It’s no surprise that the brilliant barrister turned writer and broadcaster, and all round likeable character, Rob Rinder has delivered a wonderfully clever and entertaining debut novel.
The Trial is clearly written by someone who knows their subject matter well. It’s a crime thriller which, instead of being a police procedural, is told from the point of view of a pupil barrister – Adam Green.
Rinder successfully combines two successful genres - the classic murder whodunnit with a courtroom drama.
It’s a warm-hearted, smart, and entertaining novel, with well written, believable characters whose stories I hope to hear more about in future books. I really need to know what happens with Adam’s love life and see some more of his mum!
Did I find everything entirely believable? – maybe not entirely, but that really didn’t matter because I was thoroughly entertained. I loved the twists and turns which I didn’t see coming, and I enjoyed the compelling characters we were introduced to.
If you are looking for a clever, witty, and original page-turner then I can’t recommend this highly enough.
With thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed this debut novel from Rob Rinder, obviously the storyline centres on his expertise and knowledge of the legal profession. The central character Adam Green is a trainee barrister and it follows his efforts to make an impression with his senior KC colleagues. There a many twists and turns in the storyline including a murder to unravel. This is a fast paced page turner that will keep you guessing to the dramatic ending. Looking forward to more of the same please.

The jury was out at first. It took me a few chapters to settle in to the book but I loved it. As you would expect, the author knows his stuff and the nuggets you get about how the legal system works are fascinating. Robert Rinder's voice is very clear in your head as you read. Very well crafted. The characters are a joy, I loved Adam. The way the plot unfolded was very realistic and the "twists" (I really dislike that word) were not rabbits out of the hat but believable plot developments.
The ending was brilliant. What I particularly liked was the element of shades of grey in justice. Not everything was black and white just like in real life.
An amazing debut and I hope we have more books

In The Trail we meet Adam Green a pupil barrister at a prestigious firm in Temple, a rather shy character Adam has so far only been given small magistrates cases to defend. When a senior very popular police officer dies in court and post mortem shows he was poisoned Adam’s unpleasant pupil master Jonathan Taylor-Cameron is tasked with defending the accused poisoner Jimmy Knight.
Jonathan is incandescent with rage that he is given a case that he hasn’t a chance of winning and tells Jimmy so and that he should plead guilty. Jimmy refuses so Adam is tasked with gathering any evidence he can to try help prove Jimmy’s innocence. Uncovering evidence of police corruption and another possible murder plus many other untruth’s Adam is slowly sinking with the weight of it all and having no help or support from Jonathan.
As the court case proceeds other things come to light quite shockingly so,
The court scenes are wonderful, with sparkling dialogue and very cleverly written.
The verdict, then the subsequent reveals are jaw dropping in the extreme, I didn’t see them coming so well were they written.
Adam is a brilliant character and I would love to think we will meet him again as he starts his journey to becoming a barrister.
A brilliantly entertaining constructed legal thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

I am never sure of 'celebrities' using their status to get ahead of other writers struggling to get published however I have read some really good books from celebrities over the past few years so I thought I would give this a go and I am glad I did.

I would probably describe this a 'cosy' legal thriller. A well-written, well paced novel where everything is clearly not as it first seems. Rinder uses his experience of the legal profession to take us behind the court scenes and delivers a really exciting ending.

Definitely an impressive effort and I would definitely look out for his next novel.

We all know of Rob Rinder from the TV so I was curious to see if he could turn his hand to writing. His debut novel features Adam Green a barrister in training, Rob Rinder can certainly spin a good yarn, the courtroom drama is so entertaining, we witness a murder in the Old Bailey!! Jimmy Knight is in the dock accused of the poisoning of Grant Cliveden, as Jimmy has already been convicted of many things before, getting him off is going to be no easy feat for Adam. I really enjoyed this legal thriller and can't wait to get to know Adam Green more. Extremely well thought out....definitely didn't see the end coming.

I have been mulling over this review for hours now. I just dont know how to review this one because although I enjoyed this, it was also really flawed. The plot is quite interesting, with Grant Cliveden senior police officer, heart throb of Britain dropping dead and the limelight falling on one ex convict Jimmy Knight, fresh out of prison.
This book revolves around Adam Green a junior barrister or pupil at Stag Court fighting for Jimmy Knight and trying to prove his innocence while being haunted by his past.
Let's talk about the problems first, Adam the protagonist was a bit forgettable. Most of the book is him thinking out loud which was very tedious and alot of times I thought of dnfing the book but I pushed through. And I am glad I did because the author has concocted a plot thats very intelligent and highly engaging. The courtroom drama was brilliant but sadly short lived. We're reading Adam's thoughts or going in circles. This is the reason this book isn't a five starrer for me.
Some twists I saw coming but I definitely didn't anticipate the ending. I was shocked and I loved it. But again there was a problem the reveal although shocking for me felt a bit ridiculous. Let me explain without giving spoilers, why did no one else think of doing the most obvious and simple thing to trace the calls????? How did this evade trained forces???
Then after everything was revealed I was anticipating another showdown but thats not what happened which felt underwhelming. I understand why the author went that way but I wasn't exactly satisfied with it.
The author brilliantly adds how justice works, how it's served and the presence of corruption in the police force, real life issues sadly that the authir shines light on. Kudos to the author.

Lets talk about the characters, Adam's mum was such an amazing addition, her short chapters were hilarious. Rupert was adorable, Charlotte was powerful and Jonathan was insufferable. All the characters were quite three dimensional and very mysterious except for Georgina's character. Hers was just confusing. Her character went from being obnoxious to being all sugar and sunshine in seconds. The worst part, she denied ever being obnoxious, so confusing. Grant Cliveden was definitely charming, he had literally one chapter but he made such a huge impression on me that I was extremely sad he died. Obviously my feelings changed with time.

All in all it was an enjoyable read inspite of its many flaws. I would recommend it.

Enjoyable story about pupil barrister helping on a big murder case of a hero police man.
We get to learn about how the legal profession works and how those involved behave. All done in Rob Rinder’s inimitable style.
Similar in style to Richard Osman’s recent books - I enjoyed the story. Recommended.

The latest offering from a TV personality turned author is Judge Rob Rinder's 'The Trial'. And I am here to assure you that this smart, twisty and captivating courtroom mystery is well worth your time. Rinder's background in law steeps the narrative in a convincing realism which sees Adam Green, trainee barrister, serve on a murder case with his pupil master. The accused, Jimmy Knight, is being prosecuted for allegedly poisoning popular 'celebrity' police officer Grant Cliveden. Adam's pupil master is convinced Knight should plead guilty and is not worth the time and effort. Adam himself wants to see fairness and justice prevail, convinced there is more to the story.

Rinder's writing is fast-paced and genuinely intriguing, the twists and turns providing surprises throughout. The story holds a magnifying glass up to the criminal justice system, exposing levels of corruption and injustices which are an uncomfortable truth for the reader. Whilst Adam makes some questionable choices in his pursuit of the truth of what happened to Cliveden, we never stop rooting for him to find fulfilment, a permanent job in his chambers and the right outcome for his client. No easy feat!

Overall, Rinder has written something which is going to be a huge crowd pleaser in the summer. The end leaves it open to the possibility of more Adam Green stories in the future which I certainly would not be opposed to! An addictive and twisty 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rob Rinder is well known as a celebrity - but he can write a good story as well. Well drawn characters with good pace and the failings in the Justice system due to underfunding and lack of staffing. Is not avoided, together with some who like the good things of life without putting the work in!. It shows how knowledgeable and familiar the author is with his subject. I enjoyed the book and hope there are more to come. I’ve always had a liking for legal thrillers and I definitely found one.

Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an unbiased review.

My first thoughts were this is a modern day “Rumpole of the Bailey”. That is not a bad thing. It was interesting to see the class prejudices are as prevalent now as then. An interesting and easy to read story that moves along at a good pace. A pleasant read.

A very enjoyable legal romp. I could have used more legal detail, but what there is is great - very intriguing.

Set from the point of view of a barrister working on a high profile murder case, this gives an unusual take on a crime thriller. Adam is a pupil in a prestigious law firm . The start of the book sees him bogged down with run of the mill cases, having to prove himself to stay at the firm and the bullying of his mentor . This part could have perhaps been a bit shorter, I found my attention wandering at times.
As the case hots up, Adam starts investigating different possibilities himself. I am not sure how realistic that would be, though I did admire his tenacity . I found the end a bit rushed, certainly after the great build up throughout the book. Some loose ends too . On the whole the characters are quite well portrayed, though aspects of the victim's and the judge's lives stretch the bounds of credibility a little too far. (I won't elaborate, respecting spoilers!!) . Descriptions and relationships between different characters well explained .
My thanks to Net Galley for the ARc in exchange for an honest review .

What a great murder mystery!
Adam and his rather unpleasant, pupil master, Jonathan find themselves on Jimmy’s defence team following the murder of a well loved and respected local policeman. Jimmy claims he’s innocent, Johnathan wants him to plead guilty, Adam is caught between wanting to do the best for his client and wanting to please Johnathan and secure his place in Stag chambers. There’s plenty of twists and turns as obviously things aren’t what they seem!
A 5⭐️ engaging read

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a copy of “ The Trial” for an honest review.

I’ve always found Rob Rinder to come across as a very likeable person , so I was really hoping I’d like this first fiction book from him, and luckily I did!
I enjoy a courtroom drama , and obviously Judge Rinder brings a lot of his previous experiences , and knowledge to the story.
I loved the character of Adam , and his relationship with his mother The book kept me entertained and I hope there will be more books in the pipeline.

With his first hand knowledge of the machinations of our legal system Rob Rinder tells a good tale. Mostly believable with an unforeseen twist at the end.
Adam and his pupil master Jonathan land a big murder trial - Adam is convinced of their clients innocence but Jonathan along with the rest of the country believe he is guilty of the murder of a hugely respected police officer.
The plot twists and turns to its almost inevitable outcome - it’s a jolly good read

Really enjoyed this book. Took a nice couple of twists and turns.
Another author worth looking out for.

ROB RINDER – THE TRIAL ****

I read this novel in advance of publication through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Write about what you know. That’s what new authors are told. And Rob Rinder, TV pundit, Strictly contestant, not to mention legal beagle, does just that. Which means that you have not only a story, with plenty of twists and turns, but you feel confident that the background and detail of procedures and life in chambers is accurate.

This is told by Adam Green, the lowest of the low in chambers, working for a highly conceited barrister more worried about his female conquests than the client he’s trying to get off. Luckily for the client Adam is the opposite. And when a con with a ten year stretch behind him is charged with the murder of one of the best known, best loved, most competent police chiefs in the country it is Adam who is left to get him off.

Not being one to give away spoilers, all I will say is that nothing is straightforward; the beloved policeman is not who he seems, and neither is the con. Although I guessed part of the main twist, the rest was a surprise.

The Trial is a fun read, not particularly well written, but entertaining enough to pass time. No doubt we will hear more of Adam Green in the future.

This writer knows his way around a British court room setting, and it shows in bundles. He sets the scene carefully, letting the reader understand what is going on while keeping to the jargon of the day. He builds the tension as the trial, the court case, unfolds, making me turn the pages a little quicker than I usually do.

The guy going to prison – or is he – appears to be totally guilty of the murder charge, but what secrets does he hold that may alter the plans of the prosecution?

The too good to be true detective isn’t; simply he carries as many secrets from the past, now he’s deceased.

The story is mostly seen from the viewpoint of the junior who is hoping to be taken on by the team if this case is a success. He’s sent sideways so often he must wonder if he’s in the right business, but this all adds to the character development as we find out, bit by bit, how the case may go.

This is an excellent read. I’ll surely read more by this writer and my ARC copy was delightfully received. Nice to read such a good story. It’s tough to spot the clues, but when you do understand, the coffee will be worth the wait.

A great murder mystery, you can tell Rinder knows this world well. He brilliantly conveys the ins and outs of the justice system in a readable and engaging way. The plot was very clever, even if some of the twists were a bit too clearly signposted to be surprising.