This was a really interesting read. It was completely different from anything that I would normally read.
It is set in a courtroom, when a defendant charged with murder, discharges his defence lawyer and decides to represent himself.
He decides that as he believes he is going to go to prison for life for the murder, he may as well tell the whole truth to the court rather than the parts his lawyer wanted them to hear.
His story takes us into London's dark underworld, a place where life is cheap, women are a commodity and drugs and gang rule are a way of life.
The tale is graphic and brutal, and made me thank heaven that I don't live in that world.
So did he do it? and more importantly in this case - does it matter?

I really enjoyed the structure of this novel, it is a change of most of the novels that are on the market at the moment. The real strength is the plot but I was equally impressed by the writing style - it really created the narrator well.

An intriguing, and sadly all too relevant, story.
The actual technical aspect of guilt takes a back seat here - I was far more intrigued by he details of our narrator's life, and his determination to tell the truth even if it wasn't portraying him in the most positive light.

A young man is in court, on trial for murder. As all evidence seems to point to him being the culprit, the unnamed defendant does the unexpected, and sacks his lawyer. There are eight pieces of compelling evidences against him – now he will stand up and tell the real story about what happened.
His life is in the hands of the jury who are listening – but can he convince them of his innocence?

Mixing inner-city ‘London-speak’ and slang with intelligent insights and a perspective into the justice system, the young man describes the events which has led up to his trial, asking us to consider an alternative course of events which lies behinds his innocence.

I thought this was an interesting take on gang culture, social influences, poverty and and the idea of racial profiling and the opportunities available for young men in London today. It sounds like a pretty heavy read, but it’s quite easy to follow, and it’s interesting to see how an intelligent young man presents his story – his way of life, the South-London culture he is immersed in, and the choices he has to make.

The language of the novel is fairly informal, but it flows well enough that it feels credible (although I’ll admit, certain aspects of the story line were a bit dramatic!) It’s also easy to follow – there’s one narrator to keep the story readable, which makes a change from a lot of stories which can be confusing with multiple perspectives. It also helps that the main character is pretty likeable – he tells his life story, which is be sad, funny and moving, and one which keeps you reading.

As a Londoner myself, I thought this was quite an interesting book – I loved seeing the familiar place names, slang and things that the characters do, although there is also a lot of the culture in this story which isn’t so familiar. While I do believe that there is a prevalent issue with drugs, gangs and peer pressure in today’s society, it felt a little too magnified in this book (although this may also be down to the fact that the author of this novel is a lawyer who has spent 25 years defending a mixture of inner-city clients).

I thought this was a really interesting read; while the conclusion is pretty unexpected, which might not appeal to everyone, the character’s voice was interesting enough to keep me reading to see what happened. It takes time to get into the language of the story, but it’s engaging enough that the characters feel well-drawn and the premise of the story is followed through quite well. At first, we see another young, vulnerable black man in London caught up in gang culture, with low prospects and not many opportunities – but through it all, we also that though he is surrounded by poverty, domestic violence and a drug culture, there’s also positives which shine through, as the strong women in his life who are important to him, the loyal friends who stick by him, and the prevailing love he has for the woman who is at the centre of this story.

You Don’t Know Me is available to buy on Amazon and was sent to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A very different and interesting read. A young defendant has lost confidence in his QC and feels he cannot be best represented without doing the closing speeches himself, and there starts this incredible journey. The defendant relates his story to eight prices of evidence given against him and provides the other side of the story. Throughout the closing speech, that last for many days, we learn about the young man's background, family, gang connections and friends. The picture he paints is a thought provoking story through his quest to tell "the truth". Will the truth be what you think it will?

I had heard a lot of good things about this book and I thought the idea of seeing a trial from the person accused was a really great idea. However when I came to read it I'm afraid I just couldn't get into it and had to give up.

I'm sure this is a very good book but it just wasn't for me.Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me try.

I really liked the idea of this book, but the I couldn't get into it. Because it was one character telling the story, I didn't feel as immersed as if I was shown the story.

This book centres on the story of one character who dispenses with the services of his barrister to give the closing speech at his trial for murder at the Old Bailey. His speech takes over 10 days to deliver but covers the events leading up to the crime. The reader is the jury and you are asked to decide if he is guilty or not, based on his speech. I found the concept of the novel intriguing. The story is well written and build slowly. Once you get into the rhythm of the book it is hard to put down. Morally ambiguous but an insight into the margins of gang life. Would recommend.

Didn't get past the first few pages, just didn't hold my attention.

I like a good courtroom drama so I was intrigued by this one, where the accused sacks his barrister and makes his own closing statement.
Firstly, I would commend the author for being able to digress from the main storyline, introducing back stories and unconnected events, but still maintaining the main structure of the plot. It is a complex novel and shows great skill.
Whilst I enjoyed it I did have some issues. As a personal account of events leading to the accused being on trial it is believable. As a closing statement in court less so. I have never been at a trial so I may be wrong but surely the bad language would not be allowed, there must be a maximum time limit - 10 days cannot be right surely, I wouldn't have thought that anything could be included that wasn't introduced in the trial.
It is an interesting plot devise but I don't think it quite works.
That said it is well written and I was hooked by the story even though I do agree with other reviewers that it is too long
My thanks to Netgalley for this copy.

One of those rare books where the person who writes the blurb manages to make it sound far, far better than it is. There is no way I am going to waste my time in trolling arduously through the rest of this book. Probably better if it wasn't published.

You Don't Know Me is a really unique, fascinating book, covering gritty subjects surrounding gang culture & political circumstances in Britain especially London. It is insightful, gripping, addictive and equally terrifying as you are emersed right in the impossible choices faced by young people particularly BAME kids in deprived areas with little opportunity. The book itself is cleverly written via court transcripts of the defendant in a murder trial as he sacks his barrister addresses the court himself in his closing speech. Evidence is addressed and a tell-all picture emerges of why the defendant is stood on trial and whether he is guilty or not guilty.

Penned by criminal defence barrister Imran Mahmood, You Don’t Know Me, provides a refreshingly different take on the legal thriller genre, challenging the reader, and manipulating our empathy throughout as we listen to the voice of one young man on trial for murder.
The use of the first person narration throughout will admittedly be not to everyone’s taste, as some readers have a real aversion to this narrative structure. However, as the book is structured as a young man giving his own testimony, seeking to win over judge and jury alike, I rather liked the intensely personal nature of this device, and the fact that this leads you to be totally engaged with the unnamed defendant’s lengthy closing statement. By not naming the young man directly, and having every experience of his filtered through his own particular viewpoint, cleverly we actually see more the manipulation of others, the inherent stupidity of his actions and his misguided loyalty through his own damning testimony. The first person narrative, however, is not without problems as sustaining this over 370 pages, leads to a wavering between erudition and rambling, so there were some periods where my attention did falter, unlike in slimmer novels that use the same narrative technique.
Sometimes in order to prove the intelligence and self awareness of the unnamed defendant his language seemed to diversify at times from the street smart vernacular that was more in evidence at the start of the book to a heightened sensibility of his predicament that seemed slightly at odds with the initial perception we have of him as a character. However, I fully appreciate the fact that if the narrative was crammed with repetitive vernacular the lengthy page count would have been inherently more irritating. So, for the most part the sheer conviction and determination of his testimony kept me engaged, as I was drawn into the violent miasma of his day to day life and experiences.
Although, we only experience other characters in the book through this one person testimony, the characterisation throughout shone with clarity. His cohorts of Curt and Ki added a richness and texture to the story, and between them brought out the strengths and fatal weaknesses of our narrator, as they became inextricably bound together as they strive to overcome what seems like a hopeless fait accompli. There is also an unremitting and authentic portrayal of their desire to extricate themselves from their shared experiences in the deprived area they inhabit, and the level of loyalty they display to each other, though clearly being subject to the manipulation and malevolence of others throughout.
To be fair, I admired this interesting and fairly audacious debut in the fact that Mahmood takes a risk with the narrative and structure. I thought that for the most part it gave a realistic portrayal of the lives of its characters, although for me personally the jury is still out so to speak on the final revelation of our narrator’s testimony, but still worth a recommendation for the bravery of its intention.

You Don't Know Me is one book I'd been waiting to read when I'd heard the buzz surrounding it. Essentially, it is a legal thriller, but it is written in a very unusual style if you were to compare it to others in a similar genre.

We meet the defendant, unnamed, and accused of murder. Having fired his lawyer, he decides to give his own account of what happened. Eight pieces of evidence are used in the case, and the defendant talks the jury, and the reader, through each one.

Told in the first person, using his own colloquialisms, You Don't Know Me is a very different book. The defendant takes us through how he ended up in the dock accused of murder. His tale is an epic one, with so many different characters being brought into the narrative.

Gang culture, morality and murder are all addressed in the defendants speech. How he got to where he is now is just one of the avenues explored in his testimony. The defendant is the only voice (until the end) and the reader comes to know him a little bit more through every monologue he gives.

You Don't Know Me is different, and odd, but it is very compelling to read. Did he do it? Why is he there? Ultimately, the reader is left with some unanswered questions but the author has written a very clever novel. It is evident that he comes from a legal background.

Compulsive, clever, and more than a little frustrating at times, You Don't Know Me is divisive, and definitely one to watch.

Recommended!

This book will feature in a lot of creative writing courses I suspect. It is a very clever and yet simple premise. The whole book is written in the form of court transcripts in the voice of a young man accused of murder. He has sacked his lawyer and is addressing the jury at the end of his trial. This might sound a stretch to sustain across a whole novel, but it almost gets to the point that you forget it is fiction and feel you are on the jury listening to the convoluted and tortuous path the defendant takes to tell "the truth". He admits his lawyer wanted him to omit things and not give explanations, but the young man feels that unless people know the story leading up to the death, then they can't give a true verdict. The "voice" throughout sounds real and credible to me and this is an amazing debut by the author. He has indeed followed the old trope to "write what you know" given he is a lawyer. I was shocked, heartbroken and angry at various times in the story and I defy anyone not to get swept up.

Recommended if you enjoy good storytelling, if you are the parent of a teenager, if you are studying writing craft and also if you just want something different to read. I am looking forward to Mr Mahmood's next book.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

An unnamed defendant stands accused of murder. Just before the Closing Speeches, the young man sacks his lawyer, and decides to give his own defence speech. He tells us that his barrister told him to leave some things out. Sometimes, the truth can be too difficult to explain, or believe. But he thinks that if he's going to go down for life, he might as well go down telling the truth.

There are eight pieces of evidence against him. As he talks us through them one by one, his life is in our hands. We, the reader - member of the jury - must keep an open mind till we hear the end of his story. His defence raises many questions... but at the end of the speeches, only one matters:
Did he do it?

I thought this book was cleverly written and really engrossing. The predominantly first person narrative genuinely makes you feel as if you are part of the courtroom jury and the imagery is very evocative. I was drawn in by the lead character and the way his history unfolds through his extended closing speech. There are plenty of other well-shaped characters which add layers to this story. Drawing on London as the setting, together with the impact of the gang / drug scene, this is a fantastic read. I couldn't help but imagine the film version as I made my way through this!

DNF @ 44%

Just really not my cup of tea. From the vague synopsis I'd created an idea of the story in my head, and reading the actual story was really disappointing. I usually adore books that are written in a different format and I had high hopes for this, but I got this one completely backwards. It's a real shame. I'm sure plenty of others would love this.

The trial of a young tearaway for murder is drawing to a close . Final submissions by Prosecution and Defence Counsels are to come when the young man sacks his Counsel and asks to make his own closing submission. He explained that he wanted the Judge and Jury hear and understand the whole truth(?) whilst his Counsel had advocated that he say very little. His submission is very length but provides an insight into, for example, gang culture, loyalties, honour and violence.. If the listener/reader did not know him, they do now, warts and all. The book's approach was an interesting one which provides plenty of food for thought. I was less sure about the understanding of the Court system. For example, would a Judge allow such a long presentation, Wouldn't there have been objections from the Prosecuting Counsel? What was the Jury's attitude to the submission? Were they persuaded? Perhaps these points provide a thought for a further book or a reader's forum discussion about the likely outcome.
Overall, a good book which encouraged you to read on....and ultimately make your own mind up about the possible outcome..

An unnamed defendant stands accused of murder. Just before the Closing Speeches, the young man sacks his lawyer, and decides to give his own defence speech.

He tells us that his barrister told him to leave some things out. Sometimes, the truth can be too difficult to explain, or believe. But he thinks that if he’s going to go down for life, he might as well go down telling the truth.

There are eight pieces of evidence against him. As he talks us through them one by one, his life is in our hands. We, the reader – member of the jury – must keep an open mind till we hear the end of his story. His defence raises many questions… but at the end of the speeches, only one matters:

Did he do it?

You Don’t Know Me is the debut novel of criminal barrister Imran Mahmood who realised during the course of his career that, despite his best efforts, he wasn’t able to replicate the stories and motivations of his clients when defending them in court. The idea for a book in which a defendant made his own closing speech was born and Imran Mahmood has written an exceptional, clever and distinctive novel which is unlike anything I’ve read before.

The defendant (we never learn his name), from an estate in inner London is on trial for the murder of a local gang member. Mobile cell sites place him near the victim the night of the murder, a hoody similar to that worn by the assailant is found in his flat, a gun linked to the murder is found in his home and the victim’s blood is found under his finger nails but he is adamant he didn’t commit the crime. Sacking his QC the defendant takes to the stand to tell his story and weaves a tale of life in urban London, gang culture and the justice system.

Written as a court transcript the book is a monologue broken down by breaks, adjournments and it spans a number of days . I found the language very difficult when I first started the book but I quickly settled into it and found that it helped me understand the protagonists tale and his difficulties in life. There is much written in the press about estates, gang culture and the youths of inner cities and this book tackles these issues head on. Poverty, drugs, hard work, family obligations, loyalty an alternative justice system and fear are all covered and I really appreciated that nothing was sugar coated or made more palatable.

This book gives a voice to a group of people who are rarely listened to and are dismissed and is well worth a read. I enjoyed the style of the writing, some passages are beautiful in their tone and texture, and being an extended member of the jury was a great quirk without it becoming a silly gimmick. It really made me think and I had to put it down a few times to absorb some sections as it was heavy going in places.

Thank you to netgalley and Penguin UK/Michael Joseph for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very odd book. I don't think I've ever read anything like this and I probably won't for the very foreseeable future. This books is all written as the written files of a person on trial for murder as he gives his final argument for himself.

I'm not the biggest fan of books told in nuanced language, like if it's told from a characters dialect or it has a different style of writing to the norm. But I was able to read this despite the MC's voice being written exactly as it would sound. I think that's what made the book work though, reading it the way it would've been spoken.

It felt like Mahmood did his research, he's pakistani and the characters in this book are all black, so obviously a different racial background and upbringing. But it did feel like he wrote their stories very well with a good insight into how gang culture for black young people works in London.

There was some moments where there was some really sensitive topics, like rape and murder and drug dealing, so trigger warning for that, and at times I felt like it was dealt with well and other times it felt too casual. And of course that's because the novel is all told through speech, but it was a little too blasé at times and I wasn't too keen on that.

It was quite slow, when we got to the midway point where the story started winding up it moved a lot faster but I felt like the MC spent just a bit too long on the back story, and had I been a juror I probably would've fallen asleep.

I liked the MC, his attitude to his girlfriend kind of annoyed me. It felt like he thought he owned her at times, not like in an over the top way but there was some elements at times of him being a bit too protective. But he read well and I could feel his need for the jury to really hear his story, even if it meant messing up his life.

I looked up the author and he's a lawyer so I assume he would know the legal system like the back of his hand but it was like a 10 day final argument which I didn't even think could happen. It felt a bit unrealistic, like surely the judge would tell him to wrap it up?