The premise sounded quite interesting, but it was a bit misleading. Based on the summary, one is led to believe that you called will be a huge focus of the story, but that is not the case. It is more about the survivors group. Eve is supposed to be the primary focus of this new series, but I actually found some of the secondary characters more intriguing and engaging. The writing was solid, and the pace was okay, but I'm not sure that I was engaged enough to create future books in the series. While there were some good twists and turns, the ending was a bit lackluster.

Robyn Delvey’s The Seven delivers an exhilarating blend of mystery, suspense, and psychological intrigue, culminating in a mind-bending twist that will leave readers reeling. From the outset, the narrative hooks you with its well-paced buildup, seamlessly layering tension and uncertainty.

Delvey masterfully crafts an atmosphere where no character is above suspicion, compelling readers to scrutinize every interaction and motive. This dynamic interplay between the characters and the mystery at the heart of the story keeps you questioning what’s real, who can be trusted, and where the truth lies.

What truly elevates The Seven is its impeccable writing. The author’s prose is sharp and evocative, capturing not only the unfolding suspense but also the subtle emotional undercurrents of the characters. The plot progresses with precision, each chapter leaving breadcrumbs that deepen the enigma without prematurely revealing its secrets.

The twist—an unforgettable moment of revelation—is executed flawlessly, shocking yet satisfying in its delivery. It ties together the story’s intricate threads in a way that feels both clever and earned, making it a standout element of the novel.

The Seven is a testament to Robyn Delvey’s skill as a storyteller. It’s a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense, offering an immersive experience that will keep you guessing—and second-guessing—until the very last page. Highly recommended!

This is the first in a series that I will definitely be reading more of. It is a legal thriller following the trial of the decade. The Decorous Cult are responsible for two bombs in a theatre killing 43 people and injuring dozens more. Eve Wren is the protagonist, a lawyer working for the CPS and she is assigned mid trial to make sure all the unused evidence is logged correctly to ensure this ‘bang to rights’ trial secures all seven members standing trial receive the guilty verdict.

Patrick Nye, the cult leader and his followers are the defendants, referred to as The Seven. Told on two timelines, now is during the trial and then is 15 months earlier when the bombings in the Novus Theatre took place.

I honestly could not get enough of this book, the characters, the writing, the story it was all five star for me and I really cannot wait for the next instalment. My only complaints were I would have liked to have read more chapters on the trial, and I found the ending really abrupt. This author has definitely found a new fan in me. Roll on August 2025 for the next book ‘The Bait’.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Always excited for a legal procedural series but unfortunately this one never took off for me. I liked the character of Eve; however, the story was disjointed and the pacing too slow to really hook me. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this one!

This was one of those unexpected 5 stars that snuck up on me. I found myself really enjoying this though and even after being sure I had things figured out, the ending totally caught me off guard. This is apparently the first in a series, and I can confidently say that it's one I'll be coming back to.

I would classify this as a procedural with some thriller elements. I enjoyed the flashing back and forth between the present and showing what happened in the theater that night, as well as all the different points of view.

The Seven
A tense legal thriller featuring a cult named The Seven who plead not guilty to bombing a London theater. Eve Wren, who works for the Crown Prosecution, looks for the truth and ends up a target for those who don’t want their secrets exposed. A good read!
4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing this arc

The Seven is a fast paced courtroom thriller with lots of twists and turns. Eve, a young Crown Prosecution advocate is assigned to reviewing documents relating to a current and horrific mass murder trial and finds herself in danger. The characters were well written, I liked Eve, compassionate, hard-working and incredibly diligent and the references to the terrible Manson killings were chilling. I look forward to the next book in the series.

There was just something about the blurb of The Seven that I was unable to resist... I've been meaning to read more legal thrillers, and I was intrigued by the cult angle and the brutality of the attack in the London theatre. I also confess that I don't know that much about the UK legal system, so I was looking forward to spend time in UK court. While I have to say that certain parts of this first Eve Wren book were extremely engaging, as a whole I didn't quite enjoy the story as much as I thought I would. It's hard to put my finger on the why, but I'll try to explain my mixed feelings below.

There is no doubt that the premise itself is fantastic. The cult, the brutal attack, the trial, the promise of previously undiscovered evidence... They are without doubt excellent building blocks for this story to stand on. The Seven uses a multiple POV structure as well as a dual timeline, which in theory should give us a multi-faceted story covering a wide range of topics. BUT. Somehow, the resulting cocktail didn't quite work that well for me. It might have been that I had different expectations (I thought there was going to be more focus on the cult and the trial itself), but I actually found certain parts of the plot to be quite repetitive, and the chapters set during the attack weren't quite as suspenseful as expected.

I think that the multiple POV structure didn't work in the story's favor this time around, as I found it harder to connect to the characters in play with so many switches. I felt like I never really got to know the new main character, Eve Wren, beyond her job and some hints at her family and past job, and what I did see was rather bland. The secrets hinted at by other characters were a bit underwhelming as well, and the lack of character development was an issue throughout. True, there were some surprises along the way, but somehow I never felt truly invested in the outcome.

Like I said before, I wish there would have been more focus on the cult itself or at least more focus on the trial. Instead, it is mostly repetitive accounts of the attack in the past and Eve running around like a headless chicken in the present... Sure, she did make some important discoveries, but the way she reacts to situations can be REALLY frustrating at times. There were certain suspects that were forced on you in such a way that it was extremely obvious that they couldn't have been behind it... Which was quite disappointing, and especially with an ending that was quite rushed and left too many questions unanswered.

As a whole, there were moments were I was really enjoying The Seven, but there were also too many issues I wasn't quite able to look past. It took me longer than expected to actually reach that final page, and this is probably due to the fact that I simply wasn't as invested in the whole situation. I don't think I will continue the series myself, but if you like legal thrillers with a twist this story might just work better for you.

Eve Wren is a new advocate for the Crown Prosecution Service is called into her line manager's office to be tasked with doing a review for The Novus Theatre trail, currently taking place in Courtroom number two at the Old Bailey. Eve meets with the senior advocate, John Horner to gain more details and insight into what she needs to be reviewing. This was a rollercoaster of a book! It was fast paced, nail biting moments, with plenty of twists and turns and a few red herrings thrown in for measure, leading to a dramatic conclusion.

I thought this book had an interesting premise but a so-so execution. It was more character-centric, which I usually like, but I would've preferred more action this time. There were a lot of characters and dual timelines. I had trouble really connecting with the story. There were some interesting ideas though and I feel like it's the kind of series that could improve as it goes on.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Eve Wren has just received the most important task of her career: Review unused evidence in the United Kingdom’s biggest trial to determine that the case is all aboveboard. And, it’s not a job to be taken lightly, as the defendants include cult leader Patrick Nye and his followers, whose siege led to 43 deaths. However, Eve quickly discovers that something was indeed missed, and with justice for so many on the line, she’s forced to choose between turning the other cheek or pursuing this new evidence—with no idea where it will lead her.

As an American, I was fascinated by this in-depth look at the UK’s justice system, including the courts and law enforcement. The author, Robyn Delvey, explained each person’s role in the process succinctly and clearly, and I was easily able to follow the legal proceedings. Alternating between the past and present, this book certainly kept me on the edge of my seat, and even when I thought I had solved the central mystery, I still managed to be surprised. The pacing of the story was perfect—slow enough to build the world of the rich and famous, and by contrast, Eve’s more mundane legal career, but also fast enough to keep me wanting more. One obstacle for me, however, was the sheer number of named characters in the book. The constant use of names of individual minor characters left me struggling to keep track of which backstory belonged to whom. I found this especially true of the victim’s support group as well as Nye’s followers—there were a few major players that needed to be individual characters, but the rest could have been generalized as cult members or various celebrities. Eve was likeable, dedicated to both her career and her belief in the legal system, and I rarely found myself growing frustrated with her as the main character. This was a great procedural-esque novel and I look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for granting me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 1.4/5

Robyn Delvey is a pseudonym for Michelle Davies. I haven't read this author's work previously under either pen name and, based on this first experience, I am unlikely to be reading anything else by her in the foreseeable future. I had been attracted by the premise of a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer (Eve Wren) working on one of the biggest trials in UK history. I have read and enjoyed a number of courtroom based dramas previously. When they are well-written, they can be tense, gripping and atmospheric. By comparison, "The Seven" is pedestrian and quite tedious. It really was quite a struggle to keep going until the end of this.

The narrative alternates between the present day proceedings surrounding the trial and flashbacks to the Novus Theatre bombing fifteen months earlier that led to it. I have no issue with the split timeframe and it should have worked well - but it didn't, for a variety of reasons. There are quite a number of characters, which can make it hard for the reader to digest them all properly, unless it is particularly well-handled by the writer. This is exacerbated by the slow, procedural pace and the author's verbose style, which just makes the already pedestrian pace seem even slower.

Other readers may take to the writer's style, but I found it grating. The narrative was frequently stilted, particularly in sections of dialogue. There is also a lot of padding and repetition. Whilst I understand the need for an author to explain certain elements to the audience, there were times when I felt like I reading children's literature, such was the unnecessary level of handholding. I was just glad to get to the end. This is supposedly the first in a series of books featuring the lead character of Eve Wren, but I'm afraid there isn't sufficient appeal in the character nor the author's writing style to tempt me back for more.

As ever, I would still like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review. It is a pity I was not in a position to pass more favourable comment on this occasion.

The Seven is a compulsive read that no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t figure out quite what was going to be the conclusion to the story. Although I really enjoyed the book I think for me it was just a bit too complicated at times and with the duel timeline and different points of view I did find myself getting a bit lost and so I was having to reread some parts again.
The writing on the whole was really good the pacing also was ok and I did like the main character of Eve Wren and as I see this is a book one I will be looking forward to reading more about her in the future I hope. So overall this was a good read that I enjoyed so many thanks to Robyn Delvey.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A fun crime drama. I loved the cultish vibes and the courtroom drama. Highly recommend especially if you enjoyed The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The trial of the century is taking place, seven individuals accused of the bombing of a theatre which killed forty-three people and injured many more. When the possibility of a mistrial looms, lawyer Eve Wren is tasked with examining the unused evidence to ensure nothing has been overlooked. What she finds is shocking and puts her own life in danger.

The Seven from Robyn Delvey really packs a punch with its explosive start as we join world-famous actress Madeleine Farmer, along with others connected to the world of theatre and film, being held hostage at a Gala dinner in the Novus Theatre. The people are being held hostage by Patrick Nye and his followers. Nye is a fanatic who leads a group called The Decorous who are opposed to wealth and greed.

After the shocking events of the hostage situation are revealed to us we jump forward fifteen months and meet our main character, Eve Wren. Eve is new to the CPS having previously lost her job with a private law firm because of her principles. This gives us an idea of her character, however, we see that she is also filled with doubt and uncertainty, particularly as she is trying to find her place in the CPS.

Eve's attention to detail and the fact that she refused to compromise her principles make her the ideal candidate to check the undisclosed evidence. As Eve interrogates the mass of evidence we are introduced to some of the survivors of the heinous event and learn that not all scars are visible.

As we get to know some of the other characters we are given a glimpse of their life now, dealing with disfigurement, loss and survivor guilt. The story also jumps back to the hostage situation itself and we see how each person was impacted at the time and how they handled the situation.

By focusing on the hostages we get an idea of the survivor's guilt they are living with and how each of them has handled the situation. Some seem to have handled their feelings better than others but all are struggling and the approach of the court case has caused many of them to disassemble. Author Robyn Delvey has avoided writing from the point of view of Patrick Nye and his followers. I think this is a clever tactic, refusing to give voice to the fanatics, particularly as this appears to be the primary motive for the seven surviving members of The Decorous to be tried together.

There is a real sense of menace as during Eve's investigation she uncovers the possibility of an eighth member of the group as a piece of evidence wasn't scrutinized. You begin to wonder if this was accidental or deliberate and question who can be trusted.

This was such a fun thriller it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I never knew what was coming next.

The Seven (Eve Wren, Band 1) by Robyn Delvey is a good book with a good storyline.

I really liked Eve. I think she is a strong female character.

I didn't really enjoy the alternative points of view and wish it would have just been told from Eve's perspective or told as a court trial.

The ending was surprising, and most of the story held my interest; there were a few times I skimmed pages as I felt some scenes had too much unnecessary detail that weighed the story down.

I enjoyed the story enough that I would recommend this book. This is the first book I've read by this author and I would probably check out more and read more from her.

#TheSevenEveWrenBand1 #NetGalley @AmazonPub

3.75 rating up. Loved the twists and loved the concept of this book. Eve Wren reviewing evidence for cases was so intriguing to me and I will mostly likely read the next one if it becomes a series. I think this book would have made a really good movie or TV series. Loved the cult vibes as well. It would make a great crime drama.

However, some of the connections and transitions I felt got lost in the story. Theres 4 perspectives I believe, and 3 of them jumped between the past and present which was a little rough. For me I thought it would be better portrayed visually because I kept getting people mixed up and the transitions would have been better understood between the timelines.
It was a slow burn for most of the story until about the last 50-60ish pages. It took me awhile to get into it, and would only read a couple chapters every so often. So even though I enjoyed reading it, I struggled to get to a mindset where I wanted to binge read it.

I did like the main twists. One if them I didn't see coming and the other I half heartedly guessed but like how it was portrayed and brought to light. The biggest one I was so blindsided which I loved. I thought I knew what was happening but was pleasantly surprised when I was wrong.

Even though it was a slow burn, I was a little dissapointed at the end when they rushed to tie up the lose ends. There's was just so much build up and once the twists were revealed, details seemed to be lost when tying all the stories together and resolving the ending.

All in all, I would recommend this book! Would love to read more from the author and hope it becomes a series. I would love to see what other cases Eve reviews!

I dove into "The Seven" by Robyn Delvey with high expectations, eager to explore a gritty courtroom drama wrapped up in the chilling aura of a cult. The premise caught my attention instantly: a Crown Prosecution lawyer, Eve Wren, tasked with the monumental challenge of prosecuting notorious cult leader Patrick Nye and his followers for a horrific bombing that left dozens dead. With the stakes so high, I was itching to see how this story would unfold.
Eve Wren is a character who starts strong. Freshly minted and eager to prove herself, she embodies the determination and tenacity that one would expect from a young lawyer thrown into the "trial of the decade." However, as much as I wanted to root for her, I often found myself feeling frustrated by her approach—she was honourable, perhaps too much so, and I secretly wished for her to take a few more risks.
Delvey’s portrayal of the aftermath of the bombing is where the emotional weight of the novel truly shines. The focus veers towards the survivors and their families, painting haunting pictures of loss and resilience. I appreciated how Delvey expertly delved into the human experiences surrounding this tragedy rather than zeroing in on the cult itself, which initially attracted me to the story. The survivors’ narratives brought depth and nuance, amplifying the stakes for Eve as she navigates her investigation and the courtroom drama.
That being said, the pacing of the narrative felt uneven at times. Some moments jolted me awake—key discoveries and shocking plot twists that had my heart racing—but other sections lagged, feeling sometimes overly repetitive. I found myself wishing for a tighter narrative that maintained the tension throughout rather than having it come in fits and starts. And while there was a twist towards the end that caught me completely off guard, I wished there’d been a bit more depth exploring the trial itself, as much of the courtroom action felt glossed over.
What frustrated me the most, however, was the almost fleeting exploration of the cult aspect, which had been so tantalisingly central to the story's setup. Patrick Nye and his followers had so much potential for intrigue, yet they often felt relegated to the background in favour of Eve’s journey and the emotional fallout from the bombing. As a reader, I craved more insights into the cult and its motivations; it felt like an opportunity missed.
Despite these reservations, I did enjoy the supporting characters—many of whom brought a unique flavour to the narrative and often overshadowed Eve’s character development. They felt more vibrant and nuanced, making Eve appear somewhat one-dimensional by comparison. Still, I appreciated that Eve’s journey was rooted in doing what’s right amidst chaos, but that nobility made her less relatable at times.
In the end, "The Seven" has its share of flaws, but it also delivers moments of profound emotion and surprising twists.

I enjoyed this book, which was not as heavy on the cult (which I was hoping for) and more focused on the trial, the affected families, and the past. I did like the pacing of the book as the big events really stood out, with the book slowing at times during not-so-big events. Overall it was an entertaining read/.