reveal was clunky and awkward.

What I Did Like:
+Compelling opening chapters. This is one of those books that captures your curiosity quickly. Just the opening chapter was enough to get me hooked.
+There are a LOT of complicated layers to this story but it’s somehow not overwhelming. You peel back those layers slowly and get completely buried in the story.
+The ending has the capability to shock even seasoned readers.

Who Should Read This One:
-This is designed for readers who like puzzles that are more than they appear, are deep thinkers, and like an interesting ending.

My Rating: 3 Stars
Well done but definitely niche. If you’re not a deep puzzle fan, you may not love this one.

👊🏼👊🏼.5/5 Thank you to @netgalley for our digital ARC of “The Trials of Lila Dalton.” Release date; August 27, 2024.

This novel finds Lila, erased of her memory standing in front of a court room as a defense attorney. Her job is to defend a man accused of perpetrating a mass bombing as part a Neo Nazi group. The court resides on an island, used for the persecution of people charged as terrorists or with treason.

This story was complicated, so much happening that I honestly couldn’t keep track of what was going on most of the time. There was just too much. Too many threads to follow and I wasn’t invested in the characters enough to pay attention. I ended up skimming at the end just o get through it.

I did appreciate the knowledge of legal proceedings and the conspiracy angles, but it just didn’t bring me in enough.

I would like to thank Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley for allowing me to read the ARC of this title.

The intrigue of this story line is what saved this story and what continued to draw me to pick it up. Coming to with no memory while being in a court room and realizing you are the defense attorney is fascinating. How did Lila get there? Why does she recall law process? What is real and what is conspiracy theory? The idea of this story is why I continued to read-

However, I think this story was a little too much of everything + the kitchen sink- it had too much and I had a hard time keeping the story straight despite not having very many characters and only one main setting. It also made everything feel VERY far fetched. Additionally, I did not feel personally invested in any of the main characters stories, I just kept reading to see what happened and how Lila lost her memory more than me wanting to make sure Lila was going to end up triumphant in the end.

Full transparency, which could have played a role in my confusion, is I am from the US and do not understand much about the legal system abroad. The terms, wardrobe, roles etc were all new to me while reading the book. If someone asked me if they should read this book I would tell them to 'read at their own risk'.

I'm sorry, I really tried reading this book but I just can't get into it. I'm really sorry. Its just not for me.

A very speculative fiction about Lila who finds herself in a courtroom and she has no idea how she got there. She is defending a mass murdered but has no recollection of the case. There are also threats and conspiracies abound.

The plot here was intriguing enough but the writing was just hard. Especially the first chapter I was so confused about what was going on.

I thought this was a really good story, written really well but i was sadly disappointed by the ending.. i mean what was all that about?!?!weird!

Thank you net galley and poison press for the free digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
*disclaimer* I am not a big thriller/mystery reader, but I do read them on occasion.

I found The Trials of Lila Dalton to be an interesting premise and was intrigued when I first started reading… however, I found that the book did not pick up pace as it went on, which is a huge part of why I read thrillers. Also I thought that there was simply too much going on with the plot and I found it was hard to really understand the characters and make assumptions about them (another huge part of thriller reading).

Personally this book was not for me, but I’m sure it’s for someone.

The Trials of Lila Dalton had a decent story line but had a kind of odd twist. Honestly it felt like one of those underlying message books about the judicial system being corrupt. Far Right and Far Left B.S. . I found this book hard to get through and lost interest more than a few times. It was a struggle for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and L.J. Shepherd for this arc for free in exchange for an honest review. I dnf’d this book. It was slow to me and I didn’t like the writing.

I dnf this book. I just didn't like the writing and it just seemed slow to me. Thanks to the publisher and net gallery for the e-arc in enhance for an honest review.

“The Trials of Lila Dalton” by L.J. Shepherd is a speculative legal thriller that starts with a gripping premise: Lila Dalton awakens in a courtroom with no memory of who she is, tasked with defending a man accused of mass murder. This initial intrigue hooks readers, as they join Lila in piecing together the fragmented reality around her. Stranded on an island where serious crimes are tried, Lila must navigate the courtroom and uncover the truth about her circumstances to survive.

The novel excels in its early stages, drawing readers in with its intricate legal details and courtroom drama, reflecting Shepherd’s background as a barrister. The tension builds as Lila grapples with her amnesia and the high stakes of her case. However, as the plot progresses, the narrative becomes increasingly convoluted. The story’s complexity and the constant introduction of new twists and turns can feel overwhelming, leaving some readers struggling to keep up with the evolving storyline.

While the book’s latter half may lose momentum for some due to its dense plot layers and occasional reliance on clichés, it still offers a unique and engaging reading experience. “The Trials of Lila Dalton” is a thought-provoking and imaginative debut that explores themes of justice, memory, and trust. It will likely polarize readers, with some appreciating its ambition and others finding it overly complex. Nonetheless, it stands out for its originality and the compelling mystery at its core.

BOOK REVIEW: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emojis: 👩🏻‍💼🧑‍⚖️💣🤔🥸

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review of #TheTrialsofLilaDalton

Lila Dalton wakes up in the middle of a trial in which she knows nothing about, and has zero clue who she is or where she’s at.

This book has really good bones and for the first 55% it really kept me intrigued. I needed to know why she was in this room, and what was happening. Somewhere around 55-60% I felt like the layers got to be excessive and we started losing the real plot. I was also frustrated, like the judge, for the repetition: breaking to chat with jury, clients, gather witnesses etc. I felt like while it was necessary to the plot, it was redundant.

However, the ending reeled it back in and tied things together nicely. Without giving away too much, I’ll say that you do indeed learn who Lila is and what’s happening and I liked the concept of how the trial was run. It was very dystopian in a sense.

This thriller was a good read overall and I enjoyed the suspense of it. #boldsbooks #bookreview #bookrecommendation

This is a debut novel and I think the writer is promising. It was a good debut. My enjoyment shifted from 3-3.5 stars throughout. This premise definitely caught my eye.

"Trials aren't about the truth. They're about what you can and can't prove."

Essentially what this one is all about. I don't want to give too much away as I enjoyed just reading it and finding out things along the way. It definitely went in a different direction than I thought it would. This is a book that some may like and others won't. It will rub some people the wrong way. I thought it was a clever and unique take that played with your mind.

Lila Dalton is in a courtroom. She cannot remember anything about her past or this trial she is apparently involved in. All she can figure out is that he's a mass murderer. She doesn't even remember that she's a lawyer but she seems to know and understand the court proceedings.

The writing kept me engaged but it is a complicated plot with lots of legal jargon. It does challenge you to think about the justice system. If you can suspend your disbelief in parts I think you will enjoy the story (and ending!) Also just love the cover!

This is a legal thriller but also a very different kind of thriller at the same time. This book wasn’t for me and that’s okay. There was some political and other hard topics discussed. Just because it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean this was a bad book!