The Cut Throat Trial by S. J. Fleet

The Secret Barrister releases his first legal thriller, and it’s in a league of its own. After the vicious murder of an elderly teacher on New Year’s Eve, three teenage boys stand accused. They all deny the charge and point fingers at one another. Three defence barristers need to persuade the jury that their client is not guilty, but the prosecutor wants to win the case, no matter the cost.

This is a captivating legal thriller that takes you into the hearts and minds of all the personalities involved. The book is written from multiple points of view, giving us a front-row seat to the court case. It feels real and authentic, based on the author's considerable experience in the very environment he is writing about. The story is told from the point of view of Aliyah, the prosecutor, who desperately needs to win this case and restore her reputation, after a case went pear-shaped some years previously.  Then there is Jennifer's point of view, counsel for the third defendant, but this case is particularly triggering for her, reminding her vividly of a case that involved her family. We also get to hear from HHJ Jeremy Letts, the judge, who has a cynical, seen-it-all-before attitude, but he also provides an overview of the case and the personalities as the trial unfolds. We also get to hear from the three adolescent defendants and learn of their difficult childhoods, and eventually, the shocking truth in this complicated case.

The Cut Throat Trial is utterly fascinating, as the reader sits alongside all these players and slowly the truth is sifted from the lies, revealing which evidence is essential and what is missing.

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

Pan Macmillan