Read time: 4 minutes
š§ Listened in audio
š¢ Narrated by Joanne Froggatt
ā± Duration: 12 hours
š·ļø Publisher: Books on Tape and Dutton
š
Publication Date: May 19, 2026
Book Blurb:
A young lawyer, Leila Reynolds, is thrust into her first murder caseādefending a man accused of killing a prominent judge. The case is already high-profile, but it becomes deeply personal when Leila discovers she is up against her own husband, a seasoned and formidable prosecutor who once mentored her. As the trial unfolds, the accused refuses to cooperate, secrets begin to surface, and Leila must navigate professional, personal, and moral conflicts. With hidden past connections and shifting truths, nothing is as it seems in this tense legal battle.
Let’s talk … murder!!!
Legal thrillers live and die on balance. You can have a killer courtroom performance with a boring case, or a twisting investigation that fizzles when it hits the witness stand. Dissection of a Murder delivers both barrels blazing. Jo Murray constructs a legal thriller where the case itself is a labyrinth, not just twisted by twisting, constantly shifting beneath your feet, and then layers on the kind of courtroom drama that makes your pulse spike during a morning commute.
The premise alone is delicious. Leila Reynolds, a rookie lawyer, gets her first murder trial and discovers she’s up against her own husband, an experienced, cutthroat prosecutor who taught her everything she knows. The power imbalance is staggering. Add to it, the victim being a judge, cranks up the stakes and public scrutiny to unbearable levels. Her client, insisting that only Leila can save him, but at the same time being silent, and uncooperative, increasing complexity levels. It’s a setup designed for maximum chaos, and Murry exploits every ounce of it. Watching Leila naviagate her husband’s mind games, the accused’s bizzare behaviour, and her own crumbling confidence is like watching someone defuse a bomb while blindfolded. Joanne Froggat’s narration absolutely elevated the experience. She captured Leila’s stress, determination, and quiet unraveling in a way that made every courtroom moment felt immediate.
But here’s where the book transcends from “good legal thriller” to “are you kidding me” territory: THE FINALE! Everything, the client’s silence, the husband’s cruelty, the shadowy figure pulling strings from Leila’s past, clicks into place with such devastating precision that I sat frozen, staring into nothing, brain fully short-circuited. This isn’t just a courtroom drama. It’s a masterclass in how to gut-punch a reader (or listener) and leave them gasping.
Would I recommend it?
Are you serious right now? YES, YES, a thousand times YES! Dissection of a Murder is the kind of legal thriller that reminds you why you fell in love with the genre in the first place. The layered case, the personal stakes, and that knockout finale make it unforgettable. It’s smart, relentless, and so intricately plotted that you’ll want to re-listen just to catch everything you missed while your jaw was on the floor. If you love courtroom tension, unreliable narrators, and twists that leave you reeling, this is non-negotiable reading.
Read Next
If Dissection of a Murder left you craving more legal drama with killer twists, try these:
- The Defense by Steve Cavanagh ā Another rookie lawyer in over their head, but this time the mob’s involved and the twists are chef’s kiss.
Indiebookstore.ca | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan ā Courtroom drama meets marriage implosion with secrets that’ll make you question everyone’s motives.
Indiebookstore.ca | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides ā A silent defendant with a secret, a determined professional, and a finale that obliterates your sanity (in the best way).
Indiebookstore.ca | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - The Wife by Alafair Burke ā Marriage, manipulation, and a legal case that unravels everythingāperfect for fans of power dynamics and mind games.
Indiebookstore.ca | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow ā The OG legal thriller where the prosecutor becomes the accused, blending courtroom brilliance with emotional devastation.
Indiebookstore.ca | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly ā For sharp courtroom strategy and morally complex cases.
Indiebookstore.ca | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
Did the Twist Wreck You Too?
Because I’m still recovering. That ending rewired something in my brain, and I need to know if anyone else saw it coming (liar if you say yes). What was your favorite courtroom moment? And can we talk about Leila’s husband for a second? Drop your thoughts below. I need a support group for this book.
Book Links
Want to purchase this or any of your favorite books while supporting a local bookstore? Consider purchasing using the sites below. These sites work with independent local bookstore owners to fulfill your book orders. #SupportLocal
Indiebookstores.ca | Bookshop.org
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
Check out more books from Books on Tape and Dutton
Discover more from Views She Writes
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
