Kept me guessing till the end.

DI Grant Cliveden collapsed and died while giving evidence in court. It turns out that he was murdered by the Botulinum poison being added to a drink.

Tony Jones, Chief Clerk of Stag Court calls KC Jonathan Taylor-Cameron and his pupil Adam Green away from a cocktail party at chambers to hand them the file on the murder of Grant Cliveden. They will defend Jimmy Knight who was arrested shortly after Cliveden’s murder. Jonathan Taylor-Cameron is horrified that he is to defend the accused, especially as it’s a legal-aid case. Adam Green has no such airs and graces; he believes in justice for all and as a result grows close to Jimmy Knight because he is sure that he is hiding some vital evidence that might prove he’s not guilty.

The storyline is brilliant on so many levels. First, there are the pupils, Adam and Georgina Devereaux vying for a place at Stag Court. They both have much to prove in their six-month pupillage. There are the King’s Counsel who have all attended the best schools and been barristers for years. These barristers all have extremely high opinions of themselves and don’t suffer pupils’ questions gladly, making both Adam and Georgina realise that to gain a position at the Stag Court is going to be a very tough battle.

I had no idea how new barristers got selected and found the information that Rob Rinder has included here fascinating. They’re allowed to do many of the menial cases for their pupil masters, however, when working on a big case like this – defending the suspected killer of Cliveden, they are supposed to be “seen but not heard” – which goes against everything Adam feels is fair justice.

Rob Rinder thank you for enlightening me on how barristers’ chambers work and how hard it is for new solicitors to be accepted and trained into becoming King’s Counsel.

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

When high profile police officer Grant Cliveden is poisoned at the beginning of a trial suspicion falls on career criminal Jimmy Knight. Jimmy has history with Cliveden. He claims that Cliveden framed him for armed robbery, resulting in a ten year prison sentence. Knight had only been out of prison for two weeks when he met Cliveden for a drink; hours later Cliveden was dead. Trainee barrister Adam Green is the only person who believes Knight’s claims that he is innocent.

I really was pleasantly surprised by The Trial, it wasn’t the cosy mystery I was expecting, instead it’s a well plotted legal thriller that constantly has you wondering who are the villains and who are the heroes.

There is a great opening chapter which really pulls you in. Right from the start you’re told the heroic police officer who threw himself in front of a bullet to save the Queen’s life is going to die, and by the end of the chapter he’s dead. After saving the Queen’s life, Grant Cliveden has become a national hero and risen through the police ranks. There was something about his swaggering demeanour I just didn’t like.

When Jimmy Knight is arrested for the murder he insists on his barrister being Jonathan Taylor-Green. Jonathan was once a brilliant advocate but has become jaded, he’s far more interested in easy money and his numerous girlfriends. Much of the work needed for his cases is left to trainee barrister Adam Green. This has you seriously questioning why Jimmy Knight would insist on a barrister who really isn't at the top of his game.

Despite his barrister suggesting he should plead guilty since all the evidence is against him Knight refuses to do so. Thankfully Adam believes him and seems determined to find evidence to support his not guilty plea. Things are made more difficult though as Knight seems reluctant to provide any help.

The character of Adam Green really drives the story forward. He is full of self-doubt, much of it stemming from his own tragic background, but is determined to leave no stone unturned to get at the truth. The more Adam digs, the murkier the story becomes and you begin to question who is the criminal.

I really do hope that this is the start of a series, I’d love to see more of Adam Green, he’s a really engaging character. I’d also like to see how some of the other barristers get on, and more importantly I’d like to see Jonathan Taylor-Green get his comeuppance.

I'm not a huge fan of "celebrity" books, but I do like Rob Rinder on TV and am partial to a legal thriller, especially written by someone who was a Criminal Barrister in his previous occupation.

The Trial is Rob's debut novel and features Adam Green, a trainee barrister working under his pupil master. When he is assigned his first murder case, it is literally the most high profile case around. Tasked with defending the alledged murderer of Grant Cliveden, policeman/spokesman and all round supercop, who is the nations hero after saving the life of the Queen. Adam is determined to prove his clients innocence despite all the evidence against him and his pupil masters obvious feelings about the case.

This is a new take on the legal thriller, through the eyes of a trainee barrister and Adam is an interesting character. Young, enthusiastic, determined and dedicated to the truth and justice, we follow Adam's journey through the courtcase and what Adam has to endure as someone who doesn't quite fit it.

The chapters are interspersed with transcripts of telephone calls and messages between Adam and his "typical Jewish mother", who is determined to marry Adam off to a nice Jewish girl and ensure he is eating properly. This adds a little humour to the story and also provides a closer look into Adam and why he wants to be a barrister.

The Trial is an easy read and I did enjoy it, however I wasn't gripped and found that despite being 400 pages, it felt much longer.

I read this book, if I’m honest, not expecting it to be anything great. I’ve read a few books written by ‘celebrities’ and haven’t been overly impressed……………….till now!!
Adam Green is a pupil barrister at a prestigious firm of barristers along with Georgina, another pupil barrister. Only one of them will be chosen to progress to being the new ‘tenant’ (junior barrister) for the firm. Adam isn’t what I imagine is a typical trainee barrister, he’s shy, gauche and a bit timid, a little bit of a Mummy’s boy, having been brought up single-handedly by his widowed mother. But there’s more to Adam than you think! His pupil master (the barrister acting as his mentor) is a vain, publicity seeking philanderer and is horrified when they are given what appears to be an impossible to win case to defend.

The book starts dramatically with the death of a much loved detective inspector in the middle of a court hearing, then switches to Adam’s story, the first part of which I found a bit slow. However, the story and the tension builds and builds throughout the book and I found myself guessing what the outcome of The Trial was going to be. I was wrong on most counts! I found myself totally wrapped up in the story and from a half hearted start, I couldn’t wait to find out more as we approached the end of the book.

I like Rob Rinder’s style of writing. The characters of Adam, his mother, his pupil master and a few others had depth and the back story of Adam’s own father was also quite intriguing.
Would I read another Rob Rinder book…………….hell, yes!!
My thanks go to the author, the publishers and to NetGalley for an advanced e.reader copy of this book, however, this review is entirely voluntary and the opinions within are one hundred percent my true views.

I really enjoyed this: I zipped through it very quickly.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the author for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this novel, having seen Rob Rinder on TV, noting his love of the sound of his own voice and being fairly sceptical of celebrity novels in general. Unfortunately this book just didn't work for me. I felt it got way too.bogged down in the minutiae of Chambers, lengthy dull dialogue and chamber politics. The characters were flat and very stereotyped and I found that I just didn't care what happened.
Sorry, just not for me.

I loved this book. So clever and well written. Robert Rinder is a very clever chap.

I've seen him on television a few times. I thought he was smart and witty.

I really didn't expect such a clever, enjoyable book from him.

I would heartily recommend this book. I will definitely read more books by Rob Rinder.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. It was such compulsive reading that I’m now suffering from sleep deprivation!! I sincerely hope Rob Rinder will write a second, third, fourth etc etc (preferably starring Adam Green).

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

A superb ‘whodunnit’, absurdly and deliciously ridiculous, with loads of laugh out loud moments. I’m not normally a fan of comic reads but Rob Rinder’s ‘The Trial’ places self-importance, privilege and corruption squarely at the heart of this satirical view of the justice system.

#TheTrial #NetGalley This was a change for me from my usual favourite police procedurals, to see things through the legal profession eyes and what a breath of fresh air it was for me! Well written, clever, funny with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. It was interesting to see Rob Rinder's legal background shining throug career path of Adam (and his personal life) as he moves up the career ladder. A great debut novel which I would highly recommend.

I have always enjoyed Rob Rinder on TV and, like Graham Norton before him, was curious if his wit and personality would lend itself to a novel. Well, now we know! This is an excellent first novel, leading, one hopes to a series, charting the career path of Adam Green through his chambers and into his ultimate challenge as a judge. I'm thinking Kavanagh QC and Judge John Deed .

The 'write what you know' premise works really well Mr Rinder has clearly experienced a lot of these situations, in his own early career and in his family life and it shows. The writing is immediate and the characters are well drawn and rounded.

I genuinely could not put it down, and although I was sure that I knew how it was going to go, nevertheless I was surprised by the twists at the end.

I have already recommended this book to friends today and will be reviewing it locally and on-line. I am sure he has a best-seller on his hands and will join the body of celebrity writers which increased monthly - but this one really can write!

I wanted to read this as I knew a book about the legal system from Rob Rinder would be accurate and authentic and I'd learn more about the courtroom experience. From understanding the role of a solicitor vs a barrister, what a KC is, and the role of a pupil barrister and pupil master. I was drawn in from the first page and knew instantly that the book would live up to my expectations.

Adam is a pupil barrister, working with Jonathan Taylor-Cameron. While Adam has some cases of his own right, he and his pupil master are allocated a high-profile murder case. A well-liked and well-known TV Detective Inspector has been murdered in the Old Bailey and Adam and Jonathan have been assigned the case of defending the accused. Jonathan assumes the defendant is guilty, but Adam sets out to prove his innocence. A plot of twists and turns comes to a satisfying conclusion.

I really enjoyed the chapters with Adam's mother, the Jewish matriarch who keeps checking in to see that Adam is eating well and keeps trying to set him up with all the local Jewish women. I really enjoyed this book, I hope there will be more stories about Adam Green to come.

A courtroom drama seen through the eyes of Judge Rob Rinder. I’ve previously known him from the tv series and was intrigued when his first novel became available through Netgalley.
I love phsychological thrillers and legal dramas and this novel combines them both.
Our protagonist is a pupil barrister in the hallowed Stag Court Chambers. His pupil master gets given a case of a man accused of murdering a high profile police officer. The man protests his innocence, but won’t defend himself in any other way.
There were quite a few red herrings that I got caught up in and definitely didn’t see what was to come.
In some ways this is also a coming of age story where our protagonist gets to see the highs and lows of his chosen profession.
I really hope that this will become a series!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and Judge Rinder for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to reading this book I have always liked Rob Rinder in his various tv appearances and was curious to know if his talent would shine through in his writing and oh boy did it just, I loved the book !
So the story begins with the murder of a highly respected police officer who was attending a courtroom in the Old Bailey and the repercussions from that send shock waves throughout the both the police and public.A suspect Jimmy Knight is immediately arrested and it seems like an open and shut case but trainee barrister Adam Green who is on the defence team isn’t so sure that all is quite what it seems and from that we have a roller coaster ride of a thriller with some fabulous twists that kept me unable to put the book down it was that good.
The writing of the book was excellent and with the author’s background in law that just added to the enjoyment and made it such an interesting read. I really do hope that a follow up book is in the offing as this was such a great read and I would love to hear more about Adam Green, many thanks to Rob Rinder for a brilliant 5 star read.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

What can I say? I really loved this book and whizzed through it in a couple of days. Books by celebrities can be pretty hit and miss so although I like Rob Rinder’s Tv persona and humour I wasn’t sure if this would translate into his first novel. Well it definitely did!
Adam Green is a pupil barrister working for a lazy philandering pupil master called Jonathan. When they are handed a murder trial defence of an ex con accused of poisoning a beloved policeman who has been feted by the media and even rescued the queen from an attack , Adam sees it as his chance to prove himself and ensure his retention in chambers when his pupillage finishes in a couple of months. However Jonathan has little interest and is more concerned about a better paying fraud case.
Adam has personal reasons for trying to clear Jimmy’s name despite his guilt seeming to be obvious and he works hard to find out the truth of the case before trial. He learns that the deceased was not quite as saintly as he first appeared.
I liked Adam’s telephone conversations with his mother as this was a good way of adding background and fleshing out his character and motivation. It was also humorous which lightened what would have been quite a serious book.
Obviously Rinder knows the judicial system well and this shone through in the writing. The nature of justice and whether our legal system is always successful in attaining it, is a major part of the plot and this certainly made me think. The ending was great, very clever and certainly worthy of such a cleverly plotted book.
This was definitely a five star read for me, I just couldn’t put it down and that’s always a good sign!
I’m hoping that the author might see fit to write a follow up novel as he has a very good style and an excellent hero in Adam Green.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Uk for my advance copy.

Rating: 4.0/5

I can be a bit wary of reading novels by celebrities who have made their name doing something else. Occasionally they succeed in translating their skills into the new medium, but far too often I find myself disappointed and wishing they had stuck to their day job. Thankfully, not only has Rob Rinder made a better stab at it than many, but for the most part he has delivered an entertaining read that is genuinely very good.

Right from the outset the signs augured well. The prologue is engaging, sets the scene nicely and contains its share of appealing humour too. If you are familiar with Rob Rinder from his many television appearances over the years, then it will be almost impossible not to hear his voice in your head as you read this book - but that is no bad thing.

It is often said that an author should "write what they know" and, by setting this novel in the world of the legal profession, Rob Rinder has done just that. The potential danger is that the content could become too insular and alienate a wider audience, but the author has taken great care to avoid that pitfall. If anything, in his efforts to make this accessible and easy to read for everyone, it errs on the side of being a touch too simplistic occasionally - but, for the most part, a worthy balance is achieved.

Although "The Trial" leans towards the cosy end of the mystery genre - not unlike John Mortimer's "Rumpole of the Bailey" series - the mystery at the heart of the story is robust enough and stands up pretty well to scrutiny. Rob Rinder also takes the opportunity to make some serious commentary about the legal system and society in general, but without this aspect becoming excessively heavy or sanctimonious and detracting from the overall feel of the book. Another pleasing aspect is the inclusion of intermittent chapters featuring phone calls between the chief protagonist, Adam Green, and his mother. These sections serve not only as a vehicle for comic relief, but also help to build Adam's backstory outside of the central thread of the narrative.

It really wouldn't be difficult to see this develop into a series of books - or even be developed as a tv series. I will certainly be back for Rob Rinder's next offering, which I am sure will be in the pipeline.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Another celebrity outing, but this one is definitely a winner and at least I feel confident Robert Rinder is bright enough to write this without any outside help! Rinder has used his legal background well, inventing a likeable character in pupil barrister, Adam Green, who comes from Southgate – Rinder’s home turf and literally within walking distance of where I live, so that is always fun.

Detective Inspector Grant Cliveden is a national hero. Previously in Royal protection and now in serious crime, he is due to give evidence at the Old Bailey when he collapses and dies in the witness box, having been poisoned. Meanwhile, Adam Green is not enjoying his time at Stag Court Chambers, as his pupil master, Jonathan Taylor-Cameron is a constant philanderer and more interested with balancing his social life than his work. Adam is in competition with fellow pupil barrister, Georgina Devereaux, for a coveted place as a junior barrister and now he is involved in the biggest story in the country. Unfortunately, he is due to be in the legal team that is defending Jimmy Knight, an ex-con, who was seen in a pub with Cliveden shortly before he died and who is the prime suspect.

Adam Green has an interesting backstory, as his own father was accused of a crime and the guilt of feeling he was unjustly treated means that he is keen to believe Knight’s not-guilty plea. Before long, he begins to uncover the fact that there are other possible suspects, and that Cliveden is not necessarily as beloved as newspapers would have people believe. However, can he pull off the impossible with a disinterested Taylor-Cameron, more interested in richer and more influential clients. I would definitely read more by Mr Rinder and hope to see the likeable Adam Green having more adventures. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Really enjoyed this book by my favourite judge on TV (sadly not any more). I loved the story of Adam a poor lad who just wants to be a force for good in the justice system but whilst waiting to be chosen for the one coveted position in his firm. As he is handed a no hope case to defend the suspected murderer of a celebrity Police Officer. As he tries to uncover the truth even though his pupil master seems to have no interest in the truth in this case and is fighting for the truth going to loose his chance to progress.

Free Courtesy of Netgalley

This is Judge Rob Rinder's first book and it was absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed reading the story and learning a little bit of how our judicial system works. It was like a behind the scenes look at a court room and a trial but with a good story behind it.

A celebrated police officer is murdered, whilst giving evidence in The Old Bailey, but who did it ?

Adam is a pupil Barrister and is fighting for his place in a law firm. His pupil Master is given the trial to defend the man accused of Murdering Grant Cliveden, the celebrated police officer. Adam doesn't believe the accused is guilty but his pupil Master don't care and is not interested and thinks he is guilty.

The book follows the Trial and Adams relationship with the law firm that he works for, whilst fighting his own personal demons.

There are so many twists and turns and you really don't find out who the murder is until the end of the book. I hope Rob writes more books and follows Adams career. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a bit of court room drama and mystery novels.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, I didn’t know what I was expecting and there was some good plot twists that I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed learning about the background of the pupil barrister, especially the conversations between him & his mother. I just think the pace could’ve been faster especially on the courtroom scenes but overall it was a good read!