My first 2025 read, or rather bridge-read, was The Seven, a crime-style audiobook that left me pretty satisfied.

The story itself is interesting, and I really enjoyed the style in which it is told. However, I am not sure why I expected more. There is undoubtedly a frenzy that keeps you glued to the pages, and the author has a personal ability to make possible a glimpse inside the moral dilemmas of justice.

I thought Eve, the main character, could've stood out more than the other characters, who I felt were more well-developed. There were parts where I felt she lost her personal touch and became a bit bland. The cult aspect felt a bit secondary, even though it seemed central to the story. It got lost in all the other details. I would've liked more in-depth descriptions and details that would've made this aspect more prominent.

I know this is a series, and I'm pretty curious about how the protagonist's development will progress in the next volumes.

✴︎3.5 Stars-rounding down✴︎
2 bombs. 43 dead. Dozens injured. The trial of the decade has begun…

The moment I spotted the stunning cover, I was intrigued. A legal thriller centered around a cult on trial for a horrific bombing? That premise promised both drama and originality, and I couldn't resist.

What truly drew me in was the cult aspect. However, navigating the intricacies of the UK legal system posed a challenge, given my familiarity with the US system. While Eve, the protagonist, was competent and likable, I didn't find her particularly distinctive.

Unfortunately, the cult element that initially captivated me played a less significant role than I had hoped. Despite its strong writing and solid plot, "The Seven" didn't deliver the heart-pounding excitement I hoped for. Even listening to the audiobook didn't capture my interest. I can't quite pinpoint why it fell short for me—but it did.

This book has received praise from many reviewers, so my experience may differ from yours.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing this audiobook through NetGalley. I'm sharing my honest opinions, which I'm giving voluntarily.

3.5 and rounding up.
This was a solid law procedural/mystery. We jump back and forth in time from a few different POVs, but the story mainly follows our FMC who is tasked with reviewing evidence for a massive trial. I thought I had the whole thing figured out pretty early on, until a final twist that I didn't anticipate.

I would definitely pickup the next in the series.

I am basing my review on only the audio book. As that was what I was given. I did give better reviews on the story itself on my other platforms.



This story is about the trial of cult leader Patrick Nye and his followers known as The Seven. They have played not guilty to killing 43 people while holding a theater in London hostage and detonating two bombs. Patrick believed that the rich were evil and worked for years to “make them pay” and bring justice to the small people. Lawyer Eve Wren, new to the Crown Protection Service was duly assigned to the case to look at evidence that was not being used in the trial. While the trial has already started, Eve discovered a piece of evidence that would cause the whole case to become into question and expose corruption. Will they be able to prove there was an 8th member of the following? The story also tells the tale of the group of survivors including famous actress Madelyn Farmer that have come together to create a survivors group each survivor, losing someone or something during the London bombing. This evidence could tear their group apart.

The book is told mostly from the POV of Eve Wren but does have other POVs as well.

Overall, the story and the plot of this book was very good. At times, it did give a lot of information that did not seem necessary to the story, but could lead to valuable information in the future if more evil books were to be written.

I originally received this book in audio formal as an ARC
Courtesy of brilliance audio, and NetGalley. As for the audio version of the book, I did not care for it. The reason I did not like it was, it was only read by one narrator, despite the multiple POV’s and regional dialect differences.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.8 stars

Eve Wren is a lawyer who just joined the Crown Prosecution Service. She is trying to prove herself after leaving her prior position.

Cult leader Patrick Nye led his followers to detonating a bomb at a London theater killing 43 and injuring dozens. Eve is tasked with going over the evidence. While this is the beginning of a series I felt I learned more about the group of survivors than about Eve.

I enjoyed the narration by Moira Quirk.

*ARC review*

My first foray into legal thrillers and whilst I was gagged, I was not gooped.

We follow a solicitor who’s recently being sacked from her uppity big city legal firm to protect her boss. She’s pissed and wanting to save her career so she gets a job at the CPS working prosecutions. She’s brought on to go over the evidence during the trial of the century, a Manson-esque cult all arrested and charged after the bombing and mass murder of celebrities and normal people alike. During her adventure for the truth, she encounters conspiracy and misadventure.


My thoughts:

This felt like it came so close to giving me what I wanted and needed but turned around at the last second to then just skim over it and never give us what we asked for. It’s a middle of the road thriller. The reveal was a little gaggy but again, lacked the umph I was hoping for.

3.5 stars, rounding up.
I was expecting to read a novel about a cult or at least one act that the cult committed, but this was more of a legal thriller that was more about correct evidence and feelings of survivors. I ended caring very little about the cult and why they did what they did because they weren't covered very much. Instead this novel focused on Eve and how she is trying to do her best to be ethical after being falsey accused before. While there is nothing inherently wrong with that, it does make it hard to make a series (as intended with this book) without focusing on the case. The person I was most interested in was Brandon, the cult member who flipped.
Thank you to NetGalley, Robyn Delvey the author, and Brilliance Publishing for my advance copy of this book.

This was just a No for me! Judging by the cover I thought it was going to be a fast passed thriller it was sooo darn slow and dragged on forever. The ending what pushed it to actually 2 stars for me!

There are multiple POVs in this book that help drive the plot and keep the listener/reader engaged, and I appreciated the varied tones and voices used. While a cult is mentioned, and is a central part of the crime committed and character motivation, we do not get to see the cult behind the scenes/perspective. A fine read for those intrigued by uncovering that missing person who contributed to a crime, but a bit forgettable. This seems to be the start of a series, and I would be somewhat interested in reading more Eve Wren.

This book was freaking amazing it was dark and sad and tense it kept me gripped and guessing right the way through and the audiobook was immersive

I think was a great quick thriller. You definitely spend most of the most suspecting one or two characters. You're wrong though!

I don't like Eve as a character enough to read future installments though.

I liked the narrator. It looks like she's done a ton of voice work. However the two female POVs sound so similar that is was hard to differentiate who we wear hearing at times.