I was fortunate enough to win an ARC of this book via NetGalley. The plot, as well as the twists, have all the potential to make this a four-star read. However, it feels like the book lacks proper flow and confuses the reader more than intended.

This was a really different story, I was very interested in the beginning, Lila has no memory of her life prior to finding herself standing in a court room responsible for defending a person charged with setting off a bomb that killed many people. Her 'senior' law partner had been in an accident and she was supposed to be the supporting lawyer, instead she has to defend someone who everyone hates. She also quickly finds out that she's on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and has no way of leaving and she can't quit the case, she receives disturbing messages that mention a daughter (she has no recollection of) and that she won't see her again if the defendant doesn't get cleared of the charge. As the reader you learn along the way as she finds out about the town she's in and the people that live there (not many). The story becomes very convoluted (I found) about mid-way through, but I kept plugging away because I wanted to know what the heck was going on. I didn't think this was a science fiction but towards the end there is a bit of that thrown in, overall I think the story was interesting, perhaps including something earlier about what's happening would have helped. Thanks to #Netgalley and #poisonedpenpress for the ARC.

I had to make myself finish this book because I wanted to see if it would get any better. It was so off and too much conspiracies. The best part was the last page with that little twist and with it ending.

Premise was super interesting but it was just really hard to get into. I wasn't sure where the story was going to go which was nice but it ended up being quite busy and confusing which lost me further. Lost me a little bit more the more complicated it got. So I was disappointed of way it was written and the ending it’s not a bad book, but probably not my kinda of book

3.5 stars. This book was nothing like I was expecting it to be in the best possible way. The author throws you into the middle of a court hearing, and you (the reader) know just as much about what’s going on as the main character (defense attorney). I loved that aspect of it. It was clever and unique and you are fully invested, because you ARE essentially the main character. Things just continue to get creepy and mysterious and futuristic from there which I loved. Would have probably been a 4 star read for me, but the ending had me a little confused and felt rushed.

Lila’s lack of memories is at first unique and intriguing and a fun mystery to try and figure out. It’s impossible to know who to trust as you read through this story. Many of the events of this story felt distracting to me and the complexity of the story didn’t do any favors for the story. The ending was confusing and didn’t help clear things up.

Premise was super interesting but it was just really hard to get into. I wasn't sure where the story was going to go which was nice but it ended up being quite busy and confusing which lost me further. Lost me a little bit more the more complicated it got.

While I really enjoyed the beginning of this book and the premise sounded so interesting for me, I don’t think the writing style and the ultimate way the story unfolded was for me and felt a bit disjointed. Thank you to the publisher for the e-galley!!

I mean this in the absolutely best possible way: what did I just read?! My mind is absolutely spinning in a way that no thriller has caused before. This book may quite possibly be one of the best legal thrillers I’ll ever read, but it equally might be one of the oddest books I’ve ever read. This is one of those stories that I think I’ll need several days to process but can already tell that the more thought I give it, the more I will appreciate the sheer creativity and ingenuity of this incredibly unique book.

But I can tell that The Trials of Lila Dalton will not be for everyone. With such an incredibly unreliable narrator and psychological twists that continue to occur left and right, combined with a bit of heavier sociological concepts, some may be frustrated by it. But I think others (like myself) may consider it one of their top reads of the year. I finished this book five minutes ago and almost feel compelled to already go back and read it again to further appreciate the originality even more now that I know how it ends!

Huge thank you to L.J. Shepherd, Poisoned Pen Press, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, L.J. Shepherd, and Poisoned Pen Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest option of this book.

My second DNF of the year. The cover really drew my attention but that’s about it. Lots of political topics in this book and I just could t do it.

i was sooo excited for this one after reading the blurb, but unfortunately it fell short for me. While it was still good, I personally could not get well connected with the characters or the storyline overall. The concept was super intriguing and there were interesting plot twists, but as it went on things fell flat.

i would defiantly still read something from the author in the future, I just think this one just wasn't it for me. Thank u for the ARC<3

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me an Advanced Readers copy. This book was high in my expectations, but sadly didn't make it. I DNF'd it around 65% into the book.

I must say the book starts out really strong. Lila not knowing anything about who she is and what trail she is in, in that exact moment. It was engaging to read, and you wanted to know more about it. But as things rolled on, it felt like the story hit some major slow patches. Kinda sucked 'cause I enjoyed the whole trail thing, but everything else just felt like it was dragging or didn't hit the mark.

I do feel like people who are super into crime thrillers will like this, however it sadly didnt for me.

TL;DR: A confusing, compelling, and well-crafted mystery set on a remote island, with a protagonist that has no memories, a sweeping sense of foreboding, and a Black Mirror-y vibe.

I am in a bit of a conundrum. I think this book was written in such a compelling way, and yet I don’t feel comfortable giving it more than 2.5 stars. So I am departing from my usual structure for reviews, to try and put my finger on what I liked and what I disliked of The Trials of Lila Dalton.

First of all, however, a quick synopsis: the book begins when Lila Dalton opens her eyes and realises that (1) she has no idea where she is; (2) she has no idea who she is; (3) she has no idea why what really looks like a jury is staring at her. After a short analysis of her surroundings, she realizes that she is in a court room, her name is Lila Dalton, and the jury is staring at her because she is a defence barrister. She really knows the law and how to handle herself in a courtroom, but this is where her knowledge stops. Why is she on this isolated island (no pun intended) in the middle of the Atlantic? Who can she trust if she can’t even trust her memory? How can she prove her client’s innocence and go home?

Things I liked about this book. I really couldn’t put it down. I read the bulk of it in about three days and kept on saying “just one more chapter”. The pacing was truly perfect. I think that the idea was also quite interesting. As you read, you not only realize that nothing is as it seems but have also this increasing foreboding feeling. The more into the story you go, the more the vibes become similar to Stuart Turton’s “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” or to a very specific episode of Black Mirror (White Bear). The mystery is well crafted, and Lila’s confusion and desperation really shine through.

Things that weren’t for me. I really didn’t like the ending. I found the last four to five chapters anticlimactic and confusing (I really can’t say I understood the solution of the mystery), with a preachy undertone about the dangers of social media. Don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly agree on the dangers of social media and Post Truth Societies, but I don’t think the topic was needed to provide closure to this book. But, most importantly, I really think that Shepherd could have done so much more with the dejá vu’s, the repeating sentences and patterns. They are only partially explained in a couple of rushed sentences, and I really really liked how pervasive they were throughout the whole book. I think this is the reason why I don’t feel like giving three or more stars to this book.

All in all, I still did enjoy the reading experience, though, and I would like to thank L.J.Shepherd, Poisoned Pen Press, and Net Galley for the Digital Advance Read Copy of this book!

I recommend to pick it up if you liked Seven Deaths and Black Mirror (and don’t feel to strong about book endings that leave you in a state of mild confusion).

😭😭😭😭 Nooooo I was so excited for this book. And I feel somewhat dumb and very sad to announce that i did NOT understand this book :(
All the while i had abso-fucking-lutely no idea what was happening in the book. Things coming and going, people saying stuff- quoting quantum physics, virginia woolf and whatnot. i was SO confused😭. But i hanged on because i thought the book was supposed to make me confused since the MC too didn't have any memories. I thought it would start to make sense but then it got weirder and weirder. I swear the introduction of a conspiracy group and all that O87 talk went over my head. And from then i knew i would not get this book.
Okay. Now, now don't get sad because maybe i am not that smart to understand this book. maybe it does makes sense but just not to me. Sooo bear with me and let me tell you what this book is about and maybe then you can decide if you want to read it or not-
This story starts with a woman who just opens her eyes and realises that she is standing in a courtroom and does NOT remember how she got there or who she is. She looks down and found herself to be wearing uniform of a barrister. Upon looking here and there, she realises that she is supposed to say something as she is defending a man (who seems to have participated in bombing of a place). She asks for a break and from then she tries desperately to know what is going on. She doesn't know whom to trust and she is seeing things that no one does.... or do they? Now she gotta plan for her escape or carry on with the case.... that she doesn't remember about.
The premise was veryy promising but i just feel that the story didn't deliver.

If you enjoyed Shutter Island, i am sure you would like this book. But unfortunately, i didn't like Shutter Island either.

Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for providing me an ARC for this book in exchange of my honest reviews :)

I recently read The Trials of Lila Dalton, which was quite unique and a refreshing change of pace. The plot was intriguing, and while it had a strong political theme, it was interesting to see these themes explored in a fictional context. The story dealt with some sensitive issues that may be triggering for some readers, but I appreciated the author's approach to these topics.

The story's trajectory was unique, and I found the main character complex and thought-provoking. The blending of reality and dreams was executed in a way that was both creative and engaging, and it kept me invested in the story until the end.

While this book may not be for everyone, I believe it's a worthwhile read for those looking for something different. It's an excellent choice for readers who enjoy exploring complex themes in a fictional context and who appreciate dreamlike surrealism. Unfortunately, I have since discovered this is not for my personal preferences.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who are open-minded and willing to explore new ideas in their reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This story wasn't for me. I was intrigued in the beginning but as the story went on, I was getting real sick of Lila's whining and internal dialogue. I found the case interesting in the beginning but about halfway through, it seemed silly. There was too much going on at once and the story would've been a lot more believable if less was happening all at once. It felt like someone was trying to push a political agenda.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy. This was an ok read. I did enjoy it . Although it wasn’t a four star for me it was a well written book

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy to read.
It started out very good however took a weird turn into nazi conspiracies and time travel. Hard to finish and not my favorite read.

When I read the blurb, I found this intriguing especially since it focused on law. The starting pages of the book were captivating till the whole science experiment angle crept in.

Lila would have been a really interesting character if she wouldn't have been so vague and naive all the time. So many scenes in the book did not make sense and were over the top. Compliments to the author for giving us a detailed insight into law. However, an author should bear in mind that most readers will have no idea of such intricacies and will also be from different countries. So a better, simpler explanation would have made the court proceedings fun.

What didn't work for me was the ending as it didn't bring any satisfactory closure to the story and I was also able to predict certain characters. I wish the whole science conspiracy angle would not have been dragged so far.

I give 2 stars for this book.
I thank NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This novel fell flat for me. The plot was compelling enough but I think it got lost in courtroom drama and political agenda. I did not identify with any of the characters and not one of them had any empathetic qualities. The few plot twists were thinly disguised. Overall, it was a no for me.