Rob Rinder

Well plotted legal thriller drawing heavily on the author's legal and media experience. The writing is lightened by the amusing conversations, Adam the junior barrister and main character has with his archetype Jewish mother.

Adam, a pupil barrister, attempts to make up for the short-fallings of his pupil-master Jonathan, as Jonathan prioritizes a lucrative fraud case over the legal aid trial of a man accused of the murder of a celebrity police officer. Adam was likeable protagonist, the earlier phone conversations with his mother were very amusing, and the plot was interesting and easy to follow. The ending was rather morally ambiguous, but that's life, I suppose.

I hope this is the beginning of a series.

Public hero and “pride of the nation” DI Grant Cliveden collapses in Old Bailey just minutes before giving testimony in a drug case. All evidence points to him being poisoned and the prime suspect is career felon Jimmy Knight, who has only recently been released after serving a ten-year sentence for armed robbery. Jimmy had a history with the deceased and had met with him in a local pub before his death. The theory is that Jimmy slipped the poison in Cliveden's drink. Though there is no show more forensic evidence linking Jimmy to the poisoning, he is arrested and set to be tried for murder, based on the discovery of a burner phone, from which he sent a text message setting up the meeting, in his possession and CCTV footage of the same meeting which shows Jimmy buying Cliveden a drink.

Pupil barrister Adam Green is on Jimmy’s defense team headed by his pupil master Jonathan Taylor-Cameron, who would rather Jimmy plead guilty so that he could devote his attention to more high-paying clients. Though his pupil master is leaning toward establishing reasonable doubt, Adam is convinced of Jimmy’s innocence and tries to gather evidence that would prove the same often attracting the ire of his pupil master who is happy to let Adam shoulder most of his caseload while he pursues other interests.

As the narrative progresses, it becomes evident that the “pride of the nation” might not have been the honest, hardworking member of law enforcement he was made out to be. This is a high-profile case and the first major case that Adam has been assigned. Adam is in the second six stage of his pupillage and his future at the Chambers is at stake. Is Jimmy truly innocent or is Adam being played by a career criminal? Will his pursuit of the truth end up jeopardizing Adam’s career prospects?

With its intricate plot, even pacing, and interesting cast of characters The Trial by criminal barrister and television personality Rob Rinder is a cleverly crafted courtroom drama/ murder mystery with plenty of twists and surprises along the way. The narrative flows well and the author also injects a healthy dose of humor into the narrative. Adam is a very likable protagonist and I loved how the author describes the dynamic he shares with his colleagues, the competitive work environment and his courtroom scenes. I also enjoyed the telephone conversations between Adam and his mother, who frets over her son’s well-being and is intent on finding him a girlfriend. Adam’s personal history and his motivation for helping Jimmy are skillfully woven into the narrative without compromising the pace or suspense. Though a few aspects of the mystery were not entirely hard to predict, this did not detract from the overall reading experience. The ending, though not entirely convincing, did come as a surprise, which is always a good thing!

I should mention that this is a lighter read and leans more toward the cozy mystery genre.

Overall, I was thoroughly entertained and thought this was an impressive debut novel. I certainly hope this novel is the beginning of a new series and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

3.75⭐


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The second book in Rob Rinder’s Adam Green Mystery series begins with the murder of a popular television presenter captured on live television. Jessica Holby, co-host of “Wake Up Britain!”, dies from anaphylactic shock after tasting a dish prepared by celebrity chef Sebastian Brooks, a regular guest on the show. Brooks is the prime suspect after it is discovered that the dish was laced with an ingredient to which it was public knowledge that Jessica was allergic.

Though he is expected show more to watch and learn as they prepare for the upcoming trial, it soon becomes clear to Adam Green, now a Junior Barrister, that there might be more to the case than meets the eye and as he pursues his deep dive into Jessica’s life and her associates, it is gradually revealed that Jessica had a fair share of people in her life who possibly held a grudge. Adam is also asked by one of his seniors to help on another trial involving a teenager found in possession of illegal weapons and whose family is suspected of having criminal connections.

As with the The Trial, the plot is not particularly intense or complex, despite the parallel storyline woven into the primary narrative, but it is definitely well-written and entertaining. The narrative is consistently paced and well-structured. The mystery is well-crafted and I enjoyed following Adam’s character arc as he navigates a stressful work environment and the expectations of his seniors, tries to strike a balance between his personal life and professional friendships, struggles to venture out of his comfort zone and begins to realize that mistakes can be made in the pursuit of justice despite the best intentions. I also liked how the author describes Adam’s work environment. The characters and the setting are portrayed realistically and I liked how the author depicts the competitiveness and the work pressure and how the same affects Adam and other newcomers. I enjoyed the courtroom scenes and the investigative segments. I also appreciated the element of humor added to the narrative, in the form of his phone conversations with his mother, in chapters interspersed throughout the narrative.

The ending is indicative of a third book with what (I hope) might be a relatively more intense plotline. Overall, I enjoyed The Suspect by Rob Rinder and I eagerly await the next book in the series.

Though this is the second book in the series, it does work well as a standalone. I would, however, recommend reading the first book as it is an enjoyable read and does give you a bit more insight into Adam as a character. show less