This was such a fun thriller it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I never knew what was coming next.

The Seven (Eve Wren, Band 1) by Robyn Delvey is a good book with a good storyline.

I really liked Eve. I think she is a strong female character.

I didn't really enjoy the alternative points of view and wish it would have just been told from Eve's perspective or told as a court trial.

The ending was surprising, and most of the story held my interest; there were a few times I skimmed pages as I felt some scenes had too much unnecessary detail that weighed the story down.

I enjoyed the story enough that I would recommend this book. This is the first book I've read by this author and I would probably check out more and read more from her.

#TheSevenEveWrenBand1 #NetGalley @AmazonPub

3.75 rating up. Loved the twists and loved the concept of this book. Eve Wren reviewing evidence for cases was so intriguing to me and I will mostly likely read the next one if it becomes a series. I think this book would have made a really good movie or TV series. Loved the cult vibes as well. It would make a great crime drama.

However, some of the connections and transitions I felt got lost in the story. Theres 4 perspectives I believe, and 3 of them jumped between the past and present which was a little rough. For me I thought it would be better portrayed visually because I kept getting people mixed up and the transitions would have been better understood between the timelines.
It was a slow burn for most of the story until about the last 50-60ish pages. It took me awhile to get into it, and would only read a couple chapters every so often. So even though I enjoyed reading it, I struggled to get to a mindset where I wanted to binge read it.

I did like the main twists. One if them I didn't see coming and the other I half heartedly guessed but like how it was portrayed and brought to light. The biggest one I was so blindsided which I loved. I thought I knew what was happening but was pleasantly surprised when I was wrong.

Even though it was a slow burn, I was a little dissapointed at the end when they rushed to tie up the lose ends. There's was just so much build up and once the twists were revealed, details seemed to be lost when tying all the stories together and resolving the ending.

All in all, I would recommend this book! Would love to read more from the author and hope it becomes a series. I would love to see what other cases Eve reviews!

I dove into "The Seven" by Robyn Delvey with high expectations, eager to explore a gritty courtroom drama wrapped up in the chilling aura of a cult. The premise caught my attention instantly: a Crown Prosecution lawyer, Eve Wren, tasked with the monumental challenge of prosecuting notorious cult leader Patrick Nye and his followers for a horrific bombing that left dozens dead. With the stakes so high, I was itching to see how this story would unfold.
Eve Wren is a character who starts strong. Freshly minted and eager to prove herself, she embodies the determination and tenacity that one would expect from a young lawyer thrown into the "trial of the decade." However, as much as I wanted to root for her, I often found myself feeling frustrated by her approach—she was honourable, perhaps too much so, and I secretly wished for her to take a few more risks.
Delvey’s portrayal of the aftermath of the bombing is where the emotional weight of the novel truly shines. The focus veers towards the survivors and their families, painting haunting pictures of loss and resilience. I appreciated how Delvey expertly delved into the human experiences surrounding this tragedy rather than zeroing in on the cult itself, which initially attracted me to the story. The survivors’ narratives brought depth and nuance, amplifying the stakes for Eve as she navigates her investigation and the courtroom drama.
That being said, the pacing of the narrative felt uneven at times. Some moments jolted me awake—key discoveries and shocking plot twists that had my heart racing—but other sections lagged, feeling sometimes overly repetitive. I found myself wishing for a tighter narrative that maintained the tension throughout rather than having it come in fits and starts. And while there was a twist towards the end that caught me completely off guard, I wished there’d been a bit more depth exploring the trial itself, as much of the courtroom action felt glossed over.
What frustrated me the most, however, was the almost fleeting exploration of the cult aspect, which had been so tantalisingly central to the story's setup. Patrick Nye and his followers had so much potential for intrigue, yet they often felt relegated to the background in favour of Eve’s journey and the emotional fallout from the bombing. As a reader, I craved more insights into the cult and its motivations; it felt like an opportunity missed.
Despite these reservations, I did enjoy the supporting characters—many of whom brought a unique flavour to the narrative and often overshadowed Eve’s character development. They felt more vibrant and nuanced, making Eve appear somewhat one-dimensional by comparison. Still, I appreciated that Eve’s journey was rooted in doing what’s right amidst chaos, but that nobility made her less relatable at times.
In the end, "The Seven" has its share of flaws, but it also delivers moments of profound emotion and surprising twists.

I enjoyed this book, which was not as heavy on the cult (which I was hoping for) and more focused on the trial, the affected families, and the past. I did like the pacing of the book as the big events really stood out, with the book slowing at times during not-so-big events. Overall it was an entertaining read/.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
This was an excellent read, I really enjoyed it. The enjoyable main character, Eve Wren, was very easy to root for: strong despite her anxiety, eager to get justice for the dead, injured and survivors of a horrendous bombing, as well working herself into the ground to win the court case against the perpetrators.
The before and after of the bombing featuring the survivors, was quite poignant and felt so realistic.
I'm hoping this is the first in a series, I'd love to be in Eve's world again!

I loved this book.

Totally hooked and invested in the characters/ story line.

I enjoyed the way the story jumped from them and now along with different characters so you built up and different perspectives.

I do wish the ending wasn't so rushed but I did still think it was a great ending.

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone.

Great story. Well done.

Firstly thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

This book was brilliant. Really gripping fast paced thriller which is the first book in a new series . Found myself really rooting for the main female character as she had been dealt tough blows in her past . The only criticism I had and the reason it is not a 5 star read is that I felt the ending was a bit rushed . It all got solved too quickly with no revisits to some of the characters. Aside from that I will definitely look to continue with this series moving forward . Highly recommend

4.5 stars rounded down.

I really liked this book! It’s told from two different timelines and several people’s perspective. A ‘terrorist ‘ attack in a London theatre - we know who did it, why they did it but how does CPS make sure justice is done. Enter Eve Wren a rookie in the CPS with a point to prove and she cannot make another mistake. The narrative is engaging, absorbing and the pace is relentless. I found myself being drawn further in, a real page turner. I noticed that it is Book 1 so really looking forward to the next one in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC.

I've read my fair share of crime and legal thrillers, and this is as good as the next. Well-plotted, technically well-written and full of insight into the complex world of law and policing.

And now for the criticism: when you're writing a book about celebrities, about Hollywood excess and kickbacks against conspicuous consumption, it's hard to care for quote-stars-unquote that are entirely fictional. I have no history with any of these actors or directors, their meteoric rises to fame, their falls from grace thanks to a moment of violence. The grief on the paper, the destruction of illustrious careers, the survivors' guilt, all of it is just a mawkish mess. I don't know how to write fictional celebrity so that I might care as a reader, but this wasn't it.

No, wait, I think I do. I'll leave that there.

So technically well-written, that is, the technique is at the fore as with any crime or thriller novel, but the instigating act of violence misses the mark for me. As the first in a series, and I say this because this is what the genre is about, it's a model for the next ten or fifteen sequels. and I'm sure it'll be a hit, but not for me.

Fast-paced and engaging. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

This was a very well-told tale that I found compelling from the opening pages. Delvey devised an interesting premise, chock full of villains who were truly villainous and a strong supporting cast that was all developed and added interesting depth to the narrative. I did not see the Big Reveal coming, and while I felt like the disclosure and subsequent resolution came about a little quickly and tidily, compared to the slower burn of the majority of the book, I still found it satisfying. I enjoyed Eve's character and found her integrity and grit refreshing. I was pleased to see it listed as anew series and would definitely seek out future stories.

This book initially started out a bit slow for me, but I really enjoyed aspects of it by the end. I enjoyed the character of Eve a lot, she was strong and determined to do what was right. I felt deeply for the victims of loss and trauma and I was glad to see everyone responsible brought to justice.

There is a dramatic and explosive start to this legal thriller. Eve Wren is designated to conduct a review into the evidence as the trial of the perpetrators progresses under a suspicion that the defence lawyers might have a trick or two up their sleeves. The story switches between her meticulous investigations and the lives of the victims and survivors of the tragedy and the cult members who were responsible, both past and present. This made the story a little bit repetitive at times as stories overlapped. Apart from Eve I found it difficult to engage with the characters and found the story telling a little dry and a bit depressing and began skipping over some chapters. It could have done with something to lighten the mood occasionally even while accepting the trauma involved. The depiction of the police officers involved was rather clichéd but the legal detail was interesting. This is a gritty opener to a new series that catches the attention and worth a read if you can cope with the subject.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

An enjoyable first book in a new series featuring Eve Wren whose character I found very likeable, shes a strong determined woman who keeps digging and digging for the truth even when there are people who cant and won't listen.Told in NOW and THEN chapters we find out just how the characters caught up in the explosion were feeling and how they are coping now having to testify and face the people responsible,and the secrets they keep from each other.
There are several red herrings pointing to one character, but the real culprit was a surprising one.
I would have liked there to have been more about the actual court proceedings and I found the ending rather sudden but I really enjoyed the storyline and look forward to getting to know Eve more as the series progresses.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC.

The Seven starts as a gripping police procedural told from two points of view: the CPS and the victims. The primary timeline concerns the trial of The Seven, potentially the biggest case of Eve Wren's career, a case that “legal commentators were calling it one of the most ‘bang to rights’ cases in the history of British justice. The secondary timeline dates to the crime itself: 15 months earlier, when 120 people are taken hostage in the Novus Hotel during a party to celebrate the career of actress Dame Cynthia Seymour. After a twenty four hour siege two home-made bombs are detonated, killing 43 people and injuring dozens more.

The breadth of characters introduced to the novel and the empathy with which they are explored is quite extraordinary. The focus on the experience of the victims, particularly during the trial, serves as an effective narrative technique and a reminder of who is most deserving of our attention. Unfortunately the conclusion could have been executed with more finesse and less sentimentality. A slam-dunk result for the legal team turned into a bit of a fizzle as the loose ends were squared away. What could have been a ‘great read’ landed for me at ‘ok - Sunday afternoon with a hot chocolate’.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this work. Opinions are my own.

Robyn Delvey's The Seven is without a doubt, one of the best books I have read all year! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat as your try to figure out the who, what when, where, and why, as well as who said what, when they said it, where it was said, and why they said it before the defendant is either found innocent or acquitted due to lack of evidence. The fast pace, the detailed information that brings the characters to life, the emotions the author brings to the forefront, all make this book one that instantly grabs the readers attention. You get drawn into every detail, and have to know what happens with every turn of the page. By the end of the book, you are releasing a breathe of relief only to realize the book has ended you don't know if you're happy, relived, or you just want the next book to come out.

What an amazing introduction to this author .Fantastic storyline.Twisrs and turns .Will definitely read more from this author

Then - Madeleine Farmer, the world’s highest paid actor amongst other dignitaries, attends an event at The Novus Theatre in London to honour Dame Cynthia Seymour when all hell breaks loose in the proceedings.
Now - The Seven are the followers of notorious cult leader Patrick Nye and are standing trial at the Old Bailey accused of detonating two bombs at the Novus Theatre, killing 43 people and injuring countless others. All are pleading not guilty to the charges.
CPS lawyer Eve Wren is brought in to oversee aspects of the evidence for the potential trial of the century, hoping all bases are covered to assure a guilty verdict. The world is watching and will expect nothing less than a resounding guilty on all charges. Can Eve help deliver the justice the victims and their families richly deserve?

If you aren’t keen on cult books then I can reassure you that there is much less focus on the cult itself although obviously the events at the Novus are crucial. Instead, the novel focuses on the heartbreaking and moving emotions of the survivors and their families, their recollections of the events and of course, the drama, excitement and tension of the court case with the dramatic ins and outs of Eve’s inquiry. This is done really well and I enjoy how what Eve learns plays out as it’s so unexpected. Eve is tenacious, I like her as she’s honourable and prepared to go the extra mile. I’ll definitely want to continue reading the series and learning what happens to her next.

The pacing is a little inconsistent BUT what it does serve to achieve is make certain events stand out and almost jolt you. Some of Eve’s discoveries are explosive and it gets more and more intriguing and twisty with the mystery considerably deepening. There is a really good twist towards the end and some misdirection that I swallow hook, line and sinker! Well played! It maybe finishes a bit abruptly but the main focus is all about Eve and so it fits. I would have enjoyed more about the trial itself but maybe that will come in the follow up books.

Overall, enjoyable and entertaining.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Lake Union for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

"The kind of book that makes you feel elusive, keeps you second-guessing the hidden puzzles, and finally gives you satisfaction—this was how 'The Seven' made me feel.

The story begins with intense action, telling the overwhelming tale of a cult that incites a bombing targeting a wealthy group of people. Their cause is rooted in the belief that the rich are getting richer while the poor are increasingly exploited. Although their cause seems reasonable at first, the consequences of their actions soon become apparent. The cult targets celebrities, directors, and producers gathered for an award night, and the horrors of that night are carried throughout the book.

The narrative shifts between events of that night from multiple victims' points of view. Each chapter is dedicated to at least one person who plays a significant role in the storytelling. The other parts of the story are covered by a woman who is a prosecutor determined to uncover the hidden details of the horrors of that night.

The author has fully immersed himself in understanding the mindset of the victims of these unfortunate events. At the same time, he manages to convince his audience of the cult's cause. I thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling and the thrilling experience of trying to piece together the hidden puzzle. The title itself is indicative of the plot, consistently reminding you of the dominant significance of 'The Seven.' There were no grammatical mistakes or profane language that could be considered unethical for certain readers. I would recommend it to anyone who contemplates revolution in response to class hierarchy disparities or anyone in the mood for a captivating thriller."