You Don't Know Me was a curious, new experience that took me a while to get into but once I did I was hooked. The narrative style is unlike anything I have read, with so many colloquial expressions. Stuff like 'Blood, you coming to my yard, innit?' I don't know, I am making it up but yeah those words were all used in the book.
I don't know if young black people talk like that in England but after I got used to it I was entranced.

It got a bit repetitive, especially with the defendant asking to jury to have patience because there is a lot he needs to tell but that is all part of the character. He was a really well-built one. This unnamed young man obviously doesn't have much education but he can stay stuff like She was never going to get over it, just like you never really get over a death. All that happens is that the sorrow gets older. It's like a light that gets fader and fader. One day after years have passed maybe the sorrow is too covered in dust to see properly see what it is but it is still there. It's just harder to see.
He has a passion for cars and has made an honest living of them. He is not involved in a gang but people around him are and he is dragged into a plot that he didn't really choose.

I couldn't help feeling sorry for the guy because (view spoiler) I am not sure how believable all that stuff is but that is part of the story - he is telling you his version of what happened and it is up to you to believe him or not.

Still, there was a few things I am still not sure I can buy, starting with a 10-day closing speech. I don't have information on whether that is possible but it doesn't seem like it, does it?

This book is thought-provoking and defies any prejudices the reader may have. It forces you not to stereotype this young man and really look at him as a person whose life is dependant on your / the jury's opinion on him. He tells you a story and, in the end, you decide if he lives or dies.

It is a truly compelling book and I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

You don't know me by Imran Mahmood.
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?
This was a very good read. Gripping read from start to finish. Liked the story and the characters. 4*. Thanks netgalley and penguin books.

I was gripped from the start with this book and found the story drew me in with great research from the author into gang culture which is quite enlightening, if somewhat frightening.

Having sacked his lawyer just before the final closing speech the defendant took it upon himself to explain exactly why he had been charged with murder and the circumstances that led to it in a story that he says is the truth which shows he isn't guilty. But the final decision is left with us as the reader after hearing his evidence.

I enjoyed the style and writing of the book with admiration of the knowledge and research that the author had put in to explain a world that is far from my own. I even enjoyed the 'street talk' language, although wasn't quite sure a UK court would allow so much profanity without injection from the judge. I did feel the story dragged a little though but stuck with it because it was different to the general court room drama stories.

An enjoyable read and one that I was thankful to NetGalley for a copy of in return for my honest review.

Great book I loved it. I loved the way it was written and I felt I was in his head. It grabbed me from the first page.

Fantastic - what a gripping and unusual thriller. I couldn't put it down!

I had no previous knowledge of either the author or the book itself but having read the description while browsing on Net Galley felt compelled to know more.

The book features an unnamed defendant standing accused of murder, having sacked his lawyer just before the Closing Speeches. He decides to defend himself and tell all the truth even if it may harm his defence. There are eight pieces of evidence against him and as he talks us through them one by one, his life is in our hands. We, the reader and the members of the jury must keep an open mind till we hear the end of his story. His defence raises many questions, but did he do it?

This is a fascinating book that is very different to the style of books that are very popular at the moment. I enjoy the other books also but this book was an excellent debut novel by an author I am sure we will hear more of in the future. If you fancy reading something a little different then this is worth reading. A thought provoking book that is well written and keeps you guessing.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

'You Don't Know Me' had me on the edge of my seat from the offset. It's filled with pacy twists and turns and an unreliable narrator that keeps you questioning every little thing, on every single page. This was an exquisite read and one that I couldn't put down, I can't wait to see this launch out into the world as I know it's going to make an incredible impact.

This is a very interesting book told from a different perspective. It will open most readers eyes to a world we know little about. To hear the story of living on a rough drug controlled area told from the experience of a young man caught up in that situation, gives a new insight and, for me, a new level of compassion. Recommended reading.

Absolutely brilliant read and could not put down,blood...

An unnamed man is on trial for murder. He decides to take his chances, sack his barrister, and deliver the closing arguments himself, and so the story begins. We hear in his own words what happened, and how it came to pass. There are eight main pieces of evidence against him, and he sets out to explain them one by one. He warns the jury they're about to hear a lot of things that his barrister didn't want him to say, but he swears it's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but.

I requested the book based on the premise, which sounded really intriguing. A seemingly uneducated young man, immersed in gang culture, arguing for his life. What I hadn't expected was a 10 day closing speech, that made it stretch the boundaries of the reality I was expecting as a reader. Our main character has a strong voice, authentic voice, but it pops out of "closing argument" style narrative too often for my liking, including the kind of mundane detail about the room they're in, what type of hamburger Curt is eating, etc. - stuff you'd expect if it was a normal first person narrator, but doesn't work when he's meant to be talking to a judge and jury. Might sound like I'm being picky (and I probably am!). He starts off apologising to the judge for his language - we're meant to be reading a transcript. Bearing in mind he goes on to swear a dozen times more, I'd expect to see a judge reining him in. Finally, for the closing speech to go on ten days just doesn't work for me either alas.

Don't want this to sound all negative, as clearly Imran can conjure up an interesting plot. Maybe it's just a case of judging it too much by preconceived notions rather than going with the flow, and suspending disbelief at a 10 day closing argument. Interesting read but just not my cup of tea ultimately.

Too long winded ,struggled to keep going with it,just wanted to finish to get the point of it!!!!

When I first saw You Don’t Know Me on Netgalley, I was instantly intrigued. The premise reminded me a little of the film Twelve Angry Men, and I just had to request it.
In You Don't Know Me, the reader is presented with an unnamed protagonist who is being tried for murder. In the final days of the trial, when the prosecution and defence give their closing speeches, our protagonist, the defendant, gives the speech himself, following a difference of opinion between him and his defence council.
You Don't Know Me is a transcript of that final speech, delivered over the course of 10 days. During this time, he reviews all of evidence that has been presented, calling into question whether it's as valid and damning as the prosecution would have the jury believe, whilst at the same time giving his backstory, and the events that led up to his arrest and the trial.
You Don’t Know Me is a slightly strange novel, in that it contains only the defendant's final speech. The reader – and in my mind, I was essentially the jury in this case – doesn’t see the whole court case, we don’t see the evidence as it’s presented, nor do we hear the prosecution’s arguments as to his guilt or the cross-examinations that take place during the trial. It is simply his closing speech as he reviews the evidence, one piece at a time, to explain how it came about, and why it’s not as damning as it seems. No one interrupts or interjects – although he does occasionally make a reference to the Judge who disapproves of some of his language, but it's just him.
His speech is colloquial in nature, and there are lots of uses of “innit” and “ain’t it” and the like throughout the text. But for the character that we’re presented with – a young man from London who has managed to avoid falling into one of the gangs in the area by luck as much as anything else – his speech comes across as being authentic. I’m not normally a fan of colloquial speech and dialect, but it worked here to bring the character to life.
And his tale is an intriguing one. There are eight pieces of evidence that have been presented against him, much of it damning. But as he progresses with his story, the reader begins to see his side of the events, and how it’s maybe not quite so clear cut as we’ve been led to believe. As I mentioned, the absence of anyone else in the novel (you do hear from the prosecution briefly at 96% (according to my Kindle at least) through the book) made me feel as though I was the jury, and was being left to form my own conclusion as to his guilt.
This is a gripping novel that presents the reader with a unique protagonist, and it’s the kind of novel that once I started, I didn’t want to put down. Did he commit the murder that he’s accused of? Or is he telling the truth through this closing speech? You’ll have to read it and decide for yourself.
You Don’t Know Me will be published on 4 May by Michael Joseph – many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy.

6/10

What sounded like a really interesting prospect ended up being an above average legal thriller but not much more. I very rarely, if ever, request a title by an author I’ve never heard of or want to read but the premise of this hooked me so I took the plunge.

I had in my mind this would be more like a cross examination rather than a closing statement. I was thinking more Keyser Soze chit chat than young gangster monologue. The fact that the story unfolds from one viewpoint sort of makes it feel more straight down the line rather than a dodgy narrator trying to convince you and letting you make up your own mind. Only at the 95% mark is the opposition allowed to throw suspicion on the story and I feel this was a missed opportunity. If it was the witness on the stand and you were left to decide after both lawyers had given their best then it would have been an awesome idea.

This was still an interesting read about gang life in London and how some people don’t have the options to avoid it. But it felt a little lightweight. Never do you get the sense of danger for the main guy as you know, with it being in the past, that he comes out of it ok as he’s telling the story. I wasn’t overly convinced with the ending but I guess that was to allow you to throw suspicion on what was being said. One thing I was unsure of was why a judge would allow so much swearing in a closing statement. Little things.

I’d be interested to hear other peoples viewpoints of the book as it might just be my let down that didn’t allow me to fully invest in this. I would read more from the author so it wasn’t a waste of time.

You Don't Know Me by Imran Mahmoud is an intriguing and disturbing mystery. An unnamed defendant in a murder trial gives his defence speech to the jury (and the reader) having sacked his barrister. Throughout the multi-layered story, we are forced to ask ourselves did he murder a drug dealer? The novel is strong and compelling and the story lingers long after the last page.

Thanks Netgalley. What a brilliant debut novel. This had a strong and compelling story. All I can say is fantastic

I couldn't get into this book, which is a shame as the blurb had me eager to read it.

Part of the problem was the speech. I do understand that at the start the author makes us readers aware that the story is going to be told in the first person, by the accused, not his lawyer, in his own language, but trying to read a book when 'innit', 'you gets me', etc are the norm is really hard.
Secondly there is too much babble going on. Rather than sticking to the trial. as you are lead to believe what will happen, the accused tells you all about his past, his friends, school etc. This isn't part of his trial, told in court, this is just told to you.

I gave up just under half way through. Before that I had picked up, and put the book down numerous times. In the end I realised I couldn't take any more as I wasn't enjoying it. The first book that I have done this to in many, many years.

I really, really wanted to read this book. I found the premise of someone in court being cross examined etc, and you having to decide that persons fate, like you are part of the jury interesting. Unfortunately this book isn't anything like I was lead to believe.

Hmmm. Very interesting perspective and I was surprised to read this was a debut novel. A little to start off just because of the "gangster" language and terms used but but as this was a first person narrative in front of a jury (the reader included), the defendant also explained the terms as he went along, thankfully. You do get very quickly used to it though.

Big insight into the London gang scene and how easy it is for anyone to fall into or be forced into that world.

I found the main characters likeable (especially Curt and I don't really know why - he is a criminal after all) and I did care about what happened to them. The author has obviously researched this world very well and experienced it in his profession.

You do get a sense of how cheap life can seem to some of these criminals but also how, there's an innate sense of right and wrong in the main character. His defence of himself is very well presented and as a reader, you do listen as a juror and make your own judgements as you go along. Certainly put across the plight of the underprivileged and the minorities and that not all people are treated equally. And that, to make a judgement, you truly have to understand the background, feelings, thoughts and what led to the moment for each character and that you cannot or should not judge on circumstance or circumstantial evidence alone.

It's not normally the sort of book I'd pick up. Well, I love thriller and suspense etc, not particularly courtoom dramas but the blurb intrigued me. But hey, I read the book in half a day so it obviously hooked me in and made me want to know what happened next. The style was quite unique and very easy to read once you got used the gangster slang.

I can see it being made into a US movie. Should be a very successful book. Thank you Netgalley & publisher.

This is a really unusual crime debut which is told entirely in the form of a monologue by a young man accused of murder. I really enjoyed the build up to the crime and had a definite sense of "What the...?!?" at it's conclusion (in the best possible sense!) Highly recommend.

I really found this book gripping until the end but then wanted more. Was he found guilty or not guilty?
It didn't need anymore than the verdict, just to know whether or not the jury believed his story. Did I miss something?

This is book is original and compelling. It's also a staggering insight into a world many readers, including me, probably have no experience, nor even distant knowledge of. It's a shock and an eye-opener and an outrage.

But then the flaws. The narrative that had me in a stranglehold for the first third of the book is slowly weakened in the middle by implausibility and other failings—and the reader can't be sure whether there's a deliberately-planted issue with the protagonist's credibility or it's simply a question of author error. The narrator reports, for example, that he put on latex gloves to prevent his DNA getting on a gun. But he naturally touches the gloves in putting them on. His DNA will be on them, and will be transferred to the gun. So are we meant to conclude that the narrator is lying or perhaps ignorant about DNA, or is this just the author's mistake? When questions like this start nagging…the stranglehold relaxes.

In spite of this, and an unfortunate inclination to save up all the twists and surprises till the end, leaving the middle story unsupported, I was with the anonymous narrator from the first page and rarely lost sympathy with him. You Don't Know Me is an engrossing read.