As soon as I started reading “The Trial”, I know it was going to be different to what I expected. I was pleasantly surprised by this. The book is set along dual timelines in 2014 and 2024, so it is right up to the present day. Dani has returned to St Edmunds, a prestigious university in Ireland as a lecturer, and to discover what happened to her boyfriend, Theo, all those years ago when he disappeared. This story was believable: I felt like I was walking the old halls of the university with Dani, and I felt like the characters were well crafted.
There are a lot of twists and herrings in this book as well, and each of them were cleverly connected as the story progressed. The connection to the pharmaceutical company and texting was a masterstroke because it was quite conceivable that this kind of research project would occur at a reputable university. It was also clever to tie a link to the research disease - Alzheimer’s – to Dani who was desperately holding out hope for a lifeline for her mother, whose life was coming to a close , impacted by the same disease. They very hope that this research could provide a cure or relief was the wanting from Dani that gave her hope emotionally, and a possible connection to finding out more about Theo’s disappearance.

There are moments where I found the writing went in circles, and I think this was a deliberate ploy to demonstrate Dani’s confusion, frustration and obsession for the truth. It was particularly clever in scenes with members of the medical research faculty where the likes of Declan Graham, Malachy, Colm and George all leading her down many paths.

I’ve read all of Jo Spain’s previous novels and loved them all so was looking forward to The Trial.
It’s set over two timelines of 2014 and 2024 at St Edmunds, an elite Dublin university. In 2014 Dani is studying History and in love with her French boyfriend Theo when he suddenly disappears. Ten years later Dani is back at the university as a lecturer, still trying to solve the mystery of Theo’s disappearance. Meanwhile medical trials on an Alzheimer’s drug are taking place at St Edmunds.
It’s hard to say too much without giving away the plot of The Trial, another well written and gripping thriller from the author. I liked the character of Dani and the St Edmunds setting is well done. It’s a multi layered plot that kept me guessing. The downside of the novel for me was much of the subject matter of medical trials and Big Pharma which I really struggled to maintain an interest in. For this reason I enjoyed this novel far less than the author’s previous books. Do read other reviews as there are many 5 star reviews and if this is a subject that interests you it’s a well written and gripping thriller. 3.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

It was really hard to set down this book to do meaningless things, you know like sleep, work, eat... ;). I did enjoy the read, although I wish the pace would have been a bit faster at times. The story is enchanting and the writing is really good. I like how the book goes back and forth between now and then and in this case it feels a bit different with the aspect of Dani's job. A really good read that will keep you entertained from the first to the last word.

The Trial by Jo Spain is an enthralling, chilling thriller that kept me going back again and again, I was hooked in and needed to keep reading as the story takes the reader backwards and forwards in time, weaving and threading the plot only to have it snipped and or unravelled and then woven again

The core strength of the plot is the plausibility which I am always a huge fan of and to build a storyline of intrigue and suspense within the walls of an Elite college is a master stroke. The character development is highly skilled and articulate and the dialogue well mapped out. Brilliant

Thank you to Netgalley, Quercus Books | Quercus and the author Jo Spain for this highly compelling ARC.. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Jo Spain's latest book moves into the world of corporate medical trials, where a big company is carrying out the final stages of research at St Edmunds University Dublin,

The drug, designed to tackle the myriad symptoms and effects of dementia, has the potential to have a huge impact on dementia patients and their families if it can be approved; the Medical Research wing of the university is perfectly placed to help provide a neutral but informed view on the drug's effects. If it is approved, it will mean a major payout for the company.

Jump back 10 years to 2014 and Dani is a student at St Edmunds; she's having a wonderful time, deeply in love with her French boyfriend Theo and top of her class. One morning she wakes up to find Theo gone without a trace, and she tears her life apart trying to find out where he's gone and why he didn't say anything.

The 2014 and 2024 timelines weave in and out, as Dani is now a professor at St Edmunds. Will she be able to use her elevated position to find out more about what happened to Theo? The two timelines interact well, with information from the past shedding light on current actions and vice versa.

This was a very compelling story, and well told. The world of medical research isn't one that I know much about and I thought i might be lost in science, but the author explained it brilliantly. I didn't realise that this was going to be a story based so heavily on dementia, which is something that unfortunately is very close to me right now, but it was handled delicately and appropriately.,

Another gripping story from Jo Spain. The action centres around St Edmunds College, where work on analysing the results of clinical trials for an Alzheimer’s drug is taking place. Dani a former pupil has now started working there as a history lecturer. The story unfolds along two timelines, 2014 when Dani was a student and the present. The chapters alternate between the two time periods, slowing unraveling events.
The chapters are short and quick to read but I felt that the pace of the story did slow in the middle of the book. At first I thought the story was looking very predictable, but there were plenty of surprises and twists to disabuse me of this. As the book drew towards a close, I was worried the story was going to fizzle out but the fast-paced ending was excellent and surprising.
A very enjoyable read.

Thank you netgalley and quercus books for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review. I'm an avid fan of Jo Spain's books, and still am after reading The Trial. The characters and the setting are extremely likeable, the story flows so easily in fact it is hard to put it down. Jo Spain's books are always a pleasure to read, and never disappoint.. I give this five stars and would highly recommend it to anyone

Back in 2014 Theo and Dani are students at St Edmunds college, Dani studying history and Theo Medical Research. We meet Theo on the night he disappears and follow Dani's efforts to find out what happened. Fast forward 10 years and Dani is back at St Edmunds trying to find answers of a different kind, The University are working on a trial of a new Alzheimers drug, a topic close to Dani's heart. But the past is never far away
Jo Spain writes fast paced thrillers and this book is no exception, I loved how Dani's character evolved during the 10 years and how tenacious she was in discovering the truth. I found it a quick read as I couldn't put it down. Another winner I'm sure from Jo Spain
I'm grateful to Netgalley and Quercos books for the opportunity to read this advanced copy with no obligation to leave my review

Another twisty, gripping read from Jo Spain! I read this in one sitting, desperate to get to the reason why Theo disappeared in 2014. This book had characters to root for, and characters to hate. Perfect for crime fans. 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

The trial is set between 2014 and 2024 following Dani trying to discover what has happened to her boyfriend Theo. In 2024 she returns to St Edmunds, the elite college where Theo disappeared from. Dani seems to be looking for a new start, but everything is not as it seems.

I really enjoyed the dual timelines and seeing the story unfold. It's fast paced with short chapters and lots of red herrings.

The academia setting was really well portrayed. It was insightful to see how the pharmaceutical companies operate and the level of expense that the trials and drug development costs.

Overall a great real.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In 2014, Dani is a college student in Dublin whose world is turned upside down when her boyfriend, Theo, disappears with no warning. No one around her seems to think his disappearance is suspicious and she investigates on her own. Ten years later she is back at the same college as faculty and it seems that there is something strange going on there, with some of the same faculty that Theo interacted with ten years before.

This was a good read. The story shifted between 2014 and 2024 and we slowly learned what actually happened in 2014 when Theo disappeared. I was invested in learning about his disappearance as well as the current affairs at the college and I was not disappointed with the outcome. I have read a handful of books from this author and have liked them all, so I look forward to her next.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read by Spain. From the plot, we know Dani's boyfriend, Theo, went missing 10 years ago. Dani has never been able to free herself of the past and finds herself returning to her university. I was intrigued by the premise but there is a whole other plot which is not really teased by the blurb. I found this plot to be enthralling, it was interesting, exciting, complex and fast paced. I enjoyed seeing how Spain ties the different plot threads together, there is a lot that goes on throughout the book but it never felt rushed and instead was a pure adrenaline fuelled read.
I liked the characters, Dani in particular is strong and fragile, Dani is easy to get to know and like and I enjoyed my time following her. Likewise, the other characters are strong and all contribute to the plot in their own way.
'The Trial' is a read that is full of surprises. If you pick this up, you will not be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for an advance copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus for my copy of The Trial by Jo Spain.
This book is told over two different years. 2014 when Dani is a student at St Edmunds and 2024 when she returns as a history professor.
She believes that the college is hiding something, but so is she.
A totally riveting read that is impossible to put down.

Jo is an accomplished author and each book gets even better, I just don’t know how she does it! I really enjoyed The Trial, it was pacy, gripping with a strong and believable storyline, brilliantly executed.

2014
Dani and Theo study at an elite university St Edmonds College in Dublin Ireland. Early one morning he gets up and leaves Dani in bed, to be never seen again. At first Dani thinks he a has gone home to his parents in France. But no has had contact with him and Dani fears the worst. Why has Theo left without telling her? They were both happy, so what happened?
2024.
Dani now has returned to St Edmonds playing undercover as a history tutor with some hesitation. Hoping all what happened to her ten years ago, doesn’t come back to haunt her. The college is providing research and a drugs trial for a new drug to cure Alzheimer’s. She has a personal interest as her mother is in the latter stage of the disease. It soon come to light that there is a link to it and Theo’s disappearance.
The Trial by Jo Spain is another intriguing story by the author. I was expecting a court room drama and I confess I didn’t read the blurb, so I was surprised how it turned out. But I need not have worried about this. This is a gripping drama that I couldn’t put down except for the ending which for me personally dragged a bit at the end. 4 stars from me.

In 2014, promising medical student Theo Laurent disappeared from the elite college where he was studying, never to be seen again. He left his beloved girlfriend, Dani MacLochlainn sleeping, without a note explaining why or where he was going. Dani refused to believe he would just up and disappear like that, but the college has heard from Theo’s estranged father that Theo has dropped out and gone travelling and the police aren’t interested in looking for him. Ten years later Dani will return to the college under the guise of a history professor with the aim of finding out what really happened to Theo.

This is an extremely well done thriller set in the vaulted halls of academia. Dani has to be careful who she can trust, particularly when it comes to those in Theo’s old department, the School of Medical Research. The plot is realistically thought out and moves at a good pace, gradually building the suspense to the point where there were times I was nail bitingly anxious for Dani. Some excellent twists and a terrific ending all contributed to making this a very addictive and absorbing read.

I started this book expecting it to be a legal thriller, but “trial” here is of the medical variety.

Ten years ago, Irish student Dani awoke to find that her boyfriend Theo had inexplicably vanished in the night. Now Dani is back at the university, but in a professional role for the police, working undercover as a history professor. Her job is to uncover what is really happening at the uni, but when Theo’s name is brought to her attention, things change suddenly.

I’ve read a couple of Jo’s books and have really enjoyed them. This one was no different - just what did happen to Theo?

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

Another excellent book from Jo. One that brings us back to Ireland again and deals with a topic very close to my heart as both my parents died with Alzheimer’s. It’s mainly set in a college which is involved in collating data for drug trials. The story moves between 2014 and 2024 a decade in the life of Dani who was a student there in 2014 and returns as a lecturer in 2024. A lot of twists along the way.

In 2014, at St Edmunds, an elite college on the outskirts of the city, twenty-year-old medical student Theo gets up one morning, leaving behind his sleeping girlfriend, Dani, and his studies. He is never seen again. 
Dani investigates his disappearance to no avail. Now, ten years later, she returns to the college as a professor but the ghosts of the past return and she can't help but consider further what really happened to Theo.
I found the blurb of this one did not give much away and I am so pleased with that, as I found myself in a story that was totally unexpected. The academia setting is always a winner for me and this, combined with Dani's secrets that come to light and the mystery that unfolds around Theo, was so suspenseful. The timelines in the story were so well crafted and this was another sensational novel by the author. 4.5*
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Quercus Books for this gifted review copy.

I could not put this book down. I foolishly started it late one night with the intention of reading a few pages and I got sucked in immediately. The plot itself is excellent - completely riveting. The premise of Alzheimer's medical trials is fascinating and I loved the personal connections. Dani's mother having the same disease also meant that as a reader, we were left guessing all along at the part she'd play. The characters were done so well. I particularly appreciated the difference between young Dani and more mature Danie because you could understand why she did things but also saw the growth and restraint in the older character but still the same tendency to act on emotions and take risks. Theo also remained a strong presence, despite his absence. Overall, it's a really great read. Clever, brilliantly plotted and with very real characters.