Member Reviews

Brilliant courtroom thriller, very well written with a dry wit, it's quite the page-turner. Great plot and well drawn characters meant the story flowed really smoothly. I enjoyed the legal aspects and felt that really added to how the plot unfolded. Adam was a great main character and you just had to root for him, his mum was hilarious! Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend, can't wait for the next one!

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In The Trial, Rob Rinder presents a gripping murder mystery with plenty of legal drama that unravels the intricacies of the justice system while offering an unfiltered glimpse into the complexities of real-life courtroom battles. As a former criminal barrister, Rob Rinder relies on his wealth of experience to create an entertaining and authentic narrative.

The story revolves around a trial following a high-profile murder case, with the defendant, Jimmy Knight , standing accused of a heinous crime that has captured the nation’s attention. Rinder’s expert knowledge of the legal world is evident as he expertly crafts the courtroom scenes, injecting a palpable sense of tension and suspense that mirrors the atmosphere of a real trial. However, Adam Green, trainee barrister and Rinder’s surrogate in the novel, gets to be far more involved in solving the murder than the average barrister.

The novel’s pacing is well-executed, with twists and turns that keep readers on their toes, questioning the guilt or innocence of the accused. The courtroom scenes are gripping and well-researched, giving readers a taste of the adrenaline and pressure experienced by legal professionals during such trials. yet, while The Trial is undoubtedly an engrossing mystery, there are moments when the story’s momentum slightly wavers, and certain subplots could have been further developed to add depth to the overall narrative.

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Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

Partial to a police procedural/courtroom drama and knowing Rob Rinders background I was looking forward to this and it didn't disappoint.

Adam Green is on a pupilage at a prestigious law firm. When top policeman and hero cop Grant Cliveden dies at the Old Bailey whilst going to give evidence ex con Jimmy Knight is top of the suspect list and soon arrested.

Adam knows there is much more to the case as the evidence stacks up and more enemies of Clivedens are exposed but with the country in uproar at the murder of their most beloved police officer how can Adam, on his first big case, convince everyone differently. His search for the truth could cost him everything and he has a lot to lose.

Highly recommended five start and patiently waiting for another installment.

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If you love a tense legal thriller with plenty of courtroom drama, then this is the book for you. I especially enjoyed it knowing that the author came from a legal background as it felt insightful and well researched, with a clear attention to detail.
Good character building (everyone will root for Adam and his principles!) as well as the obligatory reveal at the end which I didn't see coming. Really excited to read the next one in the series, thanks to Netgalley for my ARC.

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THANKYOU for giving me the chance to read in advance. I was dubious at first as I see him as a “celebrity to star” rather than author but this was great debut. Very interesting perspectives

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When a celebrity turns their hand to fiction writing, it usually goes one of two ways, one of which might lead the reader to wish they had stuck to the day job (except in the case of Nadine Dorries who is pretty rubbish at both). So my first yardstick when reviewing a book by a famous face is to ask whether it would have been published if the author was unknown. My conclusion with this book is that it would definitely have been published if the author was unknown. It has a great plot, with genuinely unexpected twists and turns, it is a realistic and unglamorous portrayal of the operations of a criminal court and the lives of pupil barristers, it is keenly observed and genuinely funny at times. There is no doubt that Rob Rinder is a talent, as evidenced by his TV success, but the fact that he is such an accomplished writer as well makes me want him to give up the day job and write more books. More please!

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review advance copy.

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I must admit, I do love Criminal Barrister Rob Rinder and have watched his TV shows, so when I saw he had written a book, I HAD to read it.

Grant Cliveden is very well known, a policeman, he is about to give evidence collapses and dies, he has been poisoned.

The Trial is set in a courtroom and the proceedings are around the high-profile case.
Adam is the main character, he is a trainee barrister and it is his first case. He has a pupil master who guides him along the way.

This was a very interesting book, the courtroom dynamics, the witnesses, the mystery and suspense and the truth!
Adam was a likeable guy, he had good ethics.

The reveal of who did it shocked me.

I do hope this turns into a series. Rob Rinder’s experience shines through in this book and it was so good. It was fantastic!

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A great debut from Rob Rinder. A really well put together plot set in the courtroom. A really great drama. Rob Rinder may be a "famous person" but he has proven here that he is a great author. I look forward to reading more of his work.

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A definite whodunit; and there are plenty of characters to choose from.
I was convinced I had it cracked right from the start and was mentally shouting at the book as other scenarios were raised.
Shows what I know.
Worth a read.

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This book was fantastic from start to finish, what a debut novel! The plot was so interesting and cleverly written without too much overwhelming legal jargon. A must read!

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A really interesting book. You can really get a feel for the courtroom through Rob’s writing without being overloaded with facts and information. Thoroughly enjoyable

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I wasn't to sure what to expect with The Trial, maybe I had misconceptions that it was just going to be another famous person getting someone to ghostwrite for them but boy was I so wrong.
There is an excellent courtroom drama and great characters fantastic plot and extremely well written.
Some fascinating insights into the Old Bailey and certain Barrister's that shows real depth.
It is at times a harrowing read as I believe that the author has had to put up with bullying and racial slander.
The only way to end this review is All rise for the mighty Rob Rinder.

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I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I must admit it was the name of the author that attracted me

I really enjoyed this

Loved the style of writing

A real page turner

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This book gave me an insight into a world I'm not familiar with. It took a little while to get going and I found myself putting it down a few times and going back to it. Over all a good plot with a main character I routed for. I think Rob brought his knowledge of the courtroom and integrated it very well into the storyline

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Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pleasantly surprised by this novel, I had preconceived notions of what this would be like based on the authors television personality but thoroughly enjoyed this.

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A courtroom drama written by Rob Rinder, who knows the ins and outs of the legal system, it definitely lived up to expectations.

The book is filled with convincing characters, from the intensely dislikeable Jonathan to trainee lawyer Adam, who you can't help but love, and find yourself desperate to succeed. Full of twists and turns, I hope this is a start to a series, as I will definitely be looking out for another by this author.

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I don’t know anything about the criminal law system so can’t comment on how accurate that side of this book is but as the author used to be a judge I’m accepting it’s not too far off. So it could leave you feeling a bit depressed at the way things go on but I’m sure there is poetic licence applied here too.
The characters draw you in and particularly early on the plot is intriguing. However I wasn’t fully convinced by the story and some of the amazing twists. Just seemed unlikely. Not a bad read though.

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A surprisingly good read. The story held my attention, I was rooting for the characters. I did not predict the why of the crime, even though I thought the protagonist was involved. A great lead character in Adam Green, and you know the court and chambers stories must be based on fact, given the author was a barrister. Pupil barrister Adam and his pupil Master Jonathan are tasked with defending the accused in a very high profile murder. Jonathan has no interest in proving the accused's innocence, but Adam isn't convinced he committed the crime. Thinking of what happened to his own father, Adam is at risk of confusing the personal with the professional. We're rooting for Adam to be kept on at chambers after his pupil year - but has he made too many mistakes? #netgalley #thetrial

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An enjoyable and entertaining read and I would read the next book if there is a series. I really liked the character of Adam and actually felt for his as a pupil barrister battling against a useless supervising barrister.

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Initially I wondered what this book was about but I am glad I kept reading as it turned into a very enjoyable book. Great characters, bar one which you will get when you read it! A storyline to keep you intrigued enough to read on and with some nice twists and turns! Definitely one to read.

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