For a performer, “dying” in front of an audience is a fate worse than death. A career setback. Literally dying is, however, the end of a career. Jessica Holby, the nation’s sweetheart, is in her regular position hosting “Wake Up Britain”, when she collapses and dies It swiftly becomes clear that she has died of anaphylactic shock, having ingested soya to which she is fatally allergic. The allergen was in the food that she had just eaten, on screen, prepared by Sebastian Brooks the famous TV Chef. The recipe did not include this ingredient because everyone on set knows of the allergy and every precaution is taken. Her EpiPen, always on hand in case of emergency, has disappeared. Sebastian had brought all of the ingredients for the meal, and had prepared and cooked it on camera. Sebastian had had an affair with Jessica, and threatened her not to reveal this secret when it ended. A million people witnessed all of this so Sebastian is already condemned in the court of public opinion before he is arrested on a charge of murder. He is about to be tried on this indictment and is pleading Not Guilty. Adam Green, having finished his pupillage at Stag Court Chambers, is Junior Barrister for the defence team. It looks like there is no real defence but Stag Court are on a win anyway because the prosecution team are also members of those Chambers. As is often the case, Adam is simultaneously defending on a number of smaller cases, including that of a young man, Alexei, charged with possession of a number of weapons. He is pleading Guilty, although Adam knows he is being a scapegoat for his gangster older brother. The moral issue in this case is that if Alexei is found Guilty he faces a long prison sentence, whereas if he is found Not Guilty he faces punishment by the gang,
Two contrasting cases in this Court Procedural novel, the second to feature Adam Green. In the first, he must talk to witnesses and review all the materials with the hope of finding evidence that can provide reasonable doubt for his client, or mitigating circumstances. In the other case, he has to juggle with conscience and morality. Not surprisingly, the story is very heavily concerned with the courtroom dramas, and the author is on safe ground here, and is skilled at taking the reader through the processes without being didactic. But the court is only part of Adam’s life, albeit a huge part requiring lots of midnight oil burning. He also finds himself conflicted about his relationships with colleagues Libby and Georgina; who does he fancy most, who fancies him most? And then there’s his mother, always wanting to know about his love life, his eating habits, his high-profile contacts, his career, attempting to matchmake him with friends of friends. All of this is deployed in interspersed chapters. These do function as lighter moments within the drama, although the latter isn’t really all that dark and the book is more cosy crime than is usual in this plot category. Overall, it’s an easy, well written and enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

This is the second in the series following Junior Barrister Adam Green.
The darling of Wake Up Britain Jessica Holby is poisoned live on tv. It seems the suspect is Sebastian Brooks, the famous chef.
Also, running alongside this case is the Petrov gang. They are a nasty bunch who try to intimidate Adam into making sure one of the gang member's brother takes the rap.
It was good to catch up with Adam now that he has finished his pupillage.
We still have that unlikeable character Jonathan, who is making his new pupil's life a misery, but there is some comeuppance for him.
Loved the phone calls between Adam and his mum.
I thought the ending was a bit abrupt.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This was a fascinating insight into the behaviours of lawyers and their methods of working. Some great characters who all felt very real and it highlighted the difficulties between guilt and innocence. Great read!

I was pretty impressed with this author's series opener "The Trial" when I read it last year so I was really looking forward to this, the follow up, once again featuring junior barrister Adam Green.
So... we start with what appears to be an open and shut case. Jessica Holby, the darling of morning TV, Wake Up Britain, dies on screen in the middle of a live show. Fingers swiftly start to point to celebrity chef Sebastian Brooks who had not long since served her up a meal featuring one of his own Ragu sauces. You see... Jessica has allergies, bad ones, and she died of anaphylactic shock.
The trial date is set and Adam is asked to be the baby junior, replacing his friend who needs a bit of time out. Adam, as you would expect if you have already met him in The Trial, is not adverse to controversy, and is not as convinced with Brooks' guilt and starts to question things... Meanwhile he has other defendants to try and save. And then there's his mother to placate. Oh my days she definitely wins supporting character of the year for all the phone calls... Leaving you to discover these yourself, so funny.
I was a bit worried going into this book that it wouldn't match my expectations but, after finishing it, I have to say that it blew them away pretty much in the first quarter. I really loved re-connecting with Adam, a character I didn't realise I missed until we started catching up. And one that I was really not looking forward to having to say goodbye to once again as the ending approached.
The story was excellent and kept my attention nicely throughout. Hitting the ground running, letting me occasionally bob up for air, and then sucking me back in as it twisted and turned all the way to a very satisfying ending. I loved that Adam is still learning and making mistakes, and all the while doing his own thing. Bit of a maverick but in a good way. I also love the things I am learning about the courtroom system. Giving me shades of the great Rumpole who I adored as a child. This book also features the ins and outs of TV production, again something the author knows a lot about. His two worlds colliding if you like.
All in all, a cracking follow up to The Trial, which you do want to read first for full enjoyment. Me, I'm now hanging for book three... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

When popular breakfast TV presenter Jessica drops dead live on air all fingers point towards TV chef (and her love) Sebastian.

Junior barrister Adam is brought in to defend Sebastian and get to the bottom of what really happened to Jessica.

I didn’t love the first book in the series (The Trial) but I was intrigued by the plot of this one so decided to give it a go. Unfortunately it just didn’t quite work for me, I find that like with the first book there’s almost too many characters and too much going on and it takes away from the main plot. It was an easy read but I just didn’t love it unfortunately, but a lot of people enjoy Rob Rinder’s books so I think it’s a case of me being the problem rather than the book perhaps.

Hannah Holby, daytime TV host supreme, dies on set and her fans are shocked. However, her death is deemed as not to be natural causes and the celebrity chef working with her is arrested. Adam Green's chambers are handling both the prosecution and defence of this case, and Adam finds himself working with the defence.

However, the facts are far from clear and the chief suspect doesn't seem to be helping his case. Meanwhile Adam is asked by his former mentor Bobby to help him with a second case concerning a young man who was arrested for having arms under his bed, which actually belong to his brother. He is trying to protect his brother without realising the implications of what will happen to him, but the dilemma is that if he takes the blame he'll serve time, but if he admits the guns belong to his brother, he is likely to cross a gang who will want revenge.

Each of these cases cause Adam to question his choice of a career and how it was impacting his personal values. The result is an exciting and interesting read, written by someone who clearly understands the legal process.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and Cornerstone for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another good book. Although not quite as good as the first Adam Green book, it was still very enjoyable. Rinder added the moral dimension to the cases - it is better to go to prison when innocent or face the retribution of criminal gangs. I really liked the conversations with his mum as they added a slightly humorous break from the law. Poor Adam is overworked, then has his mum nagging him. Really looking forward to the next one.

I stopped reading courtroom books due to finding many of them boring and laced with too much legal jargon and not enough action, but this book was a welcome change. I thought it would be one of those books that drag on, rather than a one sitting read ( took me two days, but I attended a food festival so I was busy). I read it as a standalone book and the way the plot unfolded with background to the murder being added through Adam's enquiries made the courtroom seem almost like the secondary plot rather than focusing on it. I enjoyed reading this.

The Suspect is the second book by Rob Rinder and both feature junior barrister Adam Green. The Suspect works as a stand-alone novel but there are returning characters from the previous book, The Trial.

It did take me a little while to get into the story but once it hooked me I couldn't put it down. I'm fond of Adam Green as a character, I enjoy reading about his relationship with his Mum, who thinks he works too hard and needs to find a girlfriend. I also like how he is growing in his profession and how he is learning to navigate the moral dilemmas and challenges of being a barrister. I'm hoping to see Adam star in future novels from this author.

The writing style is very easy to read. It's knowledgeable about the court system as you would expect but the plot isn't bogged down with too much detail. It's the perfect balance.

My thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and Netgalley for providing me with an early review copy.

Rob Rinder’s second book featuring baby barrister Adam Green he, is in the thick of it once again defending a high profile case and helping Bobby with another. The workload only gets worse and Adam wants to do what’s best for everyone. A very entertaining read that highlights the work of the courts with Rob Rinder writing about what he knows very well. I will be sure to look out for any more books by him

Jessica Holby is the nations sweetheart, presenting her daytime TV show, smiling for the cameras, the public love her.
When she dies live on air the finger is pointed at the program’s resident chef Sabastian Brooks. Brooks had made a meal for the show’s cookery segment which Jessica tasted just before she died, killed by anaphylactic shock from soy that was in the sauce. But everyone on the show knew about her allergy so why would Brooks put soy in the food, was it deliberate or is someone trying to frame him.
This is the dilemma facing Junior Barrister Adam Green when he is asked to work on the Brooks case. Everyone is acting as though it’s open and shut and that Brooks is guilty, but Adam has a feeling that something isn’t quite right, and Adam doesn’t like to ignore those feelings. Even if it could cause problems in the career he has worked so hard for.
It’s not easy to write a crime book from the perspective of the legal team without it being very dry but Rob Rinder does it brilliantly. He doesn’t baffle you with legal jargon, he just lets a god plotline speak for itself.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first of Rob’s books and this second one is even better. I can’t wait for the next one.

I wanted to love this - I like Rob Rinder as a personality and the premise was a good one. Glamourous breakfast show host murdered by breakfast show cook in plain sight on air! Junior Barrister Adam is on the team to help defend the undefendable... Investigating ensues!

I enjoyed the world Rinder created and the insights into the relationships between colleagues and how difficult their workload is. Legal thrillers are one of my favourite genres, and I also enjoyed watching Adam interview various people. The problem for me was that I didn't feel he played enough of an active role in the eventual outcome. He did lots of work - but how much impact did it have? Consequently, the ending fell flat for me.

But I overall enjoyed the writing, so if there was another in this series, I'd read it.

When Hannah Holby, the darling of morning TV, dies on screen in front of millions of viewers, the nation is devastated. More devastated still when it becomes clear that her death was not an accident. The evidence points to one celebrity chef, Sebastian Brooks. But junior barrister, Adam Green, is about to discover that the case is not as open-and-shut as it first seemed. And although Hannah's angelic persona would suggest otherwise, she was not short of enemies in the glittery TV world. Can Adam uncover the truth.

Junior barrister Adam Green is the central protagonist. I love learning about what it's like working on the defence of a complex case. The best parts of the book are when Adam is on the phone to his mother. Adam is working on two different cases, the death of a da TV darling, and the case of a man with learning difficulties. This is a fast-paced read that drew me quickly in and kept me engaged until the end. The characters are well-developed, and Adam is very a likeable character. He's gaining confidence and finding his way through the justice system. Hopefully there will be more books to come in this series.

Published 20th June 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #Cornerstone and the author #RobRinder for my ARC of #TheSuspect in exchange for an honest review.

Extremely entertaining book with characters who feel very familiar to day time tv viewers. Can't wait for the author's next book@

A most interesting and informative read following the lives of three young person’s at the start of their careers in the justice system, two as junior barrister and one serving pupillage. The story centres on Adam’s KC having a major case involving a murder. How they survive the heavy workload with multiple cases where any over sight unless mitigated intime can lead to instant dismissal is a high stress burden. The murder case is in a TV studio and the gathering of information and the interviewing of witnesses provides an insight to the work and culture of the work behind the scenes far difference from what is seen on screen where those viewed work to present an image aimed to engage with the viewers as opposed to film stars who work to portray a fictitious character. A most engaging story that leaves the reader wanting more.

I do like a good legal thriller and this was a good legal thriller. We are back with junior barrister Adam Green and this time he has to defend a case of a celebrity TV chef who murders a colleague live on air. Or does he. I like that Adam pokes and pokes to find the actual truth.

Thoroughly enjoyed this second book by Rob Rinder. .Junior barrister Adam Green is involved in a murder trial, a murder which was seen by millions of TV viewers. Plus the case of a young man pleading guilty to something he hasn't done. Both cases take up a lot of his time. The phone calls from his Mum are hilarious. Looking forward to book 3

I really enjoyed Rob Rinder's first book 'The Trial' so I was very pleased to have the chance to read an early copy of 'The Suspect'.
The Suspect continued building on all of the successful elements of the author's first book. When i read 'The Trial' I was instantly captivated by the strong characters that he'd created, all of the insights into life in legal chambers and the relentless pressure of life as a new barrister in a high-profile role. All of this has come back in book two but with the added benefit of some familiar characters where you know a little about their personal stories, their private lives, what drives them in their careers and so on. It was great to see Adam and Georgia in the next stages of their growing careers, both with much more responsibility and power than a year ago, but still feeling hugely out of their depth and struggling to balance everything that is thrown at them.

In 'The Suspect', Hannah Holby, a hugely loved daytime TV star dies live on TV in front of millions of regular viewers. It becomes apparent that despite Hannah's well-documented food allergies, she has eaten something in the cooking section of the show that has caused an anaphylactic shock. TV chef Sebastian Brooks is arrested for causing her death but what reasons might he have for killing one of the country's most beloved celebrities? Adam is on the defence team - but is there anything that the defence can muster to save their client.

Set alongside this is the much grittier case of 17 year old Alexei who has been found with a stash of lethal weapons in his room. He says that they're his, but his brother is a known member of a street gang and they are much more likely to belong to him not Alexei. Can Adam and his fellow legal team convince Alexei to tell the truth before he admits to something that is going to ruin his life for ever.

The juxtaposition between these two cases was so well played; the high glamour and intense media interest on Sebastian's case set against the lack of attention to Alexei's situation was highlighted fantastically.

Well worth a read- and I am looking forward to book number 3!

Having read and enjoyed Rob Rinder's first book I looked forward to this and to seeing how the main character, Adam Green, was moving up in his legal career. This took me longer to get into than book one and I struggled with the large number of characters. Some I remembered from the last book but there were lots of new ones in this that I found confusing. This is probably just me as I don't have the best memory for names in any circumstances! This was a well written story, however, and a good and addictive plot. I did love the phone call chapters between Adam and his mum whose witty dialogue had me laughing out load so much that my husband asked me what was so funny. I read some of it to him and that elicited a chuckle or two. I hope that Rob Rinder will continue to include the phone chats with Adam and his mother in future books as they are a welcome bit of light relief to counteract some of the more serious parts of the storyline. I was surprised by the reveal at the end but it finished well albeit quite abruptly I thought. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely loved this second book from highly intelligent and perceptive Rob Rinder. Gripped from beginning to end! Can be read as a series but just as good as a stand alone book.
Adam Green is a junior barrister, and has been asked to assist in a defence that is already not an obvious clear cut done case, after a famous day time tv presenter Jessica is seemingly murdered live on her morning show by regular celebrity chef Sebastian.
Whilst Adam is involved in various other very different cases and supporting his colleagues at the chambers at Stag Court which make for a hectic schedule for him.
Great characters and depiction of the process. Adam’s personal life brings some hilarious light relief to the seriousness of court and prison especially his wonderful chats with his mum!!
This is a fun easy read, intelligent and interesting!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin books for the early read! Loved it!