Jo Murray’s debut novel, Dissection of a Murder, is a serious contender for best crime fiction release of the year. Jo Murray is a former criminal barrister from North Yorkshire and her training and career bring incredible verisimilitude to her creative writing. Fans of Scott Turow and John Grisham will find much to enjoy in Jo Murray’s version of the legal thriller, which might best be described as a legal procedural. Before readers get to the explosive courtroom scenes near the end of the novel, they witness the step-by-step method of building a legal defense—including all the various and sundry complications that process entails.
The bulk of Dissection of a Murder is told from the point of view of barrister Leila Reynolds. When a prominent and respected judge is killed, Leila is appointed to head the legal team despite this high-profile crime being her first murder case. Turns out, Leila was personally selected by Jack Millman—the defendant in the case—and he won’t take no for an answer. To make matters worse, Leila must face off against her former mentor and current husband, the ruthless prosecutor, Julian Reynolds.
As Leila begins to examine the evidence in this case, her first interview with her new client exposes yet another challenge: Jack will not tell his legal team what his defense will be until he is called to the stand at the trial.
What follows is a deep dive into the UK legal system. Jo Murray’s engaging writing keeps readers invested as new discoveries are uncovered. Each chapter is subtitled to document the countdown to the start of the trial. Each evening, the complex dynamic between husband-and-wife lawyers facing off against each other in a career-defining case is equally as fascinating as the twisty revelations in the case itself.
Readers will anticipate that the courtroom scenes are going to be the highlight of the book, but they will be knocked sideways when the truth is finally revealed. After this shocking moment, readers will need to take a deep breath and move forward, because Jo Murray still has more twists up her sleeve. It seems like just about everyone on the page has a secret and more than a few of them could destroy lives (and/or livelihoods). A few occasional chapters from an alternate point of view help lead readers to the truth.
For years now, courtroom dramas have had a set style and pacing, but Jo Murray manages to both please loyal readers of the subgenre while still bringing something new to the table. Readers will quickly forget they are in the hands of a debut novelist, largely because of the assured nature of Murray’s research and the skill with which she wields words. One would be forgiven for being thankful they never had to go toe-to-toe with either Jo Murray or Leila Reynolds in an actual courtroom. Make no mistake about it, Dissection of a Murder is utterly unforgettable!
BUY LINKS: Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
